Cover for rain gutter

Abstract

A method and material for preventing the accumulation of debris in a rain gutter, the rain gutter having an open top, a bottom surface, and a pair of sidewalls, the bottom surface and sidewalls defining a channel having a width and a depth. A first layer of non-woven fibers may be secured to a second scrim layer. A hinge may extend along the length of the cover. The cover defines a top portion having a first width and a base portion having a second width, the cover configured and dimensioned to allow flexion of the top portion relative to the base portion. The cover is configured and dimensioned to fit securely and remain in place in the rain gutter. Adjacent ends of adjacent sections of cover may be joined by using mating projections and apertures formed at adjacent ends of adjacent sections of cover.

1 . A cover for preventing the accumulation of debris in a rain gutter, the rain gutter having an open top, a bottom surface, and a pair of sidewalls, the bottom surface and sidewalls defining a channel having a width and a depth, the cover comprising: 
 a first water permeable layer including a plurality of fibers, the first layer having a thickness and a length, the plurality of fibers being one of non-woven and loosely woven;    a top portion of the first water permeable layer having a first width and    a base portion of the first water permeable layer having a second width, the first water permeable layer being configured and dimensioned to allow flexion of the top portion relative to the base portion, whereby the cover is configured and dimensioned to fit securely and remain in place in the rain gutter.    
     
     
         2 . The cover according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second water permeable layer secured to the first layer.  
     
     
         3 . The cover according to  claim 2 , wherein the second water permeable layer is a scrim.  
     
     
         4 . The cover according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fibers is a first plurality of fibers, the second water permeable layer includes a second plurality of fibers, the second plurality of fibers being one of non-woven or looslely woven.  
     
     
         5 . The cover according to  claim 4 , wherein the density of the second plurality of fibers is greater than the density of the first plurality of fibers.  
     
     
         6 . The cover according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge extending along the length of the first layer and defining the top portion and the base portion.  
     
     
         7 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion is a first base portion, the cover further comprising a second base portion of the first layer.  
     
     
         8 . The cover according to  claim 7 , further comprising a first and a second hinge, the first hinge defining the first base portion, the second hinge defining the second base portion, and the first and second hinges defining the top portion, whereby the cover is substantially “U” shaped when it is in place in the gutter.  
     
     
         9 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the top portion defining a recess, whereby the top portion may fit over a mechanical fastener associated with the gutter.  
     
     
         10 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion defines a slot, whereby the base portion may fit around a mechanical fastener associated with the gutter.  
     
     
         11 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion defines a cutout, whereby the overall weight of the cover is reduced.  
     
     
         12 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a first end that defines an aperture and a second end including a projection, the aperture and the projection to correspond in shape to one another, whereby adjacent covers may be joined together.  
     
     
         13 . A method for preventing debris from entering and clogging a rain gutter, the rain gutter having an open top, a bottom surface, a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the bottom surface and sidewalls defining a channel having a width and a depth, the method comprising the steps of: 
 measuring a length of a cover for placement in the gutter, the cover including a first water permeable layer includes a plurality of non-woven fibers, the first layer having a thickness and a length; a top portion having a first width and a base portion having a second width, the cover configured and dimensioned to allow flexion of the top portion relative to the base portion; and    installing the cover in the rain gutter by aligning the base portion of the cover along the first gutter sidewall and flexing the top portion with respect to the base portion so that a free end of the top portion extends to the second gutter sidewall.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising inserting the free end of the cover in a lip of the gutter.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising flexing a hinge extending along the length of the first layer and defining the top portion and the base portion.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising fitting the top portion over a mechanical fastener associated with the gutter.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising fitting the base portion around a mechanical fastener associated with the gutter.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising joining the cover to another cover using an aperture defined by an end of one of the covers and a projection defined by an end of the other cover, the aperture and the projection to correspond in shape to one another.  
     
