Enhanced gutter hanger

Abstract

A gutter hanger for hanging a rain gutter on the fascia board of a structure or building. The gutter hanger includes an elongated horizontal top member connected to a downwardly extending back member. A bore for a fascia screw extends from a bump in the inner surface of the back member the outer or back surface of the back member or leg. The bump includes a bearing surface generally perpendicular to the axis of the bore. The gutter hanger also includes an upwardly extending protrusion to engage the lip of the gutter. The top member also includes a threaded bore hole to accept a screw, so that the top member may be attached to the top front of the gutter with a threaded fastener.

Claims

1. A gutter hanger, having a top member and a back member, the top member having a top member distal end, a top member proximal end, a top member outer surface, and a top member inner surface, a top member first side wall, a top member second side wall, a top member center wall, the top member first side wall arranged in an opposed relationship to the top member second side wall with the top member center wall positioned therebetween to form a top member channel; the back member having a back member distal end, a back member proximal end, a back member outer surface, and a back member inner surface; a back member first side wall, a back member second side wall, a back member center wall, the back member first side wall arranged in an opposed relationship to the back member second side wall with the back member center wall positioned therebetween to form a back member channel; the back member proximal end and the top member proximal end being joined at a vertex; the back member outer surface including a dimple, the dimple including a bore hole having an axis, the top member including an aperture in the top member center wall communicating between the top member outer surface and the top member inner surface, the bore hole axis being aligned with the aperture.

2. The gutter hanger of claim 1, wherein the top member first side wall and the top member second side wall are cut at a 45 degree angle at the vertex.

3. The gutter hanger of claim 2, wherein the back member first side wall and the back member second side wall are cut at a 45 degree angle at the vertex.

4. The gutter hanger of claim 3 wherein the top member first side wall and the back member first side wall contact each other.

5. The gutter hanger of claim 1 wherein the top member includes a protrusion, the protrusion being a cross section of the center wall.

6. The gutter hanger of claim 1, wherein the dimple forms a protrusion on the back member inner surface, the protrusion including a bearing surface about the bore hole.

7. The gutter hanger of claim 1, wherein the bore hole axis is angled at 45 degrees relative to the back member inner surface.

8. The gutter hanger of claim 1 wherein the bore hole is midway between the vertex and the distal end of the back member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the gutter hanger.

(2) FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of the gutter hanger.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the gutter hanger.

(4) FIG. 4 is a top perspective partial cut away view of the gutter hanger installed in a gutter and attached to a fascia board of a structure.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of the gutter hanger and gutter of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(6) The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention. With reference to the figures, the gutter hanger 10 includes an elongated top member or leg 15 and an elongated back member or leg 16. The top member 15 and back member 16 are preferably made of a continuous piece of channel stock having a central wall 70 and two side walls 71 and 72. The channels stock is oriented such that the channel is open to the interior of the gutter when the gutter hanger 10 is placed in the gutter.

(7) The gutter hanger is made by notching the side walls 71 and 72 at the location of the corner or vertex 24. The gutter hanger 10 is then bent to a 90 degree angle. The edges of the notches then meet, allowing the edges of the top member side walls to rest on and receive support from the edges of the back member side walls.

(8) The top leg 15 and back leg 16 are positioned at approximately right angles so that the top leg 15 is horizontally positioned and the back leg 16 is vertically positioned in the gutter 50. The top leg 15 includes a top surface 20 and the back leg 16 includes a back surface 21. The gutter hanger 10 may be constructed of many materials, such as wood, metal, or plastic. It is preferred that the top leg 15 and back leg 16 are integrally formed. In the most preferred embodiment, the gutter hanger 10 is made of aluminum.

(9) The top leg 15 includes a proximal end 27 at the vertex 24 and a distal end 28. The distal end 28 forms the nose 22. The nose 22 includes an upward extending protrusion 23 having a highest point of elevation for engaging the lip 60 of the gutter 50. The back leg 16 includes a proximal end 29 at the vertex 24 and a distal end 30. The top leg 15 is of sufficient length to span from the front 51 of the gutter 50 to the back 52 of the gutter 50. The back leg 16 is of sufficient length to extend down to the bottom 53 of the gutter 50 when the top leg 15 is positioned horizontally in the gutter 50.

(10) The top leg proximal end 27 and the back leg proximal end 29 are joined or merge at a vertex 24. The vertex is created by notching the channel stock sides 71 and 72 at 45 degree angles so that the notch is one of approximately 90 degrees. The vertex 24 may include a recess on the outer surface, creating two ridges 82 and 83 generally parallel to the side walls 71 and 72. The ridges link or connect the proximal ends 27 and 29 of the top member 15 and back member 19.

