Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02593808 2007-07-13
EAVESTROUGH COVER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to eavestroughs or gutters, and more
particularly, relates
to improvements in a cover portion thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Eavestroughs are widely used to collect rainwater from the roof of a building
and
direct the same away from the building and in particular the foundation
thereof. The
eavestrough also protects the soil proximate to the building from erosion by
the rainwater
dripping from the roof.
One problem with eavestroughs is the collection of debris therein. In order to
obliviate this problem, it is known in the art to provide a shield or cover
which will permit
passage of rainwater from the roof to the eavestrough while the same from
extraneous
foreign matter such as leaves and the like.
Different approaches have been taken as to how the shield, cover or membrane
is
secured to the eavestrough. Other approaches have also been taken such as
mounting the
eavestrough for rotatable movement such that they may be emptied at desired
intervals. A
still further approach is one wherein a cover has an outer edge which curls
downwardly and
the water flow follows a curved portion due to surface tension and thereafter
cascades into
the eavestrough. Theoretically, any leaves and the like do not enter as they
would continue
to fall to the ground. However, when large volumes of water are encountered,
the surface
tension is generally insufficient to cause all of the rainwater to flow into
the eavestrough.
When utilizing the cover or guard, there has to be a balance between having a
large
enough surface area which is apertured to permit all the rainwater to flow
into the
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eavestrough even during of very heavy rainfall. Many designs fail to
accommodate all of
the rainfall leading to overflowing of the eavestrough.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an eavestrough cover
wherein
overflow is prevented and the water is directed to a central portion of the
eavestrough.
According to one aspect of the present invention, in an eavestrough having an
eavestrough front wall, an eavestrough rear wall, an eavestrough top wall and
an
eavestrough bottom wall, and a foraminous membrane extending between the
eavestrough
rear wall and the eavestrough front wall, there is provided the improvement
comprising a
recess formed between the eavestrough top wall and the foraminous membrane,
the recess
extending inwardly of the eavestrough top wall to thereby permit the reversal
of water flow
flowing towards the recess.
The present invention provides a guard for the eavestrough which prevents
foreign
matter from entering into the eavestrough. It is important that appropriate
sizing of the
apertures formed in the guard is provided. Thus, the apertures' size and their
placement
permit adequate drainage of the water through the apertures into the
eavestrough while
substantially excluding any foreign matter which remains on the top and which
will
normally be removed by the wind or the like.
The apertures preferably extend in diagonal rows at an angle of 45 with
respect to
the eavestrough length. In preferred embodiments, the apertures have an
aperture size of
between 2.5 and 10 mm and even more preferably between about 3.0 and 4.0 mm.
As the
apertures are arranged in diagonal rows, they are also preferably arranged in
longitudinally
extending rows. In a longitudinally extending row, the apertures are spaced
apart by a
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distance between 10 and 15 mm while in a diagonal row they are spaced apart by
a distance
of between 5 and 10 mm.
As will be appreciated, during a period of heavy rain or the like, the
drainage may not
be instantaneous and accordingly, there are provided walls on either side to
prevent
overflow. Moreover, adjacent the eavestrough front wall (the rear wall being
adjacent the
building eave), there is provided a recess which extends inwardly of the
eavestrough top
wall and has a generally U-shaped configuration to thereby permit reversal of
heavy water
flow coming from the roof.
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 a perspective view of a portion of an eavestrough attached to the
facia of a
roof structure;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the eavestrough; and
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto, there
is illustrated in Figure 1 an eavestrough generally designated by reference
numeral 10 and
which eavestrough is attached to the facia F of a roof R.
Eavestrough 10 is shown as being of a monocoque design and includes an
eavestrough rear wall 12, an eavestrough bottom wall 14, and an eavestrough
front wall
generally designated by reference numeral 16.
Eavestrough front wall 16, as is conventional in the art, includes a lower
vertical
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portion 18, a lower arcuate portion 20, a middle portion 22 and an upper
arcuate portion 24.
In the illustrated embodiment, upper arcuate portion 24 merges with a top wall
designated
by reference numeral 26. Subsequently, the top wall continues through bight 30
to form a
lower horizontal wall 28. Subsequently, a U or C-shaped section 32 is provided
and
which U or C-shaped section 32 defines a recess.
A top membrane or cover is generally designated by reference numeral 34 and
includes a diagonally sloping wall section 36 located at the bottom of C-
shaped section 32
and an upwardly extending diagonal section 38 on the opposite side thereof.
There is also a
substantially planar portion 46 centrally located. A plurality of apertures 48
are provided
within sections 36, 38 and 46.
There is also provided an upwardly extending wall section 40 which lies
parallel to
eavestrough rear wall 12 and which extends over the top thereof through bight
44 and a
downwardly extending vertical wall section 42. A plurality of dimples 48 are
provided to
ensure a grip between wall section 40 and eavestrough rear wall 12.
In use, rainwater coming from the eavestrough will be directed to foraminous
membrane 34. During periods of heavy rain, the water will tend naturally to
flow to the
front portion of the eavestrough. However, C-shaped section 32 will force the
rainwater to
return to the center of the eavestrough.
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. Thus, the eavestrough and
foraminous membrane
may be formed of individual components suitably secured together.
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