US20150008229A1

US20150008229A1 - Rain Water Divert and Collection Device

Info

Publication number: US20150008229A1
Application number: US13/936,204
Authority: US
Inventors: Lynn Owen Ringdahl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-07
Filing date: 2013-07-07
Publication date: 2015-01-08

Abstract

A device used to collect rain water from a down spout and allows excess water to exit the down spout as originally intended. The down spout is cut at the top of the device allowing the down spout transfers water to the tank of the device through the planter and water deflector device. The water enters the tank and fills the tank until the water reaches the spill way. The lower portion of the down spout is attached to the spill way so when the water enters the spill way, it travels down the down spout as originally intended. The tank and base having a taper construction with a channel allows the down spout to attach to the spillway and rout in various arrangements. The tank is mounted on a base to elevate the tank for access to the water. The water is extracted from the tank by opening a spigot and filling a container such as a watering can. A soaker hose can also be attached to the bottom of the tank to water nearby plants. A clean out is located at the bottom of the tank to cleanout debris accumulated from the downspout. An optional inserted water diverter can be installed to transfer the water directly to the spillway and down the down spout.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Patent Application Number 61/699,113

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to rain collecting devices used to collect rain water from rain gutters or other means and use the rain water when needed. The rain water is extracted from the rain collector when needed for watering plants and other means.
It is known that other devices of various shapes and sizes collect rain and are connected in various fashions to rain gutter downspouts. Devices store rain water and have taps to extract water out of the container.
Many rain collecting devices have the rain gutter go into the device in an opening at the top of the device and when the device is full the water will run out of the same opening or a different opening dedicated for water to exit. There is not a method for allowing the excess rain water to transfer away from the foundation though the existing downspout arrangement.
Other devices connect to the downspout and have hoses connected to the rain collector to transfer rain. These devices restrict the flow of water to the device, easily clog up with debris and are difficult to clean out debris.
The downspout of the rain gutter is designed to have a flow of rain from the downspout and transfer water away from the foundation using elbow connections and extensions. The means for connecting to and extracting the rain from the downspout is critical to the downspout performance. The extracting method cannot jeopardize the flow of water through the downspout. Added restriction to flow may allow water to back up the downspout. It is necessary to keep the downspout configuration similar to the way it was installed to keep the rain away from the foundation.
Water stored in a container out sided is subject to cold weather and subject to freezing. The freeze and thaw of water expands and contracts causing damage to the container. It is necessary to allow a means to assure all the water is removed before the water can freeze. In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method to collect rain from a downspout that allows consistent flow of water from the downspout into a tank and continue down the downspout away from the foundation than the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of capturing the rain water from the downspout in a less unobtrusive manor by integrated into the tank with a water deflecting method and spillway in the tank than the prior art.
A further object of the invention is to provide a more transparent connection of one device to another device to fill one or more additional tanks than the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to allow a complete cleanout of water and debris from the device than the prior art.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method to bypass the collection of water in the tank to go directly to the downspout and away from the foundation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The design of the top of the device allows for the rain water of a modified downspout to enter the tank. The downspout is cut and inserted into the top component. The top design deflects the rain water away from a spill way in the tank and is screened to reduce the amount of debris going into the tank.
The lower part of the downspout is attached to the spillway to allow the flow of water to exit the tank and go down the downspout similar to a downspouts typical configuration. The water in the tank is extracted by means of a tap, hose attachments, and a clean out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the rain water divert and collection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device installed with a downspout arrangement from a building with solid ground structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of the top diverter according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 b is a section of a perspective view with an alternate embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 c show a back plan view of the device showing an alternate embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 a is a back plan view of the device installed with a downspout arrangement according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 b is a back plan view of the device installed with a downspout varying arrangement according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device with the top diverter removed to show the tank inside according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 a is a side plan view of the device installed with a downspout arrangement according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 b is a side plan view of the device installed with a downspout varying arrangement according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a section view of the lower portion of the tank and base separated from each other according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front schematic view of the device with arrows showing the flow of water according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompany drawings, which illustrate the invention for better understanding of its specific structures and advantages. The figures are not necessarily to scale some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components or processes. Therefore, specify structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art of variously employ the present invention.
As shown in the figures, the present invention is directed to a rain water divert and collection device 10 having a tank 20 with a top diverter 50 and a base 40. FIG. 1 shows how the components of the device fit together. The top diverter 50 is inserted into the tank 20 furthermore the tank sits on top of the base 40.
