EP1590539A2

EP1590539A2 - Down spout guard made from non-woven material

Info

Publication number: EP1590539A2
Application number: EP04701470A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin J. Rotter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-14
Filing date: 2004-01-12
Publication date: 2005-11-02
Also published as: WO2004065717A2; EP1590539A4; WO2004065717A3

Abstract

A non-woven mesh guard (10) which can be inserted into a downspout opening (18) in a rain gutter (16) in order to prevent debris from entering the downspout (20) is provided. The non-woven mesh (10) includes a large free area to allow for the flow of water therethrough while preventing debris from entering the downspout (20). Anchor pins (14) are installed in the guard to prevent it from being forced too far down into the downspout opening (18). Alternatively, the non-woven material (10) may be formed such that it includes an enlarged top portion which rests in the base of the gutter over the downspout opening (18) while a reduced size portion is inserted into the downspout (20).

Description

[0001] DOWN SPOUT GUARD MADE FROM NON-WOVEN MATERIAL

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Many types of devices are known for preventing rain gutters and down- spouts from becoming clogged with leaves and/or other blown debris. [0004] One known device is formed of a wire mesh which is inserted into the down spout opening of a rain gutter. The wire mesh prevents leaves or other debris from entering the downspout. While this does not eliminate the need to clean gutters, it does prevent downspouts from becoming plugged which can result in gutters overflowing, freezing or leaking back into the soffit under the roof overhang.

[0005] It has also been known to cover a rain gutter with a mesh or with a solid sheet material leaving only a small gap at the edge of the gutter for water to enter. While this is somewhat effective, it prevents access for cleaning. Although such products greatly reduce the need for cleaning, it is still inevitable that some debris enters the gutter and that periodic cleaning may be necessary. [0006] It would be desirable to provide a device for preventing downspouts of rain gutters from overflowing which is inexpensively produced, can be easily removed and reinstalled for cleaning and which will not deteriorate quickly based on exposure to moisture, UN radiation and general atmosphere conditions.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] Briefly stated, the present invention provides a non-woven mesh guard which can be inserted into a downspout opening in a rain gutter in order to prevent debris from entering the downspout. Preferably, the non-woven mesh includes a large free area to allow for the flow of water therethrough while preventing debris from entering the downspout. Anchor pins may be installed in the guard to prevent it from being forced too far down into the downspout opening: Alternatively, the non-woven material may also be formed such thatit includes an enlarged top portion which rests in the base of the gutter over the downspout opening while a reduced size portion is inserted into the downspout. It is also possible to form a handle directly into the non-woven mesh material which forms the guard to allow for easier gripping for both installation and removal as well as increased penetration area for draining water therethrough.

[0009] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown.

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a guard in accordance with the invention being installed in a rain gutter downspout.

[0012] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a guard in accordance with the present invention.

[0013] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a guard in accordance with the present invention.

[0014] Figure 4 is a side view of a barbed support pin used in conjunction with the guard shown in Figures 1 and 3.

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] Certain terminology is used in the following detailed description for convenience only and is not considered limiting. The word "upper" and "lower" designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Additionally, the terms "a" and "one" are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted.

[0017] Referring now to Figure 1, a first preferred embodiment of a guard

10 for use in connection with a rain gutter downspout is shown. The guard 10 is formed from a piece of non-woven matting, such as that described in the inventors' prior U.S. Patent 5,167,579, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. Other types of non-woven matting may be utilized. However, the matting described in U.S. Patent 5,167,579 has proven successful in outdoor roof ridge vent applications and is resistant to both UN and moisture. The non-woven material has a large net free area of at least 60%, and preferably over 70%, and is formed of filaments which are randomly spun together and adhered in place utilizing an adhesive binder.

[0018] In the first preferred embodiment, the guard 10 includes a notch 12 which acts as a handle on an upper portion of the guard 10. Preferably, anchor pins 14 are installed which rest upon the bottom of the rain gutter 16 to prevent the guard 10 from being over-inserted into the opening 18 for the downspout 20. The guard 10 may be made from two pieces of non-woven material which are glued, laminated or otherwise connected together in order to form a guard 10 having a desired thickness. The notch 12 is preferably cut utilizing an abrasive cutting wheel. However, other cutting methods may be utilized in order to form the notch 12. In use, a user would grip the upper portion of the guard 10. The support pins 14 may be pre-installed or installed in position by the user either prior to or after inserting the bottom portion of the guard 10 into the opening 18 for the downspout 20. If the guard 10 needs to be removed for cleaning, it can be gripped by the notch 12 which provides a hand grip area in order to remove the guard 10 from the downspout opening 18. Alternatively, it would be possible to attach a handle or pull string to the top of the guard 10.

