Drainage panel

Abstract

A drainage panel for arrangement between rafters and battens of a pitched roof to drain a flow of precipitation from the pitched roof. The drainage panel has a plurality of flow deflectors capable of splitting a single flow of precipitation into a plurality as it flows.

1 . A drainage panel for arrangement between rafters and battens of a pitched roof to drain a flow of precipitation from the pitched roof, the drainage panel having a plurality of flow deflectors capable of splitting a single flow of precipitation into a plurality of flows. 
     
     
         2 . The drainage panel of  claim 1 , including an aperture for accommodating a roof component, such as a rooflight. 
     
     
         3 . The drainage panel of  claim 2 , wherein one or more flow deflectors are arranged below the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The drainage panel of  claim 1 , wherein one or more flow deflectors are ridges that project from an upper surface of the drainage panel. 
     
     
         5 . The drainage panel of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage panel has one or more flow-splitting arrangements constituted by a group of flow deflectors. 
     
     
         6 . The drainage panel of  claim 5 , wherein the or each flow-splitting arrangement includes a first deflector that is configured to deflect an incoming flow of precipitation inwardly. 
     
     
         7 . The drainage panel of  claim 6 , wherein the first deflector projects from a longitudinal ridge that extends generally in a ridge-to-eave direction. 
     
     
         8 . The drainage panel of  claim 7 , wherein the first deflector lies at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal ridge. 
     
     
         9 . The drainage panel of  claim 8 , wherein a junction between the first deflector and the longitudinal ridge is curved. 
     
     
         10 . The drainage panel of  claim 7 , wherein the drainage panel comprises a side deflector that protrudes from the longitudinal ridge above the first deflector and that is configured to deflect an incoming flow of precipitation inwardly. 
     
     
         11 . The drainage panel of  claim 10 , wherein the side deflector has a ridge-facing surface that lies at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal ridge. 
     
     
         12 . The drainage panel of  claim 5 , wherein the or each flow-splitting arrangement further includes a second deflector that is configured to prevent continued inward flow of the incoming flow of precipitation. 
     
     
         13 . The drainage panel of  claim 12 , wherein the second deflector is a ridge that lies substantially parallel to the ridge-to-eave direction. 
     
     
         14 . The drainage panel of  claim 5 , wherein the or each flow-splitting arrangement further includes a third deflector that is configured to split the incoming flow into two outgoing flows. 
     
     
         15 . The drainage panel of  claim 14 , wherein the third deflector is a ridge that lies generally perpendicular to the ridge-to-eave direction. 
     
     
         16 . The drainage panel of  claim 5 , wherein the drainage panel comprises a primary flow-splitting arrangement for dividing an incoming primary flow into two outgoing secondary flows, and at least one secondary flow-splitting arrangement arranged below the primary flow-splitting arrangement in a ridge-to-eave direction for dividing an incoming secondary flow into two outgoing tertiary flows. 
     
     
         17 . The drainage panel of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one flow path divider arranged below the or each flow-splitting arrangement to define a plurality of flow paths that receive outgoing flows from the or each flow-splitting arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The drainage panel of  claim 17 , wherein the or each flow path divider is a longitudinally-extending ridge. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The drainage panel of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage panel comprises a sheet made of a flexible material, such that when the drainage panel is incorporated into a pitched roof it is distorted to form channels between the battens and crests over the battens. 
     
     
         22 . The drainage panel of  claim 21 , wherein one or more deflectors is configured to deflect a flow of precipitation out of a channel and towards a crest, such that the precipitation is deflected uphill. 
     
     
         23 . The drainage panel of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage panel has one or more batten spacers on its upper surface for spacing battens above the upper surface of the drainage panel. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The drainage panel of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage panel has a plurality of panel sections. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled)