Gutter cover

• US 10,443,243 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2014
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David A. Szafranski
• Original Assignee: David A. Szafranski
• Inventors: Szafranski, David A
• Primary Examiner(s): Walraed-Sullivan, Kyle J.
• Application Number:
  US14/170,570
• Time in Patent Office: 2,082 Days
• Field of Search: 52 11- 16, 210155, 210163-166, 454365
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/70 Drying or keeping dry, e.g. by air vents using damp-proof courses E04B1/644; using sealings, e.g. sealing masses or foils, E04B1/66; during erection E04G21/28
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/076 Devices or arrangements for removing snow, ice or debris from gutters or for preventing accumulation thereof

Abstract

The gutter cover is placed on top of the gutter and protects the gutter from leaves and debris flowing into the gutter while allowing water to pass into the gutter. The material used to make the gutter cover is a loosely woven fiber mesh that is approximately ¼ inch in thickness with a width slightly larger than the opening of a gutter. The material allows water to pass easily but will not allow debris and leaves to pass. The material is placed on top of the gutter and deflects leaves and debris over the gutter. As stated above the material'"'"'s width is slightly larger than the width of the gutter. The installer bends the material and places it on top of the gutter between the fascia board and the lip of the gutter. The material forms a convex surface over the top of the gutter.

Claims

1. A gutter cover that prevents leaves and debris from entering a gutter with an open top and the gutter has a width, has a lip with a back and attaches to a fascia board on a house, consisting of:

a. a single layer fiber mesh, shaped in an initial flat plane with a width with a first and second edge, that is permeable to water and air but with openings that will not allow debris and leaves to flow through; and

,

b. said width of the single layer fiber mesh shaped in an initial flat plane is wider than the width of the open top of the gutter; and

,

c. the single layer fiber mesh is installed over the open top of the gutter, by positioning the first edge against the back of the lip of the gutter and positioning the second edge against the fascia board forming an arc over the open top of the gutter, and friction and stiffness holds the single layer fiber mesh in the arc with no other support or attachment means, making contact only with the back of the lip of the gutter and the fascia board.

2. A gutter cover that prevents leaves and debris from entering a gutter with an open top and the gutter has a width, has a lip with a back and attaches to fascia board on a house as in claim 1 wherein:

a. the single layer fiber mesh is made of propylene ethylene copolymer.

3. A gutter cover that prevents leaves and debris from entering a gutter with an open top and the gutter has a width, has a lip with a back and attaches to a fascia board on a house, as in claim 1 wherein:

a. the single layer fiber mesh is approximately a quarter of an inch thick.

4. A method for making a gutter cover that prevents leaves and debris from entering a gutter with an open top and the gutter has a width, has a lip with a back and attaches to a fascia board on a house consisting of the steps of:

a. obtaining a piece of single layer fiber mesh shaped in an initial flat plane, with a first and second edge and, that is permeable to water but with openings that will not allow debris and leaves to flow through; and

,

b. cutting the width of the piece of single layer fiber mesh shaped in an initial flat plane to a size that is larger than the width of the gutter; and

,

c. cutting the length single layer fiber mesh shaped in an initial flat plane to cover the gutter; and

,

d. placing the piece of single layer fiber mesh on top of the gutter; and

,

e. elastically deforming the piece of single layer fiber mesh; and

,

g. releasing the piece of single layer fiber mesh so that the single layer fiber mesh first edge makes contact with the back of the lip of the gutter and the single layer fiber mesh second edge make contact with the fascia board and friction and stiffness holds the single layer fiber mesh in an arc with no other support or attachment means, making contact only with the back of the lip of the gutter and the fascia board.

5. A method for making a gutter cover that prevents leaves and debris from entering a gutter with an open top and the gutter has a width, has a lip with a back and attaches to a fascia board on a house, as in claim 4 wherein:

a. the single layer fiber mesh is cut with a utility knife.

6. A method for making a gutter cover that prevents leaves and debris from entering a gutter with an open top and the gutter has a width, has a lip with a back and attaches to a fascia board on a house, as in claim 4 wherein:

a. the single layer fiber mesh is made of propylene ethylene copolymer.

7. A method for making a gutter cover that prevents leaves and debris from entering a gutter with an open top and the gutter has a width, has a lip with a back and attaches to a fascia board on a house, as in claim 4 wherein:

a. the single layer fiber mesh is approximately a quarter of an inch thick.