GUTTER PROTECTION FOR INNER CORNER OF GUTTER

Abstract

A corner gutter guard has a front profile for coupling to a front edge of a gutter at an inner corner and a screen portion extending rearward of the front profile. The end sections of the screen portion extend proud of the ends of the front profile. The screen is formed with at least one continuous ridge extending from a left ridge end portion adjacent the left end section to a right ridge end portion adjacent the right end section. The corner gutter guard can be kitted with an angle strip member that couples to a fascia board to support the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard below roofing shingles. A straight gutter guard can be formed with a lengthwise ridge for overlapping and nesting with the continuous ridge of the corner gutter guard.

Claims

1. A corner gutter guard comprising: a front profile configured to couple to a front edge of a gutter at an inner corner thereof, the front profile having a left end and a right end; a screen portion extending rearward of the front profile, the screen portion having a left end section and a right end section, at least one of the left end section and the right end section extending proud of the respective one of the left end and the right end of the front profile.

2. The corner gutter guard of claim 1, wherein the left end section extends proud of the left end and the right end section extends proud of the right end.

3. The corner gutter guard of claim 1, wherein said at least one of the left end section and the right end section has a slit defining a front tab and a back tab.

4. The corner gutter guard of claim 3, wherein each of the front tab and the back tab is configured to be selectively bent downward for reception in the gutter.

5. The corner gutter guard of claim 1, wherein the screen portion comprises at least one continuous ridge extending from a left ridge end portion adjacent the left end section to a right ridge end portion adjacent the right end section.

6. The corner gutter guard of claim 5, wherein the continuous ridge comprises a left segment configured to extend parallel to a left gutter section connected to the inner corner and a right segment configured to extend parallel to a right gutter section connected to the inner corner.

7. The corner gutter guard of claim 6, wherein the continuous ridge further comprises a central segment connecting the left segment to the right segment and extending at a non-perpendicular angle to the left and right segments.

8. The corner gutter guard of claim 5, wherein the at least one continuous ridge comprises a front ridge and a back ridge.

9. The corner gutter guard of claim 4, wherein the at least one continuous ridge has a front leg and a back leg, wherein the back leg is shorter than the front leg and/or is more inclined in relation to a main front-to-back plane of the screen portion than the front leg.

10. The corner gutter guard of claim 1, comprising a screen member forming the screen portion, the screen member having a front edge margin one of (i) connected to and (ii) forming the front profile, the screen member having a rear edge margin opposite the front edge margin, the rear edge including a left segment and a right segment extending at a right angle to the left segment.

11. The corner gutter guard of claim 10, wherein the rear edge margin of the screen member defines the rear end of the corner gutter guard member.

12. The corner gutter guard of claim 11, wherein the rear edge margin of the screen member is configured to be selectively (i) tucked under a first row of shingles at a roof valley and (ii) trimmed and fastened to angle strips below the first row of shingles.

13. The corner gutter guard of claim 10, wherein the front profile comprises a left profile member crimped onto a left segment of the front edge margin of the screen member and a right profile member crimped onto a right segment of the front edge margin of the screen member, wherein the left and right profile members being perpendicular and having mitered inner ends.

14. A corner gutter guard comprising; a screen configured to be disposed over an inner corner of a gutter, the screen including a left end section configured to align with a left section of the gutter extending from the inner corner and a right end portion configured to align with a right section of the gutter extending from the inner corner, the screen comprising at least one continuous ridge extending from a left ridge end portion adjacent the left end section to a right ridge end portion adjacent the right end section.

15. The corner gutter guard of claim 14, wherein the continuous ridge comprises a left segment configured to extend from the left ridge end portion parallel to the left section of the gutter and a right segment configured to extend from the right ridge end portion parallel to the right gutter.

16. The corner gutter guard of claim 15, wherein the continuous ridge further comprises a central segment connecting the left segment to the right segment and extending at a non-perpendicular angle to the left and right segments.

