AU2012100409A4 - A gutter or tube former - Google Patents

Abstract

In one aspect the invention resides in a gutter former for forming a freely suspended gutter 5 from a valance of a retractable fabric roof or awning comprising: first and second substantially circular bands: the first band being incomplete and having a gap defined by a pair of opposed ends: the second band being completely dosed and of a smaller size adapted to fit wholly within the first band; the second band joined to one of the ends to form a blind slop defined by the inner wall of the first band and the outer wall of the second band wherein in use the valance is inserted into the slots of a number of spaced gutter formers wherein the gutter so formed is self supporting and suspended solely by the fabric of the awning without need of fastening to the awning tube or 15 fasia. In another aspect the invention resides in a tube former to form a pipe or tube from sheet material comprising first and second substantially circular bands; 20 the first band being incomplete and having a gap defined by a pair of opposed ends; the second band being completely closed and of a smaller size adapted to fit wholly within the first band; 25 the second band joined to one of the ends to form a blind slot defined by the inner wall of the first band and the outer wall of the second band, wherein in use, sheet material is inserted into the slots of a plurality of spaced tube formersto form a soft walled tube or pipe. -9-

Description

INNOVATION PATENT APPLCATION A GUTTEROR TUEE FORMER FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to recreational vehicles and mobile homes, in particular but not exclusively to a gutter former for forming a rainwater gutter for a fabric roof or awning. This invention also relates to the use of the gutter former asa tube former for forming a tube or pipe from sheet or fabric material. 10 BACGROUND ART There is demand in the mobile home and recreational vehicle industries to provide demountable fabric roofs and awnings and to enlarge living areas by the use of annexes attached to or suspended from the roofs and awnings. 15 There is also great interest in the collection of rainwater from the roofs and awnings to supplement water supplies when camping in remote or rural locations. In the simplest cases this can involve a fabric pop-out roof or retractable awning which usually includes an extra portion of fabric commonly known as a valance to cover the front tube or fascia of the awning 20 or roof. There have been several prior art attempts at converting the valance into a fabric gutter by the use of dipping deviceswhich attach to the front or awning tube. Typical examples of the prior art are CA 2701209 Al and US20110253182 Al (Mowatt J.) which disclose a rain trough dip for a recreational vehicle awning. This invention includes a generally cylindrical main body of an elastically resilient material having a circumferential gap to facilitate mounting of the 25 main body around the awning reel of a recreational vehicle awning assembly of the type having a flexible valance sheet extending downward from the outer edge of the awning reel. The rain trough support dip also has an outrigger member extending outwardly from a lower region of the main body, with an upturned portion forming a generally u-shaped space between the outrigger and the main body. When a number of these clips are mounted along the reel the 30 valance can be formed into a gutter for receiving runoff from the awning. - 1 - In most cases of the prior art such dips mounted to the reel results in further complicating the fixing of an annexe sheet suspended from the reel. This is because the track or groove on the underside of the reel through which a rope bead of the annexe is pulled through is blocked by the clips. Furthermore, where such prior art dips are used to engage the awning tube by a 5 resilient elastic action, the weight of a full gutter and/or heavy wind can cause the gutter to dislodge and unravel from the awning. In another aspect, there is often a need particularly in the building or construction industry for a flexible or soft tube or pipe to convey dust or other particulate material. While there are prior 10 art tubes such as corrugated tubes these are difficult to adapt to a particular application where a rapid solution is required. There istherefore a need to be able to fabricate a soft tube or pipe on site as required for urgent or immediate application. OBJT OF THE INVENTION 15 It is the object of the present invention to ameliorate or eliminate one or more of the prior art problemsor to at least provide the publicwith a useful choice: STATBM ENT OF THE I INVENTION 20 In one aspect the invention resides in a gutter former for forming a freely suspended gutter from a valance of a retractable fabric roof or awning comprising; first and second substantially circular bands; 25 the first band being incomplete and having a gap defined by a pair of opposed ends; the second band being completely dosed and of a smaller size adapted to fit wholly within the first band; -2the second band joined to one of the ends to form a blind slot defined by the inner wall of the first band and the outer wall of the second band wherein in use the valance is inserted into the slots of a number of spaced gutter formers wherein the gutter so formed is self supporting and suspended solely by the fabric of the awning without need of fastening to an awning tube or 5 fascia. In another aspect the invention resides in a tube former to form a pipe or tube from sheet or fabric material comprising: 10 first and second substantially circular bands; the first band being incomplete and having a gap defined by a pair of opposed ends; the second band being completely closed and of a smaller size adapted to fit wholly within the 15 first band; the second band joined to one of the ends to form a blind slot defined by the inner wall of the first band and the outer wall of the second band, wherein in use, sheet material is inserted into the slots of a plurality of spaced tube formersto form a soft walled tube or pipe. 20 preferably the outer wall of the first band has a corrugated or patterned surface to improve frictional contact with the fascia or front tube thereby increasing resistance to unfurling or unravelling of the gutter when filled with water. 25 More preferably both inner and outer walls of both first and second bands, respectively, have corrugations or patterned surfaces wherein the fabric inserted into the slot between the bands is positively gripped or pinched between the surfaces. In the case of the gutter, the weight of the gutter filled with water compresses the gutter formers against the fascia or front tube which further narrows the slot. 30 preferably the gutter and tube formers are extruded or moulded from polycarbonate plastic such as Perspex

