Abstract:
A roof gutter for the purpose of keeping small debris out of the gutter and allowing rainwater to pass into the gutter. The covering is comprised of a water permeable, weather resistant mesh having apertures of a pre-determined size for passing water, the mesh sized to substantially cover a rain gutter; corrugations formed in the mesh, providing a planar stiffness to the mesh causing the mesh to be self-supporting over a gutter; a debris collection first trough disposed along a longitudinal axis of the mesh, formed by making at least two bends in the mesh, the first trough located between a longitudinal midline of the mesh and a front gutter end of the mesh, wherein the gutter debris preclusion device, when attached directly or indirectly to a gutter does not require a separate support mechanism to keep the mesh substantially planar over the gutter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/939,005, filed Feb. 12, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to barriers for rain gutters and similar structures for keeping leaves and other debris out of the rain gutters. More particularly, this invention relates to rain gutter debris preclusion barriers, which utilize a conformed screen to allow water to pass into the gutter, but preclude debris from passing through the screen and into the gutter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Prior art gutter debris preclusion devices are known to have difficulty in addressing excessive flow of rainwater coming off the roof of a house into the gutter. With excessive water flow, debris often accumulates on the device, clogging or impeding the effectiveness of the devise. Many complicated designs have been contemplated by others in the industry, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Of particular difficulty, is the need to support the “guard” over the gutter, wherein complicated and diverse support and bridging systems have been devised. These support systems add to the complexity, weight, and most importantly the cost of these guards. The industry was in need of a new system to support the guard over the gutter with easy installation, little or no increased weight, and without increasing the cost of the guard. 
         [0004]    The present invention overcomes the deficiencies in the art by creating various systems and devices of screened gutter debris preclusion. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview, and is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0006]    Various embodiments describe a covering that goes over a roof gutter for the purpose of keeping leaves, pine needles and small debris out of the gutter and for allowing rainwater to pass through a permeable material and into the gutter. 
         [0007]    For example, one aspect of the disclosed embodiments, a gutter debris preclusion device for securing to a top portion of a roof gutter that is attached to a building for keeping leaves and other debris out of the roof gutter is provided, comprising: a water permeable, weather resistant mesh having apertures of a pre-determined size for passing water, the mesh sized to substantially cover a rain gutter; corrugations formed in the mesh, providing a planar stiffness to the mesh causing the mesh to be self-supporting over a gutter; a debris collection first trough disposed along a longitudinal axis of the mesh, formed by making at least two bends in the mesh, the first trough located between a longitudinal midline of the mesh and a front gutter end of the mesh, wherein the gutter debris preclusion device, when attached directly or indirectly to a gutter does not require a separate support mechanism to keep the mesh substantially planar over the gutter. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the disclosed embodiments, the device described above is provided, wherein the mesh is formed from stainless steel wires, plastic, expanded metal, perforated metal, slotted metal or louvered metal; and/or wherein the corrugations are arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal midline of the mesh; and/or wherein the corrugations in the mesh are formed via at least one of stamping, pressing, and weaving; and/or further comprising: a front strip connector adapted to connect the front gutter end of the mesh to a front of a gutter; a rear strip connector adapted to connect a rear gutter end of the mesh to either a rear of the gutter or a roof element neighboring the gutter; and/or wherein the mesh is formed from stainless steel wires having a diameter between 0.009″-0.01″ and a wire count of 32-60 per inch, and the trough is displaced up to 1.5″ from the front strip connector; and/or wherein the mesh is formed from stainless steel wires having a diameter between 0.005″-0.069″ and a wire count of 40-50 per inch, and the trough is displaced up to 0.25″ from the front strip connector; and/or wherein the mesh is formed from stainless steel wires having a diameter between 0.011″-0.015″ and a wire count of 20-31 per inch, or having a diameter between 0.016″-0.023″ and a wire count of 10-19, and the trough is placed nearer to the longitudinal midline of the mesh than the front strip connector; and/or wherein the trough is V-shaped, U-shaped, laterally oriented L-shaped, or laterally oriented relaxed L-shaped; and/or further comprising a plurality of troughs; and/or wherein the trough is proximal an interior edge of a front of a gutter; and/or wherein a lowest-most point of the trough is below an interior edge of a front of a gutter; and/or wherein the front gutter end of the mesh is folded and disposed over a front lip section of a gutter, adapted to be secured to the gutter via a screw threaded through the mesh&#39;s fold and the front lip section; and/or wherein the laterally oriented L-shaped and laterally oriented relaxed L-shaped trough is adapted to collect debris and provide drainage for snowmelt; and/or further comprising a gutter having a width of approximately between 5-10 inches, covered by the device; and/or the trough is at least one of an inverted V, U, laterally oriented L, and laterally oriented relaxed L shape; and/or wherein the corrugations span from a rear gutter end of the mesh to a first bend in the trough; and/or wherein the corrugations span from a rear gutter end of the mesh to a second bend in the trough; and/or wherein the corrugations span from a rear gutter end of the mesh to a third bend in the trough; and/or wherein the trough is corrugation free. 