17. The corner gutter guard of claim 14, wherein the at least one continuous ridge comprises a front ridge and a back ridge in generally parallel spaced apart relation with the front ridge.

18. A corner gutter guard kit comprising: a corner gutter guard configured to be installed on an inner corner of a gutter for inhibiting infiltration of debris into the inner corner of the gutter and permitting infiltration of water flowing down a roof valley into the inner corner of the gutter, the corner gutter guard comprising a front profile configured to couple to a front edge of the inner corner of the gutter and a rear edge margin including a left segment and a right segment perpendicular to the left segment; and an angle strip member having an attachment section and a support section, the attachment section configured to couple to a fascia board of the gutter system at the inner corner and the support section configured to support the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard.

19. The corner gutter guard kit as set forth in claim 18, wherein the corner gutter guard is configured to be selectively installed on the inner corner of the gutter system in either of (i) an under-shingle installation configuration in which the rear edge margin is received between a shingle starter strip and a first row of shingles such that the rear edge margin is supported on a roof board above the fascia board and (ii) an angle strip installation configuration in which the rear edge margin is supported on the support section of the angle strip member below the roof board.

20. The corner gutter guard kit as set forth in claim 18, wherein the kit comprises two angle strip members for every one corner gutter guard.

21-34. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a corner gutter guard kit in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0018] FIGS. 2-6 are illustrations of a corner gutter guard of the kit;

[0019] FIGS. 7-8 are illustrations of an angle strip member of the kit;

[0020] FIGS. 9-11 are illustrations of a matching straight gutter guard that can be used with the corner gutter guard;

[0021] FIG. 12. is an illustration of the corner gutter guard supported on an inner corner of a gutter in an under-shingle installation configuration;

[0022] FIG. 13 is an illustration of the corner gutter guard supported on the inner corner of the gutter in essentially the same configuration as FIG. 12, but providing an enlarged view of a rear end corner of the corner gutter guard and showing a first row of shingles being lifted up to reveal how the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard is tucked between the first row of shingles and the starter strip in the under-shingle installation configuration;

[0023] FIG. 14 is an illustration similar to FIG. 12, but showing the corner gutter guard after front tabs thereof have been bent downward into the gutter to facilitate a butt seam connection to an adjacent gutter guard;

[0024] FIG. 15 is an illustration of the corner gutter guard installed on the inner corner of the gutter in the configuration of FIG. 15, but providing an enlarged view of the front tab bent down into the gutter;

[0025] FIG. 16 is an illustration showing the corner gutter guard in the configuration of FIGS. 14 and 15 and connected to an adjacent straight gutter guard at a butt joint (in FIG. 16, the adjacent straight gutter guard is an E-Z-Leaf Eliminator Gutter Guard sold by E-Z Products LLC);

[0026] FIGS. 17-19 are illustrations of one angle strip member of the kit installed on a right fascia board at an inner corner of a gutter;

[0027] FIG. 20 is an illustration of the gutter after a second angle strip member of the kit is installed on a left fascia board;

[0028] FIG. 21 is an illustration of the gutter after the corner gutter guard is placed onto the inner corner of the gutter in an angle strip installation configuration so that the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard is supported on the angle strips of FIG. 20;

[0029] FIG. 22 is another illustration of the gutter as configured in FIG. 21;

[0030] FIG. 23 is an illustration similar to FIG. 21, but showing the gutter after screws have been installed to fasten the front profile of the corner gutter guard to the front edge of the gutter and to fasten the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard to the angle strip members;

[0031] FIG. 24 is another illustration of the gutter as configured in FIG. 23;

[0032] FIG. 25 is yet another illustration of the gutter guard as configured in FIG. 23, providing an enlarged view of a fastening point where a screw fastens the corner gutter guard to the angle strip;

[0033] FIG. 26 is another illustration of the matching straight gutter guard of FIGS. 9-11, showing the matching straight gutter guard after end portions of the front and rear profiles thereof have been notched for an overlap connection to the corner gutter guard;

