Diversion system and method

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6470628
  • Patent Number
    6,470,628
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, September 25, 2001
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 29, 2002
    23 years ago
Abstract
A shelf extends inwardly to the gutter trough from the front containment wall of a gutter trough to cooperate with a lip of a cavity structure of a hanger to provide structural stability and optional deflector attachment facility in a rain collection and diversion system. The hanger cavity structure has a containment lip a portion of which extends over a portion of the inwardly extending shelf of the front containment wall to allow functional water bearing capacity of the trough and a lengthened back trough wall to accommodate hanger placement and deflector inclination. The hanger can include deflector-mating cavities that open toward each other to allow compression attachment of the deflector. In a preferred embodiment, the deflector may be attached to a formed trough in which hangers are positioned to allow movement of the trough-deflector combination as a unit from the machine-site to the installation location on the structure. Associated installation methods are provided.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




The present invention relates to rain and run-off collection and diversion system and, in particular, to systems and methods for such systems that exhibit reduced debris accumulation.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Diversion of rain from buildings is a well-known and beneficial practice. For centuries, architects and builders have understood the benefits of diverting rain to forestall erosion, maintain structural stability, and preserve vegetation. In recent decades, a multitude of systems have been developed to divert rain from structures and homes. Typically, such systems have been placed beneath or adjacent to the roofline to allow collection and diversion of rain accumulated from across the surface area of the structure roof. Such systems are sometimes called “gutter” systems.




Frequently, rain diversion systems employ gutters that are open channels to collect run-off from the roof. Diversion or gutter systems devised with open-channeled rain gutters tend to accumulate debris including sticks, leaves and other matter that is swept toward the gutter by the gravity-induced flow of water down the pitch of the roof. Such debris can cause malfunction of the system as well as significant problems with leakage and corrosion. Roof and structural rotting as well as erosion can be precipitated by the consequent accumulation of water without appropriate attendant diversion.




Consequently, a variety of gutter systems of varying complexity have been developed to inhibit debris accumulation in gutter systems. Simple systems have merely placed screens across open-faced gutter channels. These techniques commonly have their own debris accumulation problems. Other systems employ a deflector described by various terms such as “hood” or “shield” that deflect debris while the gutter accumulates water for diversion to determined locations. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,649 to Vahldieck, a system is described that purportedly preferentially collects water and deflects debris over a continuous double-curved shield through which a spike passes to affix the shield to a back support wall of the gutter. The use of shields and other deflectors is well known, and a variety of prior systems modify the shape of the deflector to purportedly take better advantage of the surface tension qualities of diverted run off. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,775 to Demartini, a system of longitudinal ridges is imposed on a deflector and is said to improve adhesion of the water to the deflector to improve transference to the gutter.




Others have developed systems to support debris deflectors or affix the deflector to the gutter. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,146 to Demartini, a rain deflector support is described that purports to support the underside of a rain gutter deflector while positioning the deflector in relation to the gutter.




As diversions systems have become more complicated, so have the associated issues of cost, specialized material stock, and installation efficiency become more unwieldy. For example, most systems that employ a deflector affix the deflector with screws or clips that reduce flexibility of the system or add an extra part (in addition to the hanger) to the assembly. If the deflector cannot be easily unfastened from the gutter, repair and maintenance are complicated.




For a variety of reasons, diversion systems that deflect debris have not been adopted as widely as demand would suggest. There are a variety of reasons for this result. One reason for the minimal market penetration is the use of non-standard widths of metal stock or “coil” for the gutter trough above which the deflector is positioned. Non-standard coil sizes add significantly to the cost and availability of such systems.




There are two principal sizes of coil used to form the gutter channels known in the art as “troughs.” For the widely found five inch-wide (5″) gutter troughs, standard coil material of 11 and ⅞ inches (11⅞″) is employed (except in the Northeastern U.S. where 5″ gutter troughs are formed from 11 and ¾ inch (11¾″) stock). For the less widely found, but still common, six inch (6″) trough, fifteen inch (15″) coil is used.




