Patent Abstract:
A gutter guard includes a first inclined section for insertion below shingles of a roof; a second inclined section; and a securing section securing a front end of the gutter guard to a gutter of the roof. A first S-shaped drainage section connects the first inclined section to the second inclined section, and is positioned above an open end of the gutter for draining water thereinto. A second drainage section connects the second inclined section with the securing section, and is positioned above the open end of the gutter for draining water thereinto. The drainage sections each include a forwardly facing convex surface around which water travels, and openings at positions below the convex surfaces through which water exits into the gutter. A heating wire is positioned in the S-shaped drainage section.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to guards for rain gutters on buildings, and more particularly, is directed to a gutter guard having two drainage sections and a heating mechanism associated therewith. 
   It is well-known to provide guards on top of gutters to prevent leaves from falling into the gutters, while permitting water to drain into the gutters. Examples of known arrangements presently being sold are, for example, the system sold under the registered trademark “GUTTER TOPPER” by Gutter Topper Ltd., L.L.C. Of Amelia, Ohio; the system sold under the registered trademark “GUTTER CAP” by Selective Seamless Siding Co. of Naperville, Ill.; and the system sold under the registered trademark “LEAFPROOF” by Eran Industries, Inc. of Omaha, Nebr. 
   In these systems, the gutter guard includes a sheet of metal that covers the gutter, and has a curved forward end that extends back into the gutter. Thus, leaves and the like are prevented from entering the gutter, but because of surface tension, water flows along the forward curvature of the guard and falls through small openings thereat into the gutter, where the water is carried away to the down spout. 
   One problem with these systems is that during a heavy water flow, because of the large volume of water, much of the rain water will tend to fall off the roof from the curved end of the gutter guard, rather than flow around the curved end into the gutter. In such case, the gutter guard, although preventing leaves and the like from entering the gutter, does not provide the function of guiding the rain water into the gutter. 
   In an attempt to solve this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,775 to Demartini discloses a gutter guard in which there are bumps to slow down the velocity of the rain water so that it travels around the bend into the gutter. U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,891 to Albracht discloses a gutter guard having water slowing means in the form of an S-shaped bend spaced rearwardly of the forward curved portion. 
   However, the problem with these approaches is that, during heavy rain, there is still too much rain water, so that much of the rain water will still fall off the roof from the curved end of the gutter guard, and will not travel by surface tension around the curved front end, into the gutter. 
   Another problem with such gutter guards is that ice and snow tend to accumulate thereon, which impedes the flow of water, and or, defeats the surface tension aspect so that the water falls from the roof at the curved end of the gutter guard. 
   Various proposals have been presented for adding heating elements to gutter guards in order to avoid this problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,696 to Schroeder discloses a gutter guard having heating elements as lengthwise extending strips on the flat upper surface portion of the gutter guard. U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,526 to Taouil discloses bent, raised portions extending along the length thereof, with heating cables positioned to the lower surface of the bent, raised portions. The heating cables are positioned between the roof and the gutter guard. In order to retain the heating cables in place during assembly, a dielectric adhesive-tape secures the cables in the bent, raised portions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,563 to Tiburzi discloses modular ice and snow removal heating panels for a gutter guard system having a built-in flexible heating layer. 
   However, none of these proposals are entirely satisfactory in that they are complex and burdensome to assemble, and are costly. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gutter guard that overcomes the problems with the aforementioned prior art. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a gutter guard having two spaced apart drainage sections, both of which drain separately into the gutter. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide a gutter guard in which the first drainage section removes water during a heavy rain so that the remaining water travels around the curved free end by surface tension into the gutter through the second drainage section. 
   It is a yet another object of the present invention to provide a gutter guard in which the first and second drainage sections have similar shapes and functions. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gutter guard having a heating wire mounted in the upstream first drainage section for heating the gutter guard to melt any snow or ice thereon. 
   It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a gutter guard in which the S-shape of the upstream first drainage section holds, secures and protects the heating wire. 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a gutter guard includes a first inclined section of water impervious material having a rear end adapted for insertion below shingles of a roof of a building; a second inclined section of water impervious material; and a securing section for securing a front end of the gutter guard to a gutter of the building. A first drainage section connects a front end of the first inclined section to a rear end of the second inclined section. When the rear end of the first inclined section is inserted below the shingles and the securing section is secured to the gutter, the first drainage section is positioned above an open end of the gutter for draining water thereinto. A second drainage section connects a front end of the second inclined section with the securing section. When the rear end of the first inclined section is inserted below the shingles and the securing section is secured to the gutter, the second drainage section is positioned above the open end of the gutter for draining water thereinto. 
   The first or second drainage sections, and preferably both, include a forwardly facing convex surface around which water travels; and at least one opening at a position below the forwardly facing convex surface through which water traveling around the forwardly facing convex surface exits into the gutter. 