     
         19 . A cover for preventing the accumulation of debris in a rain gutter, the rain gutter having an open top, a bottom surface, and a pair of sidewalls, the bottom surface and sidewalls defining a channel having a width and a depth, the cover comprising: 
 a first water permeable layer including a plurality of non-woven fibers, the first layer having a thickness and a length;    a second water permeable layer secured to the first layer, the second layer having a thickness and a length; and    a hinge extending along the length of the combined first and second layers, the hinge defining a top portion having a first width and a base portion having a second width, the hinge configured and dimensioned to allow flexion of the top portion relative to the base portion    wherein the cover is configured and dimensioned to fit securely and remain in place in the rain gutter.    
     
     
         20 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the hinge provides a restoring force that biases the top portion of the cover toward a substantially co-planar relationship with the base portion.  
     
     
         21 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the hinge is defined by a notch extending along the length of the first layer.  
     
     
         22 . The cover of  claim 21 , wherein the notch has a depth less than the thickness of the first layer.  
     
     
         23 . The cover of  claim 21 , wherein the notch is one of substantially rectangular, substantially triangular, or substantially semicircular.  
     
     
         24 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the second width of the base portion is substantially equal to the depth of the channel.  
     
     
         25 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the first width of the top portion is greater than the width of the gutter channel.  
     
     
         26 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein a free side of the top portion to fit in a lip formed on one of the sidewalls of the rain gutter.  
     
     
         27 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the base portion includes at least one cutout, whereby the cutout reduces the overall weight of the cover.  
     
     
         28 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the first layer is greater than the thickness of the second layer.  
     
     
         29 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the first layer is between 0.25 inches and 0.75 inches.  
     
     
         30 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the first layer includes randomly aligned fibers.  
     
     
         31 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the first layer is includes synthetic fibers.  
     
     
         32 . The cover of  claim 31 , wherein the first layer is includes polyester fibers.  
     
     
         33 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the second layer is a resilient scrim.  
     
     
         34 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the second layer includes synthetic fibers.  
     
     
         35 . The cover of  claim 34 , wherein the second layer includes nylon.  
     
     
         36 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the second layer has a top surface that is substantially smooth.  
     
     
         37 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the second layer has a ribbed surface.  
     
     
         38 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the first layer is attached to the second layer by one of bonding, an adhesive, or needlepunching.  
     
     
         39 . The cover of  claim 19 , the top portion further comprising at least one channel formed in the first layer, and the base portion further comprising at least one slot extending through first layer.  
     
     
         40 . The cover of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one projection formed at an end of a length of cover, the projection configured and adapted to mate with a corresponding aperture formed at an end of another section, whereby two sections of cover may be joined together.  
     
     
         41 . A method for preventing debris from entering and clogging a rain gutter, the rain gutter having an open top, a bottom surface, a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the bottom surface and sidewalls defining a channel having a width and a depth, the method comprising the steps of: 
 measuring a length of a water permeable cover for placement in the gutter, the cover including a first water permeable layer includes a plurality of non-woven fibers, the first layer having a thickness and a length; a second water permeable layer secured to the first layer, the second layer having a thickness and a length; and a hinge extending along the length of the combined first and second layers, the hinge defining a top portion having a first width and a base portion having a second width, the hinge configured and dimensioned to allow flexion of the top portion relative to the base portion; and    installing the cover in the rain gutter by aligning the base portion of the cover along the first gutter sidewall and flexing the top portion with respect to the base portion so that a free end of the top portion extends to the second gutter sidewall.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising installing modified sections of the cover at portions of the rain gutter containing fasteners used to secure the rain gutter to a supporting structure, the modified sections of the cover having a top portion that includes at least one channel formed in the first layer, and a base portion that includes at least one slot extending completely through the combined first and second layers, the channel and the slot configured and adapted to allow the modified section to fit in the rain gutter despite the presence of fasteners.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising cutting a length of cover to fit in the rain gutter.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising attaching adjacent ends of adjacent sections of cover together with mating projections and apertures formed at adjacent ends of adjacent sections of cover.  
     
