Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FASTENING SUPPORT DEVICES AND SYSTEMS
FOR SHIELDED GUTTERS
Technical Field
This invention generally relates to gatt=4* ,:uL
collecting run-off water from roofs and more particularly
to a fastening support device and system for shielded
gutters.
Background Art
In U.S. Patent No. 4,757,649 there is disclosed
a shielded gutter with a top shield arranged to minimize
the collection of debris and leaves inside the gutter.
This shielded gutter has a spacer tube that extends from
the back wall of the gutter to a front portion of the top
shield and a fastener extends through a front portion of
the top shield, the spacer tube, the back wall of the
gutter and into a support structure to fasten the gutter
thereto.
Williams No. 4,876,827 and Faulkner No.
5,388,377 disclose a hanger device that has a forward end
portion that fits inside the top of the front wall of the
gutter to support the front wall of the gutter. These
patents do not have an upper support for the end of the
shield that is integral with the lower support.
Goetz No. 2,672,832 discloses a removable cover
forming a shield for a gutter that removably couples at
the rear into the top wall of the gutter. This device
uses a nail fastener that extends through the gutter and
a separate nail fastener that extends through the cover.
Disclosure of the Invention
A fastening support device for shielded gutters
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disclosed has an intermediate body portion, an upper support
arm portion extending forwardly of the intermediate body
portion that extends under and fits inside a free front end
portion of a top shield, a lower support arm portion
extending forwardly of the intermediate body portion that
extends under and fits inside an inverted, inwardly inclined
hook at the top of a front wall of the gutter. A rear base
portion rearwardly of the intermediate body portion butts
against the back wall of the gutter. A fastener extends
through the intermediate body portion, base portion, and
back wall of the gutter and into a support structure. A
plurality of the devices at spaced intervals along the
inside of the gutter form a fastening support system for the
gutter.
A fastening support device for a two-piece
shielded gutter has an additional coupling portion at the
rear of the shield and device which allows the shield to be
formed separately and be readily attached to and detached
from the gutter.
According to one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a fastening support device for fitting
inside and supporting an elongated shielded gutter having a
bottom wall, front wall, back wall defining a gutter channel
with a top opening and top shield extending forwardly and
downwardly from the top of the back wall with a gap between
the shield and front wall, said device comprising: a main
support body, a mounting base at the rear of said support
body having means for receiving a fastener to anchor the
rear of said support body to said back wall to provide a
cantilever-type support for said shield and said front wall,
a first coupling portion comprising a male terminal section
rigidly attached at a front lower end portion of said
support body for nesting in a gutter coupling portion
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comprising a female socket at an upper end portion of said
front wall to support said front wall against movement, and
a second coupling portion rigidly attached at a front upper
end portion of said support body for interfitting with a
shield coupling portion at a front bottom end portion of
said shield to support said shield against movement, said
first and second coupling portions being rigid and at a
fixed distance from one another to maintain said gap at a
substantially uniform dimension.
According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a fastening support device for
fitting inside and supporting an elongated shielded gutter
having bottom wall, front wall, back wall defining a gutter
channel with a top opening and a top shield extending
forwardly and downwardly from the top of the back wall with
a gap between the top shield and the front wall, said device
comprising: a rigid main support body having spaced upper
and lower members defining a longitudinal passage and having
weakened, relatively thin, opposed front and rear end walls
across the ends of said passage through which a fastener
will readily penetrate when fastening forces are applied to
the fastener, said front wall having a recess in a front
surface to provide a target area for receiving the pointed
end of said fastener, a lower support arm portion rigidly
attached to and extending forwardly of said main support
body, said lower support arm portion having a depending
curved rear section extending forwardly from the front of
said main support body and a bottom section extending
forwardly of said rear section, a rigid first coupling
portion for interfitting with a gutter coupling portion
means and rigidly attached at an upper end portion of said
front wall to support said front wall against movement, said
first coupling means being a front section extending up and
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rearwardly at an incline to said bottom section, an upper
support arm portion rigidly attached to and extending
forwardly of said main support body, said upper support arm
portion having a rearwardly opening, upstanding curved rear
section extending up and forwardly from the front end of
said main support body and a top section extending forwardly
of said rear section, a rigid second coupling portion for
interfitting with a shield coupling portion means and
rigidly attached at a bottom front end portion of said
shield to support said shield against movement, said second
coupling portion being a curved front section extending
forwardly of said top section through an arc of about 180
degrees, said first and second coupling portions being rigid
and at a fixed distance from one another to maintain said
gap at a substantially uniform dimension, and a mounting
base extending transverse to and at the rear of said main
support body for bearing against a back wall of the gutter,
said main support body and mounting base having means for
receiving a fastener that extends into a support structure
for securing the gutter to the support structure to anchor
the rear of said support body to said back wall to provide a
cantilever-type support for said shield and said front wall.
