GB2442236A

GB2442236A - Rainwater diverter

Info

Publication number: GB2442236A
Application number: GB0618915A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Moor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-26
Filing date: 2006-09-26
Publication date: 2008-04-02
Also published as: GB0618915D0

Abstract

A rainwater diverter (1) comprising: a pipe (2) that extends from a first open end (8) to a second open end (9), wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends; and a ballcock system (3) that comprises a seal (22)connected to a float (23) by a connector. The first and second open ends of the pipe are each shaped to connect to a drainpipe; the divergent portion of the pipe is provided with a sealable outlet; the seal is shaped to be able to seal the sealable outlet (20); and the ballcock system is connected to the pipe such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position. Movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet.

Description

RAINWATER DIVERTER

The present invention relates to rainwater diverters suitable for collecting rainwater that flows down a drainpipe and diverting it into a water butt.

Some known rainwater diverters employ hoses with multipart adaptors for connecting to the drainpipe and water butt. Such rainwater diverters can encounter blockage problems from rainwater debris and may not be able to handle a heavy flow of rainwater.

Other rainwater diverters utilise hinged pipe sections, necessitating the use of large floats.

The present invention aims to overcome the problems of current rainwater diverters by providing a diverter that is simple to install, adjust and use, enabling a high, blockage-free throughput of rainwater and avoiding the need for bulky and/or intricate components.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a rainwater diverter comprising: a pipe that extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends; and a bailcock system that comprises a seal connected to a float by a connector; wherein the first and second open ends of the pipe are each shaped to connect to a drainpipe; the divergent portion of the pipe is provided with a sealable outlet; the seal is shaped to be able to seal the sealable outlet; and the bailcock system is connected to the pipe such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position; wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet.

In use, the pipe of the diverter is inserted into a gap cut in a drainpipe, the gap resulting in an upper free end of the drainpipe and a lower free end of the drainpipe. The first open end of the pipe is attached to the upper free end of the drainpipe and the second open end of the pipe is attached to the lower free end of the drainpipe. A water butt is located beneath the sealable outlet of the pipe, with the float of the bailcock system being placed in the water butt.

The diverter diverts rainwater from the drainpipe to the water butt via the first open end of the pipe and the sealable outlet. The float of the balicock system floats on the surface of the water in the water butt and as the level of the water rises, the float rises from its lowered position towards its raised position. This movement of the float causes the seal to rise until, at the appropriate water level, the float reaches its raised position and the seal completely seals the sealable outlet. Accordingly, further rainwater entering the diverter from the drainpipe flows over the sealed outlet and re-enters the drainpipe via the second open end of the pipe.

The divergent portion of the pipe may be any suitable shape. The divergent portion may comprise straight sections of pipe, curved sections of pipe, or combinations thereof.

Preferably, the divergent portion diverges from the central axis of the first and second open ends by a maximum perpendicular distance x and comprises: a first divergent section that extends outwardly from the axis of the first and second open ends to a point at a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends; and a second divergent section that extends from a point at a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends back to the axis of the first and second open ends.

The first divergent section may be straight or curved, or may include both straight and curved portions. The second divergent section may be straight or curved, or may include both straight and curved portions.

In one embodiment, the first and second divergent sections are directly connected to each other at a point at a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends.

More preferably, the divergent portion further comprises a third section that connects the first and second sections. This third section may be straight or curved, or may include both straight and curved portions.

Preferably, this third section is substantially straight and runs substantially parallel to the axis of the first and second open ends at a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends.

The distance x may be any suitable distance in view of the desired location of the water butt with respect to the drainpipe. In one embodiment, the distance x is from 5cm to 100cm, preferably from 10cm to 75cm, such as from 15cm to 60cm. More preferably, the distance x is from 20cm to 50cm, for example from 25cm to 40cm.

The divergent portion of the pipe is preferably substantially c shaped.

The sealable outlet provided in the divergent section is preferably flared.

