초록 ▼

A guard and associated method for rain gutters includes a cap or deflector extending over a gutter of the type having a trough-shaped interior, a rear wall extending along a roof fascia, and a front lip with a channel and an end flange. A mounting bracket has a rear portion abutting the rear wall of

A guard and associated method for rain gutters includes a cap or deflector extending over a gutter of the type having a trough-shaped interior, a rear wall extending along a roof fascia, and a front lip with a channel and an end flange. A mounting bracket has a rear portion abutting the rear wall of the gutter, an upper portion supporting the deflector, and a front portion with a hook-shaped nose. The mounting bracket nose is configured for insertion under the end flange of the gutter, such that the mounting bracket is rotated rearwardly along a generally vertical arc about the nose toward the rear wall of the gutter, and shifted laterally into a skewed orientation within the gutter interior. The mounting bracket is then pivoted laterally along a generally horizontal plane about the nose into a perpendicular orientation within the gutter interior to retain the nose in the front lip of the gutter, and facilitate attachment of the rear portion of the mounting bracket to the rear wall of the gutter and the roof fascia.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A guard for conventional rain gutters having a generally trough-shaped interior, a rear wall extending along a roof fascia, and a front lip, comprising: a cap having a rearward portion thereof shaped to extend along an associated roof, a medial portion thereof shaped to

The invention claimed is: 1. A guard for conventional rain gutters having a generally trough-shaped interior, a rear wall extending along a roof fascia, and a front lip, comprising: a cap having a rearward portion thereof shaped to extend along an associated roof, a medial portion thereof shaped to extend over the interior of the gutter, and a forward portion thereof shaped to extend adjacent to the front lip of the gutter; a mounting bracket having a rearward mounting portion thereof adapted for abutment with the rear wall of the gutter, an upper cap support portion thereof abuttingly supporting thereon said medial portion of said cap to deflect debris from the interior of the gutter, a forward gutter support portion thereof having a nose configured to engage the front lip of the gutter, and an angled fastener boss which slants upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle from said rearward mounting portion toward said upper cap support portion and has a central opening shaped to receive therein a fastener which extends through the rear wall of the gutter and into the roof fascia to support said bracket and the gutter along the roof; and a fastener access aperture opening upwardly through said upper cap support portion of said mounting bracket, aligned with said central opening in said fastener boss, and configured to insert the fastener through said fastener access aperture and into said fastener boss. 2. A guard as set forth in claim 1, including: a threaded fastener having a shank portion of said threaded fastener extending through the central opening of said fastener boss, and a head portion of said threaded fastener abuttingly engaging an upper end of said fastener boss. 3. A guard as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said mounting bracket is configured to be attached to the rear wall of the gutter and the roof fascia with only one said fastener for ease of installation. 4. A guard as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a generally L-shaped member with a vertical leg defining said rearward mounting portion of said bracket; and said vertical leg includes a generally flat rear surface configured to abut the rear wall of the gutter in a flush relationship to positively position said mounting bracket in a perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter. 5. A guard as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said vertical leg of said mounting bracket includes a generally flat bottom edge configured to abut a bottom wall of the gutter in a flush relationship to positively position said mounting bracket vertically within the interior of the gutter. 6. A guard as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said L-shaped member includes a horizontal leg oriented in a generally perpendicular relationship with said vertical leg, and having said nose disposed adjacent a terminal portion thereof. 7. A guard as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a gusset portion extending between a bottom surface of said horizontal leg and a forward surface of said vertical leg and rigidifying said mounting bracket. 8. A guard as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said mounting bracket includes an inclined top member connected with and disposed generally above said L-shaped member, and defining said upper cap support portion of said mounting bracket. 9. A guard as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said top member includes a downwardly curved front edge to support said forward portion of said cap. 10. A guard as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a brace portion disposed between and interconnecting said top member with said L-shaped member. 11. A guard as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said brace portion of said mounting bracket includes an angled access opening therethrough which is aligned with said fastener access aperture and said central opening of said fastener boss to facilitate insertion of said fastener into said fastener boss. 12. A guard as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said mounting bracket is one-piece, and is molded from a synthetic resin material. 13. A guard as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said top member and brace portion of said mounting bracket are offset forwardly from said vertical leg to define a clearance space which facilitates installing said mounting bracket in the interior of the gutter. 14. A guard as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said mounting bracket includes an inclined wall extending from said top member to said fastener boss which defines at least a portion of said clearance space. 15. A guard as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is hook-shaped to facilitate operable connection with the front lip of the gutter. 16. A guard as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is configured for insertion into an interior portion of the front lip of the gutter such that said mounting bracket is rotated rearwardly along a generally vertical arc about said nose toward the rear wall of the gutter, and shifted laterally into a skewed orientation within the interior of the gutter, and subsequently pivoted laterally along a generally horizontal plane about said nose into a generally perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter to operatively connect said nose with the gutter, and facilitate attachment of said rear surface of said mounting bracket to the rear wall of the gutter and the roof fascia. 