         [0009]    In yet another aspect of the disclosed embodiments, a gutter debris preclusion device is provided for a roof gutter having a gutter lip for keeping leaves and other debris out of the roof gutter while allowing water to pass thereinto, comprising: a sheet of fine mesh; the sheet of fine mesh having an upper edge adapted to be located above a lower edge and with the sheet of fine mesh overlying the roof gutter; the sheet of fine mesh including a plurality of corrugations extending at least part of the way from said upper edge to said lower edge; a first trough disposed in the sheet of fine mesh along a longitudinal axis of the sheet of fine mesh; and, wherein said lower edge being adjacent the gutter lip when the system is in use, wherein the water is allowed to pass through the sheet of fine mesh into the roof gutter, and wherein at least one of the corrugations extends from at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge. The device in some exemplary embodiments has at least one of the plurality of corrugations extending through the first trough. The device in other embodiments, has at least one of the plurality of corrugations extending partially through the first trough. Further a device is provided wherein at least one of the plurality of corrugations extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheet of fine mesh. Yet further, a device is provided further comprising a second trough disposed in the sheet of fine mesh along a longitudinal axis of the sheet of fine mesh. And yet still further is a device wherein the first trough is disposed in the sheet of fine mesh to be disposed within the gutter when the device is in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a three-piece gutter cover. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 1B-C  are illustrations of various meshes with corrugations that are formed with different diameter wires. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a semi-side cut-away illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a side illustration of another mesh configuration with multiple troughs. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional close up illustration of an exemplary V-shaped trough. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exemplary mesh with trough formed with a plurality of upward protruding barriers. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A-B  are illustrations of a mesh embodiment with a U-shaped trough. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a side-view illustration of a mesh embodiment with a laterally oriented trough. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6B  is a close-up illustration of a laterally oriented L-shaped trough. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 6A  in a snowmelt situation. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 8A-B  are illustrations of another embodiment wherein the trough has a laterally oriented relaxed L-shape. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of the embodiments of  FIGS. 8A-B  in a snowmelt situation. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 10A-B  are illustrations of another gutter cover embodiment not requiring the front and rear strip connectors. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is an illustration of another gutter cover embodiment not requiring the front and rear strip connectors. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1A  is a side perspective view  100  of an embodiment of a three piece gutter cover showing a rear strip connector  115  that goes to the roof (not shown), a front strip connector  125  that fastens to the front lip of a gutter (not shown) and a corrugated mesh  135  that spans between the rear strip connector  115  and the front strip connector  125 , via trough  145 . The mesh  135  in this embodiment is formed of a stainless steel material, but other weather resilient materials may be used. The mesh  135  is generally rectangular in shape having a longitudinal axis parallel to the gutter, so as to fit over the gutter. Most residential gutters being approximately 5 inches in width, and commercial gutters being up to 10 inches in width, the mesh  135  will be sized in most embodiments to be wide enough to cover the gutter, less the widths of the rear and front strip connectors  115 ,  125 , if they are used. 
