US5114594A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rainwater diverter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-02-26
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Granted: 1992-05-19
•
Expires: 2011-02-26
Abstract
Abstract Described is a preferred fluid flow diverter, such as a rainwater diverter, having an outer duct, and an inner duct within said outer duct and defining a reservoir to collect fluid. The diverter also includes a drainage duct extending from the reservoir to the exterior of the outer duct. The inner duct has a bypass opening at a height above the drainage duct. In this manner, fluid flowing into the inner duct is diverted through the drainage duct, and excess fluid unable to flow through the drainage duct (e.g. during heavy rains) accumulates in the inner duct to the height of the bypass opening and then excess fluid not retainable by the reservoir flows through the bypass opening and is exhausted through the outer duct. Also described are a rainwater diversion apparatus and method incorporating the preferred fluid flow diverter.
Inventors
- 👤 Linda L. Rosebrock
- 👤 Ronald L. Rosebrock, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:23
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04D; E04D13/00; E04D13/04; E04D13/08; E04D2013/082; E04D2013/086; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6966; Y10T137/6969; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/85938; Y10T137/877; Y10T137/87788; Y10T137/87804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A fluid flow diverter, comprising: an outer duct; an inner duct positioned within said outer duct, said inner duct having a closed bottom end and defining a reservoir to collect fluid; a drainage duct extending into said inner duct and exteriorly of said outer duct; said inner duct further having a bypass opening to said outer duct at a height above said drainage duct, wherein fluid flowing into the inner duct is diverted through the drainage duct, and fluid unable to flow through the drainage duct accumulates in the inner duct to said height, whereupon excess fluid flows through the bypass opening and exhausts through the outer duct.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A fluid flow diverter, comprising: an outer duct; an inner duct positioned within said outer duct, said inner duct having a closed bottom end and defining a reservoir to collect fluid; a drainage duct extending into said inner duct and exteriorly of said outer duct; said inner duct further having a bypass opening to said outer duct at a height above said drainage duct, wherein fluid flowing into the inner duct is diverted through the drainage duct, and fluid unable to flow through the drainage duct accumulates in the inner duct to said height, whereupon excess fluid flows through the bypass opening and exhausts through the outer duct.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fluid flow diverter according to claim 1, and further comprising upper and lower ends matable with a gutter downspout.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fluid flow diverter according to claim 2, wherein said drainage duct is adjacent to said bottom end of said inner duct.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A fluid flow diverter according to claim 3, wherein said bypass opening is a wedge-shaped opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fluid flow diverter according to claim 3, wherein the upper and lower ends are substantially rectangular in shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fluid flow diverter according to claim 3, wherein said lower end is sized to be received in said downspout whereas said upper end is sized to receive said downspout.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fluid flow diverter according to claim 6, wherein said upper and lower ends are substantially rectangular in shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fluid flow diverter according to claim 7, and further comprising a screen for filtering fluid entering said inner duct.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fluid flow diverter according to claim 8, wherein said screen is removable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
A rainwater diverter apparatus, comprising: a gutter downspout; and positioned in said downspout, a fluid flow diverter including: an outer duct; an inner duct positioned within said outer duct, said inner duct having a closed bottom end and defining a reservoir to collect fluid; a drainage duct extending into said inner duct and exteriorly of said outer duct; said inner duct further having a bypass opening to said outer duct at a height above said drainage duct; wherein fluid flowing down said downspout flows into the inner duct and is diverted through the drainage duct, and fluid unable to flow through the drainage duct accumulates in the inner duct to said height, whereupon excess fluid flows through the bypass opening, through the outer duct and out of the bottom of said downspout.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
A rainwater diverter apparatus, comprising: a gutter downspout; and positioned in said downspout, a fluid flow diverter including: an outer duct; an inner duct positioned within said outer duct, said inner duct having a closed bottom end and defining a reservoir to collect fluid; a drainage duct extending into said inner duct and exteriorly of said outer duct; said inner duct further having a bypass opening to said outer duct at a height above said drainage duct; wherein fluid flowing down said downspout flows into the inner duct and is diverted through the drainage duct, and fluid unable to flow through the drainage duct accumulates in the inner duct to said height, whereupon excess fluid flows through the bypass opening, through the outer duct and out of the bottom of said downspout.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rainwater diverter apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said drainage duct is adjacent to said bottom end of said inner duct.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rainwater diverter apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said fluid flow diverter is removably mounted in said downspout.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A rainwater diverter apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bypass opening is a wedge-shaped opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rainwater diverter apparatus according to claim 10, and further comprising a screen for filtering fluid entering said inner duct.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A rainwater diverter apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said screen is removable.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for diverting rainwater flowing through a gutter downspout, comprising the steps of: providing a fluid flow diverter including: an outer duct; an inner duct positioned within said outer duct, said inner duct having a closed bottom end and defining a reservoir to collect fluid; a drainage duct extending into said inner duct and exteriorly of said outer duct; said inner duct further having a bypass opening to said outer duct at a height above said drainage duct; and positioning said fluid flow diverter in said downspout, wherein fluid flowing down said downspout flows into the inner duct and is diverted through the drainage duct, and fluid unable to flow through the drainage duct accumulates in the inner duct to said height, whereupon excess fluid flows through the bypass opening, through the outer duct and out of the bottom of said downspout.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for diverting rainwater flowing through a gutter downspout, comprising the steps of: providing a fluid flow diverter including: an outer duct; an inner duct positioned within said outer duct, said inner duct having a closed bottom end and defining a reservoir to collect fluid; a drainage duct extending into said inner duct and exteriorly of said outer duct; said inner duct further having a bypass opening to said outer duct at a height above said drainage duct; and positioning said fluid flow diverter in said downspout, wherein fluid flowing down said downspout flows into the inner duct and is diverted through the drainage duct, and fluid unable to flow through the drainage duct accumulates in the inner duct to said height, whereupon excess fluid flows through the bypass opening, through the outer duct and out of the bottom of said downspout.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said fluid flow diverter is removably mounted in said downspout.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-19 | 1995-11-18 | 1996-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-19 | 1999-11-18 | 2000-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-19 | 2003-11-18 | 2004-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |