AU2014233642A1 - A Gutter Bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A gutter bracket adapted for supporting a gutter and also adapted for supporting a post of a safety barrier system relative to a building construction includes a carrier in which the gutter is receivable to be supported by the gutter bracket. A mounting formation is at one side of the carrier for fixing the gutter bracket to the building construction. A post support formation is at an opposite side of the carrier, wherein the post support formation is adapted to receive the post in a releasable manner.

Description

1 A GUTTER BRACKET FIELD [1] Various exemplary embodiments of a gutter bracket used in building construction are described herein. BACKGROUND [2] Gutter brackets supporting a gutter relative to a building construction are well known. The Queensland Government safety alert for Guard rail systems (http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/publications/alerts/guardrailsystems/index.htm#advice) sets out the requirement that "Control measures, such as a guardrail system, must be used under the law for: * housing construction work where there is a potential for a person to fall more than 3 metres; or * other construction work where there is a potential for a person to fall more than 2 metres; or * construction work on a roof, or partly completed roof surface with a slope not over 260." SUMMARY [3] Various exemplary embodiments of a gutter bracket, adapted for supporting a gutter and also adapted for supporting a post of a safety barrier system relative to a building construction, comprise a carrier in which the gutter is receivable to be supported by the gutter bracket; a mounting formation at one side of the carrier for fixing the gutter bracket to the building; and a post support formation at an opposite side of the carrier, wherein the post support formation is adapted to receive the post in a releasable manner. [4] The inventor(s) of the gutter bracket of the present application identified that gutter brackets may be adapted to have a dual function of supporting a gutter and also supporting a guardrail. The exemplary embodiments of the gutter bracket described herein are adapted to have the dual function of supporting a gutter and also supporting a guardrail in a releasable manner.

2 [5] The carrier may be shaped at least partially to bound or demarcate a zone or area in which a supported part of the gutter can be received. For example, the carrier can have a square, rectangular or arcuate profile. Thus, the carrier can conform to a transverse profile of a gutter. [6] The post support formation may be a sleeve in which the post is receivable. The mounting formation may be a foot adapted to be fixed to the building construction. [7] The bracket may include a cantilever extending from the foot to the post support formation. The cantilever, foot, and post support formation may comprise the carrier. [8] The carrier may be generally U-shaped to receive and support a box-type gutter. [9] The cantilever may be a structural member dimensioned and configured to be sufficiently rigid to support the safety barrier system. The cantilever may thus have a cross section selected from one of square, rectangular, round, I-shaped, U shaped or L-shaped. [10] Various exemplary embodiments of a combination gutter and safety barrier system comprise a safety barrier system including two or more posts; and two or more of the gutter brackets described above fixed to a building construction, the posts supported relative to the building construction by the post support formations of the gutter brackets. [11] The gutter brackets are preferably spaced along a fascia of the building construction. [12] The safety barrier system is preferably a roof edge guardrail system including a number of guardrails. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [13] Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a gutter bracket. [14] Figure 2 shows a side view of the gutter bracket.

3 [15] Figure 3 shows a three dimensional view of the gutter bracket, including screws for fixing the gutter bracket to a building member. [16] Figure 4 shows a three dimensional view of a number of the gutter brackets supporting a safety barrier system relative to a building construction, in use. [17] Figure 5 shows a three dimensional view of a clamp of the safety barrier system. [18] Figure 6 shows a three dimensional view of a joiner of the safety barrier system. [19] Figure 7 shows another three dimensional view of the safety barrier system supported by the gutter brackets, and the gutter brackets also supporting a gutter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [20] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates an exemplary embodiment of a gutter bracket. [21] The gutter bracket 10 comprises a mounting formation in the form of a foot 20, a cantilever 30 and a post support formation 40. A carrier 50 is defined between respective inwardly facing sides of the foot 20, cantilever 30 and post support formation 40. [22] The foot 20 is a generally rectangular flat metal plate. The foot 20 has a number of holes 28 therein for receiving screws 22 (shown in figure 3) to fix the foot 20 to a building construction. The foot 20 has an outer side 24 which abuts against the building construction, in use, and an inner side 26, part of which defines an inner side of the carrier 50. [23] The cantilever 30 extends from a lower end region of the foot 20. The cantilever 30 extends in a direction that is generally square with the foot 20. The cantilever 30 extends generally horizontally, in use. The cantilever 30 is fixed to the foot 20 by welding or some other fixing method, for example with mechanical fasteners. The cantilever 30 has a proximal end 32 and a distal end 34. The proximal end 32 of the cantilever 30 is fixed to the foot 20. The post support formation 40 connects to the distal end 34 of the cantilever 30. An upper side 36 of the cantilever 30 faces into a zone or area at least partially bound or demarcated by 4 the carrier 50. Thus, the carrier 50 is defined by the foot 20, the cantilever 36 and the post support formation 40. [24] The cantilever 30 supports a safety barrier system 70 as described in more detail with reference to Figure 4. The cantilever 30 is a structural member of sufficient rigidity to support the load of the safety barrier system 70 at its unsupported distal end 34. The cantilever 30 is a length of square tubing, thus being box-shaped in cross section. The cantilever 30 may alternatively be an elongate structural member having a rectangular, triangular, round, I-shaped, L-shaped, or U-shaped cross section. The post support formation 40 is fixed to the distal end 34 of the cantilever 30. The post support formation 40 extends generally upwardly from the distal end 34 of the cantilever 30. The post support formation 40 is in the form of a length of hollow square tubing. The tubing has a lower end 42 and an upper end 44. The lower end 42 is welded, or otherwise fixed, for example with mechanical fasteners, to the cantilever 30. The upper end 44 is open to receive a post. [25] The post support formation 40 is angled slightly away from the foot 20. The post support formation 40 is angled at about 50 or 100 relative to the foot 20, but may be angled at an angle, for example between 00 and 150 relative to the foot 20. [26] Referring to Figure 2, the carrier 50 is generally U-shaped for receiving a box-type gutter 80 shown in Figure 7. In one embodiment (not shown) the cantilever 30 may be of variable length as is known in the art of adjustable box gutter brackets. The box-type gutter 80 is supported by the bracket 10, in use. A floor 82 of the gutter 80 is supported on the cantilever 30. The gutter 80 is held between the foot 20 and post support formation 40. More specifically, side walls 84 of the gutter 80 abut respective inwardly facing sides of the foot 20 and post support formation 40. Although support of a box-type gutter 80 by the bracket 10 is described, it will be appreciated that the bracket 10 may have different shaped carriers, such as half round, to support different types of gutters. [27] Figure 4 shows a number of brackets 10 fixed to a fascia purlin 62 of a building construction 60. The brackets 10 are spaced relative to each other along the fascia purlin 62. The brackets 10 may similarly be fixed to a fascia board. [28] The brackets 10 support a safety barrier system 70. The safety barrier system 70 comprises a number of horizontal guardrails 72 clamped to a number of generally vertical guard posts 74. The safety barrier system 70 is supported relative to the fascia purlin 62 by the brackets 10. The posts 74 have lower ends 75 which 5 nestle or nest, sleeve-like, in the post support formations 40. The posts 74 are lengths of square tubing having an outer diameter the same or slightly less than the inner diameter of the post support formations 40. The post support formations 40 thus define sleeves for receiving lower end regions of the posts 74. In another embodiment (not shown) the posts 74 define sleeves for receiving the support formations 40. The posts 74 extend generally upwardly from the post support formations 40. [29] The safety barrier system 70 includes a number of clamps 76 for clamping the guardrails 72 to the posts 74. The clamps 76 are shown in more detail in Figure 5. The clamps 76 comprise two square sleeves 76.1, 76.2 which have openings offset at 900 relative to each other. Locking screws 77 screw into the sleeves 76.1, 76.2 to lock a post 74 and a guardrail 72, respectively, in the clamp 76 relative to each other. [30] The safety barrier system 70 further includes a number of rail joiners 78 for clamping adjacent rails 72 to each other. The rail joiners 78 are shown in more detail in Figure 6. The rail joiners 78 comprise a square sleeve 79 in which ends of the guardrails 72 are receivable in a side by side manner. A locking screw 77 clamps the ends of the guardrails 72 in the sleeve 79. [31] The bracket 10, including the foot 20, cantilever 30 and post support formation 40, is formed from a steel, in this example, galvanised steel or stainless steel. However, it is envisaged that the bracket 10 could be moulded or otherwise fabricated from a different material such as a plastics material, including a reinforced plastics material. In another example, the bracket 10, including the foot 20, cantilever 30 and post support formation 40 is formed from aluminium or an aluminium alloy. [32] The rail joiners 78 can be of any suitable material. For example, the rail joiners 78 can be of galvanized steel, aluminium or an aluminium alloy. [33] Figure 7 shows the gutter brackets 10, in use, supporting a box-type gutter 80 in the carriers 50 of the gutter brackets 10 and also supporting the safety barrier system 70. The gutter brackets 10 provide the benefit that a separate fixing system is not required for supporting a roof edge guardrail system as the gutter brackets are adapted to provide the dual function as described hereinabove.