         [0025]    Illustrated in  FIG. 1A  are corrugations  112  in the mesh  135 , which can be of varying shapes, orientations, etc., but are of a configuration that provides sufficient rigidity in the mesh  135 , so that it can free-formingly span the gutter without collapsing in the gutter. These corrugations  112  do not have to be perpendicular to rear strip connector  115 . The corrugations do not have to be perpendicular to the front strip connector  125  in other exemplary embodiments. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1B-C  are illustrations of various meshes  135  with corrugations  112  that are formed with different diameter wires. For example,  FIG. 1B  shows a  30  wires per linear inch corrugation  112 .  FIG. 1C  shows a  50  wires per linear inch corrugation  112 . Of course, other wires per linear inch density (or metric equivalent) can be used, as well as perforations or other mechanisms for forming passageways in a material.  FIGS. 1B-C  are demonstrative of exemplary commercial embodiments and are understood not to be limiting. 
         [0027]    In the various embodiments described herein, the mesh&#39;s corrugations  112  can be patterned to be rectangular, square, of various shapes, etc., and oriented substantial orthogonal (perpendicular) to the orientation of the lip of the gutter. The perpendicular orientation provides for linear or planar stiffness along the roof-to-gutter lip line, resulting in a self-supporting mesh. The mesh&#39;s corrugations can be formed from stamping the mesh, pressing the mesh, or weaving the mesh in a corrugation form, and so forth. 
         [0028]    The connectors  115  and  125  are similar to the lower and upper strips described in published application US 20110056145, published on Mar. 10, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0029]    The corrugations  112  formed in the mesh  135  are formed similar to the corrugations formed in the mesh in published application US 20110056145, published on Mar. 10, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0030]    The mesh  135  provides the function of allowing water to pass into the gutter wile precluding debris from passing into the gutter. This corrugated mesh  135  is preferably formed as a woven screen of stainless steel wire or other wire/thread of suitable material. Important characteristics of the material forming the mesh include sufficiently high strength and inelasticity to function structurally, as well as resistance to corrosion in the gutter environment. Furthermore, it is advantageous that material forming the corrugated mesh  135  can be readily bent sufficient to cause the material to be readily corrugated into one of a variety of different cross-sections and hold that configuration after being so bent. Most preferably, the wire forming the corrugated mesh  135  extends in a pattern with some threads extending parallel with an upper edge (extending substantially parallel to the roof when in use) of the overall corrugated mesh  135  and some of the wire/thread extending perpendicular to the upper edge. In such a configuration, the corrugation can occur to create the crests and valleys with only the threads, which run parallel with the upper edge needing to be bent. In such a configuration the corrugating of the fine mesh material forming the corrugated mesh  135  can more readily occur and this material forming the corrugated mesh can more readily maintain this corrugated configuration during installation and use. 
         [0031]    The corrugations  112  in the corrugated mesh  135  preferably have an amplitude between crests and valleys between one-fourth and one-tenth of the length of the corrugated mesh  135  between the upper edge and a lower edge extending substantially parallel to the gutter lip when in use) of the mesh  135  and similar to a width of the opening in the gutter. Preferably, the corrugations  112  are in a repeating pattern. This pattern is most preferably a sinusoidal pattern with a curving crest and curving valley. Other configurations can also be provided for the corrugated mesh  135 . 
         [0032]    It should be apparent that the mesh may be of any material that is weather resistant, has apertures for drainage, and is of sufficient stiffness to bridge the gutter without the need for an auxiliary support. Therefore, the gutter cover can be constructed of other materials such as plastic, expanded metal, perforated metal, slotted metal or louvered metal slits, and so forth. Furthermore, the mesh, with its associated corrugations does not need to completely span the gutter. That is, the mesh&#39;s corrugations can be limited to certain portions, according to design preference, and may not need span the entirety of the gutter. For example, the trough nay be corrugation free. It should also be apparent that the front strip connector and the rear strip connector can be formed from metal, plastic, or any other suitable material. 
         [0033]    It is understood that in various other embodiments, the trough  135  (shown in the ions embodiments as adjacent to the front strip connector and parallel to the longitudinal axis), can be angled to the front strip connector as well as be oriented at an angle to the mesh&#39;s corrugations. Therefore, it is understood that mesh corrugation shapes can be modified, as well as the trough&#39;s angles without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, the trough can have repeating angles, such as a zigzag, or turns, or smooth gradual turns and so forth, wherein the corrugations may conform to the trough angles. 
