Eaves Trough Apertures for Debris Exclusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eaves trough designs require separate fabrication and installation steps for caps or screens to prevent debris entry, which are complex and involve additional hardware, complicating the process.
Innovation Solution
An eaves trough design featuring an elongated sheet with apertures and water-guiding members that directs water into a trough, integrated with fastening structures for secure attachment to a structure, allowing water to flow while preventing debris entry without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate cap or screen is added to prevent debris entry, then debris exclusion is improved, but device complexity and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the debris prevention function directly into the eaves trough body by forming apertures through the upper portion of the trough material itself, rather than using a separate cap or screen. This merging of functions eliminates the need for additional components and simplifies both fabrication and installation processes while maintaining effective debris exclusion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate cap or screen is added to prevent debris entry, then debris exclusion is improved, but installation time and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the debris prevention apertures directly into the eaves trough body during fabrication, the invention eliminates the need for separate installation steps involving additional caps, screens, or hardware. The trough is installed as a single unit, significantly reducing installation time and labor requirements while maintaining effective debris exclusion.
3Productivity
If apertures are formed in the upper portion, then water flow is enabled, but debris exclusion effectiveness must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating apertures with specific geometric characteristics in the upper portion of the eaves trough. The apertures are configured with dimensions and orientations that allow water to pass through while blocking debris, optimizing both water flow efficiency and debris exclusion at the local level where the apertures are located.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Simplifies fabrication and installation by integrating debris prevention into the eaves trough design, ensuring effective water flow and debris exclusion without separate hardware, reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
The lower portion of the sheet extends generally downward from the upper portion of the sheet at the longitudinal transition
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of water-guiding members that are disposed on the upper portion of the sheet, wherein each water guiding member is adjacent to a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures to direct water into the respective aperture
Data Source
AI summary
An eaves trough for receiving water from a structure includes an elongated sheet that extends along a longitudinal axis and extends integrally from a first longitudinal edge to a second longitudinal edge. An upper portion of the sheet at least partially overlies the structure and extends from the first longitudinal edge to a longitudinal transition. A lower portion of the sheet extends from the longitudinal transition to the second longitudinal edge. The lower portion of the sheet extends generally downward from the upper portion of the sheet at the longitudinal transition and extends under at least part of the upper portion of the sheet, such that the lower portion of the sheet defines a trough below the upper portion of the sheet. Apertures are formed through the upper portion of the sheet such that the apertures overlie the trough. The water travels from the structure onto the upper portion of the sheet and through the apertures to the trough.