[0034] FIGS. 27-29 are illustrations of the gutter with the corner gutter guard configured essentially as shown in FIG. 23 and the notched matching straight gutter guard installed on a straight section of the gutter and connected to the corner gutter guard by an overlap connection such that the ridges of the two gutter guards are substantially uninterrupted across the overlap seam;

[0035] FIG. 30 is an illustration of the gutter with the corner gutter guard installed in a similar configuration to FIG. 23, but wherein the end section of the corner gutter guard is bent downward into the gutter to facilitate a butt seam connection with a straight gutter guard;

[0036] FIG. 31 is an illustration of the gutter with the corner gutter guard configured essentially as shown in FIG. 30 and an un-notched matching straight gutter guard installed on a straight section of the gutter guard and connected to the corner gutter guard by a butt seam; and

[0037] FIG. 32 is an illustration of the gutter similar to FIG. 31, but wherein a different type of straight gutter guard is installed on the straight section of the gutter guard and connected to the corner gutter guard by a butt seam (in FIG. 23, the straight gutter guard is a prior art E-Z-Smooth Flow gutter guard sold by E-Z Products LLC).

[0038] Corresponding parts are given corresponding reference characters throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] This disclosure pertains to gutter protection for an inner corner of a gutter, which catches the runoff from a valley of a roof. As will be explained in further detail, a novel corner gutter guard is proposed that can be robustly mounted on the inner corner of a gutter to withstand the fast flowing water from the roof valley. Moreover, the corner gutter guard of this disclosure can facilitate a number of different installation configurations that are compatible with virtually any type of straight gutter guard. The corner gutter guard may be sold as a kit with optional gutter guard mounts. The disclosure also contemplates a new straight gutter guard that can be used with the corner gutter guard in a way that allows for uninterrupted features spanning the seam between the corner gutter guard and straight gutter guard.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, a corner gutter guard kit is generally indicated at reference number 10. The corner gutter guard kit broadly comprises a corner gutter guard 12, one or more angle strip members 14 (which may also be called corner gutter guard mounts), and instructions 16 for installing the corner gutter guard on a gutter in one or more mounting configurations.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 2-6, the illustrated corner gutter guard 12 is generally L-shaped. The corner gutter guard 12 includes a left half and a right that meet at an imaginary miter line ML (FIG. 2). The features of the gutter guard 12 are symmetrical and mirrored on opposite sides of the imaginary miter line.

[0042] The illustrated corner gutter guard comprises an L-shaped front edge margin and an L-shaped rear edge margin. The front edge margin of the gutter guard includes perpendicular left and right segments of substantially equal lengths. Although the left and right segments of the front edge margin meet at a sharp right angle in the illustrated embodiment, this is not strictly necessary. It is possible instead to configure the corner gutter guard to have a non-perpendicular front overhang as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,765,743. The rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard 12 includes perpendicular left and right segments of substantially equal lengths. Again, it is not required that the left and right segments of the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard 12 meet at a sharp right angle corner as shown. For example, the outside corner between the left and right segments could be chamfered or radiused.

[0043] In general, the corner gutter guard 12 comprises a front profile 20 along the front edge margin and a screen portion 22 rearward of the front profile. In the illustrated embodiment, the screen portion 22 is formed from a screen member and the front profile 20 comprises left and right profile members formed from sheet metal crimped onto a front edge of the screen member. The inner ends of the left and right profile members meet at a miter joint along imaginary miter line ML. In the illustrated embodiment, the front profile 20 is formed to have an L-shaped cross sectional shape suitable for being buttressed against the front lip of the gutter. The front profile 20 thus includes a top flange that can be placed on top of the front gutter lip and screwed to the gutter. Though front profile members made from different material than the screen member are used in the illustrated embodiment, in other embodiments, the front profile can alternatively be formed with the screen portion from a single piece of screen material.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the screen member is woven wire stainless steel mesh. However, it will be understood that the screen portion could be formed from any screen material that is suitable for inhibiting infiltration of leaf litter and other debris and permitting infiltration of water through the screen. For example, it is expressly contemplated that the screen portion can be formed from expanded metal mesh, punched sheet metal, woven wire screening, or plastic screening without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the screen material defines the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard 12, and the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard is substantially flat prior to installation.

