Drain filtering device

Abstract

A drain filtering device is disclosed. The improvement over the prior art .[.is comprised of.]. .Iadd.includes .Iaddend.reducing the filter size from an elongated device that spans the length of .[.the gutter.]. .Iadd.drain .Iaddend.system to a modular unit which is necessary only at the drain .[.sight.]. .Iadd.outlet.Iaddend.. The .[.invention also includes.]. .Iadd.filtering device has .Iaddend.an inclined upper face which is positioned on the upstream side of the .[.drain in the gutter and a downspout.]. .Iadd.channel of the drain and an .Iaddend.attachment which locates the .[.invention.]. .Iadd.filtering device .Iaddend.in the .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.channel .Iaddend.such that the flow of filtered water passes through the .[.invention.]. .Iadd.device .Iaddend.and into the .[.downspout.]. .Iadd.outlet.Iaddend.. The debris that collects in the .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.channel .Iaddend.is carried along the with the water until it makes contact with the inclined upper face and is forced up the incline until the overflow debris flows over the side of the .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.channel .Iaddend.thereby cleaning .Iadd.the .Iaddend.same and preventing the .[.downspout.]. .Iadd.outlet .Iaddend.from becoming clogged.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A .[.gutter.]. filter .Iadd.for a drain system in which water and debris including leaves move along a channel toward an outlet, .Iaddend.comprising: A. a rigid structure having at least two substantially vertical faces and at least three additional faces including a bottom face, a rear face and an upper face, the combination forming a closed three dimensional polygon, at least one face having a section of material removed therefrom, creating a hole therein and having a hollow tube attached thereto, thereby forming a hollow extension out of the .[.face, and a hollow portion thereby continuous with the.]. interior of the closed polygon;   B. the rear face positioned adjacent to said bottom face and said vertical faces, thereby adjoining said faces; and   C. the upper face being pervious to water but not to .Iadd.undesired .Iaddend.debris found in the water, the upper face adjoined at some acute angle .Iadd.directly .Iaddend.to said bottom face .Iadd.and forming a ramp extending upwardly from the bottom face .Iaddend.and also adjoined with said vertical faces and said rear face, whereby said hollow extension is capable of being received by the .[.downspout.]. .Iadd.outlet .Iaddend.of a .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.drain .Iaddend.system with the .[.(remaining structure).]. closed three dimensional polygon being received .[.by.]. .Iadd.in .Iaddend.the .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.channel.Iaddend., the upper face allowing the water from the .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.channel .Iaddend.to pass into the .[.downspout.]. .Iadd.outlet .Iaddend.without the leaves and other .Iadd.undesired .Iaddend.debris, which are forced up the .[.incline created by.]. .Iadd.ramp formed by .Iaddend.the upper face .[.with respect to said bottom face,.]. by the flowing water, thus carrying the debris .[.over.]. .Iadd.to .Iaddend.the sides of the .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.channel .Iaddend.and thereby cleaning same, thus preventing the debris from clogging the .[.downspout.]. .Iadd.outlet.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. The filter as described in claim 1, further comprising a handle suitable for assisting in the placement and removal of the filter into and out of said .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.channel.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. The filter as described in claim 1, wherein said acute angle is approximately 30 to 45 degrees. 
     
     
       4. The filter as described in claim 1, wherein said upper face is comprised of an angled portion .Iadd.constituting the ramp .Iaddend.and a flat portion, the flat portion being substantially parallel to said bottom face and attached to said rear face and the angled portion attached to the front of said bottom face and creating an acute angle therewith. 
     
     
       5. The filter as described in claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein said acute angle is approximately 30 to 45 degrees. 
     
     
       6. The filter as described in claim 1, wherein the .[.shape of said.]. hollow extension is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
       7. The filter as described in claim 1, wherein the .[.shape of said.]. hollow extension is oval in shape. 
     
     
       8. The filter as described in claim 1, wherein said upper face is comprised of an angled portion .Iadd.constituting the ramp.Iaddend., a rear edge of which is attached to said rear face and a front edge of .[.the angled portion.]. .Iadd.which .Iaddend.is .Iadd.directly .Iaddend.attached to the front .Iadd.edges .Iaddend.of said bottom face, thereby creating an acute angle therewith. 
     
     
       9. The filter as described in claim 1, wherein said upper face .[.is comprised of a mesh material which.]. provides openings .[.of approximately 0.25 inches by 0.25 inches.]. substantially evenly distributed over said upper face. 
     
     
       10. The filter as described in claim 9, wherein said .[.mesh material.]. .Iadd.upper face .Iaddend.is comprised of .[.galvanized steel.]. .Iadd.spaced .Iaddend.wire .Iadd.elements providing said openings therebetween.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       11. The filter as described in claim 9, wherein said .Iadd.upper face is a .Iaddend.mesh material .[.is.]. comprised of a plastic material. 
     
