Gutter cover system

• US 20070277446A1
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edna F. Dowling
• Original Assignee: Edna F. Dowling
• Inventors: Dowling, Torry B., Dowling, Edna F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/11
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/076 Devices or arrangements for removing snow, ice or debris from gutters or for preventing accumulation thereof

Abstract

An improved gutter cover system which is relatively convenient to install, with an innovative gutter bracket and gutter cover that can be installed more quickly and effectively.

The gutter bracket has a bracket member, a tab member and a lip member. The bracket presents a longitudinal axis aligning the wall end and the swivel end. The bracket includes a shaft with a wall end and a swivel end. The wall end has a flange opposite from the swivel end as well as a flat portion along the longitudinal axis. The tab member extends upwardly from the bracket member, to form a slot adapted for insertion of the edge of the gutter cover. The lip member is affixed to the swivel edge, preferably by a screw. The lip member is configured to be matingly received within the lip of the gutter.

The improved gutter cover includes a planar panel for positioning on the roof, an arcuate nose at the lowest portion of the panel disposed close to the gutter, a planar lower member below the nose and a foot suitable for mating edge insertion into the slot.

The system improvements include a modified nose with an arcuate profile free of formed edges to avoid diversion of the rainwater path. Another improvement is the foot, which provides a mechanically secure placement of the cover between the roof and the bracket. In particularly preferred embodiments, the bracket presents a raised elevation for easier installment of the cover.

In addition, an improved gutter hanger and the gutter bracket are both easier to install, spanning the gutter from front to back, because of a swivel function preferably disposed relatively close to the front of the gutter, for easier installation, yet providing mechanical support for the gutter when the swivel portion is locked into rigid alignment.

Both the bracket and hanger are installed in the same fashion. Each is installed by first placing the lip member in mating engagement within the lip of the gutter. Then the flange is fixed to the wall of the building by a screw, bolt or the like. Then the swivel end is securely aligned with the wall end for appropriate mechanical tension between the lip and the wall. At that point the bracket (or hanger) is “locked in” preferably by fixing the screw to both the swivel end and the wall end at their junction.

Claims

1. A gutter hanger adapted for use with a building wall, a gutter mounted on the wall and having a lip, the hanger comprising:

(a) a hanger member having a shaft including a wall end and a swivel end, the hanger presenting a longitudinal axis along the wall end and the swivel end, the wall end including an upwardly extending flange distal from the swivel end, uppermost portions of the flange presenting a first elevation, the hanger member further including a swivel edge distal from the wall end; and

(b) a lip member affixed to the swivel edge, the lip member adapted to matingly engage the lip of the gutter, uppermost portions of the lip member presenting a second elevation, such that when the lip member is so engaged with the lip and aligned with the longitudinal axis with the swivel edge and lip member locked into such alignment, and the flange is affixed to the wall,

the hanger thereby rigidly spans the gutter from lip to wall, providing mechanical support to the gutter and the first elevation is lower than the second elevation.

2. The gutter hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger presents a total hanger length along the longitudinal axis, from the flange to the furthest point from the wall on the lip member, and the furthest point of the swivel end of the hanger member is disposed at a point on the longitudinal axis at least 60 percent of the total hanger length from the flange.

3. The gutter hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger presents a total hanger length along the longitudinal axis, from the flange to the furthest point from the wall on the lip member, and the furthest point of the swivel end of the hanger member is disposed at a point on the longitudinal axis at least 80 percent of the total hanger length from the flange.

4. The gutter hanger of claim 1, wherein the swivel edge is rectangular in shape, as viewed from above.

5. The gutter hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanger member is reversibly affixed to the lip member by a screw.

6. A gutter cover bracket adapted for use with a building wall, a gutter mounted on the wall and having a lip, and a gutter cover having a flat foot, the bracket comprising:

(a) a bracket member having a shaft including a wall end and a swivel end, the bracket presenting a longitudinal axis along the wall end and the swivel end, the wall end including an upwardly extending flange distal from the swivel end and further including a swivel edge distal from the wall end;

(b) a tab member extending upwardly from the shaft, portions of the tab member and shaft cooperatively forming a slot therebetween; and

(c) a lip member affixed to the swivel edge, the lip member adapted to matingly engage the lip of the gutter, such that when the lip member is so engaged with the lip and aligned with the longitudinal axis with the swivel edge and lip member locked into such alignment, and the flange is affixed to the wall,

the bracket thereby rigidly spans the gutter from lip to wall and is positioned to supportingly receive the flat edge of the gutter cover in the planar slot.

