AU2004212514B2 - Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter System - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT AUTOMATIC GRAVITATIONAL LEAF EJECTING GUTTER SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: AUTOMATIC GRAVITATIONAL LEAF EJECTING GUTTER SYSTEM This invention offers a new complete overall system of collecting rain water which is able to easily eject leaves and foreign mater throughout the whole passage of the water from the roof gutters, of a building, to its water collecting tank/tanks thus guaranteeing a flow of dclean (leaf free) water every step of the way. This is made possible through the natural laws of Surface Tension and Gravity which automatically cause water (in this case as the result of the design of an upper unit fixed above the water collecting gutter) to travel into the gutter while unwanted leaves etc. (that may have fallen or been blown onto the roof between rain) fall away from the gutter as gravity simultaneously pulls them to the ground.

At the tank end of the water flow an added device is placed, between the gutter down pipe and the tank opening to eliminate all possibility of leaves clogging this end of the overall system, in what until now has been a design weakness in most water collecting tanks.

The combination of the Surface Tension Unit above the various roof gutters of an individual system tanks also if roofed may provide an extra water collecting surface) and the final elimination of leaf build up at the water tank by an inverted funnel shaped unit with a floating overflow door (to facilitate the release of backed up water when needed) constitutes the functional components of the whole system. All else basically concerns how the various items are fixed in place whether it be under a roof over hang and to a fascia (above a lowered gutter) or of a mini hexagonal roof (with similar Surface Tension configurations to that of the main gutters) to the top of a tank or how the final leaf blocking unit is attached to tanks where the water enters.

There have been many inventions registered which have endeavoured to solve the problem of leaves collecting in roof gutters and virtually none regarding keeping leaves from blocking the water entrance of tanks (where a perorated sheet or a mesh has been installed across the hole), or from leaves falling directly into the storage water where no perforated sheet or mesh has been applied. At the point where the input pipe (from the gutter) stops above the entry hole on top of a tank, which hole is generally much greater in diameter than the pipe, there usually is left a gap wide enough to provide plenty of space for leaves to easily collect and clog the downward flow or to allow them to drop directly into the tank (if an open hole only) polluting the water. Also in respect of blocked gutters even special tools, to clean debris from them, have been patented as another means of easing the problem, of leaves in water collecting/removal systems.

Most of the gutter leaf repelling systems consist of, or have incorporated into them, a mesh of some sort which is anticipated will allow water through the holes at the same time it catches leaves on the mesh. The leaves caught on the mesh are expected to be blown away in the next stiff breeze. One American invention (trade marked "Rainhandler") has completely bypassed the water collecting gutter altogether by approaching the problem with a horizontal louver device, attached to the fascia beneath the roof overlap, which it claims causes water from the roof to be broken into droplets and harmlessly sprayed to the ground. This method also relies on wind to blow away the leaves, which have drifted onto the louver, but the manufacturer also suggest the leaves can be removed with a quick blast from a hose aimed up from ground level.

All of the approaches so far, to the problem of leaves blocking gutters and tank entrances, have inherent weaknesses. For example mesh systems have holes, in most cases, large enough to let leaves that fall end on including pine needles, or small things like gum nuts, and even small flowers from trees plus other similar objects, to either get through or become stuck in the mesh so they won't blow away. The American invention ("Rainhandler") is unable to collect water for storage and because it is horizontal will retain leaves more readily than a sloping roof. To have to squirt a hose up from the ground, to clear the leaves, is an extra undesirable operation.

Some water tanks have built in filters (inside the entrance hole) to block unwanted materials getting into the water storage area which would of necessity have to be emptied and maintained; a distinct disadvantage.

All these problems are eliminated with the Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter and Clean Flow Water Tank Collecting System because firstly there is no mesh or louver and secondly all leaves, and debris, automatically drop off away from the water collecting gutter, when it rains. The top segment of the system allows only water to be collected in the gutter below. This is possible because, as mentioned above, the upper unit of the system takes advantage of the natural phenomenon of surface tension, that causes water running over horizontally downward curve shaped objects, to cling to the surface of the curve until the bottom, which in this case is provided by a horizontal extension beneath the overhang of the roof with a front edge that curves downward protruding slightly over the top front edge of the water collecting gutter beneath. Leaves are unable to follow the water around the bottom half of the curve so are ejected when gravity pulls them to the ground.

The gutter is lowered to allow this special extension to fit above thereby leaving enough room for the top surface of the extension to be fitted tightly up against the bottom surface of the roof overhang, if desired.

