Gutter Guard

Abstract

An eavestrough (10) formed from a single piece of material, the eavestrough (10) having a rear wall (12), a front wall (16) and a bottom wall (14) extending between the rear wall (12) and the front wall (16), and a perforated top wall (18) extending between the rear wall (12) and the front wall (16), the top wall engaging a rear surface (22) of the rear in a locking relationship. The bottom wall and the front wall have recesses (15) and (22) for attaching decorative members (42).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an eavestrough or rain gutter and more particularly, relates to improvement in such structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of gutters or eavestroughs are well known in the art as is the use of shields or gutter guards therewith. The purpose of the gutter guard is essentially to permit passage of rainwater from the roof to the eavestrough while protecting the same from extraneous foreign matter such as leaves and the like.

The art has taken many different approaches to the design of eavestroughs which utilize such gutter guards. Indeed, in order to prevent the use of such gutter guards, a commercially available eavestrough utilizes a device on the roof eave which has an outer edge which curls downwardly and the water flow follows the curved portion due to surface tension and thereafter cascades into the eavestroughs. Leaves and other extraneous matter are supposed to fall exteriorly of the eavestroughs. However, when a large volume of water flows, the surface tension is generally insufficient to direct all the water to flow into the eavestroughs.

The art is also replete with examples of different types of gutter guards which constitute a physical barrier across the top of the eavestrough with apertures formed therein to permit the passage of rainwater while supposedly barring the passage of extraneous material. However, the connection of the gutter guard to the eavestrough is often a time consuming step and accordingly not always well accepted in the art.

In order to overcome the above disadvantages, there have also been proposals in the art for the fabrication of one piece eavestroughs which are secured to clips fastened under the roof shingles. One such arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,689 to Bosler. Problems associated with this particular design is that in some instances, depending on overhangs and the like, one cannot attach the clips in the desired position. Furthermore, snow loads as are frequently encountered in Northern climates, could cause the gutter to fall from its mounting arrangement with the clip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated eavestrough and gutter guard and which integrated eavestrough overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an eavestrough formed from a single piece of material, the eavestrough comprising, a rear wall, a front wall, a bottom wall extending between the rear wall and the front wall, the rear, front and bottom walls defining a trough therebetween, a perforated top wall extending between the rear wall and front wall over the trough, and the top wall engaging a rear surface of the rear wall in a locking relationship.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, in a building structure having an eavestrough, the improvement comprising an eavestrough formed from a single piece of material, the eavestrough comprising a rear wall, a front wall, a bottom wall extending between the rear wall and front wall, the rear, front and bottom walls defining a trough therebetween, a perforated top wall extending between the rear wall and the front wall over the trough, and the top wall engaging a rear surface of the rear wall in a locking relationship.

The one piece eavestrough of the present invention may be formed from any suitable material with a preferred material being aluminum. The eavestrough may be manufactured using roll forming techniques.

As previously mentioned, the eavestrough of the present invention prevents foreign matter from entering therein. In order to do so, there are provided a plurality of apertures to permit the passage of rainwater while preventing extraneous matter from entering the eavestrough. In general, it is desirable that the apertures be sized large enough to permit passage of rainwater while preventing the entry of extraneous material into the trough. Generally, apertures having a range of between 3 and 4 mm. in diameter have been found to be suitable.

The eavestrough of the present invention is known in the art as a half round eavestrough as the bottom portion has a rounded configuration. Preferably, the eavestrough is connected to the adjacent building structure by fastening members such as screws. While this arrangement functions well from the support point of view, the aesthetic appearance is not always what could be desired. Accordingly, the eavestrough of the present invention provides for the use of decorative members which may be secured thereto to provide the appearance of an eavestrough which is supported by a bracket or the like.

The decorative members secured to the eavestrough may be of any design or configuration desired. As aforementioned one particular design is intended to give the impression that the eavestrough is supported by brackets. Such brackets may in turn carry various decorative effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an eavestrough of the present invention secured to a building structure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the eavestrough prior to assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled eavestrough;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a decorative member according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the attachment of the decorative member to the eavestrough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in a greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in the drawings an eavestrough which is generally designated by reference numeral 10.

Eavestrough 10 is comprised of a rear wall 12, a rounded bottom wall 14, and a front wall 16. A top wall extends across the trough 17 which is defined by walls 12, 14 and 16. Top wall 18 includes a plurality of apertures 20 formed therein.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, rear wall 12 includes an upper recess 22 and a lower recess 15 for purposes which will be discussed hereinbelow. Also, as may be seen in FIG. 2, between front wall 16 and top wall 18, there is provided a nose generally designated by reference numeral 24.

Nose 24 has a first semispherical portion 26 extending outwardly from front wall 16 and there is provided a groove 28 in an upper portion thereof.

From nose 24, there is provided a vertical wall 30 which functions to prevent overflow of water from the top wall 18 during periods of heavy rain. Similarly, at the other side of top wall 18, there is provided a retaining wall 32 which has a first vertical portion 34 and a rearwardly directed portion 36.

From rearwardly directed section 36, there is provided a downwardly extending section 38 which terminates in an inwardly extending locking segment 40. As may be seen in FIG. 3, locking segment 40 is designed to engage recess 22 to maintain the eavestrough 10 in an assembled condition. The eavestrough can then be attached by means of fastening members 33 passing through wall section 34, the upper portion of rear wall 12, and downwardly extending section 38.

As previously mentioned, the eavestrough 10 is designed to be used with a plurality of decorative members 42. Each member 42 has a rounded body portion 44 configured to match that of rounded bottom wall 12 and front wall 16. Member 42 is also provided with a nose section 46 at either end thereof, with inwardly extending locking segments 48 and 50. Locking segments 48 and 50 are designed to engaged recesses 15 and 28 respectively.

Claims

1. An eavestrough (10) formed from a single piece of material, said eavestrough comprising: a rear wall (12);a front wall (16);a bottom wall (14) extending between said rear wall and said front wall (16), said rear (12), front (16) and bottom walls (14) defining a trough (17) therebetween;a perforated top wall (18) extending between said rear wall (12) and said front wall (16) over said trough (17); andsaid top wall (40) engaging a rear surface (22) of said rear wall in a locking relationship.

2. The eavestrough of claim 1 further including vertical wall sections (30, 34) extending upwardly from said top wall (18) adjacent each of said rear wall (12) and said front wall (16) to thereby provide a barrier against overflow.

3. The eavestrough of claim 1 wherein said rear surface of said rear wall (12) has a recess (22) formed therein, said top wall having a locking segment (40) engaging said recess.

4. The eavestrough of claim 1 further including a decorative clip member (42) extending about said bottom wall (14) and said front wall (16), said decorative clip member (42) being secured to said eavestrough.

5. The eavestrough of claim 4 further including a plurality of said decorative clips (42).

6. The eavestrough of claim 4 wherein said decorative clip member (42) is secured to said rear wall and to an upper portion of said front wall.

7. The eavestrough of claim 6 wherein said rear wall and said upper portion of said front wall have a recess formed therein, said decorative clip having a locking segment at each end, said locking segments being secured within said recesses in said rear wall and upper portion of said front wall.

8. In a building structure having an eavestrough, the improvement comprising: an eavestrough (10) formed from a single piece of material, said eavestrough comprising:a rear wall (12);a front wall (16);a bottom wall (14) extending between said rear wall and said front wall (16), said rear (12), front (16) and bottom walls (14) defining a trough (17) therebetween;a perforated top wall (18) extending between said rear wall (12) and said front wall (16) over said trough (17); andsaid top wall (40) engaging a rear surface (22) of said rear wall in a locking relationship.