         [0034]    In addition to assisting in stiffening the mesh, the corrugations may result in an non-smooth or uneven mesh surface, which naturally allows collected debris to dry quicker (due to separation between the debris and the mesh surface) and blow off more easily when there is ambient wind. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is a semi-side cut-away illustration  200  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . As illustrated, when the mesh  235  connects to the back of the roof  210  and the gutter  220 , via strip connectors  215  and  225 , a natural downward slope in mesh  235  is created toward the front lip  230  of gutter  220 . The mesh  235  includes a plurality of corrugations  212 . Accordingly, when rainwater comes down the roof  210  and on top of mesh  235 , the rainwater naturally passes through the apertures in mesh  235  and a large portion thereof clings to the underside of mesh  235  without falling off. The lightweight and adhesive properties of rainwater allow it to cling to the underside of mesh  235 , wherein the slope of the mesh  235  causes rainwater to travel towards trough  245 . The bottom  265  of trough  245  is designed to be lower than the front lip  230  of gutter  220 , thereby creating a barrier that deflects the underside rainwater down into the gutter  220 . The arrangement of this “creased” structure prevents rainwater from running off the front of the gutter  220 . 
         [0036]    In various embodiments, it has been discovered that the cross sectional “crease” forming trough  245  also can operate to increase the structural integrity of the surface area of the mesh  235  over the gutter  220 . It is understood for a large spanning mesh  235 , the placement of trough  245  in the middle of mesh  235  may lessen its ability to independently support mesh  235 . For example, if the mesh  235  is composed of a steel mesh having a wire diameter that is less than 0.01″ thick, with a weave count of more than 32 wires per linear inch (See  FIGS. 1B-C , for example), then placement of the trough  245  in the middle of mesh  235  will be insufficient to adequately stiffen the gutter spanning mesh  235  to be self-supporting over gutter  220 . 
         [0037]    If the wire diameter decreases, then the wire count per inch increases—this will make the mesh  235  less stiff and unable to sustain itself over a gutter  220  when a cross sectional crease (e.g., trough  245  or similar trough) is formed. For wire diameters that are between 0.009″ and 0.01″ (thicker wire applied to the lessor wire count per inch), with wire counts of 32 to 60 per inch, the trough  245  can be displaced from the front strip connector  21  by up to 1.5.″ 
         [0038]    For wire diameters that are between 0.007″ and 0.089,″ with re counts of 36 to 56 per inch, the trough  245  can be placed up to 0.75″ from the front strip connector  225 . For wire diameters that are between 0.005″ and 0.069,″ with wire counts of 40 to 50 per inch, the trough  245  can be placed up to 0.25″ from the front strip connector  225 . 
         [0039]    However, the trough  245  could be formed on the mesh  235  between the rear and front strip connectors ( 215  and  225 ) on a standard 5 inch gutter top opening, if the wire diameter is between 0.011″ and 0.015″ and the wire count is between 20 and 31 per inch. If a lower wire count per inch of between 10 and 19 is needed, then the wire diameter would need to be between 0.016″ and 0.02.″ However, with the wider mesh hole openings, as in the latter example, pine needles and small leafy debris may penetrate into the mesh  235  and into the gutter  220 , potentially clogging the gutter  220  to cause rainwater to spill out of the gutter  220 . Accordingly, while a lower wire count per inch for mesh  235 , such as 20 wires per inch or less, can be used, it will be less effective in debris preclusion. 
         [0040]    Having the mesh-clinging rainwater drop in to the middle of the gutter  220  rather than near the front lip  230  of the gutter  220  reduces the possibility that rainwater will run out of the gutter  220 . However, because a higher wire count per inch functions to keep out leaves, pine needles and roof sand grit, etc. from entering the gutter  220 , the mesh  235  will be stiffer and accordingly trough  245  can be close to or adjacent to the front strip connector  225 . 