[0019] As shown in Figure 4, preferably the support pins 14 are serrated so that they do not become dislodged from the non-woven material of the guard 10 after they have been installed. Preferably, the support pins 14 are made of copper or stainless steel to resist corrosion. However,* other materials may be utilized.

[0020] Referring to Figure 2, a second embodiment of the guard 30 is shown. The guard 30 is also made of the non-woven material, as described above, and includes an upper lip 32 on at least one side, and preferably on both sides to prevent the guard 30 from being over-inserted into the gutter. Preferably, a handle 34 is connected to the top of the guard 30. The handle 34 may be a loop of nylon or other suitable material and may be semi-rigid such that the loop extends upward and remains in an open position in order to allow the guard 30 to be removed using an extension pole having a hook without the need for a ladder. [0021] Referring to Figure 3, a third embodiment of the guard 40 is shown.

The guard 40 in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention is similar to the guard 10 except that the notch 12 has been omitted. [0022] In the preferred embodiments, the lower portion of the guards 10, 30 and 40 are sized to be slightly greater than the opening 18 for a downspout so that they are installed with a slight interference fit. Since the non-woven material utilized to make the guards 10, 30 and 40 is compressible, this insures that the guards 10, 30 and 40 remained anchored in position in the downspouts. The guards 10, 30, 40 are provided in different shapes and sizes to complement known gutter/downspout configurations.

[0023] The non-woven material utilized to make the guards 10, 30 and 40 is provided in large sheets from a webber, and may be formed to a desired thickness and then cut to size utilizing suitable means, such as an abrasive wheel cutter. Multiple pieces of the non- woven material may be joined together in order to form the required thickness for a guard 10.

[0024] As an alternate to the pins 14, which are installed on each of the four sides of the guards 10 and 40, two pins having greater lengths may be utilized that are inserted all the way through the guard such that each pin extends through two opposing sides.

[0025] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above which should be considered as merely exemplary. Further modification and extensions of the present invention may be developed, and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A guard for preventing debris from entering a downspout of a rain gutter, comprising: a piece of non-woven material having a cross-section complementary to an opening of the downspout and adapted to extend at least partially into the downspout; and an outwardly extending portion for preventing the material from being over-inserted into the downspout opening.

2. The guard of claim 1, wherein the outwardly extending portion comprises at least one pin inserted into the non-woven material.

3. The guard of claim 2, wherein the at least one pin includes 4 separate pins.

4. The guard of claim 2, wherein the at least one pin includes a serrated portion for retaining the pin in the non-woven material.

5. The guard of claim 1, wherein the outwardly extending portion comprises a shoulder formed in the material.

6. The guard of claim 1, further comprising a handle for removing the guard from an installed position in the downspout.

7. The guard of claim 6, wherein the handle comprises a recess formed in the non-woven material.

8. The guard of claim 6, wherein the handle comprises a loop connected to the non-woven material.

9. The guard of claim 1, wherein the non-woven material comprises a synthetic fiber web treated with at least one binding agent.

10. The guard of claim 1, wherein the non-woven material comprises a synthetic fiber web having at least a 60% net free area.

11. The guard of claim 1, wherein the non-woven material comprises a bottom portion for insertion into the downspout opening and a top portion opposite the bottom portion, and wherein the outwardly extending portion is associated with the top portion for preventing the top portion from entering the downspout.

12. A guard for preventing debris from entering a downspout of a rain gutter, comprising: a piece of non-woven material having a cross-section complementary to an opening of the downspout and adapted to extend at least partially into the downspout; and a handle for withdrawing the guard from the downspout.

13. The guard of claim 12, wherein the handle comprises a recess formed in the non-woven material.

14. The guard of claim 12, wherein the handle comprises a loop connected to the non-woven material.

15. A method of preventing debris from entering a downspout of a rain gutter, comprising providing a piece of non-woven material and inserting the non-woven material through an opening of the downspout.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing the material includes providing the material with an outwardly extending portion, and further comprising positioning the material such that the outwardly extending portion rests on a periphery of the downspout opening to prevent the material from being over-inserted into the downspout opening.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing a piece of non-woven material includes providing the piece with an oversized cross- section with respect to the downspout opening to allow an interference fit between the downspout and the non-woven material.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching at least one pin through the non-woven material for preventing the material from being over- inserted into the downspout opening.