Snap Lock Leaf Guard

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a leaf guard system of interlocking corrugated leaf guards, wherein the corrugated section of the leaf guard provides an air space between a top surface of the leaf guard and any leaves that may come to rest on it. The space created by the corrugated structure helps dry the leaves quickly thus allowing the leaves to blow off the guard quickly, thereby reducing the adhesion of a wet leaves to a flat surface. The leaf guards include tapered drain openings within the corrugated section of the leaf guard that decrease the possibility of water running over the leaf guard and thus not into the gutter.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A leaf guard system configured to attach to a gutter connected to a foundation structure, the leaf guard system comprising:
 a leaf guard including
 a first guard end including a top end, a linear body, and a bottom end, wherein the linear body connects the top end and the bottom end, wherein the top end is positioned generally vertically above the bottom end, wherein the bottom end includes a first guard tab, wherein the first guard tab is configured to attach to the foundation structure; 
 a second guard end including a second guard tab configured to attach to a gutter edge; and 
 a corrugated section connecting the top end of the first guard end to the second guard end, wherein the corrugated section includes a plurality of panels forming a corrugated top surface, wherein at least a portion of the panels include drain openings to permit water to pass through into the gutter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second guard end includes a drip edge extending from the corrugated section, wherein the second guard tab extends from the corrugated section, wherein the drip edge extends above and beyond the second guard tab. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first guard tab is in the same horizontal plane as the second guard tab. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of panels are planar, wherein the plurality of panels form a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of panels include five planar panels, wherein the corrugated section includes at least two peaks and at least two valleys. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the drain openings are tapered. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the corrugated section includes a corrugated bottom surface, wherein each of the drain openings include a top opening on the corrugated top surface and a bottom opening on the corrugated bottom surface, wherein the top opening has a greater surface area than the bottom opening. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the drain openings are included on alternating panels of the plurality of panels. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the leaf guard includes a first side end and a second side end, wherein each of the plurality of panels extend from the first side end to the second side end,
 wherein the first side end includes an alignment tab, 
 wherein the second side end includes a receiver slot configured to receive the alignment tab of a second leaf guard. 
 
     
     
         10 . A leaf guard for use in association with a gutter system comprising:
 a first guard end including a top end that, in use, is positioned at a height above a bottom end;   a second guard end that, in use, is positioned below the height of the top end; and   a segmented section connecting the top end of the first guard end to the second guard end, wherein the segmented section includes a series of adjacently positioned panels, wherein at least two of the adjacently positioned panels include drain openings and are oriented at and angle with respect to each other to form a peak or valley.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the bottom end includes a first guard tab configured to attach to a foundation structure. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the second guard end includes a drip edge and a second guard tab, wherein the second guard tab is configured to attach to a gutter edge, wherein the drip edge extends from the segmented section, wherein the second guard tab extends from the segmented section, wherein the drip edge is positioned above the second guard tab, wherein the drip edge extends beyond the second guard tab. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein each panel is planar. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the segmented section includes five planar panels, wherein the panels form at least two peaks and at least two valleys. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the drain openings are tapered.