Gutter wing system

#The present invention relates generally to gutter systems, and more particularly to a gutter wing system for receiving water run-off from a roof in preference to debris.

#Gutter systems have long been used to divert rain water run-off from the roofs of structures. Typically, gutter systems include a length of some sort of trough which collects the run-off and redirects it to a down spout and thereby away from the structures. Unfortunately, along with the rain water, these prior art systems also collect leaves and other debris which runs off the roof This problem causes gutters to fill up with leaves and other debris so that the amount of water which can be redirected is significantly reduced. The gutter cannot redirect water at all when the gutter becomes altogether blocked. In either case, the water run-off overflows from the gutter, rendering the gutter partially or totally useless, exposing the building structure to damage from the undirected water.

#Prior art devices address this problem by providing gutter systems which enable the user to empty the gutter manually, thereby restoring its water-diverting capability. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,965, to Jackson, discloses a rigid gutter which is mounted upon an L-shaped flange. The gutter is hinged to a bracket at its outside lower corner and includes a cord which allows the user to rotate the entire gutter, outwardly, such that the gutter becomes inverted and spills its contents to the ground. These devices do nothing to protect the gutter from the accumulation of debris and furthermore do not redirect leaves and other debris.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gutter wing system of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, of a gutter wing system illustrating a support arm and mounting plate;

#FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a gutter wing system of FIG. 1 in a closed position;

#As seen in FIG. 1, a novel gutter wing system 1 is secured to a face of a structure and extends parallel to and below an edge of a roof 2 of the structure, in a “closed” position, such that the gutter wing system 1 collects any rain water running off the roof 2 while rejecting leaves and other debris.

#As shown in FIG. 2, the gutter wing system 1 includes a system support pan 4 which is defined by an inner wall 6 and a bottom trough 8. As more clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, the gutter wing system 1 is preferably fastened to a face of a structure by conventional fastening means, such as screws or spikes 7 through the inner wall 6. In one embodiment of this invention, additional fastening of the gutter wing system 1 to the face of the structure may also be provided through an integral system fastening segment 12 which is located on an underside of bottom trough 8 below and continuous with the inner wall 6.

#In the following detailed description the various embodiments of the gutter wing system will be described with reference to various contoured surfaces of the gutter wing system components. In this context the term “upward” refers to a direction opposite the bottom trough and generally skyward. The term “downward” refers to a direction opposite the roof edge and generally toward the ground. The term “inward” refers to a direction toward the face of the structure and the inner wall. The term “outward” in this description refers to a direction generally opposite the inner wall of the gutter wing system and the face of the structure.