(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0234647 A1
`
`Higginbotham
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Oct. 11, 2007
`
`US 20070234647A1
`
`(54) SELF CLEANING GUTTER SHIELD
`
`(52) US. Cl.
`
`.................................................................. 52/12
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Edward A. Higginbotham, Lynchburg,
`VA (US)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Correspondence Address:
`VENABLE LLP
`P.0. BOX 34385
`
`WASHINGTON, DC 20043-9998 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`11/698,879
`
`.
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`(22) Flled'
`
`Jan. 29’ 2007
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`thdU.S.A 1
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`e a e
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`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/849,913,
`filed on May 21, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,191,564.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. C1.
`E04D 13/076
`
`(2006.01)
`
`A gutter shield device for mounting to a rain gutter is
`provided. The gutter shield device includes an elongated
`body comprising a first body portion; a second body portion;
`and an intermediate body portion disposed between and
`connected to the first and second body portions. The inter-
`mediate body portion defines a surface and includes a
`plurality of extending portions extending in a direction away
`from the surface to define a plurality of openings in the
`surface. The gutter shield device further comprises a filter
`lement secured to the intermediate bod
`ortion. A surface
`3
`VP
`of the filter element is arranged adjacent to the openings. A
`filtration element adapted to be mounted to a rain gutter is
`also provided. The filtration element comprises aplurality of
`interwoven threads defining a first substantially planar sur-
`face and at least one substantially planar extending portion
`extending at an angle to the first substantially planar surface.
`The at least one substantially planar extending portion may
`be a folded portion.
`
`
`
`236V
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`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2007 Sheet 1 0f 10
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`US 2007/0234647 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2007 Sheet 2 0f 10
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`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2007 Sheet 3 0f 10
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`US 2007/0234647 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2007 Sheet 4 0f 10
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`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2007 Sheet 5 0f 10
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`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2007 Sheet 8 0f 10
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Oct. 11, 2007 Sheet 9 0f 10
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`US 2007/0234647 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Oct. 11, 2007 Sheet 10 0f 10
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`US 2007/0234647 A1
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`US 2007/0234647 A1
`
`Oct. 11, 2007
`
`SELF CLEANING GUTTER SHIELD
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part applica-
`tion of co-pending U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser.
`No. 10/849,9l3, filed May 21, 2004, the entirety of which is
`hereby incorporated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0002]
`
`1. Field of Invention
`
`[0003] Gutter covering systems are known to prevent
`debris from entering into the open top end of a rain gutter.
`When debris accumulates within the body of a rain gutter in
`an amount great enough to cover the opening of a down-
`spout-draining hole, the draining of water from the rain
`gutter is impeded or completely stopped. This occurrence
`will cause the water to rise within the rain gutter and spill
`over its uppermost front and rear portions.
`
`[0004] The purpose of a rain gutter, to divert water away
`from the structure and foundation of a home,
`is thereby
`circumvented.
`
`[0005]
`
`2. RelatedArt
`
`[0006] The invention relates to the field of Gutter Anti-
`clogging Devices and particularly relates to screens with
`aflixed fine filter membranes, and to devices that employ
`recessed wells or channels in which filter material may be
`inserted, aflixed to gutters to prevent debris from impeding
`the desired drainage of water.
`
`[0007] Various gutter anti-clogging devices are known in
`the art and some are described in issued patents.