7. The gutter cover bracket of claim 6 wherein uppermost portions of the flange present a first elevation, uppermost portions of the lip member present a second elevation, and the first elevation is lower than the second elevation.

8. The gutter cover bracket of claim 6, wherein the bracket member is reversibly affixed to the lip member by a screw.

9. The gutter cover bracket of claim 6, wherein the bracket presents a total bracket length along the longitudinal axis, from the flange to the furthest point from the wall on the lip member, and the furthest point of the swivel end of the hanger member is disposed at a point on the longitudinal axis at least 60 percent of the total hanger length from the flange.

10. A gutter cover suitable for use with a gutter and a gutter-covering system, including a gutter bracket, in conjunction with a roof, having a lower end, the gutter bracket including portions forming a slot, the gutter cover comprising:

a substantially planar panel suitable for fixing on the lower end of the roof;

an arcuate, substantially smooth nose disposed at the lowest portion of the panel; and

a substantially planar lower member extending downwardly from the nose, including a foot disposed at the lowest portion of the lower member, the foot suitable for mating engagement with the slot.

11. The gutter cover of claim 10 wherein both the planar panel and the lower member are imperforated.

12. The gutter cover of claim 10 wherein the nose is substantially semicircular in profile, presenting a substantially constant associated radius.

13. The gutter cover of claim 12 wherein the constant radius is a predetermined length somewhere between ½

inch and two inches.

14. The gutter cover of claim 12 wherein the constant radius is about ½

inch.

15. A gutter cover system adapted for use with a roof, a building wall and a gutter mounted on the wall, the gutter including a lip, the system comprising:

(a) a bracket including,

a bracket member having a shaft including a wall end and a swivel end, the bracket presenting a longitudinal axis along the wall end and the swivel end, the wall end including an upwardly extending flange distal from the swivel end and further including a swivel edge distal from the wall end,

a tab member extending upwardly from the shaft, portions of the tab member and shaft cooperatively forming a slot therebetween,

a lip member affixed to the swivel edge, the lip member adapted to matingly engage the lip of the gutter, such that when the lip member is so engaged with the lip, and aligned with the longitudinal axis, with the swivel edge and lip member locked into such alignment, and the flange is affixed to the wall, the bracket thereby rigidly spans the gutter from lip to wall; and

(b) a gutter cover including,

a substantially planar panel positioned on the roof,

an arcuate, substantially smooth nose disposed at the lowest portion of the panel and above the gutter,

a substantially planar lower member extending downwardly from the nose, including a foot disposed at the lowest portion of the lower member, the foot suitable for mating engagement with the slot.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the nose is substantially semicircular in profile, presenting a substantially constant associated radius.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the bracket member raised portions proximal to the slot is at an elevation, such that mating engagement of the foot and slot is at an elevation higher than the shaft.

18. A gutter cover bracket adapted for use with a building wall, a gutter mounted on the wall and having a lip, and a gutter cover having a flat edge, the bracket comprising:

(a) a bracket member having a wall end and a swivel end, the bracket member presenting a longitudinal axis along the wall end and the swivel end, the wall end including a shaft formed as a flat portion along the longitudinal axis, the wall end further including a flange upwardly extending from the shaft and distal from the swivel end, the swivel end having a curved member extending from the shaft, the curved member presenting a raised profile adjacent the swivel edge at portions thereof furthermost from the flange;

(b) a tab member extending upwardly from the raised profile portion of the swivel end, portions of the tab member and raised profile portion cooperatively forming a planar slot therebetween; and

(c) a lip member affixed to the swivel edge, the lip member adapted to matingly engage the lip of the gutter, such that when the lip member is so engaged with the lip and aligned with the longitudinal axis, with the swivel edge and lip member locked into such alignment, and the flange is affixed to the wall,

the bracket thereby rigidly spans the gutter from lip to wall and is positioned to supportingly receive the flat edge of the gutter cover in the planar slot, while mechanically re-inforcing the gutter.

19. The gutter cover bracket of claim 18, wherein the raised profile portion of the bracket member serves to cooperatively form the planar slot has an elevation about ¾

of an inch higher than the elevation of the shaft of the bracket member.

20. The gutter cover bracket of claim 18, wherein two re-inforcing bevels are formed on the raised profile portion of the bracket member, one disposed on either side of the slot.