Patent Publication Number: US-11661747-B2

Title: Gutter guard for gutter and gutter assembly including same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application 62/893,980 filed on Aug. 30, 2019, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technical field generally relates to a gutter guard and gutter assembly including same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Rain gutters are useful to collect rainwater that runs off the roof of a house or of a building and to route collected rainwater away from the foundation to a proper drainage area in order to avoid damages to the foundation, the soffit, the windows and/or the doors, for instance. Rain gutters generally include a trough channeling the rainwater to a downpipe or downspout, the trough being affixed to a supporting structure of the house or building such as the fascia board. 
     Leaves and debris may accumulate within the trough of the gutter, which can prevent the rainwater from flowing through the trough. Gutter guards are used to protect the gutter by preventing leaves and debris from entering the trough of the gutter while still permitting rainwater to enter the trough. 
     There is always a need for a gutter guard and a gutter assembly that can be easily mounted to a supporting structure such as an outdoor building wall. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect, there is provided a gutter assembly comprising: a gutter having a front portion, a rear portion, a bottom wall extending between the front portion and the rear portion, and an opening defined between the front and the rear portions adjacent to upper edges thereof, the front portion comprising an outwardly inclined segment and a front inverted hook member defining an inward recess; and a gutter guard engageable with the gutter to cover the opening, the gutter guard including a front portion operatively engageable with the front portion of the gutter, a rear portion, and a central portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion, the front portion comprising a recess-engaging portion and an inclined segment abutting portion, the recess-engaging portion being insertable in the inward recess and abuttable against the front inverted hook member with the inclined segment abutting portion abutting against the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter when the recess-engaging portion is inserted in the inward recess and the rear portion of the gutter guard extending spaced-apart from the bottom wall of the gutter even if unattached to the rear portion of the gutter. 
     According to another aspect, there is provided a gutter assembly comprising: a gutter having a front portion, a rear portion, a bottom wall extending between the front portion and the rear portion, and an opening defined between the front and the rear portions adjacent to upper edges thereof, the front portion comprising an outwardly inclined segment, an upright segment, an upper rim, and a downwardly forwardly-extending flange with the upright segment, the upper rim, and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange defining an inward recess; and a gutter guard engageable with the gutter to cover the opening, the gutter guard including a front portion operatively engageable with the front portion of the gutter, a rear portion, and a central portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion, the front portion comprising a recess-engaging portion and an inclined segment abutting portion, the recess-engaging portion being insertable in the inward recess and abuttable against at least one of the upper rim and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange with the inclined segment abutting portion abutting against the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter when the recess-engaging portion is inserted in the inward recess and the rear portion of the gutter guard extending spaced-apart from the bottom wall of the gutter even if unattached to the rear portion of the gutter. 
     According to a further aspect, there is provided a method for mounting a gutter assembly to a supporting surface. The method comprises: providing a gutter comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a bottom wall extending between the front portion and the rear portion, and an opening defined between the front and the rear portions adjacent to upper edges thereof, the front portion comprising an outwardly inclined segment and a front inverted hook member defining an inward recess; providing a gutter guard comprising a rear portion, and a central portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion, the front portion comprising a recess-engaging portion and an inclined segment abutting portion; engaging the recess-engaging portion in the inward recess to abut against the front inverted hook member with the inclined segment abutting portion abutting against the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter and the rear portion of the gutter guard extending spaced-apart from the bottom wall of the gutter; inserting a lower segment of a drip edge between the rear wall of the gutter guard and the rear portion of the gutter; and securing an assembly including the rear wall of the gutter guard, the rear portion of the gutter, the lower segment of the drip edge together by inserting a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart mechanical fasteners therein and into a supporting surface. 
