Rain gutter devices

Abstract

Gutter devices for keeping debris out of a gutter are disclosed.

1 . A gutter protection device comprising: 
 an upper portion;    a substantially flat middle portion disposed adjacent to the upper portion, the middle portion including a first plurality of openings; and    a lower portion disposed adjacent to the middle portion, opposite the upper portion, the lower portion including a first bend;    a second plurality of openings in the lower portion; and    an engagement portion to engage a lip of the gutter.    
   
   
       2 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the first plurality of openings is different than the configuration of the second plurality of openings.  
   
   
       3 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a second bend at an angle selected according to a pitch of a roof proximate to which the gutter protection device is to be installed.  
   
   
       4 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion, the middle portion and the lower portion are sized so that a part of the upper portion may be inserted under a lowest row of shingles of the roof.  
   
   
       5 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is sized, and the lower portion is shaped, so that the lower portion rests on a lip of the gutter.  
   
   
       6 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are substantially vertical.  
   
   
       7 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the gutter protection device is of unitary construction.  
   
   
       8 . The gutter protection device of  claim 7 , wherein the engagement portion includes a plurality of clip segments to engage a lip of the gutter above and below the lip.  
   
   
       9 . A gutter protection device comprising: 
 a first surface;    a first plurality of openings in the first surface;    a second surface;    a second plurality of openings in the second surface;    wherein the configuration of the first plurality of openings is different than the configuration of the second plurality of openings.    
   
   
       10 . The gutter protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second surfaces are not co-planar.  
   
   
       11 . The gutter protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second surface form an angle less than 90 degrees.  
   
   
       12 . The gutter protection device of  claim 9 , further comprising an engagement surface configured to engage a lip of a gutter.  
   
   
       13 . A gutter protection device comprising: 
 a first portion for insertion under shingles of a roof; and    a second portion to engage a lip of a gutter, the second portion including a plurality of clip segments; wherein    the first and the second portion are of unitary construction.    
   
   
       14 . The gutter protection device of  claim 13 , wherein the engagement portion is sized and configured to engage the lip above and below the lip.  
   
   
       15 . A method of keeping debris from a gutter, comprising steps of: 
 (a) installing a gutter protection device so that a portion of the device engages a lip of the gutter;    (b) permitting water to enter, while keeping debris from, the gutter through a first mode of filtering; and    (c) permitting water to enter, while keeping debris from, the gutter through a second mode of filtering.    
   
   
       17 . The gutter protection device of  claim 15 , wherein the device engages a top of the lip.  
   
   
       18 . The gutter protection device of claim  16 , wherein the device further engages a bottom of the lip.  
   
   
       19 . The gutter protection device of claim  16 , wherein the device further engages a side of the lip.  
   
   
       20 . The gutter protection device of  claim 15 , wherein the device engages a bottom of the lip.