SPLASH BLOCK WITH DIFFUSER
A splash block having a trough and a diffuser arrangement for use in controlling water dispensed from a downspout of a home or building. The diffuser arrangement including a plurality of diffusing elements that displace a high flow of water produced from a heavy downpour in a random dispensing pattern to prevent erosion of the surrounding ground material. The diffuser arrangement also defining low-flow pathways that accommodate a low flow of water through the trough.
1 . A splash block, comprising:
a) a trough having a first end and a second end, the trough being constructed such that water dispensed into the trough runs in a first direction of flow from the second end toward the first end, the trough including a base;
b) a diffuser arrangement located at the first end of the trough, the diffuser arrangement including:
i) at least one low-flow opening that permits a low flow of water to exit the trough at the first end, the low-flow opening coinciding with the base of the trough; and
ii) a plurality of diffusing elements that displaces water in a random dispensing pattern at the first end of the trough, the diffusing elements projecting upward from the base of the trough.
2 . The block of claim 1 wherein:
a) the diffuser arrangement includes a plurality of low-flow openings coinciding with the base of the trough.
3 . The block of claim 2 wherein:
a) each of the diffusing elements are discrete diffusing elements, the low-flow openings being located between the discrete diffusing elements.
4 . The block of claim 1 wherein:
a) the base of the trough defines a substantially planar bottom surface.
5 . The block of claim 1 wherein:
a) each of the diffusing elements includes a transition region that diverts water flow from the first direction of flow to a second random direction of flow different than the first direction of flow.
6 . The block of claim 5 wherein:
a) the transition regions of the diffusing elements are ramped surfaces that divert water flow from the first direction of flow to the second random direction of flow.
7 . The block of claim 1 wherein:
a) each of the diffusing elements has a width, the width of some diffusing elements being different from the width of other diffusing elements.
8 . The block of claim 1 wherein:
a) each of the diffusing elements has a width, the widths of each of the diffusing elements being generally the same.
9 . The block of claim 1 wherein:
a) the diffuser arrangement includes a plurality of low flow openings defined between the plurality of diffusing elements, each of the low flow openings having a width of between about 1/16 and ½ inch.
10 . The block of claim 1 wherein:
a) each of the diffusing elements are triangular constructions that project upward from the base of the trough.
11 . The block of claim 10 wherein:
a) the triangular constructions are right-angle triangular constructions having a hypotenuse, the hypotenuse being oriented to face the flow of water.
12 . The block of claim 1 wherein;
a) the trough includes opposing side walls extending between the first and second ends of the trough, and a back wall located at the second end of the trough.
13 . A splash block, comprising:
a) a trough having a first end and a second end, the trough being constructed such that water dispensed into the trough runs in a direction from the second end toward the first end, the trough including a base;
b) a diffuser arrangement located at the first end of the trough, the diffuser arrangement including:
i) at least one low-flow water pathway that permits a low flow of water to exit the trough at the first end, the low-flow water pathway coinciding with the base of the trough;
ii) a plurality of high-flow water pathways that displaces a high flow of water in a random dispensing pattern at the first end of the trough, the high-flow water pathways directing water flow above the at least one low-flow water pathway.
14 . The block of claim 13 wherein:
a) the diffuser arrangement includes a plurality of low-flow water pathways coinciding with the base of the trough.
15 . The block of claim 13 wherein:
a) the high-flow water pathways are provided by diffusing elements that divert water flow from the at least one low-flow water pathway to the high-flow water pathways.
16 . The block of claim 15 wherein:
a) the diffusing elements include a plurality of discrete diffusing elements that project upward from the base of the trough.
17 . A method of controlling water flow from a downspout, the method comprising that steps of:
a) providing a splash block, the splash block including a trough;
b) positioning the splash block in relation to a downspout such that water dispensed from the downspout is received in the trough;
c) directing a low flow of water dispensed from the downspout through openings located at an end of the trough, the openings coinciding with a bottom surface of the trough; and
d) disrupting a high flow of water dispensed from the downspout at the end of the trough, the step of disrupting the high flow of water including displacing the water in a random pattern to prevent erosion of surrounding ground material.