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 of the type having a generally trough-shaped interior, a rear wall extending along a roof fascia, a bottom wall and a front lip, comprising: a cap having a rearward portion thereof shaped to extend along an associated roof, a medial
The invention claimed is: 1. A guard for conventional rain gutters of the type having a generally trough-shaped interior, a rear wall extending along a roof fascia, a bottom wall 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 supporting said medial portion of said cap thereon 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 having 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; wherein said mounting bracket has a one-piece molded construction of synthetic resin material, and includes: a generally L-shaped member comprising a vertical leg defining said rearward mounting portion of said bracket, and 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, and a generally flat bottom edge configured to abut the bottom wall of the gutter in a flush relationship to positively position said mounting bracket vertically within the interior of the gutter, a horizontal leg oriented in a generally perpendicular relationship with said vertical leg, and having said nose disposed adjacent a terminal portion thereof, wherein said nose has a hook-shaped configuration for reception in a channel portion of the front lip of the gutter to ensure secure interconnection of said mounting bracket and the gutter, and a predetermined width which tapers inwardly to an outer portion thereof to facilitate positioning said mounting bracket into said perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter; 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; 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, wherein said top member includes a downwardly curved front edge to support thereon said forward portion of said cap; a brace portion disposed between and interconnecting said top member with said L-shaped member, and wherein said top member and said 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, and including an inclined wall extending from said top member to said fastener boss to define at least a portion of said clearance space; and a fastener access aperture disposed through said upper cap support portion of said mounting bracket, aligned with said central opening in said fastener boss, and configured to insert a fastener through said fastener access aperture and into said fastener boss; and a threaded fastener having a shank portion thereof 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, so as to attach said mounting bracket to the rear wall of the gutter and the roof fascia with only one said fastener for ease of installation, and 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 through said fastener boss. 2. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting bracket further includes an upstanding cap retainer disposed rearwardly of said nose and in vertical alignment therewith, and detachably retaining said forward portion of said cap therein. 3. A guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said gusset portion of said mounting bracket has an arcuately-shaped outer edge. 4. A method for deflecting debris from rain gutters having a generally trough-shaped interior, a rear wall extending along a roof fascia and a front lip with a channel, comprising: forming a cap with a rearward portion shaped to extend along an associated roof, a medial portion shaped to extend over the interior of the rain gutter, and a forward portion shaped to extend adjacent to the front lip of the rain gutter; forming a mounting bracket with a rearward mounting portion shaped for abutment with the rear wall of the rain gutter, an upper cap support portion for abuttingly supporting thereon the medial portion of the cap to deflect debris from the interior of the rain gutter, a forward gutter support portion having a nose configured to engage the front lip of the gutter, an angled fastener boss which slants upwardly and outwardly from the rearward mounting portion toward the upper cap support portion and with a central opening shaped to receive therein a fastener, and a fastener access aperture opening upwardly through the upper cap support portion of the mounting bracket, aligned with the central opening in the fastener boss, and configured to insert a fastener through the fastener access aperture and into the fastener boss; positioning the mounting bracket within the interior of the rain gutter in a laterally skewed orientation; pivoting the mounting bracket into a generally perpendicular orientation within the interior of the rain gutter with the support portion of the mounting bracket engaging the front lip of the rain gutter to position the nose in the channel of the rain gutter; providing a fastener with a shank portion and a head portion; inserting the fastener through the fastener access aperture in the upper cap support portion of the mounting bracket, and into the central opening of the angled fastener boss; driving the fastener through the rear wall of the rain gutter and into the roof fascia, such that the head portion of the fastener abuts against the angled fastener boss to securely retain the mounting bracket in place in the interior of the rain gutter; positioning the cap over the interior of the rain gutter, such that in an installed position, the upper cap support portion of the mounting bracket abuttingly supports thereon the medial portion of the cap; and connecting the cap with the mounting bracket in the installed position. 5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said mounting bracket positioning step comprises positioning the mounting bracket in a conventional gutter already installed on a roof fascia. 6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said fastener inserting and driving steps comprise mounting the mounting bracket in the rain gutter using a single fastener. 7. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said fastener providing step comprises providing a threaded, self-tapping screw; and said fastener driving step comprises screwing the fastener through the rear wall of the rain gutter and into the roof fascia. 8. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said cap forming step includes forming a generally imperforate sheet with a downwardly inclined medial portion and a generally C-shaped forward portion. 9. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said cap positioning step includes positioning the forward portion of the cap a spaced apart distance above the front lip of the rain gutter to define a gap of predetermined width though which rainwater is swept into the interior of the rain gutter. 10. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said cap positioning step further includes precisely locating the nose on the mounting bracket and the forward portion of the cap to consistently maintain the predetermined width of the gap to keep animals and debris from entering the gutter without restricting the flow of rainwater into the interior of the gutter. 11. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said cap positioning step includes inserting the rearward portion of the cap under shingles extending along the roof fascia. 12. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said cap connecting step includes supporting the cap solely by the roof fascia through the mounting bracket and the fastener, such that the cap does not penetrate or damage the roof shingles. 13. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step comprises forming the nose into a hook shape configured for reception in the channel of the rain gutter. 14. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said mounting bracket positioning step includes snapping the hook-shaped mounting bracket nose into the channel in the front lip of the rain gutter to positively capture the hook-shaped mounting bracket nose in the channel of the rain gutter. 15. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step includes forming a flat rear surface on the rearward mounting portion of the mounting bracket; and said mounting bracket pivoting step includes shifting the flat rear surface of the mounting bracket into abutment with the rear wall of the rain gutter in a flush relationship to positively position the mounting bracket in the perpendicular orientation within the interior of the rain gutter. 16. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step includes forming a flat bottom edge on the mounting bracket; and said mounting bracket pivoting step includes shifting the flat bottom edge of the mounting bracket into abutment with a bottom wall of the rain gutter in a flush relationship to positively position the mounting bracket vertically within the interior of the rain gutter. 17. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step includes forming bracing which supports the upper cap support portion of the mounting bracket, with an opening through which the fastener passes; and said fastener inserting step includes inserting the fastener through the opening in the bracing in the mounting bracket. 18. A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step comprises molding the mounting bracket in one piece from synthetic resin. 19. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said mounting bracket pivoting step comprises rotating the mounting bracket rearwardly along a generally vertical arc about the nose toward the rear wall of the gutter to locate the same in the laterally skewed orientation within the interior of the gutter, and subsequently pivoting the mounting bracket laterally along a generally horizontal plane about the nose into the generally perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter to operatively connect the 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. 20. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said fastener inserting and driving steps comprise mounting the mounting bracket in the rain gutter using a single fastener. 21. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said fastener providing step comprises proving a threaded, self-tapping screw; and said fastener driving step comprises screwing the fastener through the rear wall of the rain gutter and into the roof fascia. 22. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said cap positioning step includes inserting the rearward portion of the cap under shingles extending along the roof fascia. 23. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said cap connecting step includes supporting the cap solely by the roof fascia through the mounting bracket and the fastener, such that the cap does not penetrate or damage the roof shingles. 24. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step comprises forming the nose into a hook shape configured for reception in the channel of the rain gutter; and said mounting bracket positioning step includes snapping the hook-shaped mounting bracket nose into the channel in the front lip of the rain gutter to positively capture the hook-shaped mounting bracket nose in the channel of the rain gutter. 25. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step includes forming a flat rear surface on the rearward mounting portion of the mounting bracket; and said mounting bracket pivoting step includes shifting the flat rear surface of the mounting bracket into abutment with the rear wall of the rain gutter in a flush relationship to positively position the mounting bracket in the perpendicular orientation within the interior of the rain gutter. 26. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step includes forming a flat bottom edge on the mounting bracket; and said mounting bracket pivoting step includes shifting the flat bottom edge of the mounting bracket into abutment with a bottom wall of the rain gutter in a flush relationship to positively position the mounting bracket vertically within the interior of the rain gutter. 27. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step includes forming bracing which supports the upper cap support portion of the mounting bracket, with an opening through which the fastener passes; and said fastener inserting step includes inserting the fastener through the opening in the bracing in the mounting bracket. 28. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said mounting bracket forming step comprises molding the mounting bracket in one piece from synthetic resin. 29. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said mounting bracket pivoting step comprises rotating the mounting bracket rearwardly along a generally vertical arc about the nose toward the rear wall of the gutter to locate the same in the laterally skewed orientation within the interior of the gutter, and subsequently pivoting the mounting bracket laterally along a generally horizontal plane about the nose into the generally perpendicular orientation within the interior of the gutter to operatively connect the 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.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (66)
Anthony Iannelli, Anchoring bracket for a gutter cover.
Demartini Robert J. (208 Pineholt La. Flat Rock NC 28731) Demartini David R. (2646 Lunada La. Alamo CA 94507), New and useful improvements in rain gutter devices and methods of making same.
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