WATER FLOW DEVICE

Abstract

A water flow device consisting of: a tubing, the tubing comprising an inlet end, and an outlet end; an attachment means on the inlet end, the attachment means configured to attach the inlet end to the outer surface of a downspout of a gutter. A water flow device comprising: a tubing, the tubing comprising an inlet end, and an outlet end; an attachment means on the inlet end, the attachment means configured to attach the inlet end to the outer surface of a downspout of a gutter; a filter located on the tubing, the filter configured to filter the liquid exiting the tubing.

Claims

1. A water flow device consisting of: a tubing, the tubing comprising an inlet end, and an outlet end; an attachment means on the inlet end, the attachment means configured to attach the inlet end to the outer surface of a downspout of a gutter.

2. The water flow device of claim 1, wherein the attachment means is a rubber band, pull tie, wire tie, or hook and loop fastener.

3. The water flow device of claim 1, further comprising: a filter located on or in the tubing, the filter configured to filter the liquid exiting the tubing.

4. The water flow device of claim 3, wherein the filter is located at or near the outlet end.

5. The water flow device of claim 1, wherein the tubing is configured to be rolled up, and when water flows out of the downspout, the tubing is configured to unroll due to the water entering the tubing such that the outlet end reaches a designated area.

6. The water flow device of claim 3, where the filter is located at or near the inlet end.

7. The water flow device of claim 1, wherein the tubing is made from polyvinyl.

8. A water flow device comprising: a tubing, the tubing comprising an inlet end, and an outlet end; an attachment means on the inlet end, the attachment means configured to attach the inlet end to the outer surface of a downspout of a gutter; a filter located on the tubing, the filter configured to filter the liquid exiting the tubing.

9. The water flow device of claim 8, wherein the tubing is made from a material that has a thickness of about 4 mils to about 20 mils.

10. The water flow device of claim 8, wherein the tubing is made from a material that has a thickness of about 4 mils to about 10 mils.

11. The water flow device of claim 8, wherein the attachment means is a rubber band.

12. The water flow device of claim 8, where the filter is located at or near the outlet end.

13. The water flow device of claim 8, wherein the tubing is configured to be rolled up, and when water flows out of the downspout, the tubing is configured to unroll due to the water entering the tubing such that the outlet end reaches a designated area.

14. The water flow device of claim 13, where the filter is located at or near the inlet end.

15. The water flow device of claim 8, wherein the tubing is made from polyvinyl.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in the pertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where like elements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic of the water flow device;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the water flow device attached to a downspout;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the tubing attached to the downspout; and

[0012] FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the filter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The device may contain a filter capable of removing contaminants that may be in a particular water supply. The device may allow rainwater to flow into a pool or other containment areas such a small pond, gardens, containment tank or to simply be drained away from the house or structure to keep the rain flow from causing any damage to the property.

[0014] In one embodiment, the device may be used to direct rainwater from a structure, such as a house or other building. The device may attach to the down spout of a home's rain gutters rain system. The device may be attached at the bottom end of the spout, with the tubing leading towards a swimming pool. When it rains, the rainwater will run down the drain spout, through the tubing and deposit the water into the swimming pool. The device may contain a filter at the end to catch and hold any debris or bacteria from the water stream, that the roof has dislodged, such as roof tile debris or bird droppings that run down the downspout and through the tubing to the end.

