Method of Installing a Metal Gutter Cover

Abstract

A gutter cover is formed through expanded metal manufacturing techniques to create alternating areas of solid metal and diamond-shaped openings to facilitate the shedding of leaves while passing water into the gutter. The gutter cover is mounted without fasteners by securing a hook portion underneath the front lip of the gutter and arcing the body portion of the gutter cover to press the rearward drip foot against the gutter and the drip hip adjacent to the fascia board into a pressure fit. The length of the gutter cover from the rearward edge to the front end being slightly longer than the corresponding length of the gutter structure. The gutter cover includes an integral drip leg projecting downwardly from the drip hip and being formed with an area of expanded metal diamond-shaped apertures to direct water into the gutter trough. A front drip lip directs water away from the gutter face.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of installing a gutter cover on a gutter attached to a building structure along a building roof line to collect water discharged off said roof line, said gutter having a trough defined by front and rear upright walls, said front upright wall terminating in a front lip portion, said gutter being supported on at least one hanger member secured to said rear wall, comprising the steps of:
 engaging a rear portion of said gutter cover against said building structure;   bowing said gutter cover, having a longitudinal width dimension longer than a corresponding longitudinal width dimension of said gutter, until a hook member formed in a front portion of said gutter cover can pass behind said front lip portion; and   pressing down on a central body portion of said gutter cover to engage said hook member with said front lip portion to trap said hook member on said front lip portion and create a pressure fit of said gutter cover on said gutter.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said rear portion of said gutter cover includes a drip leg bent downwardly from said central body portion toward said trough to define a drip hip at a bend between said central body portion and said drip leg, said drip leg terminating in a drip foot bent from said drip leg and being directed rearwardly away from said front portion, said method including the steps of:
 placing said drip hip against said building structure; and 
 lowering said front end of said gutter cover until said drip foot engages said at least one hanger member, said pressing step urging said drip foot against said hanger member. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said drip leg is formed with a transversely extending area of expanded metal openings located between said drip foot and said drip hip. 
     
     
         21 . A method of installing a gutter cover on a gutter attached to a building structure along a building roof line to collect water discharged off said roof line, said gutter having a trough defined by front and rear upright walls, said front upright wall terminating in a front lip portion, said gutter being supported on at least one hanger member secured to said rear wall, comprising the steps of:
 pressure fitting said gutter cover between said rear upright wall and said front lip on said front upright wall to secure said gutter cover with a spring force urging said gutter cover into engagement with said front lip.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said pressure fitting step comprises the steps of:
 engaging a rear portion of said gutter cover against said rear upright wall; 
 bowing said gutter cover, having a longitudinal width dimension longer than a corresponding longitudinal width dimension of said gutter, until a hook member formed in a front portion of said gutter cover can pass behind said front lip portion; and 
 pressing down on a central body portion of said gutter cover to engage said hook member with said front lip portion to trap said hook member on said front lip portion. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said rear portion of said gutter cover includes a drip leg bent downwardly from said central body portion toward said trough, said drip leg deflecting during said bowing step to create said spring force. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the bend between said drip leg and said central body portion defines a drip hip, said drip hip terminating in a drip foot bent from said drip leg and being directed rearwardly away from said front portion, said engaging step including the steps of:
 placing said drip hip against said rear upright wall; and 
 lowering said front end of said gutter cover until said drip foot engages said at least one hanger member, said pressing step urging said drip foot against said hanger member. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said drip leg is formed with a transversely extending area of expanded metal openings located between said drip foot and said drip hip. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said gutter cover is mounted on said gutter without requiring the use of fasteners interengaging said hook member and said front lip portion. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said hook member has a bent shape that overlies said front lip and terminates in a front drip lip, said front drip lip projecting past said front upright wall of said gutter, said hook member capturing said front lip. 
     
     
         28 . A method of installing a gutter cover on a gutter attached to a building structure along a building roof line to collect water discharged off said roof line, said gutter having a trough defined by front and rear upright walls, said front upright wall terminating in a front lip portion, said gutter being supported on at least one hanger member secured to said rear wall, comprising the steps of:
 capturing said gutter cover between said rear upright wall and said front lip on said front upright wall with a spring force exerted by said gutter cover to secure said gutter cover into engagement with said front lip without requiring fasteners interengaging said gutter cover and said front lip.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said capturing step comprises the steps of:
 engaging a rear portion of said gutter cover against said rear upright wall; 
 bowing said gutter cover, having a longitudinal width dimension longer than a corresponding longitudinal width dimension of said gutter, until a hook member formed in a front portion of said gutter cover can pass behind said front lip portion; and 
 pressing down on a central body portion of said gutter cover to engage said hook member with said front lip portion to trap said hook member on said front lip portion. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said rear portion of said gutter cover includes a drip leg bent downwardly from said central body portion toward said trough, said drip leg deflecting during said bowing step to create said spring force. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the bend between said drip leg and said central body portion defines a drip hip, said drip hip terminating in a drip foot bent from said drip leg and being directed rearwardly away from said front portion, said engaging step including the steps of:
 placing said drip hip against said rear upright wall; and 
 lowering said front end of said gutter cover until said drip foot engages said at least one hanger member, said pressing step urging said drip foot against said hanger member. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said drip leg is formed with a transversely extending area of expanded metal openings located between said drip foot and said drip hip. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein said hook member has a bent shape that overlies said front lip and terminates in a front drip lip, said front drip lip projecting past said front upright wall of said gutter.