Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a leaf guard system of interlocking corrugated leaf guards, wherein the corrugated section of the leaf guard provides an air space between a top surface of the leaf guard and any leaves that may come to rest on it. The space created by the corrugated structure helps dry the leaves quickly thus allowing the leaves to blow off the guard quickly, thereby reducing the adhesion of a wet leaves to a flat surface. The leaf guards include tapered drain openings within the corrugated section of the leaf guard that decrease the possibility of water running over the leaf guard and thus not into the gutter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application incorporates by reference and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/885,656 filed on Oct. 2, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present subject matter relates generally to a corrugated lay-in plastic leaf guard. More specifically, the present invention relates to a corrugated lay-in plastic leaf guard with improved water flow that includes a tongue and groove end design that keeps the ends in alignment and has a continuous drip edge along the front. 
         [0003]    Gutter covers are used to prevent debris such as leaves and twigs from entering and blocking the water flow of a gutter. The covers typically extend from the roofline of a building to the outside rim or edge of the gutter. The covers typically include holes, slits, or troughs to allow water to flow through the cover into the gutter channel. By preventing the accumulation of debris in gutters, the gutter covers allow homeowners and maintenance workers to avoid the problems associated with blocked or clogged gutters without having to manually, periodically cleaning the gutters. 
         [0004]    However, conventional gutter covers have several disadvantages. For example, conventional solutions are simple designs that do not incorporate any features that improve water flow, reduce leaf adhesion or reduce complications of installation. For example, conventional gutter covers are cumbersome, difficult, and even dangerous to install, and may require professional installment. 
         [0005]    Further, many conventional gutter covers that include a single, planar structure extending from a roofline to the gutter outer rim provide an ideal environment for bees and other insects to nest. In addition, the planar structures of conventional gutter covers have a tendency to keep leaves and debris wet and adhered to the top surface of the gutter cover. As a result, the gutter covers become covered with debris that blocks the openings in the cover to allow rainwater to move through. Therefore, the adhered debris must be removed manually, entirely negating the purpose of a gutter cover to prevent owners from having to clean their gutters. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a lay-in leaf guard that improves water flow, reduces leaf adhesion and is simple to install, as described herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    To meet the needs described above and others, the present disclosure provides a complete, corrugated, lay-in, plastic, leaf guard that is simple to install and efficient. 
         [0008]    The corrugated, lay-in, plastic, leaf guard allows an air space to be maintained between the guard and any leaves that may come to rest on it. The space created by the corrugated structure helps the leaves to dry quickly, thus allowing the leaves to blow off the guard quickly, thereby reducing the adhesion of wet leaves to the leaf guard (which is a significant issue for leaf guards that are a generally flat surface). The lay-in design of the leaf guard does not require the shingles on a roof to be pulled up for installation, thereby eliminating the possibility of damaging the shingles during the leaf guard&#39;s installation. Shingle damage is one potential cause for the formation of ice dams along the roofline. 
         [0009]    In addition, the leaf guard includes tapered drain openings within the corrugated section of the leaf guard that help to decrease the possibility of water running over the leaf guard and not into the gutter. As described further herein, some of the holes may have an elongated shape and many or all of the holes may include a tapered cross section. Each of these hole designs help to improve water flow through the leaf guard by increasing the time in which gravity can act on the water and decreasing the water surface adhesion with the sides of the holes as the water funnels through the holes. 
         [0010]    The leaf guard is also designed with a continuous drip edge at the front edge to allow any water that may overflow the guard to drip off and help to prevent dirt from “tiger striping” the front of the gutter below. This leading edge also includes slots for quick installation of fasteners. The end of the guard also has a tongue (alignment tab) and groove (receiver slot) design that keeps the ends aligned and supported should the end joint be offset from the gutter supports. Also with this tongue and groove is a fastener opening for a screw to be installed to keep the sections of guards from separating. Small diverter ridges are located on the groove end of the guard to direct any water flowing over this area back to the holes. 
         [0011]    To meet the needs described above and others, the present disclosure provides a complete leaf guard designed to reduce the amount of debris from entering the gutters and maximize the amount of water to flow through them. The lay-in design helps to eliminate damage to the roof shingles and decrease the installation time. The hole pattern, shape, and cross section help to maximize the water flow through the guard. The end design keeps the individual sections of guard from separating, holds them in alignment with each other, and minimizes any sagging between gutter supports. The front edge has been designed to reduce the possibility of tiger striping to occur on the front of the gutter. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the leaf guard system disclosed herein is configured to attach to a gutter connected to a foundation structure, wherein the leaf guard system includes at least one leaf guard. The leaf guard includes a first guard end including a top end, a linear body, and a bottom end, wherein the linear body connects the top end and the bottom end, wherein the top end is positioned generally vertically above the bottom end, wherein the bottom end is configured to attach to the foundation structure. The leaf guard also includes a second guard end including a second guard tab configured to attach to a gutter edge, and a corrugated section connecting the top end of the first guard end to the second guard end. The corrugated section includes a plurality of panels, wherein at least a portion of the panels include drain openings to permit water to pass through into the gutter. 
