_
`
`Ulllt?d States Patent [19]
`Sichel
`
`llllllllllllllIlllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllll
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,257,482
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Nov. 2, 1993
`
`US005257482A
`
`[54] ROOF GUTI‘ER SCREEN
`_
`[76] lnvemon GerQIdM-S-SICMLP-Q-130K781
`Ounmbah 2258,Austral1a
`
`[21] APP‘- N°" “9315
`[22] F?ed:
`May 29' 1992
`[51] 1111. C1; .................................. .. E04D 13/00
`US. Cl. ......................................... .
`
`52/12
`5,010,696 4/1991 X11061 ..
`52/12
`5,056,276 10/1991 Nielsen .... ..
`52/12
`5,072,551 12/1991 Manoogian
`52/12
`5,092,086 3/1992 Rognsvoog
`52/12x
`5,095,666 3/1992 Williams ..... ..
`5,109,640 5/1992 Creson .................................. .. 52/12
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`318698 12
`/1969 Sweden ............................... .. 356/52
`8/1989 >United
`_
`
`[58] Field of Search ...................... .. 52/12, 11, 94, 660
`_
`References C‘ted
`U.s. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`Primary Examiner-Carl D- Friedman
`Assistant Examiner-Beth 'A. Aubrey
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Tilton Fallon Ltmgmus
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`............................ .. 52/11
`108/30
`108/30
`52/12
`108/30
`52/12
`" 55/493
`
`. . . 52/l2
`
`. 210/474
`52/12 X
`. . . . . . .. 52/12
`52/ 12 X
`52/12
`52/12
`
`,
`
`,
`
`son . . . . . _ .
`
`2121325 351333
`2,072,415 3/1937 Abbi" ____ __
`2,271,031 1/1942 Layton _
`2,284,440 5/ 1942 Morrissey
`2,674,961 4/1954 Lake ....... ..
`23411100 7/1953 M°ner ~
`3'047’994 8/1962 Br‘m
`glcl‘ean
`3,351,206 11/1967 Wennerstrom _
`3,420,373 1/1969 Turner _______ __
`3,436,878 4/1969 Singer . . . . . .
`4,032,456 2/ 1976 Berce ----- --
`435L134 9/1982 Clarks?"
`4,404,775 9/1983 Demamm ..................... ..
`4,646,488 3/1987 Burns ............................ ..
`4,745,710 5/1988 Davis _____ __
`4,769,957 9/1988 Knowles ..
`4,866,890 9/1989
`4,959,932 10/1990
`
`ooo tho ooooioo?oo of
`oo ioooovoo ooooo
`such a screen with a roof and'gutter upon which it is
`mounted, in which the screen 15 of ?exible, open-mesh
`construction, having spaced, ?ow-directing ribs extend
`ing in directions parallel with the slope of the roof and
`transverse ?ow-interrupting bars extending between
`the ribs. Together the ?ow-directing ribs and the ?ow
`interrupting bars de?ne a multiplicity of small, gener
`ally rectangular apertures, with the ribs bemg of a
`height substantially greater than that of the bars. In a
`preferred installation, the screen curves gradually over
`the trough of a gutter with the upper portion of the
`screen conforming to the slope of the roof and the
`lower edge portion of the Screen assuming a more hori_
`.
`.
`.
`zontal cond1t1on along its attachment to the outer edge
`of the gutter.
`
`_
`
`_
`
`,
`
`16 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`‘
`
`‘
`
`04/
`20.2% -
`1
`‘Wk/'91, I
`
`I
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`, ’
`
`IPR2018-00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1007 p. 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 2, 1993
`Nov. 2, 1993
`
`5,257,482
`5,257,482
`
`
`
`|PR2018—00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1007 p. 2
`
`IPR2018-00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1007 p. 2
`
`

`

`1
`
`ROOF GU'I'I‘ER SCREEN
`
`5,257,482
`2
`20 square millimeters, with particularly effective results
`being obtained with areas of about 10 square millime
`ters. The optional dimensions of each aperture are be
`lieved to be approximately 5 millimeters in length and 2
`millimeters in width, although variations (with decreas
`ing effectiveness) may be achieved with lengths falling
`within the general range of 4 to 10 millimeters and
`widths of l to 3 millimeters. The undersurfaces of the
`?ow-directing ribs and ?ow-interrupting bars are gen
`erally coplanar but the height of the ribs should be
`approximately 40 to 100 percent greater than the height
`of the bars. Other signi?cant dimensions believed to be
`of lesser importance are detailed in the speci?cation,
`and additional features, objects, and advantages of the
`invention will become apparent from the speci?cation
`and drawings.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective ‘view, partly in section, show
`ing a rain gutter screening system embodying the inven
`tion.
