Gutter deflector shield

Abstract

A deflector shield apparatus for rain gutters to prevent leaf and similar debris from entering the trough portion of the gutter. The deflector shield apparatus includes means for mounting the deflector to the gutter and associated building structure to provide improved function of the gutter system and easy installation. The deflector shield comprises a rigid sheet material having a rear portion adapted to be mounted under the outermost row of roof shingles, a central portion extending outward over the gutter, and a forward portion provided with a downturned curve forming a nose disposed over the front lip of the gutter and a reverse curved terminal and extending rearwardly over the trough portion of the gutter. Included in the apparatus is a modified gutter support strap having opposing ends in engagement with the front and rear wall of the gutter and means to connect the rear wall of the gutter to the associated building wall. The support strap also includes a vertically extending flange configured to cooperate with a downwardly extending flange formed on the terminal end of the reversed curved portion of the forward portion of the deflector shield to fix the gutter shield in position yet from a continuous, open space between the forward nose of the deflector and the front lip of the gutter.

1 . A deflector shield assembly adapted for attachment between the outer edge of a sloping roof and an underlying length of a conventional rain gutter to allow water flowing off the roof to enter the rain gutter while deflecting leaf and miscellaneous debris to the ground comprising, in combination; 
 a main body of a substantially rigid sheet material including (a) a generally planar rear portion configured to be mounted under an outermost row of shingles carried by said sloping roof, (b) a central portion extending in a downward slope over an underlying rain gutter, (c) a forward portion provided with a generally downwardly curved outer segment having its most forward extent disposed in a plane above and overlying an outer lip of said underlying gutter and including a rearwardly extending reverse curved portion disposed over a trough portion of said rain gutter and inwardly of said outer lip, said rearwardly extending reverse curved portion provided with a downwardly turned flange and (d) a gutter support member including a base member having opposing ends mounted between a rear and forward wall of said rain gutter and connected to a vertical wall of the structure supporting said roof, said base member including a vertically extending mounting flange spaced rearwardly of the outer lip of said rain gutter and connected to said downturned flange of said forward portion to inhibit vertical movement of said forward portion of said deflector shield relative to said rain gutter.    
   
   
       2 . In combination a rain gutter support strap and a gutter shield adapted to be affixed between the forward edge of a sloping roof and to an underling gutter having a trough for receiving rain water, said trough defined between a front and rear wall of said gutter, said support strap including a generally planar rigid strip having horizontally opposed ends in force-transmitting engagement between said front and rear walls of said gutter, a fastener extending through a first vertically extending, rearwardly disposed bracket fixed to said strap and the rear wall of said gutter and connected to an outside wall of a structure supporting said sloping roof, said strip including a vertically extending inverted V or U-shaped flange having a forwardly facing opening disposed near, but spaced from said front wall of said gutter; 
 a debris shield comprising an integrally formed, rigid, sheet material having a predetermined length and width and including a rearward generally planar portion configured to be fixedly received in parallel extending relationship to a forwardly disposed row of shingles conventionally disposed on said roof, a central portion extending outward over said trough of said gutter, and a forward portion including a generally reverse curved section having its most forwardly disposed extent in vertical spaced relationship over at least a portion of an outer lip of said front wall of said rain gutter and its rearwardly disposed extent terminating in an upwardly facing V or U-shape flange disposed in slideably mated relationship with the downwardly facing V or U-shaped flange of said support strap to limit vertical movement of said debris shield relative to said gutter.