     According to another general aspect, there is provided a gutter assembly comprising: a gutter and a gutter guard engageable with the gutter. The gutter has a front portion, a rear portion, a bottom wall extending between the front portion and the rear portion, and an opening defined between the front and the rear portions adjacent to upper edges thereof. The front portion comprises an outwardly inclined segment and a front inverted hook member defining an inward recess. When engaged with the gutter, the gutter guard covers the opening. The gutter guard includes a front portion operatively engageable with the front portion of the gutter, a rear portion, and a central portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion. The front portion comprises a recess-engaging portion and an inclined segment abutting portion. The recess-engaging portion is insertable in the inward recess and abuttable against the front inverted hook member with the inclined segment abutting portion abutting against the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter when the recess-engaging portion is inserted in the inward recess. The rear portion of the gutter guard extends spaced-apart from the bottom wall of the gutter even if unattached to the rear portion of the gutter. 
     In an embodiment, the central portion of the gutter guard extends at an angle ranging between about 0 degree and 45 degrees when the recess-engaging portion is inserted in the inward recess and the rear portion of the gutter guard is unattached to the rear portion of the gutter. 
     In an embodiment, the gutter guard is made of an aluminium-based sheet having a thickness ranging between about 0.3 mm and about 0.81 mm. 
     In an embodiment, the recess-engaging portion of the gutter guard extends next to a front end of the central portion of the gutter guard and the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard extends between the recess-engaging portion of the gutter guard and a front free edge of the gutter guard. 
     In an embodiment, the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard extends next to a front end of the central portion with the recess-engaging portion of the gutter guard extends between the inclined segment abutting portion and a front free edge of the gutter guard. 
     In an embodiment, the recess-engaging portion of the gutter guard comprises a plurality of folds to define a plurality of segments forming an upwardly and rearwardly extending hook having a tip abutting against an inner surface of the front inverted hook member when inserted in the inward recess. The front portion of the gutter can comprise successively, from a front edge of the bottom wall, the outwardly inclined segment, an upright substantial vertical segment, an upper rim, extending essentially horizontally, and a downwardly forwardly-extending flange, with the upper rim and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange forming the front inverted hook member. An angle ranging between about 35 degrees and about 80 degrees can be defined between the upper rim and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange. An angle ranging between about 110 degrees and about 170 degrees can be defined between the upright substantial vertical segment and the outwardly inclined segment. The tip can abut against at least one of the upper rim and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange when inserted in the inward recess. 
     In an embodiment, the rear portion of the gutter guard comprises a rear wall. 
     In an embodiment, the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard abuts against the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter along an entire length of the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard. 
     In an embodiment, the central portion of the gutter guard comprises a plurality of through holes formed therein. 
     In an embodiment, the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter defines an angle ranging between about 10 degrees and about 85 degrees with a horizontal axis. 
     According to still another general aspect, there is provided a gutter assembly comprising: a gutter and a gutter guard engageable with the gutter. The gutter has a front portion, a rear portion, a bottom wall extending between the front portion and the rear portion, and an opening defined between the front and the rear portions adjacent to upper edges thereof. The front portion comprises an outwardly inclined segment, an upright segment, an upper rim, and a downwardly forwardly-extending flange with the upright segment, the upper rim, and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange defining an inward recess. When engaged with the gutter, the gutter guard covers the opening. The gutter guard includes a front portion operatively engageable with the front portion of the gutter, a rear portion, and a central portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion. The front portion comprises a recess-engaging portion and an inclined segment abutting portion, the recess-engaging portion being insertable in the inward recess and abuttable against at least one of the upper rim and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange with the inclined segment abutting portion abutting against the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter when the recess-engaging portion is inserted in the inward recess. The rear portion of the gutter guard extends spaced-apart from the bottom wall of the gutter even if unattached to the rear portion of the gutter. 
     In an embodiment, the central portion of the gutter guard extends at an angle ranging between about 0 degree and 45 degrees when the recess-engaging portion is inserted in the inward recess and the rear portion of the gutter guard is unattached to the rear portion of the gutter. 
