AU2010100555A4

AU2010100555A4 - Improved leaf screen for stormwater guttering in buildings

Info

Publication number: AU2010100555A4
Application number: AU2010100555A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lendon James Shaw
Original assignee: LENDON SHAW
Current assignee: LENDON SHAW
Priority date: 2009-06-09
Filing date: 2010-06-03
Publication date: 2010-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-03
Also published as: AU2010100555B4

Description

IMPROVED LEAF SCREEN FOR STORMWATER GUTTERING IN BUILDINGS There are a number of products designed to prevent leaves and other debris from accumulating in the storm water guttering of buildings. This invention has been specifically devised to overcome the following problems found in other products: Products where drilling, riveting, glueing and other mechanical means are required for installation - often requiring costly skilled labour. Others that are loosely fitted or wedged into guttering - rendering them prone to distortion and displacement through extremes of heat, cold and high winds. Products made of sheet materials, where leaves and debris become embedded in surface drainage holes resulting in the build-up of these materials, which are not easily removed by wind or stormwater action. Similarly, leaves and twigs readily become lodged in mesh products, resulting in a build-up of combustible materials creating a serious fire risk in bushland areas. Products that detract from the overall appearance of the guttering and/or roofline. The leaf screen, in accordance with this invention, is easily installed by one person working alone without previous experience. It comprises a modular section of sheet material , one longitudinal side of which is suitably formed to be frictionally engageable by means of 'C clips' within the outer rolled edge of guttering. A longitudinal corrugated element extends laterally, from the C clips to abut the roof tiles overhanging the guttering. At this point the material is no longer corrugated, but appropriately formed as a trough, to further extend laterally, down and under the ends of the overhanging tiles then up and over the top of the barge board - there to be securely held in place by the weight of the overhanging roof tiles. To ensure adequate drainage through the corrugated element, a series of holes are created along the entire length of each valley. The ridges of the corrugations may have small perforations and due to their substantially reduced surface area on which leaves and debris may alight, the adverse effect of capillary action is minimised. The invention is primarily designed for use with concrete roof tiles and can be adapted to metal, plastic and other forms of roofing. The leaf screen is preferably made from sheet metal - however, other sheet materials of suitable strength can be used. The invention may be better understood with reference to the illustrations of the embodiments of the invention in which: Figure 1. is a perspective view of the modular unit's construction and numerically identifies its various components. These are: The trough (8) with perforations suitably spaced along its length. The corrugated element (9) with perforations running the entire length of all the valleys. The semi-circular C clips (10) positioned at intervals along the outer longitudinal extremity of the unit, and a detailed view of the C clip showing the perforations positioned within the valleys. Figure 2. is a cross section of the modular unit (8, 9, 10), showing it in a near-vertical position (dotted), which facilitates its easy insertion into the gutter roll (11) - (detail A). By then rotating the entire unit (8,9), downward at 10/11, frictional contact between the outer surface of the C clips (10), and the inner surface of the gutter roll (11), ensures it is securely held in position (detail B). Figure 3. shows a cross-section of the modular unit (8,9) locked in position in the gutter roll (11) by the C clips (10), and on the other extremity by the weight of the roof tiles (12), sitting on the barge board (13). Positioning of the tiles (12), brings them into contact with the inner edge of the corrugated element (9), at a point below the tiles watershed valleys (14) - (dotted).

2 IMPROVED LEAF SCREEN FOR STORMWATER GUTTERING IN BUILDINGS Figure 4. is a cross-section, illustrating how contact between the bottom lip of the tiles (15) and the formed trough (8), ensures that whatever pitch the roof tiles assume (16), the corrugated element (9), automatically abuts the roof tiles at the required position below the watershed valleys (14) - (dotted). Figure 5. shows an alternate way in which the C clips (10), together with the formed element (8) can be used to produce an independent strut (16), wherein the corrugated section (9) is replaced by a perforated horizontal strip which may entail folded returns or pressed ribs Figure 6. shows how a nuinber of struts (16), positioned at intervals along the guttering (17), form a structurally sound platform on which corrugated, or any other form of leaf screening (18) can be attached. screen Figure 7. Shows a perspective view of the preferred,(19) appropriately corrugated and perforated with longitudinal undercut returns (20) on either side and illustrates how the screen (19) is attached to the front of the struts (16), then deflected up and over the back of the sturts where the screens own tensile strength holds it securely in position, aided by the abutment of the roof tile (12).

Claims

1. A leaf screen comprising modular units of self-supporting sheet material suitably formed to cover the open face of storm water guttering, wherein one longitudinal extremity embodies a number of frictionally engagable elements, 'C Clips', that are rotated into the inwardly rolled, external edge of the guttering, ensuring the 5 screen in secured in position and only removable by reversing the procedure.

2. A leaf screen, as claimed in 1 wherein a longitudinal corrugated (or ridged) element with perforations in the valleys, extends laterally from the C clip extremity to a position where it abuts the overhanging roof tiles, at this point no 10 longer corrugated, it continues laterally in the form of a trough, accommodating the projecting lip of the tiles. The remaining longitudinal extremity of the trough is then deflected horizontally to a position on top of the barge board to which the gutter is mounted. 15

3. A leaf screen, according to any claims in I and 2, wherein the arc of the trough is constructed so as to be in contact with the bottom lip of the tiles, ensuring that whatever pitch the roof tiles assume, the corrugated drainage element automatically abuts the roof tiles at a predetermined position below the watershed valleys of the tiles. 20

4. A leaf screen, as in any claims 1-3, is formed of the two functionally discreet components, being a 'strut' and a corrugated perforated 'screen' module. The strut is comprised of a strip of material formed in a profile similar to the section of the modular screen, excluding the corrugations, but including the C clip profile. It 25 is perforated and may incorporate folded returns or pressed ribs in the larger horizontal surface. The screen is comprised of a perforated, corrugated/ridged element, with the addition of an undercut return on either side of the corrugated section, one return being substantially longer than the other, enabling it to be clipped over the front and back of the large horizontal surface of the strut, 30 ensuring secure attachment which is further enhanced by abutment to the overhanging tiles.

5. A leaf screen substantially as herein before described with reference to figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. 35