In almost all deflection systems, when installed, a deflector must be inclined by a degree sufficient to impart velocity to the run-off great enough to impel debris from the deflector. This requires that the back of the trough, proximal to which the deflector is attached, be high enough to provide sufficient incline for the deflector. Debris deflection systems for 5″ trough gutters employ non-standard coil for the gutter as a result of taking material from the front of the trough to raise the back wall of the gutter. With known designs, if standard width coil of 11⅞ inches were used to form the trough, the shift of material around the standard trough form factor (as employed in the art to create the “OG” 5 inch gutter) from the front trough channel containment wall to the back wall of the trough to provide sufficient deflector inclination leaves insufficient material for the front. This process takes, however, material from the front border area of the trough to create the stiffening front channel edge that provides installation stability and standard hanger affixation capability.




The shape of the front of the gutter trough contributes to structural stability and, in some systems, provides an interface for hanger or deflector attachment. In particular, the shape of the border area of the gutter trough can significantly affect gutter stability during installation, an important consideration in any gutter system. Typically, lengths of gutter trough are formed in runs approximately 40 feet long. Without sufficient resistance to deformation, the gutter trough may fold or crease, particularly when being moved during installation, thus limiting run lengths and increasing installation difficulty. Consequently, 5″ gutter troughs with debris deflectors have typically used coil wider than 11⅞″ or 11¾″ for gutter formation to provide material sufficient to provide a stabilizing front gutter channel configuration with a raised back gutter trough wall to accommodate appropriate inclination of the deflector. Consequently, because of the higher cost of non-standard material, in particular, deflector-fitted 5″ trough gutter systems have cost significantly more than open-faced 5″ trough gutter systems crafted from standard sized coil material.




Previous system design, whether with 5″ or 6″ gutter troughs, has also contributed to unwieldy installation techniques, further increasing the expense of diversion systems that employ deflection hoods or shields. Some deflection systems form the trough and deflector from one piece of material. More commonly, the trough and deflector are separately formed and joined in place at the structure roof edge. Typically, two forming machines are employed during installation of a two-piece deflection system. One machine is dedicated to gutter trough formation, while the other is configured to form the deflector. The machines are typically placed side-by-side. The installation team typically first forms trough lengths sufficient to gutter the structure. The troughs are then affixed in place on the structure. After the troughs are fastened to the building, corresponding deflectors are formed and affixed to the in-place troughs. This process requires multiple trips to and from the forming machines as well as at least two trips up a ladder to install separately, the two large pieces of the system. The described process requires dexterity which, even if applied, cannot ameliorate the difficulty of moving long lengths of deflector that lack structural rigidity unless affixed to, and combined with, the gutter trough.




The inflexible nature of the affixation between hood and trough in prior systems results in several shortcomings. Replacement of deflector sections is made difficult by the inflexible nature of the affixation between deflector and trough. Nail or screw attachment of the deflector is at least semi-permanent, and when the deflector is attached by such means, the system is less easily repaired, serviced, or replaced. Other systems have more sophisticated deflector-attachment techniques, but those systems lack installation flexibility. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,435 to Knudson, there is there purportedly described a system having a hood which snaps into particularly configured hangers affixed along the length of the gutter trough. In this system however, the deflector is opened wider to embrace coupling portions of a fastening support device. This is difficult to do with one hand. Installation flexibility is also minimal because, as described in Knudson, the hanger and trough are affixed to the structure before the deflector is attached to the gutter trough. As in other prior systems, this prevents creation of a structurally sound member before the deflector and gutter trough assembly is moved from the machine site to the eventual installation location, an advantage for installation having considerable value in reducing labor cost and inconvenience.




Consequently, what is needed therefore, is a rain collection and diversion system that employs standard-sized coil, has structural soundness and strength, and can be partially assembled close to the machine-site while being easily installed.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




A shelf extends inwardly to the gutter trough from the front containment wall of a gutter trough to cooperate with a lip of a cavity structure of a hanger to provide structural stability and optional deflector attachment facility in a rain collection and diversion system. The hanger cavity structure has a containment lip, a portion of which extends over a portion of the inwardly extending shelf of the front containment wall to allow functional water bearing capacity of the trough and a lengthened back trough wall to accommodate hanger placement and deflector inclination. The hanger can include deflector-mating cavities that open toward each other to allow compression attachment of the deflector.