[0045] The front profile 20 has a left end and a right end and an L-shaped length extending from the left end to the right end. The screen portion 22 has a left end section 22A and a right end section 22B that extend proud of the left and right ends of the front profile 20. Here. extend proud of means protrude lengthwise. As will be explained in further detail below, the end sections 22A, 22B are configured to be selectively bent downward to facilitate different types of connections to adjacent straight gutter guards. In the illustrated embodiment, each end section 22A, 22B has a slit 23 defining a front tab 24 and a back tab 26. Each of the front tabs 24 and the back tabs 26 is configured to be selectively bent downward independent of the other tabs for enhanced installation configurability.

[0046] The screen portion 22 further comprises at least one continuous ridge 28, 30 extending from a left ridge end portion adjacent the left end section 22A to a right ridge end portion adjacent the right end section 22B. Suitably, the ridge end portions are inwardly spaced from the end sections 22A, 22B of the screen portion 22 by short distances (e.g., a distance in an inclusive range of from 0.1 inch to 2.5 inch). In the illustrated embodiment, the screen portion 22 comprises a front ridge 28 and a back ridge 30 extending in parallel, spaced apart relation with the front ridge. Each of the continuous ridges 28, 30 comprises a left segment 28A, 30A configured to extend parallel to a left gutter section connected to the inner corner of the gutter and a right segment 28B, 30B configured to extend parallel to a right gutter section connected to the inner corner of the gutter. Each continuous ridge 28, 30 further comprises a central segment 28C, 30C connecting the respective left segment 28A, 30A to the respective right segment 28B, 30B and extending at a non-perpendicular angle to the left and right segments. In the illustrated embodiment, the left and right segments of each ridge 28, 30 are substantially equal in length, and the central segments 28C, 30C are centered on the imaginary miter line ML. In one or more embodiments, the central segments extend at approximately 45 degree angles (e.g., 45 degrees 10 degrees) to the respective left and right segments. In cross section, each continuous ridge 28, 30 has a front leg 31 and a back leg 33. In one or more embodiments, the back leg 33 is shorter than the front leg 31 and/or is more inclined in relation to a main front-to-back plane of the screen portion 22 than the front leg.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, each angle strip member 14 comprises sheet metal formed to have an attachment section 32 and a support section 34 connected by a bend in the sheet metal. The attachment section 32 is configured to be screwed to a fascia board so that the attachment section extends parallel to the vertical plane of the fascia board and the support section 34 extends forward from the attachment section. In one or more embodiments, the bend between the attachment section 32 and the support section 34 is configured so that the support section 34 will have a slight forward decline when mounted on the fascia board. For example, in certain embodiments, the bend is configured so that an included angle between the attachment section 32 and the support section 34 on an underside of the support section is in an inclusive range of from 60 degrees to 85 degrees.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the kit 10 is provided with two angle strip members 14 for every one corner gutter guard 12. In use, a first angle strip member 14 is to be mounted on one of the left and right fascia boards, a second angle strip member 14 is to be mounted on the other fascia board, and the corner gutter guard 12 (after optionally being trimmed to size) is positioned so that the left segment of the rear edge margin is supported on the support section 34 of the left angle strip member and the right segment of the rear edge margin is supported on the support section of the right angle strip member. The rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard 12 can be screwed to the support sections 34 of the angle strip members 14 for secure mounting. Although the illustrated kit 10 is depicted as having two separate angle strip members 14 for the left and right fascia boards, it will be understood that other embodiments can include a single-piece L-shaped angle strip member that extends along both the left and right fascia boards.

[0049] As will be explained in further detail below, the kit 10 can be used to provide gutter protection to the inner corner of a gutter and can be connected in-line with virtually any type of straight gutter guard. But referring to FIGS. 9-11, the inventor has devised a new matching straight gutter guard, generally indicated at 112, which is configured to meet the corner gutter guard 12 to provide uninterrupted flow diverter ridges that span the seam between the straight gutter guard and the corner gutter guard.

