Supports – Eaves trough – Wall bracket
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-30
2001-07-03
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Eaves trough
Wall bracket
C248S903000, C248S048100, C052S011000, C052S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254039
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to devices for hanging gutters and, more particularly, is concerned with a gutter hanging bracket device with a rigidity augmenting or bolstering U-shaped cross-sectional channel construction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A building, such as a residential house, may have one or more gutters disposed along the lower edge of a roof thereof. The gutters are typically attached to an upper portion or facia board of an exterior wall of the building by suitable means just below the lower edge of the roof. One attachment means, known as a nail/ferrule attachment, has been used for many years to hang gutters. The nail/ferrule attachment is considered one of the strongest types of gutter hanging devices. A problem exists, however, with the nail/ferrule attachment in that it requires more labor and, particularly, more skilled labor than other types of attachment means because the nails must be driven accurately otherwise the gutter can be dented which would require its replacement.
In more recent years, attachment means known as “hidden” hangers have been used to hang gutters. A hidden hanger is generally attached to the fascia board by screws installed by a portable drill or automatic screw gun. The hidden hanger minimizes the amount of labor required to hang the gutter, though the hidden hanger is typically not as strong as the conventional nail/ferrule attachment. A variety of hidden gutter hanger devices have been developed over the years.
Representative examples of prior art gutter hanger devices and the like are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,053,491 to Ramser, 3,295,803 to Blayden, 3,333,803 to Landis, 3,416,760 to Sauder, 3,737,127 to Maloney, Jr. et al., 4,169,570 to Morin, 4,210,301 to Weiss, 4,241,548 to Rowe, 4,294,422 to Odekirk, 4,345,731 to Rowe, 5,004,191 to Corry and 5,271,192 to Nothum, Sr. et al. These prior art gutter hanger devices appear to be satisfactory in use for the specific purposes for which they were designed. A problem exists, however, with many prior art hidden gutter hanger devices in that they are generally weak and tend to bend, such as from the weight of ice and/or snow. Bent hanger devices are unsightly in their bent condition. A gutter with a bent hanger may also snap out of the hanger device and fall from the roof.
Consequently, a need still exists for a device which provides a solution to the aforementioned prior art problems without introducing any new problems in place thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a gutter hanging bracket device designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The gutter hanging bracket device of the present invention has a U-shaped cross-sectional channel construction that bolsters or augments the rigidity of the device over that of the prior art so that the device does not bend significantly under normal conditions. The gutter hanging bracket device is as strong as conventional nail/ferrule attachments but can be fastened with a minimum amount of labor and, particularly, with less skilled labor, without fear of damage to the gutter.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a gutter hanging bracket device which comprises: (a) an elongated body portion adapted to span an open top of a gutter between front and rear sides of the gutter and having opposite front and rear ends and a generally U-shaped cross-sectional channel construction; (b) a forward attachment portion merging from the front end of the body portion and adapted to engage with the front side of the gutter; and (c) a rearward attachment portion merging from the rear end of the body portion and adapted to attach the rear side of the gutter to an adjacent external structure so as to support the body portion in a cantilevered fashion from the external structure and thereby hang the gutter adjacent to the external structure. The forward and rearward attachment portions form extensions of the body member such that the forward and rearward attachment portions both have generally U-shaped cross-sectional channel constructions continuous with that of the body portion.
Further, the elongated body portion has a main base wall and a pair of opposite main side walls. The main base wall has a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal edges extending between the front and rear ends of the body portion. The main side walls extend between the front and rear ends of the body portion and are attached along the longitudinal edges of the main base wall and extend upwardly therefrom such that the body portion has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional channel construction being continuous between the front and rear ends thereof.
The forward attachment portion includes a forward end wall and a pair of opposite forward side walls. The forward end wall has laterally spaced longitudinal edges. The forward side walls are attached along the longitudinal edges of the forward end wall and extend outwardly therefrom. The forward end wall and forward side walls of the forward attachment portion merge from and form extensions of the main base wall and main side walls of the body portion such that the forward attachment portion has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional channel construction being continuous with that of the body portion.
The rearward attachment portion includes a rearward end wall and a pair of opposite rearward side walls. The rearward end wall has laterally spaced longitudinal edges and extends upwardly from the rear end of the main base portion of the body portion. The rearward side walls are attached along the longitudinal edges of the rearward end wall and extend outwardly therefrom. The rearward end wall and rearward side walls of the rearward attachment portion merge from and form extensions of the main base wall and main side walls of the body portion such that the rearward attachment portion has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional channel construction being continuous with that of the body portion.
More particularly, the main base wall of the body portion has a width extending between the longitudinal edges thereof that is greater than a height of each of the main side walls of the body portion extending upwardly from the longitudinal edges of the main base wall. The main base wall of the body portion also has a substantially planar configuration. The main base wall of the body portion further has at least one aperture defined therethrough for attaching an end of a roof strap thereto.
The forward attachment portion is in the form of a hook having an arcuate configuration curving upwardly from the main base portion and rearwardly toward the rear end of the body portion. Specifically, the forward attachment portion has a generally C-shaped configuration adapted to be captured under a rearwardly extending ledge on the front side of the gutter.
The rearward end wall of the rearward attachment portion has at least one hole defined therethrough for receiving a fastener to attach the rearward attachment portion and the rear side of the gutter to the external structure. The rearward attachment portion can be in the form of a clip wherein the rearward attachment portion includes a rear leg merging from an upper end of the rearward end wall and being spaced from and extending downwardly and generally parallel to the rearward end wall so as to form the clip with an inverted generally U-shaped configuration defining a slot between the rear leg and rearward end wall being open at a bottom of the clip for receiving the rear side of the gutter therein. The rear leg and rearward end wall of the rearward attachment portion have aligned holes defined therethrough for receiving a fastener to attach the rearward attachment portion and the rear side of the gutter to the external structure.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the
Flanagan John R.
Ramirez Ramon O.
Swartz Michael R.
Wood Kimberly T.
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