Abstract:
An improved gutter system which utilizes an anchored roof segment. The roof segment allows the attachment of a gutter body or a fascia cover via a ball and socket type joint. In order to make the system more aesthetically pleasing, a decorative molding of any color or shape may be attached to the front wall of the gutter body or the fascia cover. Preferably the decorative member resembles a crown molding commonly used in the construction industry; however, an infinite number of profiles are possible and only depend on the designer of the decorative member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from, and the benefit of the filing date of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/091,565. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a rain gutter system with multiple parts with the ability to snap together to form a complete roof edge and gutter assembly or roof edge and fascia assembly. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Gutter systems have been the principal means by which water and small debris suspended in the water is carried off the roof of a building or other similar structures. The water runs off the slanted portion of a roof and typically enters a narrow trough which horizontally spans the edge of the roof. The trough, commonly known as a gutter, collects the water and is positioned such that the water is diverted toward one end of the gutter. 
         [0004]    Downspouts are typically attached to the gutters at the end where the water is diverted. The downspouts are perpendicular to the gutters and usually reach from the bottom wall of the gutter to the ground. Water flows down the downspouts and flows out an open end near ground level. The water may be further diverted which allows a builder to strategically redirect rain water away from the foundation of a building. 
         [0005]    Rain gutters may be constructed of a variety of materials including but not limited to galvanized steel, painted steel, copper, painted aluminum, PVC (and other plastics), concrete, stone, and wood. The material chosen is dependent on the function of the structure as well as the supporting members associated with the gutter system. 
         [0006]    In addition to the actual gutter and downspout, several improvements have been made to gutter systems over the years. One of the most widely used improvements is the gutter guard. The guard overlays the open top side of the gutter and is a screen or shield. The screen prevents leaves and other debris from entering the trough shaped interior of the gutter. Certain gutter guards are incorporated into a complete gutter system such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,399 while others allow existing gutters to be fitted with guards such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0069594. 
         [0007]    The improvements as related to gutter guards have improved the functionality of gutter systems, specifically in preventing larger debris from entering the trough of the gutter system and clogging of the downspouts. The need for supporting a heavier, more durable, and more aesthetically pleasing gutter system is still needed in the art. The present invention allows such improvements. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention utilizes a roof segment to anchor a rain gutter system with a snap on decorative molding. In the alternative, the roof segment can be used to anchor a fascia cover system and a similar snap on decorative molding. The roof segment comprises a substantially planar surface that may be attached to a standard roof of a home or other structure. The roof segment is attached via nails or screws and a roof edge is able to accommodate roofs with different pitches. The roof segment contains a semicircular extension which forms an open “C-like” configuration on the underside of the structure. 
         [0009]    A gutter body contains a front wall, a back wall and a bottom. The back wall comprises a circular extension complementary to the “C-like” structure of the roof segment. The circular extension may be slid within the “C-like” structure and the roof piece then supports the weight of the gutter body and maintains the gutter body in place. 
         [0010]    Other structures located on the back wall assist in the positioning of the gutter system and maintaining the system on the structure building. One of these structures is an integral soffit channel capable of receiving a standard soffit projecting from a house or similar structure. In addition to the soffit channel, the outer surface of the back wall contains a number of projecting teeth which engage the fascia of a house. The teeth also serve as a means for visually aligning the gutter body; however, the teeth primarily add overall strength to the gutter body. 
         [0011]    The front wall of the gutter body comprises a top edging and a bottom edging designed to connect the decorative molding piece. The decorative molding contains grooves complementary to the top and bottom edging such that the molding may be snapped into place. Once snapped into place the molding is maintained in position. Additionally the outer surface of the front wall may contain an alignment tongue to assist in aligning separate gutter systems. 
         [0012]    A gutter guard spanning from the top of the front wall to the upper portion of the back wall may be attached to the gutter system. The gutter guard comprises a bent edge which is received in a slot located on the inner surface of the back wall. The second edge of the guard rests upon the upper surface of the decorative molding. Once in place the guard keeps debris out of the gutter portion of the system and prevents clogging. 
         [0013]    In addition to the gutter guard, the system may also contain an alternate gutter bottom which may be attached to the system. The alternate gutter bottom effectively reduces the depth of the system while allowing the different placements of downspouts. 
         [0014]    Similar to the gutter system a second embodiment of the invention contains a roof piece and a decorative molding. Instead of containing a gutter body, the second embodiment has a fascia cover. The fascia cover contains the same basic structures of the back wall of the gutter system. The decorative molding may therefore be snapped into place on the fascia cover. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective of the roof segment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective of the gutter body. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective of the decorative member. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective of the leaf guard. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the alternate gutter bottom. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective of the gutter assembly with gutter guard, decorative member and alternate gutter bottom. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective of the fascia cover. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective of the fascia cover system with the decorative member. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a depiction of the gutter system on the roof of a house. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective of the concealed end cap. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective of the exposed end cap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Now referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a roof segment  100 . The roof segment comprises a planar surface  102  having a top edge  104  and a drip edge  106 . The top edge  104  is preferably tapered at the top, which allows a better transition to roof shingles (not shown). The planar surface  102  further comprises a first surface  108  and a second surface  110 . The second surface  110  contains a socket element  112  depending from the second surface  110 . In the preferred embodiment, the socket element  112  is C-shaped. The first surface  108  contains at least one screw starter groove  114  which aids in the attachment of the roof segment  100  to the edge of the roof of a typical house or other structure requiring a gutter system. 
