Abstract:
A roof and rain gutter ice melt system and assembly provide a base panel and a cover panel. The base panel is functionally adapted to be mounted at a roof edge at the back wall of a conventional rain gutter. In one embodiment, the base panel also includes means for supporting a heat cable within it. Electrical energization of the heat cable results in the conduction of heat through the base panel and through the cover panel, the cover panel including means of overlapping and engaging the base panel. A second heat cable is disposed in the floor of the rain gutter. In an alternative embodiment, the heat cable is disposed within a roof edge panel. In either alternative embodiment, a front panel can be provided to allow the front lip of the rain gutter to be heated atop a metal gutter screen.

Description:
This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/429,927 filed Jan. 5, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to devices, systems, assemblies and methods that are used to prevent snow and ice build-up from occurring in and around rain gutters that are mounted to the roof edges of a building. More specifically, it relates to a snow and ice melting system and assembly that can be installed at a conventional roof edge rain gutter to prevent the build-up of snow and ice near the gutter, the device using electric energy that is converted to heat to melt the snow and ice as it falls onto or advances toward the roof edge and rain gutter. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A number of static and dynamic factors can combine to create ice dams at the edge of a roof. Such factors include the way that the roof is constructed and insulated, both of which impact the amount of heat loss that is created at the roof edge via heat conduction and convection. Other factors typically include snowfall amounts, snow cover amounts, outside temperatures and radiation, or the exposure of the roof and roof edge to direct sunlight, or the absence of such exposure. 
     Where the factors mentioned above cannot be controlled, a roof and rain gutter ice melt system and assembly can be used to eliminate such ice dams, or to prevent creation of an ice dam in the first instance. In the experience of this inventor, a number of configurations have been used to accomplish the intended purpose of eliminating or preventing ice dams. Some configurations, though effective, are often complex in construction which makes them potentially expensive to fabricate and also expensive to install. Some configurations are also relatively expensive to operate due to inherent inefficiencies in the system or assembly. 
     In the view of this inventor, there is a need for a simplified system and assembly that provides the functionality of eliminating or preventing ice dams and that is also relatively simple in construction and installation. In the experience of this inventor, such a system and assembly exists and is the subject of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The roof and rain gutter ice melt system and assembly of the present invention provides a base panel and a cover panel. The base panel is functionally adapted to be mounted at a roof edge at the back wall of a conventional rain gutter, although the base panel could be used at a roof edge without a gutter. The base panel also includes means for supporting a heat cable within it. Electrical energization of the heat cable results in the conduction of heat through the base panel and through the cover panel, the cover panel including means of overlapping and engaging the base panel. A second heat cable is disposed in the floor of the rain gutter. In an alternative embodiment, the structure for supporting the heat cable within the base panel is configured differently from the first embodiment. In yet another alternative embodiment, a front panel is provided to allow the front lip of the rain gutter to be heated atop a metal gutter screen. 
     In all of the embodiments, it is desirable that the system and assembly be energized with electrical energy using one or more self-regulating heated cables. 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational and cross-sectioned view of a first preferred embodiment of the roof and rain gutter ice melt system and assembly that is constructed in accordance with the present invention, and showing the components as they would be used within a rain gutter of conventional manufacture that is mounted at the roof edge of a building. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational and cross-sectioned view of a second preferred embodiment of the roof and rain gutter ice melt system and assembly that is constructed in accordance with the present invention, also showing the components as they would be used within a rain gutter of conventional manufacture that is mounted at the roof edge of a building. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout,  FIG. 1  illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a system and assembly as they would be constructed in accordance with the present invention. Although each component is shown in a cross-sectioned format, it is to be understood that each component comprises a longitudinally-extending and substantially sheet-like structure, or panel, a portion of which is configured to have a self-regulating heat cable supported by it or within it. In the first preferred embodiment, each panel is further designed to be a unitary structure that is fabricated of a metal material such that the heat-transferring capability of the panel is maximized. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a number of discrete elements or components of the system and assembly, generally identified  10 , as used together in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is to be understood that the numeral  10  references both the system and the assembly, but that the word “assembly” will be used for the balance of this detailed description to describe both the system and the assembly of the present invention. 
