Bracket For Attaching A Gutter Cover Tail Portion To A Rain Gutter Fascia Board

Abstract

The receiving channel of the bracket may extend horizontally and open forwardly to receive a trailing portion of a gutter cover, or it may extend vertically and open downwardly to receive an upper edge portion of a rear wall of a rain gutter. An intermediate transition segment on the bracket is disposed generally parallel to the receiving channel, and a brace segment extends generally perpendicularly to the receiving channel and the transition segment. When the receiving channel extends horizontally, the brace segment may be mounted on a gutter-engaging fascia wall. When the receiving channel of the bracket extends vertically, the brace segment is disposed to support the trailing portion of the gutter cover.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application is related to U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/698,858 filed Jul. 13, 2005, entitled identically with the present application, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mounts or brackets for leaf-repelling rain gutter covers or shields, and more particularly to brackets that may be attached to a gutter-supporting fascia board and that receive a trailing end of the gutter cover.

2. Related Art

In the past, typical gutter covers extended rearwardly above the rain gutters in relatively elevated positions, and the trailing ends of the covers were disposed between the lower rows of roof shingles. More recently, lower profile gutter covers have been designed, the tail ends of which could be mounted on the fascia boards below the lowest row of shingles. However, in order to mount the rear portion of a gutter cover on a fascia board, the trailing end of the gutter cover was typically bent at a 90° angle to provide an upturned, fascia-engaging flange. Due to dimensional irregularities, fastening the upturned flange to the fascia board could distort the gutter cover. In addition, forming the upturned flange could be expensive and time consuming for the installer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a bracket adapted to be interposed between a fascia board and a gutter cover having a longitudinally extending trailing portion. In a first exemplary embodiment, the present bracket may be formed with a receiving channel, an intermediate transition segment disposed generally parallel to the receiving channel, and a brace segment extending generally perpendicularly to the receiving channel and the transition segment. The present bracket may be oriented so that the receiving channel extends generally horizontally at the bottom of the bracket and opens forwardly to receive the trailing portion of the gutter cover. In another exemplary embodiment, the present bracket may be oriented so that the receiving channel extends generally downwardly and is open at a lower end to receive an upper edge portion of a rear wall of a gutter. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the present bracket may be oriented so that the receiving channel extends generally horizontally at the top of the bracket and opens forwardly to receive the trailing portion of the gutter cover. The transition segment may be disposed above the receiving channel, and the brace segment may extend generally downwardly from the transition segment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a first embodiment of a bracket according to the present invention disposed in an operative position between a fascia board and a gutter cover;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a second embodiment of the present bracket disposed in an operative position between a fascia board and a gutter cover;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a third embodiment of the present bracket disposed in an operative position between a fascia board gutter and a gutter cover;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present bracket disposed in an operative position between a fascia board gutter and a gutter cover;

FIG. 5 is a fragmented perspective view of the first embodiment of the present bracket;

FIG. 6 is a fragmented perspective view of the second embodiment of the present bracket;

