AU2018278998A1 - Gutter spacer and gutter spacer assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A gutter spacer for locating between the rear wall of a rainwater gutter and an upright surface of a building, such as a roof fascia, and a gutter spacer assembly that includes the gutter spacer are disclosed. The gutter spacer includes a body portion configured for locating between the rear wall of the gutter and the upright surface of the building for maintaining a gap therebetween to allow water overflowing the rear wall of the gutter to pass between the gutter and the upright surface of the building, and a head portion located at an upper end of the body portion that includes a flange member that is positioned to engage and be supported by one of a plurality of spaced apart projections on a first leg of a spring clip to hold the gutter spacer in a selected one of a plurality of holding positions relative to the spring clip. 181c 105 181 b 18111a 170 43 3 20 23 31 40 44a 24 A1944b 4 42 44c

Description

GUTTER SPACER AND GUTTER SPACER ASSEMBLY

Technical Field [0001] The invention relates to a gutter spacer and a gutter spacer assembly that is adapted to locate the gutter spacer between a rear wall of a rainwater gutter and an upright surface of a building, such as a fascia, to maintain a gap between the gutter and the fascia to allow for water overflowing the rear wall of the gutter to pass between the gutter and the fascia.

Background of Invention [0002] Rainwater incident on roof surfaces is typically collected in guttering mounted to an upright surface of the building, such as a fascia, directly beneath an edge of the roof surface. Rainwater guttering is often comprised of sheet steel that is formed into a channel shape comprising a base, a front wall and a rear wall upstanding from the base thereby forming an open-top channel therewithin. The top of the channel is open to allow rainwater running off the roof surface to be collected in the guttering and channelled away.

[0003] The front wall of modern guttering often has a height above the base that is greater than the height of the rear wall of the guttering to enhance the visual appeal of the guttering by obscuring the edge of the roof surface and any means for fastening the guttering to the building. Typically, guttering is fixed to a fascia board that is an upright panel member located immediately below and inboard from the edge of the roof surface. Fascia boards can be comprised of a roll-formed metal profile or from timber board.

[0004] In modern guttering, where the front wall of the guttering is higher than the rear wall of the guttering (often referred to as “high front guttering”) and where the guttering is fixed hard against the fascia, water can overflow the rear wall of the guttering and enter the roof cavity between the roof surface and the top of the fascia. Such overflow of rainwater can occur during a high intensity rainwater event or in the event of a blockage in a downpipe thus preventing drainage of water from the guttering channel. When an overflow event does occur, the rainwater can overflow

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 above the fascia and into the roof cavity which is not desirable as it can cause damage to the building.

[0005] Some high front guttering installations may not allow for rainwater overflow to go anywhere other than over the top of the fascia and into the roof cavity. Others may cater for rainwater overflow by providing an overflow slot in the front wall of the guttering. Regardless, there is a need for an effective means for allowing rainwater overflow in new rainwater guttering installations to be channelled somewhere other than over the fascia board and into the roof cavity. There is also a need for a solution to the problem of existing roof guttering installations having little or no effective means for allowing rainwater overflow to go anywhere other than over the top of the fascia and into the roof cavity.

[0006] The present invention seeks to provide a gutter spacer and a gutter spacer assembly, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

Summary of Invention [0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a gutter spacer for locating between the rear wall of a rainwater gutter and an upright surface of a building, such as a roof fascia, the gutter spacer including:

[0008] a body portion configured for locating between the rear wall of the gutter and the upright surface of the building for maintaining a gap therebetween to allow water overflowing the rear wall of the gutter to pass between the gutter and the upright surface of the building; and [0009] a head portion located at an upper end of the body portion that includes a flange member that is positioned to engage and be supported by one of a plurality of spaced apart projections on a first leg of a spring clip to hold the gutter spacer in a selected one of a plurality of holding positions relative to the spring clip.

[0010] In one embodiment, the flange member is oriented at an angle that is complementary to an angle of each of the plurality of spaced apart projections.

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 [0011] In one embodiment, the spring clip includes a second leg and a web extending between and connected to the first leg and the second leg to define a generally U-shaped profile, and wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart projections on the first leg is oriented inwardly and upwardly toward the web.

[0012] In one embodiment, each of the plurality of spaced apart projections is oriented at an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the orientation of the first leg.