Preferably the sealable outlet extends in an axis parallel to the axis of the first and second open ends of the pipe.

The sealable outlet is preferably located in the divergent section at or near the position that is at a perpendicular distance furthest from the central axis of the first and second open ends.

In the embodiment where the divergent portion diverges from the central axis of the first and second open ends by a maximum perpendicular distance x and comprises: a first divergent section that extends outwardly from the axis of the first and second open ends to a point at a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends; and a second divergent section that extends from a point at a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends back to the axis of the first and second open ends, the sealable outlet is preferably provided in the second divergent section. More preferably, the sealable outlet may be provided in the second divergent section at or near the position that is a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends.

In one embodiment the pipe comprises two or more connectable sections, for example two connectable sections, three connectable sections or four connectable sections. Preferably, each connectable section comprises one or more connectable end, and the connectable ends of the connectable sections permit the connectable sections to be connected together.

In an alternative embodiment the pipe comprises a single section.

In one embodiment there are two connectable sections, and each of the connectable sections of the pipe comprises an open end shaped to connect to a drainpipe and a connecting end shaped to connect to the complementary connecting end of the corresponding connectable section.

Preferably, each connectable section also comprises two bent portions having oppositely directed bends, and a substantially straight mid section.

Preferably, the two bent portions are linked by the substantially straight mid section.

In this embodiment the sealable outlet may be located on either of the connectable sections, at the bent portion nearest the connectable end.

When the pipe comprises two or more connectable sections the connectable ends of the connectable sections are preferably shaped such that one of the connectable ends sealably fits inside the other connectable end.

Preferably, the connectable ends of the connectable sections each comprise one or more holes, through which a securing means (e.g. a screw or bolt) can be fitted. The securing means can then be fitted through a hole on one connectable end and a hole on the other connectable end to secure the connectable sections together.

Preferably, there are two or more holes in each connectable end. This enables the overall length of the pipe to be adjusted according to the holes selected on each connectable section, and the resulting amount of overlap.

Preferably the pipe comprises two or more bends, more preferably three or more bends, for example four or more bends.

The bends of the pipe may all be bent at the same angle or they may have different angles. When the angle of the bend is measured in terms of the non-obtuse angle formed between the axis of the pipe before the bend and the axis of the pipe after the bend, in one embodiment the bends have angles from 20 to 900, preferably from 30 to 80 , such as from 40 to 750* Preferably the bends have angles from 50 to 70 , more preferably from 60 to 70 . In one embodiment the bends all have 67.5 angles, which is the standard angle used in the industry.

The pipe may be any suitable size provided that it can be connected to a drainpipe at its first and second open ends. In one embodiment, the pipe is from 5cm to 9cm in diameter, such as from 6cm to 8cm in diameter.

Preferably the pipe is approximately 7cm in diameter.

The balicock system may be connected in any suitable way to the pipe, provided that the connection permits the float to move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, with resultant movement of the seal from a first unsealed position to a second sealed position.

The balicock system is preferably pivotally attached to the pipe, such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, with resultant movement of the seal from a first unsealed position to a second sealed position. Preferably, the connector of the bailcock system is pivotally attached to the pipe. Preferably, the pivotal attachment of the balicock system to the pipe is at a pivot point located adjacent the flared outlet.

The pipe may comprise a pivot projection, to which the bailcock system, e.g. the connector of the bailcock system, is pivotally attached.

Preferably the bailcock system is pivotally attached to the pivot projection of the pipe by means of a screw. Preferably the pivot projection is adjacent to the flared outlet. Preferably the pivot projection extends in an axis parallel to the axis of the first and second open ends of the pipe.

In an alternative embodiment the bailcock system is slidably connected to the pipe, such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, with resultant movement of the seal from a first unsealed position to a second sealed position. Preferably, the bailcock system is slidably attached to the pipe via a slidable sleeve system. In this embodiment, the slidable sleeve can slide over a portion of the drainpipe or a vertically oriented portion of the pipe of the diverter, with the balicock system being attached to the sleeve. In use, as the float of the balicock system rises, so do the sleeve and the seal of the balicock system.