17. A guard as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said mounting bracket nose has a predetermined width which tapers inwardly to an outer portion thereof to facilitate rotation of said mounting bracket into said perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter without distorting the front lip of the gutter. 18. A guard as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is shaped to be snapped over an end flange portion of the gutter to ensure positive interconnection of said mounting bracket and the gutter. 19. A guard as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is configured to be received in a channel portion of the front lip of the gutter to ensure secure interconnection of said mounting bracket and the gutter. 20. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket is configured to be attached to the rear wall of the gutter and the roof fascia with only one fastener for ease of installation. 21. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a vertical leg defining said rearward mounting portion of said bracket having a generally flat rear surface configured to abut the rear wall of the gutter in a flush relationship to positively position said mounting bracket in a perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter. 22. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a vertical leg with a generally flat bottom edge configured to abut a bottom wall of the gutter in a flush relationship to positively position said mounting bracket vertically within the interior of the gutter. 23. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a horizontal leg having said nose disposed adjacent a terminal portion thereof. 24. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a gusset portion which rigidifies said mounting bracket. 25. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket includes an inclined top member defining said upper cap support portion of said mounting bracket. 26. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a brace portion disposed between and interconnecting said rearward mounting portion and said upper cap support portion, with an angled access opening therethrough which is aligned with said fastener access aperture and said central opening of said fastener boss to facilitate insertion of a fastener into said fastener boss. 27. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket is one-piece, and is molded from a synthetic resin material. 28. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is hook-shaped to facilitate operable connection with the front lip of the gutter. 29. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is configured for insertion into an interior portion of the front lip of the gutter such that said mounting bracket is rotated rearwardly along a generally vertical arc about said nose toward the rear wall of the gutter, and shifted laterally into a skewed orientation within the interior of the gutter, and subsequently pivoted laterally along a generally horizontal plane about said nose into a generally perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter to operatively connect said nose with the gutter, and facilitate attachment of the rearward mounting portion of said mounting bracket to the rear wall of the gutter and the roof fascia. 30. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket nose has a predetermined width which tapers inwardly to an outer portion thereof to facilitate rotation of said mounting bracket into a perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter without distorting the front lip of the gutter. 31. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is shaped to be snapped over an end flange portion of the gutter to ensure positive interconnection of said mounting bracket and the gutter. 32. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is shaped for close reception in a channel portion of the front lip of the gutter to ensure secure interconnection of said mounting bracket and the gutter. 33. In a conventional rain gutter having a generally trough-shaped interior, a rear wall extending along a roof fascia, and a front lip, the improvement of a guard comprising: a cap having a rearward portion thereof shaped to extend along an associated roof, a medial portion thereof extending over the interior of said gutter, and a forward portion thereof extending adjacent to the front lip of said gutter; a mounting bracket having a rearward mounting portion thereof abutting the rear wall of said gutter, an upper cap support portion thereof abuttingly supporting thereon said medial portion of said cap to deflect debris from the interior of said gutter, a forward gutter support portion thereof having a nose engaging the front lip of said gutter, and an angled fastener boss which slants upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle from said rearward mounting portion toward said upper cap support portion, and has a central opening shaped to receive therein a fastener which extends through the rear wall of said gutter and into the roof fascia to support said bracket and said gutter along the roof; and a fastener access aperture opening upwardly through said upper cap support portion of said mounting bracket, aligned with said central opening in said fastener boss, and configured to insert the fastener through said fastener access aperture and into said fastener boss. 34. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, including: a threaded fastener having a shank portion of said threaded fastener extending through the central opening of said fastener boss, and a head portion of said threaded fastener abuttingly engaging an upper end of said fastener boss. 35. A gutter as set forth in claim 34, wherein: said mounting bracket is attached to the rear wall of said gutter and the roof fascia with only one said fastener for ease of installation. 36. A gutter as set forth in claim 35, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a generally L-shaped member with a vertical leg defining said rearward mounting portion of said bracket; and said vertical leg includes a generally flat rear surface abutting the rear wall of said gutter in a flush relationship to positively position said mounting bracket in a perpendicular orientation within the interior of said gutter. 37. A gutter as set forth in claim 36, wherein: said vertical leg of said mounting bracket includes a generally flat bottom edge abutting a bottom wall of said gutter in a flush relationship to positively position said mounting bracket vertically within the interior of said gutter. 