According to still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a fastening support device for
fitting inside and supporting an elongated shielded gutter
having a bottom wall, front wall, back wall defining a
gutter channel with a top opening and top shield extending
forwardly and downwardly from the top of the back wall with
a gap between the shield and front wall, said device
comprising: a main support body, a mounting base at the rear
of said main support body having means for receiving a
fastener to anchor the rear of said support body to said
back wall to provide a cantilever-type support for said
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shield and front wall, a first coupling portion comprising a
male terminal section rigidly attached at a front lower end
portion of said support body for nesting in a gutter
coupling portion comprising a female socket at an upper end
portion of said front wall to support said front wall
against movement, a second coupling portion rigidly attached
at a front upper end portion of said main support body for
interfitting with a first shield coupling portion at a front
bottom end portion of said shield to support said shield
against movement, said first and second coupling portion
being rigid and at a fixed distance from one another to
maintain said gap at a substantially uniform dimension, and
a third coupling portion at an upper end of said mounting
base for interfitting with a second shield coupling portion
at the rear of said shield to support said shield against
movement, said second and third coupling portion and said
first and second shield coupling portions being releasable
from one another to enable said shield to be readily
attached to and removed from said gutter channel.
According to yet another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the combination of an elongated
shielded gutter having a bottom wall, a front wall having a
front wall coupling portion comprising a female socket at an
upper end portion of the front wall, a back wall defining a
gutter channel with a top opening and a top shield extending
forwardly and downwardly from the top of the back wall with
a gap between the shield and the front wall, said shield
having a shield coupling portion at a front bottom end
portion of the shield and a fastening support device inside
and supporting said gutter, said device including: an
elongated horizontal main support body, an elongated
vertical mounting base at the rear of said support body
having means for receiving a fastener to anchor the rear of
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said support body to said back wall to provide a cantilever-
type support for said shield and said front wall, a first
coupling portion comprising a male terminal section rigidly
attached at a front lower end portion of said support body
nesting in said front wall coupling portion to support said
front wall against movement and maintain said gap of a
substantially uniform dimension, and a second coupling
portion rigidly attached at a front upper end portion of
said support body interfitting with said shield coupling
portion to support said shield against movement and maintain
said gap at a substantially uniform dimension.
According to a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the combination in a fastening
support system of an elongated shielded gutter having a
bottom wall, a front wall having a front wall coupling
portion comprising a female socket at an upper end portion
of the front wall, a back wall defining a gutter channel
with a top opening and a top shield extending forwardly and
downwardly from the top of the back wall with a gap between
the shield and the front wall, said shield having a shield
coupling portion at a front bottom end portion of the shield
and a plurality of fastening support devices at selected
spaced distances inside and supporting said gutter, each
said device including: an elongated horizontal main support
body, an elongated vertical mounting base at the rear of
said support body having means for receiving a fastener to
anchor the rear of said support body to said back wall to
provide a cantilever-type support for said shield and said
front wall, a first coupling portion comprising a male
terminal section rigidly attached at a front lower end
portion of said support body nesting in said front wall
coupling portion to support said front wall against
movement, and a second coupling portion rigidly attached at
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a front upper end portion of said support body interfitting
with said shield coupling portion to support said shield
against movement, said first and second coupling portion of
said devices being rigid and at a selected fixed distance
apart to maintain a substantially uniform gap throughout the
length of said gutter.