6 [34] The gutter brackets 10, can be provided as a permanent fixture. Thus, the safety barrier system 70 can be erected or dismantled when required. Such occasions would occur when the roof requires maintenance, for example. [35] It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art. [36] Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter are described herein, textually and/or graphically. Variations (e.g., modifications and/or enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, as permitted by law, the claimed subject matter includes and covers all equivalents of the claimed subject matter and all improvements to the claimed subject matter. Moreover, every combination of the above described elements, activities, and all possible variations thereof are encompassed by the claimed subject matter unless otherwise clearly indicated herein, clearly and specifically disclaimed, or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. [37] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate one or more embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any claimed subject matter unless otherwise stated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed subject matter as essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter unless otherwise stated. [38] Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, or clearly contradicted by context, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise: 7 a. there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular described or illustrated characteristic, function, activity, or element, any particular sequence of activities, or any particular interrelationship of elements; b. no characteristic, function, activity, or element is "essential"; c. any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated; d. any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in multiple jurisdictions; and e. any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary. [39] The use of the terms "a", "an", "said", "the", and/or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. [40] Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value and each separate sub range defined by such separate values is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values there between, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all sub ranges there between, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc. [41] The use of words that indicate orientation or direction of travel is not to be considered limiting. Thus, words such as "front", "back", "rear", "side", "up", down", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "forwards", "backwards", "towards", "distal", "proximal", "in", "out" and synonyms, antonyms and derivatives thereof have been 8 selected for convenience only, unless the context indicates otherwise. The inventor envisages that various exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter can be supplied in any particular orientation and the claimed subject matter is intended to include such orientations. [42] Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent.

Claims (12)

1. A gutter bracket adapted for supporting a gutter and also adapted for supporting a post of a safety barrier system relative to a building construction, the gutter bracket comprising a carrier in which the gutter is receivable to be supported by the gutter bracket; a mounting formation at one side of the carrier for fixing the gutter bracket to the building construction; and a post support formation at an opposite side of the carrier, wherein the post support formation is adapted to receive the post in a releasable manner.

2. A gutter bracket as claimed in claim 1, in which the carrier is shaped at least partially to bound an area in which a supported part of the gutter can be received.

3. The gutter bracket of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the post support formation is a sleeve in which the post is receivable.

4. The gutter bracket of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting formation is a foot adapted to be screwed to the building construction.

5. The gutter bracket of claim 4, wherein the bracket includes a cantilever extending from the foot to the post support formation, the carrier being comprised of the cantilever, the foot, and the post support formation.

6. The gutter bracket of claim 5, wherein the carrier is generally U-shaped to receive and support a box-type gutter.

7. The gutter bracket of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the cantilever is a structural member dimensioned and configured to be sufficiently rigid to support the safety barrier system.

8. The gutter bracket of claim 7, wherein the structural member has a cross section selected from one of square, rectangular, round, I-shaped, U-shaped or L shaped. 10

9. A combination gutter and safety barrier system comprising a safety barrier system including two or more posts; two or more gutter brackets as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 fixed to a building construction, the posts supported relative to the building construction by the post support formations of the gutter brackets.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the gutter brackets are fixed in a spaced manner along a fascia of the building construction.

11. The system of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the safety barrier system is a roof edge guardrail system including a number of guardrails.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the safety barrier system includes one or more guardrails extending generally horizontally between the posts.