Rain Dispersal System and Method

Abstract

An impervious elongated plate is fastened to a building, near the edge of the rooftop. The plate forms a rebound surface with an uninterrupted slope extending downwardly away from the building. Rainwater falling over the edge of the rooftop, strikes the surface, rebounds, and is dispersed along an extended area at ground level, away from the building. The plate may be flexible and resilient, with a memory so that the plate deflects downwardly under load, but returns to its initial position after the load is removed. The plate may be formed as a single work piece. The plate may be extruded from a plastic material. A method includes the step of securing an impervious surface at an uninterrupted slope near the edge of a rooftop so that rainwater falling over the edge strikes the surface. A major portion of the rainwater is directed downwardly and outwardly along the slope. The major portion of the rainwater is scattered as a spray of water droplets falling onto the ground below.

1 . A device for dispersing an amount of rainwater flowing over an edge of a rooftop defined by a building, the device comprising:
 an impervious rebound surface of sufficient dimension to disperse a major portion of said amount of rainwater into a spray of water droplets falling onto an extended area at ground level away from the building;   the surface extending outwardly away from said edge and along an uninterrupted downward slope; and   a mounting element to secure the device to said building, adjacent said edge.   
     
     
         2 . The device claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is formed in a single work piece. 
     
     
         3 . The device claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the device is made from a single work piece by a method from a group of methods consisting of extrusion and roll forming. 
     
     
         4 . The device claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the surface is made of a flexibly resilient material. 
     
     
         5 . The device claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the surface deflects downwardly by a predetermined distance away from a first position when the surface is subjected to a defined loading, and the surface returns to the first position when the loading is removed. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in any one of claims,  1  to  5 , wherein the surface defines a plurality of downwardly cascading steps. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in any one of claims,  1  to  5 , wherein the surface defines an upwardly projecting convex arch. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the mounting element defines a projecting wall for securing the device along said edge. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein an abutment projects outwardly from said mounting element, the abutment defining a stop for positioning said device along a preferred position adjacent said edge. 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the surface terminates along a drip-edge extending along an axis parallel to said edge, the device further comprising a horizontal channel positioned outwardly away from said drip-edge and below said drip-edge. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the channel is capable of holding a minor portion of said amount of rainwater. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  11 , defining a ridge for securing decorative items to the device. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said ridge is defined by an outward edge of said channel. 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  to  13 , wherein the mounting element is marked for a range of preferred sites to position a plurality of fasteners for securing the device to a soffit along said edge. 
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  to  14 , wherein the uninterrupted slope defines a substantially smooth surface. 
     
     
         16 . A method of dispersing an amount of rainwater flowing over an edge of a rooftop defined by a building, the method comprising:
 securing an impervious rebound surface adjacent said edge;   directing a major portion of said amount of rainwater downwardly and outwardly away from said edge;   said major portion of said amount of rainwater rebounding along an uninterrupted downward slope; and   said surface dispersing said major portion of said amount of rainwater into a spray of water droplets failing over an extended area at ground level away from the building.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said surface is deflected downwardly a predetermined distance away from a first position when said surface is subjected to a defined loading; and said surface is returned to the first position when the loading is removed from said surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  or  17  comprising a step of directing a minor portion of said amount of rainwater into a channel extending parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by said surface.