Downspout extension device

Abstract

Without a downspout extension rain water collected on the roof of a building is spilled onto the ground beside the foundation. This causes damp and musty basements and sometimes even cracked foundations. 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 thereunder. The automatic extension device disclosed utilizes a rocker arm having a cup on one end and a latch/hook on the other. An upright tubular member having an upper end portion adapted to slide over the downspout and a lower end portion which elbows outwardly away from an adjacent building wall has an extension tube pivotably connected thereto. A channel extending laterally and downwardly from inside the upright tubular member to above the cup diverts rain water from the downspout into the cup. The extension tube is stored in an upright position having one end held up by the latch/hook. At the onset of a rain storm the cup is filled, and the rocker arm rotates lifting up the latch/hook; this causes the extension to automatically fall into an operable position. The extension may be rotatably lifted for lawn maintenance into its storeage position where it is maintained by the latch/hook.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.