Gutter Guard Screw and Clip Assembly for Damage-Free Light Hanging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for hanging lights or ornaments on a roof, such as attaching nails or hooks, often result in damage to the fascia and pose safety risks due to the need for ladder use, lacking a convenient and damage-free solution for secure attachment.
Innovation Solution
A gutter guard/gutter fastener system comprising a clip-attachable screw with a threaded body and a shoulder, allowing easy attachment of a clip that supports wires or objects without damaging the roof, using a specialized screw and clip design that fits into the gutter guard or gutter, providing a secure and removable hook-like structure for hanging items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If nails or hooks are attached to the roof's fascia to support lights, then secure attachment is achieved, but damage to the fascia occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gutter guard screw as an intermediary attachment point that fastens to the gutter guard rather than the fascia. This mediator transfers the attachment function away from the fascia, eliminating damage while maintaining secure support for holiday lights through the clip-screw system.
2Reliability
If hooks are attached to the roof's fascia, then lights can be hung securely, but permanent damage to the fascia results
Solution Approach 1:
The gutter guard screw serves as a mediator that provides reliable attachment points on the gutter guard instead of the fascia. The clip then attaches to this intermediary screw, maintaining hanging reliability while preventing fascia damage.
3Ease of operation
If lights are hung by working on ladders, then attachment can be accomplished, but fall-related injuries occur
Solution Approach 1:
The gutter guard screw is designed to be self-installing through the gutter guard structure without requiring ladder access. The screw threads directly into the gutter guard material, allowing installation from ground level or safe positions, thereby eliminating fall risks while maintaining installation effectiveness.
4Reliability
If traditional attachment methods are used, then lights can be secured, but the process requires significant effort and time
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the attachment function into two simple components: the gutter guard screw for mounting and the clip for light attachment. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and quick to install, reducing overall installation time while maintaining secure attachment through their combined functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A single piece gutter/gutter-guard screw has a head with a shoulder integrally formed thereto and a threaded screwing body integrally formed to the shoulder. A diameter of the threaded screwing body is smaller than the largest diameter of the shoulder's bottom, and a largest diameter of a top of the shoulder is smaller than a largest diameter of the head's bottom. The screw provides a gap that is a height of the shoulder when the screw is screwed into a substrate. An attached clip (in the gap) provides support for an attached wire or object and composed of a generally L-shaped body with a top member joined to a side member. A front slit in the clip provides entrance to at least an attachment structure within the top member, configured to fit onto the screw. An attachment mechanism is in the side member.