One Piece Gutter with Intergrated Screen

Abstract

An eavestrough ( 10 ) formed from a single piece of material and incorporating a gutter guard ( 38 ) extending across the top of the trough to prevent leaves and other extraneous matter from entering the trough, the eavestrough being secured bu mechanical fasteners ( 60 ).

1 . An eavestrough ( 10 ) formed from a single piece of material, said eavestrough comprising a rear wall ( 16 ), a front wall ( 26 ), and a bottom wall ( 12 ), said rear, front and bottom walls defining a trough therebetween;
 a top wall ( 38 ) extending between said front wall ( 26 ) and said rear wall ( 16 ) to cover said trough, said top wall comprising;   a first top wall section ( 34 ) extending inwardly from an upper end of said front wall ( 26 );   a second top wall section ( 36 ) extending downwardly from said first top wall section ( 34 );   a third top wall section ( 38 ) extending across said trough, said third top wall section having a plurality of apertures ( 40 ) therein to permit water drainage therethrough;   a fourth top wall section ( 42 ,  44 ) extending upwardly alongside an upper portion of said gutter rear wall;   a locking section ( 48 ) extending downwardly from said fourth top wall section rearwardly of said rear wall and engaging said rear wall ( 16 ) in a locking relationship.   
   
   
       2 . The eavestrough of  claim 1  wherein said first top wall section ( 34 ) slopes downwardly from said gutter front wall ( 26 ) to said second top wall section ( 36 ). 
   
   
       3 . The eavestrough of  claim 2  wherein said first top wall section ( 34 ) slopes downwardly at an angle of between 2 and 10° with respect to the horizontal. 
   
   
       4 . The eavestrough of  claim 2  wherein said first top wall section ( 34 ) slopes downwardly at an angle of between 4 and 6° with respect to the horizontal. 
   
   
       5 . The eavestrough of  claim 1  wherein said third top wall section ( 38 ) slopes downwardly from said second top wall section to said fourth top wall section. 
   
   
       6 . The eavestrough of  claim 1  wherein said apertures ( 40 ) are circular. 
   
   
       7 . The eavestrough of  claim 1  wherein said first top wall section ( 34 ) slopes downwardly from an upper end of said gutter front wall ( 26 ) to said second top wall section ( 36 ) and said third top wall section ( 38 ) slopes downwardly with respect to the horizontal from said second top wall section ( 36 ) and said fourth top wall section ( 42 ). 
   
   
       8 . The eavestrough of  claim 1  wherein said rear wall has a recess ( 20 ) formed therein, said locking section ( 48 ) engaging within said recess ( 20 ) to thereby provide said locking relationship. 
   
   
       9 . In a building having an eavestrough ( 10 ) for draining rainwater from a roof and wherein said eavestrough is attached to a fascia of the building, the improvement wherein said eavestrough is formed from a single piece of material secured to said fascia, said eavestrough comprising a rear wall ( 16 ), a front wall ( 26 ), and a bottom wall ( 12 ), said rear, front and bottom walls defining a trough therebetween;
 a top wall ( 38 ) extending between said front wall ( 26 ) and said rear wall ( 16 ) to cover said trough, said top wall comprising;   a first top wall section ( 34 ) extending inwardly from an upper end of said front wall ( 26 );   a second top wall section ( 36 ) extending downwardly from said first top wall section ( 34 );   a third top wall section ( 38 ) extending across said trough, said third top wall section having a plurality of apertures ( 46 ) therein to permit water drainage therethrough;   a fourth top wall section ( 42 ,  44 ) extending upwardly along side and upper portion of said gutter rear wall;   a locking section ( 48 ) extending downwardly from said fourth top wall section rearwardly of said and engaging said rear wall ( 16 ) in a locking relationship.   
   
   
       10 . The improvement of  claim 8  wherein said eavestrough is secured to said fascia by mechanical fastening members ( 60 ) extending through said fourth top wall section ( 42 ) and said gutter rear wall ( 16 ) into said fascia. 
   
   
       11 . The improvement of  claim 10  wherein said mechanical fastening members ( 60 ) comprise screws.