Patent Abstract:
A gutter guard device (A) is disclosed which includes an elongated, tubular frame (B) formed by a rolled and stamped sheet metal construction. The stamping process defines transverse bracing webs (30) and vertical flanges (32) which brace between front and rear tubular braces (10,14). Pivotal legs (22,24) carried by frame (B) allow for easy installation of the guard in a gutter (12). Spaced indicator brackets (26,28) assist the support of the front of the frame while providing visibility to determine location of the frame from the ground. A ladder may be leaned against the gutter between the indicator tabs.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for reinforcing and protecting a gutter with a ladder leaning against the gutter. In numerous instances, it is needed to lean an extension or other type ladder against a gutter for access to surrounding areas. The conventional gutter made from light weight aluminum or plastic cannot support this weight. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,365 discloses a device inserted in a gutter for supporting a ladder. While the device is satisfactory as a support, it is often awkward to insert into the gutter due to the long downward extending legs and the necessity of tightly fitting the front brace in the gutter lip. Further, once inserted, it is difficult to move and to locate in the gutter from the ground so that accurate ladder placement may be had. Other ladder supports are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,714,136; 4,696,131; 4,185,421; and 3,853,202. However, these supports related to quite different devices do not overcome the noted deficiencies. 
     Accordingly, an important object of the invention is to provide a gutter guard for reinforcing and protecting a gutter which is lightweight, strong, and may be readily moved and seen in the gutter for ladder placement from the ground. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a gutter guard for reinforcing a gutter against which a ladder is leaned which is lightweight and simple in construction facilitating packaging in a flat configuration and simple setup and insertion in the gutter. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a strong yet lightweight gutter guard for reinforcing and protecting a gutter against which a ladder is leaned which fits a variety of gutter types. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above objectives are accomplished according to the invention by providing a device for protecting a gutter while a ladder is supported against the gutter which includes an elongated frame having a front brace for bracing against a front portion of the gutter and a rear brace for bracing against a rear portion of the gutter. Transverse braces extend between the front brace and the rear brace for bracing the front and rear braces against the front and rear portions of the gutter. Easily positionable rear supports are carried by the frame for supporting the frame in an elevated brace position within the gutter. Spaced indicators are carried by the frame extending past the front portion of the gutter which are visible from a ground position for indicating the location of the frame in the gutter for placement of a ladder. Preferably, the rear support means includes a first movable leg carried near one end of the frame and a second movable leg carried near a second end of the frame. The first and second legs have a first folded position facilitating placement in the interior of the gutter and a second support position in which the legs support the frame in the bracing position. Preferably, the frame includes a front brace with a rolled tubular construction which includes at least a top wall, a front wall bent from the top wall, and a bottom wall bent from the front wall. The rear brace has a rolled tubular construction which includes a top wall, a front wall bent from the top wall, a bottom wall bent from the front wall, and at least a partial back wall bent from the bottom wall. The transverse braces include a horizontal web and a vertical flange bent down from the web. The vertical flange extends between the back walls of the front and rear braces. In this way, a very lightweight construction is provided by which the pivotal rear support legs can be easily installed and moved in the gutter. The folding legs also facilitate shipping as a flat package. The indicators on the front of the frame may be advantageously constructed as support tabs which engage the front of the gutter and support the front of the frame in the bracing position. By extending the tabs over the front of the gutter, they may be seen from the ground and provide indicators so that the guard may easily be seen from the ground. The tubular frame is lightweight for shipping and installation, but strong enough for supporting a ladder against the gutter. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. 
     The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 a perspective view illustrating the gutter guard device of the present invention installed within a gutter for reinforcing and protecting the gutter in the support of a ladder; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the gutter taken in section from a first end of the gutter guard installed in the gutter with a ladder leaning against the reinforced gutter; and 
     FIG. 6 is a view with an alternate type of gutter taken in section having an alternate embodiment of a gutter guard device constructed in accordance with the invention installed in the gutter for supporting a ladder. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now in more detail to the drawings, a device, designated generally as A, is illustrated for reinforcing and protecting a gutter while a ladder is supported against the gutter. The device comprises an elongated frame B having a front brace 10 for bracing against a front portion of the gutter 12 and a rear brace 14 for bracing against a rear portion of the gutter. Transverse brace means 16 extend between front brace 10 and rear brace 14 for bracing the front and rear braces against the front and rear portions of the gutter. Rear support means C is carried by the frame for supporting the frame in an elevated brace position within the gutter. Spaced indicator means D are carried by the frame extending past a front portion 12a of the gutter visible from a ground position for indicating the location of frame B in the gutter for placement of a ladder L. 