`
`In my US. Pat. No. 6,598,352, I teach a gutter
`[0008]
`protection system for preventing entrance of debris into a
`rain gutter. I teach a gutter protection system to include a
`recessed perforated angled well within a rigid main body
`that receives an insertable flexible polymer support skeleton
`that supports overlying micro mesh filtering membrane that
`is attached to the underlying support skeleton. This insert-
`able flexible filtration configuration is manufactured sepa-
`rately from the rigid four or five foot length body in fifty foot
`rolls and allows for a seamless filter protecting an underly-
`ing gutter, over long gutter lengths. The insertable support
`skeleton includes a perforated plane with integral downward
`extending planes and integral upward extending support
`planes, separated by unbroken air space, that contact an
`overlying micro mesh filtering membrane on it’s undermost
`surface. I further teach that the contacting of the undermost
`surface of a micromesh filtering membrane by optimally
`spaced support planes encourages the downward flow of rain
`water through said micro mesh filtering membrane and into
`an underlying rain gutter. This gutter protection system has
`been shown, in the field to be extremely effective at pre-
`venting rain gutter clogs without a single known instance of
`clogging. However, the insertable flexible polymer support
`skeleton with attached filtering membrane is somewhat
`heavy and has been found to be cumbersome, even impos-
`sible, to install in the recessed angled well of the rigid main
`body of the gutter protection system during cold weather as
`the flexible polymer skeleton has been found to stiffen and
`becomes inflexible. The insertable flexible skeleton also has
`
`been known to expand and contract at a different coeflicient
`that rigid main body of the gutter protection system. This can
`cause areas of the main body of the gutter protection to
`become exposed to potential debris entrance due to relative
`shrinkage of the insertable polymer support skeleton or, in
`other instances, the insertable filtration configuration may
`expand and extend past the main body of the gutter protec-
`tion system and further expand past end caps of an under-
`lying gutter which home owners view as undesirable from a
`cosmetic perspective.
`[0009] US. Pat. No. 5,557,891 to Albracht teaches a gutter
`protection system for preventing entrance of debris into a
`rain gutter. Albracht teaches a gutter protection system to
`include a single continuous two sided well with angled sides
`and perforated bottom shelf 9 into which rainwater will flow
`and empty into the rain gutter below. The well is of a depth,
`which is capable of receiving a filter mesh material. How-
`ever, attempts to insert or cover such open channels of
`“reverse-curve” devices with filter meshes or cloths is
`
`known to prevent rainwater from entering the water receiv-
`ing channels. This occurrence exists because of the tendency
`of such membranes,
`(unsupported by a proper skeletal
`structure), to channel water, by means of water adhesion
`along the interconnected paths existing in the filter mem-
`branes (and in the enclosures they may be contained by or
`in), past the intended water-receiving channel and to the
`ground. This occurrence also exists because of the tendency
`of filter mediums of any present known design or structure
`to quickly waterproof or clog when inserted into such
`channels creating even greater channeling of rainwater for-
`ward into a spill past an underlying rain gutter. Filtering of
`such open, recessed, channels existing in Albracht’s inven-
`tion as well as in US. Pat. No. 5,010,696, to Knittel, US.
`Pat. No. 2,672,832 to Goetz, US. Pat. No. 5,459,350, &
`5,181,350 to Meckstroth, US. Pat. No. 5,491,998 to Hansen,
`US. Pat. No. 4,757,649 to Vahldieck and in similar “reverse-
`curved” inventions that rely on “reverse-curved” surfaces
`channeling water into an open channel have been known to
`disallow entrance of rainwater into the water-receiving
`channels. Albracht’s as well as previous and succeeding
`similar inventions have therefore notably avoided the utili-
`zation of filter insertions. What may appear as a logical
`anticipation by such inventions at first glance, (inserting of
`a filter mesh or material into the channel), has been shown
`to be undesirable and ineffective across a broad spectrum of
`filtering materials: Employing insertable filters into such
`inventions has not been found to be a simple matter of
`anticipation, or design choice of filter medium by those
`skilled in the arts. Rather, it has proved to be an ineffective
`option, with any known filter medium, when attempted in
`the field. Such attempts, in the field, have demonstrated that
`the filter mediums will eventually require manual cleaning.