     
       12. A .[.gutter.]. filter .Iadd.for a drain system in which water and debris including leaves move along a passageway toward an outlet, .Iaddend.comprising: A. a rigid structure having at least two substantially vertical faces and at least three additional faces including a bottom face, a rear face and an upper face, all of the faces being pervious to water but not to .Iadd.undesired .Iaddend.debris found in the water, the combination forming a closed three dimensional polygon, at least one face having a section of material removed therefrom, creating a hole therein and having a hollow tube attached thereto, thereby forming a hollow extension out of the face, and .[.a hollow portion thereby being continuous.]. .Iadd.being in communication .Iaddend.with the interior of the closed polygon;   B. the rear face positioned adjacent to said bottom face and said vertical faces, thereby adjoining said faces; and   C. the upper face adjoined at some acute angle to said bottom face and also adjoined with said vertical faces and said rear face, whereby said hollow extension is capable of being received by the .[.downspout.]. .Iadd.outlet .Iaddend.of a .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.drain .Iaddend.system with the closed three dimensional polygon being received by the .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.passageway.Iaddend., the upper face and adjoining faces allowing the water from the gutter to pass into the .[.downspout.]. .Iadd.outlet .Iaddend.without the leaves and other .Iadd.undesired .Iaddend.debris, which are forced up the incline created by the upper face with respect to said bottom face, by the flowing water, thus carrying the debris .[.over.]. .Iadd.to .Iaddend.the sides of the .[.gutter.]. .Iadd.passageway .Iaddend.and cleaning same, thus preventing the debris from clogging the .[.downspout.]. .Iadd.outlet.Iaddend.. .[.13. The filter as described in claim 12, further comprising a handle suitable for assisting in the placement and removal of the filter into and out of said   
     
     
        gutter..].14. The filter as described in claim 12, wherein said acute 
     
     
        angle is approximately 30 to 45 degrees. 15. The filter as described in claim 12, wherein said upper face is comprised of an angled portion and a flat portion, the flat portion being substantially parallel to said bottom face and attached to said rear face and the angled portion attached to the front of said bottom face and creating an acute angle therewith. .[.16. The filter as described in claim 15, wherein said acute angle is approximately 45 degrees..]..[.17. The filter as described in claim 12, wherein the shape of said hollow extension is cylindrical in 
     
     
        shape..]..[.  .  The filter as described in claim 12, wherein the shape of said hollow extension is oval in shape..]..[.19. The filter as described in claim 12, wherein said upper face is comprised of an angled portion, a rear edge of which is attached to said rear face and a front edge of the angled portion is attached to the front of said bottom face, thereby 
     
     
        creating an acute angle therewith..].20. The filter as described in claim .[.12.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein .Iadd.all of .Iaddend.said faces are comprised of a mesh material which provides openings of approximately 0.25 inches by 0.25 inches, substantially evenly distributed over said faces. .[.21. The filter as described in claim 20, wherein said mesh material is 
     
     
        comprised of galvanized steel wire..].22. The filter as described in claim 20, wherein said mesh material is comprised of a plastic material. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  A filter for a drainage system having a channel providing a bottom surface along which water and debris move toward an outlet, comprising: A. a water-pervious three-dimensional structure having top, bottom and rear faces and a pair of side faces, said top face being an inlet face, and at least one of said bottom, rear and side faces being an outlet face, the outlet face being porous, the top face being porous to water but not to undesired debris so that water can pass therethrough and enter the structure but undesired debris cannot, said top face joining the bottom face at an acute angle defining a lower front corner of the structure and creating a ramp leading up from the corner along the top face,   B. said structure having a channel positioning member extending therefrom capable of positioning the structure in the channel of a drain system with the outlet face in fluid communication with the outlet from the channel, with the bottom face lying on the bottom surface of the channel, with the front corner meeting the bottom surface of the channel, and with the top face forming an obtuse angle with said bottom surface, whereby water flowing in the channel flows through the top face into the structure but debris in the water strikes the top face and is forced upwardly along the ramp and off the top face to clear the same..Iaddend..Iadd.24. The filter of claim 23,   wherein the channel positioning member is on the bottom face..Iaddend..Iadd.25. The filter of claim 23,   wherein the channel positioning member is on the rear face..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The filter of claim 23,   wherein the channel positioning member is a hollow tube projecting from the outlet face..Iaddend..Iadd.27. The filter of claim 23,   wherein the channel is a gutter, wherein the outlet leads into a downspout, and wherein the channel positioning member is a tube on the bottom face extendable into the downspout..Iaddend..Iadd.28. The filter of claim 23,   wherein the channel is a ditch, the outlet leads into a culvert, and the positioning means is a tube on the rear face extendible into the   
     
