Rear receiver for use with gutter guard systems

Abstract

A modular platform for configuring gutter guard systems is disclosed and claimed herein. Such gutter guard systems are designed and arranged to be positioned across the opening of a rain gutter to prevent debris from entering the rain gutter. The modular platform includes a number of interchangeable components. Select interchangeable components can be assembled to form a gutter guard system for use with a specific rain gutter based on the rain gutter's style, size, color and the mechanism used to secure the rain gutter to a structure and/or roofline. In one embodiment, a rear receiver is arranged such that it can accommodate a number of interchangeable component to reduce the number of components needed to accommodate various gutter guard system and provide more versatility to the gutter guard system.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A rear receiver for use with gutter guard systems, the rear receiver comprising:
 a first member running the length of the rear receiver;   a second member parallel to the first member running the length of the rear receiver; and   a connecting member running the length of the rear receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The rear receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member connects the first member and second member. 
     
     
         3 . The rear receiver of  claim 2 , wherein the connecting member is generally perpendicular to the first member and perpendicular to the second member. 
     
     
         4 . The rear receiver of  claim 3 , wherein the connecting member comprises:
 a first end; and   a second end;   wherein, the first end of the connecting member terminates at the first member and a second end of the connecting member extends past the second member and terminates in space.   
     
     
         5 . The rear receiver of  claim 4 , wherein the connecting member engages with and is connected to the second member at a position located between the first end of the connecting member and the second end of the connecting member. 
     
     
         6 . The rear receiver of  claim 5 , further comprising a channel formed by the first member, the second member, and a portion of the connecting member between the first end of the connecting member and the position at which the connecting member engages with the second member. 
     
     
         7 . The rear receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the channel of the rear receiver is arranged to accommodate a plurality of main bodies of gutter guard systems. 
     
     
         8 . The rear receiver of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of apertures through the connecting member. 
     
     
         9 . The rear receiver of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of apertures are located between the second end of the connecting member and the position at which the connecting member engages with the second member. 
     
     
         10 . The rear receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the rear receiver is five feet in length. 
     
     
         11 . The rear receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the rear receiver is arranged such that the rear receiver can be trimmed to a custom length. 
     
     
         12 . A gutter guard system comprising:
 a main body comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; 
 a first edge; and 
 a second edge; 
   a screen positioned in contact with the top surface of the main body;   a front receiver arranged to engage the first edge of the main body; and   rear receiver arranged to engage the second edge of the main body, the rear receiver comprising:
 a first member running the length of the rear receiver; 
 a second member parallel to the first member running the length of the rear receiver; and 
 a connecting member running the length of the rear receiver. 
   
     
     
         13 . The gutter guard system of  claim 12 , wherein the connecting member connects the first member and second member and the connecting member is generally perpendicular to the first member and perpendicular to the second member. 
     
     
         14 . The gutter guard system of  claim 13 , wherein the connecting member comprises:
 a first end that terminates at the first member; and   a second end that extends past the second member and terminates in space.   wherein, the connecting member engages with and is connected to the second member at a position located between the first end of the connecting member and the second end of the connecting member.   
     
     
         15 . The gutter guard system of  claim 14 , further comprising a channel arranged to accommodate the main body and formed by the first member, the second member, and a portion of the connecting member between the first end of the connecting member and the position at which the connecting member engages with the second member. 
     
     
         16 . The gutter guard system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first member includes a first surface and a second surface; and   the second member includes a first surface and a second surface.   
     
     
         17 . The gutter guard system of  claim 16 , wherein the second surface of the first member and the first surface of the second member form a portion of the channel. 
     
     
         18 . The gutter guard system of  claim 17 , wherein when the main body and screen are positioned within the channel, the screen engages the second surface of the first member and the bottom surface of the main body engages the first surface of the second member. 
     
     
         19 . The gutter guard system of  claim 17 , wherein when the main body and screen are positioned within the channel, the screen engages the first surface of the second member and the bottom surface of the main body engages the second surface of the first member. 
     
     
         20 . The gutter guard system of  claim 17 , wherein when the main body and screen are positioned within the channel, the top surface of the main body is at an angle to the second surface of the first member and the first surface of the second member. 
     
     
         21 . The gutter guard system of  claim 17 , wherein when the main body are screen are positioned within the channel, the top surface of the main body is generally parallel to the second surface of the first member and the first surface of the second member. 
     
     
         22 . The gutter guard system of  claim 12 , wherein the rear receiver further comprising a plurality of apertures through the connecting member, located between the second end of the connecting member and the position at which the connecting member engages with the second member.