Low profile downspout extension with non-rectangular outlet

#This invention relates generally to an apparatus for conveying rainwater away from a downspout and, more particularly, to a downspout extension that connects to different downspout sizes and incorporates a low profile configuration to move water underneath landscaping to a remote discharge location.

#Gutters and downspouts are mounted on most residential and commercial structures along the lower edge of the roof of the structure to receive water draining off of the roof, such as during a rainstorm. Gutters come in many different styles, including K gutter, half round gutter, or commercial box gutter, but all are generally formed with an open top through which water is received into a trough or channel that delivers the water by gravity to a downspout for discharge away from the building structure. Gutters are often mounted on a plurality of hangers that are spaced along the length of the gutter and fastened to fascia boards by nails or screws such that the gutter is suspended from the hangers. The downspout is connected to an outlet of the gutter to provide a conduit to drain the collected rainwater from the gutter for discharge along the surface of the ground and direct the rainwater away from the building structure.

#Typically, the downspout is provided with an elbow at the discharge end thereof to direct the discharged rainwater into a generally horizontal direction away from the building on which the downspout is mounted. These elbows at the discharge end of the downspout have a short length and are only effective to provide a direction for the discharge of the rainwater away from the building; therefore, the rainwater is often discharged too close to the building and the discharged rainwater can find a way into the basement of the building to cause cracks or leaks. Splash blocks can be provided to receive the discharged rainwater from the downspout elbow and help direct the rainwater away from the building. Other attempts to divert the rainwater from downspouts include a non-flexible extension, which is typically a generally horizontally disposed piece of downspout affixed to the discharge end of the elbow, and a flexible downspout extension that can be bent in a desired direction to redirect the discharged rainwater.

#The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the primary components of the low profile downspout extension with the flexible conduit component being oriented in a first configuration;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the primary components of the low profile downspout extension with the flexible conduit component being oriented in a second configuration;

#Referring now to the drawings, a low profile downspout extension incorporating the principles of the instant invention can best be seen. The low profile downspout extension is described in greater detail in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/952,078 of Robert Benjamin Bell, et al, filed on Sep. 27, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. The low profile downspout extension 10 is preferably formed from a hydrocarbon polymer, such as vinyl, polypropylene, PET and PVC, and includes separate components that can be assembled into a downspout extension of variable length depending on the utilization of extension components. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the downspout extension 10 includes a flexible conduit component 20, an adapter 15 detachably connectable to the inlet end 21 of the flexible conduit component 20 to selectively change the size of the connection to the downspout (not shown), a fixed length splash block component 40 and one or more extension components that can be connected to extend the length of the downspout extension as far as desired.

#The flexible conduit component 20 is formed with a rectangular inlet end 21, a circular outlet end 27 and a corrugated flexible portion 25 interconnecting the inlet and outlet ends 21, 27. The rectangular inlet end 21 is preferably sized to mount onto a three inch by four inch rectangular downspout outlet (not shown) and is provided with screw dimples or holes to facilitate the utilization of screws to secure the inlet end 21 to the downspout. The flexible conduit component 20 also includes a transition portion 22 that converts the shape from rectangular to circular that mates with the central corrugated flexible portion 25, which is approximately four inches in diameter. The central flexible portion 25 is bendable in substantially any direction to allow the inlet end 21 to be oriented relative to the outlet end 27 as desired. The central flexible portion 25 terminates in the circular outlet end 27 that is formed with a connecting rib projecting in a raised manner outwardly from the exterior surface of the outlet end 27.

#The inlet end 21 of the flexible conduit component 20 is also formed with a connecting rib that extends around the perimeter of inlet end 21 and with an attachment rib that is formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the inlet end 21. The flexibility of the corrugated central portion 25 allows the inlet end 21 to be oriented generally vertically for connection to a discharge end of a downspout (not shown) while the outlet end 27 is typically oriented generally horizontally to connect to the splash block component 40 that is positioned to divert water from the downspout underneath landscaping or other cover (not shown). One skilled in the art will readily understand that other selective configurations can be achieved with the ability to position the inlet end 21 as desired relative to the outlet end 27.