Gutter guard apparatus

Abstract

A gutter guard apparatus that is configured to superposed the upper opening of a conventional gutter wherein the present invention inhibits debris from entering the gutter and further prevents ice accumulation or build-up in the gutter passage. The present invention includes a body wherein the body has a bottom with opposing sidewalls contiguously formed therewith. The bottom of the body includes a plurality support wall members extending upwards therefrom. The support wall members form longitudinal channels wherein the longitudinal channels have a plurality of apertures formed in the bottom thereof. A fascia sealing member is operably coupled to the body proximate the first longitudinal sidewall. A heating element channel is present adjacent to the second longitudinal sidewall and is configured to receive an retain therein a heating element. A cover member is superposed the heating element channel. A screen mesh member is located across the opening of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gutter guard apparatus that is configured to be secured to an upper opening of a gutter wherein the gutter guard apparatus comprises:
 a body, said body having a bottom, said body having a first end and a second end, said body further having a first longitudinal sidewall and a second longitudinal sidewall contiguously formed with the bottom on opposing sides thereof, said body having an upper opening intermediate the first longitudinal sidewall and the second longitudinal sidewall providing access to an interior volume thereof;   at least one support wall member, said at least one support wall member being integrally formed with an upper surface of said bottom, said at least one support wall member extending upward from said bottom and being perpendicular thereto;   a plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures being formed in said bottom, said plurality of apertures being adjacent said at least one support wall member;   a heating element channel, said heating element channel being adjacent said second longitudinal wall, said heating element channel having a hollow passage configured to receive a heating element therein; and   a screen mesh member, said screen mesh member disposed across said upper opening of said body, said screen mesh member configured to inhibit debris from entering said upper opening of said body.   
     
     
         2 . The gutter guard apparatus that is configured to be secured to the upper opening of a gutter as recited in  claim 1 , and further including a first connection member, said first connection member being contiguously formed with the first longitudinal wall distal to said bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The gutter guard apparatus that is configured to be secured to the upper opening of a gutter as recited in  claim 2 , and further including a cover member, said cover member being planar in manner, said cover member configured to be superposed said heating element channel. 
     
     
         4 . The gutter guard apparatus that is configured to be secured to the upper opening of a gutter as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one support wall member includes an upper end, wherein the upper end of the at least one support wall member has a width greater than that of the at least one support wall member. 
     
     
         5 . The gutter guard apparatus that is configured to be secured to the upper opening of a gutter as recited in  claim 4 , and further including a second connection member, said second connection member being proximate said second longitudinal wall, said second connection member configured to receive a portion of said cover member. 
     
     
         6 . The gutter guard apparatus that is configured to be secured to the upper opening of a gutter as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the body further includes an outer section, said outer section being adjacent the heating element channel and extending outward therefrom, said outer section configured to engage an outer edge of a gutter. 
     
     
         7 . A gutter guard apparatus configured to inhibit debris from entering a gutter and further operable to inhibit ice accumulation of the gutter wherein the gutter guard apparatus comprises:
 a body, said body having a bottom, said body having a first end and a second end, said body further having a first longitudinal sidewall and a second longitudinal sidewall contiguously formed with the bottom on opposing sides thereof, said first longitudinal wall and said second longitudinal wall extending upward from said bottom being perpendicular thereto, said body having an upper opening intermediate the first longitudinal sidewall and the second longitudinal sidewall providing access to an interior volume thereof;   a plurality of support wall members, said plurality of support wall members being integrally formed with an upper surface of said bottom, said plurality of support wall members extending upward from said bottom and being perpendicular thereto, said plurality of support wall members forming longitudinal channels therebetween, said plurality of support wall members and said longitudinal channels extending intermediate said first end and said second end of said body;   a plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures being formed in said bottom in said longitudinal channels, said plurality of apertures being oval in shape and arranged in a linear manner intermediate said first end and said second end of said body;   a heating element channel, said heating element channel being adjacent said second longitudinal wall, said heating element channel having a hollow passage configured to receive a heating element therein;   a fascia sealing member, said fascia sealing member configured to couple to said body proximate said first longitudinal wall, said fascia sealing member having a first section and a second section contiguously formed, said first section and said second section being perpendicular; and   a screen mesh member, said screen mesh member disposed across said upper opening of said body, said screen mesh member configured to inhibit debris from entering said upper opening of said body.   
     
     
         8 . The gutter guard apparatus configured to inhibit debris from entering the gutter and further operable to inhibit ice accumulation in the gutter as recited in  claim 7 , and further including a fascia sealing member securing element, said fascia sealing member securing element being formed on said body proximate said first longitudinal wall at an upper edge thereof, and said fascia sealing member securing element configured to receive a portion of the first section of the fascia sealing member. 
     
     
         9 . The gutter guard apparatus configured to inhibit debris from entering the gutter and further operable to inhibit ice accumulation in the gutter as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the fascia sealing member securing element includes a center portion, said center portion having an upper portion formed thereon and perpendicular therewith, said fascia sealing member securing element having a first void and a second void on opposing sides of the center portion of the fascia sealing member securing element wherein the first void and second void are underneath the upper portion of the fascia sealing member securing element. 
     
     
         10 . The gutter guard apparatus configured to inhibit debris from entering the gutter and further operable to inhibit ice accumulation in the gutter as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said first section of said fascia sealing member further includes a leg member, said leg member having a first segment and a second segment that are perpendicular, said second segment of said leg member configured to be superposed the upper portion of the fascia sealing member securing element. 
     
     
         11 . The gutter guard apparatus configured to inhibit debris from entering the gutter and further operable to inhibit ice accumulation in the gutter as recited in claim wherein the plurality of support wall members include an upper end, said upper end of said support wall members being flared in shape having a width that is greater than that of a width of the plurality of support wall members, said upper end configured to support said screen mesh member. 
     
     
         12 . The gutter guard apparatus configured to inhibit debris from entering the gutter and further operable to inhibit ice accumulation in the gutter as recited in  claim 11 , and further including a cover member, said cover member configured to be releasably secure to said body and superposed an upper opening of the heating element channel. 
     
     
         13 . The gutter guard apparatus configured to inhibit debris from entering the gutter and further operable to inhibit ice accumulation in the gutter as recited in  claim 12 , and further including a cover member connection element, said cover member connection element being formed proximate an upper edge of said second longitudinal wall member, said cover member connection element configured to receive a portion of said cover member so as to provide releasable securing thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The gutter guard apparatus configured to inhibit debris from entering the gutter and further operable to inhibit ice accumulation in the gutter as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the cover member connection element includes a first void and a second void on opposing sides of a center section.