Rain Gutter Trap with Angled Screen for Debris Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rain gutters are ineffective due to debris blockage, which prevents precipitation from being channeled away from buildings, and existing screening devices often deflect precipitation, defeating their purpose.
Innovation Solution
A rain gutter system with a trap mechanism that separates debris from precipitation using gravity or screening, allowing debris to be trapped while allowing precipitation to flow through to the downspout, and includes removable components for easy cleaning and debris disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional screening devices are deployed over the rain gutter opening to block debris, then debris blockage is prevented, but precipitation is deflected away and cannot be collected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a screen as an intermediary element positioned within the rain gutter that allows precipitation to pass through while blocking debris. The screen acts as a mediator between the incoming precipitation-debris mixture and the downspout, separating the two functions of debris blocking and water collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen is positioned at an angle relative to the incoming precipitation flow, creating a dimensional orientation that allows water to pass through while blocking debris. This angular positioning changes the effective dimension through which precipitation can access the downspout.
2Quantity of substance
If the rain gutter is designed to collect both precipitation and debris together, then debris collection is improved, but downspout blockage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the debris from the precipitation-debris mixture by using a screen to trap debris in a collection chamber while allowing precipitation to pass through to the downspout. This separation extracts the harmful debris component from the useful precipitation flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The rain gutter system is segmented into distinct functional zones: a debris collection chamber separated by a screen, a precipitation flow path, and a downspout egress. This segmentation allows different materials (debris vs. precipitation) to be handled in separate spatial zones.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If screening devices are used to block debris, then debris is prevented from entering the gutter, but precipitation flow is reduced or blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The screen serves as an intermediary filtering element that selectively blocks debris while permitting precipitation to pass through. It mediates between the need to exclude debris and the need to maintain precipitation flow to the downspout.
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
The system effectively prevents debris from blocking the downspout, ensuring continuous precipitation drainage and simplifying maintenance by allowing easy access and removal of collected debris.
Implementation Method 1
As the debris traps to the bottom of the chamber via gravity, collected precipitation may be allowed to separate from and rise above the trapped debris
Data Source
AI summary
A rain gutter system is provided that allows the collection of a combination of precipitation and debris from a roof top of a building during a precipitation event (e.g., a thunderstorm) within an interior of a rain gutter of the rain gutter system. The rain gutter system includes one or more rain gutter traps that filter the debris from the precipitation and trap the debris away from the rain gutter's downspout prior to allowing the precipitation to channel away from the building. The one or more rain gutter traps are configured with hinged doors and/or removably attachable components for ease of removal of the trapped debris.