     In an embodiment, the gutter guard is made of an aluminium-based sheet having a thickness ranging between about 0.3 mm and about 0.81 mm. 
     In an embodiment, the recess-engaging portion of the gutter guard extends next to a front end of the central portion of the gutter guard and the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard extends between the recess-engaging portion of the gutter guard and a front free edge of the gutter guard. 
     In an embodiment, the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard extends next to a front end of the central portion with the recess-engaging portion of the gutter guard extends between the inclined segment abutting portion and a front free edge of the gutter guard. 
     In an embodiment, the recess-engaging portion of the gutter guard comprises a plurality of folds to define a plurality of segments forming an upwardly and rearwardly extending hook having a tip abutting against an inner surface of the against the at least one of the upper rim and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange when inserted in the inward recess. 
     An angle ranging between about 35 degrees and about 80 degrees can be defined between the upper rim and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange. 
     An angle ranging between about 110 degrees and about 170 degrees can be defined between the upright substantial vertical segment and the outwardly inclined segment. 
     In an embodiment, the rear portion of the gutter guard comprises a rear wall and the central portion of the gutter guard comprises a plurality of through holes formed therein. 
     In an embodiment, the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard abuts against the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter along an entire length of the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard. 
     In an embodiment, the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter defines an angle ranging between about 10 degrees and about 85 degrees with a horizontal axis. 
     According to a further general aspect, there is provided a method for mounting a gutter assembly to a supporting surface. The method comprises: providing a gutter comprising a front portion, a rear portion having a rear wall, a bottom wall extending between the front portion and the rear portion, and an opening defined between the front and the rear portions adjacent to upper edges thereof, the front portion comprising an outwardly inclined segment and a front inverted hook member defining an inward recess; providing a gutter guard comprising a rear portion, and a central portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion, the front portion comprising a recess-engaging portion and an inclined segment abutting portion; engaging the recess-engaging portion in the inward recess to abut against the front inverted hook member with the inclined segment abutting portion abutting against the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter and the rear portion extending spaced-apart from the bottom wall of the gutter; inserting a lower segment of a drip edge between the rear wall of the gutter guard and the rear portion of the gutter; and securing an assembly including the rear wall of the gutter guard, the rear portion of the gutter, the lower segment of the drip edge together by inserting a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart mechanical fasteners therein and into a supporting surface. 
     In an embodiment, the gutter guard is made of an aluminium-based sheet having a thickness ranging between about 0.3 mm and about 0.81 mm. 
     In an embodiment, the recess-engaging portion of the gutter guard comprises a plurality of folds to define a plurality of segments forming an upwardly and rearwardly extending hook having a tip abutting against an inner surface of the front inverted hook member when inserted in the inward recess. 
     In an embodiment, the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard abuts against the outwardly inclined segment of the gutter along an entire length of the inclined segment abutting portion of the gutter guard. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings which show at least one exemplary embodiment, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a sectional view of a gutter guard engaged with a gutter according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a sectional view of a gutter guard, according to another embodiment, engaged with the gutter of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIGS.  3  and  4    are respectively perspective and sectional views of a gutter in accordance with another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, there is described various embodiments related to a gutter guard and gutter assembly including a gutter guard. As will be readily understood by one skilled in the art, the gutter guard and gutter according to the embodiments presented herein and equivalents thereto may be provided separately or in combination. Such combination may or may not be commercialized as a kit to be assembled. In another embodiment, a gutter guard may be commercialized as a standalone component. 
     Although the embodiments of the gutter guard, the gutter and corresponding parts thereof consist of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations, may be used for the gutter guard, as will be briefly explained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art. 
     Moreover, it will be appreciated that positional descriptions such as “front”, “rear”, “upper”, and the like should be taken in the context of the figures only and should not be considered as limiting. More particularly, they correspond to the position and orientation of the gutter, when mounted to a supporting surface of a supporting structure, and the gutter guard when mounted onto a gutter. The rear position corresponds to portions adjacent to the supporting surface while the front position corresponds to portions opposed to the supporting surface. The inner position corresponds to portions/surfaces facing the gutter trough while the outer position corresponds to portions/surfaces facing outwardly. 