The back section of the extension is bent to go, from the bottom side of the roof overhang, down hard against the fascia to which it is fixed until it is at least half way in and over the back wall of the gutter. This back section, which goes against the fascia, is pre punched/drilled with conveniently spaced horizontal keyhole shaped holes to enable this whole extension unit, above the gutter, to be easily placed over studs on metal strips or screws (set to the right depth) that are attached to, or screwed into the fascia before hand; it is then slid sideways to enable the shank of each screw/or stud (as part of metal strips) to enter the narrow part of the keyhole shape it is in until it is tightly in place. Thereby the difficulty of getting this unit into place, by trying to put in the screws/metal stud strips last, is removed; a thing that would be nearly impossible because of the restricted room to move brought about by the design of the gutter overhang unit itself.

The back section of the roof extension unit, which guides the rain water into the gutter, inhibits water from getting into and rotting the fascia. It is also able to block fire from getting to the woodwork, thus reducing for example the chances of spot fires starting during a bush fire which could lead to the house burning down. For these two reasons metal is considered to be the only suitable material from which to manufacture this gutter system [standard metal materials currently used in the industry, for example, "Coiorbond.

In addition to the extension unit being fixed to the fascia board, by the above mentioned method, the front downward curved section is also attached, from its bottom, to the fascia board by means of brackets spaced to line up with the spacing of the keyhole shaped holes already mentioned. The bottom of the downward sloping curved segment finishes with a narrow (approximately 2 cms wide) straight vertical bent section, which runs its whole horizontal length parallel to the fascia it is to this the brackets are riveted in the front (the back is fixed by the same keyhole process used to fasten the back of the unit to the fascia).

The gap between the lower front edge of this extension and the top front edge of the gutter is kept to a parallel minimum (enough only to allow the water from a heavy downpour to be its maximum flow through) by means of an attachment which goes over the top front edge of the gutter and runs its full length.

To enable the water, once it is in a gutter, to run to the nearest down pipe a gutter is sloped toward the down pipe. This attachment (over the top front edge of the gutter) enables the installer to change the wider gap, which will appear between the gutter and the special extension above it at the lower down pipe end of the gutter, to a narrower gap to match the gap at the higher end of the gutter so that the gap becomes parallel for the full length of the gutter. The attachment can be raised, at the low end, until it is perfectly lined up; then it can be riveted into place.

The water collecting gutter of necessity has to be fixed to the fascia with extemrnal gutter brackets (brackets that go under the gutter) to allow space for the overhanging unit above to fit properly.

The altemrnative way, of attaching the curved gravitational Leaf Ejector to the fascia board, to that of screws is one where the procedure of using keyhole shaped holes remains the same but instead of placing screws into the fascia first, strips of metal (approximately 4 cm wide) with several holes (top, middle, and bottom) for nails/or screws plus short screw shaped studs (or some other suitable shape) on the front, configured to line up with the keyhole shaped holes in the back section of the Leaf Ejector Unit, replace the first method.

There is the added advantage also that the larger section of the keyhole shape would be backed by this metal strip so that no wood at all would be exposed to naked flame should there be a fire (the first system explained would have small circles of fascia wood exposed necessitating the need for fire proof paint in those spots).

Two Templates have also been designed to help in the correct lining up of the fascia screws or metal strips (a different one for each see figures 9:2 and 12:4). These Templates, if desired, could have handles attached to make the handling of them easier or if not handles of some sort then a raised edge on the bottom and left side of each to make it easier for the installer to firmly hold the respective Template accurately in place.

Also, because this system enables debris free water to be collected, it is perfectly affiliated to water storage tanks which also have problems with leaves and debris that both clog and pollute the flow where the water enters them. Therefore a down pipe, to tank, connection basically in the form of an inverted funnel is included. This unit completely eliminates the possibility of leaves, bird droppings, or reptiles and small animals (which could perhaps reach the tank from the main roof) from entering the storage tank thereby keeping the water clean and safe; plus there is, as part of this whole system, a hexagonal metal tank roof top water collecting surface that uses the same Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter System, used on homes and buildings (see drawings for full details on both of these items).

With plastic food quality polyethylene tanks, as an alternative to the metal hexagonal tank roof mentioned above, a moulded circular Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter System, which incorporates a dome shaped roof, is offered.

