Patent Publication Number: US-9422722-B2

Title: Mesh gutter cover

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/994,418, entitled “Mesh Gutter Cover,” filed on May 16, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Homeowners can periodically clean out their gutters by climbing atop the roof or standing on a ladder. As an alternative, products have been created to prevent leaves and other debris from entering the rain gutters, such as gutter covers. These allow water to flow into the gutter but prevent leaves and other debris from doing so by various methods. Some gutter cover use a mesh screen to prevent the leaves and other debris from entering the gutter. However, the mesh screens are not structurally strong enough without support being provided below them. In addition, many of the mesh screens are made from two different metals, which allow electrolysis to occur between the metals and rusting. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A gutter cover for a roof gutter comprises a mesh screen, a roof attachment, a gutter attachment, and one or more ribs. The mesh screen is fashioned to extend longitudinally in overlying relation to a length of gutter and comprises a rear edge and a front edge. The roof attachment is a sheet of metal or vinyl attached to the rear edge of the mesh screen. The gutter attachment is a sheet of metal or vinyl attached to the front edge of the mesh screen. A rib comprises a sheet of metal or vinyl attached to the mesh screen and is formed into one or more longitudinally extending ridges. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments, and together with the general description given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross section view of an embodiment of the gutter cover. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross section view of an embodiment of the gutter cover. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section view of an embodiment of the gutter cover. 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the gutter cover mounted on a gutter. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the gutter cover of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A gutter cover ( 10 ) for a roof gutter comprises a mesh screen ( 20 ), a roof attachment ( 30 ), a gutter attachment ( 40 ), and one or more ribs ( 50 ). The mesh screen ( 20 ) is fashioned to extend longitudinally in overlying relation to a length of gutter and comprises a rear edge ( 21 ) and a front edge ( 22 ). The roof attachment ( 30 ) is a sheet of metal or vinyl attached to the rear edge ( 21 ) of the mesh screen ( 20 ). The gutter attachment ( 40 ) is a sheet of metal or vinyl attached to the front edge ( 22 ) of the mesh screen ( 20 ). A rib ( 50 ) comprises a sheet of metal or vinyl attached to the mesh screen ( 20 ) and is formed into one or more longitudinally extending ridges ( 51 ). In some embodiments, the entire gutter cover is made of the same material such as plastic or metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum. 
     The mesh screen allows water to flow through the gutter cover and into the gutter while preventing leaves and other debris from doing so. The size of the openings and the thickness of the threads used to form the mesh screen ( 20 ) can be varied to change the flexibility of the mesh screen ( 20 ) or the size of the mesh. The mesh screen is formed from interwoven threads. In some embodiments, the interwoven threads defining the mesh screen comprise a plurality of stainless steel or aluminum threads. In some embodiments, the interwoven threads defining the mesh screen comprise a plurality of plastic threads. In some embodiments, the mesh screen has a mesh of from about 24 to about 280, such as from about 24 to about 30, about 30 to about 50, about 50 to about 80, and about 80 to about 280. In some embodiments, the diameter of the interwoven threads is between about 0.0015 inches and about 0.0055 inches. 
     The roof attachment ( 30 ) is coupled with mesh screen ( 20 ) to reinforce rear edge ( 21 ) of mesh screen ( 20 ) to provide a sturdy portion to mount the rear edge ( 21 ) of the gutter cover ( 10 ) to the roof, typically under the shingles. The roof attachment is attached to the roof by a fastener, such as a nail or screw. The fastener passes through a hole in the roof attachment ( 30 ) to fasten the gutter cover ( 10 ) to the roof. The roof attachment ( 30 ) is made from a sheet of metal. In some embodiments the roof attachment ( 30 ) is welded to the mesh screen ( 20 ). Other suitable methods for coupling the roof attachment ( 30 ) to the mesh screen ( 20 ) will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein, such as but not limited to adhesives, fasteners, etc. In some embodiments the roof attachment ( 30 ) is wrapped around the rear edge ( 21 ) of the mesh screen, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In some other embodiments the roof attachment ( 30 ) is aligned with the rear edge ( 21 ) of the mesh screen ( 20 ), as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Other suitable configurations for the roof attachment ( 30 ) will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. In some embodiments the roof attachment ( 30 ) comprises one or more longitudinally extending ridges ( 51 ). 
     The gutter attachment ( 40 ) is coupled with mesh screen ( 20 ) to reinforce the front edge ( 22 ) of the mesh screen ( 20 ) to provide a sturdy area to mount the front edge ( 22 ) of the gutter cover ( 10 ) to the front lip of the gutter. In some embodiments, the gutter attachment ( 40 ) is screwed to the front lip of the gutter, such as by zip screws. The gutter attachment ( 40 ) is made from a sheet of metal. In some embodiments the gutter attachment ( 40 ) is welded to the mesh screen ( 20 ). Other suitable methods for coupling the gutter attachment ( 40 ) to the mesh screen ( 20 ) will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein, such as but not limited to adhesives, fasteners, etc. 
     In some embodiments the front end of the gutter attachment ( 40 ) is bent downwardly. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the front end of the gutter attachment is aligned with the front edge ( 22 ) of the mesh screen ( 20 ) such that the mesh screen ( 20 ) is also bent downwardly to correspond to the gutter attachment ( 40 ). In some other embodiments, the front of gutter attachment ( 40 ) extends beyond the front edge ( 22 ) of the mesh screen ( 20 ). Accordingly, the front of the gutter attachment ( 40 ) is configured to engage the inside lip of the gutter to hold the gutter cover ( 10 ) on the gutter. Still other suitable configurations for the gutter attachment ( 40 ) will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. 
