Gutter Cover Bristles Block Debris While Passing Rainwater

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gutter systems often suffer from debris build-up, leading to clogged sections and overflow due to the inability to effectively prevent leaves, pine needles, and dirt from entering the gutters.

Innovation Solution

A gutter cover system featuring a header with bristles that project outward from the gutter section, forming a cover that inhibits debris entry while allowing rainwater to pass through, facilitating easier debris removal and gutter cleaning without requiring the cover to be removed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a solid cover is placed over the gutter section to prevent debris entry, then debris accumulation is reduced, but rainwater flow is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris accumulationVSAvoidrainwater flow

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The gutter cover employs a porous screen material that allows rainwater to pass through while blocking debris. The screen's pore size is specifically designed to be small enough to retain leaves, pine needles, and other debris, yet large enough to permit adequate water flow into the gutter section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The cover structure transitions from a solid barrier to a locally differentiated design where specific regions (the screen areas) have permeable properties for water while maintaining debris blocking capability. The screen is positioned strategically over the gutter opening to provide localized protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If debris is retained on the gutter cover, then debris removal becomes easier, but the cover structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris removalVSAvoidcover structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gutter cover system is divided into modular sections that can be independently installed and removed. Each segment covers a portion of the gutter run, allowing for easy access to clean debris from specific areas without requiring removal of the entire cover system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The screen acts as an intermediary layer that collects and concentrates debris in accessible locations on top of the gutter cover, where it can be easily removed by hand or with simple tools, rather than requiring disassembly of the cover structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10900234B2Gutter cover system

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 DRESSEL BROCK

AI summary

A gutter cover system includes a gutter section forming an open channel, and a gutter cover section including a header and a plurality of bristles coupled to the header. The header of the gutter cover section has a longitudinal axis that is located along a first side wall of the gutter section. The plurality of bristles project outward from the header and span at least a portion of the open channel of the gutter section from the first side wall towards a second side wall of the gutter section.