Abstract:
A gutter cover assembly and corresponding methods of use, where the assembly is generally adapted for mounting on the edge of a roof and over an adjacent gutter. The assembly includes a cover adapted to extend over the edge of a roof and an adjacent gutter. The cover includes a mounting portion adapted for mounting on the roof, and a guard portion adapted to extend over the gutter to prevent leaves and debris from entering the gutter. The assembly also includes a support disposed under the guard portion to support the guard portion over the gutter. The cover is slideably disposed relative to the support before the cover is fixedly mounted on the roof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/553,506, filed Mar. 16, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The subject invention relates generally to gutter covers, and more specifically to gutter covers that can be installed on roofing decks having a variety of pitches, while providing venting through the roofing deck.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Rain gutters can be mounted on sides of buildings, just below a roofline to facilitate runoff of water from a roof. However, rain gutters can clog with debris such as leaves or twigs, rendering the rain gutter susceptible to backing up with rain or snow. Even worse, a clogged rain gutter can cause the buildup of snow or ice on the roof and form ice dams that can damage the roof and leak into the building. A number of gutter screens and shields exist to prevent debris from collecting in the gutter. However, screens need regular cleaning or they may become clogged by debris, preventing the flow of water from entering the gutter.  
         [0004]     Gutter covers that rely on the surface tension of water rather than using screens prevent debris from building up in the gutter and do not need regular cleaning. These covers typically allow rain to flow down a top segment of the cover and around the front. The rain continues to flow along an undersurface of the cover due to the surface tension of water. The rain eventually drops off the cover into the rain gutter. However, these covers have a number of drawbacks. First, the covers usually require that the cover be screwed into the gutter or supported by the installation of an additional bracket; or they may require the use of an extra clip to attach the gutter cover to the rain gutter. Screws connecting the cover to the rain gutter may cause leaks and cracks in the rain gutter. Extra brackets and clips that attach to the rain gutter can add complexity to the gutter cover installation and therefore may add cost to the consumer. Finally, not all gutter covers work on a variety of roof pitches.  
         [0005]     In addition, those skilled in the art of roofing provide ventilation to the building by cutting a hole in a roof deck just above a roofline. Air is able to reach the hole in the roof deck by installing an air vent between the roof deck and the shingles of the roof. The air vent provides a passage for air to travel from the attic to the outside and vice versa. However, air vents do not protect the rain gutters below the air vent from clogging. Thus, if the rain gutter clogs with debris, the rain or snow in the gutter may back up into the attic by traveling through the air vent. This may cause water damage inside the building including in the ceiling and down the inside of the walls. Moreover, mold may grow where the inside of the building got wet.  
         [0006]     Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a gutter cover or guard that prevents debris from entering gutters and that installs on a variety of roof pitches without any additional screws, brackets or clips.  
         [0007]     A related objective is to provide an effective and convenient system for roofers to install when putting a replacement roof on an existing home, where the system includes a gutter cover, a drip edge, an equivalent to a starter row of shingles, and possibly also a ventilation feature that permits ventilation to the building under the cover and through the roof deck.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0008]     According to one conception of the invention, there is a gutter cover assembly for mounting on the edge of a roof and over an adjacent gutter. The assembly comprises a cover adapted to extend over the edge of a roof and an adjacent gutter. The cover includes a mounting portion adapted for mounting on the roof, and a guard portion adapted to extend over the gutter to prevent leaves and debris from entering the gutter. The assembly also includes a support disposed under the guard portion to support the guard portion over the gutter. The cover is slideably disposed relative to the support before the cover is fixedly mounted on the roof.  
         [0009]     According to another conception of the invention, there is a novel method for protecting a roof edge and a gutter disposed adjacent the roof edge including the steps of: disposing a cover over the roof edge and the gutter; disposing a support in the gutter and under the cover for supporting the cover over the gutter; adjusting the cover relative to the gutter so that the cover extends over the gutter in a predetermined manner; and fixing the cover to the roof edge.  
         [0010]     According to yet another conception of the invention, there is a novel method for protecting a roof edge and a gutter disposed adjacent the roof edge. The method includes the steps of: forming a vent through the roof edge adjacent the gutter; covering the vent and the gutter with a cover; spacing the cover a predetermined distance away from the vent hole to permit venting through the vent; adjusting the cover over the gutter to extend over the gutter a predetermined distance; and fixing the cover to the roof edge.  
         [0011]     The invention in its various forms permits roofers with a simple and effective tool for addressing a number roofing issues with a single device. The result is that roofers are better able to provide a replacement roof that is effective and relatively inexpensive. 
