Gutter and precast panel incorporating the same

Abstract

A gutter embedded into a structure to collect moisture that forms on the surface of the structure. The gutter forms a substantially flush engagement with the surface of the structure, and includes a fluid redirecting surface that coaxes the fluid angularly toward a reservoir for capture and collection of the fluid. One or more anchoring portions may be included to extend away from the gutter to further promote a secure connection between the gutter and the structure. The gutter may be made from a one piece elongate body of extruded material, and may further include a planar face portion to facilitate engagement with the surface of the structure. In one form, the gutter can be formed into a wall or related panel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gutter configured to fit substantially within a wall, said gutter comprising: 
 an upper gutter portion and a lower gutter portion, each configured to form a substantially flush fit with a generally planar surface of said wall;    a reservoir configured to fit within said wall behind a plane defined by said upper and lower gutter portions; and    a fluid redirecting surface disposed between said upper gutter portion and said reservoir such that moisture accumulating on at least one of said upper gutter portion or a portion of said surface of said wall situated above said upper gutter portion is coaxed into said reservoir along said fluid redirecting surface.    
     
     
         2 . The gutter of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid redirecting surface is cooperative with at least one of said upper gutter portion or said surface of said wall situated above said upper gutter portion to define a Coanda surface.  
     
     
         3 . The gutter of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid redirecting surface is cooperative with at least one of said upper gutter portion or said surface of said wall situated above said upper gutter portion to define a faceted surface relative thereto.  
     
     
         4 . The gutter of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchoring portion extending from at least one of said upper gutter portion, lower gutter portion, reservoir or fluid redirecting surface.  
     
     
         5 . The gutter of  claim 4 , wherein said anchoring portion extends away from said generally planar surface of said wall.  
     
     
         6 . The gutter of  claim 1 , wherein said gutter comprises a plastic material.  
     
     
         7 . The gutter of  claim 1 , wherein said gutter defines an extrudable cross-sectional profile.  
     
     
         8 . The gutter of  claim 1 , wherein said gutter is of unitary construction.  
     
     
         9 . The gutter of  claim 1 , further comprising a drain port disposed in said reservoir.  
     
     
         10 . The gutter of  claim 9 , further comprising a tube in fluid communication with said reservoir through said drain port.  
     
     
         11 . The gutter of  claim 1 , wherein said upper gutter portion comprises a substantially planar face portion extending from said fluid redirecting surface.  
     
     
         12 . The gutter of  claim 11 , wherein said lower gutter portion further comprises a substantially planar face portion extending from said reservoir.  
     
     
         13 . The gutter of  claim 12 , further comprising an anchoring portion extending from each of said substantially planar face portions.  
     
     
         14 . The gutter of  claim 1 , wherein a depthwise dimension of said reservoir is less than one inch.  
     
     
         15 . The gutter of  claim 14 , wherein a depthwise dimension of said reservoir is approximately three-fourths of an inch.  
     
     
         16 . The gutter of  claim 14 , wherein a heightwise dimension of said reservoir is less than one inch.  
     
     
         17 . The gutter of  claim 16 , wherein a heightwise dimension of said reservoir is approximately one-half of an inch.  
     
     
         18 . The gutter of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid redirecting surface is angled relative to said generally planar surface of said wall.  
     
     
         19 . The gutter of  claim 18 , wherein said angle is between approximately 30° and 75°.  
     
     
         20 . The gutter of  claim 1 , further comprising a plug configured to be disposed along at least one end of said reservoir to define a closure thereto.  
     
     
         21 . A gutter configured to be integrally formed into a precast panel such that upon curing of said panel and placement of same into a generally upright position, said gutter defines a portion of an outer surface of said generally upright panel to enable moisture forming on at least a portion of the surface thereof to be collected in said gutter, said gutter defining a unitary structure comprising a substantially planar face portion, a reservoir fluidly coupled to said face portion, and a fluid redirecting surface disposed between said face portion and said reservoir.  
     
     
         22 . A wall assembly comprising: 
 a panel defined by an outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface; and    at least one gutter formed into at least one of said surfaces of said panel, said gutter comprising: 
 an upper gutter portion configured to form a substantially flush fit with a generally planar surface of said wall;  
 a reservoir configured to fit within said wall behind a plane defined by said upper gutter portion and said surface of said wall; and  
 a fluid redirecting surface disposed between said upper gutter portion and said reservoir such that moisture accumulating on at least one of said wall-engaging portion or a portion of said surface of said wall situated above said upper gutter portion is coaxed into said reservoir along said fluid redirecting surface.  
   
     
     
         23 . The wall assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one gutter comprises a plurality of gutters.  
     
     
         24 . The wall assembly of  claim 23 , wherein at least two of said plurality of gutters are in fluid communication with one another.  
     
     
         25 . The wall assembly of  claim 24 , further comprising a tube coupled to said plurality of gutters to establish said fluid communication therebetween.  
     
     
         26 . The wall assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one gutter is placed in said panel such that when said panel is placed in a generally upright position, said gutter slopes along its substantial longitudinal dimension.  
     
     
         27 . The wall assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a plug disposed along at least one end of said reservoir.  
     
     
         28 . A gutter comprising an extrudable cross-sectional profile, said extrudable cross-section profile defining: 
 an upper gutter portion and a lower gutter portion that together defining a face plane of said gutter;    a fluid containing reservoir; and    a fluid redirecting surface extending from said upper gutter portion, away from said face plane of said gutter, to said fluid containing reservoir, wherein said fluid redirecting surface is configured such that upon orientation of said face plane of said gutter in a substantially vertical position, fluid present at said upper gutter portion is coaxed into said reservoir along said fluid redirecting surface.    
     
     
         29 . A method of removing moisture from a precast panel, said method comprising: 
 configuring said precast panel to comprise: 
 a substantially planar layer defined by an outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface; and  
 at least one gutter formed into at least one of said surfaces of said panel, said gutter comprising: 
 an upper gutter portion configured to form a substantially flush fit with a generally planar surface of said wall;  
 a reservoir configured to fit within said wall behind a plane defined by said upper gutter portion and said surface of said wall; and  
 a fluid redirecting surface disposed between said upper gutter portion and said reservoir such that moisture accumulating on at least one of said upper gutter portion or a portion of said surface of said wall situated above said upper gutter portion is coaxed into said reservoir along said fluid redirecting surface;  
 
   placing said precast panel in a substantially upright position;    exposing said precast panel to a source of moisture such that moisture forms on said at least one of said surfaces of said panel that includes said gutter; and    collecting at least a portion of said formed moisture into said reservoir.    
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising providing a drain port in said reservoir such that said collected moisture may be drained therefrom.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising fluidly connecting a tube to said drain port.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising configuring said panel to comprise a plurality of said gutters.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein at least two of said plurality of said gutters are in fluid communication with one another through said tube.