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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference the disclosure of U.S. Patent Application 60/670,476 filed on Apr. 11, 2005. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention generally relates to rain gutters and, more particularly, to guards for rain gutters, the guards being attachable to the rain gutters to allow water to enter the gutters while preventing or limiting the amount of solid debris collecting in the gutters.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0003]     Conventional rain gutter guards are generally attached to rain gutters using clips or other fasteners made of metal or plastic. These guards are typically attached by being positioned along the rain gutters and attached to the roof under the shingles along one longitudinal edge and clipped to the rain gutters along an opposing longitudinal edge. During the mounting of conventional rain gutter guards, the clips can be lost or broken. The attachment of the clips to both the gutters and the guards also provides a point of weakness that may, in high winds or under heavy snow or rainfall, cause one or more of the clips to break or separate from either the guard or the rain gutter, thus compromising the structural integrity of the guard/gutter assembly and its attachment to the roof. Furthermore, the use of clips adds weight to the gutter/guard assembly, which can undesirably stress the roof. Moreover, the use of clips typically raises the profile of the guard on the gutter and increases the likelihood that the guard will be seen from the ground.  
         [0004]     Based on the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a rain gutter guard that overcomes the problems and drawbacks of conventional rain gutter guards.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention resides in one aspect in a rain gutter guard having mounting tabs that are integrally cut into or otherwise formed with a body of the rain gutter guard. The body of the rain gutter guard includes a hood and a flange extending from the hood. The flange is attachable to a roof, and the hood has a forward surface from which the mounting tabs extend.  
         [0006]     In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a system for directing the flow of water into a rain gutter. The system includes the rain gutter positioned adjacent to an edge of a roof and a guard attached to the roof and to the rain gutter. The guard includes a hood positioned over an open top of the rain gutter. A flange extends from the hood and is attachable to the roof, preferably under a first course of shingles. The hood has an integral mounting tab for attaching the guard to the rain gutter.  
         [0007]     In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of directing water from a roof to a rain gutter. In the method, a guard is attached to the roof and to the rain gutter. Integral mounting tabs extending from the guard position the guard such that it stands off from the rain gutter and defines a gap through which water can flow into the rain gutter.  
         [0008]     In the present invention, the use of clips can be avoided altogether. One advantage is that by eliminating the use of clips, the weight of the guard/gutter assembly is reduced, which in turn reduces the amount of weight placed on the edge of the roof.  
         [0009]     Another advantage is that by eliminating the use of clips, the profile of the guard on the gutter is lowered, thus making the guard less noticeable from the ground (or not noticeable at all).  
         [0010]     Still another advantage of not using clips is that fewer parts are required for mounting the guard, which means that the potential for losing or breaking parts during assembly and after installation is reduced.  
         [0011]     Still another advantage is that the non-perforated surface of the preferred embodiments of the guard allows for a flow of water across the guard without the potential for holes, slots, or other perforations to become clogged with debris. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rain gutter guard of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective cutaway view of the rain gutter guard of the present invention mounted on a rain gutter.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a rain gutter guard of the present invention attached to an inner surface of a rain gutter.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a rain gutter guard of the present invention attached to an outer surface of a rain gutter.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a rain gutter guard of the present invention attached to a forward facing surface of a lip of a rain gutter.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a rain gutter guard of the present invention having a bent surface for directing a flow of water into a rain gutter.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a rain gutter guard of the present invention attached to a cross-member of a rain gutter.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a rain gutter guard of the present invention in use. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a rain gutter guard of the present invention is shown generally at  10  and is hereinafter referred to as “guard  10 .” Guard  10  is an elongated device having a lengthwise dimension indicated by L, which corresponds to the longitudinal dimension of a rain gutter, and a widthwise dimension indicated by W, which corresponds to the widthwise dimension of the rain gutter. The lengthwise dimension L is generally substantially greater than the widthwise dimension W. The guard  10  can extend for all or any portion of the length of a rain gutter (in the lengthwise dimension L), although it is preferable that the guard covers the entire length of the gutter.  
         [0021]     The guard  10  comprises a hood  12  that forms a front portion of the guard and a rear flange  14  that extends from a rear portion of the hood. As used herein, the terms “front” and “forward” are used to indicate the surface of the guard that faces outward from the building on which the gutter is mounted and the term “rear” is used to indicate the surface of the guard that faces the building or is attached to the roof of the building. Preferably the material of the guard  10  is such that the rear flange  14  can fold, flex, or be bent relative to the hood  12  to facilitate the attachment of the guard to the roof of a building. The edge of the material of the guard  10  opposite the edge at which the rear flange  14  is formed extends under and back around toward the rear of the guard  10  to define the front edge of the hood  12 .  
         [0022]     The hood  12  is defined by a unitary member having a non-perforated surface. In other words, the hood  12  is defined by a contiguous surface lacking holes, slots, or other openings that would interrupt the flow of water over the surface. The contiguity of the surface allows water to flow directly from one edge of the hood  12  to the other.  
