Ornamental sculpture having integral gutter spout and mounting kit therefore

Abstract

An architectural ornamental sculpture such as a fish head sculpture, a dragon's head sculpture or a gargoyle sculpture is adapted for use in an architectural water features such as an eave mounted gutter and includes an ornamental spout member having a sealable mating surface and a trough member carrying a mating flange. A support member is optionally provided to permit mounting of the sculpture in an architectural location not related to a gutter or other water feature. The support member carries a distal mating surface dimensioned to fit closely with the ornamental spout member's sealable mating surface, and has a proximal end adapted to be fastened to an architectural surface such as a wall or soffit.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION AND PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 529,110, filed Dec. 15, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to Design patent application Ser. No. 29 / 190,906, filed Sep. 30, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to architectural ornamental sculpture and to use of architectural ornamental sculpture in architectural water-carrying features such as gutters. [0004] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art [0005] With conventional prior art downspouts, rain water collected from the roof of a building is spilled onto the ground beside the foundation. This causes damp and musty basements and can lead to cracked foundations. [0006] In response, some users have attached downspout extensions, but the prob...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned difficulties by providing a simple, efficient, mechanically reliable mechanism to permit rain water to be channeled safely away from a building's foundation.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is providing an inexpensive and visually interesting structure to permit rain water to be channeled safely away from a building's foundation.

[0012] The trough member preferably has a four inch long three wall trough segment having first and second opposed sidewalls projecting vertically from a substantially orthogonal bottom wall segment. The trough member flange has a substantially planar back flange surface adapted to receive and hold sealing compound such as latex caulk. The trough member's first and second opposed sidewalls have vertical scoring or grooves adapted to permit easy cutting of the sidewalls, thereby permitting an installer to mount the ornamental spout at a mid-point in a gutter, so that the spout will project fluid (e.g., rain water) transversely away from a linear gutter segment.

Problems solved by technology

This causes damp and musty basements and can lead to cracked foundations.

In response, some users have attached downspout extensions, but the problem with using a downspout extension is that it must be walked over; additionally it must be removed and re-installed in order to cut a lawn lying under the extended spout.

Such complicated solutions, apart from being unreliable, seldom add any aesthetic beauty or humor to the surroundings.

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