         [0013]    In an example, the second guard end includes a drip edge extending from the corrugated section, wherein the second guard tab extends from the corrugated section, wherein the drip edge extends above and beyond the second guard tab. 
         [0014]    In another example, the plurality of panels are planar, wherein the plurality of panels form a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys. 
         [0015]    The drain openings may be cylindrically tapered. In an example, a cross section of the drain opening is oblong. In addition, the drain openings may be included on alternating panels of the plurality of panels. 
         [0016]    The leaf guard may include a first side end and a second side end, wherein each of the plurality of panels extend from the first side end to the second side end. The first side end includes an alignment tab and the second side end includes a receiver slot configured to receive the alignment tab of a second leaf guard. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the leaf guard may include a first guard end including a top end that, in use, is positioned at a height above a bottom end, a second guard end that, in use, is positioned below the height of the top end, and a segmented section connecting the top end of the first guard end to the second guard end. The segmented section may include a series of adjacently positioned panels, wherein at least two of the adjacently positioned panels include drain openings and are oriented at and angle with respect to each other to form a peak or valley. 
         [0018]    An objective of the invention is to provide a solution to the complicated and cumbersome installation of current leaf guard products. Another objective is to maximize the quantity of water to flow through the guard. Yet another objective is to provide a simple solution to bridging the gutter supports. 
         [0019]    An advantage of the invention is to reduce the adhesion of wet leaves to the guard surface. 
         [0020]    Another advantage of the invention is that it reduces or eliminates the possibility of tiger striping to occur on the front of the gutter below. 
         [0021]    Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of an example of a leaf guard installed in a standard eave and gutter assembly. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of an example of a leaf guard system disclosed herein. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2B  is a top view of an example of a leaf guard as disclosed herein. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the leaf guard indicated in  FIG. 2B . 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the leaf guard indicated in  FIG. 2B . 
           [0028]      FIGS. 5A-5B  are cross sectional views of the leaf guard indicated in  FIG. 2B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The present disclosure provides a leaf guard system  10  comprising a leaf guard  11  configured to attach to a gutter  15  connected to a foundation structure  48 , such as a building, a house, or any structural entity. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a first guard end  12  of the system  10  connects to a building and a second guard end  14  connects to an outer gutter edge  26  of a gutter  15 . A corrugated section  16  connects the first guard end  12  to the second guard end  14 , wherein the corrugated section covers at least a portion of the opening of the gutter  15 . 
         [0030]    The first guard end  12  may connect to a building or an inner edge of a gutter  15  by any suitable means including, but not limited to, a pressure fit, or fasteners including nails, screws, latches, bolts, screws, or hooks, among others. The first guard end  12  may include a top end  18  and a bottom end  22 , wherein the top end  18  is connected to the bottom end  22  by a linear body  20 . The top end  18  is positioned generally vertically above the bottom end  22 . The bottom end  22  may include a bottom end tab  23  that is configured to attach to an inner gutter edge  25 , or to the foundation structure  48 . The bottom end tab  23  may connected to the foundation structure  48  or the inner gutter edge  25  by any suitable means including a pressure fit or by a fastener, such as nails, screws, latches, bolts, screws, or hooks, among others. 
         [0031]    The second guard end  14  includes a second guard tab  24  configured to attach to an outer gutter edge  26 . The second guard tab  24  may attach to the outer gutter edge  26  by an suitable mechanism including, but not limited to, a pressure fit or by a fastener, such as nails, screws, latches, bolts, screws, or hooks, among others. As shown, the second guard end  14  may include a fastener opening  38  through which a fastener may be positioned. The second guard end  14  may also include a drip edge  32  that is positioned above the second guard tab  24 , such that the drip edge  32  extends beyond the second guard tab  24  in order to direct water running off the corrugated section  16  to the ground, avoiding the second guard end  14 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the second guard tab  24  and the bottom end  22 , including the bottom end tab  23 , are in the same horizontal plane. As explained above, the top end  18  of the first guard end  12  is positioned above the bottom end  22  of the first guard end  12 . As such, the corrugated section  16  slopes from the top end  18  to the second guard end  14  at a declined angle. Of course, it is contemplated the corrugated section may be positioned within the same plane as the bottom end  22  and the second guard tab  24 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the system  10  including a first leaf guard  11  and a second leaf guard  13 .  FIG. 2B  is a top view of an example of the first leaf guard  11 .  FIGS. 3-4  are two different cross sectional views of the width of the leaf guard  11 . As shown, the corrugated section  16  includes a plurality of panels  28  that are individually planar to form a corrugated top surface  62 , wherein all of the plurality of panels  28  are not within the same plane. In other words, the panels  28  are positioned to create a corrugated top surface  62  including a plurality of peaks  34  and valleys  36 . Because the corrugated section  16  includes a plurality of peaks  34  and valleys  36 , leaves and debris do not remain adhered to a surface of the leaf guard. Instead, the corrugated section  16  creates pockets of space that enable wet leaves and debris to dry and fall or slide off the leaf guard  11 . In another example, the corrugated section  16  may form an undulating sinusoidal or a zig-zag cross section. 
