Leaf trap assembly

Claim 2

A leaf trap assembly for interposing in a downspout having an upper section and a lower section so as to separate solid matter from rain water flowing therethrough, said assembly comprising: (a) an elongated hollow body having a first end and a second end and dimensioned for attachment at the first end to the upper section of the downspout and at the second end to the lower section of the downspout to continue the flow of rain water, said hollow body having an opening in one wall thereof to provide access to the hollow body's interior; (b) a detachable door positioned in the opening in the elongated hollow body and dimensioned to cover said opening, said door having a latch means on an inside surface; and (a) a foraminous receptacle positioned on the detachable door and dimensioned to fit within the elongated hollow body to separate the solid matter from the rain water flowing through the downspout, said receptacle having an open top side nearest the first end of the elongated hollow body to receive the solid matter and rain water and a backside adjacent the detachable door, said backside having an open portion exclusive of the mesh material for removal of solid matter from the receptacle during a clean-out operation, further wherein the receptacle has means to mate with the latch means of the door such that the receptacle is detachably secured to the door during use, yet is capable of complete separation therefrom for periodic removal of solid matter therefrom.

Claim 3

The leaf trap assembly of claim 1 wherein the detachable door has a main body member and a side flange member along each longitudinal edge thereof which extends at a substantially right angle to the main body member to longitudinally engage an outside surface of the elongated hollow body.

Claim 4

The leaf trap assembly of claim 2 wherein the detachable door further has a lower flange member nearest the second end of the elongated hollow body, said lower flange member extending from the main body member to fit into the opening of the elongated hollow body in a manner such that the side flange members of the detachable door restrict movement of the door towards the second end of said hollow body.

Claim 5

The leaf trap assembly of claim 3 wherein the means on the foraminous receptacle for mating with the latch means on the detachable door is a rigid cross piece extending across the open portion of the backside.

Claim 6

The leaf trap assembly of claim 4 wherein the latch means secured to the detachable door is a rigid plate with a flared upper flange nearest the first end of the elongated hollow body to receive the rigid cross-piece of the foraminous receptacle to detachably hold said receptacle to said door.

Claim 7

The leaf trap assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongated hollow body has a rectangular cross section and the foraminous receptacle is dimensioned to fit within said elongated hollow body.

Claim 8

The leaf trap assembly of claim 6 wherein the foraminous receptacle is fabricated from a mesh material.

Claim 9

The leaf trap assembly of claim 7 wherein the mesh material has a mesh opening size ranging from about 0.1 inch to about 0.5 inch.

Claim 10

The leaf trap assembly of claim 7 wherein the open portion of the backside of the foraminous receptacle extends from about 15% to about 85% of the length of said backside.

Claim 11

The leaf trap assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongated hollow body further has a catch mounted near the first end of said hollow body and adjacent the opening to engage the detachable door in a closed position during normal use.

Claim 12

The leaf trap assembly of claim 10 wherein a top edge of the foraminous receptacle front side nearest the first end of the elongated hollow body is flared sufficiently outward to engage a wall of the elongated hollow body.

Claim 13

The leaf trap assembly of claim 11 wherein an edge of the open portion of the foraminous receptacle nearest the second end of said hollow body is flared sufficiently outward to engage a wall of the elongated hollow body.

Claim 14

The leaf trap assembly of claim 12 wherein the catch mounted on the elongated hollow body is a right angle bracket revolvingly secured to said elongated hollow body.

