IP Library Granted Patent US 8,528,262
Granted Patent B2
US 8,528,262 · App. 12/952,271 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Gutter-locking gutter protection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,528,262
App. No.
12/952,271
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

System, device and method for providing screened protection to gutters from clogging debris. Protection is provided by using a panel that includes rain siphoning louvered technology. The louvers may be covered by a filter or screen. If the openings of the louvers are closed to a certain degree, a screen may be dispensed with. The panel is sloped such that debris rolls off a surface of the panel. Additionally, the louvered portion may be domed. The panel ends on one side in a locking mechanism that locks to an outer lip of the gutter and on the other side in a corrugated edge that fits under the overhang of the roof such that it need not be inserted under the shingles.

Claims (95)

1. A system for protection of a gutter from debris collection, the system comprising:

a panel extending from an edge of a roof to an outer lip of the gutter installed around the edge of the roof, the panel including:

a louvered portion including louvers for providing openings to the gutter below;

a corrugated edge adapted for fitting under the edge of the roof and lying substantially parallel to the edge of the roof upon installation, the corrugated edge being further adapted for fitting over an inner lip of the gutter;

a gutter lock for locking the panel to the outer lip of the gutter, the gutter lock comprises a bracket for affixing the panel over the gutter, the bracket comprising:

a long arm;

a short arm extending from a junction with and generally perpendicular relative to said long arm;

a gutter support flange extending at an acute angle from an end of the short arm, said gutter support flange having at least one depending flange to strengthen the bracket against bending;

an outwardly and downwardly extending gripping tab in said short arm beneath said junction, wherein said gripping tab on said short arm holds a rainwater deflector to said bracket; and

an outwardly and upwardly extending trapping tab in said short arm beneath said junction for trapping the rainwater deflector,

wherein the long arm is mounted on the surface of building; and

a connecting portion leading from the louvered portion to the corrugated edge,

wherein the connecting portion is adapted for being bent to form a substantially right angle with the corrugated portion, and

wherein the connecting portion is adapted for being bent to form an angle with the louvered portion upon the installation of the panel over the gutter.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the louvered portion is substantially sloped downward from the edge of the roof toward the outer lip of the gutter.

3. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the openings have a substantially vertical opening portion.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a screen connected to the panel,

wherein the screen is molded over the louvered portion.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the panel further includes:

a first hemmed portion for connecting a first edge of the screen to the panel, and

a second hemmed portion for connecting a second edge of the screen to the panel,

wherein the panel is made from a continuous sheet, and

wherein beads are rolled onto the first hemmed portion and the second hemmed portion.

6. The system of claim 5 , the screen is made from 40/40 stainless steel screen mesh and the panel is made from 7.5″ coil.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the louvers are arranged in offset rows of louvers.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the louvered portion of the panel is dome-shaped.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the corrugated edge is adapted for locking to fascia on top of the gutter for both 5K and 6K gutters.

10. A screened gutter protection device for being mounted on a roof and fitting over a gutter on a roof and for protecting the gutter from collection of debris, the device comprising:

a panel including louvers, the louvers having openings in a louvered portion of the panel; and

a filter screen set in hemmed portions on opposing sides of the panel and secured to the panel by rolled screen locking beads at the hemmed portions,

wherein the panel includes:

a corrugated edge adapted for fitting under an edge of the roof and lying substantially parallel to the edge of the roof upon installation, the corrugated edge being further adapted for fitting over an inner lip of the gutter,

a gutter lock for locking the panel to the outer lip of the gutter the gutter lock comprises a bracket for affixing the panel over the gutter, the bracket comprising:

a long arm;

a short arm extending from a junction with and generally perpendicular relative to said long arm;

a gutter support flange extending at an acute angle from an end of the short arm, said gutter support flange having at least one depending flange to strengthen the bracket against bending;

an outwardly and downwardly extending gripping tab in said short arm beneath said junction, wherein said gripping tab on said short arm holds a rainwater deflector to said bracket; and

an outwardly and upwardly extending trapping tab in said short arm beneath said junction for trapping the rainwater deflector,

wherein the long arm is mounted on the surface of building, and

a connecting portion leading from the louvered portion to the corrugated edge,

wherein the connecting portion is adapted for being bent to form a first angle with the corrugated portion and a second angle with the louvered portion upon the installation of the panel over the gutter.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein a surface of the panel slopes from the edge of the roof downward to the outer lip of the gutter.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the panel further includes:

a first rolled screen locking bead for holding a first edge of the filter screen to the panel, and

a second rolled screen locking bead for holding a second edge of the filter screen to the panel.

