Main bodies with securing features for use with modular platform for gutter guard systems with interchangeable components

• US 10,633,868 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2019
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeafFilter North, LLC
• Original Assignee: LeafFilter North, LLC
• Inventors: Gori, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mattei, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US16/359,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20190277033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/076 Devices or arrangements for removing snow, ice or debris from gutters or for preventing accumulation thereof

Abstract

A modular platform for configuring gutter guard systems is disclosed and claimed herein. The modular platform includes a number of interchangeable components that can be assembled to form a gutter guard system for use with specific rain gutters based on a rain gutter'"'"'s style, size, color, and attachment mechanism used to secure the rain gutter to a structure and/or roofline. One such interchangeable component is a main body with securing features. The securing features of the main body can be positioned and arranged such that when two main bodies are appropriately positioned, the securing features engage in a manner that secures the two main bodies together into a continuous main body assembly. The securing features can be, tabs and slots that cooperate to form a friction fit or a series of hooks and aperture edges to capture the hooks to secure the two main bodies together.

Claims

1. A main body for a gutter guard system, the main body comprising:

a first edge;

a second edge that is generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first edge;

a first end extending between the first edge and the second edge;

a second end, opposite the first end, extending between the first edge and the second edge;

a top surface disposed between the first edge, the second edge, the first end, and the second end;

a first recessed portion in the top surface positioned at the first end;

a bottom surface, opposite the top surface, disposed between the first edge, the second edge, the first end, and the second end;

a second recessed portion in the bottom surface positioned at the second end;

a plurality of securing features, wherein the plurality of securing features includes four tabs and four slots, a first of the four tabs and a first of the four slots are positioned in the first recessed portion proximate to the first edge, a second of the four tabs and a second of the four slots are positioned in the first recessed portion proximate to the second edge;

a third of the four tabs and a third of the four slots are positioned in the second recessed portion proximate to the first edge; and

a fourth of the four tabs and a fourth of the four slots are positioned in the second recessed portion proximate to the second edge; and

a plurality of water management features.

2. The main body of claim 1, wherein each of the four tabs is rectangular in cross-section, each of the four slots is rectangular in cross-section, and the size of each of the four tabs corresponds to the size of each of the four slots.

3. A main body for a gutter guard system, the main body comprising:

a first edge;

a second edge that is generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first edge;

a first end extending between the first edge and the second edge;

a second end, opposite the first end, extending between the first edge and the second edge;

a top surface disposed between the first edge, the second edge, the first end, and the second end;

a first recessed portion in the top surface positioned at the first end;

a bottom surface, opposite the top surface, disposed between the first edge, the second edge, the first end, and the second end;

a second recessed portion in the bottom surface positioned at the second end;

a plurality of water management features;

a plurality of securing features, wherein a first of the plurality of securing features is a hook and a second of the plurality of securing features is a portion of a first of the plurality of water management features, the hook is positioned in the first recessed portion and the portion of a first of the plurality of water management features is a section of a perimeter of the water management feature.

4. The main body of claim 3, wherein the hook includes a stem extending perpendicularly from the first recessed area and a nose extending at an angle from the stem.

5. The main body of claim 4, wherein the first of the plurality of water management features is an aperture in the main body.

6. The main body of claim 5, wherein the second of the plurality of securing features is a section of the perimeter of the aperture in the main body.

7. The main body of claim 6, wherein the hook is arranged to correspond to the section of the perimeter of the aperture in the main body.

8. A main body of claim 3, wherein a first group of the plurality of securing features, which includes the hook, are positioned in the first recessed portion and a second group of the plurality of securing features, which includes the portion of a first of the plurality of water management features, is positioned at the second end.

9. The main body of claim 8, wherein the first group of the plurality of securing features are hooks and the second group of the plurality of securing features are portions of the plurality of water management features.

10. The main body of claim 9, wherein each hook of the first group of the plurality of securing features includes a stem extending perpendicularly from the first recessed area and a nose extending at an angle from the stem.

11. The main body of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of water management features of the second group of the plurality of securing features are apertures in the main body.

12. The main body of claim 11, wherein the second group of the plurality of securing features are sections of the perimeters of the apertures in the main body.

13. The main body of claim 12, wherein the hooks are arranged to correspond to the sections of the perimeters of the apertures in the main body.

14. A main body assembly for a gutter guard system, the main body assembly comprising:

a first main body, comprising;

a first front edge;

a first rear edge that is generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first front edge;

a first end extending between the first front edge and the first rear edge;

a second end, opposite the first end, extending between the first front edge and the first rear edge;

a first top surface disposed between the first front edge, the first rear edge, the first end, and the second end;

a first recessed portion on the first top surface positioned at the first end;

a first bottom surface, opposite the first top surface, disposed between the first front edge, the first rear edge, the first end, and the second end;

a first securing feature positioned in the first recessed portion and proximate to the first end, where the first securing feature is a hook; and

a first plurality of water management features;

a second main body, comprising;

a second front edge;

a second rear edge that is generally parallel to and spaced apart from the second front edge;

a third end extending between the second front edge and the second rear edge;

a fourth end, opposite the third end, extending between the second front edge and the second rear edge;

a second top surface disposed between the second front edge, the second rear edge, the third end, and the fourth end;

a second bottom surface, opposite the second top surface, disposed between the second front edge, the second rear edge, the third end, and the fourth end;

a second recessed portion on the second bottom surface positioned at the third end;

a second plurality of water management features; and

a second securing feature positioned in the second recessed portion and proximate to the third end and corresponding to the first securing feature, where the second securing feature is a portion of one of the second plurality of water management features.

15. The main body assembly of claim 14, wherein the hook includes a stem extending perpendicularly from the first recessed area and a nose extending at an angle from the stem.

16. The main body assembly of claim 15, wherein the second plurality of water management features are apertures in the main body.

17. The main body of claim 16, wherein the second securing feature is a section of a perimeter of one of the apertures.

18. The main body of claim 17, wherein when the first main body is assembled with the second main body, the hook engages with the section of the perimeter of one of the apertures.