Outdoor drains often clog due to accumulating leaves, trash, what have you, covering them. If the mouth of the drain were made of Lucite or a similarly strong, flat material, and if a powerful spring-mounted wiper were attached, the blade could sweep away the blocking debris, leaving the drain free of back-ups.-- snarfyguy, Feb 19 2003 I take it that maintenance crews in your don't watch weather reports either.-- thumbwax, Feb 19 2003 I *was* the maintenance crew at the place that gave me the idea. I just wasn't there that often and after it rained there would be a HUGE scary puddle on the roof. I can't believe it didn't collapse.-- snarfyguy, Feb 19 2003 If you made a device that forced the blockage down the drain to like a incinerator it might work better. Good thinking but I couldn't vote for it. Keep thinking and you might strike a golden idea though! Nice Going There.-- Flying Doom Squid, Aug 29 2007 random, halfbakery