Rainwater diverter

Abstract

Rainwater diverter comprises a base member and a sleeve member. The base member includes a tubular conduit having an upper end and a lower end sized to closely fit within an upper end of a lower downspout section. Surrounding the tubular conduit is a fluid chamber having an open upper end and a closed bottom, and a discharge opening adjacent the bottom. The sleeve member has a lower end sized to have a close sliding fit inside the open upper end of the chamber, and an upper end sized to have a close sliding fit over a lower end of an upper downspout section. The sleeve member is shaped to provide a narrow gap between the sleeve member and the upper end of the tubular conduit leading into the chamber surrounding the tubular conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rainwater diverter for diverting rainwater flowing through a roof gutter downspout, the diverter comprising a base member and a sleeve member, the base member including a tubular conduit having a lower end sized to closely fit an upper end of a lower downspout section, a fluid chamber surrounding the tubular conduit having an open upper end and a closed bottom, and a discharge opening adjacent the bottom, and the sleeve member including a lower end sized to have a close sliding fit inside the open upper end of the chamber, and an upper end sized to have a close sliding fit over a lower end of an upper downspout portion. 
     
     
         2 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve member has an inner wall that angles outwardly and downwardly adjacent an upper end of the tubular conduit to provide a narrow gap leading into the chamber surrounding the tubular conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein the bottom of the chamber is integral with the tubular conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein the bottom of the chamber slopes downwardly for directing diverted drain water in the chamber to the discharge opening. 
     
     
         5 . The diverter of  claim 4  wherein the discharge opening comprises a downwardly angled spout. 
     
     
         6 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein the chamber is formed by an outer wail surrounding the tubular conduit in spaced relation from the tubular conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The diverter of  claim 1  wherein the upper end of the tubular conduit extends upwardly above the open upper end of the chamber, and there are one or more slots in the upper end of the tubular conduit that extend downwardly below the open upper end of the chamber for redirecting any rainwater overflow from the chamber through the one or more slots into the tubular conduit. 
     
     
         8 . A rainwater diverter for diverting rainwater flowing through a roof gutter downspout, the diverter comprising a base member and a sleeve member, the base member including a tubular conduit having an upper end and a lower end sized to closely fit an upper end of a lower downspout section, an outer wall surrounding the tubular conduit in spaced relation from the tubular conduit providing a fluid chamber surrounding the tubular conduit, the chamber having an open upper end and a closed bottom, and a discharge opening adjacent the bottom, and the sleeve member including a lower end having a dose sliding fit inside the open upper end of the chamber, and an upper end sized to have a close sliding fit over a lower end of an upper downspout portion. 
     
     
         9 . The diverter of  claim 8  wherein the chamber has an internal shoulder for seated engagement by the lower end of the sleeve member, and the sleeve member is shaped to provide a narrow annular gap between the sleeve member and the upper end of the tubular conduit leading into the chamber when the lower end of the sleeve member is in seated engagement with the stop shoulder. 
     
     
         10 . The diverter of  claim 9  wherein the sleeve member has an inner wan that angles outwardly and downwardly adjacent the upper end of the tubular conduit to provide the narrow annular gap therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . The diverter of  claim 8  wherein the bottom of the chamber is integral with the tubular conduit and the outer wall. 
     
     
         12 . The diverter of  claim 11  wherein the bottom of the chamber slopes downwardly for directing diverted rainwater flowing through the chamber to the discharge opening. 
     
     
         13 . The diverter of  claim 12  wherein the discharge opening comprises a downwardly angled spout. 
     
     
         14 . The diverter of  claim 8  wherein the upper end of the tubular conduit extends upwardly above the open upper end of the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The diverter of  claim 14  wherein there are one or more slots in the upper end of the tubular conduit that extend downwardly below the open upper end of the chamber for redirecting any rainwater overflow from the chamber through the one or more slots into the tubular conduit.