Abstract:
An end cap for rain gutters having an overlying cover for deflecting leaves and other debris to prevent gutter and downspout clogging. The end cap includes a gutter trough closure region, for blocking water flow from the end of the gutter, and a second, above-trough closure region for blocking entry of leaves and other debris into the end of the gutter between the gutter trough and the overlying cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a rain gutter end cap. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rain gutter end cap that is physically connected with a gutter end and also with a bracket positioned within the gutter and adjacent to the gutter end.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Rain gutters are generally open troughs that are arranged along the roof line of a building and in a position to catch surface water runoff from a pitched roof. A gutter is usually connected with a fascia board on the building and includes one or more downspouts to carry away the roof water runoff and direct it in a desired direction away from the building. Because open gutters are U-shaped, end caps are installed at the gutter open ends, so that the water collected by the gutter does not flow out the open ends of the gutter, and either along the outer wall of the building, which could cause building damage, or directly onto the ground below, which cold cause erosion damage or undesired splashing.  
         [0005]     The commonly installed open gutters are susceptible to clogging by leaves and other debris that may be blown onto the roof. When the downspout becomes clogged one must remove the clogged material so the gutter does not overflow and defeat the purpose for installing it in the first place. Removal of such collected material is most often accomplished by manually removing it, which usually requires mounting a ladder to access the gutter downspout opening to enable the clogging materials to be removed. To solve the gutter cleaning problem and to prevent gutter clogging various gutter designs have been developed over the years in which a cover is supported above the gutter trough opening to act as a deflector of leaves and debris, so that they do not enter the gutter to accumulate and clog the downspout opening. However, gutter end caps provided on such covered gutters commonly extend completely across the gutter end opening, but not above the front edge of the gutter, which could allow leaves and debris to be blown by the wind into the gap between the top edge of the gutter end cap and the gutter cover panel. Additionally, gutter end caps are most commonly attached directly to the gutter ends, such as by crimping, which is not always a completely secure connection.  
         [0006]     There is thus a need for a gutter end cap that closes off the entire end of a covered gutter and that is securely connected to the gutter in such a way as to allow it to be permanently retained on the gutter.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a rain gutter end cap is provided for covering the entire open end of a gutter having a leaf- and debris-deflecting cover panel. The end cap includes an end panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, and having a perimeter with a predetermined peripheral shape to completely close the gutter end. A first connection means is carried by the end panel for connecting the end cap with an end of the gutter. A second connection means is provided that is carried by the end panel for connecting the end cap with a support bracket carried within the gutter for supporting the gutter cover panel.  
         [0008]     In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention the first connection means is a peripheral slot that receives the end of the gutter.  
         [0009]     In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention the second connection means includes at least one aperture in the end panel for receiving a connecting member for connection with the gutter support bracket. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an end perspective view of the outer surface of an embodiment of a gutter end cap.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an end view of the inner surface of the gutter end cap shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the gutter end cap shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a left side view of the gutter end cap shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a right side view of the gutter end cap shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the gutter end cap shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 3  and showing one form of connection member positioned on the end cap inner surface for engagement with a gutter bracket.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary perspective view of a gutter including the end cap of  FIG. 1  attached to an end of the gutter that has a top, debris-blocking cover. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     Referring to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 3  thereof, there is shown an end cap  10  that is configured so that it can be applied at an end of a gutter that includes a trough and a gutter cover panel that overlies the trough and serves as a leaf and debris deflector. End cap  10  includes an end panel  12  that is substantially flat, although it could be slightly convex or concave, if desired. End panel  12  includes an outer face  14  and an inner face  16 , and it has a perimeter that corresponds in shape with that of the cross section that is defined by the gutter and its cover panel, so that when the end cap is applied to an end of the gutter it completely closes the end of the gutter-cover assembly. Although only a left hand end cap is shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a right hand end cap will be the mirror image of the left hand end cap.  