38. A gutter as set forth in claim 37, wherein: said L-shaped member includes a horizontal leg oriented in a generally perpendicular relationship with said vertical leg, and having said nose disposed adjacent a terminal portion thereof. 39. A gutter as set forth in claim 38, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a gusset portion extending between a bottom surface of said horizontal leg and a forward surface of said vertical leg and rigidifying said mounting bracket. 40. A gutter as set forth in claim 39, wherein: said mounting bracket includes an inclined top member connected with and disposed generally above said L-shaped member, and defining said upper cap support portion of said mounting bracket. 41. A gutter as set forth in claim 40, wherein: said top member includes a downwardly curved front edge to support said forward portion of said cap. 42. A gutter as set forth in claim 41, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a brace portion disposed between and interconnecting said top member with said L-shaped member. 43. A gutter as set forth in claim 42, wherein: said brace portion of said mounting bracket includes an angled access opening therethrough which is aligned with said fastener access aperture and said central opening of said fastener boss to facilitate insertion of said fastener into said fastener boss. 44. A gutter as set forth in claim 43, wherein: said mounting bracket is one-piece, and is molded from a synthetic resin material. 45. A gutter as set forth in claim 44, wherein: said top member and brace portion of said mounting bracket are offset forwardly from said vertical leg to define a clearance space which facilitates installing said mounting bracket in the interior of said gutter. 46. A gutter as set forth in claim 45, wherein: said mounting bracket includes an inclined wall extending from said top member to said fastener boss which defines at least a portion of said clearance space. 47. A gutter as set forth in claim 46, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is hook-shaped for operable connection with the front lip of said gutter. 48. A gutter as set forth in claim 47, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is configured for insertion into an interior portion of the front lip of said gutter such that said mounting bracket is rotated rearwardly along a generally vertical arc about said nose toward the rear wall of said gutter, and shifted laterally into a skewed orientation within the interior of said gutter, and subsequently pivoted laterally along a generally horizontal plane about said nose into a generally perpendicular orientation within the interior of said gutter to operatively connect said nose with said gutter, and facilitate attachment of said rear surface of said mounting bracket to the rear wall of said gutter and the roof fascia. 49. A gutter as set forth in claim 48, wherein: said mounting bracket nose has a predetermined width which tapers inwardly to an outer portion thereof to facilitate rotation of said mounting bracket into said perpendicular orientation within the interior of said gutter without distorting the front lip of said gutter. 50. A gutter as set forth in claim 49, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is shaped to be snapped over an end flange portion of the gutter to ensure positive interconnection of said mounting bracket and said gutter. 51. A gutter as set forth in claim 50, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is received in a channel portion of the front lip of said gutter to ensure secure interconnection of said mounting bracket and said gutter. 52. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket is attached to the rear wall of said gutter and the roof fascia with only one fastener for ease of installation. 53. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a vertical leg defining said rearward mounting portion of said bracket having a generally flat rear surface configured to abut the rear wall of said gutter in a flush relationship to positively position said mounting bracket in a perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter. 54. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a vertical leg with a generally flat bottom edge which abuts a bottom wall of said gutter in a flush relationship to positively position said mounting bracket vertically within the interior of said gutter. 55. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a horizontal leg having said nose disposed adjacent a terminal portion thereof. 56. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a gusset portion which rigidifies said mounting bracket. 57. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket includes an inclined top member defining said upper cap support portion of said mounting bracket. 58. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket includes a brace portion disposed between and interconnecting said rearward mounting portion and said upper cap support portion, with an angled access opening therethrough which is aligned with said fastener access aperture and said central opening of said fastener boss to facilitate insertion of a fastener into said fastener boss. 59. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket is one-piece, and is molded from a synthetic resin material. 60. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is hook-shaped for operable connection with the front lip of said gutter. 61. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is inserted into an interior portion of the front lip of said gutter such that said mounting bracket is rotated rearwardly along a generally vertical arc about said nose toward the rear wall of said gutter, and shifted laterally into a skewed orientation within the interior of said gutter, and subsequently pivoted laterally along a generally horizontal plane about said nose into a generally perpendicular orientation within the interior of said gutter to operatively connect said nose with said gutter, and facilitate attachment of the rearward mounting portion of said mounting bracket to the rear wall of said gutter and the roof fascia. 62. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket nose has a predetermined width which tapers inwardly to an outer portion thereof to facilitate rotation of said mounting bracket into a perpendicular orientation within the interior of said gutter without distorting the front lip of said gutter. 63. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is shaped to be snapped over an end flange portion of the gutter to ensure positive interconnection of said mounting bracket and said gutter. 64. A gutter as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said mounting bracket nose is shaped for close reception in a channel portion of the front lip of said gutter to ensure secure interconnection of said mounting bracket and said gutter.