     Having discussed the general context of the gutter guard, optional embodiments will be discussed further hereinbelow. The embodiments according to the following description are given for exemplification purposes only. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  1   , therein illustrated is a side elevation view of a gutter guard assembly  20  according to a first example embodiment. The gutter guard assembly  20  includes a gutter  30  and a gutter guard  60  engaged with the gutter  30 . The gutter guard  60  includes a front portion  62 , a central portion  64 , and a rear portion  66 . The front portion  62  is engageable with a front portion  32  of the gutter  30 , as will be described in more details below. The rear portion  66  is configured in an adjacent configuration to a rear wall  50  of the gutter  30 , as will be described in more details below. Furthermore, the central portion  64  of the gutter guard  60  extends between and connects the front portion  62  and the rear portion  66 . The central portion  64  can include a plurality of through holes formed therein, such as being perforated. Furthermore, it can include one or more superposed layer, each one including through holes formed therein. 
     In the non-limitative embodiment shown, the gutter  30  includes a front portion  32 , a rear portion  34 , and a bottom wall  36  extending between the front portion  32  and the rear portion  34 . Together, the front portion  32 , the rear portion  34  and the bottom wall  36  define a trough  38  having an open top  40 . The open top  40  of the gutter  30  may be defined between a top edge of the front portion  32  and a top edge of the rear portion  34  of the gutter  30 . In the embodiment shown, the front portion  32  of the gutter  30  includes, successively from a front edge of the bottom wall  36 , an outwardly inclined segment  42 , an upright substantial vertical segment  44 , an upper rim  46 , extending essentially horizontally, and a downwardly forwardly-extending flange  48 . The succession of the upright segment  44 , the upper rim  46  and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange  48  define an inward recess  45 . In turn, the upper rim  46  and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange  48  form a front inverted hook member  47  delimiting rearwardly the inward recess  45 . It will be understood that the shape of the front portion  32  can vary from the embodiment described above with reference to  FIG.  1   . 
     In the embodiment shown, the upper rim  46  defines an upper edge of the gutter  30  in the front portion  32 . 
     Since the outwardly inclined segment  42 , which extends upwardly from the front edge of the bottom wall  36  is inclined forwardly, the through  38  is narrower adjacent to the bottom wall  36  and wider close to the open top  40 . 
     In some implementations, the downwardly forwardly-extending flange  48  can include a downwardly-extending segment followed by a forwardly-extending segment, which can be substantially horizontal or inclined. 
     In an embodiment, the outwardly inclined segment  42  can extend at an angle defined between 10 and 85 degrees with a horizontal axis (or with the bottom wall  36  if the latter extends substantially horizontally) and, in another embodiment, between 50 and 85 degrees. 
     The outwardly inclined segment  42  (or any other segment) of the front portion  32  of the gutter  30  can be divided into a plurality of subsegments with a general profile corresponding to the profile shown in  FIG.  1   , i.e. inclined generally forwardly/outwardly for the outwardly inclined segment  42 , extending generally upwardly for the upright substantial vertical segment  44 , extending substantially horizontally for the upper rim  46 , and extending generally downwardly and forwardly for the flange  48 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the rear portion  34  of the gutter  30  includes essentially a rear wall  50  extending substantially vertically, i.e. normal to the bottom wall  36 , and upwardly from a rear edge of the bottom wall  36 . It includes an upper edge  52 , which is free in the non-limitative embodiment shown. When the gutter  30  and/or the gutter assembly  20  is mounted to a supporting surface S, such as an outer surface of a building wall, the rear wall  50  is superposed to the supporting surface S. More particularly, a rear surface of the rear wall  50  contacts the supporting surface S. 
