U.S. patent application number 10/184484 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-01 for fastening device, shield and shielded gutter system.
Invention is credited to Knudson, Gary A..
Application Number | 20040000098 10/184484 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29779375 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040000098 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Knudson, Gary A. |
January 1, 2004 |
Fastening device, shield and shielded gutter system
Abstract
Fastening device, a clip-in shield, and a shielded gutter system
are disclosed. The fastening device is configured to attach a
gutter to a mounting structure, rigidly position and support the
gutter, and rigidly position and support the shield over the
gutter. Each fastening device maintains both the gutter and the
shield in rigid positions relative to one another and facilitates
both front and rear drainage from the shield. A plurality of the
fastening devices at spaced intervals along the gutter and shield
are used to provide the shielded gutter system. The first
embodiment of the fastening device has the intermediate body
portion extending substantially perpendicular from the front
rearwardly to the base portion at the rear and the second
embodiment has the intermediate body portion extending rearwardly
and down at an angle to the back portion to provide for increased
support of the gutter front wall.
Inventors: |
Knudson, Gary A.; (LaQuinta,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANCEL W. LEWIS, JR.
425 WEST MULBERRY
SUITE 101
FORT COLLINS
CO
80521
US
|
Family ID: |
29779375 |
Appl. No.: |
10/184484 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/0725 20130101;
E04D 13/076 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/12 |
International
Class: |
E04D 013/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fastening device for fitting inside and supporting a gutter
having a bottom wall, front wall and back wall with a top opening
and supporting a shield extending forwardly and downwardly from the
top of the back wall with a gap between the shield and front wall,
said fastening device comprising: an intermediate body portion for
extending between said back wall and said front wall of said
gutter, a base portion at the rear of said intermediate body
portion for attaching to a mounting structure behind said rear wall
to support said front wall against movement, a first coupling
portion at the front of said intermediate body portion for
inter-fitting with a gutter coupling portion for rigidly attaching
to said front wall to support said front wall against movement, an
outside second coupling portion at the front of said intermediate
body portion for inter-fitting with an inside shield coupling
portion at the front of said shield for rigidly attaching the front
of said shield to said intermediate body portion to support said
shield against movement, and an outside third coupling portion at
the rear of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with
an inside shield coupling portion at the rear of said shield for
rigidly attaching the rear of said shield to said intermediate body
portion to support said shield against movement.
2. The fastening device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
intermediate body portion, said base portion and said first, second
and third coupling portions are made as a rigid, one piece,
integral body.
3. The fastening device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
intermediate body portion includes a base wall and a side wall
extending up from one side of said base wall and has a top edge
that extends along an upward angle from said second coupling
portion to said third coupling portion toward said base
portion.
4. The fastening device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
intermediate body portion extends substantially perpendicular from
said first coupling portion to said base portion.
5. The fastening device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
intermediate body portion extends down at an angle from said first
coupling portion to said base portion to provide increased support
for said front wall of said gutter.
6. The fastening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base
portion include locator means for locating the said intermediate
body portion relative to said back wall of said gutter.
7. The fastening device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said
locator means is in the form of a detent in a rear surface of said
base portion that receives a complementary shaped ridge on a front
surface of said back wall of said gutter.
8. The fastening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base
portion has means for receiving and directing a fastener through
said base portion and back wall for rigidly attaching the rear of
said intermediate body portion to said mounting structure.
9. The fastening device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means
for receiving and directing a fastener is a hole in said base
portion.
10. The fastening device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
second and third coupling portions are located a selected distance
apart to receive complementary shaped clip in coupling portions at
the front and rear of said shield to provide a clip in fastening
arrangement for fastening said shield to said second and third
coupling portions.
11. The fastening device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said
second and third coupling portions are male members made to fit
into associated female coupling portion in the from of female
sockets on said shield.
12. The fastening device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said male
members have a circular cross section.
13. The fastening device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
shield is constructed to flex under pressure to move a pair of
opposed front and rear coupling portions toward one another to
slide between said second and third coupling portions during
installation and expand away from one another to cause said front
and rear coupling portion to fit tightly against said second and
third coupling portions.
14. The fastening device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a rear
portion of said shield and said third coupling portion are arranged
to provide for the passage of drainage water on said shield to flow
past the rear of said shield.
15. The fastening device as set forth in claim 14 wherein said
shield has a convexly curved rear section and a shield rear
coupling portion made by extending the rear section rearwardly
along a curve to form a female socket facing toward the rear, said
third coupling portion having a shape complementary to and fitting
in said socket, said third coupling portion locating said rear
portion of said shield for rear drainage past the rear of said
shield.
