Gutter cover

• US 10,480,194 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• 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:
  US15/673,673
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 nonwoven fiber material that is a half inch or more 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 material, 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 material is wider than a width of the open top of the gutter; and

,

c. the single layer fiber material in the initial flat plane is installed over over the open top of the gutter, and the first edge is positioned against the back of the lip of the gutter and the second edge is positioned against the fascia board and the single layer fiber material friction and stiffness against the back of the lip of the gutter and the fascia board hold the single layer fiber material in position with no other support or attachment means making contact only with the back of the lip of the gutter and the fascia board forming an arc over the open top of the gutter.

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 a fascia board on a house, as in claim 1 wherein:

a. the single layer fiber material is made of fibers 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 material is made of fibers of polyester.

4. 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 material is a half inch or thicker.

6. 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 material is cut with a utility knife.

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 consisting of the steps of:

a) obtaining a piece of single layer fiber material shaped in an initial flat plane that is permeable to water but with openings that will not allow debris and leaves to flow through; and

,

b) cutting a width of the piece of single layer fiber material to a size that is larger than the width of the gutter and forming the piece of single layer fiber material with a first and second edge; and

,

c) cutting a length of the piece of single layer fiber material in the initial flat plane to cover the gutter; and

,

d) placing the piece of single layer fiber material on top of the gutter; and

,

e) elastically deforming the piece of single layer fiber material; and

,

f) releasing the piece of single layer fiber material so that the first edge makes contact with the back of the lip of the gutter and the second edge make contact with the fascia board, and the piece of single layer fiber material stiffness against the back of the lip of the gutter and the fascia board holds the piece of single layer fiber material in position without any other support or attachment means, making contact only with the back of the lip of the gutter and the fascia board.

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 5 wherein:

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

8. 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 5 wherein:

a. the single layer fiber material is made of fibers of polyester.

9. 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 5 wherein:

a. the single layer fiber material is a half inch or thicker.