Also as part of this altemrnative approach, for plastic tanks, a modification is provided where both the tank and the gutter section of the system are made more compatible with slots cut around the top of the tank [the depth of the Leaf Ejecting Unit and The Guttr cmbind, own romwher tak [te dpthof the Leaf Ejecting Ulnit and The Gutter combined, down from where the roof and side of the tank meet] and the floor of the circular gutter is sloped backwards from the front side to the back [which is against the tank] so that water doesn't have to run either to the right or the left to a down pipe but just goes straight back directly into the tank through the slots provided.

Larger buildings such as factories and hospitals sometimes have roof valleys that run directly into a down pipe with a box gutter at the top. In these cases a shorter version of the Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter System is incorporated, designed to fit the different sized larger down pipe.

The left and right ends of the upper Leaf Ejecting Surface Tension Unit have end caps configured to match the profile of the upper unit.

So that there is no problem with water flow at building comers, in which the system is installed, special short mitred units (both inward and outward facing) the same shape as the upper Automatic Gravitational Surface Tension Leaf Ejecting unit have been designed to guarantee a perfect clean water flow throughout, wherever gutters are installed on a structure.

At the water collecting tank end of the overall clean water collecting system the hexagonal tank roof, mentioned above, is clamped to the tank by means of a segment that both attaches to this mini roof and also fits over the top three corrugations of the tank itself; after which it is able to be pulled together, around the corrugations, as a means of holding the hexagonal roof firmly to the tank.

It is envisaged plastic tank manufacturers, in the future, will form their tanks to incorporate the dome shaped roof and Leaf Ejecting Gutter System (mentioned above) in one 7 Piece; or if making the $lots, for water to enter the tank, proves difficult a two piece easy to assemble solid arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGURE 1.

This drawing is an end view of the system encompassing:- The roof and the Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting unit which incorporates; The downward curved front that leads to the vertical straight section which is to be always parallel to the fascia board The gutter which is in under the curved overhang The back section of the Leaf Ejecting Unit which fits into the gutter at the bottom and is attached for its whole length to the fascia The Surface Tension flow of water is represented by and represents leaves being ejected by the effect of gravity.

FIGURE 2.

A perspective view of the above showing; the roof the Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Unit the gutter and the back section of the Leaf Ejecting Unit which is fastened to the fascia FIGURE 3.

A sectionalised view of the the Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Unit showing how the spacer brackets are connected; is the Leaf Ejecting Unit, A spacer bracket with its slotted back section, one of the several screws spaced out along the fascia onto which the back section of the spacer bracket slides, holes in both the front of the spacer bracket and bottom of the Leaf Ejecting Unit so that they can be riveted together, and is the back of the Leaf Ejecting Unit which overlaps the back wall of the gutter and is fixed to the fascia.

FIGURE 4.

The gutter which is attached to the fascia by external gutter brackets [if the gutter is an existing gutter that has to be lowered to allow the Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Unit to be fitted above it and it was previously attached by internal gutter brackets these will have to be discarded and replaced by the external type]. An attachment that fits over the top of the front edge of the water collecting gutter (3) enables the wider gap, created at the lower end of the gutter by the slope needed to allow water to run off into the down pipe, to be adjusted by raising it up Luntil the gap between the overhanging Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Unit is parallel to the gutter attachment. Once this attachment is correctly lined up the gutter can then be drilled to allow them to be riveted together [both faces of the attachment are pre drilled in a line parallel to its top edge at regular intervals as a guide for drilling and so that the rivets, when introduced, will be neatly spaced throughout the complete length of the attachment].

FIGURE This front view shows the wider gap at the lower end of the gutter nearest the down pipe It is ideal to have the space between the bottom segment of the Leaf Ejecting Unit and the top of the gutter parallel which it isn't until the attachment mentioned above is installed. The roof in this drawing is and the external gutter brackets are FIGURE 6.

This figure shows a perspective view and a front elevation of the gutter attachment (1) that goes over the top of the front edge of the gutter. The holes set to act as guides for further drilling that will enable riveting are shown in both drawings. One end of the attachment is slightly wider than the other to allow for the slope of the gutter and wider gap at the lower end [this front elevation drawing shows the wider end to the left; to properly fit to a gutter sloping the other way the attachment is simply tumed around].

The top edge of the attachment is moulded as shown to facilitate the extra width caused by the rolled top of the front edge of the gutter.

FIGURE 7.

