Barrier screen and method for protecting a gutter from debris

Abstract

A mesh screen capable of providing a barrier for protecting a drainage gutter from ingress of debris; the screen comprising a generally planar sheet of mesh having a first face and a second opposite face; wherein, the first face comprises strands disposed parallel to each other; the second face comprising strands disposed parallel to each other and at an angle other than 90 degrees to the strands on the first face.

1 . A mesh screen capable of providing a barrier for protecting a drainage gutter from ingress of debris; 
 the screen comprising a generally planar sheet of mesh having a first face and a second opposite face; wherein, the first face comprises strands disposed parallel to each other; the second face comprising strands disposed parallel to each other and at an angle other than 90 degrees to the strands on the first face.    
   
   
       2 . A mesh screen according to  claim 1  wherein, the strands comprising the first face form a first layer and the strands comprising the second face form a second layer of the mesh screen.  
   
   
       3 . A mesh screen according to  claim 2  wherein the second layer lies above the first layer and provides said first face.  
   
   
       4 . A mesh screen according to  claim 3  wherein the first layer of strands lie along an X axis of X-Y orthogonal axes and the strands of the second layer lie at an angle to the Y axis of the orthogonal axes.  
   
   
       5 . A mesh screen according to  claim 4  wherein the strands in the first layer are spaced apart and equidistant.  
   
   
       6 . A mesh screen according to  claim 5  wherein, the strands on the second layer are spaced apart and equidistant.  
   
   
       7 . A mesh according to  claim 6  wherein, two strands on said first layer and two strands on said second layer together define an aperture shaped as a parallelogram.  
   
   
       8 . A mesh screen according to  claim 7  wherein the mesh has a plurality of parallelogram shaped apertures formed by said strands.  
   
   
       9 . A mesh screen according to  claim 8  wherein the strands on the first layer and the strands on the second layer are disposed at an acute angle to each other within the range of 30-70 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . A mesh screen according to  claim 9  wherein the second layer of strands are ovoid in cross section.  
   
   
       11 . A mesh screen according to  claim 10  wherein, the screen is fitted over a gutter between a roof edge and a lip of the gutter.  
   
   
       12 . A mesh screen according to  claim 11  wherein a distance traversed by each strand of said second layer between the roof edge and the lip of the gutter is greater than the shortest distance between the roof edge and lip of the gutter.  
   
   
       13 . A mesh according to  claim 12  wherein, runoff from the roof adopts a path along said strands of said second layer and drops though said apertures at any location along the distance defined by said strands of said second layer of said mesh.  
   
   
       14 . A mesh screen according to  claim 13  wherein the strands in the second layer are disposed at an angle other than 90 degrees to a line defined by the lip of the roof edge.  
   
   
       15 . A mesh screen according to  claim 14  wherein the strands have a cross section which provides a damming effect on water runoff to ensure that water is inhibited or prevented from mounting the strands of said upper surface thereby enabling it to drop into the apertures.  
   
   
       16 . A mesh screen according to  claim 1  wherein the strands are ovoid in cross section.  
   
   
       17 . A mesh screen for providing barrier protection of a draining gutter from sticks, leaf litter, debris and the like, the screen comprising a generally planar length of mesh having a first face and a second face; wherein the first face is an outside face facing away from the gutter and comprising an array of strands disposed parallel to each other but at an angle other than normal to a longitudinal axis of said gutter; the second inner face opposing the gutter and comprising an array of strands disposed parallel to each other and also parallel to said longitudinal axis of said gutter; such that the strands on the first face and the strands on the second face are disposed at an angle to each other than 90 degrees defining a plurality of parallelogram shaped apertures, wherein, the strands on the upper face deflect run off water along a path which is longer than a path normal to said longitudinal axis of said gutter, thereby allowing water to drop through apertures in said mesh screen anywhere along the length of the angled strands.  
   
   
       18 . A mesh screen for providing barrier protection for a gutter to prevent entry of objects such as leaf litter sticks branches and the like into the gutter, the mesh screen comprising an array of parallel spaced apart strands disposed in a first direction and an array of parallel strands disposed in a second direction; characterized in that the strands define an array of parallelogram shaped apertures which allow water to flow therethrough.  
   
   
       19 . A mesh screen according to  claim 18  wherein a first layer of strands are disposed in a longitudinal direction and a second layer of strands are disposed at an angle to said first layer of strands between 20-60 degrees.  
   
   
       20 . A mesh screen according to  claim 19  wherein the strands are ovoid in cross section.  
   
   
       21 . A method for providing barrier protection for a gutter to prevent entry of objects such as leaf litter sticks branches and the like, into the gutter, wherein the barrier protection comprises a mesh screen, the screen comprising: a generally planar length of mesh having a first face and a second face; wherein the first face is an outside face comprising an array of strands disposed parallel to each other but at an angle other than normal to a longitudinal axis of said gutter; the second face comprising an array of strands disposed parallel to each other and also parallel to said longitudinal axis of said gutter; wherein the strands on the upper face deflect run off water along a path defined by the strands on the first face and which is longer than a path normal to said longitudinal axis of said gutter, thereby allowing water to drop through parallelogram shaped apertures in said mesh screen anywhere along the length of the angled upper strands. 
 the method comprising the steps of;    a) placing the mesh screen over an open face of a gutter such that a first edge of the mesh engages a lip of the gutter and a second edge engages a roof structure;    b) securing the screen to said gutter and said roof structure.    
   
   
       22 . A mesh screen according to  claim 1  wherein the strands are either made from the same or two different materials.  
   
   
       23 . A mesh screen according to  claim 22  wherein, the strands on the first layer are made from a first plastics material and the strands on the second layer are made from a second plastics material.  
   
   
       24 . A mesh screen according to  claim 23  wherein the strands thickness falls within the range 0.5-3 mm.  
   
   
       25 . A mesh screen according to  claim 24  wherein the strands spacing falls within the range 3-9 mm.