GB2436196A

GB2436196A - Gutter guard

Info

Publication number: GB2436196A
Application number: GB0605039A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Lanham
Original assignee: GUTTER GARD Ltd
Current assignee: GUTTER GARD Ltd
Priority date: 2006-03-14
Filing date: 2006-03-14
Publication date: 2007-09-19
Also published as: GB0605039D0

Abstract

A gutter guard for preventing debris such as leaves from entering a gutter comprises an elongate plate 1 for covering the open face of an elongate section of gutter. The plate is secured in place by a rear bracket, at a roof edge of the gutter. The bracket 2 engages opposing side edges of the plate and holds the plate at an angle to the horizontal such that water runs over an upper surface of the plate away from the roof edge 13. The plate is shaped to provide a U-shaped edge section distal from the roof edge in use around which water runs to a drip edge disposed to allow the water to drip into the gutter. The U-shaped edge section is disposed such that debris such as leaves are dropped off the plate beyond an edge of the gutter section distal from the roof edge 13. The plate may be of metal. The plate may have a hydrophilic coating to reduce water surface tension and encourage water to cling to it. The bracket may be provided with spacers to allow alignment of the distal edge of the guard with that of the gutter section.

Description

Improvements Relatin2 to Gutters.

This invention relates to protective covers for gutters on buildings. More particularly but not exclusively this invention relates to a removable, adjustable gutter guard suitable for residential or domestic buildings which allows rainwater to enter the gutter but deflects other debris thus avoiding blockages.

It is known to provide house gutters with guards, which fit over the gutter to prevent debris such as leaves or animals from entering the gutter and causing blockages.

However there is a need for a gutter guard, which easily attached to the structure of the building with a single lockable clip that may be extended to provide coverage for the various profiles and sizes of gutter and be removable for decorating or gutter replacement.

According to the present invention there is provided a guard for protecting guttering comprising of an elongated panel for covering the open face of a gutter; said panel having two opposite side edges. The rear edge is located and then locked in a bracket fixed above the gutter and in turn through the building's fascia, wherein one end of the panel is formed with an inwardly extending lip, the edge of said lip being located, within or over said gutter, said panel being angled towards said lip and attached thereto by a curved, substantially U shaped section such that in use the guard encourages water to run along its surface to said lip and into said gutter. The rear clip may be extended out from the fascia by the formed interlocking spacers to allow the substantially U shaped section to remain aligned with the front face of dissimilar sized gutter shapes and sections.

Advantageously, only water is allowed to flow into the gutter, with any other debris falling over the curved U shaped member and onto the ground below.

Preferably the guard is provided with a coating to decrease the water surface tension effect and encourage water to cling to its surface.

Preferably the guard is secured in 2 slots formed between two resilient members above the rear of the gutter, firstly to locate said guard and then by dropping the front face to engage a further locking male to female ball joint to secure. The front face is held by said rear bracket and cantilevered to end with said U shaped member in line with the gutter front but not fixed to said gutter front.

Preferably the guard has the option to be extended from the building's fascia to align the curved front with the gutters outside edge by the insertion of various integrated interlocking spacers.

Preferably the guard is formed from a resilient material.

Advantageously no permanent fixing devices are employed as the resilient quality of the plate and the rear clipping hold the guard in place.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 2.

Figure 1 is a cross section through the Gutter Gard showing the guard attached to a gutter 7 showing position of rear clip 2.

In figure 1 Gutter Gard I comprises of a metal plate or panel of a size suitable for covering the channel of a typical gutter. In this embodiment the panel is metal although any suitable material could be employed. This panel I may be coated with a suitable coating to reduce the surface tension effect thus enabling water to cling to its surface more readily.

The rear horizontal section of the Gard 5 is positioned onto the horizontal section of the rear clip 2 and pushed until it rests on the rearmost section of the clip. The Gard I is then pushed downwards from the front pivoting around position 5 inserting the rear of the extrusion into locator 10. The front of the rear section ends in a male ball 9, which will, when pushed downwards locate in an equivalent female locator, thus fixing the Gard. The fore section of the Gard ends with the curved U section aligned above the front edge of the protected gutter, cantilevered from rear clip 2.

Advantageously this provides a slight fall, which directs water towards the curved portion and onto the downwardly extending wall of the Gutter Gard. The surface tension effect ensures that the water or a substantial amount of water falling onto Gutter Gard I clings to the wall and falls back into the gutter 7.

To enable Gutter Gard to fit various sections and sizes the spacers 3 may be fitted individually or in multiples to align the front of Gutter Gard with the various gutters.

The rear bracket 2 is placed on top of the gutter at its rear and fixed with screw 4 into the existing fascia 6.

The cut outs at 11 and 12 are to allow jointing bars to be inserted between adjacent lengths of Gutter Gard.

In this typical application Figure 1 the Gutter Gard has been extended by 2 spacers 3 to enable the front of the extrusion to line up with the front of the gutter whilst accepting all water from the roof 13.

Figure 2 shows a spacer (item 3 in Figure 1) with a locating male protrusion to slide into the female corresponding indent (item 18 in Figure 3) in the rear clip. The indent is to locate the position for the drill and hence screw (Item 4 Figure 1).

Figure 3 is the rear clip listed as Item 2 in Figure 1 showing in greater detail the locator 14 and female receptor 15 for the pivoting rear of the Gutter Gard extrusion. 3.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of Gutter Gard.

To show jointing and corner details, tie rods; either bent 21 or straight 24 are inserted into the channels in the extrusion to allow an expandable joint at either a continuation or a mitred corner 26. The end of a run 27 is finished with an end plate 22 attached to the extruded channels by screws 23. 4.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A guard for protecting guttering comprising an elongated plate for covering the open face of the gutter said plate having two opposite side edges secured by a rear bracket that locks said plate. This bracket when located above the rear of a gutter holds the said plate angled towards the edge lip and attached thereto by a curved, substantially U shaped section such that in use the guard encourages water to run along its surface to said lip and into said gutter.

2. A guard according to claim I wherein said guard is provided with a coating to reduce the water surface tension effect and encourage water to cling to its surface.

3. A guard according to claim I and 2 that is held in place by a rear bracket and extended forwards as necessary by integrated spacers thus aligning the front curved face with the edge of the front of various sized gutters.

4. A guard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the guard is formed from a resilient metal.

5. A guard substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.