U-shaped gutter drain

Abstract

A gutter drain is used in connection with a gutter around a hatch mounted in an opening of a boat deck. The gutter drain has a generally U-shaped saddle. The saddle has a pair of opposed side portions extending upward from a bottom portion. The saddle outer surface conforms closely to the gutter inside surface. A circular mounting sleeve is attached to the saddle, and has a plurality of flexible annular rings to mount the gutter drain. A circular nozzle is attached to the mounting sleeve by an elbow having an angle greater than 90°, and has an annular ridge to retain a drain tube. The gutter drain is driven downward into a gutter-mounting hole by a hammer blow, until the saddle is seated in the gutter. The annular rings deflect resiliently upward and are biased outward against the mounting hole, to hold the gutter drain securely in place, and seal against leakage. The saddle side portions are biased outward, and press against the gutter sidewalls to further seal the gutter drain.

1 . A gutter drain, for use in connection with a gutter around an opening of a vehicle roof, the gutter having a generally horizontal floor and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the floor, the gutter having an inside surface, the gutter having a mounting hole therethrough, the gutter drain comprising:
 a generally U-shaped saddle extending between opposite first and second ends along a generally vertical saddle plane, the saddle having a bottom portion and a pair of opposed side portions extending upward from the bottom portion on either side of the saddle plane, the saddle having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, the saddle outer surface being adapted to conform closely to the gutter inside surface, with the saddle bottom portion adjacent the gutter floor, and each of the saddle side portions adjacent a respective gutter side wall, the saddle side portions adapted to be resiliently biased outwardly against the gutter side walls, so as to seal the saddle against moisture leakage from the gutter, the saddle having a generally vertical saddle hole extending from the outer surface through to the inner surface;   a mounting sleeve having an upper end attached to the saddle outer surface, the mounting sleeve extending downward to a lower end, the mounting sleeve being generally circular in cross-section, the mounting sleeve having a predetermined diameter, the mounting sleeve having a mounting sleeve central axis and a mounting sleeve bore therethrough in communication with the saddle hole;   a nozzle having a proximal end disposed below the mounting sleeve lower end, the nozzle extending outward to a distal end, the nozzle being generally circular in cross-section, the nozzle having an outer surface, the nozzle having a nozzle central axis and a nozzle bore therethrough in communication with the mounting sleeve bore, the nozzle being adapted to receive a drain tube; and   mounting means for mounting the gutter drain in the gutter-mounting hole.   
     
     
         2 . The gutter drain of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting means further comprises:
 at least one flexible annular ring encircling the mounting sleeve, the annular ring having a predetermined diameter; and   the mounting hole having a diameter greater than the mounting sleeve predetermined diameter, and less than the annular ring predetermined diameter; so that   upon assembly, the mounting sleeve will be disposed over the mounting hole, the gutter drain will be driven downward by a hammer blow, the mounting sleeve will enter the mounting hole, the annular ring will deflect resiliently upward against the mounting hole, the saddle outer surface will be seated in the gutter, and the annular ring will be resiliently biased against the mounting hole, thereby retaining the gutter drain in the gutter and sealing the gutter drain against water leakage.   
     
     
         3 . The gutter drain of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle further comprises at least one annular ridge encircling the nozzle outer surface, the annular ridge being adapted to retain the drain tube on the nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The gutter drain of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nozzle proximal end is attached to the mounting sleeve lower end; and   the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis are collinear.   
     
     
         5 . The gutter drain of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis being disposed at a predetermined angle to one another;   a nozzle plane defined by the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis, the nozzle plane and the saddle plane being generally parallel; and   an elbow joining the mounting sleeve and the nozzle, the elbow having a bore in communication with the mounting sleeve bore and the nozzle bore.   
     
     
         6 . The gutter drain of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis being disposed at a predetermined angle to one another;   a nozzle plane defined by the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis, the nozzle plane and the saddle plane being generally perpendicular; and   an elbow joining the mounting sleeve and the nozzle, the elbow having a bore in communication with the mounting sleeve bore and the nozzle bore.   
     
     
         7 . A gutter drain, for use in connection with a gutter around an opening of a vehicle roof, the gutter having a generally horizontal floor and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the floor, the gutter having an inside surface, the gutter having a mounting hole therethrough with a predetermined diameter, the gutter drain comprising:
 a generally U-shaped saddle extending between opposite first and second ends along a generally vertical saddle plane, the saddle having a bottom portion and a pair of opposed side portions extending upward from the bottom portion on either side of the saddle plane, the saddle having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, the saddle outer surface being adapted to conform closely to the gutter inside surface, with the saddle bottom portion adjacent the gutter floor, and each of the saddle side portions adjacent a respective gutter side wall, the saddle side portions adapted to be resiliently biased outwardly against the gutter side walls, so as to seal the saddle against moisture leakage from the gutter, the saddle having a generally vertical caddie hole extending from the outer surface through to the inner surface;   a mounting sleeve having an upper end attached to the saddle outer surface, the mounting sleeve extending downward to a lower end, the mounting sleeve being generally circular in cross-section, the mounting sleeve having a predetermined diameter, the mounting sleeve having a mounting sleeve central axis and a mounting sleeve bore therethrough in communication with the saddle hole;   a nozzle having a proximal end disposed below the mounting sleeve lower end, the nozzle extending outward to a distal end, the nozzle being generally circular in cross-section, the nozzle having an outer surface, the nozzle having a nozzle central axis and a nozzle bore therethrough in communication with the mounting sleeve bore, the nozzle being adapted to receive a drain tube; and   at least one flexible annular ring encircling the mounting sleeve for mounting the gutter drain in the gutter mounting hole, the annular ring having a diameter greater than the mounting hole predetermined diameter; so that   upon assembly, the mounting sleeve will be disposed over the mounting hole, the gutter drain will be driven downward by a hammer blow, the mounting sleeve will enter the mounting hole, the annular ring will deflect resiliently upward against the mounting hole, the saddle outer surface will be seated in the gutter, and the annular ring will be resiliently biased against the mounting hole, thereby retaining the gutter drain in the gutter and sealing the gutter drain against water leakage.   
     
