Rain gutter devices

Abstract

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

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . 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; and   a lower portion disposed adjacent to the middle portion, opposite the upper portion, the lower portion including a first bend;   a second plurality of openings in the lower portion; and   an engagement portion to engage a lip of the gutter.   
     
     
         2 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the first plurality of openings is different than the configuration of the second plurality of openings. 
     
     
         3 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a second bend at an angle selected according to a pitch of a roof proximate to which the gutter protection device is to be installed. 
     
     
         4 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         5 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is sized, and the lower portion is shaped, so that the lower portion rests on a lip of the gutter. 
     
     
         6 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are substantially vertical. 
     
     
         7 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the gutter protection device is of unitary construction. 
     
     
         8 . The gutter protection device of  claim 7 , wherein the engagement portion includes a plurality of clip segments to engage a lip of the gutter above and below the lip. 
     
     
         9 . A gutter protection device comprising:
 a first surface;   a first plurality of openings in the first surface;   a second surface;   a second plurality of openings in the second surface;   wherein the configuration of the first plurality of openings is different than the configuration of the second plurality of openings.   
     
     
         10 . The gutter protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second surfaces are not co-planar. 
     
     
         11 . The gutter protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second surface form an angle less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The gutter protection device of  claim 9 , further comprising an engagement surface configured to engage a lip of a gutter. 
     
     
         13 . A gutter protection device comprising:
 a first portion for insertion under shingles of a roof; 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.   
     
     
         14 . The gutter protection device of  claim 13 , wherein the engagement portion is sized and configured to engage the lip above and below the lip. 
     
     
         15 . A method of keeping debris from a gutter, comprising steps of:
 (a) installing a gutter protection device so that a portion of the device engages a lip of the gutter;   (b) permitting water o 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.   
     
     
         17 . The gutter protection device of  claim 15 , wherein the device engages a top of the lip. 
     
     
         18 . The gutter protection device of claim  16 , wherein the device further engages a bottom of the lip. 
     
     
         19 . The gutter protection device of claim  16 , wherein the device further engages a side of the lip. 
     
     
         20 . The gutter protection device of  claim 15 , wherein the device engages a bottom of the lip.