In another alternative embodiment, the bailcock system is flexibly connected to the pipe, such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, with resultant movement of the seal from a first unsealed position to a second sealed position.

Preferably, the balicock system is attached to the pipe via a flexible connector. In this embodiment, in use, as the float rises, the flexible projection bends, allowing movement of the seal upwards towards the outlet.

Preferably the connector that connects the seal to the float is rigid, such that the relative position of the seal with respect to the float is fixed.

Preferably the connector that connects the seal to the float comprises a rod. More preferably the connector that connects the seal to the float comprises a main body and a rod. In one embodiment the main body is substantially triangular.

In one embodiment, the connector that connects the seal to the float comprises a main body and a rod, and the pipe comprises a pivot projection, to which the bailcock system is pivotally attached, with the main body being connected to the pivot projection. Preferably, the main body is connected to the pivot projection via a projection on the main body.

The pivot projection and bailcock system are preferably arranged such that when the pivot projection is pivoted to a position perpendicular to the axis that runs between the first and second open ends of the pipe, the seal of the balicock system completely seals the sealable outlet.

Preferably the connector extends in a direction away from the seal. More preferably the connector is positioned at an angle that is from 50 to 500 to the axis of the first and second open ends of the pipe, such as from 100 to 30 to this axis, for example approximately 15 to this axis.

Preferably, the pivot projection comprises a protrusion arranged to prevent the projection on the main body from aligning itself with the axis of the first and second ends of the pipe, which would prohibit the float from moving to the second raised position.

Preferably the connector is such that the length of the connector is adjustable. This permits the maximum force that can be exerted by the seal on the outlet to be selected by selecting the maximum possible length for the connector, thus achieving the best possible seal.

In one embodiment, when the connector comprises a rod, the rod may comprise two or more threaded sections. Preferably, the rod comprises two or more threaded sections connected by an internally threaded hollow section.

In an alternative embodiment, when the Connector comprises a rod, the rod may comprise two or more sections each comprising one or more holes, through which a securing means (e.g. a screw or bolt) can be fitted. The securing means can then be fitted through a hole on one section of the rod and a hole on another section of the rod to secure the sections together.

Preferably, there are two or more holes in each section of the rod. This enables the overall length of the rod to be adjusted according to the holes selected on the sections used, and the resulting amount of overlap. More preferably there are three or more holes in each section of the rod, which enables two securing means to be used to secure two rod sections together, whilst allowing for adjustment of the overall length of the rod.

Preferably the seal is a dome shaped seal. More preferably the seal is a rubber dome shaped seal.

Preferably the float is a spherical float. In one embodiment, the float is from 5 cm to 15 cm in diameter, for example from 7cm to 12cm in diameter. Preferably the float is approximately 10 cm in diameter.

The invention also provides, in a second aspect, a kit for a rainwater diverter, the kit comprising: one or more pipe sections; a seal; a float; a connector; and a set of instructions; wherein when there is a single pipe section this is a pipe that extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends; and when there are two or more pipe sections these sections are connectable together to form a pipe that extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends, and the instructions describe that the connectable pipe sections should be connected together such that the pipe extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends; wherein the first and second open ends of the pipe are each shaped to connect to a drainpipe; the divergent portion of the pipe is provided with a sealable outlet; and the seal is shaped to be able to seal the sealable outlet; the pipe being connectable to at least one of the seal, the connector and the float; and the connector being connectable to both the float and the seal to form a bailcock system, such that when the seal, connector and float are connected to form a balicock system and this balicock system is connected to the pipe, the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet; wherein the instructions describe that the pipe is to be connected to one of the seal, the connector and the float; the seal is to be connected to the connector and the connector is to be connected to the float so as to form a balicock system, such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet.

