Abstract:
A gutter for collecting water from a roof includes a flange having a channel extending along a top edge of the gutter front side. A gutter bracket is positioned entirely within the gutter trough with one end of the gutter bracket and a rear side of the gutter secured to the fascia of a building. An opposing end of the gutter bracket and the front side of the gutter are commonly secured to a screened room frame. A splashguard extends along the front side of the gutter and includes a bottom flange and a rib mating with the channel of the gutter with the flanges fastened together. A splashguard top edge flange has a channel for receiving a spline securing the screening to the splashguard. A splashguard bracket is secured between an upper portion of the splashguard and the gutter bracket.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to application Ser. No. 60/727,544 for “Pool Enclosure Splash Guard System and Method” having filing date Oct. 17, 2005 and being commonly owned, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to the field of building gutters and splash shields, and more particularly, to a splashguard system and method for deflecting water from a building roof and away from a screened area adjacent the building. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Screened rooms such as those used for swimming pool enclosures are well known. As is further well known in the art, while adequately securing the framing of the enclosure can be accomplished, it is often not without excess framing that is time consuming to install and not necessarily pleasing to view. As illustrated by way of example with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 3,143,165 to Lewis et al, method have been developed to attach the frame to a gutter and typically include the need for upright supports extending to the ground from the gutter area and often the gutter itself. As further described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,683 to Ito et al, a framed enclosure typically includes a roof unit and wall units attachable to both the roof unit and to a foundation, with the roof unit alternatively attachable to the gutter of a host structure. 
   While there is a need to attach the framed enclosure to the host structure, and while it is often attempted using the gutter as a convenient means for attachment, there remains a need to effectively use the gutter. There further is a need to prevent water flowing from the roof of the host structure from splashing into the framed enclosure. The present invention is directed to satisfying such needs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a splashguard system useful for screened enclosures, provides structural support to a gutter attached to a building fascia, and provides ease in attaching a screen material while preventing rain water rushing down a roof from splashing into the associated screened room area. 
   A roof gutter and framed screen enclosure system may comprise a gutter positioned for collecting water flowing from a roof surface. The gutter may be described as including a bottom and opposing front and rear sides extending upwardly from the bottom to top edges thereof thus forming a trough. The top edge of the front side may include a top flange extending therealong. The top flange may include a channel. A gutter bracket may be positioned entirely within the trough. The gutter bracket may be described as including an arm member having opposing first and second ends, the first end having a first flange coupled to the rear side of the gutter, wherein the rear side of the gutter and the first flange may be secured in combination to a support structure, such as a fascia. The second end may include a second flange, wherein the second flange and the front side of the gutter may be secured in combination to a support of a framed enclosure. The gutter bracket may further have a brace member extending from a central portion of the arm member to the second flange. A generally planar splashguard extends along the front side of the gutter. The splashguard may include bottom flange carried at a bottom edge. The bottom flange may have a rib extending therefrom, wherein the rib mates with the channel in the top flange of the front side top edge of the gutter. The bottom flange of the splashguard may be secured to the top flange of the front side of the gutter. The splashguard may have a top flange extending along a top edge a channel for receiving a spline, and thus secure screening material the channel. Further, a splashguard bracket may be secured between the arm member of the gutter bracket and the splashguard proximate its top edge. 
   A method aspect may include a method for deflecting water from a tilted building roof away from a screened area adjacent the building. The method may comprise coupling a splashguard to the screened area and a gutter of a building, including coupling a first end to screen material of the screened area, and coupling a second end to a first side of a gutter of the building, coupling a gutter bracket positioned within the gutter of the building to the gutter, including coupling a first end to the first side of the gutter and coupling a second end to the second side of the gutter, and coupling a splashguard bracket to the splashguard and the gutter bracket, including coupling a first end to the first end of the splashguard and coupling a second end to the second end of the gutter bracket. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments of the present invention, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a partial diagrammatical cross section view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial side view illustrating element of a system described with reference to  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
   Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a roof gutter and framed screen enclosure system  10  in keeping with the teachings of the present invention is herein described, by way of example, as including a building structure  12  having a roof  14  and a support structure  16 , as is well known to include a fascia  18 , soffit  20 , and vertical wall  22 . A gutter is positioned for collecting water flowing from a surface of the roof  14 , as is well known in roof guttering. For one embodiment of the invention, the gutter  24  is herein described as having a bottom  26  and opposing front and rear sides  28 ,  30  extending upwardly from the bottom to top edges  32 ,  34  thus forming a trough  36 . With continued reference to  FIG. 1  and to  FIG. 2 , the top edge  32  of the front side  28  of the gutter  24  includes a top flange  38  extending along the top edge, as illustrated with reference to  FIG. 3 . The top flange  38  includes a channel  40  extending along the top edge  32 . 
   With reference again to  FIG. 1 , a framed enclosure  42  includes an upright support  44 , wherein a screen material  46  is secured to the framed enclosure. A peripheral portion  48  of the screen material  46  includes a spline  50 , or alternate edging well known to those skilled in the art. 
