US20220127854A1

US20220127854A1 - Gutter System

Info

Publication number: US20220127854A1
Application number: US17/509,702
Authority: US
Inventors: Rick Corum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-10-23
Filing date: 2021-10-25
Publication date: 2022-04-28

Abstract

The present invention is gutter system formed with a building gutter having three sides, an interior side, a bottom and an exterior side, whereby the sides defining an interior cavity, a one or more openings formed on said exterior side defining a water overflow channel that is a water overflow outlet, said outlet positioned away from said interior side.

Description

INDEX TO RELATED APPLCIATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of an claims benefit to U.S. provisional patent application 63/104,708 filed Oct. 23, 2020 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some roof designs allow rainwater to gain relatively fast speeds before reaching the gutter, thus requiring the gutter front to be elevated to capture the water so it drains down inside the gutter instead of flowing over the top. Water flowing over the top would ultimately result in rendering the gutter useless. Many gutter fronts and backs are level with each other. This presents common problems with both configurations when the gutter, downspouts and underground drainage system becomes clogged and water has nowhere to go but into the building causing water damage.
There is a need for a new gutter system to address current deficiencies. The present invention address is this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system and method of escape for rainwater in overfilled gutters before causing water damage to the building. Not only does the invention solve a very common problem, but also will alert building owners and caretakers of a plugged-up gutter and drainage systems without requiring the climbing on a roof for inspection.
The system is constructed and arranges with a plurality of overflow slots that are on the top side of a corrugation so they are not visible from the ground but the slots are lower than the back of the gutter allowing the overfilled gutters to drain from the front before causing water damage to the building.
The system and method includes a gutter having overflow slots on the front side of the gutter just lower than the back side level where it is attached to the building to eliminate interior water damage to the building when downspouts, gutter and underground drainage system becomes clogged with debris and backs up. If the gutter has a tall flange on the front side or the front side of the gutter is level with the back side like most standard gutter when water backs up it will have a way of escape without causing damage to the building.
This configuration also allows building owners and care takers to recognize a drainage problem before building damage occurs without climbing on the roof for inspection.
The drainage slots are not visible from lower levels allowing overflow function without affecting aesthetics.
In providing a gutter having overflow slots in the front, the invention allows for backed up water due to clogged gutter, downspouts or underground drainage a way of escape without causing damage to the building.
Residential and commercial gutters with elevated front flanges will drain before entering the building. Gutters with a front flange that is level with the back of the gutter allows for leaf guards to be installed and still drain out the front before entering the building. The overflow slots will bring attention to the building owner or manager that there is a problem with the drainage without having to get on the roof for inspection. The corrugation in the gutter keeps the overflow slots from being visible from lower levels, enhances the gutters strength and is aesthetically pleasing.
There are different products on the market that each individually address various problems with standard gutter and leaf protection, but the present invention provides significant novelty in that it addresses several different problems all in one step manufacturing without buying different components to piece together from different sources.

- 1. Eliminates the need for catch basins with overflow slots.
- 2. Allows for tall front flanges when needed.
- 3. Allows more capacity when the gutter sits level.
- 4. Allows gutter installation fasteners attached to the fascia board to be installed above the drain slot level which is marked on the backside and keeps fastener intrusion from rotting fascia boards.
- 5. A common problem with leaf protection is leaf blooms can stop up screens causing water to flow over the top of the gutter washing out landscaping or puddle freezing water where there is foot traffic, such as, sidewalks and porches but when this happens, the novel gutter of the present invention, with built in slots, not only addresses stopped up downspouts but will catch water that overflows the screens.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a gutter system comprising:

- a building gutter main body configured for attachment to a building having three sides, an interior side, a bottom and an exterior side, whereby the sides defining an interior cavity;
- a water inlet configured for placement on a building, said inlet constructed and arranged to receive water flowing by gravity from said building into said cavity;
- a one or more discharge openings formed on said exterior side defining a water overflow channel; and
- a water overflow outlet resultant from water flowing through said discharge openings, said outlet positioned distal and away from said interior side configured to direct waterflow from said waterflow channels.

