GUTTER GUARD

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a guard for restricting debris from entering a gutter on a building.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Gutters around the roof of a building for collecting and channelling rain water tend to accumulate debris over time. Leaves and other matter that fall on the roof wash into the gutters and may eventually cause blockages or generally impact the ability of the gutters to function efficiently. It is therefore common for gutters to require regular cleaning.

Many devices are available which can be installed in or over the top of gutters to restrict debris falling into the gutter. Such devices are often somewhat effective however it is common for at least some debris to enter the gutters. The gutter guard devices in place can then make it more difficult to clean the gutters when required.

The present invention relates to a gutter guard aimed at providing an easily installed guard giving suitable protection against ingress of debris to the gutter while also allowing easy access to the gutter for cleaning or general maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a gutter guard comprising:

• • an elongate body to be located adjacent a gutter on a roof of a building;
  • one or more guard panels having openings therein and being secured along a first edge of the body; and
  • a bristle strip secured to a second edge of the body such that when the body is secured to the roof, the bristles engage with an upper surface of the roof;
  • wherein a hinge is provided adjacent the first edge portion of the body such that each of the guard panels are pivotably connected to the body to be movable between a lowered position, in which the guard panel extends across the top of the gutter, and a raised position, in which the guard panel is moved upwardly to allow access to the gutter.

Preferably the hinge comprises a flexible strip of material integrally formed into the body adjacent the first edge along the length of the body.

Preferably the bristle strip is connected to the body at an angle such that when the body is located adjacent and parallel to the roof, distal ends of the bristles angle downwardly towards the surface of the roof.

Preferably there are provided a plurality of guard panels each comprising a rectangular planar panel, such that each of the guard panels includes first and second sides and first and second ends.

Preferably the first side of each of the guard panels includes a flange extending outwardly therefrom to be received in a first channel in the first edge portion of the body.

Preferably the cross-sectional shape of the flange corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the first channel such that the flange can be received within the first channel by sliding.

Preferably the first channel includes a widened inner portion corresponding in shape to a rib located on a distal edge of the flange.

Preferably the first end of each of the guard panels includes a channel member such that the second end of the adjacent guard panel engages into the channel member when the guard panels are slid into the first channel.

Preferably the second edge of the body includes a second edge portion having a second channel therein provided for receiving a base portion of the bristle strip.

Preferably the second edge portion is angled relative to the body such that when the body is parallel to the surface of the roof, the second edge portion extends upwardly away from the roof.

Preferably the second channel includes an opening facing in a direction downwardly and perpendicular to the plane of the second edge portion.

Preferably the second side of each of the guard panels includes a lip extending outwardly to engage onto an upper edge of the gutter.

Preferably the second side of each of the guard panels is provided with a downward projection along the length thereof to engage with an inner edge of the gutter.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of grooves are provided in the lower surface of the body between the hinge and the second edge to receive an adhesive.

Preferably the lower surface of the body is provided with an adhesive strip for connecting the body to the surface of the roof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a gutter guard in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the gutter guard of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the gutter guard of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the gutter guard of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the gutter guard of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the gutter guard of FIG. 1 with the guard panels flexed relative to the body;

FIG. 7a is an upper perspective view of a building with the gutter guard installed;

FIG. 7b is a close up view of Detail A of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8a is a side view of the building of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8b is a close up view of Detail B of FIG. 8a;

FIG. 9a is a side view of the building of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 9b is a cross sectional view of Detail D of FIG. 9a;

FIG. 10a is an upper perspective view of the building with the guard panels flexed to an open position;

FIG. 10b is a close up view of Detail A of FIG. 10a;

FIG. 11a is a side view of the building of FIG. 10a; and

FIG. 11b is a close up of view of Detail B of FIG. 11a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a gutter guard 10 for installation on the gutters 11 of a building 13. The gutter guard 10 comprises generally an elongate body 12, a plurality of guard panels 14 and a bristle strip 16.

The body 12 comprises an elongate planar member 18 which is to be positioned in use above a roof 15 of the building 13 adjacent the gutter 11. The elongate planar member 18 is located such that a first longitudinal edge 20 thereof is located adjacent the gutter 11 and connected to the plurality of guard panels 14.

The body 12 includes a first edge portion 22 along the first edge 20 thereof to allow connection to the plurality of guard panels 14. The first edge portion 22 includes a first channel 24 which extends along the length of the body 12 on the first edge 20 thereof.

Each of the guard panels 14 comprises a planar panel having a plurality of openings therein. The guard panels 14 may comprise perforated planar panels, or mesh panels formed from a suitable material, such as a plastic material. In the embodiment shown, each of the guard panels 14 is rectangular such that the guard panels 14 each include first and second sides 26 and 27 and first and second ends 28 and 29. The first side 26 of each of the guard panels 14 includes a flange 30 extending outwardly therefrom. The cross-sectional shape of the flange 30 corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the first channel 24 such that the flange 30 can be received within the first channel 24 by sliding to connect the guard panel 14 to the first edge portion 22 of the body 12.