In this figure is shown the front elevation of the Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter System fully established showing the gap between the Leaf Ejecting unit and the gutter attachment correctly adjusted so that the space between the two is now parallel. The down pipe is at the lower end of the gutter and the roof is represented by FIGURE 8.

Here we see the back section of the Leaf Ejecting Unit which fastens to the fascia by hooking over and sliding the keyhole shaped holes under the heads of previously screwed in screws [to the right depth], in the fascia board, [or studded metal strips nailed to the fascia designed to do the same thing see figure 12:1]. The Spacer Bracket has a horizontal slot cut into its back section which also slides over a stud or screw previously installed to fasten the Leaf Ejector to the fascia [the bottom row of screws/studs allow a space of two thicknesses of sheet metal between the screw/stud head and the fascia wood so that both the back of the Leaf Ejector and the Spacer Bracket can slide easily and snugly into place over the same screw/stud all other screws/studs allow the thickness of one sheet of metal only]. if desired the segment of the Leaf Ejector Unit may go hard up under the roof overhang after it is custom bent and the back drilled/punched so as to properly fit the angle of the customer's roof and line up with fascia screws/studs. The back of this unit which attaches to the fascia, and the straight vertical section [which runs the full length of the unit] on the bottom of the front remain parallel to each other no matter what the angle of the roof may be.

FIGURE 9.

To enable the screws, that are to go into the fascia, to be lined up properly, for the pre drilled/punched Leaf Ejecting Unit to slide onto, a Template will be necessary. This Template, which is a similar width to the Leaf Ejecting unit, is made from a sheet of metal the same gauge as that of the Leaf Ejecting Unit and is drilled or punched with rows of keyhole shaped holes to line up with the pre drilled/punched holes in the back section of Leaf Ejecting Unit. At the bottom of this template, for its full length, is a strip of metal also drilled or punched with keyhole shaped holes to line up with those already drilled or punched into the metal behind. This extra thickness guarantees the bottom screw in each row is set to a gap of two thicknesses of metal so the Spacer Brackets (see figures 3:2 and 8:4) can also slide over the same screw to be firmly held it in place [the rows of screws are conveniently spaced to best hold the weight of the Leaf Ejecting Unit].

This Template is placed into the right hand comner of the fascia so that its top edge is hard against the bottom surface of the of the roof overhang and its right side is square to the right end of the fascia board. The Template will be properly lined up when the screws are to the left end of the thin slotted section of the keyholes. The screws are to be screwed in up until they kiss the metal. When all the screws are in, the template is slid to the left to release it. Its right hand row of holes is then placed over the left hand row of screws and slid firmly into place to the right Once this is done and the template is held up under the overhang, the remaining rows of screws are put in. This is repeated until all the screws are in, for the whole length of the fascia. All that remains, is, for the Leaf Ejecting Unit to be lined up over the screws and slid to the right. The Leaf Ejecting Unit can then be secured by putting a screw into a normal hole drilled/punched in each end (see figure 10: where it is not too cramped to get to, to stop movement to the left and right [the screws put in using the template stop the Leaf Ejecting Unit moving up and down].

Handles can also be attached to the template or the bottom edge and left side can be bent up a bit, to make it easier to handle, if deemed necessary.

FIGURE This drawing shows the left End Cap that is to fit the left end of the Leaf Ejecting unit [the right End Cap is the same only it is configured to slide on the other way]. There are holes in both the End Cap and Leaf Ejecting Unit which line up when the End Caps are pushed on; these holes are for rivets. In the back edge of the End Cap is a slot which is designed to slide over the shank of a screw inserted through the hole in the end of the Leaf Ejecting Unit [the screw inserted through this hole both stops the Leaf Ejecting Unit moving sideways and helps the back section of the End Cap, which slides in behind the rear section of the Leaf Ejecting Unit, to be secured into place by Providing a shaft for its slot to straddle].

FIGURE 11.

The joining of the Leaf Ejecting Units at intemrnal comers can be done at least two ways:- by either cutting the units to a 45 degree angle, butting them together, and gluing with silicon] or by attaching a special Comer Unit which is positioned in the

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comer after the gutters are put up, but, before the Leaf Ejector Units, on each side, are attached. This Comer Unit that is slightly larger [by the same thickness as the metal it is made from to enable the full length Leaf Ejector Units to easily slide in under], being the same configuration as the Leaf Ejecting units is attached to the fascia corner by the same process, of keyhole shaped holes over pre set screws, as the Leaf Ejector Units (see figure The Comer Unit however has its keyhole shaped holes punched or pre drilled vertical with the larger end to the top as against the horizontal of the Leaf Ejecting Units (figure two in the back of each right angle side of the Comer Unit [the two straight backs that go against the fascia boards meeting in the corner].

