Rounded eaves trough with a gutter shield

Abstract

A device for protecting an eaves trough wherein the eaves trough has an arcuate generally U-shaped cross sectional profile, the device comprising a guard member having an elongated configuration with a generally planar central portion and first and second longitudinally extending sides on either side of the generally planar central portion, a plurality of apertures extending through the generally planar central portion, the first side of the guard member having a concave section designed to abut a rolled section of the eaves trough, and a second side of the guard member having an upwardly extending wall segment designed to abut a rear portion of the eaves trough. The device and eaves trough may be secured by placing a fastening member through the rear upper wall of the eaves trough and a second side of the guard member.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A device for protecting an eaves trough wherein the eaves trough has an arcuate generally U-shaped cross sectional profile, said eaves trough having a bottom wall, a rear upper wall merging therewith, and a front upper wall merging with said bottom wall, said front upper wall terminating in a rolled section, said device comprising: 
 a guard member having an elongated configuration with a generally planar central portion, first and second longitudinally extending opposed sides located on either side of said generally planar central portion, a plurality of apertures extending through said generally planar central portion;    said first side of said guard member having a concave section designed to abut a portion of said rolled section of said eaves trough; and    said second side of said guard member having an upwardly extending wall segment designed to abut said rear upper wall of said eaves trough.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further including an upwardly extending portion from said first side wall of said guard member, said first upwardly extending portion terminating in a horizontally extending portion, said horizontal extending portion merging with said concave section.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said apertures are arranged in diagonal rows extending between said first and second longitudinally extending opposed sides.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said apertures are circular in configuration, said apertures having a diameter of between 2.5 and 10 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said apertures have a diameter of between 3.0 and 4.0 mm.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said diagonal rows extend at an angle of 45° with respect to said first and second longitudinally extending opposed sides, said apertures forming longitudinally extending rows, said apertures being spaced apart by a distance of between 10 and 15 mm in said longitudinally extending rows.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said upwardly extending wall of said second side of said guard member merges with a downwardly extending wall segment to thereby form a U-shaped portion designed to fit over an upper marginal edge of said rear upper wall of said eaves trough.  
     
     
         8 . A device for protecting a gutter and eaves trough when the eaves trough has an arcuate generally U-shaped cross sectional profile, said eaves trough having a bottom wall, a rear upper wall merging therewith, and a front upper wall merging with said bottom wall, said front upper wall terminating in a rolled section, said device comprising: 
 a guard member having an elongated configuration with a generally planar central portion, first and second longitudinally extending opposed sides located on either side of said generally planar central portion, a plurality of apertures extending through said generally planar central portion;    said first side of said guard member having a guard member rolled section designed to fit within said rolled section of said eaves trough; and    said second side of said guard member terminating in an upwardly extending wall.    
     
     
         9 . A device as defined in  claim 8  further including a flexible flange extending upwardly and outwardly from said upwardly extending wall of said second side of said guard member.  
     
     
         10 . In a building having an eaves trough for collecting water, the improvement wherein said gutter has an arcuate generally U-shaped cross sectional profile, said eaves trough having a bottom wall, a rear upper wall merging therewith, and a front upper wall merging with said bottom wall, said front upper wall terminating in a rolled section; 
 a guard member having an elongated generally planar circular portion, first and second longitudinally extending opposed sides located on either side of said generally planar central portion, a plurality of apertures extending through said generally planar central portion;    said first side of said guard member having a concave section designed to abut a portion of said rolled section of said eaves trough;    said second side of said guard member having an inverted U-shaped portion designed to fit over an upper marginal edge of said rear upper wall of said eaves trough; and    said eaves trough being attached by a fastening means extending through said inverted U-shaped portion and said rear wall of said gutter to said building structure.