Patent Application
20210372129
This disclosure relates generally to automatic downspout technology, more particularly, to a device of utilizing a wireless automatic downspout actuation device to lower or raise a downspout connected to a gutter system.
Building gutter systems typically collect water from a roof on a building, move it, and direct it away from the building. A gutter system typically routes water to the ground through a system of gutters, downspouts, and downspout extensions. Directing water away from the building is an important function of a gutter system. Downspout extensions commonly can be raised or lowered as required. Downspout extensions should be lowered to allow rainfall to be collected and directed away from a building. Downspout extensions may be raised when one desires to mow a lawn, landscape around a house, or during select environmental seasons.
Directing water away from a building is important for several reasons. Reasons include the fact that water routed to the ground near the building may cause foundation damage, water falling from a gutter system may affect surrounding landscaping, and rainwater can be slowly deposited on the ground such not to cause divots or holes.
The present application discloses an automatic extension device that automatically can lower a downspout extension from a raised position to a lowered position based on weather conditions, scheduling, or other inputs. The present application also discloses the method of releasing the downspout extension based on certain triggers.
An exemplary automatic extension device comprises a control board connected to a downspout, a power source, a latch with the ability to connect to a downspout extension, and a release kickoff. The control board in this example is capable of processing inputs to provide the desired output. The control board may receive input via a wireless system such as wireless internet, such that the downspout extension is released such that it lowers to the lowered position. The power source may include rechargeable batteries, single-use batteries, or hardwired from a building electrical system. The latch and the kickoff device may be a pin with a spring that causes the downspout extension to begin moving to the lowered position.
A control board may receive inputs from an internet source that communicate a likelihood of a certain weather event, a moisture sensor that detects a requisite level of moisture, a set of calendar data the provides a schedule, or any other relevant input.
A user may manually move the downspout extension to the raised position as desired. Alternatively, a device and method to move the downspout extension to the raised position can be employed to further automate the raising and lowering functions of a downspout extension.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention will now be described with occasional reference to the specific embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of dimensions such as length, width, height, and so forth as used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical properties set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from error found in their respective measurements.
The downspout extension 109 has a distal end 110 which is located on the opposite end of downspout extension 109 than where the downspout extension 109 is connected to the elbow 107. The downspout extension 109 is shown in
The latch catch 112 and the latch 205 mechanically connect together when the downspout extension 109 is in the raised position. The latch 205 can be in a closed position or an open position. The latch 205 and the latch catch 112 may be secured together when the latch catch 112 is inserted in the latch 205. The control board 207 may trigger the latch 205 to move to the open position such that the latch catch 112 can be removed from the latch 205. In practice, when the latch 205 moves to the open position when the latch catch 112 is secured to the latch 205, the latch catch 112 will begin to move away from the latch 205 due to the force from an optional kickoff spring 302 or due to the force of gravity. The latch catch 112 is connected to the downspout extension 109 near the distal end 110 of the downspout extension 109. When the latch catch 112 moves away from the latch 205, the downspout extension 109 moves away from the automatic extension device 102 into the lowered position.
The control board 207 may have any suitable configuration; as those skilled in the art appreciate, the design of the control board 207 is determined by factors such as available space and the intended function. Commonly used for the control board 207 could be a system on a chip (SoC). The control board 207 may have a transceiver, a processor, memory, or other components understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art. The control board 207 in the embodiment shown in
The control board 207 is programed to cause the latch 205 to move to an open position based on certain conditions. The control board 207 may be programed to move the latch 205 to the open position on different days, times, or seasons. When an external data source communicates data to the control board 207 that a moisture event may be occurring, the control board 207 may be programed to move the latch 205 to the open position. The benefit of triggering the latch 205 to move to the open position when a moisture event may occur, is that the downspout extension 109 moves to the lowered position thus allowing moisture to flow from the gutter 103 to the distal end 110 of the downspout extension 109 and away from the building structure 101.
The housing 201 has a device cover 206 which is opposite of the downspout 103. The housing 201 and the device cover 206 in this example are sized such that they will fit into a quick attach mount 303. The quick attach mount 303 allows for the housing 102 and its internal components to be removed from the downspout 103. Removing the housing 201 allows for the automatic extension device 102 to be brought to another location for service or to be taken out of the outdoor climate. It may be desired to remove the automatic extension device 102 for the winter months or other times of the year when rain or other relevant moisture events are not expected.
In some embodiments, a spring may be installed at the hinge 111 which can be used to decrease the speed at which the downspout extension 109 moves from the raised position to the lowered position. The spring is positioned such that when the downspout extension 109 is moved to the lowered position more pressure against the downspout extension 109 is applied in an upward manner. Additionally, the spring may assist the movement of the downspout extension 109 from the lowered position to the raised position. An electric motor geared to apply upward force to the downspout extension 109 may be attached to the automatic extension device 102. The electric motor may be positioned next to the hinge 111 or any other location where the motive force may be transmitted to the downspout extension 109. The control board 207 may be programed to raise the downspout extension 109 to the raised position based on a time delay after moisture is detected, based on a certain time period, or other triggers.
Data sources which can be employed by the control board 207 that can trigger certain actions may include but are not limited to weather forecasting data services, calendar databases, moisture sensors, and other sources appreciated by a person with ordinary skill in the art. Weather forecasting service can include radar data, news stations, and other such sources. Such data can be wirelessly transmitted to the control board 207 via a wireless technology such as A wireless technology such as WiFi′ can provide access to the internet. Weather forecasting services can be communicated over the internet and to the control board 207. Optionally, a smart device or computer can communicate a data command to the control board 207 over a wireless technology to cause the downspout extension 109 to be moved to the raised position or the lower position. A calendar database may include an integration to an internet calendar or any other such source.
An example of when the control board 207 uses external data to trigger the latch 205 to move to the open position causing the downspout extension 109 to move to the lowered position is when radar data indicates a rain event may occur. Weather radar data is pulled from many different sources and compiled on a variety of websites and databases on the internet. These internet web sites and databases can easily be accessed. Weather radar data can be pinpointed to a specific location on a geographic map. The geographic location of the automatic extension device 102 can be programed to the control board 207. By programing the location on the control board 207, weather radar data can communicate to the control board 207 when a rainfall event is expected to be located at the location of the automatic extension device 102. By using weather radar data, the control board 207 can trigger the latch 205 to move to the open position minutes prior to expected arrival of the rain event. If the automatic extension device 102 is equipped with a motor for the purpose of moving the downspout extension 109 to the raised position, the radar data can be used to determine when the rain event is no longer present and when the motor should be used to move the downspout extension 109 to the raised position.
Any one type of data source may be optionally used by the automatic extension device 102. Alternatively, the automatic extension device 102 may be used without an external data source or the control board 207 may triggered by an onboard sensor.
While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the general inventive concepts are described and illustrated herein in the context of various exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof.
Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the general inventive concepts. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions (such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on) may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the general inventive concepts even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/704,853, filed May 31, 2020, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62704853 | May 2020 | US |