A pre drilled/punched metal Template, the same shape as the back section of the Corner Unit with identical vertical keyhole shaped holes, should be used to line the screws up first.

The Comer Unit is put into place by placing the larger portion of the Keyhole shaped holes n its back section, over the screw heads then by sliding the unit up so that the shank of each screw slides into the vertical slot shaped part of each respective keyhole until the top edge of the whole unit is hard against the bottom surface of the roof overhang shows the roof]. The bottom edge of the back section of the Corner Unit goes over the back wall of the of the gutter in a similar manner to that seen in The Leaf Ejecting Units are then slid sideways into the Comer Unit so that the back of each Leaf Ejection Unit is in front of the Comer Unit's back section which will already be overlapping the back wall of the gutter in the intemrnal/external comer. The front section of the Comer Unit is slightly larger than the same on the Leaf Ejecting Units to enable them to slide together easily. Since there will be no End Caps (see Figure 10:2), at the intemal/extemal comers of a building, no screw will be applied through the pre drilled/punched hole at that end of the Leaf Ejecting Unit in its back section (see Figure 10:3); this will enable instead the Comer and Leaf Ejecting Units to come together without obstruction prior to being glued together using an internmal/extemrnal strip of metal [pressed to the shape of the comer that is attached to comer's underside] to enable a smooth join.

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After this is done the two straight vertical pieces at the bottom of the front section of the Corner Unit can be riveted to the same part of each Leaf Ejecting Unit; two rivets holding the left in place and two in the right.

The gluing and riveting operation mentioned above will make the comer solid in heavy wind conditions.

The drawings show only an internal comer unit; however extemrnal corners would be exactly the same in principle, save they face the other way, and would be fixed in place by the same means already mentioned.

FIGURE 12.

As an altemrnative to using screws in the fascia to hold the Leaf Ejecting Units in place, strips of metal with holes for nails, indicated by and studs with cup heads to slide the keyhole shaped holes in the back section of the Leaf Ejecting Units over, and sideways to the right to attach them, are also offered.

The Template to line them up is also made from metal [preferably double the thickness] into which is cut three rectangles [indicated by the same size as the metal strip please note:- this drawing, of the Template, does not match the scale of the drawing of the metal strip This Template is lined up in the same manner as the Template for the screws that is, the right edge is lined up with the right end of the fascia board and the top edge is pushed hard up against the bottom surface of the roof overhang. The metal strips, with the studs, are then inserted into the rectangular holes and nailed/screwed to the fascia.

Once this is done the Template is moved into position for the next two strips. This is done by placing the rectangular hole on its right over the now nailed/screwed strip to the left while at the same time the Template continues to be pushed up against the overhang. The next two strips are nailed/screwed down and the process, mentioned above, is repeated until the job is finished.

r FIGURE 13.

The Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter System can also be used on water tanks to increase the water collecting area feeding water to the tank, for example the roof of a nearby house or building plus the tank itself fitted with its own roof Water to a tank via the Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting gutter System (3 and 4) will allow debris free water [ideal for drinking] to be collected and stored; that is assuming that whatever, beside the tank roof, is feeding water to the tank is also fitted with the same gutter system. With this tank roof system a tank could also be free standing and still able to collect clean water [for instance in a bush picnic area or in the middle of a paddock as a source of drinking water for farmers in the field on hot days; or even as a source of emergency water for live stock].

The input pipe from the house is shown entering above the tank's water entry hole through one of of the faces of the roof's six sided top The pipe inthis drawing indicates just one method of bringing a pipe into a tank [along the ground and up].

The hexagonal roof is for convenience because it has the least amount of sides necessary to fit, over a cidrcular tank top, without sticking out too much at the comers such as a square or pentagon would do. It is convenient too from the gutter point of view because it represents the least amount of corner joins needed to hold the straight sections of gutter and Leaf Ejector units together [when governed by the above criteria]. An octagon for example would need two extra comers which represents unnecessary extra labour in the assembly process.

The gutter of the Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting System in this design is sloped to run into one down pipe (11) which in turn runs into the tank If possible the hexagonal roof surface should be cut and bent out of one piece of sheet metal which, when assembled, is to be capped with a pressed six sided piece of metal (6) to eliminate all chances of water getting inside the roof at the apex. The fascia also is to be made of sheet metal allowing extra metal, at the bottom, to be bent under to form eaves thereby making everything dust and bird proof.