According to yet a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the combination of an elongated
shielded gutter having a bottom wall, a front wall having a
front wall coupling portion comprising a female socket at an
upper end portion of the front wall, a back wall defining a
gutter channel with a top opening and a top shield extending
forwardly and downwardly from the top of the back wall with
a gap shield and front wall said shield having a first
shield coupling portion at a front bottom end portion of the
shield and a second shield coupling portion at the rear of
said shield and a fastening support device inside and
supporting said gutter, device including: a main support
body, a mounting base at the rear of said support body
having means for receiving a fastener to anchor the rear of
said support body to said back wall to provide a cantilever-
type support for said shield and said front wall, a first
coupling portion comprising a male terminal section rigidly
attached at a front lower end portion of said support body
nesting in said front wall coupling portion to support said
front wall against movement and maintain a substantially
uniform gap, and a second coupling portion rigidly attached
at a front upper end portion of said support body
interfitting with said shield coupling portion to support
said shield against movement and maintain a substantially
uniform gap, a third coupling portion at an upper end of
said mounting base for interfitting with a second shield
coupling portion at the rear of said shield to
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support said shield against movement, said first and second
coupling portions being rigid and at a fixed distance from
one another to maintain said gap at a substantially uniform
dimension, said second and third coupling portion and said
first and second shield coupling portions being releasable
from one another to enable said shield to be readily
attached to and removed from said gutter channel.
According to still a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a fastening support device for
fitting inside and supporting an elongated shielded gutter
having a bottom wall, front wall, back wall defining a
gutter channel with a top opening and top shield extending
forwardly and downwardly from the top of the back wall with
a gap between the shield and front wall, said device
comprising: a main support body, a mounting base at the
rear of said support body adapted to receive a fastener to
anchor the rear of said support body to said back wall to
provide a cantilever-type support for said shield and said
front wall, a first coupling portion means at a front lower
end portion of said support body for interfitting with a
gutter coupling portion means at an upper end portion of
said front wall to support said front wall against movement,
and a second coupling portion means at a front upper end
portion of said support body for interfitting with a shield
coupling portion means at a front bottom end portion of said
shield to support said shield against movement, said first
and second coupling portion means being a fixed distance
from one another to maintain said gap at a substantially
uniform dimension, said main support body being formed with
a thin web-like horizontal rib section and an inclined rib
section that serves as a guide for installing said shield
and adds structural strength to said main support body.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
Details of this invention are described in
connection with the accompanying drawings which like parts
bear similar reference numerals in which:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a
fastening support device for gutters embodying features of
the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fastening
support system embodying features of the present invention
using three of the devices shown in Figure 1 and portions
broken away to show interior construction.
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3
of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a
modified form of fastening support device with an upper
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locating extension.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary sect.iorial view of a
modified form of fastening support device with a lower
locating extension.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view
showing a gutter with a closed t,Gm.
Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a
modified form of fastening support device with apertures
in the intermediate body portion.
Figure 8 is a front perspective view of another
embodiment of a fastening support device for two-piece
shielded gutters embodying features of the ;present
invention.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fastening
support system embodying features of the priasent
invention using two of the devices shown in Figure 8 with
portions broken away to show interior construction.
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along line
10-10 of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a schematic side eleliation view of
a modified fastening support device and mc,d_fied two-
piece gutter embodying features of the presE>_nt invention.
Detailed Description
Referring now to Figures 1-3 of tl-:e drawings
there is shown a shielded gutter 12 mounted on a support
structure 13 typically a fascia board haviny a roof 14.
The shielded gutter 12 shown has a bottom wall 16, a
front wall 17, and a back wall 18 forming a U-shaped
channel or trough. A top shield 19 extencis forwardly and
downwardly away from the top of the back wal.l 18. A
back-folded top section 20 connects the top of the back
wall with the rear end of the top shield 2.9. The top
shield 19 has a curved top section 21 formed along one
radius Ri and a free front end portion 22 formed along
= 35 another radius R2 through an arc of about 180 degrees and
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terminates in a rearwardly and upwardly extending end
section 23 forming an open hem. The front wall 17 has a
free top end portion 25 in the form of a backturned hook
that inclines rearwardly from the front wall 17 with a
back fold that terminates in a downturned end section 26. The inverted U-
shaped hook in the free top end portion 25
is shown as inclined inwardly and rearwardly at an angle =
of about 45 degrees to the vertical. The downturned end
section 26 may extend only to a vertical position forming
a more open hook for a more easy insertion of the end
section 55 of the device into the upper end of the front
wall rather than folded past the vertical to press
against section 55 as shown in Figure 3.
