Copper Filtration Screen for Gutter Debris and Biological Growth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gutter systems face clogging issues due to debris accumulation, leading to water overflow, as current solutions fail to effectively prevent blockages.

Innovation Solution

A filtration device with a screen incorporating copper wires or threads that act as growth inhibiting elements, preventing moss, mold, mildew, algae, and other organisms from growing on the screen, while also redirecting water flow to avoid mechanical waterproofing and ensure proper drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a screen is used to filter debris from rainwater, then debris accumulation is prevented, but moss, mold, mildew, and algae grow on the screen causing clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris accumulationVSAvoidbiological growth on screen

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies copper material to the screen which naturally produces copper ions that inhibit biological growth. The copper converts the harmful effect of biological growth into a beneficial antimicrobial property, preventing moss, mold, mildew, and algae from establishing on the screen surface while maintaining debris filtration capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material composition of the screen by incorporating copper or copper-containing materials. This parameter change in material composition provides growth-inhibiting properties that prevent biological accumulation, resolving the contradiction between effective filtration and biological growth prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If water flow is redirected to prevent mechanical waterproofing, then proper drainage is ensured, but water flow path complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage functionalityVSAvoidwater flow path structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates curved or angled elements in the screen structure that naturally redirect water flow following gravity and surface tension principles. These curved geometries guide water along optimized paths toward drainage points without requiring complex mechanical components, maintaining reliability while minimizing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents debris accumulation and ensures water flow through gutters by inhibiting growth on the screen and redirecting water, reducing the risk of overflow and maintaining gutter functionality.

Implementation Method 1

A filtration device with a screen incorporating copper wires or threads that act as growth inhibiting elements, preventing moss, mold, mildew, algae, and other organisms from growing on the screen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCopper ion release: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Data Source

PatentUS12195968B2Filtering mesh with growth inhibiting material

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 SAGER KAREN M

AI summary

A filtration device is provided for filtering a liquid that passes over the filtration device. The device includes a screen through which the liquid can pass, the screen having a top side, a bottom side, and a plurality of threads, at least a portion of the plurality of threads being a first material; and a growth inhibiting element that is one of attached to and a part of the screen, the growth inhibiting element being a second material. The second material and the first material are different materials.