`[0010] US. Pat. No. 5,595,027 to Vail teaches a continu-
`ous opening 24A between the two top shelves. Vail teaches
`a gutter protection system having a single continuous well
`25, the well having a depth allowing insertion and retention
`of filter mesh material 26 (a top portion of the filler mesh
`material capable of being fully exposed at the holes). Vail
`does teach a gutter protection system designed to incorpo-
`rate an insertable filter material into a recessed well. How-
`
`ever, Vail notably names and intends the filter medium to be
`a tangled mesh fiberglass five times the thickness of the
`invention body. This type of filtration medium, also claimed
`in US. Pat. No. 4,841,686 to Rees, and in prior art currently
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`US 2007/0234647 A1
`
`Oct. 11, 2007
`
`marketed as FLOW-FREETM is known to trap and hold
`debris within itself which, by design, most filter mediums
`are intended to do, i.e.: trap and hold debris. Vail’s invention
`does initially prevent some debris from entering an under-
`lying rain gutter but gradually becomes ineffective at chan-
`neling water into a rain gutter due to the propensity of their
`claimed filter mediums to clog with debris. Though Vail’s
`invention embodies an insertable filter, such filter is not
`readily accessible for cleaning when such cleaning is neces-
`sitated. The gutter cover must be removed and uplifted for
`cleaning and, the filter medium is not easily and readily
`inserted replaced into its longitudinal containing channel
`extending three or more feet. It is often noted, in the field,
`that these and similar inventions hold fast pine needles in
`great numbers which presents an unsightly appearance as
`well as create debris dams behind the upwardly extended
`and trapped pine needles. Such filter meshes and non-woven
`lofty fiber mesh materials, even when composed of finer
`micro-porous materials, additionally tend to clog and fill
`with oak tassels and other smaller organic debris because
`they are not resting, by design, on a skeletal structure that
`encourages greater water flow through its overlying filter
`membrane than exists when such filter meshes or mem-
`
`branes contact planar continuously- connected surfaces.
`Known filter mediums of larger openings tend to trap and
`hold debris. Known filter mediums smaller openings clog or
`“heal over” with pollen and dirt that becomes embedded and
`remains in the finer micro-porous filter mediums. At present,
`there has not been found, as a matter of common knowledge
`or anticipation, an effective water-permeable, non-clogging
`“medium-of-choice” that can be chosen, in lieu of claimed
`or illustrated filter mediums in prior art,
`that is able to
`overcome the inherent tendencies of any known filter medi-
`ums to clog when applied to or inserted within the types of
`water receiving wells and channels noted in prior art. Vail
`also discloses that filter mesh material 26 is recessed beneath
`
`a planar surface that utilizes perforations in the plane to
`direct water to the filter medium beneath. Such perforated
`planar surfaces as utilized by Vail, by Sweers U.S. Pat. No.
`5,555,680, by Morin U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,311 and by similar
`prior art are known to only be partially effective at chan-
`neling water downward through the open apertures rather
`than forward across the body of the invention and to the
`ground. This occurs because of the principal of water
`adhesion: rainwater tends to flow around perforations as
`much as downward through them, and miss the rain gutter
`entirely. Also, in observing perforated planes such as utilized
`by Vail and similar inventions (where rainwater experiences
`its first contact with a perforated plane) it is apparent that
`they present much surface area impervious to downward
`water flow disallowing such inventions from receiving much
`of the rainwater contacting them. A simple design choice or
`anticipation of multiplying the perforations can result in a
`weakened body subject to deformity when exposed to the
`weight of snow and/or debris or when, in the case of polymer
`bodies, exposed to summer temperatures and sunlight.
