Patent Application
20250003219
The present invention relates to gutter-downspout-outlet structures of the type used for discharging run-off water from a building roof or similar.
A pertinent criterion in the design of a building is the directed flow of rainwater from the roof surface to the surrounding site surface, underground detention/retention, or other reuse collection area. It is of utmost importance, to prevent leakage into the building, to ensure that a sealed rainwater removal system is employed. Accordingly, it is common practice to use one of the following methods to remove rainwater from the roof structure.
Roof drains with drainpipes internal to the building are commonly used in commercial buildings. Disadvantages to this type of rainwater removal system include: increased difficulty accessing the drainpipes for maintenance, cleaning, and replacement; and necessitating additional interior square footage, requiring sound attenuation of the drainpipe chases is some cases. Representative examples of building-internally-routed roof drains can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,357,561A, 1,582,646A, and 1,180,018A. In contrast, the present invention is designed for ease of access for maintenance and repair; and the location does not take up valuable additional building square footage.
Roof scuppers with collector heads and surface mounted downspout assemblies with day-lit sheet flow overflow scuppers are commonly used in buildings with parapet walls. Disadvantages to this type of rainwater removal system include: efflorescence at the day-lit condition-a discoloration of façade masonry material; and visual dissonance of the surface mounted assemblies with the building façade. Representative examples of such collector heads are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 11,028,593B2. In contrast, the present invention blends with the exterior material colors and sizes, and prevents efflorescence by providing a intentional direction of water flow through a weather-resistant trough.
Surface mounted gutters and downspouts are commonly used in commercial and residential buildings. While this rainwater removal method offers ease of maintenance and relatively low cost, the main disadvantage of visual dissonance of the surface mounted assemblies with the building façade necessitate a more aesthetic solution. Representative examples of said surface mounted gutters and downspouts are outlined in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,419,996A, 2,701,535A, 1,596,199A, 891,405A, 891,406A; and 1,596,199A, 1,213,910A, 974,550A, respectively. In contrast, the present invention integrates seamlessly with the façade by matching various material finishes and sizes more closely and allowing for a more holistic design approach.
The conventional day-lit, or exposed to daylight, roof drain outlet assembly of round shape requires that a round opening be created in the exterior rain-screen assembly. In addition to aesthetic dissonance, the creation of said round opening is difficult, leaving more likelihood of error and increased flashing/sealing inconsistency, and subsequent infiltration of water into the building envelope. Representative examples of such roof drain outlets can be seen in US20110173897A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,365B1, and US20040194395A1. In contrast, the present invention incorporates a rectangular shape that can be more easily and consistently flashed and sealed, reducing the likelihood of water infiltration; as well as blending with the façade both in size and aesthetic.
The rain-screen-type wall assembly, using an exterior cladding infrastructure that sits away from the building exterior wall weather-resistant barrier, or drainage plane, is used in most commercial and some residential buildings.
In short, the roof drainage system of the present invention is to be in line/plane with the rain-screen-type exterior wall finish assembly to discharge run-off water to a drainage location either above or below ground, and includes a gutter assembly recessed into the roof edge structure, connected to a downspout assembly that is recessed into the exterior finish material outboard of the rigid insulation and weather barrier (drainage plane) that allows for ease of maintenance, clean out, and replacement; with a day-lit or sub-grade tie-in type outlet; that also visually blends into the façade.
In the preferred embodiment, the roof drainage system as shown in
Referring now to the accompanying drawings and initially to
The gutter assembly 12 is formed from continuous length aluminum sheeting to have integral upright front and rear wall members 11 and a bottom portion extending parallel to the roof perimeter to define a collecting trough 11 having an open top. The gutter assembly 12 is mounted on roof framing substructural blocking members 19 recessed into the roof edge 17 with the top flanges of the gutter walls 12 in the same plane tucked under the roof finish flashing material 16. The opening in the bottom portion of the gutter 12 is provided to be fitted with a downspout assembly 13 having a closed two-piece bent aluminum sheeting configuration (as shown); an open extruded aluminum vertical channel configuration (not shown); an extruded aluminum vertical channel with a polycarbonate exterior cover configuration (not shown); or a closed extruded aluminum tube configuration (similar to as shown).
In the operation of a conventional internal roof drain system there is increased likelihood of water infiltration into the building envelope due to sealant/flashing failure; along with significant difficulty accessing the drain pipes for maintenance, cleaning, and replacement. The initial installation of the internal roof drain system has substantial drawbacks including necessitating additional interior square footage; and in some cases requiring sound attenuation of the drain pipe chases, further increasing construction difficulty and cost.
The configuration of the rain-screen integrated downspout 13 in the current invention resolves these problems by installing the system outboard of the wall cavity with mounting methods that allow removal for maintenance without removing a portion of the roof or exterior wall finish 22 by incorporating removable aluminum reglet trim (not shown for clarity) to seal and hide the accessible fastening brackets 15.
In the operation of a conventional surface mounted gutters and downspouts, while offering ease of maintenance and relatively low cost, the main disadvantage of visual dissonance of the surface mounted assemblies with the building façade necessitate a more aesthetic solution.
The configuration of the recessed roof gutter 12 to rain-screen integrated downspout assembly 13 resolves the disadvantage of surface-mounted systems by providing an integral system with width and color options that provide a more aesthetically pleasing system than conventional surface-mounted systems.
The day-lit downspout outlet assembly 14 is of extruded aluminum in a one-piece configuration (as shown) with a hinged lockable perforated aluminum cover (not shown) to prevent pest access. Alternative configurations for the day-lit downspout outlet 14 include an open extruded aluminum channel configuration (not shown); an extruded aluminum channel with polycarbonate top cover configuration (not shown). In addition, the downspout # may not be day-lit but rather tied into the subsurface drainage system below grade.
The conventional day-lit downspout outlet assembly of round shape requires that a round opening be created in the exterior rain-screen assembly. In addition to aesthetic dissonance, the creation of said round opening is difficult, leaving more likelihood of error and increased flashing/sealing difficulty.
The day-lit downspout outlet 14 from downspout assembly 13 of the present invention addresses those difficulties by providing a continuous, coursing-width, rain-screen integral system 10 is designed to match typical masonry dimensions to reduce the need to cut masonry as compared to current systems. Furthermore, because the width of the rain-screen integral system 10 is the same width as the width of masonry units, it can be more easily camouflaged through the use of colored coatings that are typically available for extruded aluminum materials, either standard, premium, or custom color options.
