Hiddn Roof Gutter System

Abstract

In its simplest from, the hidden rain gutter of the present invention consists of a trough having a closed cross-sectional contour that is enclosed for the most of its periphery, having an opening in its upper section adjacent to the drain opening in the roof surface layer through which rainwater is introduced into the trough. The hidden rain gutter of the present invention is configured with at least one drainage outlet and at least one distal end spaced apart from the drainage outlet. The hidden rain gutter element defines a drainage vector between the distal end and the drainage outlet In one preferred deployment of the hidden rain gutter of the present invention the drainage vector is parallel to the plane of the roof surface layer with the distal end deployed higher on the slope of the roof than the drainage outlet such that rainwater falling into the rain gutter element is directed toward the drainage outlet. In a most preferred deployment, the roofing system includes a roofing underlay deployed on the roof structural frame with the roof surface layer supported above the roofing underlay by battens and counter-battens. The planes of the roofing underlay and the roof surface layer are, therefore, substantially parallel and spaced apart at a distance of approximately 6-12 centimeters therebetween. The hidden rain gutter of the present invention is configured for deployment in that space provided between the roofing underlay and the roof surface layer.

1 . A roofing system comprising:
 (a) a roof structural frame;   (b) a visible roof surface layer supported above said roof structural frame, said roof surface layer configured with a drain opening spaced apart from a lower edge of said roof surface layer; and   (c) at least one trough element deployed in a space provided between said roof structural frame and the roof surface layer such that rainwater passing through said drain opening is directed into said trough element.   
   
   
       2 . The roofing system of  claim 1 , wherein said space is created by supporting the roof surface layer on a plurality of roofing battens and counter-battens such that said counter-battens are deployed on roof structural frame, said battens are deployed on said counter-battens and said roof surface layer is deployed on said battens. 
   
   
       3 . The roofing system of  claim 1 , further including a roofing underlay layer deployed so as to be supported by roof structural frame. 
   
   
       4 . The roofing system of  claim 1 , wherein said a trough has a cross-sectional contour that is enclosed by a continuous wall on at least portions of four sides of its periphery, having an opening in its upper section adjacent to said drain opening in said roof surface layer through which rainwater is introduced into the trough. 
   
   
       5 . A hidden rain gutter for use with a roofing system having a drain opening spaced apart from a lower edge of a roof surface layer, the rain gutter comprising a trough element having a cross-sectional contour that is enclosed by a continuous wall on at least portions of four sides of its periphery, having an opening in its upper section adjacent to said drain opening in said roof surface layer through which rainwater is introduced into said trough element. 
   
   
       6 . The hidden rain gutter of  claim 5 , wherein said rain gutter is configured with a closed cross-sectional contour that defines a rectangular outline that is enclosed by a continuous wall on at least portions of four sides of its periphery, said rectangular outline having an opening in its upper section adjacent to said drain opening. 
   
   
       7 . A method for deploying a rain gutter in conjunction with a roofing system having a roofing underlay deployed on a roof structural frame and a visible roof surface layer supported above the roofing underlay, the roofing system having a slope such that rainwater is directed toward a lower edge of the roofing system, the roofing system also having a drain opening spaced apart from the lower edge, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a rain gutter element having at least one drainage outlet and at least one distal end spaced apart from said at least one drainage outlet, said rain gutter element defining a drainage vector between said at least one distal end and said at least one drainage outlet;   (b) deploying said rain gutter element underneath the drain opening such that rainwater passing through the drain opening falls into said rain gutter element;   
     wherein said drainage vector is parallel to a plane of the roof surface layer and said distal end is deployed higher on the slope of the roofing system than said drainage outlet such that rainwater falling into said rain gutter element is directed toward said drainage outlet. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said rain gutter is implemented with a closed cross-sectional contour that is enclosed for most of its periphery, having an opening in its upper section adjacent to the drain opening in the roof surface layer through which rainwater is introduced into said rain gutter. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further including deploying said at least one trough element in a space between the roofing underlay and the roof surface layer. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , further including deploying at least a portion of said at least one trough element beneath a first course of roofing tiles configured as the roof surface layer. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , further including deploying at least a portion of said at least one trough element beneath a second course of roofing tiles configured as the roof surface layer. 
   
   
       12 . A universal gutter corner for connecting two gutter elements deployed on separate sections of a roof where the separate roof sections have differing direction of slope and/or pitch, the universal gutter corner comprising a unitary corner element having two ends for interconnection with the gutter elements, wherein inscribed on each of said ends are cutting guidelines delineating a variety of roof pitches such that an installer cuts each said ends along a said cutting guideline corresponding to the pitch of the roof on which the gutter elements are deployed. 
   
   
       13 . The universal gutter corner of  claim 12 , wherein said unitary corner element is configured so as to be rigid. 
   
   
       14 . The universal gutter corner of  claim 12 , wherein said unitary corner element has a cross-sectional contour that is enclosed by a continuous wall on at least portions of four sides of its periphery, having an opening in its upper section adjacent to a drain opening in a roof surface layer through which rainwater is introduced into the trough.