The hexagonal roof is fixed to the tank by means of brackets which join the roof to a cirularthree corrugated piece of metal [the same as if a section of the tank was cut off three corrugations down from the top but was minus the top itself which is 25 mm less than the circumference of the tank At each end of this corrugated piece is a straight right angled projection with two or three holes that line up from one projection to the other, so bolts can tightly tie the two ends together and thereby hold the roof on. The down pipe going through this corrugated unit into the tank will stop it twisting sideways.

With plastic food quality polyethylene tanks a moulded cinilar Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter System and roof could be attached; or if desired a modification to both the tank and the gutter section of the system could be made whereby slots are cut around the top of the tank [the depth of the Leaf Ejecting Unit and The Gutter combined, down from where the roof and side of the tank meet] and the floor of the cirular gutter is sloped backwards from the front side to the back [which is against the tank] so that water doesn't have to run either to the right or the left to a down pipe but just goes straight back directly into the tank through the slots provided.

FIGURE 14.

Finally to keep water, coming by pipe (see figure 13:7) through one of the faces of a hexagonal metal tank roof (see figure 13:1), from splashing around inside the roof cavity, a Leaf Protection Funnel that fits tightly into the hole at the top of the tank where water enters, will be necessary. Some tanks have a perforated sheet of metal or a mesh to hopefully keep debris out [see in this drawing]. This approach is ineffective because it only serves as a leaf catcher which allows the leaves to sit, rot, block, and pollute the water. Leaf protective funnels can be used on all tanks so are not just applicable to the above hexagonal roof situation.

The Leaf Protection Funnel has a pipe fitted into its top with a female housing [facing up] to permit the incoming pipe to be connected. It also has a flange which can be riveted or screwed to the top of the tank, once the straight cylindrical portion at the bottom of the Funnel unit, is inserted into the hole in the top of the tank These units can either be made of metal or polyethylene plastic. They can also be used independent of a tank roof system if the customer desires only to keep leaves and muck out of his existing tank.

FIGURE For tanks with no roof arrangement a variation to the device (shown in figure 14) is here illustrated that has an added straight sided segment which includes a means of allowing excess water to escape, preventing it from backing back into the gutter, when an overflow is not built into the water tank; other wise it is identical to the above unit.

Number shows that part of this unit which is the same as that in figure 14 where is the female pipe fitting to take the pipe from the gutter. Item is the straight sided segment which makes it different to the design of figure 14 and shows the section which allows excess water to escape.

This section as shown in the insert drawing second from the top of the page is able to float up, when water starts to over flow, on the very water itself.

The insert shows what this water release panel looks like from the inside of the unit. Item in this drawing is the curved piece of material [metal or plastic] which covers a hole in the outside of the cover [see in the drawing above] that is able, with the aid of the float attached to its bottom edge in this drawing] to rise up on any excess of water thereby opening the hole in the outside of the unit allowing it to escape.

Items and of the two inserts beneath the main drawing at the top of the page [see detail of in the bottom drawing on the page] are guides, which are riveted to the main cover, to keep the sliding section in place. Item is a rod that goes through a hole in the float Item shows the left hand guide; the right being, of course, the reverse of it

Claims (16)