16. A fastening device for fitting inside and supporting a gutter
having a bottom wall, front wall and back wall with a top opening
and supporting an inside fitting shield extending forwardly and
downwardly from the top of the back wall with a gap between the
sheild and front wall, said fastening device comprising: an
intermediate body portion for extending between said back wall and
said front wall of said gutter, a base portion at the rear of said
intermediate body portion for attaching to a mounting structure
behind said rear wall to support said front wall against movement,
a first coupling portion at the front of said intermediate body
portion for inter-fitting with a gutter coupling portion for
rigidly attaching to said front wall to support said front wall
against movement, an outside fitting second coupling portion at the
front of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with an
inside fitting field coupling portion at the front of said shield
for rigidly attaching the rear of said shield to said intermediate
body portion to support said shield against movement, and an
outside fitting third coupling portion at the rear of said
intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with an inside fitting
shield coupling portion at the rear of said shield for rigidly
attaching the rear of said shield to said intermediate body portion
to support said shield against movement and provides for front and
rear drainage of water on said shield, said intermediate body
portion, said base portion and said first, second and third
coupling portions being made as a rigid, one-piece integral body,
and locator means for locating said intermediate body portion
relative to said back wall of said gutter.
17. A shielded gutter system comprising: a gutter having a bottom
wall, front wall, back wall with a top opening, a shield extending
forwardly and downwardly from the top of said back wall with a gap
between said shield and front wall, and a plurality of fastening
support devices fitting inside said gutter and shield, each said
fastening device including: an intermediate body portion for
extending between said back wall and said front wall of said
gutter, a base portion at the rear of said intermediate body
portion for attaching to a mounting structure behind said rear wall
to support said front wall against movement, a first coupling
portion at the front of said intermediate body portion for
inter-fitting with a gutter coupling portion for rigidly attaching
to said front wall to support said front wall against movement, an
outside second coupling portion at the front of said intermediate
body portion for inter-fitting with an inside shield coupling
portion at the front of said shield for rigidly attaching the rear
of said shield to said intermediate body portion to support said
shield against movement, and an outside third coupling portion at
the rear of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with
an inside shield coupling portion at the rear of said shield for
rigidly attaching the rear of said shield to said intermediate body
portion to support said shield against movement.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention generally relates to gutters for collecting
run off water from roofs and more particularly to a novel and
improved fastening device, shield and shielded gutter system.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Shielded gutters heretofore provided have been effective in
preventing debris from entering the gutter and facilitating water
drainage into the gutter. U.S. Pat. No. 891,406 discloses a shield
for a gutter to prevent leaves and the like from entering the
gutter. The present invention has modifications to the fastening
device, shield and shielded gutter system disclosed in my U.S. Pat.
No. 5,845,435, which is incorporated herein by reference.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A fastening device for use in combination with a shield and
gutter includes an intermediate body portion that extends between
the gutter back wall and the gutter front wall, a base portion at
the rear end of the intermediate body portion for positioning and
directing a fastener through a fastening device and gutter back
wall for rigid attachment of the fastening device and gutter to a
mounting structure. The fastening device has a first coupling
portion at the front end of the intermediate body portion for
rigidly attaching to the gutter front wall, a second coupling
portion at the front end of the intermediate body portion for
rigidly attaching to a shield front portion and a third coupling
portion at the rear end of the intermediate body portion for
rigidly attaching to a shield rear portion. The rigidity of the
mounted fastening device holds the gutter and shield in rigid or
fixed, predetermined positions relative to one another and
facilitates both front and rear drainage on the shield. A plurality
of these fastening devices at spaced intervals along the inside of
the gutter and under the shield provide a shielded gutter system. A
second embodiment of the fastening device disclosed has the
intermediate body portion extending down at an angle from the front
to the base portion at the rear to provide increased support for
the front wall of the gutter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Details of this invention are described in connection with
the accompanying drawings which like parts bear similar reference
numerals in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a fastening device for
a shield and gutter embodying features of the present
invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shielded gutter system
embodying features of the present invention showing three of the
fastening devices shown in FIG. 1 and portions broken away to show
interior construction.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.
2.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a
fastening device embodying features of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a gutter 11 on a
mounting structure 12, typically a fascia board, positioning the
gutter just below the edge of a roof 13 at the eave. A shield 14 is
supported in the gutter 11 by a fastening device 15 that fits in
the gutter under the shield 14.
