Adjustable hood system for rain gutters

Abstract

An adjustable hood system for rain gutters has a flat roof section, a hood section rotably connected to the roof section, and fastening members that rotably connect to the hood section. The fastening members mount on the front lip of a rain gutter while the roof section integrates with the roof. Relative rotation of the roof section, hood section and fastening members permits the hood system to be mounted on roofs with any slope and pitched rain gutters at any level relative to the roof.

1 . An adjustable hood system for an open trough rain gutter having a forward end and a back wall attached to an eave of a roof having a slope, comprising: 
 a roof section having a generally flat portion connected to a front end,    a hood section having a rearward end, a generally flat first portion extending forwardly from said back edge, a curved second portion that extends forwardly and downwardly from said first portion, and then downwardly and rearwardly, and a forward end extending from said second portion opposite said first portion, said rearward end being rotably connected to said front end of said roof section, and    a plurality of spaced fastening members for mounting on said forward edge of said rain gutter, said fastening members and said forward end of said hood section being rotably connected,    whereby said roof section is adjustable to said slope of said roof and capable of being integrated into said roof, and said hood section is adjustable to a pitch of said rain gutter and a level of said rain gutter relative to said roof.    
   
   
       2 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said front end of said roof section and said rearward end of said hood section form a mechanical first joint.  
   
   
       3 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first joint is substantially impermeable to water.  
   
   
       4 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said front end of said roof section and said rearward end of said hood section interfit.  
   
   
       5 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said front end of said roof section and said rearward end of said hood section each have an upwardly opening, partial cylindrical shape that curves around a circular arc of more than 180 degrees, said rearward end of said hood section being sized to fit within said front end of said roof section to rotably connect said rearward end of said hood section to said front end of said roof section.  
   
   
       6 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said forward end of said hood section and each said fastening member form a mechanical second joint.  
   
   
       7 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said forward end of said hood section and each said fastening member interfit.  
   
   
       8 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each said fastening member has a gutter slot for mounting said fastening member on said forward end of said rain gutter and a hood groove for receiving said forward end of said hood section.  
   
   
       9 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said forward end of said hood section has an upwardly opening, partial cylindrical shape that curves around a circular arc of more than 180 degrees, and said hood groove has an upwardly opening, partial cylindrical shape that curves around a circular arc of more than 180 degrees and is sized to receive said forward end of said hood section to form a cylinder-in-cylinder second joint.  
   
   
       10 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said hood groove is positioned behind said gutter slot to position said forward end of said hood section behind said forward end of said rain gutter.  
   
   
       11 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said roof section is divided into a plurality of roof section segments with adjacent said roof section segments abutting along roof section segment seams.  
   
   
       12 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said hood section is divided into a plurality of hood section segments with adjacent said hood section segments abutting along hood section segment seams.  
   
   
       13 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein roof section segment seams are offset relative to said hood section segment seams.  
   
   
       14 . The hood system as set forth in  claim 10  including storm clips at said roof section segment seams, said storm clips having a base for mounting on said roof, and first and second tabs spaced above said base, said first and second tabs extending in opposite directions from said roof section segment seam such that said first tab extends over and holds down one of an adjacent pair of roof section segments and said second tab extends over and holds down the other of said adjacent pair of roof section segments.  
   
   
       15 . An adjustable hood system for an open trough rain gutter having a forward end and a back wall attached to an eave of a roof having a slope, comprising: 
 a roof section having a generally flat portion connected to a front end, said front end having an upwardly opening, partial cylindrical shape that curves around a circular arc of more than 180 degrees,    a hood section having a rearward end, a generally flat first portion extending forwardly from said back edge, a curved second portion that extends forwardly and downwardly from said first portion, and then downwardly and rearwardly, and a forward end extending from said second portion opposite said first portion, said rearward end having an upwardly opening, partial cylindrical shape that curves around a circular arc of more than 180 degrees, said rearward end being sized to fit within said front end of said roof section to form a mechanical first joint with said front end of said roof section to rotably connect said rearward end of said hood section to said front end of said roof section, said forward end having an upwardly opening, partial cylindrical shape that curves around a circular arc of more than 180 degrees, and    a plurality of spaced fastening members having a gutter slot for mounting said fastening member on said forward end of said rain gutter and a hood groove for receiving said forward end of said hood section, said hood groove having an upwardly opening, partial cylindrical shape that curves around a circular arc of more than 180 degrees and being sized to receive said forward end of said hood section to form a cylinder-in-cylinder second joint with said forward end of said hood section to rotably connect said fastening members and said forward end of said hood section, said hood groove being positioned behind said gutter slot to position said forward end of said hood section behind said forward end of said rain gutter,    whereby said roof section is adjustable to said slope of said roof and capable of being integrated into said roof, and said hood section is adjustable to a pitch of said rain gutter and a level of said rain gutter relative to said roof.