[0013] In one embodiment, the head portion of the gutter spacer includes means for catching an upper edge of the rear wall of the gutter to support the gutter spacer at the gutter.

[0014] In one embodiment, the means for catching the upper edge of the rear wall of the gutter includes a pair of laterally spaced apart hook shaped members located either side of the flange member.

[0015] In one embodiment, the body portion includes a pan adapted for contacting the upright surface of the building and a pair of laterally opposing side portions extending outwardly from the pan adapted to contact the rear wall of the gutter, wherein a thickness of the gap maintained between the rear wall of the gutter and the upright surface of the building is defined by the depth of the side portions extending outwardly from the pan.

[0016] In one embodiment, the head portion of the gutter spacer further includes a pair of laterally spaced apart stiffener members for engaging and supporting a front wall of the gutter.

[0017] In one embodiment, the stiffener members are located either side of the laterally spaced apart hook shaped members.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a gutter spacer assembly for mounting a rainwater gutter to an upright surface of a building, such as a roof fascia, the gutter spacer assembly including:

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 [0019] a gutter spacer configured for locating between a rear wall of the gutter and the fascia and including a body portion having a thickness for maintaining a gap between the rear wall of the gutter and the fascia to allow water overflowing the rear wall of the gutter to pass between the gutter and the fascia and a head portion located at an upper end of the body portion; and [0020] a spring clip including a pair of spaced apart legs and a web extending between and connected to the legs to define a generally U-shaped profile, a first of the legs being adapted to engage a front surface of the rear wall of the gutter and a second of the legs being adapted to engage a rear surface of the fascia to thereby support the gutter in relation to the fascia, wherein the first leg includes a plurality of projections disposed in spaced apart arrangement, [0021] wherein, when the gutter spacer assembly is assembled, the head portion of the gutter spacer includes a flange member that is positioned to engage and be supported by one of the plurality of spaced apart projections on the first leg of the spring clip to hold the gutter spacer in a selected one of a plurality of holding positions relative to the spring clip.

[0022] In one embodiment, the flange member is oriented at an angle that is complementary to an angle of each of the plurality of spaced apart projections.

[0023] In one embodiment, each of the plurality of spaced apart projections on the first leg is oriented inwardly and upwardly toward the web.

[0024] In one embodiment, each of the plurality of spaced apart projections is oriented at an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the orientation of the first leg.

[0025] In one embodiment, the head portion of the gutter spacer includes means for catching an upper edge of the rear wall of the gutter to support the gutter spacer at the gutter.

[0026] In one embodiment, the means for catching the upper edge of the rear wall of the gutter includes a pair of laterally spaced apart hook shaped members located either side of the flange member.

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 [0027] In one embodiment, the body portion includes a pan adapted for contacting the upright surface of the building and a pair of laterally opposing side portions extending outwardly from the pan adapted to contact the rear wall of the gutter, wherein a thickness of the gap maintained between the rear wall of the gutter and the upright surface of the building is defined by the depth of the side portions extending outwardly from the pan.

[0028] In one embodiment, the head portion of the gutter spacer further includes a pair of laterally spaced apart stiffener members for engaging and supporting a front wall of the gutter.

[0029] In one embodiment, the stiffener members are located either side of the laterally spaced apart hook shaped members.

[0030] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of Drawings [0031] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0032] Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate various views of a gutter spacer assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0033] Figs. 5 to 11 illustrate various views of a gutter spacer part of the gutter spacer assembly of Figs. 1 to 4;

[0034] Figs. 12 to 14 illustrate various views of a spring clip part of the gutter spacer assembly of Figs. 1 to 4;

[0035] Figs. 15 to 17 illustrate various views of a guttering assembly comprising a channel-shaped gutter fastened to a fascia of a building, in which the gutter spacer assembly of Figs 1 to 4 is mounted to a rear wall of the gutter by the spring clip of Figs. 12 to 14, such that the gutter spacer of Figs. 5 to 11 is located between the gutter and the fascia;

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 [0036] Figs. 18 to 20 illustrate various views of a gutter spacer assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0037] Figs. 21 to 22 illustrate various views of a gutter spacer part of the gutter spacer assembly of Figs. 18 to 20; and [0038] Figs. 23 to 25 illustrate various views of a guttering assembly comprising a channel-shaped gutter fastened to a fascia of a building, in which the gutter spacer assembly of Figs 18 to 20 is mounted to a rear wall of the gutter by the spring clip of Figs. 12 to 14, such that the gutter spacer of Figs. 21 to 22 is located between the gutter and the fascia.