The lower extremity of the front end portion 22
and the upper extremity of the free top end portion 25
define a longitudinal front opening or gap 27 along the
gutter which provides access into the inside of the
gutter 12. The free front end portion 22 of the shield
is rearwardly of the free top end portion 25 of the front
wall so that water falling on the top shield will fall
into the gutter via the gap 27.
Three fastening support devices 31 embodying
features of the present invention are shown mounted at
spaced intervals along the inside of gutter 12 to provide
a fastening support system for the gutter 12. Each
fastening support device 31 shown includes an
intermediate body portion 32, an upper support arm
portion 33 and a lower support arm portion 34 with
portions 33 and 34 extending forwardly from the front end
of the intermediate body portion 32. Arm portions 33 and
34 are spaced a selected fixed distance apart. Body
portion 32 and upper support arm portion 33 and lower
support arm portion 34 shown are an elongated rigid
support body which when anchored at the rear to the back
wall provide a cantilever-type support for the shield and
a rear base portion 35 extends transverse to the rear end
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of the intermediate body portion 32 and bears against the
back wall 18 of the gutter 12. The device 31 shown may
be made as an integral body of extruded aluminum,
extruded plastic or injection molded plastic. The width
5 of the device 31 shown preferably is about 0.5 to 1.0
inch and preferably about 0.75 inch.
The intermediate body portion 32 is an
essentially hollow body having spaced upper and lower
wall members 38 and 39 defining a longitudinal passage 41
closed at the ends with relatively thin web-like opposed
front and rear weakened end walls 42 and 43. A fastener
75 described hereinafter will readily penetrate walls 42
and 43 when fastening forces such as hammer blows are
applied to the head of the fastener. A front recess 44
is shown in the front wall to assist in locating the
pointed end of the fastener so the fastener 75 penetrates
and extends into and through the passage 41. The
intermediate body portion typically is at least more than
half the width of the gutter so as to extend beyond the
back wall 18 more than half way into the gutter so that
the pointed end of the fastener starts toward the front
of the gutter rather than at the rear. The recess 44
forms a target area for the pointed end of the nail or
screw fastener. Further, the intermediate body portion
32 is located relatively close to the front wall 17 and
is between and aligned with the gap 27 so that the
installer can insert the fastener 75 straight through the
gap and against the front end wall of the intermediate
body portion 32 of the fastener.
The upper support arm portion 33 has an
upstanding curved rear section 47 extending up and
forwardly from the front of the intermediate body portion
32, a top section 48 extending forwardly of the rear
section 47 and a rearwardly opening curved front section
49 extending through an arc of about 180 degrees
extending forwardly, down and rearwardly of the top
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section 48. The front section 49 is sized and shaped to
nest in and bear against an inside surface of the free
front end portion 22 of the top shield.
The top and front sections 48 and 49 of the
upper support arm serve as what is herein referred to as
a coupling portion at a front upper end portion of the
rigid support body and more specifically are a =
semicircular section.
The front section 49 of the shield serves as
what is herein referred to as a coupling portion at a
bottom front end portion of the shield and more
specifically is a semicircular section.
The semi-circular section of the device is
received in and surrounded by the semi-circular section
of the shield and they have mating surfaces arranged to
interfit with one another so that when the device is
placed within the gutter the device holds the front
bottom end portion of the shield against movement.
The lower support arm portion 34 has a
depending curved rear section 53 extending down and
forwardly from the front of the intermediate bottom
portion, a bottom section 54 extending forwardly of the
rear section and an upstanding front section 55 that
extends upwardly and rearwardly and at an angle from the
front end of the bottom section 54. The angle shown is
about 45 degrees to the vertical. The front section 55
is sized and shaped to nest in and bear against an inside
surface of the hooked top or upper end portion 25. The
upstanding front section 55 of the lower support arm
portion 34 serve as what is herein referred to as a
coupling portion at a front lower end portion of the
rigid support body and more specifically is a male
terminal section.
The hook-shaped upper end portion 25 of the
front wall 17 serves as what is herein referred to as a
coupling portion at an upper end portion of the front
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wall and more specifically is a female section.
This male terminal section 55 is received in
and surrounded by the hook-shaped upper end portion 25
and they have nesting surfaces arranged to interfit with
one another when the device is placed in the gutter to
hold the upper end portion of the front wall against
movement.
