Gutter screen with water tension breaker

Abstract

A gutter screen system minimizes water film runoff and debris collection adjacent an outfitted border region. The gutter screen system comprises at least one water tension-breaking, debris-directing member cooperatively associated with a water film-supporting gutter screen. The tension-breaking, debris-directing member comprises a superior breaker edge that extends upwardly adjacent the gutter screen and is designed to break the water tension of a water film formed upon the gutter screen. The superior breaker edge is of minimized height so as to allow bulky debris to translate over the superior breaker edge. It is thus contemplated that the superior breaker edge functions to allow water to more properly permeate through the gutter screen.

1 . A gutter screen assembly for minimizing water runoff and debris collection adjacent a gutter, the gutter comprising a roof-engaging portion and a gutter rim portion, the roof-engaging portion being affixed adjacent a roof border region, the gutter screen assembly comprising, in combination: 
 a gutter screen, the gutter screen comprising a roof-engaging edge, a gutter-engaging edge, two latitudinally-opposed screen edges, a plurality of longitudinally-aligned ribs extending from the roof-engaging edge to the gutter-engaging edge, and a plurality of latitudinally-aligned ribs extending intermediate the latitudinally-opposed screen edges, the longitudinally-aligned ribs intersecting with the latitudinally-aligned ribs thus forming a series of intersection points, the longitudinally-aligned ribs, the latitudinally-aligned ribs and the intersection points defining a substantially planar water-accepting grid; and    at least one latitudinally-aligned water tension breaker, the water tension breaker comprising a raised tension-breaking member intermediate the latitudinally-opposed screen edges, the tension breaking member being cooperatively associated with the water-accepting grid for breaking the water surface tension of a water film formed upon the gutter screen thus allowing water to permeate through the water-accepting grid into the gutter.    
   
   
       2 . The gutter screen assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one tension-breaking member lies in a select breaker plane, the select breaker plane being selected from the group consisting of a vertical breaker plane and an orthogonal breaker plane, the orthogonal breaker plane being orthogonal to the water-accepting grid.  
   
   
       3 . The gutter screen assembly of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinally-aligned ribs have a substantially uniform latitudinal distance therebetween and the latitudinally-aligned ribs have a substantially uniform longitudinal distance therebetween, the latitudinal distance ranging from a dimension greater than 0 millimeters to about 5 millimeters, the longitudinal distance ranging from a dimension greater than 0 millimeters to about 1.75 millimeters, the longitudinal and latitudinal distances for enhancing film formability and debris filtering adjacent the gutter screen.  
   
   
       4 . The gutter screen assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one tension-breaking member has a measurable vertical dimension, the measurable vertical dimension being selected from a breaker dimension range, the breaker dimension range ranging from about 2 millimeters to about 6 millimeters.  
   
   
       5 . The gutter screen assembly of  claim 4  wherein the measurable vertical dimension measures about 3 millimeters.  
   
   
       6 . The gutter screen assembly of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of water tension breakers, the water tension breakers being staggered upon the water-accepting grid.  
   
   
       7 . The gutter screen assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one tension-breaking member is integrally formed with at least one latitudinally-aligned rib.  
   
   
       8 . In combination, water tension-breaking means cooperatively associated with a gutter screen, the water tension-breaking means for minimizing water runoff and debris collection adjacent a roof border region, the gutter screen comprising a substantially planar water-accepting region, the water tension-breaking means and the gutter screen being cooperatively affixed adjacent the roof border region, the water tension-breaking means comprising at least one raised tension-breaking, debris-directing member, the tension-breaking, debris-directing member being cooperatively associated with the water-accepting region for breaking the water surface tension of a water film formed upon the gutter screen and for directing debris away from the roof border region, the tension-breaking, debris-directing member thus allowing debris-filtered water to permeate through the water-accepting region adjacent the roof border region thus minimizing water runoff and debris collection adjacent the roof border region.  
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein at least one tension-breaking, debris-directing member lies in a select breaker plane, the select breaker plane being selected from the group consisting of a vertical breaker plane and an orthogonal breaker plane, the orthogonal breaker plane being orthogonal to the water-accepting region.  
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein the water-accepting region comprises a plurality of intersecting ribs forming a series of intersection points, the intersecting ribs and the intersection points defining a substantially planar water-accepting grid, the water-accepting grid comprising a plurality of apertures, each aperture having a maximum expanse less than about 5 millimeters, the maximum expanses for enhancing film formability and debris filtering adjacent the gutter screen.  
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein at least one tension-breaking, debris-directing member has a measurable vertical dimension, the measurable vertical dimension being selected from a breaker dimension range, the breaker dimension range ranging from about 2 millimeters to about 6 millimeters.  
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the measurable vertical dimension measures about 3 millimeters.  
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 8  comprising a plurality of tension-breaking, debris-directing members, the tension-breaking, debris-directing members being staggered upon the water-accepting region.  
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein at least one tension-breaking, debris-directing member is integrally formed with at least one rib.  
   
   
       15 . A gutter screen system for minimizing water runoff and debris collection adjacent an outfitted roof border region, the gutter screen system comprising a gutter and a screen assembly, the screen assembly comprising a roof-engaging portion and a gutter rim portion, the gutter and the roof-engaging portion being cooperatively affixed adjacent a roof border region, the screen assembly comprising a gutter screen and at least one raised tension-breaking member, the gutter screen comprising a plurality of intersecting ribs forming a series of intersection points, the intersecting ribs and the intersection points defining a substantially planar water-accepting grid, the raised tension-breaking member being cooperatively associated with the water-accepting grid for breaking the water surface tension of a water film formed upon the gutter screen thus allowing water to permeate through the water-accepting grid into the gutter.  
   
   
       16 . The gutter screen system of  claim 15  wherein at least one tension-breaking member lies in a select breaker plane, the select breaker plane being selected from the group consisting of a vertical breaker plane and an orthogonal breaker plane, the orthogonal breaker plane being orthogonal to the water-accepting grid.  
   
   
       17 . The water tension breaker of  claim 15  wherein at least one tension-breaking member has a measurable vertical dimension, the measurable vertical dimension being selected from a breaker dimension range, the breaker dimension range ranging from about 2 millimeters to about 6 millimeters.  
   
   
       18 . The water tension breaker of  claim 17  wherein the measurable vertical dimension measures about 3 millimeters.  
   
   
       19 . The water tension breaker of  claim 15  comprising a plurality of tension-breaking members, the tension-breaking members being cooperatively staggered upon the water-accepting grid.  
   
   
       20 . The water tension breaker of  claim 15  wherein at least one tension-breaking member is integrally formed with at least one rib.