(11) The back leg or member 16 includes a fascia screw bore or hole 18 for acceptance of a fascia screw 100. The fascia screw bore extends from the inner surface of the back leg 16 to the outer surface 21. The fascia screw bore 18 may be threaded in some embodiments, but it is preferred to not be threaded. The fascia screw bore 18 is preferably arranged at a 45 degree angle from horizontal and exits the back surface 21 of the back leg 16 approximately midway between the vertex 24 and the back leg distal end 30. The fascia screw bore 18 may exit the back surface 21 of the back leg 16 at any point, but it is preferable that the exit be somewhere between the vertex 24 and of the distance between the vertex 24 and the back leg distal end 30.

(12) In the most preferred embodiment, the back leg 16 includes a recess or depression or dimple 77 on the outer surface 21. The dimple in the outer surface 21 is also a corresponding bump on the inner surface of the back leg 16. The bump provides a bearing surface 78 located circumferentially about the axis of the fascia screw bore or hole 18, providing a surface of the screw head to bear upon. The bearing surface is preferably generally perpendicular to the fascia screw bore or hole 18.

(13) The nose 22 of the top leg 15 includes protrusion 23 for engaging the lip 60 of the gutter 50. The protrusion 23 extends upwardly from the top surface 20 of the top member or leg 15. The protrusion is generally formed by creating a dimple or recess in the inner surface of the top member 15, causing a protrusion 23 on the outer surface 20 of the channel center wall 70. In the most preferred embodiment, the channel center wall 70 includes a cut 80 to allow a cross section of the center wall 70 to present above the top surface 20. The exposed cross section creates a generally vertical surface 25 to engage the lip 60 of the gutter. The lip 60 generally includes a downwardly extending tab 61 that is flexible, as it has a living hinge connection to flange on the front 51 of the gutter 10. The flexibility allows protrusion 23 to move and snap under the tab 61 upon installation of the gutter hanger 10, with vertical surface 25 of the protrusion 23 engaging the tab 61. The vertical surface 25 faces toward the proximal end 27 of the top member 15.

(14) The protrusion 23 may include ramp 26 extending from the vertical surface 25 to towards proximal end 28 of the top leg 15. The ramp 26 is preferably arcuate in shape from side to side with the highest point being approximately equidistant from each side of the central wall 70. The arcuate shape aids in allowing the gutter hanger 10 to be rotated into position and deflect the lip 61 of the gutter 50 upon installation. The arcuate shape of the ramp 26 also creates an arcuate portion of the perimeter of the vertical surface 25.

(15) The proximal end 28 may terminate in a front tab 88. The front tab 88 is created by bending a portion of the central wall 70 downward until it is generally vertical. In alternate embodiments, one or both of the side walls 71 and 72 could be bent into a similar position.

(16) The front tab 88 of the top leg 15 includes a front screw bore 70. The front screw bore 90 is preferably threaded to accept a front screw 120. However, the front screw bore 90 need not be threaded in all embodiments of the present invention. The front screw bore 90 is generally oriented horizontally.

(17) The top member 15 also includes access hole 99 positioned along the axis of the fascia screw bore or hole 18. The access hole 99 allows for the user to place the screw into the fascia screw bore or hole 18 from above the top member 15, and use a driver or drill to turn the screw into the fascia board, thereby installing the gutter. The access hole 99 may be of any shape, but preferably extends some distance towards the vertex 24 and towards the distal end 28 of the top member 15 from the axis of the fascia screw bore so as to allow for some adjustment of the driver. The access hole is larger than the screw head, and preferably at least twice as large as the fascia screw head.

(18) To install the gutter hanger 10 of the present invention, the gutter hanger is inserted into the well of the gutter 50 at an angle so that the top leg 15 can fit between the back 52 of the gutter and the lip 60 of the gutter. The distal end 30 of the back leg 16 is placed upon the bottom 53 of the gutter 50 and the gutter hanger 10 is rotated so that the back surface 21 contacts the back 52 of the gutter 20, while at the same time the nose 22 of the top leg 15 of the gutter hanger 10 slides under the lip 60 of the gutter 50. The fascia board screw 100 is then screwed into the fascia screw bore 18 and driven through the gutter back 52 and into the fascia board 110, capturing the back 52 of the gutter 50 between the back surface 21 of the gutter hanger and the fascia board 110. Upon installation, the front screw 120 penetrates the front 51 of the gutter 50 opposite the front screw bore 70 and is screwed in, capturing and securing the front 51 of the gutter 50 to the nose 22 of the gutter hanger 10.