The invention also provides, in a third aspect, a kit for a rainwater diverter, the kit comprising: a pipe that extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends; a bailcock system that comprises a seal connected to a float by a connector; and a set of instructions; wherein the first and second open ends of the pipe are each shaped to connect to a drainpipe; the divergent portion of the pipe is provided with a sealable outlet; and the seal is shaped to be able to seal the sealable outlet; the balicock system being connectable to the pipe such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet; wherein the instructions describe that the balicock system is to be connected to the pipe such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet.

Preferred features of the second and third aspects are in accordance with the preferred features of the first aspect.

The invention will now be further described, by means of example only, with reference to the drawing in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a rainwater diverter according to the invention in the sealed position; and Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the rainwater diverter of Figure 1 in an open position.

Figures 1 and 2 show a rainwater diverter 1 comprising a pipe 2 and balicock system 3, connected to a drainpipe 4.

The pipe 2 is intended to fit in a gap in the drainpipe 4 and transfer water to a water butt 5. The gap in the drainpipe 4 of Figures 1 and 2 extends between an upper open end 6 and a lower open end 7.

The pipe 2 extends from a first open end 8 suitable for connection to the upper open end 6 to a second open end 9 suitable for connection to the lower open end 7 of the drainpipe 4. The pipe 2 comprises an upper section 10, which extends from the first open end 8 to a connecting end 11 and a lower section 12, which extends from a connecting end 13 to the second open end 9. When connected at their connecting ends 11, 13 the upper section 10 and lower section 12 together form a substantially c-shaped bend.

The upper section 10 of the pipe 2 extends from the first open end 8 to the connecting end 11 via a first bend 14, a substantially straight mid section 15 and a second bend 16. The first bend 14 of the upper section of the pipe 2 bends away from the first open end 8 at a 67. 5 angle, whilst the second bend 16 of the upper section 10 also has a 67. 5 angle, but in the opposing direction to the first bend 14 of the upper section 10.

The lower section 12 of the pipe 2 extends from the connecting end 13 to the second open end 9 via a first bend 17, a substantially straight mid section 18 and a second bend 19. The first bend 17 of the lower section 12 bends away from the connecting end 13 at a 67.5 angle, whilst the second bend 19 of the lower section 12 also has a 67.5 angle, but in the opposing direction to the first bend 17 of the lower section 12. The connecting end 11 of the upper section 10 of the pipe 2 is shaped to connect with the connecting end 13 of the lower section 12 of the pipe 2 and when connected the shape of the upper section 10 and the lower section 12 result in the formation of a substantially c-shaped bend.

The first bend 17 of the lower section 12 of the pipe 2 further comprises a flared outlet 20 that extends in an axis parallel to the axis that runs between the first open end 8 and the second open end 9 of the pipe 2.

The mid section 18 of the lower section 12 of the pipe 2 further comprises a pivot projection 21 that is adjacent to the flared outlet 20 and extends in an axis parallel to the axis that runs between the first open end 8 and the second open end 9 of the pipe 2.

The bailcock system 3 comprises a dome shaped seal 22 and a spherical float 23 which are connected together via a main body 24 and a rod 25.

The main body 24 comprises a central section 26 that is substantially triangular in shape, having a projection 27 extending therefrom, the projection 27 having a hole for receiving a screw 28. The pivot projection 21 of the pipe 2 is connected to the projection 27 via the screw 28. The projection 27 extends from one side of the substantially triangular central Section 26 and is positioned in the same plane as the central section 26. The main body 24 of the balicock system 3 is attached to the dome shaped seal 22 at one side of the substantially triangular central Section 26.

The dome shaped seal 22 comprises a flat base 29 and a domed surface 30. The flat base 29 is attached to the main body 24. The domed surface is shaped and positioned to fit inside the flared outlet 20, thereby creating a watertight seal, when the projection 27 is perpendicular to the pivot projection 21.

