Valley diverter for a gutter cover

Abstract

First and second wings are adapted to be mounted in end to end relation to one another at an angle conforming to an inside corner of a gutter cover on which they are adapted to be mounted, and in a position to receive water flowing off of a trough disposed between two roof slopes. Each wing is formed with a plurality of generally uniform, upwardly projecting ridges, a front anchoring flange and a rear anchoring flange.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] A claim is hereby made to the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/267,072 filed Feb. 7, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A gutter cover comprises a series of elongated sections of sheet metal adapted for attachment to a roof gutter in generally horizontally disposed, overlying relation to the mouth of the gutter. Each cover section is formed with a plurality of spaced apart slots through which water running off of the roof passes through the cover and into the gutter. Typically, a trough is provided between adjoining slopes of the roof, and water running down the trough and onto an inside corner of the gutter has a tendency to run off of the gutter cover before it drains into the gutter. In the past, valley diverters have been provided on gutter covers to deflect and slow the water coming off of the trough.

[0003] As illustrated in FIG. 1, prior art diverters have been mounted on adjoining sections of the gutter cover in general alignment with the trough or valley extending downwardly between adjacent slopes of the roof. The diverters were positioned so that water flowing down the valley towards the gutter washed against the diverters and was deflected in opposite directions towards outlying portions of the adjoining gutter cover sections. In this manner, the water was slowed and diffused so that it had time to drain through the slots and into the gutter, rather than flowing beyond the front edge of the gutter cover and onto the ground or pavement below.

[0004] The problem with prior art valley diverters was their tendency to trap sticks, leaves and other debris. They were flange-shaped structures that extended directly upwardly from the surface of the gutter cover a distance of one-half inch or more. If enough leaves, twigs and debris became lodged behind the diverters, water would collect and flow over the rear edge of the cover and onto the wall of the house. In wintry weather, dammed up water could freeze and damage adjoining portions of the walls and roof. Thus, there was a need to clean debris off of the gutter cover adjacent to the old diverters. Since one of the primary objects of a gutter cover is to eliminate the need to clean the gutters they cover, the present inventor was faced with the problems of providing a relatively inexpensive and easily installed valley diverter that prevented water from running off the gutter cover before it could drain into the gutter and that did not trap leaves, twigs and other debris.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present valley diverter basically comprises first and second wings adapted to be mounted in end to end relation to one another at an angle conforming to an inside corner of a gutter cover 14 on which they are adapted to be mounted. Each wing 11, 12 is formed with a plurality of generally uniform, upwardly projecting ridges, a front anchoring flange and a rear anchoring flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0006] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art valley diverter mounted on an inside corner portion of a gutter cover below a trough between adjacent roof slopes;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a valley diverter according to the present invention mounted on an inside corner portion of a gutter cover below a trough between adjacent roof slopes; and

[0008] FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.2 and particularly illustrating a preferred construction of the present valley diverter and a manner in which it may be attached to the gutter cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the present valley diverter, generally designated 10, basically comprises first and second wings 11 and 12 adapted to be mounted in end to end relation to one another at an angle conforming to an inside corner 13 of a gutter cover 14 on which they are adapted to be mounted, and in a position to receive water flowing off of a trough 15 disposed between two roof slopes 16, 17. Each wing 11, 12 is formed with a plurality of generally uniform, upwardly projecting waves, ridges or undulations 18, a front anchoring flange 19 and a rear anchoring flange 20.

[0010] Preferably, each wing 11, 12 is formed from a single piece of aluminum alloy which is pressed or otherwise deformed so that the waves or ridges 18 and the front and rear anchoring flanges 19, 20 extend substantially the entire length of the wing 11, 12. It is also advantageous to provide an angle of approximately forty-five degrees between a free end 21 of each wing 11, 12 and the rear flange 20 thereof. In this manner, water moving over the diverter wings 11, 12 is urged to flow toward a portion of the gutter cover 14 disposed outwardly from the corner 13.

[0011] Typically, an angle of approximately forty-five degrees is also provided between an adjoining end 22 of each wing 11, 12 and the rear flange 20 thereof so that the wings define a ninety degree angle when the adjoining ends 22 of the wings come together. However, it is contemplated that a different angle may be provided between the adjoining end 22 and the rear flange 20 of each wing 11, 12 in order for the wings to conform to the shape of an inside corner 13 that does not define a ninety degree angle.

[0012] Each wing 11, 12 is between twelve and twenty-four inches (preferably sixteen to nineteen inches) in length as measured along the rear mounting flange 20, and between three and six inches (preferably three and one-half to four and one-half inches) in width.

[0013] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the waves or ridges 18 impart a corrugated or washboard appearance to the present valley diverter 10. Each of the ridges 18 projects upwardly from the mounting flanges 19, 20 a distance within a range of one-sixteenth to three-eighths of an inch (preferably one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch). The number of waves or ridges 18 is within a range of three to ten, preferably five to seven. Preferably, each undulation or ridge 18 projects angularly outwardly toward the front flange 19. In this manner, the waves are sufficiently small, smooth, rounded and forwardly canted so that leaves, twigs and debris do not become trapped on or around the diverter 10, yet are sufficiently numerous so that they slow the water flowing off of the trough 15 between the roof slopes 16, 17 (FIG. 2) and channel it towards outlying portions 14 (FIG. 2) of the gutter cover.

[0014] As further illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the present diverter 10 is preferably secured in the desired position by a plurality of zip screws 23 which hold the front 19 and rear 20 mounting flanges tightly against an upper surface of the gutter cover 14.

[0015] While the present diverter 10 has been illustrated and described in some detail, the foregoing disclosure is not intended to unduly limit or restrict the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A valley diverter for a gutter cover, said diverter comprising first and second wings adapted to be mounted in end to end relation to one another on the gutter cover at an angle conforming to an inside corner of said gutter cover; each of said wings being formed with a plurality of generally uniform, upwardly projecting ridges, a front anchoring flange and a rear anchoring flange 20; each of said ridges and front and rear anchoring flanges extending substantially the entire length of said wing.

2. The valley diverter according to claim 1, wherein an angle of approximately forty-five degrees is provided between a free end of each wing and the rear flange thereof.

3. The valley diverter according to claim 1, wherein each wing is formed from a single piece of aluminum alloy.

4. The valley diverter according to claim 1, wherein an angle is provided between an adjoining end of each wing and the rear flange thereof, said angle being of a size to permit the wings to conform to the shape of the inside corner of the gutter cover.

5. The valley diverter according to claim 1, wherein each wing is between twelve and twenty-four inches in length as measured along the rear mounting flange, and between three and six inches in width.

6. The valley diverter according to claim 5, wherein each of the ridges projects upwardly from one of the front and rear mounting flanges a distance within a range of one-sixteenth to three-eighths of an inch.

7. The valley diverter according to claim 1, wherein the number of ridges is within a range of three to ten.

8. The valley diverter according to claim 1, wherein each ridge projects angularly outwardly toward the front flange.