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  Roof gutterUSPTO Application #: 20070220814Title: Roof gutter Abstract: A gutter system (10) for channelling rainwater flowing into a downpipe comprising a trough (24) extending the length of the gutter system (10), the trough (24) being adapted to be mounted to a building below and generally parallel to the roofline (14) of the building. The trough (24) is adapted to be connected to at least one downpipe so that water collecting in the trough (24) can flow into and down the downpipe. A debris exclusion panel (20) is provided which extends the length of and overlies the trough (24) the debris exclusion panel (20) having a first longitudinal edge adapted to be positioned underneath the roofline (14) of the building, and a second longitudinal edge opposite the first longitudinal edge and which is adjacent to, or extends beyond an edge of the trough remote from the building. The debris exclusion panel (20) is inclined to the horizontal such that the first longitudinal edge is higher than the second longitudinal edge. A transition section (22) is provided which is integrally formed with the second longitudinal edge and underlies the debris exclusion panel (20), the transition section (22) being configured so as to lead water flowing down the debris exclusion panel (20) and around the second longitudinal edge and down towards the base of the trough adjacent the side of the trough adjacent the building such that at least a substantial portion of water flowing off the roof surface of the building in use will pass into the trough (24) without dripping off the debris exclusion panel (20) or the transition section (22). (end of abstract)
Agent: Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP Attn: Patent Group - Kansas City, MO, US Inventor: Richard Bruce Faulks USPTO Applicaton #: 20070220814 - Class: 052012000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070220814. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
INTRODUCTION [0001] This invention relates to roof gutters of the type which extend around roofs of buildings such as residential dwellings and commercial buildings. More particularly, the invention is concerned with gutters which limit the ingress of leaves and other debris into the gutter channel. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] In many areas, particularly those areas where there is a significant amount of vegetation and foliage, leaves, twigs, and other vegetable matter, debris will tend to clog the gutters of buildings. Typically leaves and the like will fall from trees onto the roof of a building, and this vegetable matter will either be blown into the gutters or will wash into the gutters during a rain storm. Once the vegetable matter is in the gutter it will relatively rapidly clog either the downpipe or the gutters themselves. [0003] Clogged gutters are problematic for many reasons. They tend to become fire hazards, collected vegetable matter tends to rot and then corrode the gutter, the gutters overflow causing rain water to spill into inappropriate areas, and also on occasions flood the buildings they are designed to protect. Also, gutters which contain stagnant pools of water serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. Gutters can be dangerous to clean, and it is not unknown for persons cleaning gutters to fall from the roof or ladder causing injury or death. Cleaning of gutters is also a tiresome and time consuming task which most people would prefer to avoid. [0004] Various prior art solutions to the problem have been proposed. The most obvious solution is to cover the gap between the roof and the gutter with some form of mesh or filter material which will allow water to pass through, but which will keep out larger matter such as leaves and twigs. The twigs and leaves will hopefully be blown from the roof in due course. The trouble with this system is that the mesh or filter material itself tends to become clogged with fine leaves and other vegetable matter, and then the water simply passes over the gutter causing many of the aforementioned problems. Cleaning the mesh material becomes a tedious and time consuming task. [0005] More recently solutions have been proposed which employ the surface tension of water as it travels over certain surfaces. Examples of these solutions are described in various prior art patents and patent applications including U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,755, U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,527, US Patent Application 2002/0073631 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,791. However, these solutions themselves have problems, including requiring the gutters to be moved to accommodate the protection system, and water dripping from the protection system into the trough of the gutter which can be annoying. [0006] Any discussion of documents, publications, acts, devices, substances, articles, materials or the like which is included in the present specification has been done so for the sole purpose so as to provide a contextual basis for the present invention. Any such discussions are not to be understood as admission of subject matter which forms the prior art base, or any part of the common general knowledge of the relevant technical field in relation to the technical field of the present invention to which it extended at the priority date or dates of the present invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] According to the invention there is provided a gutter system for channelling rainwater flowing into a downpipe, the gutter system comprising: [0008] a trough extending the length of the gutter system, said trough being adapted to be mounted to a building below and generally parallel to the roofline of the building, the trough being adapted to be connected to at least one downpipe so that water collecting in the trough can flow into and down the downpipe; [0009] a debris exclusion panel which extends the length of and overlies said trough, said debris exclusion panel having a first longitudinal edge adapted to be positioned underneath the roofline of the building, and a second longitudinal edge opposite the first longitudinal edge and which is adjacent to, or extends beyond an edge of the trough remote from the building, the debris exclusion panel being inclined to the horizontal such that the first longitudinal edge is higher than the second longitudinal edge; and [0010] a transition section integrally formed with the second longitudinal edge and underlying the debris exclusion panel, the transition section being configured so as to lead water flowing down the debris exclusion panel and around the second longitudinal edge and down towards the base of said trough adjacent the side of the trough adjacent the building such that at least a substantial portion of water flowing off the roof surface of the building in use will pass into the trough without dripping off the debris exclusion panel or the transition section. [0011] Preferably the trough, the debris exclusion panel and the transition section will be integrally formed. The trough may be of arcuate or rectangular shape in cross section. The gutter system is preferably adapted to be supported on brackets which in turn are mounted to the rafters or facia board of the building. Optionally the gutter system may clip into said brackets. [0012] The first edge of the debris exclusion panel may be upturned to provide a generally vertical lip for preventing water being blown up the panel behind the gutter. The lip may be adapted to be engaged by a support bracket for holding the gutter system in position. The lip may have a down turned or folded over section defining a vertically extending rib, said rib having upper and lower edges with which a bracket may engage to operatively hold the upper portion of the gutter system in position. The second edge of the debris exclusion panel may be in the form of a rounded nib, leading to said transition section. The nib preferably extends beyond the outer edge of the trough to thereby ensure debris which falls off the edge of the debris exclusion panel does not drop into the trough. The nib is preferably of arcuate shape in cross section, having a radius of between about 1 mm and 10 mm. The preferred radius of the nib is between about 3 mm and 5 mm. [0013] The transition section is preferably inclined to the horizontal, leading downwardly from the nib to the trough. The transition section may be of generally arcuate or curved configuration such that adjacent the nib it is less steeply inclined horizontal, and adjacent the trough it is more steeply inclined, possibly, substantially vertical. The transition section preferably does not significantly restrict the flow capacity of the trough. [0014] Since the system relies on the surface tension of the water to keep the water in contact with the gutter system as it travels from the debris exclusion panel into the trough, the gutter system is preferably formed from a material which enhances the surface tension between the water and the system. The material should be oil free. [0015] These and further features of the invention will be made apparent from the description of various embodiments thereof, given below by way of examples. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, but the specific features shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting on the invention. [0016] Throughout the specification the term "comprise" and variations on this term including "comprising" and "comprises" are to be understood to imply the inclusion of a feature, integer, step or element, and not exclude other features, integers, steps or elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings in which: [0018] FIG. 1 shows a side sectional view through a wall and roof section of a building, showing a gutter system according to the present invention fitted to the roofline of the building; [0019] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a gutter system according to the invention fitted to a facia board of a building; [0020] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detailed perspective view of the bracket for the gutter system shown in FIG. 2; Continue reading... Full patent description for Roof gutter Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Roof gutter 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. 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