         [0041]    The trough  245  can be, for example, V-shaped to provide stability, strength and rigidity for supporting the back bend  246  of the trough  245 , as shown in  FIG. 2  where the trough  245  is adjacent to the front step connector  225 . The front strip connector  225  can act as additional support for the trough  245  when adjacent to each other. It is important for the bend  246  along the length of the mesh  235  (nearly adjacent to the front strip connector  225 ) to be sufficiently rigid so as to sustain the span of the mesh  235  to rear strip connector  215 . Another reason for the needed strength and support along bend  246  is if the mesh  235  ever becomes weighted down with leaves, pine needles, roof sand grit or snow and ice. The added strength prevents or reduces the possibility of the mesh  235  collapsing into the gutter  220 . 
         [0042]    The corrugations  212  on the mesh  235  of this embodiment  200 , include at least one corrugation  213  that extends from an upper edge of the mesh  235  (near connector  215 ) into a portion of the trough  245 . The corrugation  213  does not extend all the way through the through  245  to the lower edge of the mesh  235  (near connector  225 ). The corrugations  212  further include at least one corrugation  214  that extends from the lower edge of the mesh  235  through the trough  245 . The corrugation  214  in this embodiment does not extend all the across the surface of the mesh  235  to the upper edge. In other exemplary embodiments, the corrugations do not extend into the trough. 
         [0043]    As shown in the cross-sectional illustration of  FIG. 3A , the trough  345  can be composed of multiple troughs, the additional trough  375  appearing along the lower side of the mesh  335 . The rationale for additional troughs is to provide more barriers, which act to divert higher flows of rainwater into the gutter  320 . It is understood that higher flows of rainfall could potentially pass through a single barrier, which can arise from severe weather storms or from larger surface areas of a house roof where rainwater has accumulated in a roof valley and channeled to the inside corner of a covered gutter. It is understood that the mesh  335  that is running adjacent to the front strip connector  325  can be formed into a variety of different shapes. It is further understood that the mesh  335  includes corrugations, not shown, that extend at least partially through the trough  375 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional, close up illustration of an exemplary trough  375 , with V-shape formed from three bends  381 ,  383 , and  385 ; and is illustrative of how rainwater typically travels along the mesh  335  into the trough  375 . Rainwater generally will travel under the mesh  335  and when encountering the barrier forming side/surface H of the V-shaped trough  375 , travels down and eventually drops off from the end. E of bend  383 , which forms the low point of trough  375 , in some instances, rainwater will flow on the top of mesh  335  and flowing over bend  385  encounter side/surface G, which diverts the water into the bottom of trough  375 . The entering water will drain through the apertures in surfaces H and G, into the gutter (not shown). 
         [0045]    Understanding that additional and/or varied shaped troughs can also be formed,  FIG. 4  is an illustration  400  of mesh  435  with trough  445  formed with a plurality of upward protruding barriers  475  and  485 . In some embodiments, combinations of the troughs shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3A  may be utilized, as well as other shaped troughs. Accordingly, trough  445  can be an inverted V, U, laterally oriented L, or laterally oriented relaxed L shape, for example. It is further understood that the mesh  435  includes corrugations, not shown, that extend at least partially through the trough  445 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 5A-B  are illustrations of n embodiment of a mesh  535  with a U-shaped trough  545 , described here as having four bends  581 ,  583 ,  584  and  585 . The principal rainwater barrier is formed by surface H, which forces under-mesh traveling water towards bends  583  and  584 , which forms the lowest points of trough  545 . The ensuing water can penetrate through surface H into drain through to neighboring surface G, or be diverted by surface H down towards bends  583  and  584 , and fall into the gutter  520 . It is further understood that the mesh  535  includes corrugations, not shown, that extend at least partially through the trough  545 . 