TM

or Rexiglass

TM

. -3- In the alternative, the gutter and tube farmers can be made from a suitable metal such as aluminium or spring steel. BRI EF DESJ PTION OF DRAWINGS 5 In order that the invention is better understood and put into practical effect, reference is made to the accompanying drawingswherein: Figure 1 shows a preferred example of the gutter or tube former according to the invention Figure 2 shows the gutter former of Figure 1 in use, and Figure 3 shows a fabric roof with a rainwater gutter. 10 Figure 4 shows a tube or pipe former in use according to the invention. DETAJ LED DESClPT ION OF DRAWING Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a perspective pictorial representation of a preferred gutteror tube former 10 according to the invention. The gutter or tube former comprises a first 15 outer circular band 12 and a second inner circular band 14. The first band being incomplete with a gap defined by two ends 12a, 12b. The second band is a completely dosed loop or ring which is concentrically located within the first or outer band 12b. The inner and outer bands are joined together at one end of the outer band. This forms a blind-ended slot 16 between both bands into which a fabric valance or sheet material (not shown) can be fed. The inner and outer 20 bands are shown with complementary corrugated portions 18 and 20, 22 and 24, 26 and 28, 30 and 32, adapted to grip the fabric (not shown). -4- Figure 2 shows the gutter former 10 of Figure 1 in operation. The fabric valance 34 has been inserted into the blind slot 16 defined by the outer first band 12 and the inner second band 14. The gutter 36 so formed is supported against the awning tube 38 by being suspended solely by the fabric of the valance 40 without need for any temporary dips or permanent fasteners. This 5 is a significant advantage over the prior art as it does not block the groove 38a in the awning tube which can be used to support an annexe wall sheet. As the gutter fills with rainwater the increased weight compresses the gutter formers against the awning tube which also narrows the slot 16 to increase the gripping action. 10 Figure 3 shows a fabric roof or awning 42 having a rainwater gutter 44 according to the invention. In this view the gutter formed by use of the gutter formers 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 is supporting against the awning tube. As the gutter is filled with water, the weight of the water causes the gutter to press against the awning tube thereby further stabilising the gutter. As previously described, the gutter formers are independent of any outrigger clips or permanent 15 fastenings to the awning tube which allows the use of an annexe sheet 60 to be mounted from the awning tube. Figure 4 shows the invention as a pipe or tube former. A flexible or soft walled pipe can be fabricated from a number of spaced tube formers 62, 64. Sheet material 66 or fabric isfed into 20 the blind slot 62a, 64a defined by the outer first 62b, 64b and inner second bands 62c, 64c. As previously described, the outer band is incomplete with a gap defined by a pair of opposed ends 62d, 62e, 64d, 64e. The inner band is complete and is joined to the outer band at one of the ends62e, 64e. It will be obvious that the tube formers 62, 64 are in reverse relation to each other to support the dosed tube or pipe 70. The diameter or size of the pipe will be determined 25 by the dimensions of the outer and inner bands and that the slot can be made narrower or wider depending on the sheet material being used to form the tube or pipe. -5- VARllAONS It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of 5 this invention as is herein set forth. In the specification the terms "comprising" and "containing" shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integersor steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or 10 step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the terms "comprising" and "containing" such as "omprise", "comprises', "contain" and "contains'. 15 20 -6-

Claims (6)

1. A gutter former for forming a freely suspended gutter from a valance of a retractable fabric 5 roof or awning comprising: first and second substantially circular bands; the first band being incomplete and having a gap defined by a pair of opposed ends; 10 the second band being completely dosed and of a smaller size adapted to fit wholly within the first band; the second band joined to one of the ends to form a blind slop defined by the inner wall of 15 the first band and the outer wall of the second band wherein in use the valance is inserted into the slots of a number of spaced gutter formers wherein the gutter so formed is self supporting and suspended solely by the fabricof the awning without need of fastening to an awning tube or fascia. 20

2. A tube former to form a pipe or tube from sheet material comprising first and second substantially circular bands; the first band being incomplete and having a gap defined by a pair of opposed ends; 25 the second band being completely closed and of a smaller size adapted to fit wholly within the first band; the second band joined to one of the ends to form a blind slot defined the inner wall of the first band and the outer wall of the second band, wherein in use, sheet material is inserted 30 into the slotsof a plurality of spaced tube formers to form a soft walled tube or pipe.

3. A gutter former as claimed in aaim 1 wherein the outer wall of the first band has a corrugated or patterned surface to improve frictional contact with the fascia or awning tube -7- thereby increasing resistance to unfurling or unravelling of the gutter when filled with water.

4. A gutter former or tube former as claimed in any of the above claims wherein both inner 5 and outer walls of both first and second bands, respectively, have corrugations or patterned surfaces wherein the fabric or sheet material inserted into the slot between the bands is positively gripped or pinched between the surfaces.

5. A gutter former or tube former as claimed in any of the above claims extruded or moulded 10 from polycarbonate plastic.

6. A gutter former or tube former as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 made from aluminium or spring steel. 15 - 8-