Concealed Gutter Hanger with Guided Fastener

Abstract

A hidden gutter hanger mounts a rain gutter to the roof structure of a building. The end of the gutter hanger adjacent the building fascia is formed with multiple vertically folded portions that establish a strong end mounting structure for fastening the gutter hanger to the fascia. The folded end portions are formed with aligned holes that create a guided fastener structure having minimal longitudinal depth that allows a greater percentage of the guided fastener to be inserted into the building fascia. The distal end of the gutter hanger is formed with a mounting tab that engages the forward lip of the rain gutter such that the gutter hanger is positioned internally of the rain gutter. The body portion of the gutter hanger extending between the distal end and the end adjacent the fascia is formed with a central longitudinal rib to strengthen the hanger against vertical sagging.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hidden gutter hanger for supporting a rain gutter from a building roof structure comprising:
 an elongated, longitudinally extending body portion;   a distal mounting end integrally formed with said body portion and including a curved mounting tab for engaging a front mounting lip of said rain gutter;   a proximal attachment end integrally formed with said body portion, said proximal attachment end being formed with multiple vertically folded portions including at least two vertical folded portions and a diagonally extending folded portion.   
     
     
         2 . The hidden gutter hanger of  claim 1  wherein said proximal attachment end is formed with aligned holes in said vertical and diagonal folded portions to establish a fastener guide through said proximal attachment end. 
     
     
         3 . The hidden gutter hanger of  claim 2  wherein said proximal attachment end includes a first vertical folded portion integrally formed with said body portion and connected to said body portion through a first bend, said first bend including at least two reinforcement ridges spanning from said body portion to said first vertical folded portion. 
     
     
         4 . The hidden gutter hanger of  claim 3  wherein said body portion is oriented at an acute angle relative to said first vertical folded portion to extend forwardly and upwardly from said first vertical folded portion to orient said mounting tab at a position substantially horizontally opposed to an upper part of said first vertical folded portion. 
     
     
         5 . The hidden gutter hanger of  claim 3  wherein said proximal attachment end further includes an integral upper folded portion extending generally horizontally between said upper part of said first vertical folded portion and said diagonal folded portion. 
     
     
         6 . The hidden gutter hanger of  claim 5  wherein said proximal attachment end further includes an integral lower folded portion extending generally horizontally between said diagonal folded portion and a lower part of a second vertical folded portion, said second vertical folded portion being spaced rearwardly from said first vertical folded portion by said upper and lower horizontal folded portions and said diagonal folded portion. 
     
     
         7 . The hidden gutter hanger of  claim 6  wherein said proximal attachment end further includes a third vertical folded portion integrally formed with said second vertical folded portion and bent through approximately 180 degrees to terminate in general horizontal alignment with said lower horizontal folded portion. 
     
     
         8 . The hidden gutter hanger of  claim 7  wherein said third vertical folded portion is also formed with a hole aligned with the holes in said first and second folded portions and said diagonal folded portion. 
     
     
         9 . The hidden gutter hanger of  claim 8  further comprising a fastener passing through said aligned holes in said first, second and third vertical folded portions and said diagonal folded portion to attach said proximal attachment end to said building roof structure. 
     
     
         10 . A gutter hanger bracket for mounting a rain gutter to a fascia of a building structure comprising:
 an elongated, longitudinally extending body portion;   a distal mounting end integrally formed with said body portion and including a curved mounting tab for engaging a front mounting lip of said rain gutter;   a proximal attachment end integrally formed with said body portion, said proximal attachment end being formed with multiple vertically folded portions including first and second longitudinally spaced vertical folded portions and a diagonally extending folded portion located between said first and second vertical folded portions, each of said two vertical folded portions and said diagonal folded portion having formed therein aligned holes to establish a fastener guide through said proximal attachment end.   
     
     
         11 . The gutter hanger of  claim 10  wherein an integral upper horizontal folded portion interconnects an upper part of said first vertical folded portion and an upper part of said diagonal folded portion. 
     
