Patent ID: 6225600
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: E04D,H05B

Abstract:
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; andan adjustable switch secured within the house, the adjustable switch cooperating with the snow melting switch for activation and temperature control thereof.