FIG. 7 is a fragmented perspective view of the third embodiment of the present bracket; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmented perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the present bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, a first exemplary embodiment of the present bracket, generally designated 10, may be interposed between a rain gutter-engaging fascia board 12 and a gutter cover 14 having a longitudinally extending rear or trailing portion 16. The bracket 10 may be used with gutter covers 14 and fascia boards 12 having different configurations from those shown in FIG. 1. The present bracket 10 may be formed with a receiving channel 18, an intermediate transition segment 20 disposed generally parallel to the receiving channel 18, and a brace segment 22 extending generally perpendicularly to the receiving channel 18 and the transition segment 20. The present bracket 10 may be oriented so that the receiving channel 18 extends generally horizontally at the bottom of the bracket and opens forwardly to receive the trailing portion 16 of the gutter cover 14. The transition segment 20 may be disposed above the receiving channel 18, and the brace segment 22 may extend generally upwardly from the transition segment 20. The bracket 10 may be formed from a single strip of aluminum alloy approximately 0.024 inches thick, 3.600 inches wide and between 4 and 6 feet long, with the channel 18, transition segment 20 and brace segment 22 extending substantially the entire length thereof. An outboard flange 24, a first return bend 26 and an inboard segment 28 may define the receiving channel 18. A second return bend 30 may extend between the inboard segment 28 and the transition segment 20. The brace segment 22 may be secured to the fascia board 12 by one or more screws 34 or other fasteners. The outboard flange 24, inboard segment 28 and transition segment 20 may be approximately 0.850 inches wide, and the brace segment 22 may be approximately 0.750 inches wide. An angle α between the brace 22 and the transition segment 20 may be approximately 90°, and the first and second return bends 26, 30 may each be approximately 180°. The brace 22 and the first return bend 26 may be generally coplanar, and a free edge 32 on the outboard flange 24 and the second return bend 30 may be generally coplanar. A plurality of the present brackets 10 may be butted together in end-to-end fashion to receive the entire trailing end 16 of the gutter cover 14.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, a second embodiment of the present bracket, generally designated 100, may have all of the above-described features of the first embodiment 10, as well as a hemmed front edge 132 on the outboard flange 124 and a hemmed upper edge 136 on the brace segment 122. The hemmed front and upper edges 132, 134 may reduce the chances of an installer or repair person being cut while working on the present bracket 100. In addition, the hemmed front edge 132 may act like a stop or detent by being disposed to engage a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart depressions or cups 138 in the trailing end 116 of the gutter cover 114.

FIGS. 3 and 7 illustrate a third embodiment of the present bracket, generally designated 200. The bracket 200 may be oriented so that the receiving channel 218 extends generally downwardly and is open at a lower end to receive an upper edge portion 240 of a rear wall 242 of a gutter 244. In this orientation, the outboard flange 224 is adapted to be disposed between the rear gutter wall 242 and the fascia board 212. The free end 232 of the outboard flange 224 may be angled outwardly to widen the open end of the channel 218 and to provide a friction fit between the outboard flange 224 and the fascia board 212 on one side and the rear gutter wall 242 on the other. The first return bend 226 is adapted to limit the downward movement of the bracket 200 on the rear gutter wall 242. The inboard segment 228, second return bend 230 and transition segment 220 may be vertically oriented and adapted to be disposed inside the gutter 244.

The brace segment 222 may project forwardly from and generally perpendicularly to the transition segment 220, the angle α there between being approximately 90°. The first return bend 226 and the brace segment 222 may be generally coplanar. The brace segment 222 may be provided with a partially overlapping flange 246. The overlapping flange 246 may be disposed to support a tail portion 216 of the gutter cover 214, and one or more fasteners 234 may secure the tail portion 216 thereto. Alternatively to the fastener or in combination therewith, the tail portion 216 of the gutter cover 214 may be formed with an under turned flange 217 which may be inserted between the brace segment 222 and the overlapping flange 246 of the bracket 200. The present bracket 200 may be approximately 0.024 inch thick. The free end 232 of the outboard flange 224 may be approximately 0.246 inch wide and the remaining portion of the outboard flange 224 may be approximately 0.547 inch wide. The inboard segment 228 of the channel 218 may be approximately 0.771 inch wide, and the transition segment 220 may be approximately 0.764 inch wide. The brace segment 222 may be approximately 0.664 in wide, and the partially overlapping flange 246 may be approximately 0.300 inch wide.