[0010] The gutter 11 shown has a bottom wall 16, a front wall 17
and a back wall 18 forming a U-shaped channel or trough. The front
wall 17 has a channel shaped coupling portion 17a at the top that
opens toward the rear and terminates in a back turned lip 17b. The
gutter 11 functions in the conventional way collecting runoff water
from the roof 13.
[0011] The shield 14 extends forwardly and downwardly away from the
back wall 17 with a gap 19 between the front of the shield and
front wall 17. The shield 14 is made from a flat, flexible sheet
metal, shaped preferably by roll forming to have an intermediate
section 21, a rear section 23 and a front section 24. The
intermediate section 21 shown is essentially flat, but typically
may have a slightly upwardly bowed curve. The front section 24 is
formed along a selected radius R1. The rear section 23 is formed
along a selected radius R2. A shield front coupling portion 27 is
made by extending the material down from the front section 24 and
rearwardly and back along a radius to form a female socket with an
opening facing toward the front. A shield rear coupling portion 28
is made by extending the material down from the rear section 23 and
rearwardly along a radius to form a female socket with an opening
facing toward the rear. The shield 14 will flex so that upon
applying inwardly directed compression forces to the shield front
and rear coupling portions 27 and 28 the material will flex so
coupling portions 27 and 28 move inwardly toward one another to fit
inside and bear against associated outside complementary shaped
coupling portions on the fastening device 15 described hereinafter.
This provides a clip in fastening arrangement for fastening the
shield to the second and third coupling portions of the fastening
device. The shield 14 prevents debris from entering the gutter and
facilitates water drainage into the gutter.
[0012] The gutter 11 and shield 14 are maintained in rigid or fixed
predetermined positions relative to one another by the fastening
device 15. The fastening device 15 integrates the gutter and shield
into a shielded gutter system. The fastening device 15 includes an
intermediate body portion 31 for extending between the back wall
and front wall of the gutter, a base portion 32 at the rear of the
intermediate body portion 31 for attaching to a mounting structure
12 behind the back wall 18 of the gutter to support the front wall
of the gutter against movement. The intermediate body portion 31
includes a base wall 31a and a side wall 31b extending transversely
up from one side of the base wall. The side wall 31b has a top edge
that is angled upward from the second coupling portion 38 to the
third coupling portion 39 at the rear, providing a ramping surface
for the rear of the shield to ride across while installing the
shield from the front side of the gutter. In addition, the
intermediate body portion 31 may be configured such as with a notch
in the top edge to hold the shield in an intermediate resting
position prior to installation. This allows bulk placement of
shields which can be installed at a later time.
[0013] The fastening device 15 has a first coupling portion 33 at
the front that rigidly inter-fits with a female coupling portion
17a on the upper portion of the front wall 17 of the gutter. The
intermediate body portion 31 extends substantially perpendicular
from the first coupling portion 33 rearwardly to the base portion
32. It is understood that the connection between the first coupling
portion 33 and the gutter front wall may be accomplished through
other means, including snap-in, physical interference,
inter-fitting, interlocking, rotational engagement, use of a
fastener, or use of adhesives.
[0014] The fastening device 15 both locates and directs an
attachment fastener 34, such as a screw, that extends through a
hole 35 in base portion 32 and a hole in the gutter back wall 18.
This function is accomplished by the hole 35, a circular or linear
detent in the base portion of the fastening device, a longitudinal
channel (either open or closed) through which the fastener must
pass, or simply a target marked on the base portion. This feature
may direct the fastener 34 perpendicular to the gutter back wall,
or at some predetermined angle to the gutter back wall 18.
[0015] The fastening device 15 is located in a preselected position
relative to the gutter back wall 18. The base portion 32 abuts
against the gutter back wall at a selected vertical location. The
fastening device may be located relative to the gutter back wall in
a variety of ways. The fastening device 15 shown has a groove or
detent 36 in the rear face that inter-fits with a forwardly
protruding ridge 37 formed in the gutter back wall 18. Single or
multiple grooves may be used. The lower edge of the fastener 34, or
a downward extension of the base portion may rest at the bottom of
the gutter. The upper edge of the fastener 34, or an extension of
the base portion may rest on or be aligned with the top of the
gutter back wall 18. These variations may be used individually and
in any combination to locate the fastening device 15 relative to
the gutter back wall 18.
