US-20260125904-A1 - VALLEY FLOW CONTROLLER

US20260125904A1US 20260125904 A1US20260125904 A1US 20260125904A1US-20260125904-A1

Abstract

A flow controller for controlling flow from a roof valley of a roof into adjoining gutters on edges of the roof valley, the controller including a base having a distal end, a proximal end and longitudinal sides connecting the distal end and proximal end, the base having a plane base portion bounded by the distal end with a substantially plane shape, wherein the distal end is disposed so that with the controller installed to the roof, or adjoining gutters on edges of the roof valley, the distal end is located toward the roof, and the proximal end is located away from the roof, and toward a front edge of the adjoining gutters, wherein the proximal end has a form that describes an included angle, edges of the included angle being generally aligned with the adjoining gutters.

Inventors

Lawrence M. Janesky
Tyler Stevens

Assignees

GUTTER SHUTTER LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241105

Claims (20)

1 . A flow controller for controlling flow from a roof valley of a roof into adjoining gutters on edges of the roof valley, the flow controller comprising: a base having a distal end, a proximal end and longitudinal sides connecting the distal end and proximal end, the base having a plane base portion bounded by the distal end with a substantially plane shape, wherein the distal end is disposed so that with the flow controller installed to the roof, or adjoining gutters on edges of the roof valley, the distal end is located toward the roof, and the proximal end is located away from the roof, and toward a front edge of the adjoining gutters; wherein the proximal end has a form that describes an included angle, edges of the included angle being generally aligned with the adjoining gutters; and wherein the proximal end has a demi-bullnose shape between the plane base portion and edges of the included angle, and a cleft that extends through the demi-bullnose shape from the plane base portion to an apex of the included angle, forming a flow channel with opposite channel walls that separate and respectively intersect sections of the demi-bullnose shape aligned with edges of the included angle.
2 . The flow controller of claim 1 , wherein the opposite channel walls are angled with respect to each other so that the flow channel has a general V shape.
3 . The flow controller of claim 2 , wherein the opposite channel walls of the flow channel are separate and distinct from the edges of included angle of the proximal end, and the general V shape is separate and distinct from the included angle.
4 . The flow controller of claim 1 , wherein the flow channel has a channel bottom disposed at an angle that intersects the plane base portion offset from the demi-bullnose shape and intersects the edges of the included angle proximate lowermost edge of the proximal end.
5 . The flow controller of claim 1 , wherein each of the plane base portion, the demi-bullnose shape and flow channel, respectively define at least three separate and distinct flow ways controlling flow from the roof valley collecting into the adjoining gutters.
6 . The flow controller of claim 1 , wherein the plane base portion defines a first flow, the demi-bullnose shape portion defines a second flow, and the flow channel defines a third flow, each of the first flow, the second flow and the third flow being separate and distinct from each other and directed to substantially separate and distinct portions of the adjoining gutters.
7 . The flow controller of claim 1 , wherein each of the plane base portion, the demi-bullnose shape and flow channel, respectively operate to control the flow from the roof valley and respectively distribute the flow to at least three separate and distinct flow ways formed by the flow controller.
8 . The flow controller of claim 1 , wherein the demi-bullnose shape is smooth, from transition at the plane base portion, with a convexity commensurate with guiding flow over the demi-bullnose shape so that flow adheres to and wets the surface of the demi-bullnose shape without substantial separation along the demi-bullnose shape.
9 . The flow controller of claim 1 , wherein the plane base portion mates to or interfaces a gutter cover of the adjoining gutters at the longitudinal sides of the flow controller.
10 . The flow controller of claim 1 , wherein the demi-bullnose shape, the flow channel and edges of the included angle in the proximal end are disposed so as to direct flow to a collection channel of the adjoining gutters underlying a gutter cover of the adjoining gutters.
11 . A method for controlling flow from a roof valley of a roof into adjoining gutters on edges of the roof valley, the method comprising: providing a flow controller having a base with a distal end, a proximal end and longitudinal sides connecting the distal end and proximal end, the base having a plane base portion bounded by the distal end with a substantially plane shape, wherein the distal end is disposed so that with the flow controller installed to the roof, or adjoining gutters on edges of the roof valley, the distal end is located toward the roof, and the proximal end is located away from the roof, and toward a front edge of the adjoining gutters, wherein the proximal end has a form that describes an included angle, edges of the included angle being generally aligned with the adjoining gutters, and wherein the proximal end has a demi-bullnose shape between the plane base portion and edges of the included angle, and a cleft that extends through the demi-bullnose shape from the plane base portion to an apex of the included angle, forming a flow channel with opposite channel walls that separate and respectively intersect sections of the demi-bullnose shape aligned with edges of the included angle effecting controlling flow from the roof valley over each of the plane base portion, the demi-bullnose shape and flow channel and collecting into the adjoining gutters.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising angling the opposite channel walls with respect to each other so that the flow channel has a general V shape.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the opposite channel walls of the flow channel are separate and distinct from the edges of included angle of the proximal end, and the general V shape is separate and distinct from the included angle.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the flow channel has a channel bottom disposed at an angle that intersects the plane base portion offset from the demi-bullnose shape and intersects the edges of the included angle proximate lowermost edge of the proximal end.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the plane base portion, the demi-bullnose shape and flow channel, respectively define at least three separate and distinct flow ways for controlling flow from the roof valley collecting into the adjoining gutters.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plane base portion defines a first flow, the demi-bullnose shape portion defines a second flow, and the flow channel defines a third flow, each of the first flow, the second flow and the third flow being separate and distinct from each other and directed to substantially separate and distinct portions of the adjoining gutters.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the plane base portion, the demi-bullnose shape and flow channel, respectively operating to control the flow from the roof valley and respectively distributing the flow to at least three separate and distinct flow ways formed by the flow controller.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the demi-bullnose shape is smooth, from transition at the plane base portion, with a convexity commensurate with guiding flow over the demi-bullnose shape with the flow adhering to and wetting the surface of the demi-bullnose shape without substantial separation along the demi-bullnose shape.
19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising mating the plane base portion to or interfacing a gutter cover of the adjoining gutters at the longitudinal sides of the flow controller.
20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing the demi-bullnose shape, the flow channel and edges of the included angle in the proximal end so as to direct flow to a collection channel of the adjoining gutters underlying a gutter cover of the adjoining gutters.