`
`[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,686 to Rees teaches an
`improvement for rain gutters comprising a filter attachment,
`which is constructed to fit over the open end of a gutter. The
`filter attachment comprised an elongated screen to the
`underside of which is clamped a fibrous material such as
`fiberglass. Rees teaches in the Background of The Invention
`that many devices, such as slotted or perforated metal sheets,
`or screens of wire or other material, or plastic foam, have
`
`been used in prior art to cover the open tops of gutters to
`filter out foreign material. He states that success with such
`devices has been limited because small debris and pine
`needles still may enter through them into a rain gutter and
`clog its downspout opening and or lodge in and clog the
`devices themselves. Rees teaches that his use of a finer
`
`opening tangled fiberglass filter sandwiched between two
`lateral screens will eliminate such clogging of the device by
`smaller debris. However, in practice it is known that such
`devices as is disclosed by Rees are only partially effective at
`shedding debris while channeling rainwater into an under-
`lying gutter. Shingle oil leaching of of certain roof cover-
`ings, pollen, dust, dirt, and other fine debris are known to
`“heal over” such devices clogging and/or effectively “water-
`proofing” them and necessitate the manual cleaning they
`seek to eliminate. (If not because of the larger debris,
`because of the fine debris and pollutants). Additionally,
`again as with other prior art that seeks to employ filter
`medium screening of debris; the filter medium utilized by
`Rees rests on an inter-connected planar surface which pro-
`vides non-broken continuous paths over and under which
`water will flow, by means of water adhesion, to the front of
`a gutter and spill to the ground rather than drop downward
`into an underlying rain gutter. Whether filter medium is
`“sandwiched” between perforated planes or screens as in
`Rees’ invention, or such filter medium exists below perfo-
`rated planes or screens and is contained in a well or channel,
`water will tend to flow forward along continuous paths
`through cur as well as downward into an underlying rain
`gutter achieving less than desirable water-channeling into a
`rain gutter.
`
`[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,904 to Gentry teaches a first
`fine screen having mesh openings affixed to an underlying
`screen of larger openings. Both screens are elastically
`deformable to permit a user to compress the invention for
`insertion into a rain gutter. Gentry, as Rees, recognizes the
`inability of prior art to prevent entrance of finer debris into
`a rain gutter, and Gentry, as Rees, relies on a much finer
`screen mesh than is employed by prior art
`to achieve
`prevention of finer debris entrance into a rain gutter. In both
`the Gentry and Rees prior art, and their improvements over
`less effective filter mediums of previous prior art, it becomes
`apparent that anticipation of improved filter medium or
`configurations is not viewed as a matter of simple anticipa-
`tion of prior art which has, or could, employ filter medium.
`It becomes apparent that improved filtering methods may be
`viewed as patenable unique inventions in and of themselves
`and not necessarily an anticipation or matter of design
`choice of a better filter medium or method being applied to
`or substituted within prior art that does or could employ filter
`medium. However,
`though Rees and Gentry did achieve
`finer filtration over filter medium utilized in prior art, their
`inventions also exhibit a tendency to channel water past an
`underlying gutter and/or to heal over with finer dirt, pollen,
`and other pollutants and clog thereby requiring manual
`cleaning. Additionally, when filter medium is applied to or
`rested upon planar perforated or screen meshed surfaces,
`there is a notable tendency for the underlying perforated
`plane or screen to channel water past the gutter where it will
`then spill to the ground. It has also been noted that prior art
`listed herein exhibits a tendency to allow filter cloth medi-
`ums to sag into the opening of their underlying supporting
`structures. To compensate for forward channeling of water,
`prior art embodies open apertures spaced too distantly, or
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`US 2007/0234647 A1
`
`Oct. 11, 2007
`
`allows the apertures themselves to encompass too large an
`area, thereby allowing the sagging of overlying filter mem-
`branes and cloths. Such sagging creates pockets wherein
`debris tends to settle and enmesh.
`
`[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,132 to Dugan teaches a porous
`solid material which is installed in the gutter to form an
`upper barrier surface (against debris entrance into a rain
`gutter). Though Dugan anticipates that any debris gathered
`on the upper barrier surface will dry and blow away, that is
`not always the case with this or similar devices. In practice,
`such devices are known to “heal over” with pollen, oil, and
`other pollutants and effectively waterproof or clog the
`device rendering it ineffective in that they prevent both
`debris and water from entering a rain gutter. Pollen may
`actually cement debris to the top surface of such devices and
`fail to allow wash-off even after repeated rains. U.S. Pat. No.