     
        culvert..Iaddend..Iadd.29.  A drain filtering device for use in a drainage system wherein water and debris are channeled toward an outlet comprising: a three-dimensional, multi-faced structure having a top, a bottom, opposite sides, a front and a rear,   said structure also having a plurality of faces, one of which is a top inlet face porous to water but not to undesired debris that could clog an outlet from the drainage system, and another of which is an outlet face porous to water,   said structure having an internal passageway that allows water entering the top face to pass therethrough to the outlet face,   said top face being directly connected at some acute angle to the bottom of the structure and forming a ramp leading directly upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom of the structure; and   a locating member projecting from the structure adapted to position the structure in the drain system so that the top face can intercept water and debris flowing in the drain system, so that water can enter the structure through the inlet face and exit the structure through the outlet face into the outlet, and so that undesired debris in the water will be forced against the top face and thence upwardly therealong by following debris washed thereagainst by the flowing water..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The filtering device of claim 29,   wherein the locating member extends outwardly from the outlet face for extension into the outlet of the drain system..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The filtering device of claim 30,   wherein the locating member is a conduit for conducting water into the outlet..Iaddend..Iadd.32. The filtering device of claim 29,   wherein the structure is a cage-like structure..Iaddend..Iadd.33. The filtering device of claim 32,   wherein said structure is made of elongated, transversely spaced elements..Iaddend..Iadd.34. The filtering device of claim 33,   wherein the elements are wire..Iaddend..Iadd.35. The filtering device of claim 32,   wherein said structure is made of sheet material having openings therein..Iaddend..Iadd.36. The filtering device of claim 35,   
     
     
       wherein the sheet material is plastic..Iaddend..Iadd.37.  A filter for a drain system in which water and debris including leaves move along a passageway toward an outlet, comprising: A. a rigid structure having at least two substantially vertical faces and at least three additional faces including a bottom face, a rear face and a top face, all of the faces being pervious to water but not to undesired debris found in the water, the combination forming a closed three dimensional polygon, at least one face having a hole therein and having a hollow tube attached thereto in communication with the interior of the closed polygon,   B. the rear face positioned adjacent to said bottom face and said vertical faces, thereby adjoining said faces, and   C. the top face adjoined at some acute angle to said bottom face and also adjoined with said vertical faces and said rear face..Iaddend..Iadd.38. A filter for a drain system in which water and debris including leaves move along a passageway toward an outlet, comprising:   A. a rigid cage-like structure having at least two side faces and at least three additional faces including a bottom face, a rear face and a top face, all of the faces being pervious to water but not to undesired debris found in the water, the combination forming said structure, at least one face having a hole therein and having a hollow tube attached to the face over the hole and thereby being in communication with the interior of the structure,   B. the rear face positioned adjacent to said bottom face and said side faces, thereby adjoining said faces, and   C. the top face adjoined at some acute angle to said bottom face and also   
     
     
        adjoined with said side faces and said rear face..Iaddend..Iadd.39.  A drain filtering device for use in a drain system in which water and debris flow along a passageway toward an outlet, comprising: a porous multi-sided structure having a hollow interior defined by bottom, top, side and rear faces,   the bottom face having front and rear edges,   the top face being water-pervious and having a lower front edge and opposite side edges, being directly joined at its lower front edge to the front edge of the bottom face, and extending angularly upwardly from the bottom face at an acute angle and forming a ramp that starts at the juncture of the lower front edge and the front edge and inclines upwardly therefrom,   the side faces being respectively joined to the side edges of the top face and extending downwardly therefrom,   the rear face being joined to the rear edge of the bottom face and extending upwardly therefrom,   the top face being an inlet into the structure and one of the bottom, side, and rear faces being an outlet from the interior of the structure; and   a positioning member extending outwardly from the structure and adapted to position the structure in the passageway of a drain system so that the structure is in the path of water and debris flowing in the passageway with the bottom face on the bottom of the passageway and with the top face in a position to intercept the flowing water and debris, whereby the water and debris contact the ramp of the top face and the debris is pushed upwardly along the ramp by the water and the water passes through the top face, enters the interior of the structure and exits the interior of the structure through the outlet face and thence into the outlet of the drain   
     
     
        system..Iaddend..Iadd.40.  The filtering device of claim 39, wherein said angle is from about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees..Iaddend..Iadd.41. A drain filtering device comprising:   a filter body having opposite sides, a bottom, a front, and a rear,   the body having a size and a shape that allows it to be positioned in a drainage channel that contains a stream of flowing water and debris so that the front of the body is positioned upstream of the rear of the body relative to the direction of flow of the water and the debris so that the flowing water and debris initially engage the front of the body,   said filter body having a water inlet at the front and a water outlet spaced from the inlet,   said filter body also allowing water entering the body through the inlet to pass to and out of the body through the outlet, and   the front of the body being a water-pervious ramp extending directly upwardly at some acute angle from the bottom thereby to intercept the flowing water and debris and cause the debris to be diverted outwardly of the flowing stream of water which is allowed to enter the body through the inlet whereby the debris is separated from the water and is prevented from clogging the channel..Iaddend.