     
    
     FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gutter cover assembly mounted on the edge of a roof and over an adjacent gutter;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  is an side view of the gutter cover in  FIG. 1  placed over a roof vent on a low pitch roof and having a guard in an adjusted position over an adjacent gutter;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a similar side view of the gutter cover in  FIG. 2A  with a mounting portion nailed to the low pitch roof;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2C  is a similar side view of the gutter cover in  FIG. 2A  with the guard in a properly adjusted position over the gutter;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2D  is a side view of the gutter cover in  FIG. 2C  with the guard nailed to the low pitch roof;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the gutter cover in  FIG. 1  extended over a high pitch roof and an adjacent gutter; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a support including a preferred set of angles for the support. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a gutter cover assembly is generally shown at  10 .  
         [0021]     Generally, the gutter cover assembly  10  prevents debris such as leaves or twigs from entering a rain gutter  12  attached below a roof  14  of a building  16  shown in  FIG. 1 . Gutter cover  10  assembly can also provide ventilation for building  16 . Gutter cover  10  assembly includes a guard generally indicated at  18 , a support generally indicated at  20 , a mounting portion generally indicated at  21 , and a ventilation structure generally indicated at  22 .  
         [0022]     Guard  18  includes a top planar segment  24  extending from an edge of roof deck  26  to a front wall  28  of the rain gutter  12  shown in  FIG. 1 . Top segment  24  connects to a rounded front segment  30  that extends above the front wall  28 . Front segment  30  does not touch the front wall  28 , thereby creating a gap  32  between front segment  30  and front wall  28 . Front segment  30  connects to a lower planar segment  34 , which extends under top segment  24 . Front segment  30  curves such that lower segment  34  would intersect with top segment  24  above roof deck  26  if lower segment  34  extended far enough. Lower segment  34  connects to a sliding planar segment  36 , which extends in parallel with lower segment  34  just under lower segment  34 . Sliding segment  36  connects to a stopper  38 . Stopper  38  is perpendicular to both lower segment  34  and sliding segment  36 . The area defined by top segment  24 , front segment  30  and lower segment  34  can either be hollow; or the area can be solid if top segment  24 , front segment  30  and lower segment  34  are made of one solid piece of material.  
         [0023]     Support  20  is adapted to rest on some support structure such as a horizontal pin  40  typically found in rain gutter  12 ; and support  20  provides the structure to support guard  18  as shown in  FIG. 2A . Horizontal pin  40  is typically an aluminum pin, nail or spike that holds rain gutter  12  to building  16 . Support  20  includes a top arm  42  that extends between lower segment  34  and sliding segment  36 . Arm  42  extends in parallel with both lower segment  34  and sliding segment  36 . Arm  42  connects to a front leg  44 , which extends perpendicularly away from lower segment  34 . Front leg  44  connects to a bottom leg or base  46 . Bottom leg  46  is adapted to rest on horizontal pin  40  within rain gutter  12 . Bottom leg  46  connects to a rear leg  48 , which extends upward toward sliding segment  36 . Front leg  44 , bottom leg  46 , and rear leg  48  can range in width, from slightly wider than horizontal pin  40  up to the same width of guard  18 . Arm  42  and front leg  44  define an angle  50 . Angle  50  is approximately a right angle. Front leg  44  and bottom leg  46  define an obtuse angle  52  and a corner  54 . Bottom leg  46  and rear leg  48  define an obtuse angle  56  and a corner  58 . In the preferred embodiment, Angle  50  is approximately 94 degrees, angle  52  is approximately 124 degrees, and angle  56  is approximately 104 degrees as shown in  FIG. 4 . However, each angle can have a variation of about plus or minus five degrees. These angles allow support  20  to provide the proper gap  32  between front wall  28  and front segment  30  over roof decks having a range of pitches.  