         [0021]     Positioned along the perimeter of end panel  12  is a peripheral flange  18  that extends from end panel  12  in a direction toward the gutter to which end cap  10  it is intended to be applied. Flange  18  is substantially perpendicular to inner face  16  and is a substantially continuous outer peripheral wall that defines an end cap top wall  20 , an end cap rear wall  22 , an end cap bottom wall  24 , and an end cap front wall  26 . Top wall  20  and rear wall  22  define an included angle of less than 90°, because the gutter cover panel slopes downwardly away from the building to which the gutter is attached, to allow the roof runoff to flow toward the front of the gutter. Bottom wall  24  is substantially perpendicular to rear wall  22 , while front wall  26  has a shape that corresponds with that of the front wall of the gutter. As shown herein, front wall  26  is convexly curved and includes a first outward projection  28  that corresponds in shape with the cross-sectional shape of the front lip of the gutter, and a second outward projection  30  that corresponds in shape with the cross-sectional shape of a front lip of the gutter cover panel.  
         [0022]     As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , spaced inwardly of a portion of end cap rear wall  22 , and parallel thereto, is a first inner wall  32 . Similarly, spaced inwardly of and parallel to end cap bottom wall  24  is a second inner wall  34 , and spaced inwardly of a portion of front wall  26  and parallel thereto is a third inner wall  36 . Inner walls  32 ,  34 , and  36  together with outer walls  22 , 24 , and  26  define a slot that has spacing corresponding substantially with the wall thickness of the corresponding gutter panels so that end cap  10  fits snugly on the end of the gutter when it is installed.  
         [0023]     As seen in  FIG. 1 , outer face  14  of end panel  12  includes a pair of apertures  38 ,  40 . In that regard, connecting screws are inserted into apertures  38 ,  40  to securely connect end cap  10  with an inner gutter bracket having correspondingly positioned openings, so that the end cap can be screwed to the bracket and thereby remain securely in place. Additionally, extending inwardly from inner face  16  of end cap  10 , and aligned with respective apertures  38 ,  40  is a pair of bosses  42 ,  44 , which include respective passageways  46 ,  48  that are aligned with respective ones of apertures  38 ,  40 . Bosses  42 ,  44  have a length such that the free ends of the bosses are adapted to contact the gutter bracket. Passageways  46 ,  48  serve to guide the connecting screws to contact the bracket at correspondingly positioned screw-receiving apertures in the bracket.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 4 through 7  show the outer surfaces of the different walls that define perimeter flange  18  of the end cap.  
         [0025]     As an alternative method of connecting the end cap with the gutter bracket, the bosses  42 ,  44  can carry engagement elements that are received in the adjacent gutter bracket for interconnecting the end cap with the bracket.  FIG. 8  shows one such alternative possible form of engagement element, in the form of a flexible, wedge-shaped end  50  formed on the outer end of the extended bosses  42 ,  44 . End  50  includes one or more inclined arms  52  and is sized so that it fits into corresponding apertures in the gutter bracket and passes therethrough so that arms  52  extend from the opposite side of the bracket and engage the bracket side to prevent removal of the associated boss from the bracket. A further alternative can be an interference fit between extended bosses  42 ,  44  and a corresponding aperture formed in the gutter bracket.  
         [0026]     As will be apparent from the foregoing, and as best seen in  FIG. 9 , the present invention provides an end cap  10  that includes a first, gutter-trough closure region  54  and a second, above-trough closure region  56 . First region  54  serves to block the flow of water within gutter trough  58  so that the water does not flow out from the gutter ends, to thereby confine the water to instead exit from the gutter through one or more downspouts (not shown). Second region  56  serves to block the area between gutter trough  58  and a gutter cover panel  60 , an area that would otherwise be open, to prevent the entry of leaves or other debris into the gutter from an otherwise open gutter end.  
         [0027]     Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended to encompass within the appended claims all such changes and modifications that fall with the scope of the present invention.