Debris collection device for a gutter downspout

Abstract

A debris collection device 10 for a gutter downspout 21 includes a transparent enclosure 12 having an inlet 16 and outlet 18 that are configured to snugly insert into corresponding portions of the gutter downspout 21. A cylindrically configured debris collection screen 60 is removably installed in the enclosure 12 via a lid 48 in a cover 46 over a vertically positioned aperture 34 in the enclosure 12. The debris collection screen 60 is deformable and resilient to provide a debris collection member capable of “flattening” as more debris 65 is captured by the screen 60 thereby allowing unobstructed water flow through the enclosure 12. The transparent enclosure 12, debris collection screen 60 and lid 48 cooperate to allow an individual access to the screen 60 for removing captured debris 65 from the screen 60 without removing the screen 60 from the enclosure 12. An outlet screen 58 is installed over the enclosure outlet 18 to collect debris 65 that might flow around the debris collection screen 60 during heavy rainfall. An individual may remove debris 65 collected by the outlet screen 58 while the collection screen 60 remains in the enclosure 12 by forcibly adjusting the position of the deformable collection screen 60 to provide hand space.

1 . A gutter downspout debris collection device comprising: 
 an enclosure having an inlet and outlet configured to integrally join to a gutter downspout;    a debris collection screen inserted in said enclosure;    means for removing the debris from said debris collection screen without removing said debris collection screen from said enclosure; and    an outlet screen positioned to prevent debris from falling through said enclosure outlet when removing the debris from said debris collection screen.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure is transparent.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said screen includes an upper portion having an opened hemispherical configuration and positioned such that said upper portion opening is adjacent to said inlet of said enclosure thereby promoting the collection of debris entering said enclosure via said inlet.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said screen includes a lower portion having an opened hemispherical configuration and positioned such that said lower portion opening is positioned adjacent to said outlet of said enclosure.  
     
     
         5 .The device of  claim 4  wherein said upper and lower portions are joined together to form a substantially centered basin positioned between said inlet and said outlet of said enclosure.  
     
     
         6 . The device of claim  5  wherein said upper portion includes an aperture to allow an individual access to said basin to remove debris collected therein.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said debris removing means includes an aperture in said enclosure, said aperture being configured to allow an individual access to said debris collection screen.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said aperture includes a water tight cover removably secured thereto.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said cover includes a water tight flap that is hinged to allow said flap to be pivoted to a non-obtrusive position thereby allowing an individual access to said debris collection screen.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said flap includes latching means positioned opposite to said hinge to maintain said flap in a water tight closed position.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said screen is fabricated from a relatively deformable material.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said upper screen portion includes a substantially U-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said lower screen portion includes a substantially U-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12  wherein said upper screen portion is positioned such that an open side of said upper screen portion cooperates with said debris removing means to promote the removal of debris from said upper screen portion.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said lower screen portion is positioned such that an open side of said lower screen portion cooperates with said debris removing means to promote the removal of debris collected by said outlet screen.  
     
     
         16 .The device of  claim 1  wherein said debris collection screen includes apertures having a substantially square configuration.  
     
     
         17 . The device of claim  16  wherein said apertures include sides having a dimension of substantially about three-eighths of an inch.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said housing is substantially cube configured.  
     
     
         19 . A method for collecting gutter downspout debris, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a enclosure having an inlet and outlet configured to integrally join to a gutter downspout;    providing a debris collection screen inserted in said enclosure;    removing the debris from said debris collection screen without removing said debris collection screen from said enclosure; and    positioning an outlet screen to prevent debris from falling through said enclosure outlet when removing the debris from said debris collection screen.    
     
     
         20 . A device for collecting debris flowing through a gutter downspout comprising: 
 an enclosure adapted for installation into the gutter downspout, said enclosure having an inlet and outlet;    means for collecting the debris flowing through the gutter downspout, said debris collecting means adapted for removable installation in said enclosure;    means for removing the collected debris from said enclosure without removing said debris collecting means; and    means for preventing debris from passing through said enclosure outlet when removing the debris from said enclosure.    
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  wherein said debris collecting means includes a cylindrically configured debris collection screen.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said debris collection screen is deformable.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22  wherein said debris collection screen is resilient.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said debris collection screen is positioned into a deformed configuration that corresponds to the quantity of debris collected by said screen.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said deformed configuration promotes continuous water drainage from said enclosure.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said deformed configuration allows an individual access to collected debris to remove the collected debris from said enclosure without removing said debris collection screen.