Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley – With separator; e.g. – strainer
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2004-03-09
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley
With separator; e.g., strainer
C052S011000, C052S015000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06701674
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a gutter protection system.
2. Description of the Background Art
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,557,891, & 5,660,001 to Albracht, numerous gutter protection systems, and methods of their use, have been devised which, when mounted to gutters at lower edges of sloped building roofs, to greater or lesser degrees prevent debris from entering thereinto, while allowing the entry of rain water. However, all such prior systems, including those in the previous Albracht '891 and '001 patents, suffer from at least some complication regarding installation in that mounting screws, or interfacing clips etc. are required. A need remains for a gutter protection system which is snap-on easy to install. The present invention provides such a system, and method of its use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A gutter protection system is provided according to a first aspect of the invention. The gutter protection system comprises a gutter cover having a length and having an upper portion positioned over a roof and a lower portion for being positioned over the gutter, with the lower portion having a nose portion, the nose portion including a return portion that is bent downward and backward substantially toward a center region of the gutter to guide a water stream into the gutter, and at least one projection positioned between the lower and upper portions, and a bracket for holding the gutter cover in relation to the gutter, the bracket having a lower portion engaging the gutter and an upper portion extending above the gutter and engaging the lower portion of the gutter cover, the lower portion of the bracket having a rear leg having a substantially vertical portion adapted to be positioned against the rear wall of the gutter and a front leg positioned within the front lip of the gutter, the upper portion of the bracket having a nose piece fitting inside the nose portion of the gutter cover, and the bracket having a cover retaining lip on a rear region of the upper portion, the cover retaining lip engages the at least one projection of the gutter cover, wherein the bracket holds the gutter cover in position in relation to the gutter so that the upper portion of the gutter cover is positioned over a roof and the lower portion of the gutter cover is positioned over the gutter at a predetermined angle, and wherein the at least one projection of the gutter cover engages the cover retaining lip of the bracket while the nose portion of the gutter cover fits over the nose piece of the bracket so that the gutter cover is held at two points on the bracket.
A gutter protection system is provided according to a second aspect of the invention. The gutter protection system comprises a gutter having a length, front and rear walls, a gutter front lip extending backward from the front wall into the gutter, and a bottom surface, with the rear wall including a rear wall top lip and the front wall including a front wall top lip, a gutter cover having a length and having an upper portion positioned over a roof and a lower portion for being positioned over the gutter, with the lower portion having a nose portion, the nose portion including a return portion that is bent downward and backward substantially toward a center region of the gutter to guide a water stream into the gutter, and at least one projection positioned between the lower and upper portions, and a bracket for holding the gutter cover in relation to the gutter, the bracket having a lower portion engaging the gutter and an upper portion extending above the gutter and engaging the lower portion of the gutter cover, the lower portion of the bracket having a rear leg having a substantially vertical portion adapted to be positioned against the rear wall of the gutter and including a clip having a throat leading to a wider portion, the lower portion further having a front leg positioned within the front lip of the gutter, the upper portion of the bracket having a nose piece fitting inside the nose portion of the gutter cover, and the bracket having a cover retaining lip on a rear region of the upper portion, the cover retaining lip engages the at least one projection of the gutter cover, wherein the bracket holds the gutter cover in position in relation to the gutter so that the upper portion of the gutter cover is positioned over a roof and the lower portion of the gutter cover is positioned over the gutter at a predetermined angle, and wherein the at least one projection of the gutter cover engages the cover retaining lip of the bracket while the nose portion of the gutter cover fits over the nose piece of the bracket so that the gutter cover is held at two points on the bracket.
A gutter protection system is provided according to a third aspect of the invention. The gutter protection system comprises, as viewed in left side elevation, when mounted to a sloped roof building and beginning at the left side thereof,
a first downward and to the right projecting length of construction material (
2
), which first downward and to the right projecting length of construction material (
2
) merges into a lip, the lip providing a length of construction material which projects downward and to the left, the lip, at the position of its merging from the first downward and to the right projecting length of construction material (
2
) being functionally merged into a length of construction material (
4
) which projects downward and to the right at a nominal fifteen (15%) percent grade, the length of construction material (
4
) which projects downward and to the right at a nominal fifteen (15%) grade being merged into a into a following downward and to the left projecting length of construction material (
6
), which merges into a short upward length of construction material (
7
).
A gutter protection system is provided according to a fourth aspect of the invention. The gutter protection system comprises, as viewed in left side elevation, when mounted to a sloped roof building and beginning at the left side thereof,
an upward and to the right projecting length of construction material (
1
) at the left side thereof, which is merged into the first downward and to the right projecting length of construction material (
2
), the first downward and to the right projecting length of construction material (
2
) bing merged into a lip, the lip providing a length of construction material which projects downward and to the left, the lip at the position of its merging from the first downward and to the right projecting length of construction material (
2
) being functionally merged into a length of construction material (
4
) which projects downward and to the right at a nominal fifteen (15%) percent grade, the length of construction material (
4
) which projects downward and to the right at a nominal fifteen (15%) percent grade being merged into a into a following downward and to the left projecting length of construction material (
6
), which merges into a short upward projecting length of construction material (
7
);
wherein the lip is formed by merging from the first downward and to the right projecting length of construction material (
2
) into a downward and to the left projecting length of construction material which is merging into an upward and to the right projecting length of construction material which merges into the length of construction material (
4
) which projects downward and to the right at a nominal fifteen (15%) percent grade;
wherein the length of construction material (
4
) which projects downward and to the right at a nominal fifteen (15%) percent grade is merged into the following downward and to the left projecting length of construction material (
6
) by an intervening length of construction material (
5
) which is of a shape selected from the group consisting of: (at least one curved length of construction material, at least one straight length of construction material and a combination of at least one curved length of construction material and at least one stra
Friedman Carl D.
Horton Yvonne M.
Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck
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