Patent Publication Number: US-2018030733-A1

Title: Eavestrough cover

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to eavestroughs and more particularly relates to an eavestrough cover or gutter guard. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Eavestroughs or gutters (which are considered to be synonymous) are widely used in many countries. They are primarily employed for directing water from a roof away from the eaves or edge of the roof to a desired location. By doing so, erosion of the soil directly below the edge of the roof is avoided. 
     Although eavestroughs are most widely used in residential applications, they are also employed in many commercial locations. 
     One of the inherent problems associated with eavestroughs or gutters is the clogging of the eavestrough by extraneous material. This extraneous material may be small pebbles, leaves, branches, etc. As a result, cleaning of the eavestrough is required from time to time. 
     In order to prevent this problem, it is well known in the art to utilize an eavestrough cover or what is known as a gutter guard. These covers or guards are designed to prevent the extraneous material from entering into the gutter and thus prevent the clogging and obviate the necessity for cleaning of the same. 
     There have been many different proposals in the art for various eavestrough covers or gutter guards. The different designs respond to varying needs depending upon locale, ease of access, cost, and other similar factors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an eavestrough cover which is easily installed and which facilitates the removal of material located thereon by natural means such as the wind. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an eavestrough cover which may be installed in two different manners on the eavestrough or gutter. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an eavestrough cover comprising a substantially planar central portion formed of a woven material, the substantially planar central portion having first and second sides, the central portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending embossments formed therein, a first longitudinally extending portion connected to the first side, the first longitudinally extending portion having an upwardly extending wall, and a second longitudinally extending portion connected to the second side, the second longitudinally extending portion having a lower longitudinally extending segment and a contiguous upper longitudinally extending segment, the lower longitudinally extending segment and the upper longitudinally extending segment retaining the woven material in a crimping relationship, the extending wall being contiguous with the upper longitudinally extending segment. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is also provided in combination an eavestrough, said eavestrough having a rear wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a vertical segment formed at an upper portion of said front wall, a top wall, and a downwardly extending diagonal segment, said vertical segment, said top wall and said downwardly extending diagonal segment defining a recess formed therebetween, and an eavestrough cover comprising a substantially planar central portion formed of a woven material, said substantially planar central portion having first and second sides, said central portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending embossments formed therein, a first longitudinally extending portion connected to said first side, said first longitudinally extending portion having an upwardly extending wall, said upwardly extending wall being located adjacent said rear wall of said eavestrough, and a second longitudinally extending portion connected to said second side, said second longitudinally extending portion having a lower longitudinally extending segment and a contiguous upper longitudinally extending segment, said lower longitudinally extending segment and said upper longitudinally extending segment retaining said woven material in a crimping relationship, an upwardly extending segment being contiguous with said upper longitudinally extending segment, a downwardly extending segment contiguous with said upwardly extending segment, and an end segment extending outwardly from said downwardly extending segment, said end segment engaging with an attaching member. 
     According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is also provided in combination an eavestrough, said eavestrough having a rear wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a vertical segment formed at an upper portion of said front wall, a top wall, and a downwardly extending diagonal segment, said vertical segment and said top wall and said downwardly extending diagonal segment defining a recess therebetween, and an eavestrough cover comprising a substantially planar central portion formed of a woven material, said substantially planar central portion having first and second sides, said central portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending embossments formed therein, a first longitudinally extending portion connected to said first side, said first longitudinally extending portion having an upwardly extending wall, said upwardly extending wall fitting within said recess formed adjacent a front wall of an eavestrough, and a second longitudinally extending portion connected to said second side, said second longitudinally extending portion having a lower longitudinally extending segment and a contiguous upper longitudinally extending segment, said lower longitudinally extending segment and said upper longitudinally extending segment retaining said woven material in a crimping relationship, the extending wall being contiguous with said upper longitudinally extending segment. 
