Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EAVESTROUGH COVER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an eavestrough cover and more particularly,
relates
to an eavestrough cover or screen which permits the flow of water into a
gutter while
preventing debris from collecting in the gutter or eavestrough.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of eavestrough covers (also known as gutter guards) is well known in
the art.
These eavestrough covers have gained popularity as the problem of clogged
gutters is almost
universal. Irrespective of the climate, leaves and other debris find their way
into the
eavestrough. These can lead to clogging of the eavestrough, either at the
downspout or
elsewhere. This in turn can lead to water back up into adjacent structures.
Wood rot and
other problems can then occur.
In order to overcome this problem, the use of eavestrough covers is widely
practiced.
These eavestrough covers permit the passage of water into the eavestrough or
gutter while
preventing extraneous matter from entering the eavestrough. Various mounting
systems
have been employed in order to secure the eavestrough cover in place. The
success of the
mounting system will frequently depend on the place of installation and the
design of the
eavestrough cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an eavestrough cover which
is
designed to prevent extraneous matter from entering the eavestrough while also
efficiently
allowing the passage of water through the cover into the eavestrough.
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It is a further object of the present invention to provide an eavestrough
cover having
sufficient rigidity to be easily secured in place.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
eavestrough
cover comprising a front longitudinally extending portion, a rear
longitudinally extending
portion, a central portion extending between and secured to both of the front
longitudinally
extending portion and the rear longitudinally extending portion, the central
portion being
formed of a woven material, and the woven material being embossed in a
generally
transverse direction so as to improve the rigidity of the woven material.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in
combination, an eavestrough cover comprising a front longitudinally extending
portion, a
rear longitudinally extending portion, a central portion extending between and
secured to
both of the front longitudinally extending portion and the rear longitudinally
extending
portion, the central portion being formed of a woven material, the woven
material being
embossed in a generally transverse direction so as to improve the rigidity of
the woven
material, and an eavestrough, the eavestrough having a rear wall, a bottom
wall, a front wall,
a vertical segment formed at an upper portion of the front wall, a top wall
and a downwardly
extending diagonal segment.
As aforementioned, the eavestrough cover has a front longitudinally extending
portion and a rear longitudinally extending portion. Intermediate the front
longitudinally
extending portion and the rear longitudinally extending portion is a central
portion. This
central portion is formed of a woven material as is known in the art. Embossed
areas are
provided in the woven material with the embossed areas extending in the
traverse
direction (i.e. between the front longitudinally extending portion and the
rear longitudinally
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=
extending portion.
The woven material may be selected from any suitable material (i.e. an
aluminum
material, a stainless steel material, plastic material, etc.) and is
preferably a woven wire
mesh known as a micro mesh.
The embossments are arranged such that they extend upwardly to form generally
transversely extending ridges between the front longitudinally extending
portion and the rear
longitudinally extending portion. The embossments, in a preferred embodiment,
extend
from the front longitudinally extending portion and the rear longitudinally
extending portion.
It will be understood that modifications to such an arrangement may be
provided; in other
words, some of the embossments may not extend completely transversely of the
woven
material and/or may extend at somewhat of an angle with respect thereto such
as an S or Z
shape.
The front longitudinally extending portion is preferably formed of a metallic
material
such as aluminum and it is arranged to grip one side of the woven material. To
this end, the
arrangement is such that the aluminum material is folded back on itself and
pressed together
to retain the woven material.
Preferably, the arrangement is such that there is provided an upwardly
extending
portion which forms a wall to direct any excess water back towards the center
of the
eavestrough cover. In this arrangement, the woven material is gripped firstly
by the portion
forming the wall and also by a further horizontal portion extending
frontwardly from the
wall.
In this arrangement, the front longitudinally extending portion also
preferably
includes a member which will engage with the eavestrough to assist in
retention of the
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eavestrough cover.
The rear longitudinally extending portion is also preferably formed of a
metallic
material such as aluminum. Again, the rear longitudinally extending portion is
arranged to
grip the woven material. Also, preferably the rear longitudinally extending
portion has an
upwardly sloping segment which assists in retaining water and directing the
same towards
the central portion.
A rearwardly extending flange forms a portion of the rear longitudinally
extending
portion. This flange is provided to fit under the tiles of a roof.
Preferably, the flange is of a substantial transverse length to reach between
the
eavestrough and the roof. In one embodiment, the flange is provided with a
line of
demarcation or fold line above which the flange may be folded if it is used in
other
situations. The line of demarcation may comprise a longitudinally extending
groove formed
in the flange portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is perspective view of a portion of an eavestrough cover according to
the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a further perspective view thereof;
Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view thereof;
Figure 4 is a further bottom perspective view thereof;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view thereof;
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Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the left hand side portion of
the
eavestrough cover shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the right hand side of the eavestrough cover
seen in
Figure 5; and
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the eavestrough cover mounted on an
eavestrough.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto, there
is illustrated an eavestrough cover which is generally designated by reference
numeral 10.
Eavestrough cover 10 has a front longitudinally extending portion generally
designated by reference numeral 12 and a rear longitudinally extending portion
generally
designated by reference numeral 14. A central portion generally designated by
reference
numeral 16 is formed of a suitable woven material as is known in the art.
Central
portion 16 has a plurality of longitudinally extending filaments 18 and
transversely
extending filaments 20 which together form the woven material.
Formed in the woven material are a plurality of transversely extending
embossments 22.
As may be seen, embossments 22 extend upwardly ¨ i.e. the embossed portion is
on the
upper surface of the woven material with reference to the normal placement of
the eavestrough
cover 10.
Front longitudinally extending portion 12 includes, proximate the central
portion 16, a
vertical upwardly extending segment 26. A vertical downwardly extending
segment 28 lies
substantially parallel to vertical upwardly extending segment 26 to thereby
retain a
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crimped portion 38 of central portion 16 therebetween. Extending from the
lower portion of
vertical downwardly extending portion 28 is an upper horizontal segment 32.
Lying underneath
is a lower horizontal segment 34 which again is arranged such that there is a
crimped
portion 36 therebetween. Lower horizontal segment 34 terminates in a
diagonally and
downwardly extending segment 38 designed to engage with the eavestrough.
Rear longitudinally extending portion 14 has a lower horizontal segment 42 and
a
parallel intermediate horizontal segment 44. Retained therebetween is central
portion 16 which
is a crimped relationship therewith. An upper horizontally extending segment
extends
rearwardly and is provided with a diagonally upwardly extending segment 47. A
flange 48
extends rearwardly to fit underneath the tiles of a roof.
It will be noted that rearwardly extending flange 48 terminates in a folded
under
segment 50. There is also formed a fold line 52 comprising a groove which
extends
longitudinally of flange 48 such that flange 48 may be bent thereabout in
situations where
the length of flange 48 is not required. If desired, a plurality of fold lines
could be provided
therein to form a desired length of flange 48.
The eavestrough cover 10 is shown mounted on an eavestrough generally
designated by
reference numeral 56. Eavestrough 56 includes a rear wall 58, a bottom wall 60
and a front
wall generally designated by reference numeral 62. An upper segment 64 of
front wall 62
extends substantially vertically and joins with a top wall 66. In turn, top
wall 66 terminates in
a diagonally and downwardly extending segment 68.
As may be seen, eavestrough cover 10 engages with top wall 66 and diagonal
segment 68. Flange 48 extends rearwardly and is adapted to fit under the
shingles of an
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adjacent roof.
It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of
illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto
without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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