Method and apparatus for creating gutter hole

Abstract

A gutter punch is described herein including a base having a top side and a bottom side, a first side wall, a second side wall, wherein the first and second side walls are attached to the bottom side of the base and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base, a front wall, a back wall, wherein the front wall and the back wall are attached to the bottom side of the base and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base, a gutter punch, wherein the gutter punch is connected approximately in the center of each of the connecting plates and is substantially perpendicular to the connecting plates, and a handle connected to the top side of the base.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A gutter punch die tool comprising:
 a base having a top side and a bottom side;   a first side wall;   a second side wall, wherein the first and second side walls are attached to the bottom side of the base and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base, wherein the first and second side walls are angled inwardly at approximately a 45 degree angle;   a front wall;   a back wall, wherein the front wall and the back wall are attached to the bottom side of the base and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base, such that attachment points of the sidewalls and the front wall and back wall are at substantially 90 degree angles with respect to one another, wherein the front wall and the back wall are angled inwardly at approximately a 45 degree angle;   a first angled guide;   a second angled guide, wherein the first angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the front wall and the first side wall, wherein the second angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the front wall and the second side wall;   a third angled guide;   a fourth angled guide, wherein the third angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the back wall and the first side wall, wherein the fourth angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the back wall and the second side wall, wherein the first side wall and first angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a first gap is formed between them, wherein the first side wall and third angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a second gap is formed between them, wherein the second side wall and the second angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a third gap is formed between them, wherein the second side wall and the fourth angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a fourth gap is formed between them, wherein the angled guides all have a first end and a second end;   a first connecting plate having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first connecting plate is connected to the second end of the first angled guide and the second end of the first connecting plate is connected to the second end of the second angled guide, wherein the first connecting plate and the first angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the first connecting plate and the second angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees;   a second connecting plate having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second connecting plate is connected to the second end of the third angled guide, wherein the second end of the second connecting plate is connected to the second end of the fourth angled guide, wherein the second connecting plate and the third angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the second connecting plate and the fourth angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate are substantially parallel to one another;   a first cavity, wherein the front wall, the first angled guide, the second angled guide, and the first connecting plate form the first cavity;   a second cavity, wherein the back wall, the third angled guide, the fourth angled guide, and the second connecting plate form the second cavity;   a gutter punch, wherein the gutter punch is connected approximately in the center of each of the connecting plates and is substantially perpendicular to the connecting plates; and   a handle connected to the top side of the base.   
     
     
         2 . A gutter punch die tool comprising:
 a base having a top side and a bottom side;   a first side wall;   a second side wall, wherein the first and second side walls are attached to the bottom side of the base and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base;   a front wall;   a back wall, wherein the front wall and the back wall are attached to the bottom side of the base and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base;   a gutter punch, wherein the gutter punch is connected approximately in the center of each of the connecting plates and is substantially perpendicular to the connecting plates; and   a handle connected to the top side of the base.   
     
     
         3 . The gutter punch die tool of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a first angled guide; and 
 a second angled guide, wherein the first angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the front wall and the first side wall, wherein the second angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the front wall and the second side wall. 
 
     
     
         4 . The gutter punch die tool of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a third angled guide; and 
 a fourth angled guide, wherein the third angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the back wall and the first side wall, wherein the fourth angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the back wall and the second side wall. 
 
     
     
         5 . The gutter punch die tool of  claim 4 , wherein the first side wall and first angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a first gap is formed between them, wherein the first side wall and third angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a second gap is formed between them, wherein the second side wall and the second angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a third gap is formed between them, wherein the second side wall and the fourth angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a fourth gap is formed between them, wherein the angled guides all have a first end and a second end. 
     
     
         6 . The gutter punch die tool of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second side walls are angled inwardly at approximately a 45 degree angle. 
     
     
         7 . The gutter punch die tool of  claim 6 , wherein attachment points of the sidewalls and the front wall and back wall are at substantially 90 degree angles with respect to one another, wherein the front wall and the back wall are angled inwardly at approximately a 45 degree angle. 
     
     
         8 . The gutter punch die tool of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a first connecting plate having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first connecting plate is connected to the second end of the first angled guide and the second end of the first connecting plate is connected to the second end of the second angled guide; and 
 a second connecting plate having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second connecting plate is connected to the second end of the third angled guide, wherein the second end of the second connecting plate is connected to the second end of the fourth angled guide. 
 
     
     
         9 . The gutter punch die tool of  claim 8 , wherein the first connecting plate and the first angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the first connecting plate and the second angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the second connecting plate and the third angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the second connecting plate and the fourth angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The gutter punch die tool of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first cavity, wherein the front wall, the first angled guide, the second angled guide, and the first connecting plate form the first cavity; and   a second cavity, wherein the back wall, the third angled guide, the fourth angled guide, and the second connecting plate form the second cavity.   
     
     
         11 . A method of punching a hole in a gutter, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a gutter punch die tool, the gutter punch die tool comprising:
 a base having a top side and a bottom side; 
 a first side wall; 
 a second side wall, wherein the first and second side walls are attached to the bottom side of the base and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base; 
 a front wall; 
 a back wall, wherein the front wall and the back wall are attached to the bottom side of the base and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base; 
 a gutter punch, wherein the gutter punch is connected approximately in the center of each of the connecting plates and is substantially perpendicular to the connecting plates; and 
 a handle connected to the top side of the base; 
   punching a hole in the gutter, thereby creating downwardly extending flanges.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the gutter punch die tool further comprising:
 a first angled guide; and   a second angled guide, wherein the first angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the front wall and the first side wall, wherein the second angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the front wall and the second side wall.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , the gutter punch die tool further comprising:
 a third angled guide; and   a fourth angled guide, wherein the third angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the back wall and the first side wall, wherein the fourth angled guide is attached to the bottom side of the base between the back wall and the second side wall.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first side wall and first angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a first gap is formed between them, wherein the first side wall and third angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a second gap is formed between them, wherein the second side wall and the second angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a third gap is formed between them, wherein the second side wall and the fourth angled guide are attached to the bottom side of the base such that a fourth gap is formed between them, wherein the angled guides all have a first end and a second end. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second side walls are angled inwardly at approximately a 45 degree angle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein attachment points of the sidewalls and the front wall and back wall are at substantially 90 degree angles with respect to one another, wherein the front wall and the back wall are angled inwardly at approximately a 45 degree angle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , the gutter punch die tool further comprising:
 a first connecting plate having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first connecting plate is connected to the second end of the first angled guide and the second end of the first connecting plate is connected to the second end of the second angled guide; and   a second connecting plate having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second connecting plate is connected to the second end of the third angled guide, wherein the second end of the second connecting plate is connected to the second end of the fourth angled guide.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first connecting plate and the first angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the first connecting plate and the second angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the second connecting plate and the third angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the second connecting plate and the fourth angled guide form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, wherein the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , the gutter punch die tool further comprising:
 a first cavity, wherein the front wall, the first angled guide, the second angled guide, and the first connecting plate form the first cavity; and   
       a second cavity, wherein the back wall, the third angled guide, the fourth angled guide, and the second connecting plate form the second cavity.