Gutter protection device and gutter system

Abstract

A gutter protection device is engageable with a gutter. The gutter includes a front wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall defining a trough, and the front wall having an upper rim defining an inward recess. The gutter protection device has a front portion, a single plate central portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal median line, the front portion being configured to contact the front wall of the gutter, the gutter protection device including, solely in the front portion thereof and forwardly from the longitudinal median line, a lower perforated section vertically spaced-apart from the single plate central portion and extending forwardly thereof and an upper perforated plate extending above the lower perforated section and being spaced-apart therefrom to define a water draining chamber in between when the gutter protection device is engaged with the gutter. The gutter protection device may be part of a gutter assembly.

1 . A gutter protection device engageable with a gutter, the gutter including a front wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall defining a trough, the gutter protection device comprising:
 a front portion, a single plate central portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal median line, the front portion and the rear portion being respectively engageable with the front wall and the rear wall of the gutter;   a lower perforated section, extending solely in the front portion thereof and forwardly of the longitudinal median line, vertically spaced-apart from the single plate central portion, and   an upper perforated plate extending above the lower perforated section and being spaced-apart therefrom to define a water draining chamber inbetween when the gutter protection device is engaged with the gutter.   
     
     
         2 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower perforated section defines at least partially a recess rearwardly of the front wall of the gutter, when the gutter protection device is engaged therewith. 
     
     
         3 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall of the gutter further comprises an upper rim and a downwardly frontwardly extending flange extending from the upper rim to form a hook portion therewith, and the upper perforated plate comprises a free end insertable under and biasable against the downwardly frontwardly extending flange. 
     
     
         4 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall of the gutter further comprises an upper rim and a downwardly frontwardly extending flange extending from the upper rim to form a hook portion therewith, and the front portion comprises, at a front end thereof, an upwardly extending segment projecting upwardly from the lower perforated section and an upper segment projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the upwardly extending segment, the upper segment being configured to engage with the hook portion of the front portion of the gutter protection device, and the upper perforated plate comprising a free end insertable under and biasable against the downwardly frontwardly extending flange. 
     
     
         5 . The gutter protection device of  claim 3 , wherein when the free end of the upper perforated plate is inserted under the downwardly frontwardly extending flange, the upper perforated plate defines a downwardly frontwardly oriented slope to direct rainwater in the water draining chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion, adjacent to the front portion, comprises a S-shaped portion defining a plate-engaging groove, the lower perforated section extending downwardly from the S-shape portion and a rear end of the upper perforated plate is inserted in the plate-engaging groove of the S-shaped portion and extends above the lower perforated section. 
     
     
         7 . The gutter protection device of  claim 2 , wherein the front portion further comprises two recess segments extending upwardly from a respective one of longitudinal ends of the lower perforated section and defining therewith the recess in the front portion of the gutter protection device and wherein the recess is wider adjacent to the lower perforated section. 
     
     
         8 . The gutter protection device of  claim 8 , wherein the upper perforated plate is engaged with, extends partially under the recess segments, and biasable against the recess segments. 
     
     
         9 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion is substantially through hole free, defines a generally downwardly frontwardly oriented slope from the rear portion towards the front portion to direct rainwater away from the rear wall of the gutter, and includes a section that extends forwardly of the longitudinal median line. 
     
     
         10 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion is generally planar and further comprises longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The gutter protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper perforated plate comprises mesh. 
     
     
         12 . A gutter protection device engageable with a gutter, the gutter including a front wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall defining a trough, the gutter protection device comprising:
 a front portion engageable with the front wall of the gutter and a rear portion, the rear portion comprising:
 a gutter wall-engaging section engageable with the rear wall of the gutter to form a gutter assembly when the front portion and the gutter wall-engaging section are respectively engaged with the front wall and the rear wall of the gutter; and 
 an upwardly extending section projecting upwardly from the gutter wall-engaging section and extending above the rear wall of the gutter in the gutter assembly, the gutter assembly being securable to a supporting structure through the upwardly extending section with the gutter hanging from the gutter protection device. 
   
     
     
         13 . The gutter protection device of  claim 12 , wherein the gutter wall-engaging section comprises an inner downward segment and an outer downward segment defining a channel thereinbetween to receive an upper end of the rear wall of the gutter therein. 
     
     
         14 . The gutter protection device of  claim 12 , wherein the upwardly extending section extends continuously and upwardly from the central portion and further comprises a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners holes extending therethrough to receive fasteners to secure the gutter protection device to a supporting structure, the fasteners holes extending above the rear wall of the gutter in the gutter assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The gutter protection device of  claim 12 , wherein the upwardly extending section, the inner downward segment and the outer downward segment are made of a folded single material plate. 
     
     
         16 . A gutter assembly comprising:
 a gutter comprising:
 a front wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall, the rear wall comprising at least one crimp protruding outwardly from an outer face of the rear wall of the gutter; and 
   a gutter protection device comprising:
 a front portion engageable with the front wall of the gutter and a rear portion, the rear portion comprising:
 a gutter wall-engaging section comprising an outer downward segment provided with at least one hook configured to engage with the at least one crimp protruding from the rear wall of the gutter thereby providing a support for the gutter to hang from. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The gutter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one crimp comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart crimps provided at a substantially constant height with respect to an upper edge of the rear wall. 
     
     
         18 . The gutter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one hook comprises an inner fold protruding inwardly and upwardly from the outer downward segment. 
     
     
         19 . The gutter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one hook comprises a continuous hook extending along a length of the outer downward segment defined between two longitudinally spaced-apart ends thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The gutter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one hook is configured to engage with the at least one crimp to permit translational movements between the gutter and the gutter protection device along a longitudinal axis.