Self-Supporting Bi-Directional Corrugated Mesh Leaf Preclusion Device

Abstract

A roof gutter for the purpose of keeping small debris out of the gutter and allowing rainwater to pass into the gutter. The covering is comprised of a water permeable, weather resistant mesh having apertures of a pre-determined size for passing water, the mesh sized to substantially cover a rain gutter; corrugations formed in the mesh, providing a planar stiffness to the mesh causing the mesh to be self-supporting over a gutter; a debris collection first trough disposed along a longitudinal axis of the mesh, formed by making at least two bends in the mesh, the first trough located between a longitudinal midline of the mesh and a front gutter end of the mesh, wherein the gutter debris preclusion device, when attached directly or indirectly to a gutter does not require a separate support mechanism to keep the mesh substantially planar over the gutter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gutter debris preclusion device for securing to a top portion of a roof gutter that is attached to a building for keeping leaves and other debris out of the roof gutter, comprising:
 a water permeable, weather resistant mesh having apertures of a pre-determined size for passing water, the mesh sized to substantially cover a rain gutter;   corrugations formed in the mesh, providing a planar stiffness to the mesh causing the mesh to be self-supporting over a gutter extend on a portion of the mesh; and   a debris collection first trough disposed along a longitudinal axis of the mesh, formed by making at least two bends in the mesh, the first trough located between a longitudinal midline of the mesh and a front gutter end of the mesh,   wherein the gutter debris preclusion device, when attached to a gutter does not require a separate support mechanism to keep the mesh substantially planar over the gutter and wherein the corrugations extend within the first trough.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh is formed from stainless steel wires, plastic, expanded metal, perforated metal, slotted metal or louvered metal. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugations are arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal midline of the mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugations in the mesh are formed via at least one of stamping, pressing, and weaving. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front strip connector adapted to connect the front gutter end of the mesh to a front of a gutter; and   a rear strip connector adapted to connect a rear gutter end of the mesh to either a rear of the gutter or a roof element neighboring the gutter.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the trough is displaced up to 1.5″ from the front strip connector. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the trough is displaced up to 0.25″ from the front strip connector. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the trough includes a cross-section shape that is one of V-shaped, U-shaped, and laterally oriented L-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of troughs. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a lowest-most point of the trough is below an interior edge of a front of the gutter. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugations span from a rear gutter end of the mesh to a first bend in the trough. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugations span from a rear gutter end of the mesh to a second bend in the trough. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugations span from a rear gutter end of the mesh to a third bend in the trough. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugations do not extend in the trough. 
     
     
         15 . A gutter debris preclusion device for a roof gutter having a gutter lip for keeping leaves and other debris out of the roof gutter while allowing water to pass thereinto, comprising:
 a sheet of fine mesh; the sheet of fine mesh having an upper edge adapted to be located above a lower edge and with the sheet of fine mesh overlying the roof gutter; the sheet of fine mesh including a plurality of corrugations extending at least part of the way from said upper edge to said lower edge;   a first trough disposed in the sheet of fine mesh along a longitudinal axis of the sheet of fine mesh; and,   wherein said lower edge being adjacent the gutter lip when the system is in use, wherein the water is allowed to pass through the sheet of fine mesh into the roof gutter, and wherein at least one of the corrugations extends from at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge.   
     
     
         16 . A gutter debris preclusion device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of corrugations extends through the first trough. 
     
     
         17 . A gutter debris preclusion device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of corrugations extends partially through the first trough. 
     
     
         18 . A gutter debris preclusion device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of corrugations extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheet of fine mesh. 
     
     
         19 . A gutter debris preclusion device as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a second trough disposed in the sheet of fine mesh along a longitudinal axis of the sheet of fine mesh. 
     
     
         20 . A gutter debris preclusion device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first trough is disposed in the sheet of fine mesh to be disposed within the gutter when the device is in use.