Snow melting device for gutters

• US 6,225,600 B1
• Filed: 10/11/1996
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John J. Burris
• Original Assignee: John J. Burris
• Inventors: Burris, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US08/728,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 219/213, 219/544, 219/546, 219/547, 219/548, 338/266, 338/267, 338/268, 338/269, 338/286, 338/287, 52/24, 52/11
• US Class Current: 219/213
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/0762 De-icing devices or snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/02 Heaters specially designed for de-icing or protection against icing
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/00 Ohmic-resistance heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/10 Heating elements characterised by the composition or nature of the materials or by the arrangement of the conductor

Abstract

A snow melting device for gutters including a snow melting strip positionable within a closed lower end of a gutter. The snow melting strip will serve to melt accumulated snow upon activation to allow proper drainage of water through downspouts of the gutter.

Claims

1. A snow melting device for gutters for preventing snow build-up in gutters comprising, in combination:

a gutter of a predetermined length secured to a house at a lower end of a roof thereof, the gutter having a rear wall secured to the house, the gutter having an open upper end, a closed lower end with a flat surface over the majority of its extent adjacent to the rear wall and a curved surface laterally offset therefrom remote from the rear wall and a curved front wall, the curved front wall extending to a length equal to a length of the rear wall;

a snow melting strip comprised of an elongated generally rectangular waterproof housing of a predetermined length, the housing having a single heating coil extending lengthwise therethrough in a zigzag configuration, the heating coil positioned centrally between the upper and lower surface of the housing, the housing positionable within the closed lower end of the gutter, the snow melting strip covering only the entire flat surface of the gutter but having the curved surface of the gutter uncovered to allow the flow of melted snow across the strip and to one side of the strip, the strip having a thickness of about twenty percent of a depth of the gutter where about eighty percent of the gutter is capable of collecting debris other than snow and ice within therein; and

an adjustable switch secured within the house, the adjustable switch cooperating with the snow melting switch for activation and temperature control thereof.