         [0047]    It should be apparent that the V-shaped troughs in  FIGS. 2-4  and the U-shaped trough(s) in  FIGS. 5A-B  only require a minimum of three bends in the mesh for the V-shape and four bends for the U-shape to form their shapes. The wall barrier formed by surface H in  FIG. 5B  has a unique feature in that if it is formed anywhere in the open surface area of mesh  535 , even along the longitudinal midline axis of the gutter (e.g., further away from the front strip connector  525 ), the mesh  535  will retain a significant amount of its rigidity. Therefore, mesh  535  will be less likely to collapse in the gutter  520  from the weight of leaves, pine needles, roof sand grit or snow and ice. This “supportability” is due to the fact that when downward pressure is applied to either sides of mesh  535 , from debris, etc., bends  581  and  585  will push against each other to stiffen against further downward movement in mesh  535 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 6A  is a side-view illustration of a mesh  635  embodiment with a laterally oriented L-shaped trough  645 . The mesh  635  covers gutter  620  and is attached to the gutter&#39;s front and rear ends via rear strip connector  615  and front strip connector  625 . The void formed by the trough  645  operates to provide a debris collection area  655 . It is further understood that the mesh  635  includes corrugations  610  that extend at least partially through the trough  645 . It is further understood that the mesh  635  includes corrugations, not shown, that extend at least partially through the trough  645 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 6B  is a close-up illustration of laterally oriented L-shaped trough  645 , showing only two bends  681  and  683  in mesh  635 , to form the trough  645 . Two bends  681  and  683  create a firmer support structure of the surface area of the mesh  635  than with three displaced beads, the exception perhaps being the embodiment of  FIGS. 5A-B , where the three bends are in close proximity to each other. Under-mesh  645  traveling rainwater will travel to bend  683 , which forms the lowest point of mesh  645 , and drop into the gutter  620 . Surface G operates as a dam against onrushing water and a collection area for debris, allowing accumulating water to drain through the respective apertures in the mesh  645 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 6A  in a snowmelt situation. Snow  705  accumulating on the roof shingles/surface  710  will melt to form snowmelt  707  over mesh  735  traveling towards the trough  745 , which is connected to front strip connector  725 . Water melting from snowmelt  707  penetrates the mesh  735  and travels under the mesh  735  to trough  745 . The lowest point of the trough  745  (bend  683  in  FIG. 6B ) acts as the drip point, causing the water to drop  709  into the gutter  720 . It is further understood that the mesh  735  includes corrugations  710  that extend at least partially through the trough  745 . It is further understood that the mesh  735  includes corrugations, not shown, that extend at least partially through the trough  745 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 8A-B  are illustrations of another embodiment wherein the trough  845  has a laterally oriented relaxed. L-shape for accommodating debris, shown here as the debris collection area  855 .  FIG. 8A  illustrates the mesh  835  attached to the gutter/roof via strip connectors  815  and  825 . Trough  845  is disposed in the mesh  835  proximal to the front strip connector  825 , which is attached to the gutter  820 . The trough  845  is formed from two bends  881  and  883  in the mesh  845 , however, the surface G between the two bends  881  and  883  is less vertical than in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6A-B . The “less than vertical” orientation results in a “softer” as steep of a slope for the barrier or surface G to accumulated debris in the trough  845 . That is, since the surface G is sloped, the debris will likely blow off of the gutter cover more easily than in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A-B . It is further understood that the mesh  835  includes corrugations  810  that extend at least partially through the trough  845 . It is further understood that the mesh  835  includes corrugations, not shown, that extend at least partially through the trough  845 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of the embodiments of  FIGS. 8A-B  in a snowmelt situation. Snow  905  accumulating on the roof shingles/surface  910  will melt to form snowmelt  907  over mesh  935  traveling towards the trough  945 , which is connected to front strip connector  925 . Water melting from snowmelt  907  penetrates the mesh  935  and travels under the mesh  935  to trough  945 . The lowest point of the trough  945  (bend  883  in  FIG. 7B ) acts as the drip point, causing the water to drop  909  into the gutter  920 . It is further understood that the mesh  935  includes corrugations, not shown, that extend at least partially through the trough  945 . 
         [0053]    Both trough designs shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  provide a feature that significantly reduces potential snowmelt runoff over the gutter cover and unto the ground. To fully appreciate the snowmelt feature, an understanding of the snowmelt runoff problem is necessary. When a permeable mesh type gutter cover material is not exposed to rain or snow, but there is snow on top of the roof, when the snow begins to melt it can drip off the edge of the gutter cover and the gutter. This problem is mainly seen in the micro-mesh type gutter covers with hole openings less than 0.125″ square. 
         [0054]    The reason the snowmelt exits over the side of a mesh gutter cover is because the mesh is not wet since there is no rain. Moreover, it is possible the mesh is frozen, preventing penetration of the snowmelt into the mesh. In either instance, the snowmelt coming down the roof tends to not penetrate the permeable mesh material and consequently runs along the top of the mesh and then over the front of the gutter. It should be understood that snowmelt can occur in below freezing weather, wherein the roof under the snow is warmed by the home&#39;s heat, causing the snowmelt. 