         [0028]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , a gutter body  120  is detailed. The gutter body  120  comprises the primary structures of a front wall  122 , a back wall  124 , and a floor  126 . The walls  122 ,  124  and floor  126  cooperate to form the gutter body  120  having an open top  127  and two open sides  129 . The back wall  124  further comprises an upper portion  128 . The upper portion  128  comprises a ball joint  130 . The back wall  128  also contains alignment teeth  132 . An outer surface  134  of the back wall  128  has two extensions  136  protruding at a substantial perpendicular to the back wall  128 . Together the extensions  136  form a soffit channel  138 . The back wall  128  also comprises an inner surface  140  which further comprises a gutter guard cavity  142  defined by a guard. retainer tab  144  which extends from the inner surface  140 . Although a variety of angles may be adequate, the preferred embodiment has an angle between thirty and  60  degrees. The inner surface  140  also contain a first screw boss cavity  146  defined by a socket-like extension  148  extending from the inner surface  140 . The cavity  146  is preferably round and able to receive a standard screw. 
         [0029]    Again referring to  FIG. 2 , the front wall  122  comprises an inner surface  150  and an outer surface  152 . The outer surface  152  has a top  154  and a bottom  156 . The top  154  comprises an upper screw boss cavity  158  defined by a socket-like extension  160  extending from the outer surface  152 . Preferably the socket-like extension  160  comprises an upper decorative member retainer tab  162 . The outer surface  152  further comprises an alignment tab  164  located between the top  154  and bottom  156 , preferably at midway down the outer surface  152 . The bottom comprises a lower screw boss cavity  166  defined by a second socket-like extension  168  extending from the outer surface  152 . The socket-like extension  168  comprises a lower decorative member retainer tab  170  slightly depending from the extension  168 . The lower decorative member retainer tab  170  may instead extend from the outer surface  152  preferably near the bottom  156 . 
         [0030]    Now referring to  FIG. 3 , a decorative member  180  comprises a face  182 , a first end  184  and a second end  186 . The face  182  may be an infinite number of shapes but preferably resembles the shape of crown molding. In addition to the infinite number of shapes, the face may be painted in an infinite number of colors. The first end  184  comprises an upper groove  188 . The groove  188  runs the length of the first end  184 . The upper groove  188  may be a cavity formed by two projections depending from the first end  184  or from a cavity formed by hollowing out a portion of the first end  184 . The preferred embodiment utilizes a combination of the two methods. The first end  184  further comprises a support tab  190  for a gutter guard  200 , shown in  FIG. 3 . The second end comprises an extension  192 . The extension  192  contains a projection  194  running the length of the second end  186 . The extension  192  further comprises a lower groove  196  formed by the projection  194  and the extension end  196 . 
         [0031]    Now referring to  FIG. 4 , a gutter guard  200  is depicted. The gutter guard  200  comprises a front side  202  and a back side  204 . The gutter guard  200  further comprises an upper surface  206  and a lower surface  208 ; both surfaces  206  and  208  are preferably perforated to allow liquid to pass through the gutter guard  200  and into the gutter body  120 , shown in  FIG. 2 . The gutter guard  200  is substantially planar except for a bent edge  210  that is substantially perpendicular to a main body  212 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows an alternate gutter bottom  220  comprising a substantially planar portion  222  and two depending segments  224 . The depending segments  224  are substantially perpendicular to the planar portion  222 . 
         [0033]    Now referring to  FIG. 6 , the components detailed in  FIGS. 1-5  are shown in an assembled gutter system  250 . After the roof segment  100  is attached to a standard house roof via screws or nails started in the screw starter groove  114 , the gutter body  120  is slid within the socket element  112  of the roof segment  100 . The ball joint  130  is fashioned such that it may be received within the socket element  112  and be retained within the socket element  112  even after the gutter system  250  is hung on the roof of a house. The ball joint  130  is able to swivel within the socket element  112  which allows the gutter system  250  to then adjust to different roof pitches ranging from 0:12 to 14:12. The soffit of a house is positioned within. the soffit channel  138  further leading to the stability of the gutter system  250  on the roof. Once the system  250  is hung on the roof, the preferred embodiment has the alignment teeth  132  positioned against the subfascia of the house. A drip edge  106  of the roof segment  100  extends slightly over the back wall  124  so water and debris is better directed into the open top  127 . 
         [0034]    Again referring to  FIG. 6 , the optional features of the gutter system  250  may be seen attached to the gutter body  120 . First, the decorative member  180  is selectively attached to the gutter body  120 . The upper decorative member retaining tab  162  engages the upper groove  188  of the decorative member  180 . The decorative member  180  is flexible enough such that the second end  186  may be manipulated over the lower decorative member retainer tab  170 . The lower decorative member retaining tab  170  is held within the lower groove  196  and abuts the projection  194 . The decorative member  180  is then secured on both ends and attaches in a snap-on type fashion. 