The rod 25 of the balicock system 3 extends from the main body 24 to the spherical float 23 via a first threaded rod section 31, a hollow bar 32 and a second threaded rod section 33. The first threaded rod section 31 extends from a first end 34 to a second end 35. The hollow bar 32 extends from a first end 36 to a second end 37, and has a hexagonal outer surface and an internal screw thread. The second end 35 of the first threaded rod section 31 is connected to the first end 36 of the hollow bar 32. The second threaded rod section 33 extends from a first end 38 to a second end 39. The second end 37 of the hollow bar 32 is connected to the first end 38 of the second threaded rod section 33. The second end 39 of the second threaded rod section 33 is connected to the spherical float 23.

The first end 34 of the first threaded rod section 31 is attached to the central section 26 of the main body 24 at a point opposite the side that attaches to the dome shaped seal 22. The first threaded rod section 31 is attached to the central section 26 such that the rod 25 extends away from the projection 27 of the main body 24 and the dome shaped seal 22 and is positioned at an angle of approximately 15 to the axis of the projection 27. The rod 25 of the balicock system 3 is positioned in the same plane as the main body 24 of the bailcock system 3.

The rainwater diverter 1 is plastic apart from the dome shaped seal 22 of the bailcock system 3 which is rubber. The pipe 2 is sized to fit with a conventional drainpipe 4 and hence may be approximately 7 cm in diameter. The float 23 of the bailcock system 3 may be approximately 10 cm in diameter.

In use, an appropriate section of the chosen drainpipe 4 is removed in order to allow the attachment of the pipe 2. The first open end 8 of the pipe 2 is connected to the upper open end 6 of the drainpipe 4 and the second open end 9 of the pipe 2 is connected to the lower open end 7 of the drainpipe 4. The connecting ends 11, 13 of the upper section 10 of the pipe 2 and the lower section 12 of the pipe 2 are joined to form a substantially c-shaped bend. A water butt 5 is positioned under the flared outlet 20 of the pipe 2 and the rod 25 of the balicock system 3 is adjusted such that the float 23 of the balicock system 3 can move freely inside the water butt 5 whilst being extended as much as possible. The longer the extension of the float 23, the greater the force that can be exerted by the dome shaped seal 22 of the bailcock system 3 on the flared outlet 20 and the better the seal.

In Figure 2, as water runs down the drainpipe 4 it exits the pipe 2 via the flared outlet 20 and enters the water butt 5. As the water level in the water butt 5 rises, the float 23 rises, causing corresponding movement of the dome shaped seal 22 towards the flared outlet 20 until it completely seals the flared outlet 20 as in Figure 1, causing water to be diverted into the mid section 18 of the lower section 12 of the pipe 2, and subsequently back into the drainpipe 4 via second bend 19.

Claims

1. A rainwater diverter comprising: a pipe that extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends; and a bailcock system that comprises a seal connected to a float by a connector; wherein the first and second open ends of the pipe are each shaped to connect to a drainpipe; the divergent portion of the pipe is provided with a sealable outlet; the seaJ is shaped to be able to seal the sealable outlet; and the bailcock system is connected to the pipe such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position; wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet.

2. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 1 wherein the divergent portion comprises combinations of straight sections of pipe and curved sections of pipe.

3. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the divergent portion diverges from the central axis of the first and second open ends by a maximum perpendicular distance x and comprises: a first divergent section that extends outwardly from the axis of the first and second open ends to a point at a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends; and a second divergent section that extends from a point at a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends back to the axis of the first and second open ends.

4. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 3 wherein the sealable outlet is provided in the second divergent section.

5. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the divergent portion further comprises a third Section that connects the first and second sections.

6. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 5 wherein the third section is substantially straight and runs substantially parallel to the axis of the first and second open ends at a perpendicular distance x from the central axis of the first and second open ends.

7. A rainwater diverter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the divergent portion of the pipe is substantially c shaped.

8. A rainwater diverter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sealable outlet is located in the divergent section at or near the position that is at a perpendicular distance furthest from the central axis of the first and second open ends.