13. The device of claim 12 ,

wherein the panel is dome shaped in the louvered portion and the filter screen is convex,

wherein the louvers are arranged in offset rows of louvers,

wherein the filter screen is fitted over the louvered portion,

wherein the panel is made from a continuous sheet of material, and

wherein the filter screen is made from stainless steel micro mesh.

14. A method for making a screened gutter protection system, the method comprising:

forming a panel; and

attaching a screen to the panel,

wherein the panel extends from an edge of a roof to an outer lip of the gutter installed around the edge of the roof, and

wherein the panel is formed by including:

a louvered portion having louvers for providing openings to the gutter below;

a corrugated edge adapted for fitting under the edge of the roof and lying substantially parallel to the edge of the roof upon installation, the corrugated edge being further adapted for fitting over an inner lip of the gutter;

a gutter lock for locking the panel to the outer lip of the gutter the gutter lock comprises a bracket for affixing the panel over the gutter, the bracket comprising:

a long arm;

a short arm extending from a junction with and generally perpendicular relative to said long arm;

a gutter support flange extending at an acute angle from an end of the short arm, said gutter support flange having at least one depending flange to strengthen the bracket against bending;

an outwardly and downwardly extending gripping tab in said short arm beneath said junction, wherein said gripping tab on said short arm holds a rainwater deflector to said bracket; and

an outwardly and upwardly extending trapping tab in said short arm beneath said junction for trapping the rainwater deflector,

wherein the long arm is mounted on the surface of building; and

a connecting portion leading from the louvered portion to the corrugated edge,

wherein the connecting portion is adapted for being bent to form angles with the corrugated portion and the louvered portion upon installation of the panel over the gutter.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

molding the screen to the louvered portion of the panel.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the attaching of the screen to the panel comprises:

laying a first side of the screen in a first hemmed portion of the panel and a second side of the screen in a second hemmed portion of the panel; and

rolling beads onto the hemmed portions.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the panel is formed from a continuous sheet of material.

18. The method of claim 14 ,

wherein the panel is dome shaped in the louvered portion and the filter screen is convex, and

wherein the louvers are arranged in offset rows of louvers.

19. A method of installing a gutter protection system for a gutter, the method comprising:

determining a type and a size of the gutter;

determining a required number of gutter protection components; and

installing the gutter protection components to form the gutter protection system,

wherein the gutter protection system includes:

a panel extending from an edge of a roof to an outer lip of the gutter installed around the edge of the roof, the panel including:

a louvered portion including louvers for providing openings to the gutter below;

a corrugated edge adapted for fitting under the edge of the roof and lying substantially parallel to the edge of the roof upon installation, the corrugated edge being further adapted for fitting over an inner lip of the gutter;

a gutter lock for locking the panel to the outer lip of the gutter the gutter lock comprises a bracket for affixing the panel over the gutter, the bracket comprising:

a long arm;

a short arm extending from a junction with and generally perpendicular relative to said long arm;

a gutter support flange extending at an acute angle from an end of the short arm, said gutter support flange having at least one depending flange to strengthen the bracket against bending;

an outwardly and downwardly extending gripping tab in said short arm beneath said junction, wherein said gripping tab on said short arm holds a rainwater deflector to said bracket; and

an outwardly and upwardly extending trapping tab in said short arm beneath said junction for trapping the rainwater deflector,

wherein the long arm is mounted on the surface of building; and

a connecting portion leading from the louvered portion to the corrugated edge,

wherein the connecting portion is adapted for being bent to form angles with the corrugated portion and the louvered portion upon the installation of the panel over the gutter.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: SOUTHEASTERN METALS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 073779/0737 →
THIRD AMENDMENT AND CONFIRMATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 7, 2019
From: SOUTHEASTERN METALS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 048285/0662 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPL. NO. 12/592,271 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 033831 FRAME: 0028. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 29, 2014
From: SOUTHEASTERN METALS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: MGP MANUFACTURING LLC
Reel/Frame 033837/0559 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2014
From: SOUTHEASTERN METALS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: MGP MANUFACTURING LLC
Reel/Frame 033831/0028 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2013
From: VERBRUGGE, RUSSELL; SKELTON, DAVID; KLAUS, HAL; HEILMAN, ROBERT
To: HART & COOLEY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030794/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2013
From: HART & COOLEY, INC.
To: SOUTHEASTERN METALS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030794/0782 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2011
From: HORTON, JAMES W.
To: SOUTHEASTERN METALS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 026103/0638 →