     
         12 . The gutter hanger of  claim 11  wherein said proximal attachment end further includes an integral lower horizontal folded portion extending between a lower part of said diagonal folded portion and a lower part of said second vertical folded portion. 
     
     
         13 . The gutter hanger of  claim 12  wherein said proximal attachment end further includes a third vertical folded portion integrally formed with said second vertical folded portion and bent through approximately 180 degrees to terminate in general horizontal alignment with said lower horizontal folded portion. 
     
     
         14 . The gutter hanger of  claim 13  wherein said third vertical folded portion is also formed with a hole forming a part of said fastener guide through said proximal attachment end. 
     
     
         15 . The gutter hanger of  claim 14  further comprising a fastener passing through said fastener guide to attach said proximal attachment end to said fascia. 
     
     
         16 . The gutter hanger of  claim 15  wherein said first vertical folded portion is integrally formed with said body portion and connected thereto through a first bend, said first bend including at least two reinforcement ridges spanning from said body portion to said first vertical folded portion, said body portion being oriented at an acute angle relative to said first vertical folded portion to extend forwardly and upwardly therefrom to orient said mounting tab at a position substantially horizontally opposed to said upper part of said first vertical folded portion. 
     
     
         17 . The gutter hanger of  claim 16  wherein said body portion is formed with a central longitudinal reinforcing rib, said reinforcing rib extending through said first bend onto said first vertical folded portion, said reinforcement ridges being positioned on opposing transverse sides of said reinforcing rib. 
     
     
         18 . A hidden gutter hanger bracket for mounting a rain gutter from a building roof structure, comprising:
 an elongated, longitudinally extending body portion;   a distal mounting end integrally formed with said body portion and including a curved mounting tab for engaging a front mounting lip of said rain gutter;   a proximal attachment end integrally formed with said body portion, said proximal attachment end being formed with multiple vertically folded portions including:
 a first vertical folded portion integrally formed with said body portion and bend relative thereto into a vertical orientation; 
 an upper horizontal folded portion integrally formed with said first vertical folded portion and extending rearwardly from an upper part of said first vertical folded portion; 
 a diagonal folded portion integrally formed with said upper horizontal folded portion and extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom; 
 an lower horizontal folded portion integrally formed with said diagonal folded portion and extending rearwardly therefrom; and 
 a second vertical folded portion integrally formed with said lower horizontal folded portion and extending upwardly therefrom. 
   
     
     
         19 . The hidden gutter hanger bracket of  claim 18  wherein each of said first and second vertical folded portions and said diagonal folded portion has formed therein a hole aligned with the holes in the other said portions to establish a fastener guide through said proximal attachment end. 
     
     
         20 . The hidden gutter hanger bracket of  claim 19  wherein said proximal attachment end further includes a third vertical folded portion integrally formed with said second vertical folded portion and bent through approximately 180 degrees to extend downwardly therefrom and terminate in general horizontal alignment with said lower horizontal folded portion, said third vertical folded portion also being formed with a hole forming a part of said fastener guide through said proximal attachment end. 
     
     
         21 . The hidden gutter hanger bracket of  claim 20  wherein said first vertical folded portion is integrally formed with said body portion and connected thereto through a first bend, said body portion being formed with a central longitudinal reinforcing rib extending through said first bend onto said first vertical folded portion. 
     
     
         22 . The hidden gutter hanger bracket of  claim 21  wherein said first bend includes at least two reinforcement ridges spanning from said body portion to said first vertical folded portion, said reinforcement ridges being positioned on opposing transverse sides of said reinforcing rib. 
     
     
         23 . The hidden gutter hanger bracket of  claim 22  wherein said body portion is oriented at an acute angle relative to said first vertical folded portion to extend forwardly and upwardly therefrom to orient said mounting tab at a position substantially horizontally opposed to said upper part of said first vertical folded portion.