`4,949,514 to Weller sought to present more water receiving
`top surface of a similar solid porous device by undulating the
`top surface but, in fact, effectively created debris “traps”
`with the peak and valley undulation. As with other prior art,
`such devices may work effectively for a period of time but
`tend to eventually channel water past a rain gutter, due to
`eventual clogging of the device itself.
`
`[0014] There are several commercial filtering products
`designed to prevent foreign matter buildup in gutters. For
`example the FLOW-FREETM gutter protection system sold
`by DCI of Clifton Heights, Pa. comprises a 0.75-inch thick
`nylon mesh material designed to fit within 5-inch K type
`gutters to seal the gutters and downspout systems from
`debris and snow buildup. The FLOW-FREETM device fits
`over the hanging brackets of the gutters and one side extends
`to the bottom of the gutter to prevent the collapse into the
`gutter. However, as in other filtering attempts, shingle mate-
`rial and pine needles can become trapped in the coarse nylon
`mesh and must be periodically cleaned.
`
`[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,843 to Tregear teaches a gutter
`device that has an elongated matting having a plurality of
`open cones arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows, the
`base of the cones defining a lower first plane and the apexes
`of the cones defining an upper second plane. Although the
`Tregear device overcomes the eventual trapping of larger
`debris within a filtering mesh composed of fabric sufficiently
`smooth to prevent the trapping of debris he notes in prior art,
`the Tregear device tends to eventually allow pollen, oil
`which may leach from asphalt shingles, oak tassels, and finer
`seeds and debris to coat and heal over a top-most matting
`screen it employs to disallow larger debris from becoming
`entangled in the larger aperatured filtering medium it covers.
`Tregear indicates that filtered configurations such as a com-
`mercially available attic ventilation system known as Roll
`VentTM manufactured by Benjamin Obdyke, Inc. Warmin-
`ster, Pa. is suitable, with modifications that accommodate its
`fitting into a rain gutter. However, such a device has been
`noted, even in its original intended application, to require
`cleaning (as do most attic screens and filters) to remove dust,
`dirt, and pollen that combine with moisture to form adhesive
`coatings that can scum or heal over such attic filters.
`Filtering mediums (exhibiting tightly woven, knitted, or
`tangled mesh threads to achieve density or “smoothness”)
`employed by Tregear and other prior art have been unable to
`achieve imperviousness to waterproofing and clogging
`effects caused by a healing or pasting over of such surfaces
`by pollen, fine dirt, scum, oils, and air and water pollutants.
`
`Additionally, referring again to Tregear’s device, a lower
`first plane tends to channel water toward the front lip of a
`rain gutter, rather than allowing it’s free passage downward,
`and allow the feeding and spilling of water up and over the
`front
`lip of a rain gutter by means of water-adhesion
`channels created in the lower first plane.
`
`[0016] Prior art has employed filter cloths over underlying
`mesh, screens, cones, longitudinal rods, however such prior
`art has eventually been realized as unable to prevent an
`eventual clogging of their finer filtering membranes by
`pollen, dirt, oak tassels, and finer debris. Such prior art has
`been noted to succumb to eventual clogging by the healing
`over of debris which adheres itself to surfaces when inter-
`
`mingled with organic oils, oily pollen, and shingle oil that
`act as an adhesive. The hoped for cleaning of leaves, pine
`needles, seed pods and other debris by water flow or wind,
`envisioned by Tregear and other prior art,
`is often not
`realized due to their adherence to surfaces by pollen, oils,
`pollutants, and silica dusts and water mists. The cleaning of
`adhesive oils, fine dirt, and particularly of the scum and
`paste formed by pollen and silica dust (common in many soil
`types) by flowing water or wind is almost never realized in
`prior art.