     Turning now to the gutter guard  60 , in the illustrated embodiment, the front portion  62  of the gutter guard  60  is engaged with the front portion  32  of the gutter  30  and, more particularly, inserted in the inward recess  45  and having segments abutting against the front inverted hook member  47  and the outwardly inclined segment  42 . 
     When the front portion  62  of the gutter guard  60  is engaged with the front portion  32  of the gutter  30 , the gutter guard  60  is self-supporting, i.e. it will remain engaged with the front portion  32  of the gutter  30  and spaced-apart from the bottom wall  36  of the gutter  30 . In some implementations, its central portion  64  will even extend substantially horizontally or at an angle α defined between about 0 and about 45 degrees with the horizontal axis (or with the bottom wall  36  if the latter extends substantially horizontally) due to gravity. In another embodiment, the angle α is defined between about 0 and about 30 degrees and, in still another another embodiment, the angle α is defined between about about 0 and about 20 degrees. Similarly, in some implementations, even when not attached to the rear wall  50  of the gutter  30 , a rear wall  76  of the gutter guard  60  will extend substantially parallel to the rear wall  50  of the gutter  30  and, spaced-apart, from the bottom wall  36 . 
     In a non-limitative embodiment, the gutter guard  60  is made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy. Its stiffness is sufficient to be self-supporting, as defined above. In an embodiment, the gutter guard  60  is made from an aluminium-based sheet having a thickness ranging between about 0.3 mm (12 mil (i.e. thousandth of an inch)) and about 0.81 mm (32 mil) and, in a particular embodiment, between about 0.4 mm (16 mil) and about 0.53 mm (21 mil). As it is known in the art, the folds formed in the aluminium-based sheet to define the different sections/segments of the gutter guard  60  increases its stiffness. 
     In the embodiment shown, the front portion  62  of the gutter guard  60  includes a recess-engaging portion  68  inserted in the inward recess  45  and an inclined segment abutting portion  70  abutting against the outwardly inclined segment  42  of the gutter  30 . In the embodiment shown, the recess-engaging portion  68  extends next to a front end of the central portion  64  while the inclined segment abutting portion  70  extends between the recess-engaging portion  68  and a front free edge  69  of the gutter guard  60 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , there is shown an alternative embodiment of the gutter guard  160  wherein the features are numbered with reference numerals in the 100 series which correspond to the reference numerals of the previous embodiment. In this alternative embodiment, the inclined segment abutting portion  170  could extend next to the front end of the central portion  164  with the recess-engaging portion  168  extending between the inclined segment abutting portion  170  and the front free edge  169  of the gutter guard  160 . 
     In the non-limitative embodiments shown, the recess-engaging portion  68 ,  168  comprises a plurality of folds to define a plurality of segments forming an upwardly and rearwardly extending hook (or front hook)  71 ,  171  having a tip  72 ,  172  abutting an inner surface of the front inverted hook member  47 . The tip  72 ,  172  and other segments of the recess-engaging portion  68 ,  168  can abut against at least one of the upper rim  46  and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange  48 . 
     Returning now to the embodiment of  FIG.  1   , the recess-engaging portion  68  ends with a substantially upright segment  74  directed towards the outwardly inclined segment  42  of the gutter  30 . In the embodiment shown, a fold  77  separates the substantially upright segment  74  from the inclined segment abutting portion  70 , which extends downwardly towards the front free edge  69  of the gutter guard  60  and rearwardly with respect to the substantially upright segment  74  and the upright substantial vertical segment  44 . The inclined segment abutting portion  70  includes a single segment, i.e. no fold, in the non-limitative embodiment shown. However, it is appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), it can include more than one segment separated from adjacent segment(s) by folds. As mentioned above, the inclined segment abutting portion  70  abuts at least partially against an inner surface  58  of the outwardly inclined segment  42  of the gutter  30 , i.e. inside the gutter through  38 . In the non-limitative embodiment shown, it abuts against the outwardly inclined segment  42  of the gutter  30  along its entire length (i.e. the length of the inclined segment abutting portion  70 ) and even at least partially conform to a shape (curvature) of the outwardly inclined segment  42  of the gutter  30 . 