In a preferred embodiment, the deflector may be attached to a formed trough in which hangers are positioned to allow movement of the trough-deflector combination as a unit from the machine-site to the installation location on the structure. Associated installation methods are provided.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

depicts a cross-sectional view of a prior art trough of a configuration that is common in the field.





FIG. 2

depicts a cross-sectional view of a trough configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 3

depicts a cross-sectional view of a trough, hanger and deflector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 4

depicts a cross-sectional view of a half-round trough, hanger and deflector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 5

depicts a cross-section of an enlarged area of the trough, hanger, and deflector depicted in FIG.


3


.





FIG. 6

depicts another embodiment of trough, hanger, and deflector devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 7

is an enlarged depiction showing a containment wall border area of a trough configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 8

is an enlarged depiction of a receptive cavity structure of a hanger configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment.





FIG. 9

depicts the border area of a trough and a receptive cavity structure of a hanger configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 10

depicts the border area of a trough and a receptive cavity structure of a hanger configured in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 11

depicts the border area of a trough and a receptive cavity structure of a hanger configured in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 12

depicts the border area of a trough and a receptive cavity structure of a hanger configured in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 13

is an end-on depiction of a forming machine disposed above a second forming machine as employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 14

is a plan view of two offset forming machines as employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 15

depicts two-armed run-out stands as employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIG. 1

depicts a cross-sectional view of a prior art trough


5


of standard configuration that is common in the field. As shown in

FIG. 1

, the depicted trough


5


has a folded edge or shelf along its front containment wall.





FIG. 2

depicts a cross-sectional view of a trough


10


configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Trough


10


has a front containment wall


12


that has an inwardly projecting shelf


14


that is part of containment wall border area


16


of front containment wall


12


. Trough


10


has a back wall


18


. As shown, containment wall


12


need not be a planar wall but may take a variety of shapes and configurations to provide a containment function for collected liquid. Between front containment wall


12


and back wall


18


, a channel is formed for water collection and diversion bottomed with floor


20


. In an embodiment having a rounded or “half-round” trough, it will be recognized that there is no distinct floor


20


and front containment wall


12


and back wall


18


will not have traditional “wall” planar areas but blend into an arcuate floor area.




In a 5-inch embodiment of trough


10


in which there is approximately 5 inches between back wall


18


and the farthest reach of containment wall border area


16


, standard material coil of 11⅞ inches may be employed. As those of skill in the art will recognize, standard material coil may exhibit some variation in width depending upon manufacturer or local custom. Consequently, in a preferred embodiment employing standard material, standard material between 11⅝ inches and 12 inches in width may be employed to create trough


10


with a 5 inch opening. Certainly other sizes of troughs can be created to advantage by employment of the present invention. For example, the well-known 6-inch trough can be created in conformity with an alternative embodiment of the present invention by use of 15 inch material coil. Containment wall border area


16


may be formed by bending, folding, forming or other of the well-known means for configuring trough


10


. A preferred method for creating containment wall border area


16


is with a roller-based machine at the same time that the configuration of trough


10


is created from coil stock. When a 5 inch trough in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is created with a roller-based machine, the standard material coil stock is positioned so as to move the furthest reach of the formed back wall between ¾ and 1 inch from the place the furthest reach of the back wall would occupy in formation of a standard OG gutter trough so as to bring greater height to the back wall for deflector inclination during trough formation. As well as using forms in accordance with the present invention, the material is shifted around the form relative to the material placement employed in forming the OG gutter.





FIG. 3

depicts as assembly


15


, a cross-sectional view of trough


10


in use with hanger


30


and deflector


40


in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system described can be used either with or without deflector


40


.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, hanger


30


includes optional deflector attachment cavities


32


and


34


. In the depicted embodiment, hanger


30


is stamped from metal, but any number of materials and formation techniques may be used to create a hanger


30


having the features described here. For example, hanger


30


may be made of metal or plastic such as Teflon, or higher strength polys. If made of metal, hanger


30


can be forged, stamped, extruded, die cut or cast or other technique familiar to the trade. Hanger


30


includes receptive cavity structure


31


that will be later described in more detail while front containment wall


12


exhibits containment wall border area


16


that will be described in more detail.