     The eavestrough utilized in the present invention may be any suitable. However, it is particularly applicable to those types of eavestroughs known as a “K Gutter”. Such eavestroughs are widely used in North America and the eavestrough comprises a rear wall, a bottom wall and a front wall. The front wall is typically arcuate in configuration at the lower end thereof and terminates in a vertical segment formed at an upper portion of the front wall. At the upper portion of the front wall, a top wall is contiguous therewith. The top wall extends for a relatively short distance inwardly and terminates in a downwardly extending diagonal segment. Together, the vertical segment, the top wall and the downwardly extending diagonal segment define a recess therebetween. 
     The eavestrough cover includes a substantially planar central portion which extends between a first longitudinally extending portion and a second longitudinally extending portion. The substantially planar central portion is formed of a woven material, a variety of woven materials being well known in the art. In one embodiment, the invention utilizes a micro mesh material. The micro mesh material may be formed of any suitable material with a preferred material for the practice of the present invention being a metallic micro mesh material. 
     The woven material will have a plurality of longitudinally extending embossments formed therein. These longitudinally extending embossments provide a certain rigidity to the micro mesh material while at the same time allowing it to “bend” along a longitudinal axis. As will be described hereinbelow, this bending of the micro mesh material facilitates the insertion of the same on the gutter as well as retention of the cover in position. 
     The longitudinally extending embossments are formed in such a manner that they preferably extend upwardly from the top of the micro mesh material. The number of lines of embossments may vary depending on the particular requirements. Typically, in a normal K gutter arrangement, there would be between 4 and 12 rows of embossments. The height of the embossments may vary depending upon the particular requirements, but again typically the embossments would extend upwardly by a distance of between 1 and 10 mm. 
     In a first embodiment, conventional hook members are used to secure the eavestrough to the eave of the building. The hook members are in turn secured by means of screws or like attachment members to the eave. 
     In placing the cover in position, the end segment is placed such that it abuts the rear wall of the gutter. The end segment cannot move upwardly due to the screws which are used to attach the hook. As the cover is placed in an arcuate fashion, the first longitudinally extending portion fits partially within the recess of the front of the gutter. The flexible nature of the central portion causes a pressure to be exerted on both sides and allows the cover to be retained in position. 
     The first longitudinally extending portion is that which, in a second embodiment, is to be placed towards the front of the gutter (the portion of the gutter which is readily visible by an observer). The first longitudinally extending portion is also preferably formed of a metallic material when the planar central portion is formed of a metallic micro mesh. The first longitudinally extending portion has an upwardly extending wall which, in a first embodiment, is designed to fit within the recess defined by the vertical segment, the top wall, and a downwardly extending diagonal segment of the gutter. 
     The eavestrough cover will also include a second longitudinally extending portion which, in the first embodiment, extends along the back wall of the eavestrough. The second longitudinally extending portion is made of a material similar to that of the planar central portion and the first longitudinally extending portion. The second longitudinally extending portion has a lower longitudinally extending segment and a contiguous upper longitudinally extending segment. The lower longitudinally extending segment and the contiguous upper longitudinally extending segment are crimped together to retain the woven material of the planar central portion therebetween. 
     The second longitudinally extending portion may have several different configurations. There may be an arrangement whereby the eavestrough cover sits on an upper edge of the rear wall of the eavestrough. It may be retained thereon by means of a suitable arrangement or attachment or alternatively, it may simply rest thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the eavestrough cover of the present invention in conjunction with an eavestrough in a first embodiment thereof; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the eavestrough cover; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the first longitudinally extending portion of the eavestrough cover; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the second longitudinally extending portion; 
         FIG. 8  is a further cross-sectional view of the eavestrough cover in position on a gutter in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the eavestrough cover of the present invention in conjunction with an eavestrough in a second embodiment thereof; 
         FIG. 10  is a further perspective view of the second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, as shown in  FIG. 1  there is an eavestrough which is generally designated by reference numeral  10  and an eavestrough cover therefore which is generally designated by reference numeral  12 . 
