Abstract:
A U-shaped channel member fitted horizontally over a gutter, with each protruding channel member engaging the fascia board to which the gutter is attached. Ladder legs rest against the channel member between invention brackets. A strap attached to the channel member is adapted to engage a ladder rung with the gutter, thereby holding the ladder in engagement with the channel member and further preventing the ladder from sliding laterally or diagonal movement, i.e., ladder bottom kick out.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to gutter systems for houses, and more particularly to an apparatus for protecting a gutter while providing support for a ladder.  
           [0002]    Numerous drain systems for roofs have been provided in the prior art that include gutters that catch rainwater from roofs and carry it to leaders extending to the ground. Most houses built in the United States today include gutters which are secured to the fascia board of a house structure, just below the roof line. These gutters are necessary to protect siding or paint on the house front, back and side structures from damage from rain, snow and the like by catching the rain, snow and the like and causing it to flow to down spouts and away from the house structures with minimal contact with the house structures.  
           [0003]    The construction of gutters and the placement thereof against the fascia board of a structure is well known in the art. The gutters are generally made of a thin sheet of aluminum, vinyl, plastic or wood, which are light in weight. The presence of thin aluminum or plastic gutters along the fascia board of a structure is a source of difficulty when one needs to access the roof or upper portion of the structure. Usually, a ladder is placed and supported against the structure, and the worker or home owner climbs the ladder to access, for example, the roof. However, since the gutters must stick out beyond the lower roof line to be effective in trapping rain and the like, the ladder must be placed against the gutters. The thin gutters of modern construction cannot withstand much pressure before bending. When a ladder is placed against the front of a gutter it will tend to crush the gutter and slide along it. This often results in a structure&#39;s gutter having to be replaced, although the initial work task had nothing to do with the gutters. Regardless of the method used in attaching a gutter to a building, e.g., hangers, straps, spikes, ferrules, etc., the gutter is very susceptible to scratching, denting, and crushing from prolonged ladder contact or from a weight overload from a ladder.  
           [0004]    One of the common attempts to avoid gutter problems is the use of double-pronged ladder stabilizers. One of the real limitations with ladder stabilizers is that they are not very strong. Ladder stabilizers also tend to become unsquare with the ladder until a ladder&#39;s upper portion inside edges crushes the gutter, roof edge and flashing. Ladder stabilizers are especially a problem for ladder staging. Since stabilizers are firmly secured to the ladder, they need to be adjusted frequently and mechanically in relationship to where they would rest on the building for proper ladder staging bracket and plank placement. Furthermore, the ladder cannot be set under the eave since the projection of eave and gutter is almost equal to the width of the staging plank, thus providing minimal work space and a dangerous environment for a staging worker. Fastening any material to the eaves to prevent gutter damage only causes the need for repairs of another kind.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides an apparatus for protecting a gutter while at the same time providing support for a ladder placed against the gutter. The present invention supports the weight of ladders, ladder brackets, staging planks, material and men by diffusing weight around a gutter directly to the fascia.  
           [0006]    The present invention accomplishes this by providing a U-shaped channel member fitted horizontally over the gutter, with each protruding channel member engaging the fascia board to which the gutter is attached. Ladder legs rest against the channel member between invention brackets. A strap attached to the channel member is adapted to engage a ladder rung with the gutter, thereby holding the ladder in engagement with the channel member and further preventing the ladder from sliding laterally or diagonal movement, i.e., ladder bottom kick out. The present invention also provides a means for speedy set up of ladder and staging.  
           [0007]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a front, perspective view of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown an external, vertical building wall structure  10 , such as a front, rear or side wall, an eave  14 , a fascia board  13 , a lower roof line edge  11  extending over the fascia board  13 , and a rain gutter  20  attached to the fascia board  13 , said gutter  20  extending out beyond the lower roof line  11 .  
         [0012]    The rain gutter  20  has a top  21 , a bottom  22 , a rear  23 , a front  24 , and two sides  25 . The gutter sides  25  define a longitudinal axis which lies in a horizontal plane. The rain gutter rear  23  abuts the fascia board  13  and may be connected by means of hangers, straps, or spikes and ferrules.  
