Apparatus and Methods for Gutter Inserts

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/716,285 filed Nov. 5, 2024.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention is generally related to the field of gutter inserts for buildings.

BACKGROUND

Gutters are used to direct water in a particular direction when running off a roof. Rain falls on all parts of the roof, of course, but the home owner or business owner often needs to prevent the rainwater from pouring onto some adjacent locations of the building. For example, sidewalks, decks, and landscaping are some examples of building-adjacent locations that an owner may want to prevent water from falling onto uncontrolled. Gutters are used to catch this runoff and direct it to a more convenient area of a building, e.g. a downspout.

However, gutters are designed to be uniform with equal trough dimensions throughout, irrespective of the size or design of a particular roof. This uniformity can create problems if a roof generates more runoff toward one part of the building relative to another part. A standard gutter is designed only to handle average runoff conditions.

A solution is needed to handle unique roof runoff conditions, without creating an expensive one-off gutter design to handle every possible unique condition.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the disclosure. Certain embodiments can include apparatus and methods for directing water inside a gutter. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed an apparatus. The apparatus can include a device to be inserted inside a gutter. The insert can fit against the walls of the existing gutter, but can leave room between the bottom of the insert and the bottom of the gutter. In this way, water in the gutter can pass below the inserted device. The insert can include at least one wall to block water running off the roof into the gutter. The insert can include a sloped bottom to direct the water runoff in one or more directions.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed a method. The method can include fitting an insert inside a gutter. The method can include blocking the water runoff coming from the roof into the gutter by at least one wall of the gutter insert. The method can include directing the blocked water runoff in one or more directions via a sloped bottom of the gutter insert. The method can also include allowing water beneath the insert to flow freely inside the gutter.

Other embodiments, apparatus, methods, aspects, and features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical terms.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example gutter insert, top view, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, depicting an insert with sloped bottom directing water in one direction.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example gutter insert, bottom view, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, depicting an insert with sloped bottom directing water in one direction.

FIG. 1C illustrates an example gutter insert, side view, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, depicting an insert with sloped bottom directing water in one direction.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example gutter insert, top view, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, depicting an insert with sloped bottom directing water in a direction opposite FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example gutter insert, bottom view, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, depicting an insert with sloped bottom directing water in a direction opposite FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2C illustrates an example gutter insert, side view, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, depicting an insert with sloped bottom directing water in a direction opposite FIG. 1C.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example method of directing water inside a gutter, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to a gutter insert. Accordingly, a gutter insert can be provided to fit inside a gutter; and the gutter can be a part of a home, business, shed, or any other structure that can use a gutter. For example, the gutter can be attached to any type of building, and the building can be comprised of any type, or multiple types, of roof layouts. The gutter device can be inserted into any section, or multiple sections, of a gutter. It can be inserted at one end of a gutter, in the middle, at an opposite end of the gutter, and anywhere in between. In some embodiments, the gutter insert can be screwed into place, sharing a screw with the gutter. In some embodiments, the gutter insert can be snapped into place, essentially relying on friction to maintain its position within the gutter.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, and 2C depict an example gutter insert 100 and an oppositely directed gutter insert 200. In some embodiments, insert 100, 200 can be 3-D printed to create an example of the device contemplated in this disclosure. Several types of materials, including plastics, polypropylene and polyethylene resins, can be used for the composition of the insert 100, 200. Even aluminum and other roofing materials and composites used outdoors and with water-and heat-resistant properties are appropriate in the use and design of insert 100, 200. In addition to 3-D printing and injection molding, insert 100, 200 can be assembled with modular parts customized by an end user.

The gutter inserts 100, 200 can be snapped into place inside the gutter, or otherwise frictionally coupled with the gutter to prevent movement of the insert 100, 200. In some embodiments, insert 100, 200 can be coupled with a gutter via screws, clasps, wire ties, or the like. In some embodiments, zinc screws can be used to couple the gutter insert 100, 200 to the gutter. For example, holes 140, 240 can be aligned with corresponding gutter holes to secure insert 100, 200 in place. The holes 140, 240 can be located on back wall 110, 210; on side wall 120, 220; on lip 150,250; or on any other part of insert 100, 200 where a hole 140, 240 is desired. Lip 150, 250 can be used to attach insert 100, 200 to a gutter, and can also be used to conduct water into insert 100, 200. The holes 140, 240 can be predetermined by a manufacturer, and can also be customizable by an end user.

When insert 100, 200 is secured in place inside a gutter, the sloped bottom 130, 230 of the insert 100, 200 is not flush with the bottom of the gutter. That is, insert 100, 200 is designed to leave space between its own bottom 130, 230 and the bottom of the gutter. In this way, water already inside the gutter can flow freely beneath insert 100, 200 irrespective of if and how much water is flowing through insert 100, 200. In some embodiments, bottom 130, 230 can be sloped in one direction, i.e. toward one end of the gutter. Bottom 130, 230 can also be sloped toward the other end of the gutter, offering both a “left turn” and “right turn” version, depending on which direction the home owner or business owner prefers the water to flow. For example, the owner or end user may wish to direct the water flow toward a downspout; or the end user may prefer to direct the water flow away from a particular part of the building that might be adjacent to something like a sidewalk or landscaping. In some embodiments, the bottom 130, 230 of insert 100, 200 can be flat, either without significant sloping or without any sloping. In some embodiments, bottom 130, 230 can be arched such that the longitudinal center line of the bottom 130, 230 can be higher than the lowest point of the bottom 130, 230, thereby allowing more water to flow inside the gutter but beneath insert 100, 200. In some embodiments, bottom 130, 230 can be sloped in both left and right directions. For example, bottom 130, 230 can include a peak near the center of the insert 100, 200, although the peak can be located anywhere on the longitudinal axis. Bottom 130, 230 can then be sloped away from the peak in opposite directions.