In the embodiment shown, the first channel 24 includes a widened inner portion 32 corresponding in shape to a rib 34 located on a distal edge of the flange 30 such that when the flange 30 is slid into the first channel 24, the guard panel 14 is connected to the first edge portion 22 of the body 12. The widened inner portion 32 of the first channel 24 and the rib 34 are both generally circular in shape.

A plurality of guard panels 14 may be connected with the first edge portion 22 of the body 12 such that the first ends 28 of each of the guard panels 14 are located adjacent and parallel to the second ends 29 of adjacent guard panels 14. The guard panels 14 thereby provide a continuous elongate cover to be located above the upper edge of the gutter 11 in use. The first end 28 of each of the guard panels 14 includes a channel member 36 on an edge thereof such that the second end 29 of the adjacent guard panel 14 engages into the channel member 36.

The body 12 includes a hinge 38 extending along the length thereof adjacent to the first edge portion 22. The hinge 38 is provided such that the first edge portion 22 and the connected guard panels 14 may rotate relative to the body 12. The hinge 38 in the embodiment shown comprises a flexible strip of material integrally formed into the body 12 adjacent the first edge portion 22 along the length of the body 12.

The guard panels 14 may therefore be rotated between a lowered position (as seen for example in FIG. 8b), in which the guard panels 14 extend across the upper surface of the gutter 11 and a raised position (as seen for example in FIG. 11b), in which the interior of the gutter 11 is accessible for cleaning or maintenance. As the adjacent guard panels 14 connected to the body 12 are also connected together by the channel members 36, lifting up one of the guard panels 14 will cause the other guard panels 14 connected to the body 12 to also be raised.

The body 12 of the gutter guard 10 includes a second edge portion 42 along the second edge 21 thereof. The second edge portion 42 includes a second channel 44 therein provided for receiving the bristle strip 16. The bristle strip 16 include an elongate base portion 46 and a plurality of bristles 47 extending perpendicularly outwardly from the base portion 46. The base portion 46 may be received into the second channel 44 by sliding such that the bristles 17 extend outwardly from the second edge 21 of the body 12.

The bristle strip 16 is connected to the body 12 at an angle to the plane of the body 12 such that when the body 12 is located adjacent the roof 15 generally parallel to the roof 15, distal ends of the bristles 17 angle downwardly towards the roof 15 (as can be seen for example in FIG. 11b).

In the embodiment shown, the second edge portion 42 is angled relative to the body 12 such that when the body 12 is parallel to the surface of the roof 15, the second edge portion 42 extends upwardly away from the roof 15. The second channel 44 comprises a rectangular cross sectioned channel having an opening 48 pointing in a direction downwardly and perpendicular to the plane of the second edge portion 42 (as can be seen in FIG. 5) such that the bristles 17 of the bristle strip 16 point at an angle downwardly towards the roof 15 in use.

The second side 27 of each of the guard panels 14 includes a lip 54, as can be seen in FIG. 5. The lip 54 extends outwardly from the second side 27 parallel to the guard panel 14 and is provided to engage onto an upper edge of the gutter 11, as can be seen in FIG. 9b. The second side 27 of the guard panels 14 are also each provided with a downward projection 56 along the length thereof. The downward projection 56 is provided to engage with an inner edge of the gutter 11, as can also be seen in FIG. 9b. The engagement with the inner edge of the gutter 11 provides some restriction against upward movement of the guard panels 14 to keep the guard panels 14 in place.

A lower surface of the body 12 is provided also with an adhesive strip 50. The adhesive strip 50 comprises a length of double-sided tape secured to the lower surface of the body 12 between the hinge 38 and the second edge 21 of the body 12. Further, a plurality of grooves 52 are provided in the lower surface of the body 12 between the hinge 38 and the second edge 21. The grooves 52 are provided to receive an adhesive such as silicon placed between the body 12 and the roof 15 to secure the body 12 to the roof 15.

In use, the body 12 of the gutter guard 10 is secured to the roof 15 with appropriate fixing means such that the second side 27 of the guard panels 14 are located above the upper edge of the gutter 11. A suitable adhesive such as silicon is applied to connect the lower surface of the body 12 to the roof 15 and the adhesive strip 50 is provided to hold the body 12 in place until the adhesive sets. The body 12 may also be secured in place by other means, such as suitable threaded fasteners.

The bristle strip 16 points downwardly towards the upper surface of the roof 15 and ends of the bristles 17 engage with the roof 15. The bristle strip 16 thereby conforms with the shape of ridges and gullies in surface of the roof 15 such that any debris washing downwardly over the upper surface of the roof 15 will be directed by the bristles of the bristle strip 16 across the top of the body 12 and the guard panels 14.

When it is required to access the gutter 11 for cleaning and maintenance, the guard panels 14 may be simply moved to the raised position as can be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.