In one embodiment, the invention is further including flanges positioned distal to said building, that is to say a proximal side is the side attached to the building and the distal side is away from the building. Distal is used herein to describe away from the building.
In one embodiment, the main body is formed of a single unitary piece of material.
In one embodiment, the one or more discharge openings formed by roll forming machines, punching machines, press brakes, drilling flat metal before forming, breaking, or combinations thereof.
In one embodiment, the one or more discharge openings one or more discharge openings are positioned below said water inlet.
In one embodiment, the invention is a gutter system consisting of:

- a building gutter main body configured for attachment to a building formed of a single unitary piece of material having three sides, an interior side, a bottom and an exterior side, whereby the sides defining an interior cavity;
- a water inlet configured for placement on a building, said inlet constructed and arranged to receive water flowing by gravity from said building into said cavity;
- a one or more discharge openings formed on said exterior side defining a water overflow channel, said one or more discharge openings formed by roll forming machines, punching machines, press brakes, drilling flat metal before forming, breaking, or combinations thereof; and
- a water overflow outlet resultant from water flowing through said discharge openings, said outlet positioned distal and away from said interior side configured to direct waterflow from said waterflow channels.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side top perspective view including a close-up of a corner according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side bottom perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side cross section view demonstrating filling of the gutter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-section of you demonstrating overflow of the gutter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-section of you demonstrating water flow of a gutter and invasion into an attached facia.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-section of you demonstrating overflow of the gutter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The system of the present invention is formed by manufacturing a gutter with overflow slots. There are various configurations of the slot contemplated and are formed by any one or combination of roll forming machines, punching machines, press brakes, drilling flat metal before forming or breaking the metal and various other manufacturing techniques.
The gutter of the present invention is formed such that main gutter body 10 defines interior cavity 8. More specifically, the building gutter body 10 has three sides, an interior, or proximal side 20, a bottom 22 and an exterior, or distal side 24, whereby the sides defining an interior cavity 8. Water flows by gravity into opening 7. The system is constructed and arranged to provide for water to fill cavity 8 and overflow is initiated. As indicated in FIG. 4, water 4 follows directional arrow 12 to the plurality of openings 6 and is pushed out along outlet path indicated by directional arrow 14.
The system is demonstrated by the following components identified by the element numbers and shown in the accompanying drawings.

- 1. Elevated flange 2 on the front side of gutter that captures fast flowing rainwater, directional arrows 9, causing it to drain back down inside the gutter system into cavity 8.
- 2. Overflow drain slots 6 on the front side of the gutter that are below the back level of the gutter where it is attached (as shown in FIG. 4) to the building allowing overfilled gutter to eliminate rainwater before it enters the building causing interior water damage.
- 3. Overflow slots 6 are not visible from the ground or lower levels.

Figure element 5 demonstrates position of water entering the building from the back of an overfilled gutter in conventional systems.
In use, Gutter main body 10 is attached at proximal side 20 to the exterior of building 30 position such that is sloped roof 32 will direct rain water into opening 7 and subsequently interior cavity 8. When water level 4 reaches the level of opening 2, as demonstrated by directional arrows 12 and 14, water will flow through openings 2 and effectively create an outlet of water 6 from interior cavity 8.
While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A gutter system comprising:

a building gutter main body configured for attachment to a building having three sides, an interior side, a bottom and an exterior side, whereby the sides defining an interior cavity;

a water inlet configured for placement on a building, said inlet constructed and arranged to receive water flowing by gravity from said building into said cavity;

a one or more discharge openings formed on said exterior side defining a water overflow channel; and

a water overflow outlet resultant from water flowing through said discharge openings, said outlet positioned distal and away from said interior side configured to direct waterflow from said waterflow channels.

2. The system of claim 1 including flanges positioned distal to said building.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said is formed of a single unitary piece of material.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more discharge openings formed by roll forming machines, punching machines, press brakes, drilling flat metal before forming, breaking, or combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more discharge openings one or more discharge openings are positioned below said water inlet.

6. A gutter system consisting of:

a building gutter main body configured for attachment to a building formed of a single unitary piece of material having three sides, an interior side, a bottom and an exterior side, whereby the sides defining an interior cavity;

a one or more discharge openings formed on said exterior side defining a water overflow channel, said one or more discharge openings formed by roll forming machines, punching machines, press brakes, drilling flat metal before forming, breaking, or combinations thereof; and

7.