[0050] The illustrated matching straight gutter guard 112 comprises a front profile 114, a screen portion 116, and an optional rear profile 118. For more information about the rear profile 118, see U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/501,726, which was filed on May 12, 2023. The front profile 114 is generally configured to couple to the front edge of a straight section of gutter. It extends from a left end to a right end. In FIGS. 9-11, only a short length of the straight gutter guard 112 is shown, but typically the straight gutter guard would be manufactured in lengths in an inclusive range of from about 3 feet to about 6 feet or longer. The screen portion 116 extends rearward of the front profile and comprises screen material suitable for inhibiting the infiltration of debris and permitting infiltration of water into the gutter through the screen portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the screen portion 112 is formed from screen material that generally matches the screen material of the corner gutter guard 12. For example, the straight gutter guard 112 comprises a screen member of stainless steel woven wire mesh forming the screen portion 116, and the front profile 112 comprises a sheet metal crimped onto the mesh screen member. It will, of course, be understood that, depending on the configuration of the corner gutter guard 12, the materials used for the matching straight gutter guard can vary accordingly. In addition, non-matching straight gutter guards of any desired configuration can be used with the corner gutter guard 12 without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0051] In general, the straight gutter guard 112 comprises at least one lengthwise ridge 128, 130 that is matched to at least one corner ridge 28, 30 of the corner gutter guard 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the straight gutter guard 112 comprises front and back lengthwise ridges 128, 130. The lengthwise ridges 128, 130 are configured to overlap the end portions of the corner ridges 28, 30 such that the corner ridge end portions are received beneath the lengthwise ridges 128, 130 in nested relation therewith. To that end, the front-to-back distances between the lengthwise ridges 128, 130 and the front profile 114 are essentially the same as the front-to-back distances between the left/right segments 28A/28B, 30A/30B of the corner ridges 28, 30 and the respective parallel sections of the front profile 20 of the corner gutter guard 12. In addition, the cross-sectional size and shape of the lengthwise ridges 128, 130 are about the same as the cross- sectional size and shape of the corner ridges 28, 30. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the screen material in front of and behind each lengthwise ridge 128, 130 has the same shape (e.g., planar, extending substantially in a main plane of the screen portion 114) as the corresponding screen material in front of and behind each of the left/right segments 28A/28B, 30A/30B of the corner ridges 28, 30. As a result of this matched configuration, the matching straight gutter guards 112 can be installed to overlap the ends of the corner gutter guard 12 and form uninterrupted front and back ridges that span across the overlap seams. For example, when matching straight gutter guards 112 are installed to overlap both the left and right ends of the corner gutter guard 12, the gutter protection comprises front and back flow diverter ridges that extend uninterrupted from the left straight gutter guard, across the corner gutter guard, to the right straight gutter guard.

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 12-32, exemplary methods of using the kit 10 to provide gutter protection to an inner corner of a gutter will now be briefly described. As mentioned above, the kit 10 includes instructions 16. In preferred embodiments, the instructions 16 include a plurality of instructions for a plurality of different installation configurations.

[0053] In every method of installation, the corner gutter guard 12 is placed onto the inner corner of the gutter and the front profile 20 is coupled to (e.g., screwed to) the front lip of the gutter. The different installation options allow the corner gutter guard 12 to be connected to various types of straight gutter guards with various mounting configurations.

[0054] Referring to FIGS. 12-13, in one installation method, the corner gutter guard 12 is installed in an under-shingle installation configuration. This configuration can be used to match the corner gutter guard with adjacent straight gutter guards that are likewise installed in an under-shingle installation configuration (see, for example, FIG. 16). To install the corner gutter guard 12 in an under-shingle installation configuration, the rear edge margin of the screen portion 22 is inserted between the shingle starter strip and the first row of shingles at the roof valley. Subsequently, it is possible to connect the under-shingle corner gutter guard 12 to an under-shingle straight gutter guard two different ways.