[0015] The invention may also be used to direct rainwater to an area of the property which may need more water at various times, such as a garden or small pond or collection container for future use, or to direct the water away from any area where the water may cause damage to the structures and/or property.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic of the disclosed water flow device. A building 10 with a roof 14 is shown. A gutter system 18 is attached to the building 10. The gutter system 18 comprises a downspout 22 which normally directs the water away from the building 10. The water flow device 26 comprises a tubing 34 with an inlet end 30 which is attachable to the outlet of the downspout 22. In one embodiment, the inlet end 30 attaches to the outer surface of the downspout 22. The inlet end 30 may be permanently attachable to the downspout in one embodiment, or removeably attachable to the downspout 22 in another embodiment. The inlet end 30 may comprise a funnel shape in one embodiment, such that the funnel shape can slide over the downspout 22. The tubing 34 also has an outlet end 38. Water can exit the outlet end 38 into a designated location 42. The designated location 42 may be a swimming pool, pond, garden, a container to store rainwater, or a location away from the building 10 to prevent water damage to the building. Located at or near the outlet end may be a filter 46. The filter 46 may catch and hold any debris or bacteria from the water stream, that the roof has dislodged, such as roof tile debris or bird droppings that run down the downspout and through the tubing 34 to the outlet end 38. The filter 46 may be a nylon material, woven material and the like, that will allow the water to flow through it and be able to retain the debris and foreign matter. In other embodiments the filter 46 may be at or near the inlet end 30, or somewhere in the tubing 34. The tubing may be laid out along the ground to the desired location. The tubing may be a round or rectangular shape and may range in width from about 4 inches to about 10 inches and may be of a thickness from 4 mills to 10 mills and above depending on the desired use. In other embodiments, any suitable shape, width, and thickness may be used. The filter 46 may be configured to catch debris, and such released by the roof or upper portions of the downspout and/or gutters. The filter 46 may be made out of a nylon material, woven material and the like, that will allow the water to flow through it and be able to retain the debris and matter. In one embodiment the tubing 34 may have an about 3 inches by about 5 inches opening at the inlet end 30 and/or outlet end 38 and may be larger depending on the side of the downspout 22. Downspouts 22 may be rectangular and about 2 inches3 inches, about 3 inches4 inches, and about 4 inches5 inches, or may be round in sizes of 3 to 8 inches in diameters. The tubing 34 attached to the downspout 22 may be of any suitable size and thickness, but in some embodiments may have a thickness of about 4 mils up to about 20 mil. The use of conventional sizes of tubing 34 may help to reduce the overall cost of production. The material for the tubing 34 may be polyvinyl, vinyl, rubber, polyethylene, or any other suitable material. The tubing 34 may be up to about 100 feet and longer. In one embodiment, when it rains, the rainwater will flow down the downspout 22 into the inlet end 30 of the tubing 34, through the tubing 34, and out the filter 46 at the outlet end 38, and into a designated area, such as a pool or garden. The inlet end 30 may be temporarily or permanently attached to the downspout 22. The components of the disclosed device may be made of copolymer, polycarbonates, plastics, rubbers, polyvinyl, vinyl, and the like. The tubing 34 may be rigid and/or flexible. The tubing 34 is configured to lay on the ground. The inlet end 30 may be a rigid part or may be a softer material or the same material as the tubing 34. The materials making up the tubing 34 may be any suitable material, and may be clear, translucent, opaque, and may be colored depending upon the price points and desires of consumers. When the device is not in use, the tubing 34 may be rolled up or moved aside, taking up less space. In one embodiment, when it rains, the water forces the tubing 34 to unroll and extend towards the pool or designated area and then release the rainwater into the pool or designated area. This allows the tubing 34 to be rolled up and be put out of the way when not in use, and after use the tubing may be rewound and stored out of the way. In this embodiment the filter 46 may be placed near or at the inlet end 30 in order to allow the tubing 34 to better unroll. The tubing 34 material may be made out of a flexible material like a rubber, silicone, polymer, polyvinyl or the like.

[0017] An additional embodiment that is flexible and expands and attaches to the downspout by pressure from the inlet end being smaller than the downspout 22. This is often known as an interference fit. This may allow the inlet end 30 and outlet end 38 and the tubing 34 to be made out of the of the same material, in various sizes and widths, and may allow savings in production costs.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the water flow device 26 attached to a downspout 22. The inlet end 30 is attached to the downspout 22. In this embodiment, an elastic band 50 is placed around the inlet end 30 of the tubing 34 and the outlet of the downspout 22 to hold the inlet end 30 to the downspout 22. In other embodiments, the inlet end 30 may be attached to the downspout 22 by a rubber band, clip, compression fit, adhesive, a wire tie, a fastener such as a screw, bolt, rivet, snap, etc. The outlet end 38 of the tubing 34 is shown coupled to a filter 46. In one embodiment, the filter 46 may be bagged shaped and is attached to the outside of the outlet end 38.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the downspout 22 with the inlet end 30 attached to the downspout 22 via an elastic band 50.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the outlet end 38 of the tubing 34. In this embodiment, the filter 46 is shaped like a bag and is attachable or removeably attachable to the outlet end 38. The filter 46 may be attached to the outlet end 38 by any suitable means, including but not limited to: zippers, hook and track, resealable bag connectors, clips, compression fits, adhesives, wire ties, fasteners such as a screw, bolt, rivet, snap, etc.

[0021] The disclosed water flow device has many advantages. The water flow device allows users to use rainwater to fill their pool, thus being environmentally friendly and saving money. The water flow device allows users to collect filtered rainwater for other uses, to water plants, to fill ponds, etc. The water flow device can be used to move water away from a building thus protecting the building from water damage. The water flow device may be made out of lightweight materials resulting in easy setup, easy rolling up, and easy removal.

[0022] It should be noted that the terms first, second, and third, and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.

[0023] While the disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.