     In some embodiments, the gutter attachment ( 40 ) comprises a ledge ( 11 ) and a front rim ( 12 ). The ledge extends generally horizontally outwardly from the front edge ( 22 ) of the mesh screen ( 20 ) to the front rim ( 12 ). The front rim ( 12 ) of the gutter attachment ( 40 ) is bent rearward and extends generally horizontally inwardly underneath the ledge ( 11 ) to the clip ( 13 ). The clip ( 13 ) then extends downwardly from the front rim ( 23 ) and is fashioned to attach to the gutter ( 60 ). The clip ( 13 ) engages the inside lip of the gutter and holds the gutter cover ( 10 ) on the gutter ( 60 ). In some embodiments the front rim ( 12 ) additionally comprises a weir ( 14 ). In some embodiments, the gutter attachment ( 10 ) comprises one or more longitudinally extending ridges ( 51 ) between the ledge ( 11 ) and the front rim ( 12 ). In some embodiments gutter attachment ( 10 ) comprises holes ( 15 ) in the ledge ( 11 ), as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     At least one rib ( 50 ) is attached with mesh screen ( 20 ) to reinforce and provide stiffness to the mesh screen ( 20 ) and the gutter cover ( 10 ) at selected areas. A rib ( 50 ) is a thin, long piece of sheet metal attached to the mesh screen ( 20 ) in a desired area between the rear edge ( 21 ) and the front edge ( 22 ) of the mesh screen ( 20 ). The rib ( 50 ) can be attached to the top of the mesh screen ( 20 ) or below the mesh screen ( 20 ). The rib ( 50 ) is typically made from the same metal as the mesh, such as plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel. The rib ( 50 ) is sufficiently rigid to provide reinforcement to the mesh screen ( 20 ). The rib ( 50 ) is welded to the mesh screen ( 20 ). In some embodiments the rib ( 50 ) is continuously welded to the mesh screen ( 20 ). In some embodiments the rib ( 50 ) is spot welded to the mesh screen ( 20 ). Other suitable methods for attaching the rib ( 50 ) to the mesh screen ( 20 ) will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein, such as but not limited to adhesives, fasteners, etc. In some embodiments, the rib ( 50 ) further comprises openings to allow water to drain through the rib ( 50 ). 
     In some embodiments, there is one rib, two ribs, three ribs, or any other suitable number of ribs to provide selective reinforcement to the mesh screen ( 20 ). The ribs ( 50 ) only cover a portion of the mesh screen ( 20 ). A rib ( 50 ) comprises at least one longitudinally extending ridge ( 51 ). In some embodiments, there is one ridge, two ridges, three ridges, or any other suitable number of ridges extending longitudinally ridges on at least one rib ( 50 ). A ridge is a raised portion of the rib. It is raised in relation to both sides of ridge ( 51 ), which are planar or nearly planar. Accordingly, the ridge ( 51 ) is configured to divert water towards mesh screen ( 20 ) to allow the water to drain through the mesh screen ( 20 ). While  FIGS. 1-3  show the ridge ( 51 ) as having a curved profile, but any other suitable shape for ridge ( 51 ) may be used. In some embodiments, the ridge ( 51 ) is flat on top, has a dimple, or is has a peak on top.  FIGS. 1-3  further show the mesh screen ( 20 ) as having ridges that correspond to ridges ( 51 ) of rib ( 50 ). In some other embodiments, the mesh screen ( 20 ) is substantially flat such that ridges ( 51 ) of rib ( 50 ) extend away from the mesh screen ( 20 ). Still other suitable configurations for ridges ( 50 ) will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. 
       FIGS. 1-3  depict a gutter cover ( 10 ) comprising a mesh screen ( 20 ), a roof attachment ( 30 ), a gutter attachment ( 40 ), and one rib ( 50 ). In  FIG. 1 , there are two longitudinally extending ridges ( 51 ) on the rib ( 50 ). In  FIG. 2 , there is one longitudinally extending ridge ( 51 ) on the rib ( 50 ). In  FIG. 3 , there are three longitudinally extending ridges ( 51 ) on the rib ( 50 ). Of course, any other suitable number of ribs ( 50 ) and/or ridges ( 51 ) can be used as will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. 
       FIG. 4  depicts the gutter cover ( 10 ) installed on a gutter ( 60 ). The roof attachment ( 30 ) is attached to the roof under the shingles. The gutter attachment ( 40 ) is clipped onto the inside lip of the gutter ( 60 ). The gutter cover ( 10 ) has three ribs ( 50 ), each with a single longitudinally extending ridge ( 51 ). 
       FIG. 5  depicts the gutter cover ( 10 ) of  FIG. 4 , but not installed on a gutter. The gutter attachment ( 40 ) comprises a ledge ( 11 ) and a front rim ( 12 ). The ledge extends generally horizontally to the front rim ( 12 ). The front rim ( 12 ) of the gutter attachment is bent rearward underneath the ledge to the clip ( 13 ). 
     While the present disclosure has illustrated by description several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications may readily appear to those skilled in the art.