GB2568686A

GB2568686A - Gutter Guard

Info

Publication number: GB2568686A
Application number: GB1719401.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lester Stephen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-11-22
Filing date: 2017-11-22
Publication date: 2019-05-29
Also published as: GB201719401D0

Abstract

A gutter guard system designed to help flow of rainwater by preventing gutter blockages comprises an elongate strip with the elongate edges 2 folded over to form legs. The legs support the gutter guard within and at the top of the gutter by resting against contact point formations 7 of the gutter, such as an inner curve or angle. The gutter guard may be made of a perforated plastic, preferably PVC, that is designed to keep debris on top of the gutter guard 1 allowing rainwater through to the clear gutter channel below. The guard has two sides 2 bent to follow the shape of the gutter profile 3 required. The invention sits internally at the top of the guttering and may use the original gutter brackets 4 to secure in place.

Description

The invention relates to a system designed to stop leaves, twigs, moss and other debris from entering and blocking a roof gutter.

Gutter guards of various types and designs have been used for many years in an attempt to prevent debris from entering inside a roof gutter blocking and obstructing the flow of water to the downpipe. A blocked gutter will eventually cause rainwater to overspill down the wall causing mould problems to the interior of the building. No gutter guard gives full protection, some debris will collect on top of the gutter guards and some will get underneath. However, it should be much easier and quicker to clean it off the top than to dig into clogged gutters to remove handfuls of leaves, seeds, and twigs. Within the UK market, there are several gutter guard systems available. These include brush, mesh, grid, foam, wire, screen and top covers. Having many years experience working in the roofing trade installing these gutter guards, problems and faults begin to become recognizable such as a large hole diameter allowing undergrowth to occur and being too weak to withstand heavy debris. Through experience of working with these products, this updated invention is designed to have an increased number of holes with a smaller diameter. This is to prevent the likelihood of debris entering inside the gutter and causing undergrowth. The guard is constructed using a strong material, preferably PVC, and can slot inside each gutter profile individually for a snug fit.

A design patent has already been approved by the UK intellectual property office for the present invention, design no.6007140 - gutter guard. However, a patent for how it fits inside the gutter profiles is desirable to prevent similar systems using this idea in future products.

The invention is made of a perforated plastic material, preferably pvc, with two equal sides of approximately 15mm bent to follow the shape of the gutter profile required. The invention fits internally, sitting flush to the top of the guttering by using the original gutter brackets to secure in place. The two sides uses the gutter profile angle/curve points for support to stop the guard from dropping down. The sides are the key to the invention and can be bent to a certain degree depending on which gutter profile the guard is to be installed inside. The sides also give the guard its strength. A flat piece of perforated sheet used in many other existing systems are flexible and can easily be bent out of shape due to the weight of debris and snow collecting on top of the guards. However, once both sides have been bent, the invention becomes solid and rigid due to its instant structural integrity. The perforated holes are small in size, preferably around 5mm -10mm, with a similar spacing diameter in a triangular formation working as a filter system to allow rainwater through but to stop debris from entering. Furthermore, the guard offers an easy installation and low maintenance alternative for cleaning out gutters regularly. The wind will blow away most of the collected debris, while in areas of a high volume of fallen debris, a simple brush of can be applied.

Examples of the gutter guard made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where as there are many different uPVC gutter profiles available in the UK market, the drawings will be using the three main popular uPVC gutter profiles, square line, half round and ogee. These three profiles can be found on the majority of most residential and commercial buildings throughout the UK.

