Expandable gutter bracket

Abstract

The present invention relates to an expandable gutter bracket in which a length of the bracket is expanded after insertion into a previously installed gutter. The expandable gutter bracket comprises a two piece construction of a gutter attachment section coupled to a building attachment section. The sections can be coupled together to provide sliding or pivotal movement between the sections. After the gutter bracket is expanded, the building attachment section can be mounted to a building surface.

1 . An expandable gutter bracket comprising: 
 a gutter attachment section adapted to contact a front section of said gutter;    a building attachment section adapted to contact a rear section of said gutter;    coupling means for coupling said gutter attachment section to said building attachment to allow said gutter attachment section to be expanded from said building attachment section to provide an expanded length of said gutter bracket.    
   
   
       2 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 1  wherein said coupling means provides sliding movement between said gutter attachment section and said building attachment section.  
   
   
       3 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 2  wherein said gutter attachment section slides within a track of said building attachment section.  
   
   
       4 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 2  wherein said building attachment section slides within a track of said gutter attachment section.  
   
   
       5 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 1  wherein said coupling means comprises a pivot for pivotally attaching said gutter attachment section to said building attachment section.  
   
   
       6 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 1  further comprising mounting means adapted for attaching said building attachment section to a surface of a building.  
   
   
       7 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 1  wherein said gutter attachment section comprises a protrusion, said protrusion adapted to contact said gutter.  
   
   
       8 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 1  further comprising a support accessory associated with said gutter attachment section, said support accessory adapted to support a gutter cover.  
   
   
       9 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 8  wherein said support accessory comprises an upward extension extending from said gutter attachment section and one end including one or more arms adapted to support the gutter cover.  
   
   
       10 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 9  wherein said support accessory is integral with said gutter attachment section.  
   
   
       11 . The expandable gutter bracket of  claim 9  further comprising coupling means for coupling said upward extension to said gutter attachment section.  
   
   
       12 . A method for supporting a previously installed gutter on a building surface comprising the steps of: 
 inserting an expandable gutter bracket into said gutter, said expandable gutter bracket comprising: a gutter attachment section adapted to contact a front section of a building attachment section; coupling means for coupling said gutter attachment section to said building attachment section expanding said gutter attachment section away from said building attachment section such that said gutter attachment section contacts a front section of said gutter and said building attachment section contacts a rear section of said gutter; and    mounting said building attachment section to said building surface.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said coupling means provides sliding movement between said gutter attachment section and said building attachment section.  
   
   
       14  The method of  claim 13  wherein said gutter attachment section slides within a track of said building attachment section.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said building attachment section slides within a track of said gutter attachment section.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said coupling means comprises a pivot for pivotally attaching said gutter attachment section to said building attachment section.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said gutter attachment section comprises a protrusion, said protrusion adapted to contact said gutter.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said gutter attachment section comprises a protrusion, said protrusion adapted to contact said gutter further comprising a support accessory associated with said gutter attachment section, said support accessory adapted to support a gutter cover.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said support accessory comprises an upward extension extending from said gutter attachment section and one end including one or more arms adapted to support the gutter cover.