Description

BACKGROUND 1. Field The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method of controlling rainwater on roofing of a building. 2. Brief Description of Related Developments Generally, the roof valley of a roof of a building produces a localized flow of water as a stream concentrated from rain water running down adjacent roof sections. In some instances, this concentrated stream of water can gain enough momentum flowing down the roof valley such that it will overshoot the outside edges of the intersecting gutter sections. In other instances, debris can accumulate in the valley and result in clogging of the valley and gutters, preventing proper drainage. The roof gutters fill with leaves and other debris causing impaired effectiveness of the gutter as a roof drainage system. Water accumulating in clogged gutters can cause an overflow. If the gutters freeze, expanding water can deform the gutter and may cause it to pull away from the building support. The water may also force its way back up under the shingles or roof covering. Thus some form of gutter shield is desirable for separating debris from the water running off of a roof eave edge. Some known gutter shields are formed of screen material. Such systems, while somewhat effective in guarding against accumulation of larger debris (e.g., twigs and leaves) in the gutters, do not address the accumulation of water and debris in the valley. Accordingly, the present disclosure addresses that issue. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing aspects and other features of the present disclosure are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a gutter system in accordance with the present disclosure; FIGS. 2A and 2B are exemplary illustrations of a portion of the gutter system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure; FIGS. 3A and 3B are exemplary illustrations of a portion of the gutter system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is an exemplary illustration of a portion of the gutter system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is an exemplary illustration of a portion of the gutter system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is an exemplary illustration of a portion of the gutter system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is an exemplary illustration of a portion of the gutter system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure; and FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of a method of the gutter system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description is meant to assist the understanding of one skilled in the art, and is not intended in any way to unduly limit claims connected or related to the present disclosure. The following detailed description references various figures, where like reference numbers refer to like components and features across various figures, whether specific figures are referenced, or not. The word “each” as used herein refers to a single object (i.e., the object) in the case of a single object or each object in the case of multiple objects. The words “a,” “an,” and “the” as used herein are inclusive of “at least one” and “one or more” so as not to limit the noun being referred to as being in its “singular” form. FIGS. 1 and 2A-2B are an illustration of a gutter system 10 in accordance with aspects of the disclosed embodiment. Although the aspects of the disclosed embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that the aspects of the disclosed embodiment can be embodied in many forms. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used. It should be understood that the disclosed embodiment may be employed with a variety of roof structures. The roof 16 illustrated is for exemplary purposes and the application of the disclosed embodiment is not limited thereto. In accordance with aspects of the disclosed embodiment the gutter system 10 includes a gutter 101 mounted on and against a side of a building 14 that includes a sloping roof surface 16 and vertically-extending fascia board 12. The roof 16 is covered with overlapping rows of shingles that generally extends past the fascia board 12. The lower eave edge 18 of the roof surface 16 extends outwardly beyond the surface of fascia board 12 a predetermined distance, e.g., about 1 inch to about 2 inches or more, and the gutter 101 is generally positioned below the roof lower eave edge 18 to catch water runoff from the roof 16. It is noted that other materials besides shingles may cover the roof, such as metal, etc. The gutter system 10 (as seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B) further includes a flow controller 100. The flow controller 100 is configured for controlling flow of rainwater concentrated in roof valley 17 of the roof 16 into adjoining gutters 101 on the lo