FIG. 4

depicts a cross-sectional view of a half-round trough assembled with a hanger and deflector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.




With reference to

FIGS. 3 and 5

(which figure illustrates an enlarged portion of

FIG. 3

about the area of flex fold


42


), deflector


40


is selectably attached to hanger


30


by insertion of flex fold


42


into cavity


34


and insertion of attachment fold


46


into cavity


32


. In a preferred compression embodiment, curve


44


provides a ready method to accomplish this selective attachment. Those of skill in the art will recognize that flex fold


42


and attachment fold


46


are first and second long axis perimeters of deflector


40


and need not be “folds” but may be any edge or fold or border of the deflector which may be inserted into the appropriate cavity of the hanger. This selectable attachment feature of deflector


40


as shown in this depiction of a preferred embodiment of the present invention allows assemblage of deflector


40


to hanger


30


before the assembly


15


is installed on a structure.




As shown in conjunction with FIG.


3


and

FIG. 5

, hanger


30


has optional penetrative prongs


36


shown penetrating back wall


18


of trough


10


. As shown more closely in

FIG. 5

, prongs


36


preferably have a concavity


38


that cooperates with dimple


39


on back wall


18


to preliminarily position hanger


30


for prong insertion through back wall


18


with an appropriate compression tool such as a specialized pliers or other readily available and adapted instrument. Back abutment


41


of hanger


30


is placed against back wall


18


with concavity


38


placed against dimple


39


and the compression tool pushes prongs through the back wall


18


. There need not be a specially configured structure for an abutment for hanger


30


, the back of the structure of hanger


30


disposed against back wall


18


being the abutment. The prongs are folded by the compression tool against the back of back wall


18


to affix hanger


30


. This operation can be performed before attachment of the trough to the structure and may be performed at the machine site or elsewhere to affix back wall


18


in relation to front containment wall


12


while creating a mechanically sound structure ready for attachment of deflector


40


. Hanger


30


need not have prongs


36


but their use is advantageous.




As described with continuing reference to

FIGS. 3 and 5

, flex fold


42


of deflector


40


cooperates with cavity


34


to allow a resistance hinge-like action of deflector


40


. In particular, deflector


40


may be lifted from hanger


30


by compression of curve


44


of deflector


40


to remove attachment fold


46


of deflector


40


from cavity


32


. The forward part of deflector


40


is then lifted from its position as flex fold


42


and cavity


32


allow a spring-like rotational opening of a gap between deflector


40


and hanger


30


through which fastener


50


may manipulated to install assembly


15


on the structure as fastener


50


is screwed or pounded or otherwise inserted into place. In embodiments with penetrative fasteners, fastener


50


may be a nail or screw or spike or other such projecting fastener, many of which are common in the field. Other techniques for hanging assembly


15


are known in the art. Hanger


30


includes, in a preferred embodiment, indent


48


to mate with ridge


52


of deflector


40


while stop


54


of hanger


30


inhibits deflector


30


from unpredicted separation from hanger


30


, particularly during installation or servicing. In a preferred embodiment, fastener


50


slides into a guide slot


56


created in hanger


30


to avoid addition of height or special platforms to hanger


30


. The compression fitting of deflector


40


into cavities


32


and


34


allows ready placement of deflector


40


on the trough


10


and hanger


30


combination at the machine-site to allow a single installation trip from machine site to installation site with the combined structure of deflector and trough.





FIG. 6

depicts another embodiment of assembly


15


devised in accordance with the present invention and which employs an extruded hanger


30


.

FIG. 6

depicts fastener


50


as it would be engaged into a structure. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed configuration allows the front of deflector


40


to be lifted from hanger


30


to insert fastener


50


into the structure.





