Cover with drip edge channel

Abstract

A protective device for use with a gutter to prevent entrance of extraneous matter therein, the gutter having a rear wall, a front wall and a bottom wall which together define an open trough therebetween and wherein the gutter rear wall is designed to be located adjacent to a facia of a building, the protective device having a foraminous planar portion with first and second longitudinally extending sides, the first longitudinally extending side designed to be adjacent the gutter rear wall and having a downwardly extending U-shaped cavity, the cavity being defined by a cavity inner wall and a cavity outer wall, at least one of the cavity walls having apertures therein to permit fluid flow therethrough, and a second longitudinally extending side of the foraminous portion being designed to lie adjacent the gutter front wall.

1 . A protective device for use with a gutter which has a gutter rear wall, a gutter front wall, and a gutter bottom wall, said walls defining an open top and wherein said gutter rear wall is designed to be located adjacent to a facia of a building, said protective device comprising: 
 a foraminous planar portion having first and second longitudinally extending sides;    said first longitudinally extending side designed to be adjacent said gutter rear wall, said first longitudinally extending side having a downwardly extending U-shaped cavity defined by a cavity inner wall and a cavity outer wall, at least one of said cavity outer and inner walls having apertures therein to permit fluid flow therethrough; and    said second longitudinally extending side designed to be adjacent said gutter front wall.    
   
   
       2 . The protective device of  claim 1  wherein said first longitudinally extending side has an upwardly extending segment connected to an upper marginal edge of said cavity inner wall.  
   
   
       3 . The protective device of  claim 2  further including a downwardly extending segment connected to said upwardly extending segment to thereby extend over said gutter rear wall.  
   
   
       4 . The protective device of  claim 3  wherein said second longitudinally extending side of said planar portion has an inwardly extending portion designed to engage a recess in said gutter.  
   
   
       5 . The protective device of  claim 4  wherein said inwardly extending portion comprises a first segment extending upwardly and rearwardly to form an acute angle with said substantially planar portion, said first segment merging with a second segment lying adjacent thereto.  
   
   
       6 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein said foraminous planar portion has a plurality of generally circular apertures, said apertures being arranged in diagonal rows extending between said first and second longitudinally extending sides.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said apertures have a diameter of between 3.0 and 4.0 millimeters.  
   
   
       8 . In a building having a gutter for collecting water, the gutter having a rear wall, a front wall and a bottom wall, said walls defining an open trough therebetween, said gutter also having a top wall portion extending inwardly from an upper marginal edge of said front wall, and a downwardly extending flange from a distal end of said top wall, said front wall, said top wall and said flange defining a recess therebetween; 
 the improvement comprising a protective device, said protective device having a foraminous planar portion with first and second longitudinally extending sides;    said first longitudinally extending side lying adjacent said gutter rear wall, said first longitudinally extending side having a downwardly extending U-shaped cavity defined by a cavity inner wall and a cavity outer wall, at least one of said cavity inner and outer walls having apertures therein to permit fluid flow therethrough; and    said second longitudinally extending side lying adjacent said gutter front wall.    
   
   
       9 . The improvement of  claim 8  wherein said first longitudinally extending side has an upwardly extending segment connected to an upper marginal edge of said cavity inner wall, a second downwardly extending segment connected to a distal end of said upwardly extending segment, said downwardly extending segment lying exterior of said gutter rear wall.  
   
   
       10 . The improvement of  claim 9  wherein said second longitudinally extending side of said planer portion has an inwardly extending portion designed to engage said recess in said gutter.  
   
   
       11 . In combination, a gutter and a protective device, said gutter comprising a gutter front wall and a gutter bottom wall, said walls defining an open top wherein said gutter rear wall lies adjacent a building facia; 
 said protective device comprising a foraminous planar portion having first and second longitudinally extending sides;    said first longitudinally extending side lying adjacent said gutter rear wall, said first longitudinally extending side having a downwardly extending U-shaped cavity defined by a cavity inner wall and a cavity outer wall, at least one of said cavity inner and outer walls having apertures therein to permit fluid to flow therethrough; and    said second longitudinally extending side lying adjacent said gutter front wall.    
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said first longitudinally extending side has an upwardly extending segment connected to an upper marginal edge of said cavity inner wall, and a second downwardly extending segment connected to a distal end of said upwardly extending segment, said downwardly extending segment lying exteriorly of said gutter rear wall.  
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein said gutter further includes a top wall portion extending inwardly from an upper marginal edge of said gutter front wall, and a downwardly extending flange from a distal end of said top wall, said front wall, said top wall and said flange defining a recess therebetween, said second longitudinally extending side of said foraminous planar portion having an inwardly extending portion designed to engage said recess in said gutter.