     Rear support means C includes a first movable leg 20 carried near a first end of the frame and a second movable leg 22 carried near a second end of the frame. Preferably, movable legs 20,22 are movable from a folded position (see partially folded position in dotted lines of FIG. 5), in which the frame may easily be inserted into the gutter, to a support position in which the frame is in an elevated brace position (FIGS. 1 and 5). Preferably, the legs are mounted to frame B and are movable in a pivotal movement provided by pivot means 24 which pivotally attach the first and second movable legs to the first and second ends of frame B. The first and second legs pivot between the folded and support positions. 
     The spaced indicator means D include a first tab 26 carried by the frame and a second tab 28 carried by the frame. The first and second tabs are spaced apart a distance equal to or greater than the width of a conventional extension ladder, and rest on an upper edge 12b of the front portion of the gutter to support front brace 10 and the frame in the elevated brace position. The ladder may be leaned against the gutter between the tabs with bracing by the frame supported in the gutter. 
     The transverse brace means 16 include a plurality of transverse braces having a horizontal web 30 and at least one generally vertical flange 32 generally orthogonal to the web. Preferably, two such vertical flanges are provided for each web 30 as can best be seen in FIG. 2. The front brace 10 has a tubular construction defined by a top wall 10a, front wall 10b, bottom wall 10c, and at least a partial back wall 10d. Rear brace 14 has a tubular construction defined by a top wall 14a, front wall 14b, bottom wall 14c, and at least a partial back wall 14d. Transverse braces 16 extend between the front and rear braces abutting against partial back walls 10d and 14d in a bracing relation. Preferably, the entire frame is made from a sheet metal stamped construction, although other materials and methods may also possibly be used. 
     Support means for frame B in a brace position within te gutter further includes indicator tabs 26,28 in the form of generally S-shaped front bracket means carried on the frame for securing a front of the frame to the front portion 12a of the gutter. Rear bracket means 40,42 may be carried on the frame B for securing the frame to a rear portion 12c of the gutter in addition, or in lieu of legs 20,22. Each rear bracket includes a gutter hook 40a,42a which hooks over the upper edge 12d of gutter 12 to support the gutter guard frame, and a frame hook 40b,42b which hooks over an edge 43 of rear brace 14, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the case of plastic or vinyl gutters, the gutter typically has a round configuration, as can best be seen in FIG. 6. In this case, front bracket means 44 may be used as front support means to attach the front of frame B over the front edge 48a of vinyl gutter 48. For this purpose, a front hook 44a is provided for each front bracket 44 which hooks over the front edge 48a. The overhanging front of hook 44a may in this case serve as indicator means extending past the front portion of the gutter being visible from the ground for determining the position of the frame in the gutter. A shank 44b is attached to a web 30 of frame B having a downturned tab 44c received in a slot 48 in web 30, as can best be seen in FIG. 6. A rear bracket 49 having a hook 49a, shank 49b, and tab 49c similarly disposed attaches frame B to a rear gutter edge. Each support bracket 26,28,44 and 49 may be attached to metal frame B by using conventional sheet metal screws 50. 
     In accordance with the method of the invention, frame B is produced in a lightweight construction yet still having strength for protecting a gutter while a ladder is leaned against the gutter by the following steps. A piece of sheet metal is first provided. A plurality of rectangular openings 60 are stamped and cut in the metal sheet to define the plurality of webs 30 extending transversely between front and rear strips of the sheet metal from which the front and rear braces 10 and 14 are subsequently formed by roll bending of the respective walls. A cut side strip is left attached only to webs 30 extending outwardly from one side of each web from edges of the rectangular opening. The side strips are then bent downwardly into vertical flanges 32. The front and rear strips are formed into tubular front and rear braces by bending the strips to define a respective top wall, front wall, and bottom wall at each of the front and rear braces. The vertical flanges brace between the front and rear tubular braces by bending the cut side strip downwardly from each web. At least a partial back wall 10d,14d is formed for each of the front and rear tubular braces by bending each strip of sheet metal upwardly from the bottom walls, and contacting the back walls with the transverse vertical flange for bracing the front and rear braces with a ladder leaning against the gutter. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4