Gutter and cover system

Abstract

A gutter and cover system mounts at an edge of a roof to collect water into the gutter without other debris. The system includes a combination gutter and cover made from a monolithic element. The gutter includes a front, bottom and rear extending up to the cover, which extends over the gutter. The cover has a pooling section and a front, curving edge. The pooling section slows down the flow of water and allows it to flow over the curving edge and adhere to the cover due to surface tension while debris falls outside of the gutter. A support element slides inward to provide support for the cover and a front face of the gutter. The support element includes structure for receiving mounting hardware.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gutter and cover system comprising a monolithic element forming a gutter having a front face, a bottom and a rear portion extending upward to a cover, the cover extending over the gutter, and having a debris separation portion extending above the front face and a kinetic energy dispersion section intermediate the rear portion and the debris separation portion.  
     
     
         2 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the kinetic energy dispersion section comprises a pooling section.  
     
     
         3 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the debris separation portion comprises a curving front portion extending downward and rearward.  
     
     
         4 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein the debris separation portion is configured to have sufficient surface tension that water clings to the system and drops into the gutter while debris falls off the system.  
     
     
         5 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the front face defines an ogee profile.  
     
     
         6 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 2 , wherein the debris separation portion comprises a curving front portion extending downward and rearward and configured to have sufficient surface tension that water clings to the system and drops into the gutter while debris falls off the system.  
     
     
         7 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion extends above the cover portion.  
     
     
         8 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion further comprises a section extending rearward and downward to the rear of an upper end of the front face.  
     
     
         9 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic element comprises an aluminum sheet.  
     
     
         10 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic element has a thickness of approximately 0.03 inches.  
     
     
         11 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a support member extending under the cover and an upper portion of the front face.  
     
     
         12 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 11 , wherein the front face comprises a lip an upper end of the front face, and wherein the support member comprises a first portion engaging an underside of the cover and a second portion engaging an underside of the lip of the front face, and wherein the support member is configured for engaging the rear portion of the gutter.  
     
     
         13 . A gutter and cover system according to  claim 12 , wherein the support member defines a mounting orifice extending there through.  
     
     
         14 . A roof and a gutter and cover system positioned at an edge of said roof, the system comprising: 
 a monolithic element forming a gutter having a front face, a bottom and a rear portion extending upward to a cover, the cover extending over the gutter, and having a curving front portion extending downward and rearward above the front face, kinetic energy dispersing means intermediate the rear portion and the curving front portion, and    mounting means for securing said system at said edge of said roof.    
     
     
         15 . The system described in  claim 14 , wherein said mounting means further comprises an internal support having a cover support segment engaging an underside of the cover, front face segment engaging the front face of the gutter, and a rear segment engaging the rear portion of the gutter.  
     
     
         16 . The system described in  claim 15 , further comprising affixation means for positioning said support member with respect to said gutter and cover system and for positioning said system to said edge of said roof.  
     
     
         17 . The system described in  claim 15 , wherein the support member defines an orifice extending through said support member, wherein mounting hardware extends through the orifice to a hole in said rear portion of said gutter and into said structure.  
     
     
         18 . The system described in  claim 15 , wherein said mounting means is repeatedly positioned at determined distances along said gutter and cover system.  
     
     
         19 . A gutter and cover system comprising a monolithic element forming a gutter having a front face, a bottom and a rear portion extending upward to a cover, the cover extending over the gutter, having a curving front portion above the front face extending downward and rearward, and a slightly concave pooling portion intermediate the rear portion and the curving front portion.  
     
     
         20 . The system described in  claim 19 , wherein said front face defines an ogee profile.  
     
     
         21 . The system described in  claim 19 , wherein said front face defines a continuously curved profile.  
     
     
         22 . The system described in  claim 19 , wherein said front face defines a substantially square profile.  
     
     
         23 . A gutter and cover system comprising a monolithic element forming a gutter having a front face, a bottom and a rear portion extending upward to a cover, the cover extending over the gutter, and having a curving front portion extending downward and rearward above the front face, kinetic energy dispersing section intermediate the rear portion and the curving front portion; and a support element for supporting said cover.  
     
     
         24 . The system described in  claim 23 , wherein said support element comprises an internal member having a cover support segment, front face segment and rear segment engaging said monolithic element.  
     
     
         25 . The system described in  claim 24 , wherein the curving front portion is configured to have sufficient surface tension that water clings to the system and drops into the gutter while debris falls off the system.