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Gutter heating systemGutter heating system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060032153, Gutter heating system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/600,746 filed Aug. 11, 2004; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The invention relates generally to a gutter heating system. More particularly, the invention relates to a gutter heating system for heating the gutter region and downspout region of a house or other building to prevent build-up of ice and/or to melt ice formed in the gutter or downspout. Specifically, the invention relates to such a system utilizing a circuit or circuits of tubing through which a heated fluid is pumped adjacent the gutter and downspout to provide the heat necessary to prevent the ice build-up or to melt the ice. [0004] 2. Background Information [0005] It is well known that in climates which experience freezing temperatures that gutters and downspouts of houses and other buildings often become clogged or partially clogged with ice. This often leads to water overflowing the gutters, which can lead to damage to basement walls or foundation walls either from the simple seepage of water into such walls and/or the damage caused by the water freezing and expanding within or adjacent such walls. In addition, ice formation within a gutter system can damage the gutters and downspouts and sometimes causes gutters to fall off, which can cause further damage to the gutters and also be a potential safety risk. In addition, this buildup of ice tends to keep facia boards wet for extended periods of time, thus leading to the rotting of said boards. This may also be true of boards which are disposed adjacent the facia boards beneath the roof. Further, especially in the case of relatively high gutters, icicles forming on the gutters may break off and fall, thus presenting an additional safety hazard. [0006] One prior art system intended to address at least some of these problems was an electrical system which utilized cables having a heating element running therethrough. More particularly, the cables of this system are mounted atop a roof adjacent a drip edge above a gutter with the cable snaking back and forth along the surface of the roof in order to heat a portion thereof to melt or prevent the formation of ice on the roof adjacent the drip edge. However, this system does not directly heat the gutter system or facia boards and thus allows the formation of ice within the gutters and downspouts. This type of system tends to require a relatively high degree of maintenance and is susceptible to damage from animals such as squirrels eating through the cables. Further, the draw of electrical power to operate this type of system is relatively costly. [0007] Thus, there is a need in the art to solve the problems noted above. The present invention addresses these and other problems. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention provides a heating system for use with a gutter system of a building, the heating system comprising a recirculation fluid transportation circuit a portion of which is adapted to be disposed adjacent a portion of the gutter system; a heat source adapted to heat the fluid; and a pump in fluid communication with the circuit and adapted to move the heated fluid through the circuit. [0009] The present invention also provides in combination, a heating system and a gutter system having a gutter and a downspout, the heating system comprising a recirculation fluid transportation circuit comprising a gutter segment mounted adjacent the gutter and a downspout segment mounted adjacentthe downspout; a fluid; a heat source for heating the fluid; and a pump in fluid communication with the circuit for moving the fluid through the circuit. [0010] The present invention further provides a method comprising the steps of heating a fluid; and moving the fluid within a recirculation circuit adjacent a portion of a gutter system of a building to increase the temperature of the portion of the gutter system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a first embodiment of the gutter heating system of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower end of the downspout and upper end of the basement wall on the right side of FIG. 1 showing a single-tube portion of the recirculation circuit. [0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the area adjacent the intersection of the downspout and gutter on the right side of FIG. 1 and shows the heat ribbons used within the gutter and along the facia boards and the connection of the heat ribbons with the single-tube segment extending from the downspout. [0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heat ribbon shown in FIG. 3. [0015] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a second embodiment of the gutter heating system of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 3 with respect to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5. [0017] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0018] A first embodiment of the gutter heating system of the present invention is indicated generally at 100 in FIG. 1; and a second embodiment is indicated generally at 200 in FIG. 5. System 100 is configured to prevent the buildup of ice or melt ice within a gutter system 50 of a building such as a house 52. System 100 may also serve to heat facia boards along the drip edges of a roof 54 of house 52 in order to prevent rotting of the facia boards. System 100 may also provide sufficient heat to melt or prevent the formation of ice along portions of the roof adjacent the drip edges thereof. [0019] With reference to FIG. 1, house 52 includes an above-ground portion 56 and a basement 58 therebelow bounded by basement walls 60A and 60B. Portion 56 of house 52 is disposed above ground surface or ground level 62 of the ground or soil 64 on which house 52 is built. Ground 64 has a ground or soil freeze zone 66 which extends from ground level 62 downwardly to a sub-ground freeze line 68, the vertical distance between level 62 and freeze line 68 being represented as a distance D1, which typically ranges from about 12 to 18 inches. However, this may vary and the depth of freeze zone 66 depends on the particular locale due primarily to the typical winter temperatures thereof. Basement 58 is typically below or partially below ground level 62. Continue reading about Gutter heating system... Full patent description for Gutter heating system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Gutter heating system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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