Claim 15

A leaf trap assembly for interposing in a downspout to separate solid matter from rain water flowing therethrough, said assembly comprising; (a) an elongated hollow body having a first end, a second end and vertical side walls and dimensioned for attachment at the first end to an upper section of the downspout and at the second end to a lower section of the downspout to continue the flow of rain water, said hollow body having an opening in one of said vertical side walls to provide access to the hollow body's interior; (b) a detachable door positioned in the vertical side wall opening of the elongated hollow body and capable of being completely removed therefrom, said door dimensioned to cover the opening and having (i) a main body member (ii) a side flange member along each longitudinal edge thereof and at a substantially right angle thereto so as to engage an outside surface of the elongated body, (iii) a flange member extending from the main body member to fit into the opening of the elongated hollow body nearest the second end in a manner such that the side flange members restrict downward movement of the door towards the second end of said hollow body, and (iv) a rigid plate latch means on an inside surface of said main body member; and (c) a foraminous receptacle positioned on the detachable door and dimensioned to fit within the elongated hollow body, said receptacle having an open top side nearest the first end of the elongated hollow body to receive the solid matter and rain water flowing from the upper section of the downspout and walls made from a mesh material to allow the rain water to flow through mesh openings while retaining the solid matter and wherein a backside wall adjacent the detachable door has an open portion exclusive of the mesh material sufficiently large for removal of retained solid therethrough when the foraminous receptacle is removed from the door during a clean-out operation, further wherein the receptacle has a rigid cross piece extending across the open portion of the backside to mate with the latch means of the door such that the receptacle is detachably secured to the door during use, yet is capable of complete separation therefrom for periodic removal of solid matter therefrom.

Claim 16

A leaf trap assembly for interposing in a downspout to separate solid matter from rain water flowing therethrough, said assembly comprising; (a) an elongated hollow body having a first end, a second end and vertical side walls and dimensioned for attachment at the first end to an upper section of the downspout and at the second end to a lower section of the downspout to continue the flow of rain water, said hollow body having an opening in one of said vertical side walls to provide access to the hollow body's interior; (b) a detachable door positioned in the vertical side wall opening of the elongated hollow body and capable of being completely removed therefrom, said door dimensioned to cover the opening and having (i) a main body member (ii) a side flange member along each longitudinal edge thereof and at a substantially right angle thereto so as to engage an outside surface of the elongated body, (iii) a flange member extending from the main body member to fit into the opening of the elongated hollow body nearest the second end in a manner such that the side flange members restrict downward movement of the door towards the second end of said hollow body, and (iv) a rigid plate latch means on an inside surface of said main body member; and (c) a foraminous receptacle positioned on the detachable door and dimensioned to fit within the elongated hollow body, said receptacle having an open top side nearest the first end of the elongated hollow body to receive the solid matter and rain water flowing from the upper section of the downspout and walls made from a mesh material to allow the rain water to flow through mesh openings while retaining the solid matter and wherein a backside wall adjacent the detachable door has an open portion exclusive of the mesh material sufficiently large for removal of retained solid therethrough when the foraminous receptacle is removed from the door during a clean-out operation, further wherein the receptacle has a rigid cross piece extending across the open portion of the backside to mate with the latch means of the door such that the receptacle is detachably secured to the door during use, yet is capable of complete separation therefrom for periodic removal of solid matter therefrom.

Claim 17

The leaf trap assembly of claim 14 wherein the latch means secured to the detachable door is a rigid plate with a flared flange to receive the rigid cross-piece of the foraminous receptacle to detachably hold said receptacle to said door.

Claim 18

The leaf trap assembly of claim 15 wherein the foraminous receptacle is fabricated from a mesh material having a mesh opening size ranging from about 0.1 inch to about 0.5 inch.

Claim 19

The leaf trap assembly of claim 16 wherein the open portion of the backside of the foraminous receptacle extends from about 15% to about 85% of the length of the backside.

Claim 20

The leaf trap assembly of claim 17 wherein said walls comprise a front side wall opposite said backside wall, and wherein an edge of the foraminous receptacle front side wall nearest the first end of said hollow body is flared sufficiently outward to engage a wall of the elongated hollow body.

Claim 21

The leaf trap assembly of claim 18 wherein the open portion of the backside wall of the foraminous receptacle has an edge nearest the second end of said hollow body which is flared sufficiently outward to engage a wall of the elongated hollow body.