[0055] The first option is an overlap connection (not shown). To make an overlap connection, the end sections 22A, 22B of the screen portion 22 are positioned underneath the screen portion of an adjacent straight gutter guard. The straight gutter guard is located so that the end of its front profile abuts the end of the front profile 20 of the corner gutter guard 12. One or more screws can be used to fasten the screen portion of the straight gutter guard to the underlying end section 22A, 22B of the corner gutter guard.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 14-16, the second option is a butt seam installation. When the corner gutter guard 12 is installed in an under-shingle configuration, to make a butt seam with the adjacent straight gutter guards, the front tab 24 of the end section 22A, 22B is bent downward into the gutter. The straight gutter guards are then installed so that the ends of the straight gutter guards abut the bent-down tabs 24 of the corner gutter guard 12, as shown in FIG. 16.

[0057] Instead of the under-shingle installation configuration, the corner gutter guard 12 can alternatively be installed in an angle strip installation configuration. Referring to FIGS. 17-21, first, the angle strip members 14 are installed on the left and right fascia boards. In one or more embodiments, the installer can screw the attachment sections 32 of the angle strip members 14 to the fascia boards so that the support sections 34 are about even in elevation with the back sections of the straight gutter guards to which the corner gutter guard will be connected. After fastening the angle strip members 14, as shown in FIGS. 21-22, the installer then places the corner gutter guard 12 over the inner corner of the gutter such that the screen portion 22 of the corner gutter guard covers the inner corner of the gutter and a rear edge margin is supported on the support sections 34 of the angle strip members 14. Suitably, the installer screws the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard 12 to the support sections 34 of the angle strip members 14 as shown in FIGS. 23-25. As with the under-shingle installation configuration, the angle strip installation configuration allows for two types of end-to-end connection to adjacent straight gutter guards.

[0058] To make an overlap connection, an end section 22A, 22B of the screen portion 22 is positioned underneath the screen portion of an adjacent straight gutter guard and the two screen portions are screwed together, as described above. In an exemplary method of installing corner gutter protection in the scope of this disclosure, the corner gutter guard 12 is installed in an angle strip installation configuration and connected end-to-end with the matching straight gutter guards 112 at overlap seams. To make this type of installation, an installer first notches the end portions of the front profile 114 and rear profile 118 of the straight gutter guard 112 as shown in FIG. 26. Then, as shown in FIG. 27, the straight gutter guard 112 is placed next to the corner gutter guard 12 so the notched end of the front profile 114 is end-to-end with the front profile 20 of the corner gutter guard 12. In this position, the protruding end section of the straight screen portion 116 overlaps the screen portion 22 of the corner gutter guard. Because of the matching geometry of the screen portions 22, 116, the lengthwise ridges 128, 130 overlap the end portions of the corner ridges 28, 30 and the end portions of the corner ridges are received beneath the lengthwise ridges in nested relation therewith. Once the straight gutter guard 112 is positioned appropriately, the protruding end section of the screen portion 116 is screwed to the screen portion 22 to secure the overlap seam. As shown in FIGS. 27-29, in this installation configuration, the straight gutter guards 112 and corner gutter guard 12 are configured to form an uninterrupted ridge spanning the overlap seams between the gutter guards.

[0059] Referring to FIGS. 30-32, it is also an option to make a butt seam connection between a straight gutter guard and a corner gutter guard 112 installed in the angle strip installation configuration. To do so, both tabs 24, 26 of the end section of the corner screen are bent downward into the gutter as shown in FIG. 30. Subsequently, a straight gutter guard is installed so that its end abuts the bent-down tabs 24, 26 of the corner gutter guard 12. As can be seen in FIGS. 31 and 32, various types of straight gutter guards can be connected end-to-end with the corner gutter guard 12 at a butt seam.

[0060] When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles a, an, the and said are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms comprising, including and having are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0061] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the disclosure are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

[0062] As various changes could be made in the above products and methods without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.