         [0055]    In contrast, when it is raining (which means the temperature is above freezing), snowmelt will come off the roof and with the mesh wet from the rain, the snowmelt will drop through the mesh and into the gutter. The warming rain droplets striking any snowmelt on the mesh will also help force the snowmelt through the mesh. 
         [0056]    Because of the snowmelt issue, the downward trough designs illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 9  incorporate the barrier formed by surface G, which provides a permeable mesh wall that the melted snow can penetrate through. Typically, when snowmelt travels down the roof and onto the mesh of  FIGS. 7 and 9 , it can travel between 3 and 10 miles per hour, depending on the steepness angle of the roof. When the snowmelt hits the surface G, its momentum can force the snowmelt through the apertures of surface G and drop down into the gutter. When the debris collection area  655 ,  855  has no debris sitting in it, the functionality and purpose of the downward sides of surface G are greatly enhanced. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 10A-B  are illustrations of another gutter cover embodiment, wherein either one or more or the front and rear strip connectors is not utilized. For example, the front of mesh  1035 , having trough  1045 , can be fastened to the front lip  1027  of the gutter  1020  and the rear of the mesh  1035  can be laid on the back lip of the gutter  1020 , without the need of fastening it to any strip connector. In this scenario, the front lip  1027  of the gutter  1020  acts like a front connector support to hold up the surface area of the mesh  1035  when a screw (not shown) is fastened through the top end portion  1037  of the mesh  1035  and through the gutter&#39;s top ridge  1029 . The screw can be placed through any section of the top ridge  1029 , however, typically is fastened along the dimensional line  1040 . To further create additional support, the mesh  1035  can be folded into a flap  1039 , which provides additional strength on the mesh  1035  screwed to the gutter  1020 . It is further understood that the mesh  1035  includes corrugations, not shown, that extend at least partially through the trough  1045 . 
         [0058]    While  FIG. 10B  shows a single fold, additional folds can be implemented for greater strength and support. In this embodiment, the trough  1045  is adjacent to the front lip  1027  of the gutter  1020 . As stated earlier, in various other embodiments, the trough  1045  may be disposed at an arbitrary distance from the front of the gutter  1020 . 
         [0059]    Also, in various embodiments, the trough(s) shown may be composed of the mesh material with or without corrugations. That is, one or more of the trough surfaces H and/or G (seen in  FIG. 3A  or  5 B) may be non-corrugated. For example, the mesh “corrugations” could begin from the rear strip connector and continue to the second bend in the trough, or stop at the first bend and resume from the second bend. In other embodiments, as seen in  FIGS. 6B and 8B , because there is sufficient strength in the mesh on the surface H, due to being supported by the front strip connector, the mesh corrugations could go from the rear strip connector and stop at the second bend. It should be understood that the term corrugation can be interpreted as a structure that provides apertures for drainage, such as a perforation, slot, slit, overlaying wires with gaps, and so forth in the respective gutter cover. 
         [0060]      FIG. 11  is a semi-side cut-away illustration  1100  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . As illustrated, when the mesh  1135  connects to the back of the roof  1110  and the gutter  1120 , via strip connectors  1115  and  1125 , a natural downward slope in mesh  1135  is created toward the front lip  1130  of gutter  1120 . This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , in that it includes a trough  1145  having surfaces G and H, along with the end point E. The device  1100  also has corrugation  1113 , which extends into the trough  245  and corrugation  1114 , which does not extend all the way to the top end of the mesh near connector  1115 . A difference with the present embodiment is that the corrugations  1112  extend in a non-perpendicular direction relative to the gutter lip  1130 . Whereas in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the corrugations are substantially perpendicular to the gutter lip. It should be appreciated that in other exemplary embodiments, the corrugations extend along the mesh in a variety of manners. Still further, in other embodiments, the corrugations extend along the mesh in differing angles relative to the gutter lip or the strip connector. 
         [0061]    The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, implementations, and realizations, which can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. 
         [0062]    With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. 
         [0063]    While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims.