HEATED GUTTER COVER

COUVRE-GOUTTIERE CHAUFFE

English Abstract

A heated gutter structure including an elongated gutter body a first cover
plate covering the gutter body, and a second cover plate made of a heat
transmissive material mounted on the first cover plate with at least two
heating
elements mounted therein between.

Claims

Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A heated gutter structure comprising:
an elongated gutter body extending along an edge of at least a portion of
a roof for collecting water runoff from the roof;
a first cover plate of elongated shape covering an open top of said gutter
body and having at least one longitudinal elongated grooves in a top surface
each adapted for receiving a heating element; and
a second cover plate of elongated shape detachably mounted on and
intimately engaging said top surface of said first cover plate, said second
cover
plate being formed of a heat transmissive material such that the entire plate
is
heated by said heating element.
2. The heated gutter structure according to Claim 1, wherein said second
cover plate is formed of a sheet metal.
3. The heated gutter structure according to Claim 1, wherein said first cover
plate and said second cover plate are formed of a sheet metal.
4. The heated gutter structure according to Claim 1, wherein said elongated
gutter body is formed of a rigid plastic material.
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5. The heated gutter structure according to Claim 1 further comprising a
mechanical fastener that clips the first cover plate to the gutter body.
6. The heated gutter structure according to Claim 1 further comprising a
sensor unit for sensing the presence of ice or snow on the roof and
automatically
turning on the heating system.
7. The heated gutter structure according to Claim 1, wherein said a heating
element is powered by 110V AC current.
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Description

CA 02686999 2009-12-03
Heated Gutter Cover
Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a building product and more
particularly, relates to a heated gutter cover for the roof of a building.
Background of the Invention
Rain gutters are widely used in building construction for collecting water
runoff from a roof. In areas with the presence of many tress, a gutter cover
is
frequently desirable for covering the open top of a gutter for preventing tree
leaves or other debris from falling into the gutter and causing malfunction of
the
gutter. While the gutter cover normally functions properly for protecting the
gutter,
in areas with extreme cold weather, snow and ice may accumulate on top of the
gutter cover to either cause damage to the roof due to the weight of the ice
or
water or damage to the building when ice damages the roof shingles. It is
therefore desirable, in areas with such serve weather conditions, to provide a
device for preventing ice and snow accumulation on a roof gutter before it is
damaged.
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CA 02686999 2009-12-03
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gutter cover
that does not have the drawbacks or shortcomings of the conventional gutter
covers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a heated gutter
cover that would prevent ice and snow accumulation on the gutter cover or
potential damage to the roof.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention, a heated gutter cover for use on
the roof of a building is provided.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention can be provided in an
elongated gutter body extending along an edge of at least a portion of a roof
for
collecting water run off from the roof, a first cover plate of elongated shape
covering an open top of the gutter body and having at least two longitudinal
elongated grooves in a top surface each adapted for receiving a heating
element;
and a second cover plate of elongated shape detachably mounted on an
intimately engaging the top surface of the first cover plate, the second cover
plate
being formed of a heat transmissive material such that the entire plate is
heated
by the heating element.
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CA 02686999 2009-12-03
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a partial, perspective view of the present invention gutter
system equipped with the heated gutter cover.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention gutter system
equipped with the heated gutter cover.
Figure 3 is a partial, top view of the present invention gutter system.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The present invention discloses a heated gutter structure that would
prevent ice and snow accumulation on top of the gutter cover.
The present invention heated gutter cover is a combination heating unit
and partial cover for the gutter system of a residence or commercial building.
During the cold month of the year, the heating elements would prevent the
build
up of ice and snow in the gutter, in turn eliminating problems such as ice
dams.
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CA 02686999 2009-12-03
Moreover, the partial cover also prevents leaves and other types of debris
from
entering the gutter and eventually blocking the gutter.
The present invention heated gutter cover has a more or less J-shaped
cross-section, with the tip of the long leg of the J installed on the lower of
the roof
deck. A set of fasteners or mechanical clips can be provided for installation.
The
long leg and curved section of the hook extends down and cover most of the
gutter, while also permitting rainwater to enter the front of the gutter. The
inside
of the curved section of the hook can serve as a mounting location for a
heating
cable that would run along the entire length of the gutter, secured by a set
of
provided mounting clips. A small trough can also be integrated into the design
of
the upper part of the long leg of the J-shaped hood if desired. This would
allow a
second heating cable to be installed that can further heat the exterior of the
hood
and also melt ice and snow on the edge of the roof deck. A trim strip can be
used
to cover the heating cable.
The present invention heated gutter cover can be operated in an
automated manner, i.e. during the colder month of the year, operation of one
or
both heating cables can be automated. For instance, a sensor can be integrated
in the system that would automatically turn the heating tables during a
snowstorm. The electrical cords for the heating cables can be simply plugged
into
any standard 110V outdoor receptacle to power the system.
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CA 02686999 2009-12-03
The present invention heated gutter cover fulfills the need for an easy
method for keeping leaves and other type of debris from blocking the gutter
system of a residence, preventing damage to a gutter or lower edge of a roof
deck during the colder month of the year due to buildup of ice and snow. The
appealing features of the present invention heated gutter cover are its
convenience, ease of installation and use, timesaving, optimum size,
reasonable
price and ability to eliminate the need for either cleaning a gutter system or
repairing damages to the gutter and/or lower part of a roof deck caused by
buildup of snow or ice.
Referring initially to Figure 1, wherein a partial, perspective view of the
present invention heated gutter cover 10 is shown mounted on a gutter 20. The
heated gutter structure is constructed of an elongated gutter body 20
extending
outwardly from faceboard 80 of at least a portion of a roof 30 for collecting
water
runoff from the roof. A first cover plate 40 of elongated shape covering an
open
top 22 of the gutter body 20 and has a least one longitudinally elongated
grooves
42 (better shown in Figure 3) in a bottom surface 44 of a second cover plate
90
assembled to the cover plate 40 by screws 92 adapted for receiving a heating
element 50 therein. The heating element may be suitably a high resistant
heating
wire, or any other suitable heating devices.
The second cover plate 90 of elongated shape is detachably mounted by
screws 92 and intimately engaging the first cover plate 40. The second cover
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CA 02686999 2009-12-03
plate 90 is made of a heat transmissive material, i.e. such as metal or heat
transmissive plastic, such that the entire plate 90 is heated by the heating
element 50.
Also shown in Figures 1,2 and 3, are mechanical clips 70 used for clipping
onto the edge 46 of the first cover plate 40 and the top edge 26 of the gutter
body
20 together. Also shown in Figure 2, are the mounting brackets 18 and 28 for
the
gutter body 20 to the faceboard 80. Figure 3 shows an alternate embodiment of
the present invention wherein the heated gutter cover 10 is directly mounted
on
the roof 30 (covered by a top roof panel 100) instead of on the faceboard 80.
The present invention heated gutter structure has therefore been amply
described in the above descriptions and in the appended drawings of Figures 1-
3.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described
above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be
made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such
modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
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Representative Drawing