1. A complete Automatic Leaf Ejecting Gutter and Water Collecting System (from roof to tank) which takes advantage of the effect gravity and surface tension have on the flow of water by means of an extension from under the roof overhang (above the normal water collecting gutter that has been lowered) which has a horizontally downward curved front protruding slightly forward over the gutter's top front edge (so that when it rains water will run down the slope from the roof and cling with surface tension to the horizontally curved front until it is released at the bottom into the gutter while at the same time gravity pulls all leaves and debris unable to follow the course of the water directly to the ground); the above gutter segment of the overall invention having special attachments to facilitate water flow at the corners (both inward and outward angles) on the upper extension ,a folded metal length attached to the water collecting gutter's top front edge designed to be adjusted to keep the gap between the upper unit and the lower gutter parallel, a downward fold at the back of the metal upper unit which comes down over the back wall of the gutter and is fixed to the fascia by means of horizontally placed key holes that slide over screws (or studs as part of vertical rectangular strips of metal both methods positioning and attaching to the fascia by means of a respective template), spacing brackets that join the centre vertical right angled length long fold immediately at the end of the downward curved portion of the upper unit (where water is delivered into the middle of the gutter) to the back section of the same which in turn is joined to the fascia by the method described, plus the upper unit has metal end caps; at the tank end of the overall system the above mentioned gutter configuration is also attached to the fascia edge of a hexagonal roof clamped to the top of supporting water tank/tanks (which depend on the leaf ejecting capability of the afore mentioned roof gutter configuration for clean water) to act as additional rain collecting surface/surfaces, both water coming from the main roof of the building and the tank roof itself enter the tank for storage the first via a pipe through the hexagonal tank roof into the hole in the tank top provided by the tank manufacturer and a second through a pipe from the tank's mini leaf ejecting system (identical in principle to that attached to the main building) which enters the tank by a pipe just below its gutter near the top, additional leaf and vermin restricting steps are incorporated into the tank part of the overall Surface Tension (leaf ejecting) system whereby a device somewhat in the shape of an upturned funnel with built in facility to allow water release should the tank reach full capacity and start to back up towards the main roof gutter, plus the roof has metal eaves to prevent birds etc. getting into the roof cavity.

2. Corner Units (as mentioned in claim which are of the same configuration as the Leaf Ejector Units, wherein these mitred Corner Units can be attached where two fascia boards meet at the corner of a building, either internal or external (as the situation requires) by means of vertical keyholes in the back enabling the Corner Unit to be placed over pre placed screws and raised into position up under the roof overhang.

3. An adjustable gutter attachment as part of the System outlined in claim 1. that fits over the top front edge of the water collecting gutter, for its full length, that enables (through adjustment) the gap between the gutter and the Leaf Ejecting Unit, above, to be lined up parallel and locked into place.

4. The complete (from roof to water tank/tanks) Automatic Surface Tension and Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter System of claim 1 wherein the back section of the Leaf Ejecting Unit, above the gutter, is attached to the fascia (for the full length of the gutter) and is of such a depth as to overlap the back wall of the gutter. The means of attaching the Leaf Ejecting Unit of claims 1 and 14, wherein the back section of the above unit has evenly spaced vertical rows of horizontal keyholes that are to be placed over screws or studs, previously screwed into or affixed to the fascia, and slid sideways (to the right) until firmly held.

6. A Template to aid in the accurate lining up of screws (if this approach be chosen see claims 1 and 5) wherein three vertical rows of horizontal keyhole shaped holes, equal to a section of the back of the Leaf Ejecting Unit, are drilled or punched into metal the same gauge as the Leaf Ejecting Unit to enable the screws to be perfectly lined up, in the fascia, and for the right screw depth to be determined (the bottom of the template also has an extra horizontal strip of metal affixed with identical holes, that line up with the bottom horizontal row of the sheet behind it, so the screw depth for the spacer brackets, of claims 1 and 11, can be set right).

7. The alternative option to dclaim 6 for fixing the Leaf Ejecting Units (to the fascia) as outlined in claims 1 and 5 wherein vertical rectangular strips of pre drilled/punched metal with holes to take the nails or countersunk screws, that will enable them to be attached to the fascia, which also have raised studs (with cup shaped heads) to enable the Leaf Ejecting Units in turn to be fixed to them.

8. A template for the alignment of the metal strips of claims 1 and 7 which consist of a sheet of metal twice the thickness (of the studded strips mentioned) with three rectangular holes (whose height is the same as the length of the strip that is to be attached to the fascia and whose width matches the same) into which these strips with holes for nailing/screwing can be placed, once the Template is positioned properly against the fascia, thereby assuring the studs are lined up accurately to the keyhole shaped holes in the back of the Leaf Ejecting Unit once the strip is nailed or screwed into place.

9. The Leaf Ejecting Unit of claim 1 wherein the top section which fits under the roof overhang is either custom bent (where the slope of the roof is practical for such) to match the angle of the customers roof or is set at a standard convenient angle that allows the rain water to first pour a short distance from the overhang onto the Leaf Ejecting Unit before running down to and around its downward front curved edge, into the gutter below. The Leaf Ejecting Unit of claims 1 and 9 wherein at the bottom of its horizontally downward curved front there is a narrow vertical straight bend in the metal (the whole system is to made from metal), which goes for the full length of the unit and is always parallel to the fascia board. 1 The Leaf Ejecting Unit of claims 1, 6, and 10 wherein a spacer bracket is attached at regular intervals to the straight bend at the bottom of the front (claim 10), by means of rivets, throughout the full length of the metal unit (as claimed in 1 and 10) plus the back of the bracket slides under a screw head or stud (as mentioned in 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8) which will join it to the back section of the Leaf Ejecting Unit fastened to the fascia.