Each device 31 is typically set apart at 24
inch centers to correspond with the spacing between the
studs. From the foregoing it is clear the r.ievice 31
holds the free front bottom end portion 29 of the shield
and the top end portion 25 of the front wall of the
gutter against forward, rearward, and up and down
movement and in this way holds the gap 27 at a uniform
width throughout the full length of the gutter.
The back wall 18 of the gutter is provided with
a pair of spaced V-shaped projections 61 and 62 above and
below the fastener 75 that extend inside the gutter to
line up and fit in upper and lower indentations 64 and
65. The projections 61 and 62 of the back wall nest in
the indentations 64 and 65 in the base so as to locate
the base and the intermediate body portion 32 at a
particular location with respect to the back wall of the
gutter so as to locate the recess between the gap 27 so
the fastener 75 may extend straight through the gap.
To install the device 31 each is slid through
the end of the gutter to selected positions of a fastener
75 such as a nail or screw with a head at one end extends
through the passage 41 and penetrates the support
structure 13 adjacent the roof so as to secure the device
31 and gutter 12 to the support structure. The rigidity
of the spaced support arms 33 and 34 maintain a
substantially fixed or uniform spacing and elevation
position for the opposed portions of the gutter forming
the gap.
Referring now to Figure 4 a modified form of
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device 31 removes the indentations 64 and 65 and
projections 61 and 62 and utilizes a top end locating
extension 81 on the top of the base 35 that extends up
and forwardly at the end to bear against the inside
surface of the top shield thereby locating the device
inside the gutter. In Figure 5 there is shown a bottom
end locating extension 82 that extends down and forwardly
and bears against the bottom wall 16 of the gutter to
serve as a locator means for the device inside the
gutter. It is understood that a further modification
would be to provide both top and bottom locating
extensions 81 and 82 on the base portion 35. In Figure 6
there is shown a modified form of gutter having a front
section that terminates in a backturned end section 85
forming a closed hem. A modified form of intermediate
body portion shown in Figure 7 is provided with aligned
holes or apertures 86 and 87 in the front end wall and
back rear end wall 43 through which the fastener may be
inserted.
Referring now to Figures 8-10 there is shown a
two-piece shielded gutter 92 mounted on support structure
13 having a roof 14. The stationary gutter shown has a
semicircular bottom wall 96, a front wall 97 and a back
wall 98 forming a U-shaped gutter channel with a top
opening. A removable top shield 99 extends downwardly
and forwardly from the upper end or top of the back wall
98. The front bottom edge of the shield and the upper
end portion of the front wall 97 form an opening or gap
101 extending along the front of the gutter through which
water will run into the gutter channel and leaves and
debris are prevented by the shield 99 from collecting in
the gutter. The free front end portion or forward
extremity of the shield 99 is rearwardly of the free
upper end portion of the front wall 97 so water falling
on shield 99 will fall into the gutter via gap 101.
The upper end of the back wall 98 has a top
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bend that extends forwardly and downwardly to form a top
hook 100 that opens toward the bottom. A coupling
portion 103 is provided at the upper end of the front
wall 97 of the gutter. Coupling portion 103 extends
upwardly, rearwardly, downwardly and forwardly from the
upper end of the front wall through an arc of beyond 180
degrees to provide a curved hook opening toward the
bottom with a down turned and front turned terminal
section 104.
The top shield 99 is made from a flat sheet
metal and shaped preferably by roll forming to have a
convexly curved top portion 105 that extends forwardly
and downwardly along a larger radius R1, a convexly
curved front portion 106 formed along a second radius R2
and a front coupling portion 107 that is provided by a
concavely curved front end portion that terminates in a
front bottom edge 108. The top shield 99 has a rear
coupling portion 109 that is-provided by making a
downturned bend at the rear end of the shield to provide
a downwardly and forwardly extending rear hook that opens
toward the front and has a terminal section 110.
Two fastening support devices 131 are shown
mounted at spaced intervals along the inside of the
gutter 92. Each fastening support device 131 shown is
made as a rigid, one-piece, integral body having a rigid,
elongated, main support body 132, a mounting base 133 at
the rear end of the support body, a rigid coupling
portion 134 at the bottom of the front lower end of the
main support body, a rigid coupling portion 135 at the
top of the front end of the main support body 132 and a
rigid coupling portion 136 at the top of the mounting
base 133. More particularly, the main support body 132
has a horizontal portion 139, a lower front inclined
support arm portion 141 extending downwardly and
forwardly from the front of said horizontal portion 139
and an upper front inclined support arm portion 142
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extending upwardly and forwardly from the front of the
horizontal portion 139. The main support body 132 is
formed with a thin, web-like, horizontal rib section 146
and an inclined ramp rib section 147 which serves as a
5 guide for installing the shield 99 as described
hereinafter and adds structural strength to the device
131.
