AU605969B2 - An improved gutter guard - Google Patents

Description

635969 Form COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952-62 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Class Int. Class -'i Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT MILES CALEB KERBY 10 Sturt Avenue, Hawthorndene, State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia Miles Caleb KERBY care of R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "AN IMPROVED GUTTER GUARD" PA\rT, TRADE MARKS DSSIGTs SUC.OFFICE 2a IAURA89 SOUTHr- AUSTRALIA O 126-5 28/03i9:Y The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

-1- This invention relates to an improved leaf guard system for roof gutters which is designed to inhibit the entry of leaves and other debris material into a roof gutter.

It is of course highly desirable that roof guttering be kept as clean as possible not only for the reason of allowing rainwater to flow freely along same but also for the reason of minimising water contamination in cases where rainwater is collected for human consumption. When a building is in the S vicinity of trees or other vegetation, leaves, twigs and other :10 debris can fall onto the roof of the building and such material tends to find its way into the gutter, eventually blocking the free discharge of rainwater. Unless the debris material is removed, damage can result from the overflowing water into the interior of the building. In addition, the debris material is liable to retain moisture and thus accelerate corrosion ir commonly used steel gutters.

The applicant is aware of a number of prior art gutter guard arrangements which, in the main, are designed to cover the top opening of the gutter trough and permit the water to flow therethrough, while preventing the passage of debris material into the gutter trough. However, there are a number of problems associated with such prior art arrangements. In particular, the installation of these guards is rendered difficult owing to:the wide variety of shapes and sizes of gutters and roof constructions; the varying size of the opening between the lip of the gutter and the overhanging roof material; 2 L the difficulty of obtaining access to the eaves to which the gutter guard devices are attached; the frequently long lengths of the devices which make it difficult for one person on a ladder or with an insecure footing on the roof to fix; and the existence of obstacles such as internal gutter fixing brackets which need to be by-passed when installing the devices.

Another dilemma encountered with prior art devices is that the size of the apertures in the devices has to be sufficiently large to avoid water flowing over the top of it because of the surface tension of the water coupled with the result that very small material such as seeds, passes through the device and settles on the bottom of the gutter and this of course may lead to an acceleration of the corroding process of the metal gutter.

A further disadvantage is the high cost of installing permanent gutter guards by qualified tradesmen either when the guttering is installed during the construction of the building or when the old guttering is being repaired or replaced.

Yet a further problem with the prior art devices is the need for fixing or cutting equipment to install some of the more heavy duty devices available. Still further is the problem of cleaning out the gutters when the debris material has passed through the device, this normally requiring the guard device to be removed from the gutter to enable the material to be cleaned out of the gutter trough.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and effective leaf guard arrangement for gutters 3 which can be very easily fitted or removed by the home handyman, regardless of the type of gutter system and roof construction of the building.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved leaf guard arrangement which will make it less likely for leaves and other debris material to impede the free flow of water along the gutter trough.

It is a still further object of the present invention to o0 provide an improved leaf gutter guard device which is able to 0 10 be conveniently packaged and easily transported with a minimum o, of storage space required.

0 According to this invention therefore, an improved gutter o0 guard arrangement for rainwater guttering comprises a plurality of resiliently deformable tubular or sleeve-like elements 15 arranged to be located in longitudinal alignment in the trough of the gutter, the resilience of each of the elements allowing o its wall to be readily deformed when the element is inserted into the gitter trough at least a portion of the wall of the tube or sleeve being like elements perforated so as to allow water to flow therethrough into the gutter trough but inhibit the entry of foreign material thereinto.

Preferably, the individual elements are formed from rectangular shaped mesh panels of synthetic plastics material the panels being readily folded or bent to form the tubular or sleeve-like elements.

Preferably the mesh openings of the mesh panel are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows which extend longitudinally of the panel fi.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gutter trough). In a preferred embodiment, the mesh 4 openings are rectangular in shape each of which has a length which far exceeds its width.

In yet another preferred embodiment, each of the rectangular mesh panels is formed to have a series of transversely spaced longitudinally extending hinge lines extending along the length of the mesh panel whereby the bending or folding of the panel along one or more of the hinge lines is facilitated. Preferably the hinge or fold lines are formed by reduced thickness portions in the panel.

In yet another preferred arrangement, one of the longitudinal margins of the mesh panel is provided with one or more projecting tabs or lugs which are dimensioned and shaped so as to interlock with co-operating means on or adjacent the other longitudinal margin of the panel whereby, when the panel 15 is folded into its tubular form, the longitudinal margins can be retained in an interlocked condition. Preferably the cooperating means is constituted by the mesh openings formed adjacent the said other longitudinal margin of the panel.

o With this invention, when rainwater flows from the roofing o '20 material it can either pass directly through the mesh openings into the tube or sleeve or it can flow into the gutter and seep through the unobstructed mesh openings of the tube and then flow along the tube which acts as a filter to keep out leaves and other debris. The principle involved is similar to that existing in an underground perforate agricultural drainpipe.

Because the tubular mesh panel has mesh openings formed approximately around its entire periphery, even if the openings oi. the top side become covered with leaves and block, those on the sides and underside will remain substantially unobstructed.

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It should be noted that the amount of water discharged from each corrugation or channel of even a large roof is quite small even in a heavy downpour of rain and generally can find its way through a relatively small opening or a covering of leaves and rubbish. When flooding occurs in gutters, it is most frequently caused by the discharge from the many channels and corrugations combining to produce a large volume of water which cannot pass along the gutter because of obstructions caused by large masses of leaves and rubbish.