Figure 1 shows how the guard fits inside the square line gutter profile

Figure 2 shows how the guard fits inside the half round gutter profile

Figure 3 shows how the guard fits inside the ogee gutter profile

Figure 4 shows a 3D view of the gutter guard

Figure 1 shows how the gutter guard is adjusted to fit inside a square line gutter profile. The drawing shows a 2D side view of the gutter profile 3 with the gutter guard 1 already installed attached to a fascia board 6 with an overhanging roof tile 5. The sides 2 of the gutter guard 1 are equal in length, at approximately 15mm deep and are both bent to approximately 90 degree angles. The sides 2 rest on the gutter profile 3 angle contact points 7 for support to stop the guard from dropping down. The guard 1 uses the original gutter brackets 4 to securely hold inside, installed by unclicking the gutter brackets 4, placed internally, followed by re-clicking the gutter brackets 4 back into place.

Figure 2 shows how the gutter guard is adjusted to fit inside a half round gutter profile. The drawing shows a 2D side view of the gutter profile 3 with the gutter guard 1 already installed attached to a fascia board 6 with an overhanging roof tile 5. The sides 2 of the gutter guard 1 are equal in length, at approximately 15mm deep and are both bent to approximately 110 degree angles. The sides 2 rest on the gutter profile 3 curve contact points 7 for support to stop the guard from dropping down. The guard 1 uses the original gutter brackets 4 to securely hold inside, installed by unclicking the gutter brackets 4, placed internally, followed by re-clicking the gutter brackets 4 back into place.

Figure 3 shows how the gutter guard is adjusted to fit inside a ogee gutter profile. The drawing shows a 2D side view of the gutter profile 3 with the gutter guard 1 already installed attached to a fascia board 6 with an overhanging roof tile 5. The sides 2 of the gutter guard 1 are equal in length, at approximately 15mm deep and are bent separately, with one side being approximately 90 degrees and the other at approximately 110 degrees. The sides 2 rests on the gutter profile 3 curve/angle contact points 7 for support to stop the guard from dropping down. The guard 1 uses the original gutter brackets 4 to securely hold inside, installed by unclicking the gutter brackets 4, placed internally, followed by re-clicking the gutter brackets 4 back into place.

Figure 4 shows a 3d view of the gutter guard. The gutter guard 1 is preferably made of a plastic material such as PVC and is preferably 2mm - 3mm deep. The plastic material has been perforated 8 in a triangular formation to holes approximately 5mm -10mm wide with a similar spacing radius. The gutter guard 1 has two sides 2 of approximately 15mm equal in length which can be bent/adjusted to a certain degree depending on which gutter profile the guard is to be installed inside.

Claims

1. A gutter guard system designed to fit internally flush to the top of the gutter profile with sides for the benefit of support and structural integrity, bent at a certain degree depending on which gutter profile it should require, using the gutter profile angle/curve contact points shown in figures 1,2 and 3 for support.

2. A gutter guard system according to claim 1, using the original gutter brackets as clips to secure in place.

3. A gutter guard system according to any preceding claims, to be made from plastic, wire, mesh, metal, foam, rubber or any other commonly used gutter guard product material.

4. A gutter guard system according to according to preceding claims, using a perforation style pattern as shown in figure 4, or a variation of a perforation pattern with the adjustment of hole sizes, hole shapes, hole spacing or hole formation.

5. A gutter guard system according to claim 1 with different lengths of sides but still using the angle/contact points (7) as shown in figures 1,2, and 3 for support.

5. A gutter guard system of any type using the gutter profile angle/curve contact points for support as shown in figures 1,2 and 3.

6. A gutter guard system of any type with side length modifications but ultimately still using gutter profile angle/curve contact points for support.

Amendments to claims have been filed as follows:

31 10 18

Claims

1. A gutter guard system designed to fit internally flush to the top of the gutter profile with sides for the benefit of support and structural integrity, bent at a certain degree depending on which gutter profile it should require, using the gutter profile angle/curve contact points (7) shown in figures 1,2 and 3 for support.

3. A gutter guard system according to claim 1, to be made from plastic, wire, mesh, metal, foam, rubber or any other commonly used gutter guard product material.

4. A gutter guard system according to claim 1, using a perforation style pattern as shown in figure 4, or a variation of a perforation pattern with the adjustment of hole sizes, hole shapes, hole spacing or hole formation.