9. A rainwater diverter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pipe comprises a single section.

10. A rainwater diverter according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the pipe comprises two or more connectable sections, wherein each connectable section comprises one or more connectable end, and the connectable ends of the connectable sections permit the connectable sections to be connected together.

11. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 10 wherein the connectable ends of the connectable sections each comprise one or more holes, through which a securing means can be fitted.

12. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 11 wherein there are two or more holes in each connectable end.

13. A rainwater diverter according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 wherein each connectable section comprises two bent portions having oppositely directed bends, and a substantially straight mid section.

14. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 13 wherein the two bent portions are linked by the substantially straight mid section.

15. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein, when the angle of the bend is measured in terms of the non- obtuse angle formed between the axis of the pipe before the bend and the axis of the pipe after the bend, the bends have angles from 20 to 90 .

16. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 15 wherein the bends have angles from 50 to 70 .

17. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 15 or Claim 16 wherein the bends all have 67.5 angles.

18. A rainwater diverter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bailcock system is pivotally attached to the pipe, such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, with resultant movement of the seal from a first unsealed position to a second sealed position.

19. A rainwater diverter according to any one of Claims 1 to 17 wherein the bailcock system is slidably connected to the pipe, such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, with resultant movement of the seal from a first unsealed position to a second sealed position.

20. A rainwater diverter according to any one of Claims 1 to 17 wherein the bailcock system is flexibly connected to the pipe, such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, with resultant movement of the seal from a first unsealed position to a second sealed position.

21. A rainwater diverter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector that connects the seal to the float is rigid, such that the relative position of the seal with respect to the float is fixed.

22. A rainwater diverter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector is such that the length of the connector is

adjustable.

23. A rainwater diverter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector that connects the seal to the float comprises a rod.

24. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 23 wherein the rod comprises two or more threaded sections.

25. A rainwater diverter according to Claim 23 wherein the rod comprises two or more sections each comprising one or more holes, through which a securing means can be fitted.

26. A kit for a rainwater diverter, the kit comprising: one or more pipe sections; a seal; a float; a connector; and a set of instructions; wherein when there is a single pipe section this is a pipe that extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends; and when there are two or more pipe Sections these sections are connectable together to form a pipe that extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends, and the instructions describe that the connectable pipe sections should be connected together such that the pipe extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends; wherein the first and second open ends of the pipe are each shaped to connect to a drainpipe; the divergent portion of the pipe is provided with a sealable outlet; and the seal is shaped to be able to seal the sealable outlet; the pipe being connectable to at least one of the seal, the connector and the float; and the connector being connectable to both the float and the seal to form a balicock system, such that when the seal, connector and float are connected to form a bailcock system and this balicock system is connected to the pipe, the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet; wherein the instructions describe that the pipe is to be connected to one of the seal, the connector and the float; the seal is to be connected to the connector and the connector is to be connected to the float so as to form a balicock system, such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet.

27. A kit for a rainwater diverter, the kit comprising: a pipe that extends from a first open end to a second open end, wherein the first and second open ends lie in the same axis and wherein a portion of the pipe diverges from the axis of the first and second open ends; a bailcock system that comprises a seal connected to a float by a connector; and a set of instructions; wherein the first and second open ends of the pipe are each shaped to connect to a drainpipe; the divergent portion of the pipe is provided with a sealable outlet; and the seal is shaped to be able to seal the sealable outlet; the bailcock system being connectable to the pipe such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet; wherein the instructions describe that the bailcock system is to be connected to the pipe such that the float can move between a first lowered position and a second raised position, wherein movement of the float from the first lowered position to the second raised position causes movement of the seal from a first unsealed position, where it does not seal the sealable outlet, to a second sealed position, where it seals the sealable outlet.

28. A kit for a rainwater diverter according to Claim 26 or Claim 27 wherein the bailcock system is as defined in any one of Claims 18 to 25.

29. A kit for a rainwater diverter according to Claim 26 or Claim 27 wherein the pipe is as defined in any one of Claims 2 to 17.