12. End Caps (left and right), of claim 1, which go over the open ends of the upper Leaf Ejecting Units (they are of the same side configuration) to slide behind a pre placed screw head at the back, which screw when on the left side of the Leaf Ejecting Unit also locks this upper upper attachment into place stopping it from sliding left; the End Caps are also riveted to the Leaf Ejecting Unit through pre punched/drilled holes in the edge of thereof.

13. An Automatic Surface Tension Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter at the water storage end of the overall (roof to tank) clean water collecting system (claims 1,4,5, and 9) wherein a mini gutter, patterned exactly on the roof of the building gutter profile, is joined to a smaller prefabricated hexagonal roof (preferably manufactured from one piece of sheet metal) which includes eaves, to keep vermin and water out, that is affixed directly to a water tank (or tanks as the case may be) thus providing an extra surface for rain water collection.

14. A pre pressed six sided cover for the apex of the hexagonal tank roof gutter arrangement of claims 1 and 13 wherein vermin and rain is kept from entering the cavity of the above mentioned tank roof. This claim concerns the means by which the hexagonal roof with its Automatic Leaf Ejecting Gutter System (claims 1, 13, and 14) is attached to the/each water tank wherein it is joined to (by brackets and or bolted) to a circular corrugated piece of metal equivalent to the upper section of a tank, minus its top, cut off three corrugations down [see figure 13:9], which can be fitted over the tank; the circular corrugated attachment piece is not continuous but has two ends which are flattened, bent outwards, reinforced, and drilled/punched with two to three holes for bolts to go through to bring the ends in to each other (as tightly as possible) thereby firmly holding the roof structure in place.

16. The water tank mini roof (of claims 1,13, 14 and 15) wherein a short pipe from its gutter enters the tank via a hole cut through the clamping unit of claim 15 which in turn lines up with a hole in the tank of matching size to stop the whole assemble twisting horizontally while any water, from the tank roof, is also able to enter through the pipe to be stored in the tank.

17. As an extra protective measure, against splashing within the roof cavity of the tank (claims 1,13,14, and 15) or if a decision be made to go directly into a tank without the hexagonal roof arrangement of the above claims, wherein an upside down funnel shaped unit of a size, at its larger bottom end, that will fit into the water entry hole in the top of a water tank and which has incorporated into its narrow top end a pipe with a female housing facing up to receive the down pipe from the roof; thereby completely sealing up the gap between down pipe and tank eliminating all chance of debris getting into the tank's water or water splashing within the the above mentioned tank roof cavity.

18. This claim concerns the Leaf Rejecting Vermin Inhibiting Protection Funnel mentioned in claims 1 and 17 wherein the said device which fits into the water collecting hole in the top of water tanks has a vertical circumference at the bottom (the depth of the inner rim of the tank hole) and a flange at the top of this section to enable the Protection Unit (which in shape is that of an inverted funnel) to be riveted or screwed to the top of the tank (the rivets or screws go through the flange into the tank top).

19. This claim is a variation, to claim 17, that is designed to allow excess water to escape (from tanks that don't have a hexagonal roof and/or over flow pipes) wherein by means of a rectangular hole, in a now straight sided addition to the claim 17 shape (see figure 15 in the drawings), which has a sliding panel on the inside (held in place by guides) that is able to float up in the case of an extreme build up of water and open the hole so that excess water can run off and not back up into the roof gutter of the building. With plastic food quality polyethylene tanks a moulded Automatic Gravitational Leaf Ejecting Gutter System in one piece with a dome shaped roof is claimed which uses a circular gutter following the same principle as all the other Leaf Ejecting gutters throughout the system i.e. the gutters attached to the metal hexagonal mini tank roof and the main roof gutters mentioned in claims 1,13, 14, and 15, as a more practical alternative for this type of tank.

21. A modification is also claimed to both the tank and the gutter section of claim wherein slots are cut around the top of the tank [the depth of the circular Leaf Ejecting Unit and the Gutter combined, down from where the roof and side of the tank meet] and the floor of the circular gutter is sloped backwards from the front side to the back [which is against the tank] so that water doesn't have to run either to the right or the left to a down pipe but just goes straight back directly into the tank through the slots provided.