   Specifically, the first drainage section includes an S-shaped bend including an upper forwardly facing convex surface over which water travels and a lower forwardly facing concave surface having the at least one opening therein. The upper forwardly facing convex surface has an upper edge connected with a front edge of the first inclined section, and the lower forwardly facing concave surface has a lower edge connected with a rear edge of the second inclined surface. Preferably, there are a plurality of openings in the lower forwardly facing concave surface that extend to a height which is at least equal to one-half the height of the lower forwardly facing concave surface, and more preferably, the openings also extend at least partially in the upper forwardly facing convex surface. 
   The second drainage section includes a channel below the forwardly facing convex surface thereof, and the at least one opening is provided in at least one wall of the channel. Preferably, there are a plurality of the openings in the at least one wall of the channel. More preferably, the channel is a U-shaped channel and the openings are provided in adjacent bottom and side walls of the channel. The securing section is connected with a front portion of the channel of the second drainage section. 
   The securing section includes an inverted U-shaped channel adapted to fit over a front upper edge of a gutter. 
   There is further a heating device positioned in the first drainage section for heating the gutter guard to melt any snow and ice thereon. The heating device includes a heating wire, and the heating wire is positioned at the lower forwardly facing concave surface. In one embodiment, the heating wire is fixed to the lower forwardly facing concave surface. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gutter guard according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the gutter guard; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the gutter guard in its installed condition; and 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the gutter guard, viewed along line  4 — 4  of the  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to  FIGS. 1–4  thereof, a gutter guard  10  according to the present invention includes an elongated thin metal sheet  12  bent in a particular manner for fitting over a gutter  14  to prevent leaves and other debris from entering gutter  14 , while still permitting water to enter gutter  14 . It will be appreciated that the side to side length of gutter guard  10  is preferably made of a generally very long section, for example, five feet long, and is merely shown in a reduced length scale for purposes of illustration herein. Further, in the general concept of the present invention, a material other than metal can be used, such as plastic or other water impervious material. Preferably, as will be appreciated from the discussion hereafter, the material is a heat conducting material. 
   Specifically, metal sheet  12  includes an upper inclined, substantially planar section  16  of a generally rectangular shape, having an inclination relative to the horizontal of about 15°–25°. The upper free edge  18  of upper inclined section  16  is intended to be slipped under shingles  20  or shakes on a roof  22  of a building, so that any rain water which falls from roof  22  continues falling on the upper surface of upper inclined section  16 . Upper inclined section  16  extends at the same pitch as roof  22 , and extends outwardly from roof  22  to a position above gutter  14 . Upper inclined section  16  can also be formed with various small bends, such as the triangular shaped bend  24  or stepped bend  26  shown in  FIG. 1 . Bends  24  and  26  function as stiffening ribs. Triangular shaped bend  24  may also aid in slowing down the flow rate of any rain water. 
   An S-shaped bend  28  forming a first drainage section extends down from the lower edge  30  of upper planar section  16  such that the upper edge  32  of S-shaped bend  28  is integrally secured as one-piece with the lower edge  30  of upper planar section  16 . S-shaped bend  28  thereby includes an upper forwardly facing convex surface  34  over which water travels and a lower forwardly facing concave surface  36 . Concave surface  36  includes a plurality of openings  38  extending therealong. Although the openings are shown in an oval or oblong shape, the present invention is not limited thereby. Openings  38  also extend upwardly so that openings  38  preferably extend at least partially in upper convex surface  34 . With such an arrangement, some of the water traveling from upper inclined section  16  to S-shaped bend  28 , travels around upper convex surface  34  by means of surface tension and then travels through openings  38  into gutter  14 . This reduces the amount of rain water traveling to the next section. 
   Metal sheet  12  further includes a lower inclined, substantially planar section  40  of a generally rectangular shape, having the same inclination relative to the horizontal of about 15°–25°. The upper edge  42  of lower planar section  40  is connected with the lower edge  44  of lower forwardly facing concave surface  36  of S-shaped bend  28 . As a result of S-shaped bend  28 , it will be appreciated that lower inclined planar section  40  is parallel with, but spaced lower than, upper inclined planar section  16 . 
   A bullnose section  46  extends down from the lower edge  48  of lower inclined planar section  40  such that the upper edge  50  of bullnose section  46  is integrally secured as one-piece with the lower edge  48  of lower inclined planar section  40 . Bullnose section  46  thereby includes a forwardly facing convex surface  52  over which water travels. With such an arrangement, the remaining-water traveling from lower inclined section  40  to bullnose section  46 , travels around forwardly facing convex surface  52  by means of surface tension. 
