U.S. patent application number 11/660690 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-14 for gutter guard.
Invention is credited to Guy Brochu.
Application Number | 20080190039 11/660690 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35907191 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080190039 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brochu; Guy |
August 14, 2008 |
Gutter Guard
Abstract
An eavestrough (10) formed from a single piece of material, the
eavestrough (10) having a rear wall (12), a front wall (16) and a
bottom wall (14) extending between the rear wall (12) and the front
wall (16), and a perforated top wall (18) extending between the
rear wall (12) and the front wall (16), the top wall engaging a
rear surface (22) of the rear in a locking relationship. The bottom
wall and the front wall have recesses (15) and (22) for attaching
decorative members (42).
Inventors: |
Brochu; Guy; (Quebec,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eric Fincham
316 Chemin Knowlton
Lac Brome
QC
omitted
|
Family ID: |
35907191 |
Appl. No.: |
11/660690 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
August 20, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CA04/01534 |
371 Date: |
December 19, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/12 ;
24/571 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/076 20130101;
E04D 13/0722 20130101; Y10T 24/44991 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/12 ;
24/571 |
International
Class: |
E04D 13/064 20060101
E04D013/064; A44B 21/00 20060101 A44B021/00 |
Claims
1. An eavestrough (10) formed from a single piece of material, said
eavestrough comprising: a rear wall (12); a front wall (16); a
bottom wall (14) extending between said rear wall and said front
wall (16), said rear (12), front (16) and bottom walls (14)
defining a trough (17) therebetween; a perforated top wall (18)
extending between said rear wall (12) and said front wall (16) over
said trough (17); and said top wall (40) engaging a rear surface
(22) of said rear wall in a locking relationship.
2. The eavestrough of claim 1 further including vertical wall
sections (30, 34) extending upwardly from said top wall (18)
adjacent each of said rear wall (12) and said front wall (16) to
thereby provide a barrier against overflow.
3. The eavestrough of claim 1 wherein said rear surface of said
rear wall (12) has a recess (22) formed therein, said top wall
having a locking segment (40) engaging said recess.
4. The eavestrough of claim 1 further including a decorative clip
member (42) extending about said bottom wall (14) and said front
wall (16), said decorative clip member (42) being secured to said
eavestrough.
5. The eavestrough of claim 4 further including a plurality of said
decorative clips (42).
6. The eavestrough of claim 4 wherein said decorative clip member
(42) is secured to said rear wall and to an upper portion of said
front wall.
7. The eavestrough of claim 6 wherein said rear wall and said upper
portion of said front wall have a recess formed therein, said
decorative clip having a locking segment at each end, said locking
segments being secured within said recesses in said rear wall and
upper portion of said front wall.
8. In a building structure having an eavestrough, the improvement
comprising: an eavestrough (10) formed from a single piece of
material, said eavestrough comprising: a rear wall (12); a front
wall (16); a bottom wall (14) extending between said rear wall and
said front wall (16), said rear (12), front (16) and bottom walls
(14) defining a trough (17) therebetween; a perforated top wall
(18) extending between said rear wall (12) and said front wall (16)
over said trough (17); and said top wall (40) engaging a rear
surface (22) of said rear wall in a locking relationship.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an eavestrough or rain
gutter and more particularly, relates to improvement in such
structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various types of gutters or eavestroughs are well known in
the art as is the use of shields or gutter guards therewith. The
purpose of the gutter guard is essentially to permit passage of
rainwater from the roof to the eavestrough while protecting the
same from extraneous foreign matter such as leaves and the
like.
[0003] The art has taken many different approaches to the design of
eavestroughs which utilize such gutter guards. Indeed, in order to
prevent the use of such gutter guards, a commercially available
eavestrough utilizes a device on the roof eave which has an outer
edge which curls downwardly and the water flow follows the curved
portion due to surface tension and thereafter cascades into the
eavestroughs. Leaves and other extraneous matter are supposed to
fall exteriorly of the eavestroughs. However, when a large volume
of water flows, the surface tension is generally insufficient to
direct all the water to flow into the eavestroughs.
[0004] The art is also replete with examples of different types of
gutter guards which constitute a physical barrier across the top of
the eavestrough with apertures formed therein to permit the passage
of rainwater while supposedly barring the passage of extraneous
material. However, the connection of the gutter guard to the
eavestrough is often a time consuming step and accordingly not
always well accepted in the art.