In some embodiments, insert 100, 200 can include a back wall 110, 210. Insert 100, 200 can be installed in the gutter such that back wall 110, 210 is the farthest insert wall from the roof of the structure. As such, any water flow from the roof that escapes the trough of insert 100, 200 can then be stopped by back wall 110, 210. After hitting back wall 110, 210 gravity then pulls the water down to bottom 130, 230 and is directed out of insert 100, 200 into the gutter in the direction(s) dictated by any slope of bottom 130, 230. Insert 100, 200 can be installed in a gutter along with an existing splash guard. Existing splash guards can rise several inches above the top of a gutter, and often create a backup of water in the immediate vicinity because of the high volume of water flow in that area. Similarly, insert 100, 200 can include a back wall 130, 230 that rises several inches or more above the top of the gutter. Gutter insert 100, 200 can alleviate much of this backup by actively directing the water flow in one or more directions away from the immediate vicinity, instead of allowing the water to back up locally. In some embodiments, back wall 110, 210 can replace an existing splash guard by having an elongated wall itself. In these embodiments, an end user would not need both an existing splash guard and an insert 100, 200 with an elongated back wall 130, 230 in the same location. Insert 100, 200 can fit also in conjunction with an existing gutter leaf guard, and both insert 100, 200 and the existing leaf guard can function accordingly.

In some embodiments, insert 100, 200 can include a side wall 120, 220. Side wall 120, 220 can be a barrier to water flow toward it, and side wall 120, 220 can also be used to attach insert 100, 200 to a gutter or structure. Side wall 120, 220 can be used with any version of bottom 130, 230, including sloped, doubly sloped, flat, and arched.

Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a flow diagram of an example method 300 for directing water inside a gutter, according to an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. The method can be utilized with various apparatus, such as insert 100 and insert 200 illustrated in FIGS. 1A-2C.

The method 300 can begin at block 310. At block 310, a gutter insert can be fitted inside a gutter to allow water to flow beneath the gutter insert. In some embodiments, the insert can be fit securely in place via snaps or frictional coupling to the gutter, for example to the lip of the gutter. The insert can be attached to the gutter at the gutter lip, fascia, drip edge, bracket, or any other part of a typical gutter. The edges of the insert can overlap the lip of the gutter. In some embodiments, screws, clasps, wire ties, and the like can be used to couple the insert to the gutter. The insert can be removably coupled to a location in the gutter, and moved to a different coupling location if desired by the end user of the insert. The insert can be composed of water-resistant materials such as plastic, rubber, polyethylene resin, aluminum, or any other material commonly used for gutters and water-resistant apparatus. The insert material can be 3-D printed, injection molded, or assembled. The gutter insert can fit inside a gutter even if an existing splash guard and leaf cover are also installed in the same part of the gutter. For example, in some embodiments the gutter insert can be fit on top of the mounting of an existing splash guard. Similarly a leaf cover can be added directly over the gutter insert. The gutter insert can be fit securely in a gutter while leaving space below the insert but above the bottom of the gutter for water already inside the gutter to flow freely.

At block 320, method 300 can include blocking a water flow via a wall of the gutter insert. The insert can include a back wall which opposes a water flow coming from the roof toward the gutter. By blocking the water flow from the roof, gravity then takes the water into the gutter insert. Block 320 can include blocking the water flow even if the gutter insert is installed along with an existing splash guard. In some embodiments, block 320 can include blocking the water flow with its own built-in splash guard that may rise several inches above the top of the gutter. Block 320 can also include blocking water runoff via a side wall of the gutter insert. The side wall can block water coming directly from the roof as well as water that may get backed up coming from another part of the insert, such as from the back wall, for example.

At block 330, method 300 can direct water inside the gutter insert via a sloped bottom of the insert. After blocking water via one or more walls in block 320, gravity will force the water down into the bottom of the gutter insert. The bottom of the insert can be sloped in one or more directions in order to direct water in the gutter insert toward one or more directions. If the bottom of the insert is sloped highest on one end and lowest on the opposite end, then the insert bottom will direct the water flow toward the lowest end with the help of gravity. In some embodiments, the bottom of the insert can be both sloped in one direction and arched, allowing more space beneath the bottom of the insert and the bottom of the gutter, thereby permitting more water to flow in the gutter which is beneath the insert. In some embodiments, the bottom of the insert can be highest in its center and lowest on both ends. In these embodiments, the bottom of the insert can direct the water flow in opposite directions at once.

The operations described and shown in method 300 of FIG. 3 can be carried out or performed in any suitable order as desired in various embodiments of the disclosure, and the method 300 can repeat any number of times. Additionally, in certain embodiments, at least a portion of the operations can be carried out in parallel. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, fewer than or more than the operations described in FIG. 3 can be performed.

The method 300 can optionally end following block 330.

The above description presents the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present embodiments, and of the manner and process of practicing them, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which they pertain to practice these embodiments. The present embodiments are, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from those discussed above that are fully equivalent. Consequently, the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, the present invention covers all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, the steps in the processes described herein need not be performed in the same order as they have been presented, and may be performed in any order(s). Further, steps that have been presented as being performed separately may in alternative embodiments be performed concurrently. Likewise, steps that have been presented as being performed concurrently may in alternative embodiments be performed separately.

Now that these embodiments have been described,