BUILDING DRAINAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A drainage system for a side of a building includes a channel, a channel adapter, a fluid conduit, and a downspout adapter. The channel includes attachment apparatus for attaching to the side of the building, and a flow channel configured such that water flowing down the side of the building drains into the flow channel. The channel adapter fluidly connects to the flow channel. The fluid conduit fluidly connected to the channel adapter. The downspout adapter fluidly connects to the fluid conduit and is configured to fluidly connect to a downspout.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to drainage systems for buildings and more particularly to drainage systems for side walls of buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to apparatus and methods for draining water from a building, and more particularly to rain water drainage systems.

A typical gutter system is usually found around the edges of a roof. It collects all the rain that hits the top of the building. The roof usually has a slope to send the rain to the gutters, which are typically made out of aluminum. The gutters are typically U shaped and carry the rain to vertical downspouts. The downspouts typically carry the rain water from the top of the roof to the ground. At the base of the downspout, there is an elbow with a horizontal spout that sends the rain away from building. The majority of rain is diverted away from the foundation with this system. At the bottom of a foundation, sometimes there is a drain system that is connected to a sump pump. This catches all the other rain around the building that seeps through the ground. Once it collects enough water it then pumps it up and out and away from the building.

There are problems with these systems. The gutter system only collects water from the roof but not the sides of the building. The sump pump system collects water after it reaches the foundation. If the pump fails, the water will have nowhere to go and usually floods the basement.

As can be seen, there may be an ongoing need to for better building drainage systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of the drainage system at a downspout junction according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a side of a building with the drainage system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a building with the drainage system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the drainage system including the hose to the downspout according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or may only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below.

The proposed system collects water from the sides of building and diverts the water away from the foundation. The water collected bypasses the sump pump.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a side view of a portion of an exemplary drainage system at a downspout junction is depicted. The drainage system may include a channel. The channel may be mounted around the entire or a portion of the bottom of a building. The channel may be constructed of one or more elongated elements and corner elements which form a flow channel for water or other fluids draining from the building. For the purposes of this description, where water is used to describe liquid in the flow channel, it means water and/or other liquids which may flow into the flow channel. The elongated and corner elements may include a generally U-shaped cross section, and include a bottom and sides forming the flow channel. In other embodiments, the cross section may have another shape such as a half rectangle, or semi-circle. The channel may be constructed of aluminum, plastic, or other materials. The construction materials may be stiff enough to hold the shape of the flow channel when water flows through it, but flexible enough not to break when carrying the weight of the water. The construction material may be resistant to water and not deteriorate when exposed to water over a long period of time. Alternatively, the construction material may be coated with a water resistant coating. The construction material may be resistant, or be coated with a coating which is resistant, to deterioration under normal conditions of an outdoor environment.

A hose or other conduit may fluidly connect the channel to a downspout or other drainage pipe or conduit. The hose may be connected to the channel with an adapter on a first end, and may be connected to the downspout with an adapter on a second end. The hose and adapter may be constructed of plastic or another appropriate material which would be resistant to water or coated with a water resistant coating. The adapters and hose may be flexible enough to carry the water without cracking or breaking under the pressure of the water's weight and flow. The adapters and hose may be constructed of a material which may be resistant, or be coated with a coating which is resistant, to deterioration under normal conditions of an outdoor environment.

The channel may be attached to the building in such a way that some, or all, of water running down the sides of the building flows into the flow channel, through the hose, and out the downspout or other drainage conduit. In one embodiment the channel may be manufactured as an integral part of siding or other outside building coverings. In another embodiment, the channel may be attachable to the building such that water flowing down the current building covering flows into the flow channel.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary schematic cross-sectional view of a side of a building with the drainage system is depicted. Rain or other source of water may not fall vertically onto the roof of a building. When the rain is propelled at an angle, it may hit the side of a building and flow into the flow channel of the J-channel gutter, and from there flow out the drainage conduit.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of an exemplary building with the drainage system is depicted.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a cross sectional view of a portion of an exemplary embodiment of the drainage system including the hose to the downspout is depicted.

In further description of the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a side of a house with downspout. The water flow goes through the channel # 1 and through adapter #2 and connected by the hose #3 to the downspout adapter # 4. #5 is the existing downspout from the existing gutter system.

In further description of the drawings, FIG. 2 shows a side view of siding #2 and j-channel # 1. A J-channel shape was used in this example but the channel can also use other shapes. With the wind, rain blows sideways onto the siding. Gravity sends the rain down to the channel. The channel is sloped towards adapters and finally out to the downspout.

In further description of the drawings, FIG. 3 is a wider view of the side of a house. Water flows down the side of the house to the J-channel #1 then to the adapter #2, through the hose #3, and through adapter to existing gutter downspout #4.

In further description of the drawings, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the system. Arrows indicate water flow. The channel # 1 is used to carry water from the side of the building. It is attached to the bottom of the siding. The channel is sloped towards the adapter #2. The adapter is connected to the channel. On the other end there is a drain hole that drains the water. That drain is connected to a hose #3 which delivers the water to the Adapter #4 that's connected to the existing downspout.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A drainage system for a side of a building, comprising: a channel including attachment apparatus for attaching to the side of the building, and a flow channel configured such that water flowing down the side of the building drains into the flow channel;a channel adapter fluidly connected to the flow channel;a fluid conduit fluidly connected to the channel adapter; anda downspout adapter fluidly connected to the fluid conduit and configured to fluidly connect to a downspout.