FIG. 2 shows the rain collection device 10 installed into a rain gutter downspout 2 currently attached to the building 1. The downspout 2 has been cut from its previous configuration to form an upper downspout 3 and lower downspout 4. A small section of the downspout is removed to allow for the attachment of the device to the downspout. The base 40 will sit on top of a solid ground structure 5 to assure device stability.
FIG. 3 a shows an elevation view of the device. The top diverter 50 is sectioned to have a diverter section 51 and a planter section 52. The diverter section consists of a spill way deflector 53, inlets 54, screens 55 and optional inlet bypass 56. The water collecting device 10 is placed with the back of the device 11 in close proximity and parallel to the building 1. The upper downspout 3 enters slightly into the diverter section. The water that comes through the downspout into the diverter section is deflected by the spill way deflector 53 into the inlet 54. The purpose of the spill way deflector 53 is to keep the water from entering the spill way 21 located below the spill way deflector 53 and to deflect the water to the inlets. The spill way deflector is centered in the diverter section 51. The spill way deflector is angled downward toward the inlets on each side. The inlet 54 is located on both sides of the spill way deflector. The inlet is a rectangular cut in the base of the diverter section 51. A ledge is located around the inlet 54 to allow a screen 55 to be supported. The inlet 54 and screen 55 will allow water to enter into the tank and screen out debris that may be in the water. The screen 55 is removable to clean debris collected.
FIGS. 3 b and 3 c is a sectioned top perspective view and a sectioned rear side hidden view detailing the inlet bypass 56. The figures show an alternate arrangement that is used when water is not allowed to fill the tank for the winter to reduce potential for damage to the tank from freezing water. The inlet bypass 56 is inserted in place of the screen to bypass the water from going into the tank to entering the spill way 21. The inlet bypass 56 consists of a flange 57 to support the inlet bypass by the sides of the inlet 54 and has a tapered channel 58 and extended under the spill way deflector 54 to the spill way 21.
FIG. 4 shows the back side of the device 10 with two different lower downspouts 4 and 5 configurations. The lower downspout 4 can be flipped 180 degrees on a vertical axis to exit the other side of the tank. The continuation of the lower downspout 4 down the building 1 will be connected to an overflow outlet 21 located in a channel 27 in the back of the tank 20. The lower downspout 4 will travel down the building 1 and out to the side of the tank or front of the tank depending on the configuration of the lower downspout 4 or 5. The channel 27 starts at a position down from the top of the tank 20 at a position in proximity to the bottom of the top diverter 50 and is vertical and centered on the tank 20. The channel is protruded into the tank 20 creating a flat surface 26 at the top of the channel. The channel 27 extends to the bottom of the tank 20.
FIG. 5 shows the spill way 21 will have a rectangular hole 28 cut out of the flat surface 26 to allow water to exit the tank when the tank is full of water. A flange 29 is flush with the wall of the rectangular hole and protrudes down to allow the attachment of the lower downspout 4. The flange is slightly smaller than the lower downspout to install the lower downspout on the outside of the flange and attach the lower downspout with screws.
FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show a side hidden view of the device installed. The channel 27 will allow the lower downspout 4 to travel the length of the tank 20. The channel depth allows the tank to be in close proximity to the building 1. A downspout mounting bracket 6 is typically used when installing downspouts to the building 1. This mounting bracket 6 can possibly be used in its current location if the building has existing downspouts or relocated to fit the tank location. The tank can be moved horizontally the width of the top diverter 50. The tank 20 and base 40 are tapered from top to bottom. The top is larger and tapers smaller at the bottom. The taper feature allows room for the lower downspout 4 to exit the side of the tank between the building 1 and the tank 20.
FIG. 7 shows a hidden view of the bottom section of the tank separated from the base 40. The tank 20 has a tap 23 located at the front lower portion of the tank that is side opposite to the back 11. The tap 23 will be used for extracting water from the tank into a watering can. The base 40 elevates the tank to allow the watering can to fit under the tap 23. A garden hose may be attached to the tap 23 to use for filling larger containers or watering nearby plants. A cleanout 24 is centered on the bottom side of the tank 20. The cleanout 24 is tapered vertically from a larger size opening at the tank to a smaller size opening at the outlet allowing debris to funnel to the bottom of the cleanout 24. A tap protrusion 32 with a hole at the bottom is located at the lower portion of the taper that allows a threaded cap 30 to seal off the hole and allow water to accumulate in the tank. Two threaded protrusions 25 are located symmetrical to the cleanout 24 and protrude down from the bottom of the tank 20. The threaded protrusions 25 have a garden hose tap size at the bottom to allow a hook up of a soaker or garden hose. The soaker hose will allow the watering of nearby plants. The garden hose will allow watering of near by plants and the attachment of one tank to another nearby tank to fill both tanks for additional water storage.
Further referring to FIG. 7 the base 40 is constructed with a similar profile as the tank to have a seamless appearance from the top of the tank 20 to the bottom of the base 40. The inside of the base 40 is shelled out with a top profile 41 and inside wall 42 to accept and hold the bottom of the tank 20. The bottom of the tank has a related profile 33 and step 34 to match the base inside size and top profile. The step is inward from the exterior of the tank 20 at a depth comparable to the wall of the base. The step 34 inserts into the top of the base 40 opening to keep the tank from side to side movement.
Furthermore FIG. 7 shows the base 40 having a back 42 of the base constructed with an opening 43 to allow the lower downspout 5 to enter under the tank 20. The front 44 of the base is constructed with an opening 45 to allow access to the cleanout threaded cap 30 and threaded protrusion caps 31. The sides of the base are constructed with openings 46 to allow a soaker hose or garden hose to travel from the threaded protrusions 25 to the outside of the base 7.
FIG. 8 shows the device operation by use of arrows through a hidden front view of the device. The flow of water is indicated by the arrows 8. The water flows down the upper downspout 4 and is deflected by a defector 53 into the screened openings 54 into the tank. The tank is filled with water. The excess water exit the spillway, down the lower downspout 4, and out to the ground. The water is extracted from the tank 20 by a tap 23, a clean out 24, and threaded hose connections 25.