         [0013]    The present invention  1  provides a horizontal, U-shaped channel member  30  comprised of a flat top  31 , a flat bottom  32 , an open rear  33 , a closed, flat front  34 , and two open sides  35 , said front  34  being connected to said top  31  and said bottom  32 . The channel member sides  35  define a longitudinal axis which lies in a horizontal plane. In this embodiment of the invention  1 , the channel member&#39;s top  31  and bottom  32  lie in planes perpendicular to the channel member&#39;s front  34 . The channel member&#39;s front  34 , top  31  and bottom  32  define a channel member interior  36 . The top rear  31 ,  33  and bottom rear  32 ,  33  terminate in strips  37  made from a non-skid, non-abrasive, resilient material, such as plastic or rubber.  
         [0014]    The channel member top  31  and bottom  32  are attached to the channel member front  34  by means of external brackets or bands  40 . In this embodiment of the invention  1 , there are two brackets  40 , each extending vertically across the front  34  and horizontally rearward across a portion of the top  31  and bottom  32 , and fixedly attached thereto. The portion  41  of each bracket  40  extending across the channel member front  34  has a horizontal hole  42  formed therein, each said hole  42  having a central axis parallel to the plane of the channel member top  31 . An elasticized cord  50  with two ends  51 , each end  51  terminating in a hook  52 , is threaded through the bracket front portion holes  42 . The junction  44  of each bracket front portion  41  and the bracket portion  43  extending across the channel member top  31  is vertically raised as much as two inches to provide lateral stops for ladder legs  3  resting against the channel member  30 .  
         [0015]    In this embodiment of the invention  1 , the channel member  30  has a side-to-side length of twenty-seven inches with the brackets  40  being positioned equidistantly nineteen and one-half inches apart. For residential applications the channel member inside depth is preferably six inches and inside height is preferably four inches. Commercial applications usually require an additional inch in height and depth. The channel member  30  is preferable made from perforated aluminum, thereby providing strength and light weight. However, comparable materials, including wood, may be used. The perforations  39  are optional, but are particularly effective when using metallic materials.  
         [0016]    In operation, the channel member  30  is fitted horizontally over the gutter  20 , with the channel member top and bottom strips  37  engaging the fascia board  13  to which the gutter  20  is attached. The gutter  20  snugly fits within the channel member interior  36 . The channel member top  31  rests on the gutter top  7   21 . The strips  37  prevent damage to the fascia  13 . A ladder  2  is set at a desired location. The ladder  2  is raised to a position on the wall top  12  just under the gutter  20 . The channel member  30  is placed over the gutter  20 . Because of the channel member&#39;s snug fit over the gutter  20 , the channel member  30  will stay in place without further attachment. The ladder  2  is then raised so that the ladder upper legs  3  rest against the channel member  20 , typically against the channel member front top  34 ,  31  between the bracket junctions  43 . The cord  50  is then wrapped about the ladder  2 , preferably an upper rung  4 , and the cord end hooks  52  attached to the gutter  20  on either side of the channel member  30 . The engagement of the cord  50  with the ladder  2  prevents the ladder upper portion legs  3  from “bouncing” over the bracket junctions  43  and sliding laterally. This engagement also retards the ladder bottom (not shown) from kicking out.  
         [0017]    The present invention  1  is used extensively under the following situations where a gutter  20  is present: (i) when ladder staging is required for reroofing, dormer accessibility, skylight accessibility, roof repairs; (ii) general roof access for painting, siding, and the like; (iii) extended ladder stay at one point; (iv) heavy load required on ladder; (v) any need to access a non-walk roof; and (vi) numerous round trips on ladder. The present invention permits simplified installation of roofing systems. The inside edges of the upper ladder legs  3  are kept away from sheathing/top of fascia intersection. Drip edge  8  flashing and roofing material can be applied and remain undamaged.  
         [0018]    It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.