Corner Gutter Guard with Continuous Ridge for Watertight Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gutter guard systems face challenges in securely joining at right angles in inner corners, leading to vulnerabilities for debris entry and water overflow due to high flow rates, which existing corner units do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A corner gutter guard system with a front profile and screen portion that extends proud of the ends, allowing for secure mounting over the inner corner and connection to straight gutter guards via butt or overlap seams, using angle strip members for support and attachment to the fascia board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional gutter guards are joined at right angles using overlapping or additional fasteners, then the gutter guard system can cover the inner corner area, but the connection is not reliable and watertight, leading to debris entry and water leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The corner gutter guard merges two guard sections into a single integrated L-shaped unit with a continuous ridge running along the entire length, eliminating the need for separate joining mechanisms and providing a seamless watertight connection at the inner corner
Solution Approach 2:
The corner gutter guard is segmented into distinct functional zones: the L-shaped front profile for structural support, the screen portion for debris filtration, and the continuous ridge for watertight sealing, with each segment optimized for its specific function
2Ease of manufacture
If gutter guards are installed in straight lengths, then manufacturing and supply is simplified, but securing two guards at a right angle in the inner corner is challenging, leaving vulnerabilities for debris entry
Solution Approach 1:
The corner gutter guard incorporates adjustable screen portions that can extend proud of the front profile ends and be bent down at angles between 45-135 degrees, allowing dynamic adaptation to different installation configurations and adjacent guard types while maintaining secure attachment
3Ease of operation
If the gutter guard is not well-secured in the inner corner, then installation is simpler, but the fast flowing water from the roof valley can collapse or dislodge the gutter guard pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The angle strip member is pre-installed on the fascia board at the inner corner location before the gutter guard is attached, providing a pre-prepared support structure that reinforces the corner guard against high-velocity water flow from the roof valley
Solution Approach 2:
The angle strip member acts as an intermediary support element between the fascia board and the corner gutter guard, transferring and distributing the forces from high-velocity water flow to the structurally sound fascia board, thereby protecting the corner guard from collapse
4Device complexity
If the screen portion does not extend proud of the front profile ends, then the structure is simpler, but debris can bypass the guard at the ends, leading to clogs
Solution Approach 1:
The screen portion extends in the longitudinal dimension beyond the front profile ends, creating an L-shaped configuration that provides overlapping coverage at the corners and prevents debris from bypassing the guard through the ends
Data Source
AI summary
A corner gutter guard has a front profile for coupling to a front edge of a gutter at an inner corner and a screen portion extending rearward of the front profile. The end sections of the screen portion extend proud of the ends of the front profile. The screen is formed with at least one continuous ridge extending from a left ridge end portion adjacent the left end section to a right ridge end portion adjacent the right end section. The corner gutter guard can be kitted with an angle strip member that couples to a fascia board to support the rear edge margin of the corner gutter guard below roofing shingles. A straight gutter guard can be formed with a lengthwise ridge for overlapping and nesting with the continuous ridge of the corner gutter guard.