Claims

1. A rain water collection system for collecting rain water from a downspout comprising;

A tank for containing water by means of allowing water to enter from the upper portion of said tank.

Said tank has a back and is set in close proximity to a building wall and downspout.

A downspout is modified to have an upper downspout and lower downspout arrangement.

A diverter section is located in close proximity to the top of said tank and under said upper downspout.

Said upper downspout comes from a rain gutter system and has an opening in close proximity to the top of said diverter.

Said diverter having one end in fluid communication with said upper downspout and second end having a deflector and opening in fluid communication with said tank.

Said tank having a water storage portion for collecting water and a spillway portion located in close proximity to the top of said tank and below the said diverter allowing water to exit said tank.

Said spill way is located in close proximity to said diverter where said diverter has said deflector to deflect water away from said spillway and into said tank.

Said spillway has an opening to be in fluid communication with a lower downspout.

Said tank is configured to allow said lower downspout to route as originally intended.

2. A device of claim 1. Wherein said tank has a relatively liner back and is set in close proximity and approximately parallel to a building wall.

3. A device of claim 1. Wherein said rain collection device has a base located under said tank having an arrangement to allow said lower downspout to have a curved lower end to travel under the rain collection device.

4. A device of claim 1. Wherein the front of said base is constructed with an opening in the front allowing access to the bottom of said tank. Said tank has threaded caps located at the bottom of the said tank to open and extract water from said tank.

5. A device of claim 1. Wherein said tank has a vertical channel and top section with said spillway and a rectangular flange protruding downward to allow said lower downspout to be inserted over said flange. Said channel is sized to allow said lower downspout to fit into said channel.

6. A device in claim 1. Whereas said spillway deflector is located above said spillway and constructed with an arrangement to move the water toward said openings located on both sides of said spillway deflector.

7. A device in claim 1. Whereas said inlets have a screen covering said opening to screen out debris.

8. A device in claim 1 whereas said tank has an upper portion larger than the lower portion to allow room for the said downspout with a curved elbow to travel vertically down from said spillway parallel to said building wall and away from the tank.