Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
1996-10-11
2001-05-01
Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
C219S544000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225600
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a snow melting device for gutters and more particularly pertains to preventing snow build-up in gutters with a snow melting device for gutters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of snow melting devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, snow melting devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of melting accumulated snow are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,527 to Franzmeier discloses heating cables.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,090 to Lowenthal discloses an awning gutter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,880 to Eizenhoefer discloses a device to melt ice and snow on a roof structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,805 to Weber discloses a solar roof, eaves and gutter device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,002 to Stanford discloses down spouts provided with heated elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,858 to Tourangeau et al. discloses an ice dam melting system.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a snow melting device for gutters for preventing snow build-up in gutters.
In this respect, the snow melting device for gutters according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing snow build-up in gutters.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved snow melting device for gutters which can be used for preventing snow build-up in gutters. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of snow melting devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved snow melting device for gutters. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved snow melting device for gutters and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a gutter of a predetermined length secured to a house at a lower end of a roof thereof. The gutter has a rear wall secured to the house. The gutter has an open upper end, a closed lower end and a curved front wall. The curved front wall extends to a length equal to a length of the rear wall. The device includes a snow melting strip comprised of an elongated generally rectangular waterproof housing of a predetermined length. The housing has a heating coil extending lengthwise therethrough in a zigzag configuration. The housing is positionable within the closed lower end of the gutter. The snow melting strip has a thickness less than twenty percent of a depth of the gutter. An adjustable switch is secured within the house. The adjustable switch cooperates with the snow melting strip for activation and temperature control thereof.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved snow melting device for gutters which has all the advantages of the prior art snow melting devices and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved snow melting device for gutters which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved snow melting device for gutters which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved snow melting device for gutters which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a snow melting device for gutters economically available to the buying public.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved snow melting device for gutters for preventing snow build-up in gutters.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved snow melting device for gutters including a snow melting strip positionable within a closed lower end of a gutter. The snow melting strip will serve to melt accumulated snow upon activation to allow proper drainage of water through downspouts of the gutter.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2507039 (1950-05-01), Miller
patent: 4043527 (1977-08-01), Franzmeier
patent: 4134002 (1979-01-01), Stanford
patent: 4335299 (1982-06-01), Belohlavek
patent: 4375805 (1983-03-01), Weber
patent: 4401880 (1983-08-01), Eizenhoefer
patent: 4419567 (1983-12-01), Murphy et al.
patent: 4419569 (1983-12-01), Colten
patent: 5111032 (1992-05-01), Batliwalla et al.
patent: 5315090 (1994-05-01), Lowenthal
patent: 5391858 (1995-02-01), Tourangeau et al.
patent: 980986 (1965-01-01), None
Chromalox Thermowire Bulletin 1000, undated.
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