   Metal sheet  12  further includes a U-shaped channel section  54  integrally formed at the lower edge  56  of bullnose section  46 . Specifically, U-shaped channel section  54  includes a rear vertically oriented wall  58  having an upper edge  60  integrally secured as one-piece with the lower edge  56  of bullnose section  46 , a lower horizontally oriented wall  62  having a rearward edge  64  secured as one-piece with the lower edge  66  of rear vertically oriented wall  58 , and a front vertically oriented wall  68  having a lower edge  70  secured as one-piece with the forward edge  72  of lower horizontally oriented wall  62 . 
   A plurality of openings  74  are formed at the connection between rear vertically oriented wall  58  and lower horizontally oriented wall  62 . Openings  74  extend approximately to one-half the height of rear vertically oriented wall  58  and one-half the width of lower horizontally oriented wall  62 . Although openings  74  are shown in an oval or oblong shape, the present invention is not limited thereby. With such an arrangement, the remaining water traveling from lower inclined section  40  to bullnose section  46 , travels around forwardly facing convex surface  52  by means of surface tension and then travels through openings  74  into gutter  14 . 
   Bullnose section  46  and U-shaped channel section  54  together from a second drainage section. 
   Metal sheet  12  further includes an inverted U-shaped channel section  76  integrally connected as one-piece at the upper edge  78  of front vertically oriented wall  68 , in order to secure the forward end of gutter guard  10  to the upper bent front end  79  of gutter  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Specifically, inverted U-shaped channel section  76  is formed by front vertically oriented wall  68 , an upper horizontally oriented wall  80  having a rearward edge  82  secured as one-piece with the upper edge  78  of front vertically oriented wall  68 , and a frontmost vertically oriented wall  86  having an upper edge  88  secured as one-piece with the forward edge  90  of upper horizontally oriented wall  80 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper edge  79  of gutter  14  includes an inward L-shaped bent section formed from an upwardly extending wall  92  and a rearwardly extending horizontal wall  94  having its front edge secured to the upper edge of upwardly extending wall  92 . Inverted U-shaped channel section  76  is preferably friction fit over the L-shaped bent section such that rearwardly extending horizontal wall  94  fits snugly between front vertically oriented wall  68  and frontmost vertically oriented wall  86 , and is positioned immediately below upper horizontally oriented wall  80 . In this manner, the rear end of gutter guard  10  is secured under roof shingles  20  and the front end of gutter guard  10  is secured to L-shaped bent section  90  of gutter  14 . If desired, although not required, in order to provide a greater securement to gutter  14 , nails, screws or the like  96  can secure upper horizontally oriented wall  80  to rearwardly extending horizontal wall  94 . 
   With the arrangement thus far described, the rain falling from roof shingles  20  will fall along the upper surface of upper inclined section  16  to S-shaped bend  28 . Some of the rain will travel around upper convex surface  34  by means of surface tension and then travel through openings  38  into gutter  14 . This reduces the amount of rain water traveling to the next section. The remaining water will travel around forwardly facing convex surface  52  by means of surface tension and then travel through openings  74  into gutter  14 . In this manner, during heavy downpours, S-shaped bend  28  and the openings  38  therein will reduce the amount of rain traveling around bullnose section  46 . This will substantially reduce the possibility of rain falling off the roof from bullnose section  46 . 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an insulated heating wire  98  is positioned in lower forwardly facing concave surface  36  of S-shaped bend  28 , and secured thereto by adhesive  100  or the like. Alternatively, adhesive  100  can be eliminated, and heating wire  98  can be merely positioned in lower forwardly facing concave surface  36  of S-shaped bend  28 . 
   Heating wire  98  heats the metal of metal sheet  12  of gutter guard  10  by being in contact therewith. As a result, any snow or ice that forms on gutter guard  10  is melted and does not impede the flow of water to gutter  14 . Because of the S-shaped bend  28 , heating wire  98  fits within lower forwardly facing concave surface  36  of S-shaped bend  28 . This differs from conventional heating wires that are merely positioned on the upper exposed surface of the gutter guards where they are more readily exposed to the elements and can more easily become dislodged, and from heating wires that are formed at the lower surface of the gutter guards, which are more complicated and burdensome to assemble. With this arrangement of the present invention, heating wire  98  is less prone to escape from lower forwardly facing concave surface  36 , and at the same time, is protected at least partially from the elements. 
   It will further be appreciated that, because openings  38  extend upwardly to an extent preferably at least partially in upper convex surface  34 , the upper ends of openings  38  are at a height which is above heating wire  98 . As a result, water traveling around upper forwardly facing convex surface  34 , will fall through openings  38  before substantially hitting heating wire  98 . The remaining water will fall like a waterfall onto lower planar section  40  without substantially impinging upon heating wire  98 . 
   Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4