FIGS. 4 and 8 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present bracket generally designated 300. The present bracket 300 may be interposed between a fascia board 312 and a gutter cover 314 having a longitudinally extending rear or trailing portion 316. The bracket 300 may be used with gutter covers 314 and fascia boards 312 having different configurations from those shown in FIG. 4. The present bracket 300 may be formed with a receiving channel 318, an intermediate transition segment 320 disposed generally parallel to the receiving channel 318, and a brace segment 322 extending generally perpendicularly to the receiving channel 318 and the transition segment 320. The present bracket 300 may be oriented so that the receiving channel 318 extends generally horizontally at the top of the bracket and opens forwardly to receive the trailing portion 316 of the gutter cover 314. The transition segment 320 may be disposed above the receiving channel 318, and the brace segment 322 may extend generally downwardly from the transition segment 320. The bracket 300 may be formed from a single strip of aluminum alloy approximately 0.024 inches thick, 3.600 inches wide and 5.000 feet long, with the channel 318, transition segment 320 and brace segment 322 extending substantially the entire length thereof. An outboard flange 324 having a hemmed front edge 332, a first return bend 326 and an inboard segment 328 may define the receiving channel 18. The hemmed front edge 332 may act like a stop or detent by being disposed to engage a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart depressions or cups 338 in the trailing end 316 of the gutter cover 314. A second return bend 330 may extend between the inboard segment 328 and the transition segment 320. The brace segment 322 may be provided with a hemmed lower edge 336 and secured to the fascia board 312 by one or more screws 334 or other fasteners. The outboard flange 324 and the inboard segment 328 may be approximately 0.600 inches wide, the transition segment 320 may be approximately 0.800 inches wide, and the brace segment 322 may be approximately 1.000 inch wide. An angle α between the brace 322 and the transition segment 320 may be approximately 90°, and the first and second return bends 326, 330 may each be approximately 180°. A plurality of the present brackets 300 may be butted together in end-to-end fashion to receive the entire trailing end 316 of the gutter cover 314.

Claims

1. A bracket adapted to be interposed between a rain gutter-engaging fascia board and a gutter cover having a longitudinally extending trailing portion, said bracket comprising a receiving channel, an intermediate transition segment disposed generally parallel to the receiving channel, and a brace segment extending generally perpendicularly to the receiving channel and the transition segment.

2. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the receiving channel extends generally horizontally and opens forwardly to receive the trailing portion of the gutter cover, the transition segment is disposed generally horizontally and above the receiving channel, and the brace segment extends generally vertically and upwardly from the transition segment.

3. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the receiving channel extends generally vertically and opens downwardly to receive an upper edge portion of a rear wall of the rain gutter, the transition segment is disposed generally vertically and forwardly of the receiving channel and the brace segment extends generally horizontally and forwardly from the transition segment.

4. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the receiving channel extends generally horizontally and opens forwardly to receive the trailing portion of the gutter cover, the transition segment is disposed generally horizontally and above the receiving channel, and the brace segment extends generally vertically and downwardly from the transition segment.

5. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein said bracket is formed from a single strip of aluminum alloy, said strip being between 4 and 6 feet in length.

6. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the channel, transition segment and brace extend substantially the entire length of said bracket.

7. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said brackets are butted together in end-to-end fashion to receive the trailing end of the gutter cover.

8. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the brace segment is adapted to be secured to the rain gutter-engaging fascia board.

9. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein an angle α between the brace segment and the transition segment is approximately 90°.

10. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the receiving channel comprises an outboard flange, a first return bend and an inboard segment.

11. The bracket according to claim 10, wherein a second return bend extends between the inboard segment and the transition segment.

12. The bracket according to claim 11, wherein the first and second return bends are each approximately 180°.

13. The bracket according to claim 11, wherein the brace segment and the first return bend are generally coplanar, and wherein a free edge on the outboard flange and the second return bend are generally coplanar.

14. The bracket according to claim 11, wherein the outboard flange is provided with a hemmed front edge and wherein the brace segment is provided with a hemmed upper edge.

15. The bracket according to claim 11, wherein the outboard flange is adapted to be disposed between the rain gutter and the rain gutter-engaging fascia board.

16. The bracket according to claim 15, wherein a free end of the outboard flange is angled outwardly to widen the open end of the channel.

17. The bracket according to claim 15, wherein the first return bend is adapted to limit the downward movement of said bracket on the rain gutter.

18. The bracket according to claim 3, wherein the brace segment is disposed to support the trailing portion of the gutter cover.

19. The bracket according to claim 18, wherein the brace segment is provided with a partially overlapping flange, said partially overlapping flange being disposed to engage the trailing portion of the gutter cover.