Magnetic downspout retention clip
View Patent ↗In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure, a magnetic downspout retention clip comprises: a metallic sheet forming a flat bar with two clips on opposite ends of the flat bar, wherein the two clips are configured to secure the flat bar to a distal end of a downspout; and a magnet fastened to a middle portion of the flat bar, wherein the magnet is configured to join the distal end of the downspout to an upstream portion of the downspout when the distal end of the downspout is in a raised position.
1 . A magnetic downspout retention clip, comprising:
a metallic sheet forming a flat bar with two clips on opposite ends of the flat bar, wherein the two clips are configured to secure the flat bar to a distal end of a downspout;
a magnet fastened to a middle portion of the flat bar, wherein the magnet is configured to join the distal end of the downspout to an upstream portion of the downspout when the distal end of the downspout is in a raised position; and
protrusions extending from a surface of the flat bar under each of the two clips.
2 . The magnetic downspout retention clip of claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a neodymium magnet.
3 . The magnetic downspout retention clip of claim 1 , wherein the magnet includes a hole extending through a center of the magnet.
4 . The magnetic downspout retention clip of claim 3 , further comprising:
a fastener extending through the hole in the magnet and through another hole in the middle portion of the flat bar to fasten the magnet to the flat bar.
5 . The magnetic downspout retention clip of claim 4 , wherein the fastener is a rivet.
6 . The magnetic downspout retention clip of claim 4 , further comprising:
a washer disposed between the fastener and the middle portion of the flat bar.
7 . The magnetic downspout retention clip of claim 6 , wherein the washer is held against one surface of the flat bar by one end of the fastener, and the magnet is held against an opposite surface of the flat bar by an opposite end of the fastener.
8 . The magnetic downspout retention clip of claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are formed by notches pressed into an opposite surface of the flat bar.
9 . A gutter system, comprising:
a first downspout segment configured to extend downwardly from a building structure;
a second downspout segment configured to extend away from the building structure;
a hinge coupling the first downspout segment and the second downspout segment together; and
a magnetic downspout retention clip, comprising:
a metallic sheet forming a flat bar with two clips on opposite ends of the flat bar, wherein the two clips are configured to secure the flat bar to a distal end of the second downspout segment;
protrusions extending from a surface of the flat bar under each of the two clips; and
a magnet fastened to a middle portion of the flat bar, wherein the magnet is configured to join the distal end of the second downspout segment to an outer surface of the first downspout segment when the second downspout segment is in a raised position.
10 . The gutter system of claim 9 , wherein the magnet is a neodymium magnet.
11 . The gutter system of claim 9 , wherein the magnet includes a hole extending through a center of the magnet.
12 . The gutter system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic downspout retention clip further comprises:
a fastener extending through the hole in the magnet and through another hole in the middle portion of the flat bar to fasten the magnet to the flat bar.
13 . The gutter system of claim 12 , wherein the fastener is a rivet.
14 . The gutter system of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic downspout retention clip further comprises:
a washer disposed between the fastener and the middle portion of the flat bar.
15 . The gutter system of claim 14 , wherein the washer is held against one surface of the flat bar by one end of the fastener, and the magnet is held against an opposite surface of the flat bar by an opposite end of the fastener.
16 . The gutter system of claim 9 , wherein the protrusions are formed by notches pressed into an opposite surface of the flat bar.
17 . A method of producing a magnetic downspout retention clip, the method comprising steps of:
forming a flat bar with two clips on opposite ends of the flat bar with a metallic sheet and protrusions extending from a surface of the flat bar under each of the two clips, wherein the two clips are configured to secure the flat bar to a distal end of a downspout; and
fastening a magnet to a middle portion of the flat bar, wherein the magnet is configured to join the distal end of the downspout to an upstream portion of the downspout when the distal end of the downspout is in a raised position.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the magnet is fastened to the middle portion of the flat bar by driving a rivet through a washer, a hole in the middle portion of the flat bar, and another hole in the magnet.