         [0024]     The ventilation structure  22  includes a first planar segment  60  extending from the top end of rear leg  48  shown in  FIG. 1 . First segment  60  connects to a drip edge  64 , which extends down and back as shown. Drip edge  64  is adapted to touch the rear edge of the gutter or the fascia board  62  at the end of the drip edge  64  opposite from first segment  60 . A second planar segment  66  connects to first segment  60  at the end where first segment  60  connects with rear leg  48 . Second segment  66  extends from first segment  60  over roof deck  26  and in parallel with sliding segment  36  and lower segment  34 . Second segment  66  continues into a front support projection  68 . Front support projection  68  extends toward top segment  24  and may touch the underside of top segment  24 . Front support projection  68  connects to a third planar segment  70  that extends down toward roof deck  26  in front of a ventilation gap  84 . Third segment  70  connects to a bottom plate  72 , which extends along the roofing deck toward the peak of roof  14 . Bottom plate  72  continues across ventilation gap  84  in roof deck  26  and beyond the beginning of a top plate  86 . A rear support projection  74  extends from bottom plate  72  just behind ventilation gap  84  in roof deck  26 . Rear support projection  74  extends toward top plate  86  and may touch top  86 . First segment  60 , third segment  70 , and bottom plate  72  define apertures that allow air to pass through the surfaces. The apertures may be a series of perforated vents. The apertures may also include an insect screen which may be made out of a mesh or netting material shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, the first segment  60  and drip edge  64  can be formed by folding their surfaces back upon themselves so that one continuous piece of material may be used to form the entire ventilation structure  22 . One consideration is that the drip edge  64  must be made of a solid piece of material, not a mesh or netting material. In another embodiment, the entire ventilation structure  22  can be comprised of two separate pieces of material welded together at drip edge  64  and possibly first segment  60 . The first piece of material would contain support  20 , a part of first segment  60 , and a part of drip edge  64 . The second piece of material would contain the other part of first segment  60 , the other part of drip edge  64 , second segment  66 , third segment  70 , and bottom plate  72 . Finally, the bottom plate  72  can be made of either solid material behind rear support projection  74  or out of the same porous material as first segment  60 .  
         [0025]     Mounting portion  21  includes top plate  86  and bottom plate  72 . Mounting portion  21  provides the structure to secure gutter cover  10  to roof deck  26  with roofing nails  82  shown in  FIG. 1 . Both top plate  86  and bottom plate  72  fit beneath a shingle  76  to minimize the visibility of mounting portion  21 .  
         [0026]     Gutter cover  10  prevents debris from entering rain gutter  12  while still allowing rain to run off roof  14  and into rain gutter  12  shown in  FIG. 1 . Guard  18  extends over rain gutter  12 , and thus blocks debris such as leaves or twigs from blowing into rain gutter  12  by eliminating a path for the debris to enter rain gutter  12 . Keeping rain gutter  12  free of debris prevents rain or snow from building up in rain gutter  12 , on roof  14 , under shingle  76  and from entering ventilation gap  84 . Yet, rain running off shingle  76  can still flow down top segment  24  and into rain gutter  12 . The surface tension of water allows the rain to flow from top segment  24 , continue around front segment  30  and behind front wall  28  before the rains falls into rain gutter  12 . The rounded shape of front segment  30  best facilitates the capillary flow of water from top segment  24  into rain gutter  12 . A sharp edge could cause water to drop off front segment  30  prior to flowing behind front wall  28  of the gutter  12 . Finally, gap  32  allows the rain to flow behind front wall  28  rather than down the outside of rain gutter  12 .  
         [0027]     Support  20  provides the structure for guard  18  to rest on horizontal pin  40  in rain gutter  12  while not touching front wall  28  shown in  FIG. 2A . Support  20  should be located as close to front segment  30  as possible. Horizontal pin  40  is installed in roughly the same position on the front of all gutters. However, horizontal pin  40  is not always installed straight. Thus, the space between horizontal pin  40  and the top of gutter  12  may vary in the rear of gutter  12 . In contrast, the space between horizontal pin  40  and the top of gutter  12  should remain relatively constant near the front of gutter  12 . Therefore, support  20  can properly provide the spacing required by placing support  20  close to front segment  30 . In addition, support  20  allows gutter cover  10  to work with roof pitches ranging from 3\12 to 12\12. Support  20  props guard  18  because lower segment  34  rests on top arm  42  and front leg  44 . At least one of the following, corner  54  or corner  58 , rests on horizontal pin  40  depending upon the pitch of roof  14 . On low pitch roofs such as 3\12, corner  58  rests on horizontal pin  40 , but corner  54  does not touch horizontal pin  40  shown in  FIG. 2A . Conversely, on high pitch roofs such as 12\12, corner  54  rests on horizontal pin  40 , but corner  58  does not touch horizontal pin  40  shown in  FIG. 3 . Thus, support  20  is able to prop guard  18  for a variety of roof pitches but still maintains the proper gap  32  for rain to pass between front segment  30  and front wall  28 . Moreover, support  20  allows gutter cover  10  to be installed over an existing rain gutter without the need for additional screws, brackets or clips.  