`
`[0017] Prior art that has relied on reverse curved surfaces
`channeling water inside a rain gutter due to surface tension,
`of varied configurations and pluralities, arranged longitudi-
`nally, have been noted to lose their surface tension feature as
`pollen, oil, scum, eventually adhere to them. Additionally,
`multi-channeled embodiments of longitudinal reverse curve
`prior art have been noted to allow their water receiving
`channels to become packed with pine needles, oak tassels,
`other debris, and eventually clog disallowing the free pas-
`sage of water into a rain gutter. Examples of such prior art
`are seen in the commercial product GUTTER HELMET®
`manufactured by American metal products and sold by Mr.
`Fix It of Richmond, Va. In this and similar Commercial
`products, dirt and mildew build up on the bull-nose of the
`curve preventing water from entering the gutter. Also, ENG-
`LERT’S LEAFGUARD®, manufactured and distributed by
`Englert Inc. of Perthamboy N.J., and K-GUARD®, manu-
`factured and distributed by KNUDSON INC. of Colorado,
`are similarly noted to lose their water-channeling properties
`due to dirt buildup. These commercial products state such,
`in literature to homeowners that advises them on the proper
`method of cleaning and maintaining their products.
`
`[0018] With the exception of U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,352,
`none of these above-described systems keep all debris out of
`a gutter system allowing water alone to enter,
`for an
`extended length of time. Some allow lodging and embed-
`ding of pine needles and other debris to occur within their
`open water receiving areas causing them to channel water
`past a rain gutter. Others allow such debris to enter and clog
`a rain gutter’s downspout opening. Still others, particularly
`those employing filter membranes, succumb to a paste and
`or scum-like healing over and clogging of their filtration
`membranes over time rendering them unable to channel
`water into a rain gutter. Pollen and silica dirt, particularly,
`are noted to cement even larger debris to the filter, screen,
`mesh, perforated opening, and/or reverse curved surfaces of
`prior art, adhering debris to prior art in a manner that was not
`envisioned. My earlier patent has proven effective but may
`|PR2018—00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 p. 14
`
`IPR2018-00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 p. 14
`
`

`

`US 2007/0234647 A1
`
`Oct. 11, 2007
`
`exhibit undesirable cosmetic features and may prove diffi-
`cult, even impossible, to install under certain cold weather
`conditions.
`
`[0019] Accordingly, it is an object of the embodiments of
`the present invention to provide a gutter shield that employs
`the effective properties of my US. Pat. No. 6,598,352: a
`gutter shield device that employs a fine filtration combina-
`tion that is not subject to gumming or healing over by pollen,
`silica dust, oils, and other very fine debris, a gutter shield
`device that provides a filtration configuration and encom-
`passing body that eliminates any forward channeling of rain
`water, a gutter shield that will accept more water run-off into
`a five inch K-style rain gutter than such a gutter’ s downspout
`opening is able to drain before allowing the rain gutter to
`overflow (in instances where a single three-inch by five-inch
`downspout is installed to service 600 square feet of roofing
`surface).
`
`[0020] Another object of the embodiments of the present
`invention is to provide a gutter shield with the above noted
`properties that incorporates and makes integral within it’s
`main rigid body the features and structure of the insertable
`flexible polymer support skeleton disclosed in my US. Pat.
`No. 6,598,352 thereby eliminating the most prominent
`expansion and contraction coeflicients
`found to exist
`between a rigid main body utilizing an insertable flexible
`polymer filtration configuration.
`
`[0021] Another object of the embodiments of the present
`invention is to provide a gutter shield with the above noted
`properties
`that utilizes a stainless
`steel or aluminum
`micromesh filter cloth that may be inserted into a main body
`with integral recessed and perforated wells that incorporate
`integral upward extending planes allowing for a lower cost
`of manufacture by eliminating a separately manufactured
`flexible polymer support skeleton and allowing for a lighter,
`more stable under varying temperatures, and more easily
`installed insertable filtering component.