         [0023]     Mounting tabs  16  are cut into or otherwise formed so as to be integral with the front edge of the hood  12 . The mounting tabs  16  are bent or are bendable relative to the hood  12  to facilitate the attachment of the guard  10  to a portion of the rain gutter and to enable the guard to stand off from the gutter.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the guard  10  is mounted on a rain gutter (shown at  20 ) by locating the rear flange  14  under a course of shingles  22  or tiles and connecting the hood  12  to the rain gutter. The rear flange  14  is at least partially located under the first course of shingles  22  rearward of a drip bar  24  attached to the front edge of the roof. The mounting tabs  16  are attached to the gutter  20  via any suitable fastener  26 . The fastener  26  is set through the gutter  20  and the mounting tab  16  to secure the hood  12  to the gutter. Although the guard  10  is shown as being attached to the inside surface of a front lip  28  of the gutter  20 , the present invention is not limited in this regard as the guard may be attached to the gutter at other locations, as indicated below. Suitable fasteners include, but are not limited to, self-tapping sheet metal screws, bolts, rivets, and the like.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the mounting tabs  16  may be positioned on any surface of the gutter  20  conducive to attachment of the hood  12  to the gutter. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the mounting tabs  16  may be attached to an inside surface  32  of the front lip  28  to secure the hood  12  to the gutter  20 . The forward-most edge of the hood  12  is substantially coincident with the front lip  28  or slightly overhanging. A fastener  26  is set through a substantially upward-facing surface  34  of the front lip  28  to engage at least a portion of the mounting tab  16 . When fastened, the guard  10  is pulled upward against the front lip  28 . If the fastener  26  is a self-tapping sheet metal screw, the threaded engagement thereof with the mounting tab  16  may allow the screw to be periodically tightened to pull the mounting tab against the inside surface  32  of the front lip  28  in the event that the connection becomes loose over time. Furthermore, fastening the mounting tab  16  under or against the inside surface  32  of the front lip  28  lowers the profile of the guard  10  on the gutter  20  and also obscures any rough edges, burrs, or other defects that may be realized during the forming of the mounting tab.  
         [0026]     When the mounting tab  16  is fastened under or against the inside surface  32  of the front lip  28 , a gap G 1  is formed between the forward-most edge of the hood  12  and the front lip. The gap G 1  is sized to prevent or limit the amount of debris (e.g., leaf material, pine needles, children&#39;s toys) that may be received into the gutter  20 . The gap may also be sized to prevent or discourage the entry of birds or rodents.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the mounting tabs  16  are attached to the upward-facing surface  34  of the front lip  28 . The present invention is not limited in this regard, however, as the mounting tabs  16  may be attached to other surfaces of the gutter. In embodiments of the guard  10  in which the mounting tabs  16  are attached to the upward-facing surface  34  of the front lip  28 , the mounting tabs are bent to lay as flat as possible on the upward-facing surface, and the fasteners  26  secure the mounting tabs to the upward-facing surface. A gap G 2  is formed between the forward-most edge of the hood  12  and the upward-facing surface  34  of the front lip  28 . The gap G 2  is also sized to prevent or limit the amount of debris that may be received into the gutter  20  and may also prevent or discourage the entry of birds or rodents.  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the mounting tabs  16  may be bent in such a way so as to be accommodated on a forward-facing surface of the front lip  28 . The mounting tab  16  may be bent, molded, or otherwise formed such that the inner surface of the mounting tab corresponds with the outer surface of the front lip  28 . Fasteners  26  may be used to secure the mounting tab  16  to the forward-facing surface. Additionally (or in the alternative), the mounting tab  16  may be crimped to or otherwise made to frictionally fit the front lip  28 . In such an embodiment, a gap G 3  is formed and sized to prevent or limit the amount of debris that may be received into the gutter  20  and may also prevent or discourage the entry of birds or rodents.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in any embodiment and irrespective of where the mounting tab  16  is located on the gutter  20 , the hood  12  may include a deflector member  40  at a terminal edge thereof. The deflector member  40  may be defined by a bend or curl in the edge of the hood  12  to direct or deflect the flow of water. In particular, the bend or curl may be in a forward direction to direct the flow of water (shown by an arrow R) against a substantially vertical wall of the gutter  20 . By doing so the water is made to cascade downward along the inner surface of the gutter  20  (as opposed to the water dripping from the terminal edge onto a bottom surface  44  of the gutter). By minimizing the angle at which the water cascades against the inner surface of the gutter  20  by directing the water down a vertical surface, a less aggressive flow of water into the gutter is realized, which may reduce the amount of stress placed on the gutter and may also reduce the amount of noise emitted as a result of water striking the surface of the gutter.  
         [0030]     In any of the above-described embodiments, the fastener  26  is received through the lip and the mounting tab  16 . Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the mounting tab  16  may be secured to a cross-member  46  of the gutter  20  using the fastener  26 .  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 8 , a system for directing water into the rain gutter is shown. The gutter  20  is attached to an edge of a roof of a building. The guard  10  is mounted on the gutter  20  such that water (shown at arrow R) cascading down the roof or landing directly on the guard travels across the hood  12 . As the water travels across the hood  12 , the surface tension of the water causes the water to be pulled around the front edge of the hood where it drips into the gutter  20  or is directed against the inner surface of the gutter. End caps  30  may be attached to the ends of the guard  10  to prevent or limit the entry of debris into the gutter  20 .  
         [0032]     In any of the above-disclosed embodiments, the guard  10  can be a single piece that is mounted over the rain gutter, or several shorter guards can be mounted over the rain gutter. Materials from which the guard  10  may be fabricated include, but are not limited to, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and the like. The materials can be painted, cast, or molded to have any color desired. For example, the color can be matched to the color of the rain gutter or the roofing material.  
         [0033]     Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims

Summary:
A rain gutter guard has mounting tabs that are integrally cut into or otherwise formed with a body of the rain gutter guard. The body includes a hood and a flange extending therefrom. The flange is attachable to a roof, and the hood has a forward surface from which the mounting tabs extend. A system for directing the flow of water into a rain gutter includes the rain gutter positioned adjacent to an edge of a roof and a guard attached to the roof and to the rain gutter. A method of directing water from a roof to a rain gutter includes attaching a guard to the roof and to the rain gutter. Integral mounting tabs extending from the guard position the guard such that it stands off from the rain gutter and defines a gap through which water can flow into the rain gutter.