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the screen
`in un?exed or planar condition.
`FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged sectional view along line
`3-3 of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view along line
`4—4 of FIG. 2. '
`FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view along line
`5—5 of FIG. 1.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`
`'
`
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally
`designates a building structure having a sloping roof 11,
`fascia or wall panel 12, and roo?ng shingles or tiles 13.
`A standard rain gutter 14 is secured by nails or other
`suitable fastening means to the vertical surface of fascia
`panel 12 directly below the overhanging lower edge of
`the sloping roof. While the gutter depicted in the draw
`ings has the characteristic con?guration of colonial
`style gutters in common use, it will be understood that
`gutters of other shapes may be used with the screening
`system of this invention.
`Screen 20 is an open-mesh strip that may extend the
`length of gutter 14 or, for convenience of installation,
`may be composed of a plurality of shorter segments that
`are arranged end-to-end to run the full extent of the
`gutter. The width of the strip substantially exceeds the
`width of the gutter so that when the lower edge portion
`20a of the strip is secured to the outer edge or ?ange 14a
`of the gutter, the strip’s upper portion 20b extends up
`wardly beneath the lower course of shingles, following
`the same slope as that of roof 10. While the arrangement
`depicted in FIG. 1 is preferred, it is to be understood
`that, if desired, the upper portion 20b of the strip may be
`secured to the exposed surfaces of the shingles rather
`than inserted beneath the lower course (or the lower
`two courses) as shown.
`Gutter 14 is shown to be mounted only slightly below
`the overhanging lower edge of roof 11 with the result
`that a gradual curvature is imposed on the intermediate
`or transitional portion 200 of the screen that overlies the
`trough of the gutter. Such curvature is believed particu
`larly desirable although it will be evident that in some
`instances a lower mounting of the gutter will cause the
`screen to continue downwardly over the gutter along
`substantially the same slope as that of the roof rather
`
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
`Various types of screening devices for rain gutters
`have been previously known but have been largely
`unsuccessful because of various shortcomings. In gen
`eral, such devices have been provided with relatively
`large openings to increase the possibilities that water
`?owing from a roof will fall through the screen into a
`gutter rather than over?owing the screen as a fluid
`sheet during a heavy downpour. However, screens with
`openings large enough to reduce the possibilities of such
`over?ow also tend to be large enough to snare leaves
`and other debris, thereby negating or reducing the use
`fulness of the screens and, because of the additional
`structure, increasing the problems of gutter cleaning
`and maintenance that such systems are intended to
`avoid. In an effort to overcome some of these problems,
`hinged gutter guards have been devised as disclosed, for
`example, in US. Pat. Nos. 2,072,415, 4,032,456,
`2,841,100, 4,351,134 and 3,420,378. Such systems only
`serve to reduce, not eliminate, the inconveniences of
`gutter cleaning and, because of their complexity, are
`usually more expensive to purchase, install, and main
`tain than simpler arrangements. Other patents illustrat
`ing the state of the art are US. Pat. Nos. 2,271,081,
`4,769,957, 4,866,890, 3,053,393 and published United
`Kingdom application GB 2,218,828A.
`An importance aspect of this invention lies in the
`discovery that a highly effective and relatively inexpen
`sive gutter screening system may be achieved if the
`apertures of a screen are relatively small and are of
`rectangular shape, and if the ribs and bars de?ning such
`apertures are dimensioned and arranged, ?rst, to direct
`or channel the ?ow of water along the screen in the
`direction of roof slope and, second, to interrupt the
`directed ?ow, breaking surface tension and deflecting
`the water through the screen apertures and into the
`gutter. Because of the small size of such apertures, and
`because the ?ow-directing ribs protrude well above the
`transverse ?ow-interrupting bars of the screen, leaves
`and twigs are unlikely to become entrapped or re
`strained. At the same time, the construction and ar
`rangement of ?ow-directing ribs and ?ow-interrupting
`bars promotes the ?ow of rain water into a gutter de
`spite the relatively small dimensions of the apertures.
