Rain gutter devices

Abstract

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

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . 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 the middle portion adjacent to a first bend; and 
 a substantially flat lower portion disposed adjacent to the first bend, opposite the middle portion, 
 and including a second plurality of openings; and 
 an engagement portion to substantially engage a lip of the gutter along the length of the lower portion; and wherein the upper, middle, lower and engagement portions are of unitary construction. 
   
     
     
         22 . The gutter protection device of  claim 21 , wherein the configuration of the first plurality of openings is different than the configuration of the second plurality of openings. 
     
     
         23 . The gutter protection device of  claim 21 , 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 
     
     
         24 . The gutter protection device of  claim 21 , wherein the device is sized, and the engagement portion is shaped, so that the engagement portion rests on a lip of the gutter. 
     
     
         25 . The gutter protection device of  claim 21 , wherein the first plurality of openings are substantially vertical. 
     
     
         26 . The gutter protection device of  claim 21 , wherein the gutter protection device is of unitary construction. 
     
     
         27 . The gutter protection device of  claim 26 , wherein the engagement portion includes a plurality of clip segments to engage a lip of the gutter above and below the lip. 
     
     
         28 . A gutter protection device comprising:
 a first surface;   a first plurality of openings in the first surface;   a second surface of unitary construction with the first surface;   a second plurality of openings in the second surface;   wherein the configuration of the first plurality of openings with respect to the first surface, is different than the configuration of the second plurality of openings with respect to the second surface.   
     
     
         29 . The gutter protection device of  claim 28 , wherein the first and the second surfaces are not co-planar. 
     
     
         30 . The gutter protection device of  claim 28 , wherein the first and the second surface form an angle less than  90  degrees. 
     
     
         31 . The gutter protection device of  claim 28 , further comprising an engagement surface configured to engage a lip of a gutter. 
     
     
         32 . A gutter protection device comprising:
 a first portion for insertion under shingles of a roof and past a fascia board; 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.   
     
     
         33 . The gutter protection device of  claim 32 , wherein the second portion is sized and configured to engage the lip above and below the lip. 
     
     
         34 . A method of keeping debris from a gutter, comprising steps of:
 (a) installing a gutter protection device so that a first portion of the device engages a lip of the gutter and a second portion extends under shingles of a roof and past a fascia board;   (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.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the device engages a top of the lip. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the device further engages a bottom of the lip. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the device further engages a side of the lip. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the device engages a bottom of the lip.