# US 5,706,608 A · Gutter with curled retaining flange and method of forming > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,608 A - Document ID: US5706608A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/628,864 - Filed: 1996-04-05 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-04-05 - Inventors: Vernon L. Sweet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706608A ## CPC - E04D 13/064: Gutters {(drainage channels on the roof surface E04D13/0445; gutters for greenhouses A01G9/1476)} - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) ## Abstract A gutter for a building includes a longitudinal body having a central concave channel, a front edge and a rear edge. The concave channel defines inner and outer surfaces. A curled retaining flange is formed along the front edge and defines inner and outer surfaces. A transition portion is formed at the intersection of the concave channel and the retaining flange. Tangents of the outer surfaces of the concave channel and the retaining flange originating at the transition portion form an acute angle. If desired, a roof flange can be formed along the rear edge of the longitudinal body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gutter adapted to be mounted on a building comprising: a longitudinal body having a central concave channel, a front edge, and a rear edge, the concave channel defining an inner surface and an outer surface; an outwardly curled retaining flange formed along the front edge of the concave channel, the retaining flange defining an inner surface and an outer surface and terminating in a front edge; a transition portion formed at the intersection of the concave channel and the retaining flange, wherein tangents of the outer surfaces of the concave channel and the retaining flange originating at the transition portion form an acute angle; and a gap formed between the transition portion and the front edge of the retaining flange such that the gap and the inner surface of the retaining flange are not visible from the ground when the gutter is mounted on a building. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gutter defined in claim 1 wherein the concave channel has a substantially constant radius. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gutter defined in claim 1 wherein the concave channel spans approximately one hundred eighty degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gutter defined in claim 1 wherein the retaining flange has a substantially constant radius. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gutter defined in claim 1 wherein the retaining flange spans approximately two hundred seventy degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gutter defined in claim 1 wherein the retaining flange terminates in a non-curled hem. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gutter defined in claim 1 including a roof flange formed along the rear edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gutter defined in claim 1 wherein only the outer surfaces of the concave channel and the retaining flange are painted. ### Claim 9 A gutter adapted to be mounted on a building comprising: a longitudinal body having a central concave channel, a front edge, and a rear edge, the concave channel defining an inner surface and an outer surface; an outwardly curled retaining flange formed along the front edge of the concave channel and terminating in a front edge, the retaining flange spanning approximately two hundred seventy degrees so that a gap is formed between the front edge of the retaining flange and the front edge of the concave channel, the retaining flange defining an inner surface and an outer surface; and a transition portion formed at the intersection of the concave channel and the retaining flange. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The gutter defined in claim 9 wherein tangents of the outer surfaces of the concave channel and the retaining flange originating at the transition portion form an acute angle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The gutter defined in claim 9 wherein the concave channel has a substantially constant radius. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The gutter defined in claim 9 wherein the concave channel spans approximately one hundred eighty degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The gutter defined in claim 9 wherein the retaining flange has a substantially constant radius. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The gutter defined in claim 9 wherein the retaining flange terminates in a non-curled hem. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The gutter defined in claim 9 including a roof flange formed along the rear edge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The gutter defined in claim 9 wherein only the outer surfaces of the concave channel and the retaining flange are painted. ### Claim 17 A method for forming a gutter adapted to be mounted on a building comprising: (a) providing a strip of bendable material having a central portion, an inner surface, an outer surface, a front edge, and a rear edge; (b) bending a hem along the front edge; (c) bending a longitudinal concave channel in a central portion of the strip; (d) bending an outwardly curled retaining flange terminating in a front edge between the hem and the concave channel so that an acute angle is formed by tangents originating at an intersection of the concave channel and the retaining flange to outer surfaces of the concave channel and the retaining flange and a gap is formed between the front edge of the retaining flange and the front edge of the concave channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method defined in claim 17 wherein the longitudinal concave channel is formed by: bending the central portion of the strip to form a shallow concave channel; bending the central portion in an opposite direction to form a convex hump near a midpoint of the concave channel; and rebending the central portion to eliminate the convex hump and deepen the concave channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method defined in claim 17 wherein prior the bending steps, the method includes the step of painting only the outer surface of the strip. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method defined in claim 17 wherein the retaining flange is bent at a substantially constant radius spanning approximately two hundred seventy degrees.