`The screen is mounted so that its upper portion as
`sumes the same slope as that of the roof. The remainder
`of the screen overlying the gutter may continue down
`wardly following generally the same slope, although it
`has been found that in most cases the standard mounting
`of a gutter results in a gentle curvature of that portion of
`the screen overlying the gutter opening with the outer
`edge of the screen assuming a generally horizontal con
`dition where it is supported upon the outer edge or
`?ange of the gutter. The tensioned condition of the
`screen caused by such curvature tends to keep its outer
`edge portion in forceful contact with the gutter’s outer
`?ange, although it is preferred that the outer portion of
`60
`the screen be securely clamped in position by suitable
`attachment means. Such attachment means may take the
`form of an L-shaped clamping strip secured by nylon
`press studs or rivets to the outer ?ange of the gutter.
`The rectangular apertures or openings of the screen
`are elongated in directions parallel with a gutter with
`each aperture having an area within the general range
`of 4 to 30 square millimeters. A preferred range is 5 to
`
`35
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`55
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`65
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`IPR2018-00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1007 p. 3
`
`

`

`.
`
`25
`
`35
`
`5,257,482
`3
`4
`than curving into a more horizontal condition along its
`Ribs 24, in addition to their ?ow-directing function,
`free outer edge portion 200 as shown.
`also serve as protective shoulders or rails that tend to
`The screen is preferably formed of a ?exible but fairly
`de?ect twigs, stems, leaves, and other debris and pre
`stiff polymeric material such as high-density ultraviolet
`vent them from contacting bars 25. To the extent that
`stabilized polyethylene. Other polymeric materials hav- 5
`such ribs provide slide surfaces that follow the direction
`ing similar properties may be used as well as certain
`of slope and protrude well above the transverse bars,
`they prevent debris from being impeded or ensnared by
`metals such as, for example, aluminum. Since the open
`mesh strip assumes a generally planar condition in an
`the bars or from entering apertures 26.
`un?exed state, the lower edge portion 20a forceably
`While in the foregoing I have disclosed an embodi
`engages the ?ange 14a of the gutter because of the
`ment of the invention in considerable detail for purposes
`tension imposed by the enforced curvature. Additional
`of illustration, it will be understood by those skilled in
`security of attachment as well as enhanced appearance
`the art that many of these details may be varied without
`may be achieved by securing an L-shaped clamping
`departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
`strip or trim strip 21 to ?ange 140 as illustrated in FIG.
`I claim:
`5. Nylon press studs or rivets 22 may be inserted 15
`1. A ?ow-directing gutter screen formed of ?exible
`through aligned openings in the strip 21 and gutter
`material of open-mesh construction, said screen having
`a multiplicity of spaced, parallel, ?ow-directing ribs
`?ange 14a to secure the strip with the lower edge por
`tion 20a of the screen securely clamped in place.
`arranged to extend in directions parallel with the slope
`Referring to FIGS. 2-4, it will be observed that the
`of a roof upon which said screen is to be mounted and
`transverse ?ow-interrupting bars extending between
`open-mesh screen 20 is composed of an arrangement of 20
`spaced, parallel, ?ow-directing ribs 24 which extend in
`said ribs and de?ning a multiplicity of generally rectan
`the general direction of the slope of the roof and trans
`gular apertures, said ribs and bars integrally forming
`verse ?ow-interrupting bars 25 which connect the ribs
`said screen such that said screen assumes a generally
`and extend horizontally. The ribs and bars are dimen
`planar condition in an un?exed state and a tensioned
`sioned and arranged to de?ne a multiplicity of rectangu
`curved condition in a ?exed state, said ribs having a
`lar apertures 26 with each aperture being elongated in a
`height substantially greater than that of said bars, said
`horizontal direction as shown. It is important that each
`ribs also having a width greater than that of said bars,
`aperture has an area falling within the general range of
`and said apertures each having an area within the range
`4 to 30 square millimeters, or a preferred range of 5 to
`of about 4 to 30 square millimeters.
`20 square millimeters. Particularly effective results are
`2. The screen of claim 1 in which said apertures are
`approximately 5 millimeters in length and 2 millimeters
`obtained if each aperture has an area of approximately
`10 square millimeters. Such relatively small apertures
`in width.
`prevent the passage or snaring of leaves, twigs, and
`3. The screen of claim 1 in which each of said aper
`other debris but, because of the structural relationships
`tures has an area within the range of about 5 to 20
`hereinafter described, water ?owing from roof 10 is
`square millimeters.
`nevertheless directed through such apertures into gutter
`4. The screen of claim 3 in which each of said aper
`14.
`tures has an area of about 10 square millimeters.
`Each rectangular aperture has a length (1) falling
`5. The screen of claim 1 in which said ?ow-directing
`within the general range of 4 to 10 millimeters and a
`ribs and said ?ow-interrupting bars have generally co
`planar undersurfaces.
`width (w) within the range of about 1 to 3 millimeters 40
`(FIG. 2). Most desirably, such dimensions are about 5
`6. The screen of claim 1 in which said rectangular
`and 2 millimeters, respectively. It will be noted that the
`apertures are elongated in the direction of said ?ow
`?ow-directing ribs 24 and the ?ow-interrupting bars 25,
`interrupting bars.
`although coplanar along their undersurfaces, are of
`7. The screen of claim 6 in which said apertures are
`substantially different height. Specifically, the height H
`approximately 4 to 10 millimeters in length and l to 3
`of the ribs 24 is 40 to 100 percent greater than the height
`millimeters in width.
`h of bars 25 (FIG. 4). The thickness T of each rib, mea
`8. The screen of claim 7 in which said rectangular
`sured along the plane of the screen 20, should fall within
`apertures are approximately 5 millimeters in length and
`the general range of 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters (preferably
`2 millimeters in width.
`2.75 to 3.0) and the thickness t of the bars should be in
`9. The screen of claim 8 in which said longitudinal
`the general range of 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters (preferably
`ribs and said transverse bars have generally coplanar
`1.75 to 2.0).
`undersurfaces.
`Such relationships result in a structure that directs
`10. The screen of claim 1 in which said ?exible screen
`rain water from roof 10 along, and particularly be
`is formed of polymeric material.
`tween, parallel ribs 24. It is believed that because of the 55
`11. In combination with a building structure having a
`height differential between ribs 24 and bars 25, the sur
`sloping roof and a gutter extending along an edge of
`face tension of the water, which might otherwise cause
`said roof, an open-mesh gutter screen having an upper
`portion secured to the roof and following the slope
`the water to ?ow as a sheet over the top of the screen,
`is disrupted. In FIG. 4, the surface of the water is sche
`thereof, an intermediate portion overlying said gutter
`matically depicted by phantom line W. As the surface of 60
`for allowing the ?ow of water into said gutter while
`the moving water drops between the upper limits of ribs
`restraining the deposit of debris therein, and a lower
`24, the water impinges on transverse bars 25 and the
`edge portion attached to an outer ?ange of said gutter,
`wherein the improvement comprises
`bars disrupt the ?ow as represented by arrows 30 (FIG.
`4). Such action is also depicted in FIG. 3 where arrows
`said screen being ?exible and having a series of
`spaced, parallel, ?ow-directing ribs extending in
`31 represent the general direction of ?ow, arrows 32
`indicate the lower meniscus (or menisci), and arrows 3
`the direction of the slope of said roof and trans
`indicate the water redirected by transverse bars 25 and
`verse ?ow-interrupting bars extending between
`falling downwardly into the trough of the gutter.
`said ribs, said ribs and bars integrally forming said
`
`50
`
`65
`
`IPR2018-00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1007 p. 4
`
`

`

`5
`screen, such that said screen assumes a generally
`planar condition in an un?exed state and a ten
`sioned curved condition in a ?exed state, and de?n
`ing a multiplicity of generally rectangular aper
`tures, each of said ribs having a height substantially
`greater than that of said bars, each of said ribs also
`having a width greater than that of said bars, and
`said rectangular apertures each having an area
`within the range of about 4 to 30 square millime
`ters.
`12. The combination of claim 11 in which said rectan
`gular apertures are horizontally elongated, each of said
`apertures having a length of approximately 4 to 10 milli
`meters and a width of approximately 1 to 3 millimeters.
`
`6
`13. The combination of claim 12 in which said aper
`tures are approximately 5 millimeters in length and 2
`millimeters in width.
`14. The combination of claim 11 in which said longi
`tudinal ribs and said transverse bars have generally
`coplanar undersurfaces.
`15. The combination of claim 11 in which each of said
`?ow-directing ribs is of a height approximately 40 to
`100 percent greater than the height of each of said ?ow
`interrupting bars.
`16. The combination of claim 11 in which the hori
`zontal thickness of each of said ribs falls within the
`range of 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters and the horizontal thick—
`ness of each of said bars falls within the range of 1.5 to
`2.5 millimeters.
`
`a a a‘ a a
`
`5,257,482
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`IPR2018-00015
`Petitioners Ex. 1007 p. 5
`
`