Solid edge gutter screen

A combination rain gutter and gutter screen,

• the rain gutter comprising front, back and bottom walls and a flange projecting rearwardly from the front wall of the gutter and spaced above the bottom wall of the gutter, the flange extending substantially continuously along the entire length of the gutter, and a hanger for hanging the gutter under the edge of a roof, the hanger extending forwardly from the back wall of the gutter to a position under the gutter flange;
• the gutter screen comprising an expanded metal screen section covering the gutter, an integral front edge margin bent to form a forwardly-opening channel generally V-shaped in transverse section extending continuously along the entire length of the screen for receiving the gutter flange therein,
• the forwardly-opening channel including:
• an upper rearwardly extending portion bent back from the front edge of the screen section and overlying the gutter flange and engaging the gutter flange along substantially the entire length of the gutter screen for supporting the screen on the flange and to inhibit sagging of the screen, and
• a lower forwardly extending portion bent forward from the upper rearwardly extending portion and underlying the gutter flange, the upper and lower portions being divergent in the forward direction with respect to the channel to form a relatively wide channel mouth for permitting ready passage of the gutter flange through the channel mouth during installation into the installed position where the gutter flange is between the upper and lower portions,
• the gutter screen further having a rear edge margin engaging the gutter hanger on the back wall of the gutter, the gutter screen being resiliently bent to an arcuate configuration in which the front edge margin and rear edge margin are in pressure engagement with the gutter and gutter hanger thereby securely maintaining the gutter screen on the gutter,
• the gutter screen being formed integrally of a single piece of elongate, flexible, resilient metal,
• the lower forwardly extending portion of the channel and the rear edge margin being solid, unperforated metal for stiffening the gutter screen, for facilitating safe handling of the screen and for ease of installation.

A metal gutter screen adapted for covering a gutter and preventing leaves and debris from falling into the gutter from a roof above the gutter, the gutter having front, back and bottom walls and a flange projecting rearwardly from the front wall of the gutter and spaced above the bottom wall of the gutter, said flange extending substantially continuously along the entire length of the gutter, the gutter supported by a hanger extending forward from the back wall of the gutter to a position under the gutter flange, the gutter screen comprising:

• an expanded metal screen section for covering the gutter,
• a front edge margin sized and shaped to engage the gutter, the front edge margin having no sharp edges,
• a rear edge margin sized and shaped to engage at least one of the gutter hanger and the roof, the rear edge margin having no sharp edges,
• the screen section being generally planar when uninstalled,
• the gutter screen being formed of a single piece of elongate, flexible, resilient metal,
• the gutter screen including strands and non-circular holes between the strands in at least the screen section, the strands and non-circular holes being sized and shaped to prevent leaves and debris from falling into the gutter,
• the front edge margin being solid, unperforated metal for stiffening the gutter screen, for facilitating safe handling of the screen and for ease of installation.