     The first discrete element is an integrally-formed and longitudinally-extending base panel, generally identified  20 . As formed, the base panel  20  can be a metal extrusion or other sheet metal structure having a back portion  22 , a downwardly and forwardly extending bottom lip portion  24  and a downwardly and forwardly extending top lip portion  26 . The bottom lip portion  24  is created by a bend  23  that is formed in the back portion  22 . The top lip portion  26  is created by a bend  25  that is formed in the back portion  22  and by a portion  28  that is bent upwardly and rearwardly in a curved configuration to overlay the top lip portion  26 . The bend  25  can be made in the shop, during fabrication, or in the field, during installation, to match the pitch of the roof that the assembly  10  will be used with, which will be apparent later in this detailed description. A cavity  29  is formed within the curved portion  28  of the top lip portion  26 . In the preferred embodiment, this cavity  29  is used to retain and to run a self-regulating heat cable  2  along the length of the base panel  20 . The cavity  29  further serves to protect the heat cable  2  from exposure and potential damage. 
     Another element of the assembly  10  is an integrally-formed and longitudinally-extending cover panel, generally identified  30 , which is also illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The cover panel  30  can be a metal extrusion or may be fabricated of formed sheet metal material. The cover panel  30  comprises a substantially flat central portion  32  having an upper edge portion  34  and a lower edge portion  36 . The lower edge  36  further comprises a rearwardly bent portion  38 , the bent portion  38  being bent in a downwardly and rearwardly curved configuration to underlay the lower edge portion  36  of the cover panel  30  to form a cavity  39  within it. The bent portion  38  of the lower edge portion  36  is intended, in the first preferred embodiment, to overlay the bent portion  28  of the top lip portion  26  of the base panel  20 , the back panel cavity  29  supporting the cable  2 . 
       FIG. 1  further illustrates another element of the assembly  10  which is an integrally-formed and also longitudinally-extending front panel, generally identified  50 . The front panel  50  is functionally adapted to be attached to the forward lip of a rain gutter. The front panel  50  can similarly be a metal extrusion or formed sheet metal part of the assembly  10 . The front panel  50  comprises a flat central portion  52 , a downwardly and forwardly extending bottom lip portion  54  and an upwardly extending top lip portion  56 . The bottom lip portion  54  is formed by a bend  53  that is formed in the central portion  52  and the top lip portion  56  is formed by another bend  55  that is formed in the central portion  52 . The bottom lip portion  54  comprises an underside  58  and a self-regulating heat cable  2  that is secured to the underside  58 , which cable  2  runs along the length of the front panel  50 . The bottom lip portion  54  serves to protect the heat cable  2 . 
     In application, the assembly  10  of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the previously-discussed elements of the base panel  20  and the cover panel  30 . Although the front panel  50  element is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it is to be understood that its inclusion comprises an alternative embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the assembly  10  of the present invention. As shown, the assembly  10  is attachable to a rain gutter  80  of conventional manufacture, the rain gutter  80  typically being a longitudinally-extending structure that is attachable to the roof edge  64  of a building  60 . It should be mentioned here, however, that the assembly  10  of the present invention could also be used at a roof edge  64  that does not have a rain gutter  80  attached to it. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the building  60  comprises a vertical building element  62 , the roof edge  64  which presents at an angle relative to the horizontal, a roof deck  66  and shingles  68 . The rain gutter  80  is of conventional manufacture and comprises a back wall  82 , a floor  84  and a front wall  86 , the front wall terminating at a lip  88 . The rain gutter  80  is further supported by a hanger  70  and a fastener  72 , also of conventional manufacture. 
