Fastening device, shield and shielded gutter system

Abstract

Fastening device, a clip-in shield, and a shielded gutter system are disclosed. The fastening device is configured to attach a gutter to a mounting structure, rigidly position and support the gutter, and rigidly position and support the shield over the gutter. Each fastening device maintains both the gutter and the shield in rigid positions relative to one another and facilitates both front and rear drainage from the shield. A plurality of the fastening devices at spaced intervals along the gutter and shield are used to provide the shielded gutter system. The first embodiment of the fastening device has the intermediate body portion extending substantially perpendicular from the front rearwardly to the base portion at the rear and the second embodiment has the intermediate body portion extending rearwardly and down at an angle to the back portion to provide for increased support of the gutter front wall.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fastening device for fitting inside and supporting a gutter having a bottom wall, front wall and back wall with a top opening and supporting a shield extending forwardly and downwardly from the top of the back wall with a gap between the shield and front wall, said fastening device comprising: 
 an intermediate body portion for extending between said back wall and said front wall of said gutter,    a base portion at the rear of said intermediate body portion for attaching to a mounting structure behind said rear wall to support said front wall against movement,    a first coupling portion at the front of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with a gutter coupling portion for rigidly attaching to said front wall to support said front wall against movement,    an outside second coupling portion at the front of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with an inside shield coupling portion at the front of said shield for rigidly attaching the front of said shield to said intermediate body portion to support said shield against movement, and    an outside third coupling portion at the rear of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with an inside shield coupling portion at the rear of said shield for rigidly attaching the rear of said shield to said intermediate body portion to support said shield against movement.    
     
     
         2 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said intermediate body portion, said base portion and said first, second and third coupling portions are made as a rigid, one piece, integral body.  
     
     
         3 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said intermediate body portion includes a base wall and a side wall extending up from one side of said base wall and has a top edge that extends along an upward angle from said second coupling portion to said third coupling portion toward said base portion.  
     
     
         4 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said intermediate body portion extends substantially perpendicular from said first coupling portion to said base portion.  
     
     
         5 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said intermediate body portion extends down at an angle from said first coupling portion to said base portion to provide increased support for said front wall of said gutter.  
     
     
         6 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said base portion include locator means for locating the said intermediate body portion relative to said back wall of said gutter.  
     
     
         7 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said locator means is in the form of a detent in a rear surface of said base portion that receives a complementary shaped ridge on a front surface of said back wall of said gutter.  
     
     
         8 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said base portion has means for receiving and directing a fastener through said base portion and back wall for rigidly attaching the rear of said intermediate body portion to said mounting structure.  
     
     
         9 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said means for receiving and directing a fastener is a hole in said base portion.  
     
     
         10 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said second and third coupling portions are located a selected distance apart to receive complementary shaped clip in coupling portions at the front and rear of said shield to provide a clip in fastening arrangement for fastening said shield to said second and third coupling portions.  
     
     
         11 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said second and third coupling portions are male members made to fit into associated female coupling portion in the from of female sockets on said shield.  
     
     
         12 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said male members have a circular cross section.  
     
     
         13 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said shield is constructed to flex under pressure to move a pair of opposed front and rear coupling portions toward one another to slide between said second and third coupling portions during installation and expand away from one another to cause said front and rear coupling portion to fit tightly against said second and third coupling portions.  
     
     
         14 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a rear portion of said shield and said third coupling portion are arranged to provide for the passage of drainage water on said shield to flow past the rear of said shield.  
     
     
         15 . The fastening device as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said shield has a convexly curved rear section and a shield rear coupling portion made by extending the rear section rearwardly along a curve to form a female socket facing toward the rear, said third coupling portion having a shape complementary to and fitting in said socket, said third coupling portion locating said rear portion of said shield for rear drainage past the rear of said shield.  
     
     
         16 . A fastening device for fitting inside and supporting a gutter having a bottom wall, front wall and back wall with a top opening and supporting an inside fitting shield extending forwardly and downwardly from the top of the back wall with a gap between the sheild and front wall, said fastening device comprising: 
 an intermediate body portion for extending between said back wall and said front wall of said gutter,    a base portion at the rear of said intermediate body portion for attaching to a mounting structure behind said rear wall to support said front wall against movement,    a first coupling portion at the front of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with a gutter coupling portion for rigidly attaching to said front wall to support said front wall against movement,    an outside fitting second coupling portion at the front of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with an inside fitting field coupling portion at the front of said shield for rigidly attaching the rear of said shield to said intermediate body portion to support said shield against movement, and    an outside fitting third coupling portion at the rear of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with an inside fitting shield coupling portion at the rear of said shield for rigidly attaching the rear of said shield to said intermediate body portion to support said shield against movement and provides for front and rear drainage of water on said shield, said intermediate body portion, said base portion and said first, second and third coupling portions being made as a rigid, one-piece integral body, and    locator means for locating said intermediate body portion relative to said back wall of said gutter.    
     
     
         17 . A shielded gutter system comprising: 
 a gutter having a bottom wall, front wall, back wall with a top opening,    a shield extending forwardly and downwardly from the top of said back wall with a gap between said shield and front wall, and    a plurality of fastening support devices fitting inside said gutter and shield, each said fastening device including: 
 an intermediate body portion for extending between said back wall and said front wall of said gutter,  
 a base portion at the rear of said intermediate body portion for attaching to a mounting structure behind said rear wall to support said front wall against movement,  
 a first coupling portion at the front of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with a gutter coupling portion for rigidly attaching to said front wall to support said front wall against movement,  
 an outside second coupling portion at the front of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with an inside shield coupling portion at the front of said shield for rigidly attaching the rear of said shield to said intermediate body portion to support said shield against movement, and  
 an outside third coupling portion at the rear of said intermediate body portion for inter-fitting with an inside shield coupling portion at the rear of said shield for rigidly attaching the rear of said shield to said intermediate body portion to support said shield against movement.