Systems and methods related to liquid drainage

Abstract

Systems and methods for draining liquids include spaced support members and drainage ribs extending therebetween. Adjacent rows of drainage ribs may establish a general checkerboard pattern of ribs and interstitial spaces therebetween. Drainage ribs may have a differential height along their length, though may have substantially coplanar bottom surfaces. A first support member is provided with stress risers to enable enhanced bending capability to provide a customizable device width for mating with predetermined liquid conduit sizes, such as roofing gutters having upward-facing channel widths.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 over a portion of a rain gutter formed longitudinally along a gutter axis, the gutter being attached to a fascia of a building, securing a first device relative to the rain gutter, the first device comprising a top surface including a discontinuous step arrangement between a first plane including a first plurality of rib top surfaces and a second plane including a first plurality of rib top surfaces, the discontinuous step extending parallel to the gutter axis.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of rib top surfaces are provided by a first row of parallel longitudinal ribs extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to the gutter axis, the first device further comprising:
 a plurality of drainage passageways formed through the first plane.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of rib top surfaces are provided by a second row of parallel longitudinal ribs extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to the gutter axis, the first device further comprising:
 a plurality of drainage passageways formed through the second plane.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of rib top surfaces are provided by a first row of parallel longitudinal ribs extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to the gutter axis, the first device further comprising:
 a plurality of drainage passageways formed through the first plane.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each rib top surface is defined by a longitudinal rib extending along a rib length in a direction substantially perpendicular to the gutter axis, the rib top surface being rounded about an axis running parallel to the top surface along the rib length. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the securing step comprises the steps of:
 securing the first device to a mounting flange of the rain gutter; and   securing the first device to a free longitudinal lip of the rain gutter.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , the method further comprising the steps of:
 providing a second device that is at least substantially similar to the first device;   placing the second device adjacent the first device;   securing the second device to a mounting flange of the rain gutter; and   securing the second device to a free longitudinal lip of the rain gutter.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , the method further comprising the step of:
 abutting the second device to the first device prior to securing the second device.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , the abutting step further comprising the step of nesting a portion of the first device against a portion of the second device. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , the nesting step further comprising overlapping the portion of the first device and the portion of the second device.