FIG. 7

is an enlarged depiction showing containment wall border area


16


of trough


10


of FIG.


3


. As shown in

FIG. 7

, containment wall border area


16


includes containment edge or shelf


52


that extends inwardly to the trough. Either part or all of containment shelf


52


may extend inwardly to the trough and that inward extension may be at an angle or horizontal orientation. In a preferred embodiment, containment wall border area


16


includes rise


53


. Containment shelf


52


may be folded, or a single material thickness and may extend horizontally (as shown in the preferred embodiment view of

FIG. 7

) or at an angle from the horizontal as shown in

FIG. 10

, or have a vertical extension as shown, for example, in FIG.


11


. Part or all of shelf


52


can, but need not, be canted at an angle to match the configuration of containment lip


54


of receptive cavity structure


31


of hanger


30


. Consequently, those of skill in the art will recognize that containment lip


54


may take a variety of configurations to cooperate with the variety of configurations of containment shelf


52


within the scope of the invention to extend a portion of containment lip


54


over a portion of containment shelf


52


and thereby, according to the vernacular of the present disclosure, “mate” containment lip


54


with containment shelf


52


. The part of containment shelf


52


that extends inwardly to the trough need not be the portion of shelf


52


over which a portion of containment lip


54


extends to mate with containment shelf


52


. When a portion of containment lip


54


extends over a portion of containment shelf


52


, the elements are mated.





FIG. 8

is an enlarged depiction of receptive cavity structure


31


of hanger


30


in a preferred embodiment. Receptive cavity structure


31


as shown in

FIG. 8

, includes fulcrum ridge


56


over which, rise


53


of front containment wall border area


16


tents.





FIG. 9

depicts a preferred disposition of containment lip


54


mated with containment shelf


52


to provide functional water bearing capacity for trough


10


while still allowing sufficient standard material coil to provide a back wall


18


of sufficient height to provide necessary inclination for deflector


40


. In this preferred depiction, containment lip


54


is mated with containment shelf


52


.





FIGS. 10

,


11


, and


12


depict alternative arrangements for the mating between containment lip


54


and containment shelf


52


and they are included only as example embodiments and not as limitations for the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 10

depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention showing containment shelf


52


as angled upward and containment lip


54


as angled downward as shelf


52


and lip


54


are mated. In other alternative and exemplar but not to be construed as limiting embodiments, containment lip


54


may be horizontal while containment shelf


52


is angled or containment lip


54


may be angled while containment shelf


52


exhibits a horizontal character or each may be independently angled or horizontal.





FIG. 11

shows another alternative embodiment of the present invention in which containment lip


54


extends over a vertical extension portion of containment shelf


52


. This is another example of the mating of containment lip


54


and containment shelf


52


.





FIG. 12

shows yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention in which containment lip


54


has an extension that deflects downward over a portion of containment shelf


52


. Containment lip


54


and containment shelf


52


are mated in the depiction of FIG.


12


.




The present invention provides numerous advantages during installation of the system. A preferred method for installation includes formation of deflector


40


with a machine placed above a forming machine dedicated to formation of trough


10


.

FIG. 13

depicts forming machine


72


disposed above forming machine


70


in the bed


74


of a truck. The machines need not be placed on the truck bed that is merely shown as an exemplar setting. Preferably, a track is employed that allows forward and backward movement of upper machine


72


relative to the bottom machine


70


for maintenance of the lower machine


70


as will be recognized by those of skill in the art. Machine


70


is configured to form lengths of trough


10


configured in accordance with the present invention, while machine


72


is configured to form lengths of deflector


40


configured in accordance with the present invention.




In a preferred method in accordance with the present invention, material cradles


74


and


76


of the respective machines


70


and


72


are loaded with coil. Trough machine


70


consumes coil material


75


of 11⅞ inches in width in an application configured to produce troughs 5 inches in width. Other widths of coil may also be used. Cradle


76


of deflector machine


72


is loaded with coil material


77


of between 7⅝ inches and 8 inches to produce deflectors. Other widths may be used for larger or smaller configurations. Emergent from machine


70


are lengths


78


of trough


10


. Emergent from machine


72


are lengths


80


of deflector


40


.




As shown in

FIG. 15

, two-armed run-out stands


82


and


84


having upper arms


86


and lower arms


88


provide work placement for lengths of deflector


40


and trough


10


. End caps


90




a


are placed in appropriate locations. In a preferred embodiment, end caps are two-piece, with piece


90




a


fitted to troughs


10


and piece


90




b


fitted to deflector


40


.




A preferred method for installation of the present system proceeds as follows. As length


78


of trough


10


is run from machine


70


, end caps


90




a


are installed where appropriate, outlet sites are punched and outlets installed for joinder with downspouts, miters are cut and cavity structure


31


of hanger


30


is brought into place to mate containment lip


54


of hanger


30


with containment shelf


52


of trough


10


. Hangers


30


are punched through the backwall


18


of trough


10


and prongs


36


are crimped. These steps can be performed either at the machine or with the assistance of the run-out stands. Hanger fitted trough


10


is rested on run-out stands.




Corresponding length


80


of deflector


40


is run from machine


72


and is installed with end caps


90




b


and miters are cut appropriate. Length


80


of deflector


40


is placed on length


78


of trough


10


as deflector attachment cavities


34


and


32


are used to retain deflector


40


. In alternative methods, cavity


34


is used to retain deflector


40


for conveyance to the installation location on the structure but, where some distance is involved, use of both cavities


32


and


34


keeps deflector


40


more securely retained. In either case, the entire assembly may then be transported to a location on a lower level such as ground, for example, corresponding to the eventual installation location on the structure. The process is repeated until all assemblies of trough, hangers and deflector have been processed.




Two installers are then employed on ladders or other riser to position each length of assembled trough, hangers, and deflector into place against the structure where the assembly is fastened into place in at least two locations. This is simplified by the feature of the present invention that allows compression fitting of the deflector into the appropriate cavities of hanger


30


. The process of two-installer positioning continues around the structure. One installer takes up a position on the roof of the structure or ladder and completes the affixation of the fasteners


50


. This can be readily performed by one person due to the compression fitting of deflector


40


that allows opening the assembly to reach fastener


50


. Once fasteners for a length of the assembly have been affixed, deflector


40


is compressed to fit flex fold


42


and attachment fold


46


of deflector


40


to cavities


34


and


32


respectively of deflector


40


. As the roof or ladder positioned installer proceeds with this procedure of fastener affixation, the second installer forms downspouts and attaches them to the structure.




Although the present invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in a variety of specific forms and that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The described embodiments are only illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A water diversion system for receiving water runoff from a structure, the water diversion system comprising:a. a hanger having a backend and a receptive cavity structure, the receptive cavity structure having an outwardly projecting containment lip, the receptive cavity structure being partially bounded by a fulcrum ridge toward which the containment lip projects; b. a trough having a planar mounting wall against the inside of which is disposed the backend of the hanger, the trough having a front containment wall that extends into a front border area that passes over the fulcrum ridge and extends in an inwardly-projecting containment shelf mated with the outwardly projecting containment lip of the receptive cavity structure of the hanger.
  • 2. A hanger for use in a water diversion system, the hanger comprising a fulcrum prominence bounding on one extent, a receptive cavity partially closed by a containment lip projecting toward the fulcrum prominence.
  • 3. The hanger of claim 2 in which the containment lip projects perpendicularly toward the fulcrum prominence.
  • 4. The hanger of claim 2 in which the hanger is comprised of stamped metal.
  • 5. The hanger of claim 2 in which the hanger is comprised of extruded metal.
  • 6. A water diversion system comprising:a hanger comprising a fulcrum prominence bounding on one extent, a receptive cavity partially closed by a containment lip projecting toward the fulcrum prominence; and a trough having a front containment wall that extends into a front border area that passes upwardly and over the fulcrum prominence of the hanger and subsequently passes inwardly into a containment shelf mated with the containment lip.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/880,412 filed Jun. 12, 2001, pending, and incorporated by reference herein for all purpose.

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Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/880412 Jun 2001 US
Child 09/962996 US