         [0028]     Ventilation structure  22  allows air to flow from outside building  16 , under gutter cover  10 , through ventilation gap  84  in roof deck  26  and into building  16 ; and it allows air to travel in the reverse direction. This airflow allows for ventilation of building  16 . Air is able to flow freely due to gap  32  between front segment  30  and front wall  28  and the apertures in first segment  60 , third segment  70 , bottom plate  72  and ventilation gap  84 . Front support projection  68  ensures a proper spacing between roof deck  26  and top segment  24  along with second segment  66 . Rear support projection  74  ensures a proper spacing between roof deck  26  and top segment  24  above ventilation gap  84 . The combination ventilation structure  22  with guard  18  provides proper building ventilation without the concerns associated with past roof deck ventilation systems. The combination of ventilation structure  22  and guard  18  provides proper ventilation while eliminating debris from causing a back up of rain or snow in rain gutter  12 . The elimination of the backup of rain or snow in rain gutter  12  further prevents water or snow from entering building  16  through ventilation gap  84  or damaging shingle  76  and roof deck  26 . Finally, by including drip edge  64 , gutter cover  10  eliminates the need to install a separate drip edge on building  16 , saving time and money. Drip edge  64  provides protection to fascia board  62  by diverting water coming off roof  14  away from fascia board. Because gutter cover  10  already provides a direct path for water to enter gutter  12 , drip edge  64  simply provides added protection.  
         [0029]     Mounting portion  21  simplifies the installation process as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2D . First, the bottom plate  72  is placed under shingle  76  so that rear support projection  74  is located just behind ventilation gap  84 , support  20  is resting on horizontal pin  40 , and drip edge  64  is touching the rear of the gutter or the fascia board  62  as shown in  FIG. 2A . Next, a roofing nail  82  is driven through bottom plate  72  behind rear support projection  74  into roof deck  26  as shown in  FIG. 2B . A second roofing nail  82  is driven through bottom plate  72  into roof deck  26  near third segment  70  in front of ventilation gap  84 . Guard  18  may slide freely along roof  14  at this point, while stopper  38  prevents guard  18  from sliding too far forward or backward.  FIG. 2A  shows guard  18  in the fully retracted position. The sliding feature of guard  18  allows gutter cover  10  to accommodate a variety of roof pitches. The distance between the end of roof deck  26  and front wall  28  will vary depending on the roof pitch. Therefore, a guard  18  that adjusts may be required. Guard  18  is able to slide because gutter cover  10  consists of at least two separate pieces of material. For example, guard  18  consists of one piece of material while support  20  and ventilation structure  22  consist of another piece of material. However, the individual components of each major section (guard  18 , support  20 , ventilation structure  22 , and mounting portion  21 ) can be comprised of separate segments joined together. The individual components can be joined together by known methods including, but not limited to the following: welding, bending, adhering, or tacking. Next, guard  18  should be slid forward until front segment  30  is slightly forward of front wall  28  with gap  32  between front segment  30  and front wall  28  as shown in  FIG. 2C . At this point, top plate  86  is nailed behind rear support projection  74  into roof deck  26  as shown in  FIG. 2D . Now gutter cover  10  is secured in its final orientation. Front support projection  68  and rear support projection  74  prevent top plate  86  from collapsing on bottom plate  72  after top plate  86  is nailed to roof deck  26 . Depending on the rigidity of the material composing top plate  86  and third segment  70 , the front support projection  68  may not be required. Moreover, the front support projection  68  and rear support projection  74  may be formed in many ways including, but not limited to the following: bending the material to form a projection, inserting a projecting object through bottom plate  72  or second segment  66 , or extruding material such as plastic or metal across bottom plate  72  or second segment  66 .  
         [0030]     Additional features may assist in installation of the gutter cover  10 . For example, a ridge  78  may be added to top segment  24  to align the guard with shingle  76  and prevent water or snow from creeping under shingle  76  shown in  FIG. 3 . Ridge  78  also slows water coming down roof  14 . Ridge  78  may be formed in many ways including, but not limited to the following: bending top plate  86  to form a projection or extruding material such as plastic or metal across top plate  86 . In addition, an adhesive strip  80  can be added between shingle  76  and top segment  24  to keep shingle  76  and top segment  24  held together. Adhesive strip  80  can also assist in preventing guard  18  from lifting off horizontal pin  40  during heavy winds by using shingle  76  as downward pressure on guard  18 .  
         [0031]     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Moreover, the reference numerals are merely for convenience and are not intended to be in any way limiting.