`
`[0022] Another object of the embodiments of the present
`invention is to provide a gutter shield that employs a
`filtration membrane that is readily accessible and easily
`replaceable if such membrane is damaged by nature or
`accident.
`
`[0023] Other objects will appear hereinafter.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`In one example embodiment, a gutter shield device
`[0024]
`for mounting to a rain gutter is provided. The gutter shield
`device comprises an elongated body comprising a first body
`portion; a second body portion; and an intermediate body
`portion disposed between the first and second body portions
`and connected to the first and second body portions. The
`intermediate body portion defines a surface and includes a
`plurality of extending portions extending in a direction away
`from the surface to define a plurality of openings in the
`surface. The gutter shield device further comprises a filter
`element secured to the intermediate body portion such that
`surface of the filter element is arranged adjacent to the
`openings.
`
`In another example embodiment, the intermediate
`[0025]
`body portion is connected to the first and second body
`portions by a first u-shaped receiving channel and a second
`u-shaped receiving channel, respectively. The filter element
`
`includes a first lateral edge received in the first u-shaped
`receiving channel of the intermediate body portion and a
`second lateral edge received in the second receiving channel
`of the intermediate body portion.
`
`In another example embodiment, the surface of the
`[0026]
`filter element arranged adjacent to the openings contacts the
`surface defined by the intermediate portion, whereby, when
`water is passed over the filter element, the water is directed
`away from the filter element, through the openings, and
`along the plurality of extending portions.
`
`the filter
`In yet another example embodiment,
`[0027]
`element comprises a plurality of interwoven threads defining
`a mesh screen. The mesh screen may define a mesh of
`between approximately 80 and 280 and the plurality of
`interwoven threads defining the mesh screen may comprise
`a plurality of stainless steel or aluminum threads.
`
`In still another example embodiment, a diameter of
`[0028]
`each of the plurality of interwoven threads is between
`approximately 0.04 mm (0.0015 in) and approximately 0.14
`mm (0.0055 in).
`
`the mesh
`In still another example embodiment,
`[0029]
`screen comprises a plurality of intersecting threads having a
`diameter, each intersection of threads being crimped or
`pressed so that a maximum thickness of the mesh screen is
`less than two times the thread diameter.
`
`In another alternative example embodiment, a body
`[0030]
`of a gutter shield device for mounting to a rain gutter is
`provided. The body of the gutter shield device comprises a
`first body portion; a second body portion; and an interme-
`diate body portion disposed between and connected to the
`first and second body portions. The intermediate body
`portion defines a surface adapted to receive a filter element
`thereon and includes a plurality of extending portions
`extending in a direction away from the surface to define a
`plurality of openings in the surface. When the filter element
`is secured to the surface of defined by the intermediate body
`portion, a surface of the filter element is positioned adjacent
`to the plurality of openings.
`
`In another example embodiment, the intermediate
`[0031]
`body portion is connected to the first and second body
`portions via a first u-shaped receiving channel and a second
`u-shaped receiving channel, respectively. The first and sec-
`ond u-shaped receiving channels are adapted to hold lateral
`edges of the filter element therein.
`
`In another alternative example embodiment, a fil-
`[0032]
`tration element adapted to be mounted to a rain gutter is
`provided. The filtration element comprises a plurality of
`interwoven threads defining a first substantially planar sur-
`face and at least one substantially planar extending portion
`extending at an angle to the first substantially planar surface.
`The at least one substantially planar extending portion may
`be a folded portion. The at least one extending portion may
`be a plurality of spaced extending portions defining a
`plurality of substantially planar surfaces extending at angles
`to the first substantially planar surface. Each of the plurality
`of extending portions may be a folded portion.
`
`In yet another example embodiment, the plurality
`[0033]
`of interwoven threads may be metallic threads, for example,
`stainless steel or aluminum threads. The plurality of inter-
`|PR2018—00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 p. 15
`
`IPR2018-00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 p. 15
`
`

`

`