         [0034]    The panels  28  may include drain openings  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , the drain openings  30  are on alternating panels  28 . Of course, the drain openings  30  may be on consecutive panels  28 . The drain openings  30  may be any suitable shape and arranged in any suitable pattern. For example, the drain openings  30  may be cylindrical. In an example, the drain openings  30  are tapered. For example, an upper portion of the drain opening  30  may be cylindrical and a lower portion may be tapered. 
         [0035]    In another example, the drain openings  30  may be conical. For example, the opening on a top surface  50  of the panel  28  is larger than the opening on a bottom surface  52  of the panel  28 . Specifically, the corrugated section may include a corrugated top surface  50  and a corrugated bottom surface  51 . In such case, each of the drain openings  30  may include a top opening  70  on the corrugated top surface  50  and a bottom opening  72  on the corrugated bottom surface  51 , wherein the top opening  70  has a greater surface area than the bottom opening  72 . 
         [0036]    In addition, the pattern of the drain openings  30  within the panel  28  maybe positioned in any geometrical pattern. The drain openings  30  may be aligned in a linear manner, staggered, or in any suitable shape, including, but not limited to square, rectangular, circular, oblong, etc. For example, a cross section of the drain opening  30  may be square, rectangular, circular, oblong, triangular, among other shapes. In an example, the panels  28  include drain openings  30  having a cross sectional shape of alternating circular and oblong drain openings  30 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , the drain openings  30  are arranged in a pattern of alternating circular and oblong shapes. 
         [0037]    The amount of drain openings  30  per panel  28  may be consistent among the plurality of panels  28 , or the amount of drain openings  30  per panel may vary. In an example, the amount of drain openings  30  per panel may be between, and including, 1 and 10 openings, 1 to 8, 2 to 6, 3 to 5, among others. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are cross sections along the length of the leaf guard  11 , wherein the specific cross sections are indicated in  FIG. 2B . As shown in  FIG. 5A , a first side end  54  of the leaf guard  11  may include an alignment tab  40  that may be used to connect a first leaf guard  11  to a second leaf guard  13 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the second side end  56  may also include a receiver slot  44  to receive an alignment tab  40  of a second leaf guard  13 . In other words, the receiver slot  44  and the alignment tab  40  are configured to enable a plurality of leaf guards  11  to interlock. In other words, the leaf guard system  10  may include one or more leaf guards  11 . 
         [0039]    The alignment tab  40  of a first leaf guard  11  may engage with the receiver slot  44  of the second leaf guard  13  in any suitable manner. For example, the alignment tab  40  of a first leaf guard  11  may engage with the receiver slot  44  of the second leaf guard  13  by a pressure fit, by snapping into the receiver slot  44 , or by a fastener. The fastener may be any suitable fastener including, but not limited to, a nail, screw, latch, bolt, clasp, etc. 
         [0040]    For example, the receiver slot  44  may include a top portion  58  and a bottom portion  60 , wherein the space between the top portion  58  and bottom portion  60  is the receiver slot  44 . The top portion  58  may include a fastener opening  46  positioned through a top portion  58  of the receiver slot  44 . As a result, when an alignment tab  40  of a first leaf guard  11  is inserted into a receiver slot  44  of the second leaf guard  13 , a fastener may be positioned in the fastener opening  46  of the top portion  58  to connect the first leaf guard  11  to the second leaf guard  13 . 
         [0041]    A second side end  56  may include at least one diverter ridge  42  on a top surface of the receiver slot  44 , as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2B  and  5 B. The diverter ridge  42  may be an apex or any projection from the top surface of the top portion  58  of the receiver slot  44 . The diverter ridge  42  is typically a linear projection or ridge from the top surface of the top portion  58  that directs or diverts water, such as rain fall, into the drain openings  30  and/or otherwise off of the leaf guard  11 . 
         [0042]    It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. For example, various embodiments of the system may be provided based on various combinations of the features and functions from the subject matter provided herein.