   With reference again to  FIG. 2 , by way of example, a gutter bracket  52  is positioned entirely within the trough  36 . The gutter bracket  52  includes an arm member  54  having opposing first and second ends  56 ,  58 . The first end  56  has a first flange  60  that is coupled to the rear side  30  of the gutter  24  using, by way of example, a lag screw  62 , as illustrated with reference aging to  FIG. 1 . As will come to the mind of those skilled in the art, alternate fastening means may be used now having the benefit of the teachings of the present invention. As illustrated, the rear side  30  of the gutter  24  and the first flange  60  are secured in combination to the support structure  16 . The second end  58  includes a second flange  64 . The second flange  64  and the front side  28  of the gutter  24  are secured in combination to the upright support  44 . As illustrated with continued reference to  FIG. 2  and again to  FIG. 3 , the gutter bracket  52  further includes a brace member  66  extending from a central portion  68  of the arm member  54  to the second flange  64 . 
   With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the system  10  further includes a generally planar splashguard  70  extending along the front side  28  of the gutter  24 . The splashguard  70  is herein described as including a bottom flange  72  carried at a bottom edge  74  of the splashguard. The bottom flange  74  includes a rib  76  extending from the flange for mating with the channel  40  in the top flange  38  of the front side top edge  32  of the gutter  24 . The bottom flange  72  of the splashguard  70  is secured to the top flange  38  of the front side  28  of the gutter  24 . The splashguard  70  has a top flange  78  extending along its top edge  80 , which top flange  78  includes a channel  82 . The spline  50 , and thus the screen material  46  is secured within the channel. A splashguard bracket  84  has a first end  86  secured to arm member  54  of the gutter bracket  52  and a second end  88  secured to the splashguard  70  proximate its top edge  80 . 
   With reference again to  FIG. 1 , by way of example, the splashguard  70  thus provides a barrier for fast moving water coming off the roof  14  of the structure  12  and diverts the water into a structurally enhanced gutter  24  using the gutter bracket  52 . With such a structurally enhanced gutter  24 , the upright support  44  for the framed enclosure  42  may be attached noting the upright support  44  need not be extended to the ground. 
   By way of example, the splashguard  70  may be comprised of the aluminum alloy 6063-T6 that is extruded through a die. Specific structural specifications and shapes may be integrated into the splashguard that the typical “breaking” of aluminum does not accommodate. A front face  90  of the splashguard  70  and a front face  92  of the front side  28  of the gutter  24  may include a single or plurality of ribs  94 , as illustrated with reference again to  FIG. 3 . The ribs  94  may be provided along the faces  90 ,  92  of the splashguard  70  that are intended to match the appearance of the face of gutter  24  and may be added for increased strength. 
   As illustrated with reference again to  FIGS. 1-3 , the top edge  80  of the splashguard includes the channel  82  useful as a spline groove that allows for the attachment of the screen material  46 . For the system  10  including the splashguard  70  herein described, attachment of the splashguard may be after the screen material  46  has been installed. An area between the splashguard and the screen material may collect debris. Additional framework may be attached to the screening for preventing the debris from having a collection area. The channel  82  atop the splashguard  70  increases ease of installation by eliminating the need for additional framework. 
   As illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 , a radius 96 of 0.375 inches is set below the channel  82  and on an inside corner towards its bottom for providing additional strength. As above described, the bottom edge  74  of the splashguard  70  (a “seat”) may set atop the top flange  38  of a structural aluminum gutter  24  (a “super gutter”). The small protrusion or rib  76  at the seat serves to sit inside the channel  40  of the super gutter  24 . The rear of the seat has a down turned lip  98  that may extend 0.25 inches. This lip  98  prevents water from getting between the top of the gutter  24  and the splashguard  70 . The splashguard  70 , as illustrated with reference again to  FIG. 1 , may be attached to the gutter  24  by fastening the splashguard to the gutter with a lag screw or sheet metal screw  63 . It will also attach to each vertical framing member from the aluminum structure. 
   The structural components of the adjacent aluminum structure will attach to the face of the splashguard in a similar manner as they would attach to the face of the super gutter. The splashguard  70  may be extruded through a die to form a preselected cross sectional shape. 
   By way of example, for the embodiment illustrated with reference again to  FIG. 1 , a desirable resistance to uplift on a pool enclosure such as the framed enclosure  42  that attaches directly to the gutter  24  is provided. A more “positive connection” is also provided where a pool enclosure attaches to a host structure, such as the support structure  16   
   One embodiment may include a gutter bracket comprised of aluminum alloy 6063-T6 and extruded through a die process at desirable lengths. Two parallel flanges (opposed at 180 degrees from each other) may be separated by flat webbing. As above described, the brace member  66 , a knee brace, is placed in a location along the backside of the second flange  64  in order for there to be a maximum allowable space for fasteners  63  to penetrate the face of the flange without penetrating into the knee brace. This knee brace may be an integral part of the gutter bracket. As a result various applied forces from the aluminum structure through the super gutter and ultimately back to the host structure itself. 
   As will come to the mind of those skilled in the art, now having the benefit of the teachings of the present invention, splashguard bracket  84  may or may not be needed in conjunction with the gutter bracket  52 . Further, the splashguard bracket  84  may be attached to the splashguard  70  using a sheet metal screw  63 , as illustrated with reference again to  FIG. 1 , and attach to the top of the gutter bracket  52  also by the use of a sheet metal screw  63 . The bracket prevents the splashguard from bending and separating from its attachment point atop the super gutter when forces are applied to it from the framing components from the aluminum structure. 
   Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings and photos. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the claims supported by this specification.