Staggered Ridge Gutter Guard Water Diversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gutter guard systems fail to effectively slow down and divert water flow, and their crimping systems create debris pockets that accumulate debris, while also struggling with varying eave positions and roof pitches, leading to suboptimal installation and strain on the gutter guard.

Innovation Solution

The use of a frameless gutter guard with a wire mesh filtration screen featuring horizontally arranged elevated shapes or ridges that are staggered to divert water flow, combined with a crimping system that minimizes debris pockets and an adjustable upper wing for accommodating different roof pitches and eave positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a corrugated wire mesh filtration screen with corrugations oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the gutter is used, then strength of the gutter guard system is improved, but water flow slowing capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of gutter guard systemVSAvoidwater flow speed

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The screen is divided into multiple horizontal ridges that are staggered relative to each other, creating segmented barriers that collectively slow water flow while maintaining overall screen strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ridges are oriented horizontally across the screen rather than vertically, creating a new dimensional arrangement that intercepts water flow in a different orientation, thereby slowing water without compromising the vertical strength provided by the screen structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If the wire mesh filtration screen is crimped into the gutter guard support structures, then connection strength is improved, but debris pocket formation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoiddebris pocket formation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The crimping features are extracted from traditional pocket-forming configurations and repositioned to eliminate dead spaces where debris could accumulate, while maintaining the secure connection function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating pockets that trap debris, the crimping system is designed to channel debris away from the connection points, inverting the traditional approach where connection structures created trapping zones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of manufacture

If a fixed upper wing connection is used, then installation simplicity is improved, but adaptability to varying eave positions and roof pitches deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to varying eave positions and roof pitches

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The upper wing is designed with flexible connection mechanisms that allow it to adjust dynamically to different installation angles and positions, enabling the same component to adapt to varying eave heights and roof pitches without requiring multiple fixed designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10711464B1Water diverting and filtering device for rain gutters

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 TATASCIORE CHRISTOPHER G

AI summary

A gutter guard system for keeping leaves and other debris out of a roof gutter while allowing water to pass into the gutter having a wire mesh filtration screen employing horizontal rows of individual elevated shapes, elevated ridges and connected elevated shapes that are staggered relative to adjacent horizontal rows. The horizontal rows employ individual elevated shapes, elevated ridges and connected elevated shapes with leading edges which are configured with high points graduating to low points to aid in diverting water from its normal path being perpendicular to the gutter. The leading edge slows the water down and creates a siphoning effect of water diverting into the gutter.