     
         8 . The gutter drain of  claim 7 , wherein the nozzle further comprises at least one annular ridge encircling the nozzle outer surface, the annular ridge being adapted to retain the drain tube on the nozzle. 
     
     
         9 . The gutter drain of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the nozzle proximal end is attached to the mounting sleeve lower end; and   the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis are collinear.   
     
     
         10 . The gutter drain of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis being disposed at a predetermined angle to one another;   a nozzle plane defined by the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis, the nozzle plane and the saddle plane being generally parallel; and   an elbow joining the mounting sleeve and the nozzle, the elbow having a bore in communication with the mounting sleeve bore and the nozzle bore, the elbow having an axis where the elbow and the nozzle are joined.   
     
     
         11 . The gutter drain of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined angle between the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis is greater than ninety degrees, so as to minimize the mounting hole diameter, to facilitate installation of the gutter drain into the mounting hole, and to completely drain water in the event that the boat is heeled away from a level condition while in storage. 
     
     
         12 . The gutter drain of  claim 10 , wherein the nozzle central axis is offset downward from the elbow axis, so as to minimize the mounting hole diameter, and to facilitate installation of the gutter drain into the mounting hole. 
     
     
         13 . The gutter drain of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis being disposed at a predetermined angle to one another;   a nozzle plane defined by the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis, the nozzle plane and the saddle plane being generally perpendicular; and   an elbow joining the mounting sleeve and the nozzle, the elbow having a bore in communication with the mounting sleeve bore and the nozzle bore, the elbow having an axis where the elbow and the nozzle are joined.   
     
     
         14 . The gutter drain of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined angle between the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis is greater than ninety degrees, so as to minimize the mounting hole diameter, to facilitate installation of the gutter drain into the mounting hole, and to completely drain water in the event that the boat is heeled away from a level condition while in storage. 
     
     
         15 . The gutter drain of  claim 13 , wherein the nozzle central axis is offset downward from the elbow axis, so as to minimize the mounting hole diameter, and to facilitate installation of the gutter drain into the mounting hole. 
     
     
         16 . A gutter draining method for draining a gutter around an opening of a vehicle roof, the gutter having a generally horizontal floor and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the floor, the gutter having an inside surface, the gutter having a mounting hole therethrough with a predetermined diameter, the gutter draining method comprising the steps of:
 providing a gutter drain having a generally U-shaped saddle;   extending a pair of opposed side portions upward from a bottom portion of the saddle;   attaching a mounting sleeve to the saddle and extending the mounting sleeve downward;   encircling the mounting sleeve with a plurality of flexible annular rings;   disposing a nozzle below the mounting sleeve and extending the nozzle outward;   juxtaposing the saddle over the gutter-mounting hole;   striking the gutter drain with a hammer so that the mounting sleeve enters the gutter-mounting hole;   driving the gutter drain downward with the hammer so that the saddle is seated in the gutter floor, and each of the saddle side portions is adjacent a respective gutter sidewall;   biasing the saddle side portions resiliently outward against the gutter sidewalls;   sealing the saddle against moisture leakage from the gutter with the biasing of the saddle side portions;   allowing the flexible annular rings to bend upward in response to the mounting sleeve entering the gutter-mounting hole;   biasing the annular rings resiliently outward against the mounting hole;   retaining the gutter drain in the gutter with the biasing of the annular rings;   sealing the gutter drain against water leakage with the biasing of the annular rings; and   adapting the nozzle to receive a drain tube, for draining the gutter.   
     
     
         17 . The gutter draining method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 encircling the nozzle outer surface with at least one annular ridge; and   adapting the annular ridge to retain the drain tube on the nozzle.   
     
     
         18 . The gutter draining method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of
 disposing the nozzle collinear with the mounting sleeve; and   adapting the nozzle to receive the drain tube generally vertically, for draining the gutter downward.   
     
     
         19 . The gutter draining method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 disposing the nozzle and the mounting sleeve at a predetermined angle to one another;   adapting the nozzle to receive the drain tube transversely, for draining the gutter transversely outward; and   joining the mounting sleeve and the nozzle with an elbow.   
     
     
         20 . The gutter draining method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 setting the predetermined angle between the mounting sleeve central axis and the nozzle central axis to an angle greater than ninety degrees;   minimizing the mounting hole diameter by the angle greater than ninety degrees, thereby facilitating installation of the gutter drain into the mounting hole; and   draining water completely, by the angle greater than ninety degrees, in the event that the boat is heeling away from a level condition while in storage.