The mounting base 133 has an inwardly extending
V-shaped detent 144 in the rear surface that fits over an
10 inwardly extending V-shaped detent 145 in the back wall
98 which serves as a means to locate the mounting base
133 at a selected position on the back wall 98 when the
device is inserted into the gutter. A hole or aperture
148 is provided in the mounting base through which the
fastener 75 extends.
The coupling portion 134 at the front lower end
portion of the main support body 132 interfi.ts with the
previously described coupling portion 103 at the upper
end portion of the gutter front wall 97. These coupling
portions 103 and 134 interfit with one another when the
device is placed within the gutter and support the front
wall against movement. Coupling portion 134 is in the
form of a hook hat opens at.an angle toward the back and
top along the axis of the inclined support arm portion
141 and has a terminal section 138 that extends
rearwardly and upwardly generally parallel to support arm
portion 141.
The rigid coupling portion 135 at the front
upper end of the main support body interfits with the
coupling portion 107 at the front bottom end portion of
the shield. Coupling portion 135 is in the form of a
hook with the end of support arm portion 141 forming a
terminal section of the hook. Coupling portions 103 and
134 interfit with one another when the device 131 is
placed in the gutter and fastened by fastener 75.
Coupling portion 136 at the rear end of the mounting base
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interfits with the coupling portion 109 at the rear of
the shield to support the rear end portion of the shield
against movement. Coupling portion 135 at the front of
the device and coupling portion 107 at the front of the
shield interfit to support the front of the shield
against movement. The coupling portions 107, 135 at the
front of the shield and the coupling portions 109, 136 at
the rear of the shield removably interfit to permit the
shield to be readily removed from the gutter and
reattached to the gutter as required.
The interfitting coupling portions on the
device and gutter above described may be further
characterized as substantially in the form of hooks.
Each hook has a socket and a backturned male terminal
section. The sockets of the interfitting hooks open in
substantially oppositely facing directions and each
terminal section slides into and fits within an
associated socket. The male terminal section may be of
the thickness of the member or may be curved or enlarged
to have a shape that is complimentary with the shape of
the associated concave socket. The pair of opposed,
interfitting hooks may be a tight fitting or a loose
fitting arrangement in the sockets as required to enable
assembly and disassembly of the removable shield and
provide the necessary support for the gutter.
To install each gutter 92, a fastening support
device 131 and gutter 92 are first attached to the roof
support structure 13 which is typically the facia board
in a conventional manner. The devices 131 are fastened
to the fascia board at spaced intervals such as two feet
centers by a fastener 75 such as a nail or screw that
extends through the device, through the back wall 98 of
the gutter and into building support structure 131. The
top shield 99 is then placed over the top opening of the
gutter with the coupling portion 107 hooked into the
coupling portion 135 and the coupling portion 109 hooked
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into the coupling portion 136. Because the shield can
flex or expand along its length the coupling portion 107
may be slid up along the ramp section 147 and popped into
coupling portion 136 due to'the flexibility of the
material. For removal of the shield either of the coupling portions 107 or 109
of the shield can be popped
out of the associated coupling portions of the device.
Referring now to Figure 11, a modified form of
separate shield could have a hook 99a at the rear end of
the shield opening toward the bottom that would fit down
over the upper straight end 98a of the back wall of the
gutter so the rear of the shield would attach to the
gutter rather than the support device. Otherwise the
device 131 and mounting for the shield would be the same
as shown in Figures 9 and 10.
From the foregoing description it is clear that
a fastening support device and system embodying features
of the present invention can be easily made, is easy to
install and once in place holds the gutter against
movement, sagging and maintains a uniform gap through
which the water passes while at the same time preventing
debris from entering the inside of the gutter.
Although the present invention has: been
described with a certain degree of particularity, it is
understood that the present disclosure has been made by
way of example and that changes in details of structure
may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.