[0005] In order to overcome the above disadvantages, there have
also been proposals in the art for the fabrication of one piece
eavestroughs which are secured to clips fastened under the roof
shingles. One such arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,689
to Bosler. Problems associated with this particular design is that
in some instances, depending on overhangs and the like, one cannot
attach the clips in the desired position. Furthermore, snow loads
as are frequently encountered in Northern climates, could cause the
gutter to fall from its mounting arrangement with the clip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
integrated eavestrough and gutter guard and which integrated
eavestrough overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an eavestrough formed from a single piece of material, the
eavestrough comprising, a rear wall, a front wall, a bottom wall
extending between the rear wall and the front wall, the rear, front
and bottom walls defining a trough therebetween, a perforated top
wall extending between the rear wall and front wall over the
trough, and the top wall engaging a rear surface of the rear wall
in a locking relationship.
[0008] According to a further aspect of the present invention, in a
building structure having an eavestrough, the improvement
comprising an eavestrough formed from a single piece of material,
the eavestrough comprising a rear wall, a front wall, a bottom wall
extending between the rear wall and front wall, the rear, front and
bottom walls defining a trough therebetween, a perforated top wall
extending between the rear wall and the front wall over the trough,
and the top wall engaging a rear surface of the rear wall in a
locking relationship.
[0009] The one piece eavestrough of the present invention may be
formed from any suitable material with a preferred material being
aluminum. The eavestrough may be manufactured using roll forming
techniques.
[0010] As previously mentioned, the eavestrough of the present
invention prevents foreign matter from entering therein. In order
to do so, there are provided a plurality of apertures to permit the
passage of rainwater while preventing extraneous matter from
entering the eavestrough. In general, it is desirable that the
apertures be sized large enough to permit passage of rainwater
while preventing the entry of extraneous material into the trough.
Generally, apertures having a range of between 3 and 4 mm. in
diameter have been found to be suitable.
[0011] The eavestrough of the present invention is known in the art
as a half round eavestrough as the bottom portion has a rounded
configuration. Preferably, the eavestrough is connected to the
adjacent building structure by fastening members such as screws.
While this arrangement functions well from the support point of
view, the aesthetic appearance is not always what could be desired.
Accordingly, the eavestrough of the present invention provides for
the use of decorative members which may be secured thereto to
provide the appearance of an eavestrough which is supported by a
bracket or the like.
[0012] The decorative members secured to the eavestrough may be of
any design or configuration desired. As aforementioned one
particular design is intended to give the impression that the
eavestrough is supported by brackets. Such brackets may in turn
carry various decorative effects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Having thus generally described the invention, reference
will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an
embodiment thereof, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an eavestrough
of the present invention secured to a building structure;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the eavestrough prior to
assembly;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled
eavestrough;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a decorative member
according to the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the attachment
of the decorative member to the eavestrough.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring to the drawings in a greater detail and by
reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in the drawings
an eavestrough which is generally designated by reference numeral
10.
[0020] Eavestrough 10 is comprised of a rear wall 12, a rounded
bottom wall 14, and a front wall 16. A top wall extends across the
trough 17 which is defined by walls 12, 14 and 16. Top wall 18
includes a plurality of apertures 20 formed therein.
[0021] As may be seen in FIG. 2, rear wall 12 includes an upper
recess 22 and a lower recess 15 for purposes which will be
discussed hereinbelow. Also, as may be seen in FIG. 2, between
front wall 16 and top wall 18, there is provided a nose generally
designated by reference numeral 24.
[0022] Nose 24 has a first semispherical portion 26 extending
outwardly from front wall 16 and there is provided a groove 28 in
an upper portion thereof.
[0023] From nose 24, there is provided a vertical wall 30 which
functions to prevent overflow of water from the top wall 18 during
periods of heavy rain. Similarly, at the other side of top wall 18,
there is provided a retaining wall 32 which has a first vertical
portion 34 and a rearwardly directed portion 36.
[0024] From rearwardly directed section 36, there is provided a
downwardly extending section 38 which terminates in an inwardly
extending locking segment 40. As may be seen in FIG. 3, locking
segment 40 is designed to engage recess 22 to maintain the
eavestrough 10 in an assembled condition. The eavestrough can then
be attached by means of fastening members 33 passing through wall
section 34, the upper portion of rear wall 12, and downwardly
extending section 38.
[0025] As previously mentioned, the eavestrough 10 is designed to
be used with a plurality of decorative members 42. Each member 42
has a rounded body portion 44 configured to match that of rounded
bottom wall 12 and front wall 16. Member 42 is also provided with a
nose section 46 at either end thereof, with inwardly extending
locking segments 48 and 50. Locking segments 48 and 50 are designed
to engaged recesses 15 and 28 respectively.
* * * * *