Detailed Description [0039] It is to be understood that the following description is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the above description.

[0040] The present invention is predicated on the finding of a gutter spacer assembly, that when installed as one of a plurality of gutter spacer assemblies along a length of a channel shaped gutter 20 fastened to a fascia 30 of a building, defines and maintains a gap between a rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the fascia 30 to allow for any water overflowing the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 to pass between the gutter 20 and the fascia 30 to prevent the water from damaging the building.

[0041] Guttering Assembly [0042] Referring firstly to Figures 15 to 17, there is shown a guttering assembly 10. The guttering assembly 10 includes an elongate channel-shaped gutter 20 mounted to an upright surface of a building, shown in the form of an elongate fascia 30, by way of a spring clip 40, which as described in the relevant section below, forms part of a gutter spacer assembly 5. Further description of the fascia 30 is provided below.

[0043] The gutter 20 is comprised of a roll-formed sheet metal channel comprising a base 22, a front wall 24 and a rear wall 26 wherein the front wall 24 and the rear

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 wall 26 are upstanding from the base 22. The base 22, the front wall 24 and the rear wall 26 together define a channel having an open top to allow rainwater running off a roof structure (not shown) and roof cladding (not shown) thereof to be collected in the channel and thereby channelled away to a drainpipe (not shown) at an end of the gutter 20 for drainage purposes. As shown in, for example, Figure 15, the front wall 24 of the gutter 20 has a height above the base 22 which exceeds the height of the rear wall 26. The rear wall 26 has an upper edge 23 comprising a rib or lip 25 which is formed by providing a fold along the upper edge 23 of the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20. The front wall 24 has an inwardly rolled portion at a terminal end thereof, the purpose of which will become apparent in the relevant section below.

[0044] Gutter Spacer Assembly [0045] Referring next to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a gutter spacer assembly 5 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The gutter spacer assembly 5 is comprised of two parts, namely, a gutter spacer 60 and the spring clip 40 mentioned briefly above.

[0046] Referring specifically to Figures 12 to 14, the spring clip 40 comprises a pair of spaced apart legs 42, 44 connected to each other by a web 43. As shown in, for example, the side-on view of the spring clip 40 in Figure 14, the spring clip 40 has an irregular U-shaped profile. One of the legs 42 is adapted to engage the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the other leg 44 is adapted to engage a rear surface 32 of the fascia 30 such that the web 43 extending between the legs 42, 44 straddles an upper flange 31 of the fascia 30 and the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20. The leg 42 that engages the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 includes a plurality of inwardly projecting tabs 41 disposed along the length of the leg 42 in a staggered, spaced apart arrangement. These inwardly projecting tabs 41 are ideally formed by a stamping process, whereby the stamped projections 41 are then folded inwardly toward the other leg 44 so that they are angled upwardly toward the web 43, with an angle that falls within a range of between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the orientation of the leg 42. The other leg 44 of the spring clip 40 is shaped to include an inwardly sloping upper portion 44a extending to substantially vertically extending intermediate portion 44b which in turn extends to an inwardly extending lower portion

2018278998 14 Dec 2018

44c. The web 43 of the spring clip 40 is adapted to rest on at least a portion of the upper flange 31 of the fascia 30 which extends rearwardly from a front surface 33 of the fascia 30. The upper portion 44a of the leg 44 extends inwardly from the web 43 and the flange 31 of the fascia 30. The intermediate portion 44b of the leg 44 is adapted to be spaced apart from the rear surface 32 of the fascia 30 and the lower portion 44c is adapted to engage the rear surface 32 of the fascia 30.

[0047] In a preferred form, the spring clip 40 is manufactured from a sheet metal such as spring steel that is either stainless steel or steel that has been coated in a suitable weather resistant coating such as a zinc, zinc/aluminium or zinc/iron coating. Thus, given the natural springiness of such materials, the spring clip 40 is clearly designed to clench the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the front surface 33 of the fascia 30 together.