     Eavestrough  10  is what is known as a K type eavestrough and includes a rear wall  14 , a bottom wall  16  and a front wall generally designated by reference numeral  18 . Front wall  18  has a lower arcuate portion  20  and terminates in an upper vertical wall  22 . Contiguous with upper vertical wall  22  is a top wall  24  which then is contiguous with a downwardly diagonally extending wall  26 . A recess generally designated by reference numeral  28  is formed between upper vertical wall  22 , top wall  24  and diagonally downwardly extending wall  26 . 
     Eavestrough cover  12  is comprised of a central portion  32 , a first longitudinally extending portion generally designated by reference numeral  34  and a second longitudinally extending portion generally designated by reference numeral  36 . 
     Central portion  32  is formed of a woven material and more particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, of a metallic micro mesh material. The micro mesh material consists of a plurality of intersecting wires  40 . A plurality of longitudinally extending lines of embossments  42  are formed in central portion  32 . Although eight lines of embossments are illustrated, there may be more or fewer. Embossments  42  extend upwardly from the upper surface thereof. 
     First longitudinally extending portion  34  includes a bottom longitudinally extending segment  46  with a top longitudinally extending segment  48  being contiguous therewith and parallel thereto. Formed between bottom longitudinally extending segment  46  and top longitudinally extending segment  48  is a longitudinally extending channel  50  which is designed to receive an edge of central portion  32 . First longitudinally extending portion  34  also includes a top longitudinally extending segment  52  contiguous with bottom longitudinally extending segment  48 . Subsequently, top longitudinally extending segment  52  merges with a lower diagonally extending segment  54  which in turn merges with an upper diagonally extending segment  56 . 
     As may be best seen in  FIG. 6 , there is also provided an inwardly extending segment  58  and a reverse outwardly extending segment  60 . Contiguous therewith is a downwardly extending segment  62  and a first terminating segment  64  and a second terminating segment  66  lying adjacent thereto. A plurality of crimping points  68  are provided whereby the micro mesh is held between lower longitudinally extending segments  46  and upper longitudinally extending segment  48 . 
     Second longitudinally extending portion  36  may best be seen in  FIG. 7 . Lower longitudinally extending portion  36  includes a lower longitudinally extending segment  74  and an upper longitudinally extending segment  76  which are parallel to each other and define therebetween a longitudinally extending channel  78 . 
     A top longitudinally extending segment  80  is contiguous with an upwardly extending segment  82  which in turn is contiguous with a downwardly extending segment  84 . Upwardly extending segment  82  and downwardly extending segment  84  are slightly spaced apart to provide a slot  86  therebetween. 
     To terminate, there is provided an end segment  88 . A plurality of crimping points  90  are provided as may best be seen in  FIG. 5  to hold the edge of micro mesh central portion  32  between lower longitudinally extending segment  74  and upper longitudinally extending segment  76 . 
     For installation of the eavestrough cover in a first embodiment, conventional hook members  92  are used to secure the eavestrough to the eave of the building. Hook  92  has a first end portion  94  which fits within recess  28 . At the other end, there is provided an inverted U-shaped end  96  which is secured by means of screws  98  to the eave of the building. 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the eavestrough is placed such that second longitudinally extending portion  36  is secured adjacent rear wall  14 . End segment  88  is retained in place by screw  98  as pressure is exerted on the cover due to the flexible nature of central portion  32  and the embossments  42  formed therein. On the other side, first longitudinally extending portion  34  fits partially within recess  28  as may be seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     For installation of the eavestrough cover in a second embodiment, first longitudinally extending portion  34  is inserted such that segments  58  and  60  extend upwardly into recess  28  in order that the front portion of the eavestrough cover be retained in position. Subsequently, as may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the rear portion may be placed such that second longitudinally extending portion  36  sits on top of rear wall  14 . Rear wall  14  may fit within channel  86 . Alternatively, the second longitudinally extending portion may simply sit on top of rear wall  14  and be connected by suitable means such as screws. 
     It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.