Self cleaning shield

• US 20110253611A1
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward Higginbotham
• Original Assignee: MGP Manufacturing LLC
• Inventors: Higginbotham, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/153
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/00 Methods, systems, or installations for draining-off sewage or storm water
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/076 Devices or arrangements for removing snow, ice or debris from gutters or for preventing accumulation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/0765 Cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6969 Buildings

Abstract

A gutter shield device comprising a first body portion and a second body portion laterally bordering an intermediate body portion that includes a perforated plane out of which arises upward protruding elements that contact the undersurface of a micro-mesh or screen filter comprised of eighty or more threads per inch. The gutter shield includes on the bottom of it'"'"'s perforated plane at least one downwardly extending element to interdict and redirect downward any forward flowing water present on the underside of the perforated plane.

Claims

1. A gutter shield device for mounting to a rain gutter, the gutter shield device comprising:

an elongated body comprising;

a first body portion;

a second body portion; and

an intermediate body portion disposed between the first and second body portions and connected to the first and second body portions, wherein the intermediate body portion defines a surface and includes a plurality of extending portions extending in a direction away from the surface to define a plurality of openings in the surface; and

a filter element secured to the intermediate body portion, wherein a surface of the filter element is arranged adjacent to the openings.

2. The gutter shield device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate body portion is connected to the first and second body portions by a first u-shaped receiving channel and a second u-shaped receiving channel, respectively, and wherein the filter element includes a first lateral edge received in the first u-shaped receiving channel and a second lateral edge received in the second u-shaped receiving channel.

3. The gutter shield device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the filter element arranged adjacent to the openings contacts the surface defined by the intermediate portion, wherein when water is passed over the filter element the water is directed away from the filter element, through the openings, and along the plurality of extending portions.

4. The gutter shield device according to claim 1, wherein the filter element comprises a plurality of interwoven threads defining a mesh screen.

5. The gutter shield device according to claim 4, wherein the mesh screen has a mesh of between approximately 80 and 280.

6. The gutter shield device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of interwoven threads defining the mesh screen comprise a plurality of stainless steel or aluminum threads.

7. The gutter shield device according to claim 4, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of interwoven threads is between approximately 0.0015 inches and 0.0055 inches.

8. The gutter shield device according to claim 4, wherein the mesh screen comprises a plurality of intersecting threads having a diameter, each intersection of threads being crimped or pressed so that a maximum thickness of the mesh screen is less than two times the thread diameter.

16. The filtration element according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of interwoven threads define a mesh screen.

20. The filtration element according to claim 16, wherein the mesh screen comprises a plurality of intersecting threads having a diameter, each intersection of threads being crimped or pressed so that a maximum thickness of the mesh screen is less than two times the thread diameter.

9. A body of a gutter shield device for mounting to a rain gutter, the body of the gutter shield device comprising:

a first body portion;

a second body portion; and

an intermediate body portion disposed between and connected to the first and second body portions, the intermediate body portion defining a surface adapted to receive a filter element thereon and including;

a plurality of extending portions extending in a direction away from the surface to define a plurality of openings in the surface, wherein when the filter element is secured to the surface defined by the intermediate body portion, a surface of the filter element is positioned adjacent to the plurality of openings.

10. The body according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate body portion is connected to the first and second body portions via a first u-shaped receiving channel and a second u-shaped receiving channel, respectively, the first and second receiving channels being adapted to hold lateral edges of the filter element therein.

11. A filtration element adapted to be mounted to a rain gutter, the filtration element comprising:

a plurality of interwoven threads defining a first substantially planar surface and at least one substantially planar extending portion extending at an angle to the first substantially planar surface.

12. The filtration element of claim 11, wherein the at least one substantially planar extending portion is a folded portion.

13. The filtration element of claim 11, wherein the at least one extending portion is a plurality of spaced extending portions defining a plurality of substantially planar surfaces extending at angles to the first substantially planar surface.

14. The filtration element of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of extending portions is a folded portion.

15. The filtration element of claim 11, wherein the plurality of interwoven threads are metallic threads.

18. The filtration element according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of interwoven threads are stainless steel or aluminum threads.

19. The filtration element according to claim 11, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of interwoven threads is between approximately 0.0015 inches and 0.0055 inches.

17. The filtration element according to claim 17, wherein the mesh screen has a mesh of between approximately 80 and 280.