     With the rain gutter  80  secured to the vertical building element  62  by means of the hanger  70  and fastener  72 , the base panel  20  of the assembly  10  is concomitantly secured by its back portion  22  to the back wall  82  of the rain gutter and, in turn, to the vertical building element  62 . The bottom lip portion  24  of the base panel  20  extends down into the rain gutter  80  and the top lip portion  26  extends above it. The cover panel  30  is then secured to the roof deck  66 , beneath the shingles  68 , such that the cavity  39  of the lower edge portion  36  of the cover panel  30  effectively captures the top lip portion  26  and the curved portion  28  of the base panel  20 . In this configuration, and with the heat cable  2  being actuated, ice buildup is prevented along the roof edge  64 . With a heat cable  2  secured to the floor  84  of the rain gutter  80 , water is also not allowed to re-freeze within the rain gutter  80 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the assembly  10  is provided with a gutter screen  90 , which is also a longitudinally-extending structure that runs along the roof edge  64  atop the rain gutter  80 . The gutter screen  90  has a flat central portion  92 , an upwardly extending roof edge portion  94  and a downwardly extending gutter edge portion  96 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the gutter edge portion  96  can be secured to the lip  88  of the gutter  80  with the front panel  50  disposed on top of it. This configuration effectively captures the heat cable  2  between those structures, thereby protecting the cable  2  and preventing ice buildup along the gutter screen  90  at the outer gutter lip  88 . 
     It is to be understood that the self-regulating heat cable  2  that is used in the present invention is not, by itself, novel. Indeed, such cable  2  is well known in the art. When combined with or used in the assembly  10  of the present invention, however, such cable  2  comprises means for regulating the temperature of the cable  2  as needed via a control component which may be pre-programmable. This maximizes performance of the assembly  10  and conserves the use of electrical energy by it. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , it illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the assembly  110  of the present invention. The assembly  110  notably does not comprise the previously-discussed elements of the base panel  20  and the cover panel  30 . Instead, the assembly  110  comprises a roof edge panel  40 . As shown, the assembly  110  is similarly attached to a rain gutter  80 , the rain gutter  80  being a longitudinally-extending structure that is attached to the roof edge  64  of a building  60 . Again, the assembly  110  of the present invention could, however, be used at a roof edge  64  that does not have a rain gutter  80  attached to it. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the building  60  comprises the vertical building element  62 , the roof edge  64  which presents at an angle relative to the horizontal, the roof deck  66  and the shingles  68 . The rain gutter  80  comprises a back wall  82 , a floor  84  and a front wall  86 , the front wall terminating at a lip  88 . The rain gutter  80  is further supported by a hanger (not shown) and a fastener (also not shown) of conventional manufacture. 
     As with the first preferred embodiment, it should be noted that the inclusion of the front panel  50  element as illustrated in  FIG. 2  comprises an alternative embodiment of the second preferred embodiment of the assembly  110 . 
     Referring again to the integrally-formed roof edge panel  40 ,  FIG. 2  shows that the roof edge panel  40  comprises a substantially flat central portion  42  having an upper edge portion  44  and a lower edge portion  46 . The lower edge  46  further comprises a bent portion  48 , the bent portion  48  being bent in a downwardly and then upwardly bent configuration to form a cavity  49  within it. A self-regulating heat cable  2  as previously described is contained within this cavity  49 . With the rain gutter  80  secured to the vertical building element  62 , the roof edge panel  40  of the assembly  110  is secured to the roof deck  66 , beneath the shingles  68 , such that the cavity  49  of the lower edge portion  46  of the roof edge panel  40  extends away from the roof deck  66 . In this configuration, and with the heat cable  2  being actuated, ice buildup is prevented along the roof edge  64 . With a heat cable  2  secured to the floor  84  of the rain gutter  80 , water is also not allowed to re-freeze within the rain gutter  80 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the assembly  110  that is shown, the assembly  110  is provided with a gutter screen  90 , which is also a longitudinally-extending structure that runs along the roof edge  64  atop the rain gutter  80 . The gutter screen  90  has a flat central portion  92 , an upwardly extending roof edge portion  94  and a downwardly extending gutter edge portion  96 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the gutter edge portion  96  can be secured to the lip  88  of the gutter  80  with the front panel  50  disposed on top of it. This configuration effectively captures the heat cable  2  between those structures, thereby protecting the cable  2  and preventing ice buildup along the gutter screen  90  at the outer gutter lip  88 . 
     In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been provided a new, useful and non-obvious system and assembly that provides the functionality of eliminating or preventing ice dams at a roof edge and that is also relatively simple in its construction and installation.