     It is appreciated that the shape and configuration of the recess-engaging portion  68  and the inclined segment abutting portion  70  can vary from the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     As mentioned above, the rear portion  66  of the gutter guard  60  extends from a rear edge  65  of the central portion  64 . In the non-limitative embodiment shown, it defines a shallow recess  67  between the rear edge  65  of the central portion  64  and the rear wall  76  of the gutter guard  60 . The rear wall  76  extends upwardly with respect to the central portion  64  and substantially vertically. It is appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the rear portion  66  could be free of recess  67  extending longitudinally and between the central portion  64  and the rear wall  76  and the rear wall  76  could extend upwardly directly from a fold at the rear edge  65  of the central portion  64 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the rear portion  66  of the gutter guard  60  further includes a forwardly and upwardly extending segment  78  extending from the rear wall  76 . It is appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the rear portion  66  could be free of forwardly and upwardly extending segment  78 . 
     As mentioned above, since the gutter guard  60  is self-supporting when its front portion  62  is engaged with the front portion  32  of the gutter  30 , the rear wall  76  of the gutter guard  60  will extend substantially parallel to the rear wall  50  of the gutter  30  (or at a small angle defined inbetween due to gravity) even when the rear portion  66  of the gutter guard  60  is unfastened/unsecured/unengaged with the rear portion  34  of the gutter  30 . In the embodiment shown, the rear wall  76  of the gutter guard  30  is slightly spaced-apart from the rear wall  50  of the gutter  30 . However, it could contact the rear wall  50  and even be juxtaposed thereto. 
     In the embodiment wherein the gutter guard  60  includes the forwardly and upwardly extending segment  78 , this segment can be spaced-apart from the rear wall  50  of the gutter  30 . 
     In the non-limitative embodiment shown, a lower segment  80  of a drip edge  82 , i.e. a metal flashing that is installed at the edges of a roof to help control the flow of water away from the fascia and to protect the underlying roofing components, can be inserted between the rear wall  76  of the gutter guard  30  and the rear wall  50  of the gutter  30  and secured together with the gutter assembly  20  with mechanical fasteners, as will be described in more details below. It is appreciated that inserting the lower segment  80  of the drip edge  82  into the gutter trough  38  helps controlling the water flow by directing water from the drip edge  82 , away from the fascia, and into the gutter trough  38 . 
     It is appreciated that the rear portion  66  of the gutter guard  60  can be secured to the rear portion  34  of the gutter  30  and the supporting surface S using mechanical fasteners  90 , such as and without being limitative screws, spikes, and/or ferrules, inserted into the rear wall  76  of the gutter guard  60 , the lower segment  80  of the drip edge  82 , if any, the rear wall  50  of the gutter  30 , and the supporting surface S. When assembled, at least at their front portions  32 ,  62 , the gutter  30  and the gutter guard  60  forms the gutter assembly  20 . 
     It is appreciated that the gutter  30  can be an already-mounted gutter, i.e. a gutter mounted to the supporting surface S using other mechanical fasteners (i.e. mechanical fasteners not engaged with the gutter guard  60 ) or a newly-mounted gutter, wherein the gutter  30  is mounted simultaneously with the gutter guard  60  to the supporting surface S using the mechanical fasteners  90 . If the gutter  30  is an already-mounted gutter, it can include a plurality of traditional hangers (not shown) extending between and connecting together the front portion  32  and the rear portion  34  to maintain the spacing between the front portion  32  and the rear portion  34  of the gutter  30 . As it is known in the art, the hangers extend in an upper portion of the gutter  30 , spaced-apart from the bottom wall  36 . In such embodiment, the gutter guard  60  is located above the hangers. 
