Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley – With separator; e.g. – strainer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-11
2001-03-27
Kent, Christopher T. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley
With separator; e.g., strainer
C052S712000, C052S741300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205715
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved gutter guard support and, more particularly, to a gutter guard support which is securable to conventional gutter assemblies and supports a gutter guard so as to prevent debris from accumulating in the gutter assembly and on the surface of the gutter guard.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gutters are secured to buildings to collect water running off a roof and to divert this runoff water into down spouts. The water is thereafter directed away from the building perimeter, for example into yards or storm drains. While gutters do an excellent job of collecting runoff water, they also undesirably collect foreign matter including leaves, twigs, tree buddings, and other debris. The collection of debris in gutters interferes with its ability to collect the runoff water and direct the same away from the building perimeter. As a result, the gutters must be periodically cleaned to remove the debris therefrom. Many people find this cleaning task unenjoyable, time consuming or too hazardous due to the height of the gutters above the ground.
Numerous gutter guards have been developed to prevent the collection of debris in the gutter while allowing the runoff water to be received in the gutter. Examples of prior gutter debris guards can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 608 844; 1,732,058; and 2,636,458. Some prior gutter guards include gutter screens made of woven metal wire which prevents debris from entering the gutter. Metal wire screens are expensive to manufacture and install relative to nonmetal screens, eg. plastic and nylon screens. Metal screens also can be awkward to remove to perform the cleaning task. Further, if the wire does not have a large enough gauge to prevent sagging under its own weight, the weight of water running off the roof onto the screen or the weight of debris that lands on the screen, then valleys are formed in the screen. Debris collects in these valleys and can interfere with the water collection. Thus like the gutters without gutter guards, one must clean the screen so that runoff water readily flows therethrough into the gutter. Some prior gutter guards have rigid peripheral frames enclosing the gutter guard to provide stability to the gutter guard. However, this significantly increases the cost of manufacturing and installing the gutter guard.
Nonmetal screens are also used in an attempt to prevent debris from collecting in gutters. However, nonmetal screens introduce a drawback, namely, the tendency of nonmetal screens to sag like the light gauge metal screens discussed above. At a sagging portion of the nonmetal screen, debris builds up and blocks water from passing therethrough into the gutter. Consequently, the gutter does not receive the runoff water and the runoff water flows over the debris and undesirably over the side of the gutter closely adjacent the building. Thus, the purpose of the gutter is defeated. Also, the sagging portion permits debris to build up within the gutter resulting in blockage, water back up and water overflow. Additionally, some previous arched gutter guard supports may act as dams to retain debris on the mesh rather than disburse debris from the top of the mesh/screen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In recognition of the above disadvantages of the prior gutter guards and in an attempt to provide an improved gutter assembly with gutter guard, there has been developed a gutter guard assembly which secures to known gutter constructions and holds a gutter guard taut so as to prevent valleys from forming in the gutter guard wherein debris can collect. According to the invention, an anchor attaches to a gutter support member and has an anchor post. The anchor post extends into the openings in a gutter guard to hold the same taut across the open top of the gutter. In one embodiment of the invention, a series of anchor posts positioned lengthwise of the gutter tautly hold the gutter guard lengthwise of the gutter.
More specifically, in an embodiment of the invention, an anchor base fits onto a conventional ferrule through which a securement nail is fed to secure the gutter to a building upper side wall. An anchor clamp secures to the anchor base and has the anchor post extending therefrom. The anchor clamp is attached to the anchor base by latching structure, which can include teeth or protrusions. In one construction of the invention, a plurality of anchor clamps, each having one anchor post thereon, are attached to one anchor base. In another construction, a single anchor clamp having a plurality of anchor posts is attached to one anchor base. The anchor posts can be linearly aligned with each other or can be offset. Gutter guard openings receive a plurality of anchor posts and the gutter guard is thus held relatively taut by the anchor posts so as to prevent sagging therein when stretched the length of the gutter.
In another embodiment of the invention, the anchor base and the anchor clamp are an integral anchor. This anchor also has latching structure for securing the anchor to a conventional support bracket that supports the gutter. The anchor has anchor posts which facilitate a taut securement of the gutter guard to the anchor.
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Flynn ,Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
Kent Christopher T.
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