초록 ▼

A rain catch is disclosed that collects and diverts rainwater from the perimeter of a retractable awning having an awning canopy that is tilted so as to have a lowest corner. The rain catch has a body that includes a body cavity and an awning beam collar, the body cavity having an opening that recei

A rain catch is disclosed that collects and diverts rainwater from the perimeter of a retractable awning having an awning canopy that is tilted so as to have a lowest corner. The rain catch has a body that includes a body cavity and an awning beam collar, the body cavity having an opening that receives rainwater flowing off the lowest corner of the awning canopy. The awning beam collar is attached to the awning beam of the retractable awning at the lowest corner of the canopy. The rain catch is attached to the awning beam such that the opening of the collector body cavity is disposed in a space between the edge of the awning canopy and a bracing member at the lowest corner of the awning. The rain catch can include an extended downspout coupled to the downspout port to direct received rainwater away from the retractable awning.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A rain catch for collecting and diverting rainwater from a retractable awning, the retractable awning having an awning beam supporting a leading downward edge of a pitched and tilted awning canopy, the awning canopy having a lowest corner, the awning canopy being able to direct rainwater towards

1. A rain catch for collecting and diverting rainwater from a retractable awning, the retractable awning having an awning beam supporting a leading downward edge of a pitched and tilted awning canopy, the awning canopy having a lowest corner, the awning canopy being able to direct rainwater towards the lowest corner, the rain catch comprising: a collector body, the collector body defining; an awning beam collar at a first end of the collector body and formed integrally therewith, the awning beam collar for receiving the awning beam, anda collector body cavity extending from underneath at least a portion of the awning beam collar to a second end of the collector body, the collector body cavity having a body cavity opening that extends from the awning beam collar to the second end of the collector body;a securing means for coupling the collector body to the awning beam at the lowest corner of the awning canopy so that the body cavity opening extends upwardly along the edge of the awning canopy to receive rainwater flowing from the awning canopy, the securing means attached to the collector body and capable of creating a gripping force between the awning beam collar and the awning beam to resist rotation of the collector body around the awning beam; anda downspout port cooperative with the collector body and located substantially beneath the awning beam collar that allows received rainwater to flow from the collector body cavity through the downspout port and further through a downspout coupled thereto. 2. The rain catch of claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises at least one strap made of hook and loop material. 3. The rain catch of claim 1, further comprising an angled downspout coupled to the downspout port, the angled downspout being able to direct received rainwater away from the retractable awning. 4. The rain catch of claim 1, further comprising an extended downspout coupled to the downspout port, the extended downspout being able to direct received rainwater away from the retractable awning. 5. The rain catch of claim 4, further comprising means for substantially immobilizing the extended downspout at an end closest to the ground. 6. The rain catch of claim 5 wherein the means for substantially immobilizing the extended downspout includes: a body filled with sand; anda means, coupled to the body, for securing the extended downspout to the body filled with sand. 7. The rain catch of claim 1 wherein: the collector body further comprises a mounting hole located at the second end; anda mounting support having one end inserted in the mounting hole and the other end in physical communication with a bracing member of the retractable awning to resist rotation of the collector body around the awning beam. 8. The rain catch of claim 1, wherein the awning beam collar includes a pad made of a material able to increase frictional force between the beam collar and the awning beam to further resist rotation of the collector body about the awning beam. 9. The rain catch of claim 1, wherein the collector body and the collector body cavity are curved at the second end to direct rainwater flow back toward the downspout port. 10. The rain catch of claim 9, wherein the collector body cavity further includes an angled surface emanating at the first end from behind the downspout port and angling upwardly and over the downspout port that can re-direct received rainwater, that is flowing past the downspout port from the second end of the collector body cavity, downwardly and back towards the downspout port. 11. A rain catch for collecting and diverting rainwater from a retractable awning, the retractable awning having an awning beam supporting a leading downward edge of a pitched and tilted awning canopy, the retractable awning further having at least one bracing member substantially perpendicular to the awning beam at a side of the awning canopy, having a lowest corner, the awning canopy being able to direct rainwater towards the lowest corner, the rain catch comprising: a collector body, the collector body defining a collector body cavity having a body cavity opening;an awning beam collar for receiving the awning beam, the awning beam collar disposed at a back end of the collector body and formed integrally therewith, the collector body cavity extending from under at least a portion of the awning beam collar, the collector body cavity and the body cavity opening extending substantially forward of the awning beam collar to form a front end;means for securing the collector body to the awning beam, the means for securing producing a gripping force between the awning beam collar and the awning beam to resist rotation of the collector body around the awning beam; anda downspout port proximately located toward the back end of the collector body cavity and able to couple to a downspout, the downspout port configured to allow received rainwater to flow from the collector body cavity, through the downspout port, and out of the downspout;wherein the collector body can be coupled to the awning beam at the lowest corner of the awning canopy, such that the body cavity opening extends substantially into a space between the edge of the awning canopy and the at least one bracing member, the body cavity opening being able to receive rainwater flowing off of the edge of the awning canopy extending from the lowest corner of the awning canopy. 12. The rain catch of claim 11, further comprising an extended downspout coupled to the downspout port, the extended downspout being able to direct rainwater flow away from the retractable awning. 13. The rain catch of claim 12, further comprising means for substantially immobilizing the extended downspout at an end closest to the ground. 14. The rain catch of claim 11 wherein: the collector body further comprises at least one mounting hole located substantially at the front end of the collector body; anda mounting support having one end inserted in the at least one mounting hole and the other end in physical communication with the at least one bracing member to further resist rotation of the collector body around the awning beam. 15. The rain catch of claim 11, wherein the awning beam collar includes a pad made of a material able to increase frictional force between the beam collar and the awning beam to further resist rotation of the collector body about the awning beam. 16. The rain catch of claim 11, wherein the collector body and the collector body cavity are curved at the front end to direct rainwater flow toward the back end of the collector body cavity and the downspout port. 17. The rain catch of claim 16, wherein the collector body cavity further includes an angled surface located substantially at the back end of the collector body cavity, emanating from behind, and extending over, the downspout port, that can re-direct received rainwater that is flowing past the downspout port from the front of the collector body cavity, downwardly and back towards the downspout port. 18. A rain catch for collecting and diverting rainwater from a retractable awning, the retractable awning having an awning beam supporting a leading downward edge of a pitched and tilted awning canopy, the awning canopy having a lowest corner, the awning canopy being able to direct rainwater toward the lowest corner, the rain catch comprising: a collector body, the collector body defining a collector body cavity and an awning beam collar for receiving the awning beam, the awning beam collar located substantially at a back end of the collector body, the collector body cavity extending out from under the awning beam collar to form a front end, the collector body further having a cavity opening extending from the awning beam collar to the front end that is able to receive rainwater flowing off the edge of the awning canopy extending from the lowest corner of the awning canopy;means for securing the collector body to the awning beam such that the body cavity opening extends along the edge of the awning canopy and substantially in the same plane therewith, the collector body further having at least one mounting hole located substantially at the front end of the collector body and a mounting support having one end inserted in the at least one mounting hole and the other end in physical communication with a bracing member to further resist rotation of the collector body around the awning beam; and a downspout port cooperative with the collector body, the downspout port located substantially under the beam collar and being able to allow received rainwater to flow out from the collector body cavity and through the downspout port.