         [0035]    Again referring to  FIG. 6 , the gutter guard  200  is attached by sliding the bent edge  210  within the gutter guard cavity  142 . The front side  202  of the gutter guard  200  then may rest upon the support tab  190  of the decorative member  180 . Once the gutter guard  200  is secured on both sides it is held in place by the guard retainer tab  144  and the support tab  190 . To further maintain the gutter guard  200  in place, a screw may be utilized to secure the support tab  190  to the front side  202  of the gutter guard  200 . 
         [0036]    The last optional piece, the alternate gutter bottom  220  is shown in  FIG. 6  attached to the gutter body  120 . The alternate gutter bottom  220  is positioned in the gutter body  120  such that the planar surface  222  is substantially parallel with the floor  126  and the depending segments  224  are abutting and in parallel with the back wall  124  and the front wall  122 . The alternate gutter bottom  220  may be used in the gutter system  250  selectively when a raised bottom is necessary for a variety of reasons. The alternate gutter bottom may be secured by utilizing standard screws which go through the depending segments  224  and the walls  122 ,  124 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  depicts a fascia cover  300  comprising a first end  302 , a second end  304 , a first surface  303  and a second surface  305 . The second surface  305  of the fascia cover  300  has many of the same structure as the back wall  124  of the gutter body  120  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The fascia cover  300  further comprises a ball joint  306 , alignment teeth  308  and a soffit channel  316 . The first surface  303  comprises structures similar to the front wall  122  of the gutter body  120  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The first surface  303  specifically comprises an upper retainer tab  310  and a lower retainer tab  312  which both extend from the first surface  303 . The first surface  303  comprises two screw bosses  312 . 
         [0038]    Now referring to  FIG. 8  fascia cover system  400  is shown. Also referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 7 , the fascia cover system is comprised of the roof segment  100 , the decorative member  180  and the fascia cover  300 . After the roof segment  100  is attached to a standard house roof via screws or nails started in the screw starter groove  114 , the ball joint  306  is slid within the socket element  112  of the roof segment  100 . The ball joint  306  is fashioned such that it may be received within the socket element  112  and be retained within the socket element  112  even after the fascia cover system  400  is hung on the roof of a house. The soffit of a house is positioned within the soffit channel  316  further leading to the stability of the fascia cover system  400  on the roof. Once the system  400  is hung on the roof, the preferred embodiment has the alignment teeth  308  positioned against the fascia of the house. 
         [0039]    Again referring to  FIG. 8 , the decorative member  180  is selectively attached to the fascia cover  300 . The upper retainer tab  310  engages the upper groove  188  of the decorative member  180 . The decorative member  180  is flexible enough such that the second end  186  may be manipulated over the lower retainer tab  312 . The lower retainer tab  312  is held within the lower groove  196  and abuts the projection  194  of the decorative member  180 . The decorative member  180  is then secured on both ends and attaches in a snap-on type fashion. 
         [0040]    Now having described the gutter assembly  250  and the fascia cover system  400 ,  FIG. 9  demonstrates the gutter assembly on a roof  500 . The roof segment  100  may be seen connected to the roof  500 . Furthermore, the back wall  124  is depicted abutting fascia  502 . The soffit channel  138  is shown engaging soffit  504 . The overall strength of the structure provided by the roof segment, the aligning teeth  132  and the extensions  136  allow heavier more durable materials such as steel or extruded aluminum. 
         [0041]    Now referring to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , show a concealed end cap  600  and an exposed end cap  700 , respectively. The concealed end cap  600  comprises a first surface  602  and a second surface  604 . The preferred embodiment contains four holes  606  which correspond to the screw boss cavities of the gutter body  120  in  FIG. 2 . The concealed end cap  600  can be attached to the gutter body  120  by use of screws (not shown) which enter the holes  606 . The second surface  604  is thus abutting the gutter body  120  shown in  FIG. 2 . The concealed end cap  600  is typically utilized wherein the end of the gutter body  120  would abut a potion of the house and not be visible to a person on the ground. An exposed end cap  700  is detailed in  FIG. 11  and contains similar structures to the concealed end cap  600 . The exposed end cap  700  comprises a first surface  702  and a second surface  704 . The preferred embodiment contains four holes  706  which correspond to the screw boss cavities of the gutter body  120  in  FIG. 2 . The exposed end cap  700  can be attached to the gutter body  120  by use of screws (not shown) which enter the holes  606 . Depending on which open side  129  of the gutter body  120  of  FIG. 2  is being capped by the exposed end cap  700 , either the first surface  702  or the second surface  704  will be abutting the gutter body  120 . The exposed end cap  700  comprises a decorative edge  710  which can be of any shape. The shape of the decorative edge  710  preferably matches the shape of the face  182  of the decorative member  180  shown in  FIG. 3 . The exposed end cap  700  is utilized when the end of the gutter body  120  would be visible to a person on the ground. 
         [0042]    Having thus described the invention in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the preferred embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included within the scope of the following claims.