[0016] The fastening device 15 rigidly positions the shield front
portion, thereby locating the shield front portion relative to the
gutter front wall 17. This relative positioning of the shield front
portion and the gutter front wall upper portion facilitates both
the drainage of water off the shield into the gutter and the
blocking of debris from entry into the gutter.
[0017] The fastening device 15 has a second coupling portion 38
that rigidly inter-fits with the shield front coupling portion 29.
The connection between second coupling portion 38 and the shield
front coupling portion 27 may be accomplished through any of the
following means: snap-in, physical interference, inter-fitting,
inter-locking, rotational engagement, use of a fastener, or use of
adhesives.
[0018] The fastening device 15 rigidly positions the shield rear
coupling portion 28, locating the shield rear coupling portion
relative to both the gutter back wall and the shield front coupling
portion. The relative positioning of the convexly curved shield
rear coupling portion and the convexly curved shield front portion
orients the shield to receive water run-off from the roof,
directing the water towards either the front or rear portion of the
shield. The relative positioning of the shield rear portion and the
gutter back wall facilitates both the drainage of water off the
shield into the gutter and the blocking of debris from entry into
the gutter. More particularly the rear drainage feature is provided
by the convexly curved rear section 23 along radius R2 and the
coupling portion 28 of the shield, together to the location
relative to the back of the gutter and the shield rear portion and
construction of the third coupling portion 39 that fits in coupling
portion 28. This facilitates having water runoff from the roof
striking the shield, drain past the rear of the shield, and over
the rear of the third coupling portion 39 of the fastening
device.
[0019] The fastening device 15 has a third coupling portion 39 that
rigidly inter-fits with the shield rear coupling portion 28. The
connection between the fastening device third coupling portion 39
and the shield rear coupling portion may be accomplished through
any of the following means: snap-in, physical interference,
inter-fitting, inter-locking, rotational engagement, use of a
fastener, or use of adhesives.
[0020] The second coupling portion 38 and third coupling portion 39
shown are configured to provide a clip-in fit in the shield into
the fastening device. As shown, coupling portions 38 and 39 have a
circular cross section that are complimentary in shape to a socket
of a circular cross section on the shield. In an alternative
embodiment, the shield front and rear portions could fit outside
the fastening device second and third coupling portions as was
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,435 above marked. In this case, the
shield front and rear portions would be flexed outward to engage
the fastening device second and third coupling portions.
[0021] The above discussed fastening device 15 has a rigid
intermediate body portion 31 to which the base portion 32, first
coupling portion 33, second coupling portion 38, and third coupling
portion 39 are rigidly attached. The fastening device 15 is
preferably made as a rigid one-piece integral body from a molded
plastic material. The fastening device 15 has coupling portions
that are configured to maximize its load bearing capacity. An
alternate embodiment may be configured to provide angled or
leveraged support for the upper portion of the gutter front wall.
Conventional gutter hangars and spikes and ferrules rely on the
gutter itself for any kind of angled support or bracing of the
gutter front wall.
[0022] Referring now to FIG 4. an alternative embodiment of a
fastening device 45 shown has a base portion 52 and an intermediate
body portion 51 angled downward and rearward from the front or
first coupling portion 35 to the bottom of the base portion 52 to
provide increased support for the gutter front wall. The detent 56
and the hole 55 in the base portion 52 are a greater a distance
below the third coupling portion 39 than that described in the
fastening devie 15 above described. The intermediate body portion
51 provides the same body type of support for the second coupling
portion 38 and the shield front portion. This embodiment of the
fastening device makes the system less prone to load-induced
failures. The hole 55 for locating the fastener 34 may be arranged
as far up as the third coupling portion 39, maximizing the
structural leverage of the fastening device.
[0023] The base portion 52 may be further configured to assist a
user in the installation of flashing or drip edge at the eave. The
base portion abuts against the gutter back wall, and may lie
against the gutter back wall as high as the third coupling portion
39. However, the base portion 52 need only abut against the gutter
back wall as high as the fastener location. Although some
structural leverage may be sacrificed, the hole 55 and screw
fastener may be located substantially lower that the third coupling
portion 39. In this case, a gap between the rear portion and the
gutter back wall may exist above the hole and fastener. This gap
would allow flashing and/or drip edge to be installed behind part
of the fastening device. This offers much more flexibility in
correctly pitching the gutter for water flow by providing
additional space for flashing and/or drip edge.
[0024] Although the present invention has been described with a
certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in
details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit
thereof.
* * * * *