U.S. patent application number 10/726156 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for gutter corner overflow deflector.
Invention is credited to Brochu, Guy.
Application Number | 20050115160 10/726156 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34750863 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050115160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brochu, Guy |
June 2, 2005 |
Gutter corner overflow deflector
Abstract
A corner deflector for use with an eaves trough wherein the
eaves trough is located proximate a valley in a roof, the deflector
comprising first and second segments with a fold line separating
the segments, at least one flange extending outwardly from a bottom
edge of each of the segments, the flange being such as to permit
securement to a gutter guard used with the eaves troughs. The
deflector prevents overflow at the corners associated with roof
valleys.
Inventors: |
Brochu, Guy; (Sainte-Foy,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eric Fincham
316 Knowlton Road
Lac Brome
QC
J0E 1V0
CA
|
Family ID: |
34750863 |
Appl. No.: |
10/726156 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/0481 20130101;
E04D 2013/0486 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/011 |
International
Class: |
E04D 013/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A corner deflector suitable for use with a gutter, said corner
deflector comprising: a generally planar member having an upper
edge and a lower edge, said member having first and second
segments, said first and second segments being separated by a fold
line, said fold line extending from said top edge to said bottom
edge; and at least one flange extending outwardly from said bottom
wall of each of said segments, said flange extending outwardly in a
direction substantially perpendicular to said planar portion.
2. The corner deflector of claim 1 wherein each of said segments
has one inwardly extending flange and one outwardly extending
flange extending from said bottom edge.
3. The corner deflector of claim 2 wherein said first segment and
said segment are symmetrical about said fold line.
4. The corner deflector of claim 2 wherein said deflector is formed
of a metallic material.
5. The corner deflector of claim 2 wherein said top edge has a
arcuate outline.
6. In an eaves trough having a gutter guard associated therewith,
said guard comprising a foraminous member covering a top of the
gutter and wherein said gutter has two mutually perpendicular
sections, the improvement comprising a corner deflector, said
corner deflector having a first segment and a second segment, a
fold line separating said first and second segments, said first and
second segments lying in mutually perpendicular planes; at least
one inwardly extending flange and one outwardly extending flange
being located along a bottom edge of each of said segments, said
inwardly extending flanges being secured to said gutter guards.
7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said corner deflector is
formed of a metallic material.
8. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said first and second
segments are symmetrical about said fold line.
9. The improvement of claim 6 wherein each of said first and second
segments has an upper edge which an arcuate configuration.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an eaves trough or gutter,
and more particularly, relates to an improvement in such
structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Gutters or eaves troughs are widely used on many building
structures and in particular for residential buildings. The gutters
or eaves troughs are designed to catch the rain falling on a
sloping roof and transport the water to a down spout where it may
be safely discharged away from the house's foundation.
[0003] Generally, such systems work as they are designed to.
However, occasionally problems are encountered due to a larger
volume of water--i.e. the capacity of the gutter is exceeded. This
can occur particularly when a so-called gutter shield or guard is
utilised. In such an arrangement, the apertures in the guard
naturally reduce the rate of transmission of the rain water to the
eaves troughs. This problem is further accentuated when the roof or
structure has a valley structure which is a frequent occurrence in
residential structures. Thus, the volume of water is increased and
concentrated at one location. Accordingly, there is an overflow
which occurs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a gutter corner overflow deflector which helps overcome the
problem of gutters or eaves troughs overflowing when a valley in
the roof occurs.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a corner deflector suitable for use with a gutter, the
corner deflector comprising a generally planar member having an
upper edge and a lower edge, the member having first and second
segments, the first and second segments being separated by a fold
line, the fold line extending from the top edge to the bottom edge
and at least one flange extending outwardly from the bottom wall of
each of the segments, the flange extending outwardly in a direction
substantially perpendicular to the planar portion.
[0006] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an eaves trough having a gutter guard associated
therewith, the guard comprising a foraminous member covering a top
of the gutter and wherein the gutter has two mutually perpendicular
sections, the improvement comprising a corner deflector, the corner
deflector having a first segment and a second segment, a fold line
separating the first and second segments, the first and second
segments lying in mutually perpendicular planes, at least one
inwardly extending flange and one outwardly extending flange being
located along a bottom edge of each of the segments, the inwardly
extending flanges being secured to the gutter guards.
[0007] The corner deflector of the present invention may be formed
of any suitable material and would conveniently be manufactured
either of a metallic or plastic material. Thus, both materials are
known for use in gutters and one may then use either a similar or
dissimilar material.
[0008] The corner deflector of the present invention is
particularly suited to use with eaves troughs or gutters having a
guard member lying on the top thereof. The guard member is usually
a piece of material having a plurality of apertures extending
theretrough and is designed to protect the eaves trough or gutter
from extraneous material such as leaves and the like. In one
particular embodiment, the corner guard of the present invention is
particularly suited for use with a structure such as is shown in
co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/261,043, the teaching of
this application being incorporated herein by reference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Having thus generally described the invention, reference
will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an
embodiment thereof, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a roof and an
eaves trough structure having the corner guard of the present
invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the corner guard;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of
the gutter corner guard of the present invention placed on an eaves
trough; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a gutter having the corner
guard of the present invention thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring to the drawings in a greater detail and by
reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an
arrangement utilising the deflector of the present invention. Thus,
there is provided a roof generally designated by reference numeral
10 and which has a plurality of shingles 12 thereon in a
conventional arrangement. Roof 10 is constructed such that a valley
14 is formed between two roof sections.
[0015] A gutter generally designated by reference numeral 16 is
secured to the facia F of the roof. Gutter 16 has a back wall 18, a
bottom wall 20, and a front wall generally designated by reference
numeral 22. At the upper edge of front wall 22, there is provided a
top wall 24 and which terminates in an inwardly extending flange
26.
[0016] Extending over gutter 16 is a gutter guard generally
designated by reference numeral 28 and which gutter guard includes
a central planar portion 30 having a plurality of apertures 32
formed therein. A side wall 34 extends upwardly from gutter guard
28 and screws 36 are used to attach gutter guard 28 and gutter 16
to the building structure under facia F.
[0017] The corner deflector of the present invention is generally
designated by reference numeral 40. Corner deflector 40 has a first
segment 42 and a second segment 44 which are separated by a fold
line 46. Each segment 42, 44 has a top edge 48, 50 respectively. As
may be seen in the drawings, top edges 48 and 50 are arcuate in
nature to provide a pleasant aesthetic appearance.
[0018] First segment 42 includes an inner flange 52 and an outer
flange 54 formed along a bottom edge thereof. Similarly, second
segment 44 includes an inner flange 56 and an outer flange 58. As
may be seen in FIG. 3, outer flanges 54 and 58 are designed to fit
under flange 26 extending from top wall 24 of the gutter 16 and to
thereby be secured in place. Inner flanges 52 and 56 are secured to
central planer portion 30 by means of screws 60.
[0019] As will be appreciated, the above arrangement provides a
corner deflector 40 which may be easily assembled and secured to
the gutter 16 and associated components. The installer will have
little trouble doing so and it provides a method of overcoming the
problems at the valleys in the roof.
[0020] It will be understood that the above described embodiment is
for purposes of illustration only and that changes and
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
* * * * *