     If the gutter  30  is a newly-mounted gutter, the gutter guard  60  acts as a continuous hanger by extending between and connecting together the front portion  32  and the rear portion  34  to maintain the spacing between the front portion  32  and the rear portion  34  of the gutter  30 . 
     The self-supporting feature of the gutter guard  60 , i.e. the engagement between the front portion  62  of the gutter guard  60  with the front portion  32  of the gutter  30 , may ease the installation of the gutter  30  and the gutter guard  60  by preventing the gutter guard  60  to fall into the gutter trough  38  during installation and before engagement of the rear portion  66  of the gutter guard  60  with the rear portion  34  of the gutter  30 . 
     Thus, the front portion  62  of the gutter guard  60  can be first engaged with the front portion  32  of the gutter  30 , which can be either already mounted to the supporting surface S or not. As mentioned above, engagement of the front portion  62  of the gutter guard with the front portion  32  of the gutter  30  includes inserting the recess-engaging portion  68  of the gutter guard  60  in the inward recess  45  of the gutter  30  with the inclined segment abutting portion  70  of the gutter guard  60  abutting and resting against the outwardly inclined segment  42  of the gutter  30 . 
     Once engaged in the front portions  32 ,  62 , the gutter guard  60  is self-supporting with respect to the gutter  30 . Then, if the gutter  30  is not already mounted to the supporting surface S, it can be superposed to the supporting surface S in a desired configuration wherein a rear surface of the rear wall  50  abuts against the supporting surface S. If desired, the lower segment  80  of the drip edge  82  can be inserted between the rear wall  76  of the gutter guard  60  and the rear wall  50  of the gutter  30 , at least along a section thereof. Then, the rear portion  66  of the gutter guard  60  can be secured to the rear portion  34  of the gutter  30  using a plurality of spaced-apart mechanical fasteners  90  as detailed above. If the gutter  30  is not already mounted to the supporting surface S, insertion of the mechanical fasteners  90  simultaneously mount the gutter  30  to the supporting surface S. 
     Features and characteristics of the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2    with respect to the rear portion  166  and the method for mounting the gutter assembly  120  to a support structure are similar to the one described above in reference to  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , there is shown an alternative embodiment of a gutter  230  which can be engaged by one of the gutter guards  60 ,  160  or any alternative embodiment thereof. The features of the gutter  230  are numbered with reference numerals in the 200 series which correspond to the reference numerals of the previous embodiments. In this alternative embodiment, the front portion  232  of the gutter  230  includes, successively from a front edge of the bottom wall  236 , a first (lower) upright substantial vertical segment  241 , an outwardly inclined segment  242 , a second (upper) upright substantial vertical segment  244 , an upper rim  246  (defining an upper edge of the gutter  230  in the front portion  232 ), extending essentially horizontally, and a downwardly forwardly-extending flange  248 . The succession of the second (upper) upright substantial vertical segment  244 , the upper rim  246  and the downwardly forwardly-extending flange  248  define the inward recess  245 . When engaged with a gutter guard  60 , 160 , the inclined segment abutting portion  70 ,  170  of the gutter guard abuts against the outwardly inclined segment  242  of the gutter  230  with the recess-engaging portion  68 ,  168  of the gutter guard  60 ,  160  being inserted in the inward recess  245  of the gutter  230 . 
     When the front portion  62 ,  162  of the gutter guard  60 ,  160  is engaged with the front portion  232  of the gutter  230 , the gutter guard  60 ,  160  is self-supporting, i.e. it will remain engaged with the front portion  232  of the gutter  230  and spaced-apart from the bottom wall  236  of the gutter  230 , even when the rear portion  66 ,  166  of the gutter guard  60 ,  160  is unfastened/unsecured/unengaged with the rear portion  234  of the gutter  230 . 
     While the above description provides examples of the embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments. Accordingly, what has been described above has been intended to be illustrative and non-limiting and it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.