     
         45 . A system for preventing the accumulation of debris in a rain gutter comprising: 
 at least one length of a first section of a cover for installation in the rain gutter, the first section of cover comprising a first water permeable layer includes a plurality of non-woven fibers; a second water permeable layer secured to the first layer; and a hinge extending along the length of the combined first and second layers, the hinge defining a top portion having a first width and a base portion having a second width, the hinge configured and dimensioned to allow flexion of the top portion relative to the base portion; and    at least one length of a second section of a cover for installation in the rain gutter, the second section of cover comprising a first water permeable layer includes a plurality of non-woven fibers; a second water permeable layer secured to the first layer; and a hinge extending along the length of the combined first and second layers, the hinge defining a top portion having a first width and a base portion having a second width, the hinge configured and dimensioned to allow flexion of the top portion relative to the base portion, wherein the top portion of the second section of cover includes at least one channel formed in the first layer, and the base portion of the second section of cover includes at least one slot extending through the combined first and second layers;    Wherein both the first and second sections of cover are configured and dimensioned to fit securely and remain in place in the rain gutter.    
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , further comprising a cutting tool.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the cutting tool is a scissor.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the first section of cover has at least one projection formed at an end of a length of the first section of cover, the projection configured and adapted to mate with a corresponding aperture formed at an end of another section of cover to join two adjacent sections of cover together.  
     
     
         49 . A cover for preventing the accumulation of debris in a rain gutter, the cover comprising: 
 a first water permeable layer includes a plurality of non-woven fibers, the first layer having a thickness and a length;    a second water permeable layer secured to the first layer, the second layer having a thickness and a length; and    at least one projection formed at an end of a length of cover    wherein the projection is configured and adapted to mate with a corresponding aperture formed at an end of another length of cover to join two adjacent lengths of cover together and the cover is configured and dimensioned to fit securely and remain in place in the rain gutter.    
     
     
         50 . The cover of  claim 49 , further comprising a hinge extending along the length of the combined first and second layers, the hinge defining a top portion having a first width and a base portion having a second width, the hinge configured and dimensioned to allow flexion of the top portion relative to the base portion.  
     
     
         51 . A cover for preventing the accumulation of debris in a rain gutter, the rain gutter having an open top, a bottom surface, and a pair of sidewalls, the bottom surface and sidewalls defining a channel having a width and a depth, the cover comprising: 
 a first water permeable layer includes a plurality of non-woven fibers, the first layer having a thickness and a length; and    a second, substantially smooth, water permeable layer secured to the first layer, the second layer configured and adapted to prevent the accumulation of debris on the cover and having a thickness less than the thickness of the first layer;    wherein the cover is configured and dimensioned to fit securely and remain in place in the rain gutter.    
     
     
         52 . The cover of  claim 51 , wherein the total thickness of the combined first and second layers is substantially equal to the depth of the gutter channel.  
     
     
         53 . A cover for preventing the accumulation of debris in a rain gutter, the rain gutter having an open top, a bottom surface, and a pair of sidewalls, the bottom surface and sidewalls defining a channel having a width and a depth, the gutter being adjacent a roof having a plurality of shingles covering a deck, the cover comprising: 
 a first water permeable layer including a plurality of fibers, the first layer having a thickness and a length, the plurality of fibers being one of non-woven and loosely woven, the first water permeable layer having a back edge;    a second water permeable layer secured to the first water permeable layer and extending beyond the back edge of the first water permeable layer, whereby the second water permeable layer is configured and dimensioned to fit securely and remain in place between the shingles and the deck of the roof.    
     
     
         54 . The cover according to  claim 53  wherein the first water permeable layer is a non-woven, air-laid fabric containing one-hundred (100) denier polyester fiber weighing on the order of 8.0 ounces per square yard and resistant to direct sun and weather exposure, and wherein the second water permeable layer is a knit polyester of 13 wales by 15 course count weighing approximately 2.5 ounces per square yard.  
     
     
         55 . A cover for preventing the accumulation of debris in a rain gutter, the rain gutter having an open top, a bottom surface, and a pair of sidewalls, the bottom surface and sidewalls defining a channel having a width and a depth, the gutter being adjacent a roof having a plurality of shingles covering a deck, the cover comprising: 
 a first water permeable layer including a plurality of fibers, the first layer having a thickness and a length, the plurality of fibers being one of non-woven and loosely woven;    a front portion of the first water permeable layer being adapted to cover the open top of the cover; and    a back portion of the first water permeable layer being adjacent to the front portion and being adapted to extend between the shingles and the deck of the roof.