In order to further explain the present invention, an embodiment is described hereunder in some further detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the guard fitted into the channel of a gutter, :15 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the guard when installed, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the mesh panels in its pre-installed, flat condition (including fragmentory sectional S views).

0*0 0 0: 0 4 0 0o *o 0 o 0.0 20 In this embodiment, a leaf guard 10 for a gutter comprises a plurality of identical mesh panels 11 of synthetic plastics material which are arranged to be installed in the gutter in end to end relationship, each of the panels 11 being bent or folded into a tubular or sleeve-like form prior to installing same, Each of the plastics mesh panels 11 is made by an injection moulded process from an ultra-violet stabilised plastics material, each of the panels in this embodiment being approximately 1/3 metre in length and having a width slightly smaller than 1/3 metre.

6 _jl_ Each of the mesh panels 11 is formed to have a series of closely spaced parallel longitudinally extending members 12 which are intersected by a plurality of more widely spaced transversely extending members 13 so as to define a plurality of rectangular shaped elongate mesh openings 14, the openings 14 having their longer side extending in the longitudinal direction of the panel parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gutter). It is of course preferable that the mesh o openings 14 are formed over approximately the entire area of the mesh panel but of course this is not essential.

oo The mesh panels 11 are formed of a resilient plastics o mater:al which enables the panel to be readily bent and folded 0 00 0 by hand so as to allow the installer of the gutter guard to readily deform the panel when in its tubular form to suit the 415 type of guttering system in which it is being installed. To 0 0 assist in the folding or bending of the panels, some of the S transversely extending members 13 are formed with reduced thickness portions along their lengths, such reduced thickness portions being longitudinally aligned which form a series of transversely spaced hinge or fold lines 16 which extend longitudinally of the panel. Alternatively, the transversely extending members 13 can be formed of thin flexible strips which can be readily flexed.

In this embodiment, the panel 11 has a thickness of 1.5 mm and the mesh openings are formed as rectangular shaped slots x 3 mm in rows 3 mm apart.

The two longitudinal margins of the mesh panel 11 are held together by means of a plurality of projecting tabs or lugs 17 formed along one of tiLe longitudinal margins 18, such tabs or lugs fitting snugly into respective slotted openings 14 7 adjacent the other longitudinal margin 19 of the panel 11. In this way, the panel 11 can be folded into a tube of varying sizes for example in a case where the full diameter of the tube cannot be accommodated in the gutter.

The plastics sheet panel 11 is designed to be cut easily with a pair of domestic scissors. Cutting from time to time is necessary to match exactly the length of the gutter and to enable the tube to be positioned between internal gutter ~brackets and other obstacles, and also to be joined at mitre i0 angles when corners are encountered. It is also preferable to 0 Go cut a portion from the bottom of the sleeve or tube when it is 0 covering a gutter downpipe. Without such an opening at this $0e 00 locality, small items of rubbish may tend to block the slots and prevent the free discharge of water into the downpipe.

In a variation to the above-described embodiment (not 0 illustrated), each of the transverse margins of the mesh panel is provided with a hooking formation integrally formed therewith whereby the panel can be attached to an adjoining o tube or sleeve in end to end relationship, however in most 0 cases this need not be used as the tubes are not subject to any substantial movement.

It will of course be appreciated that the mesh panel can be produced in a number of different ways, for example by an extrusion or calendaring process, and also may be formed from resilient metal mesh which might be desirable in bush-fire prone areas.

A brief consideration of the above-described embodiment will indicate that the invention is extremely simple but nevertheless results in an improved gutter guard arrangement 8 which can be very easily and quickly fitted to existing gutters regardless of the type thereof, and one which is considered to provide a far more effective leaf shed arrangement for gutters and at the same time allowing the free flow of water into the gutter and therealong, than is the case with prior art arrangements.

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Claims (8)

1. An improved gutter guard arrangement for rainwater guttering comprising a plurality of identical resiliently deformable tubular or sleeve-like elements arranged to be located in longitudinal alignment in end to end relationship in the trough of the gutter, the resilience of each of the elements allowing its wall to be deformed when the element is inserted into the gutter trough, at least a portion of the wall of the tubular or sleeve-like element being perforated so as to allow water to flow therethrough into the gutter trough but inhibit the entry of foreign material thereinto.

2. An improved gutter guard arrangement according to claim 1 wherein each said tubular or sleeve-like element is formed from a rectangular shaped mesh panel which is able to be folded or bent to form said element.

3. An improved gutter guard arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the mesh openings of the mesh panel are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows which extend longitudinally of the panel, the mesh openings being rectangular in shape and each of which has a length which far exceeds its width.

4. An improved gutter guard arrangement according to either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein each said mesh panel is formed to have a series of transversely spaced longitudinally extending hinge lines extending along the length of the mesh panel whereby the bending or folding of the panel along one or more of the hinge lines is facilitated.

An improved gutter guard arrangement according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein one of the longitudinal margins of the mesh panel is provided with one or more projecting tabs or lugs 5 operat the pa form, interl 6 5 wher openin the pa 7 one of synthe 8 herein drawin 000 00 o 0t 0 00 0 0t 0 10 lugs dimensioned and shaped so as to interlock with co- operating means on or adjacent the other longitudinal margin of the panel, whereby when the panel is folded into its tubular form, the longitudinal margins can be retained in an interlocked condition.

6. An improved gutter guard arrangement according to claim wherein said co-operating means is constituted by the mesh openings formed adjacent the said other longitudinal margin of ,O the panel.

7. An improved gutter guard arrangement according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said mesh panels are formed of synthetic plastics material.

8. A gutter guard arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 28th day of March, 1989 MILES CALEB KERBY By his Patent Attorneys, R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIATES 11