Single-Piece Truss Gutter Guard for Strength and Water Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gutter guards often require complex support structures or corrugations, which can lead to insufficient permeability and structural weakness, especially under live and dead loads, and fail to effectively prevent debris entry while allowing water flow.
Innovation Solution
A self-supporting gutter guard device made from a single piece of perforated sheet material with trusses that span the gutter opening, eliminating the need for separate frames or brackets, and featuring trusses that provide structural support while allowing water to flow into the gutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional gutter guards use corrugated support structures, then they provide some structural support, but they cover a high percentage of the surface area which limits water drainage permeability
Solution Approach 1:
The gutter guard is divided into discrete truss elements arranged in a grid pattern, creating open spaces between the trusses that allow water to drain through while the trusses themselves provide the necessary structural support. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the support function (trusses) from the drainage function (open spaces between trusses).
Solution Approach 2:
The gutter guard employs a truss grid configuration that creates a porous-like structure with numerous openings throughout the surface area. This allows water to penetrate through the entire surface while the truss framework maintains structural integrity, effectively resolving the contradiction between support and permeability.
2Strength
If conventional gutter guards use complex support structures, then they provide adequate structural strength, but they increase manufacturing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The gutter guard merges the support structure and the gutter cover into a single integrated component. The truss grid is formed as one piece with the gutter guard body, eliminating the need for separate support structures and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The truss grid structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, creates drainage pathways, and forms part of the gutter guard body. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the overall device while maintaining strength.
3Reliability
If conventional gutter guards use separate framed supports and attachment brackets, then they provide adequate support and attachment, but they increase the number of parts and installation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The gutter guard integrates the support structure, attachment brackets, and gutter cover body into a single unified component. The truss grid is formed as one piece that inherently provides both support and attachment capabilities, eliminating the need for separate parts and reducing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gutter guard is designed as a self-supporting structure where the truss grid provides its own structural support without requiring external framing. The attachment brackets are integrated into the same piece, allowing the device to install and support itself, thereby reducing the number of components needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A gutter guard device is described comprising a bridge member composed of a decking material having a plurality of orifices, and having a roof side and an opposing gutter lip side, at least one truss spanning a top surface of the bridge member from a proximal end of the bridge member's roof side to a proximal end of the bridge member's gutter lip side, a roof attachment member configured to attach to the roof side of the bridge member, and a gutter attachment member configured to attach to the gutter lip side of the bridge member, wherein the roof attachment member, the bridge member and the gutter attachment member are a single piece of material and the device is self-supporting.