[0048] Referring specifically to Figures 5 to 11, the gutter spacer 60 includes a body portion 65 comprised of an elongate pan 67 bounded on laterally opposite side edges by a pair of longitudinally extending side portions 62, 63 (hereinafter referred to as walls) extending outwardly in an upstanding fashion from the pan 67. As will become apparent from the foregoing description, the height of the walls 62, 63 above the pan 67 defines a thickness of the body portion 65 of the gutter spacer 60, such that when the gutter spacer 60 is located between the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the front surface 33 of the fascia 30, the body portion 65 thickness defines the size of the overflow gap maintained therebetween by the gutter spacer 60.

[0049] The gutter spacer 60 further includes a head portion 66 located at an upper end of the body portion 65, that comprises means for catching the upper edge 23 of the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and means for cooperating with a corresponding spring clip 40 to allow the gutter 20 to be mounted to the fascia 30 of a building with a gentle downward slope. The head portion 66 is comprised of a web 64 that is integrally formed with an upper edge of the pan 67, and folded over at a generally orthogonal angle relative to a front face of the pan 67. The means for catching the upper edge 23 of the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart tabs 68, 69 extending downwardly from a longitudinal edge of the web 64. Each of the two tabs 68, 69 is folded over at a generally midway point of the tabs 68, 69 in

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 an inwardly direction towards the front face of the pan 67 to define an upwardly angled hook at the terminal end of each tab 68, 69 that is configured to locate underneath the upper edge 23 of the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20.

[0050] As shown in Figures 5 to 11, the means that allows the gutter spacer 60 to cooperate with a corresponding spring clip 40 takes the form of a flange 70 that is integrally formed with the longitudinal edge of the web 64 and disposed substantially between the pair of laterally spaced apart tabs 68, 69. The flange 70 extends downwardly from the longitudinal edge of the web 64 at an angle relative to the front face of the pan 67 that is complementary to the angle of the plurality of projections 41 on the first leg 42 of the spring clip 40, namely, an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the orientation of the pan 67.

[0051] In a preferred form, the gutter spacer 60 is manufactured from a sheet metal such as steel that is either stainless steel or steel that has been coated in a suitable weather resistant coating such as a zinc, zinc/aluminium or zinc/iron coating.

[0052] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, when the gutter spacer 60 and the spring clip 40 parts are assembled to form the gutter spacer assembly 5, the flange 70 is suitably angled to locate and be supported on an upper surface of one of the plurality of inwardly projecting tabs 41 on the inner surface of the leg 42 of the spring clip 40.

[0053] Referring to Figures 15 to 17, the gutter 20 is installed at the fascia 30 of a building by firstly locating the gutter spacer 60 between the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the fascia 30 such that the two laterally spaced apart arms 68, 69 hook under the upper edge 23 of the rear wall 26. The spring clip 40 is then mounted so that it straddles the fascia 30, the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the gutter spacer 60 located therebetween. In this respect, the web 43 of the spring clip 40 rests on at least a portion of the upper flange 31 of the fascia 30, while the lower portion 44c of one leg 44 engages the rear surface 32 of the fascia 30, and the lower portion 42a of the other leg 42 engages an inner surface of the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20. As indicated above, by virtue of the natural springiness of the sheet metal used in the manufacture of the spring clip 40, the lower portions 42a, 44c of the two legs 42, 44 act against the inner surface of the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the front surface

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 of the fascia 30, respectively, to clamp the body portion 65 of the gutter spacer 60 therebetween to define an overflow gap.

[0054] With specific reference to the inset image shown in Figure 15, when the spring clip 40 is mounted over the already mounted gutter spacer 60, the flange 70 of the gutter spacer 60 can be supported on an upper surface of any one of the inwardly projecting spaced apart tabs 41 on the inner surface of the leg 42 of the spring clip 40 to hold the gutter spacer 60 in a selected one of a plurality of holding positions relative to the spring clip 40.

[0055] As will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art, when a gutter 20 is installed at the fascia 30 of a building, it is necessary to angle the gutter 20 to create a gentle downward slope or more accurately a fair, to allow any water captured in the gutter 20 to be channelled toward a downpipe (not shown) at one end of the gutter 20 to allow the water to flow into a drainage system to thereby prevent the gutter 20 from overflowing.

[0056] With this in mind, and with reference to Figures 15 to 17, when a plurality of gutter spacer assemblies 5 are mounted along the length of the gutter 20 in use, the flange 70 of a first gutter spacer 60 located at one end of the gutter 20 is supported on the upper surface of the highest positioned inwardly projecting tabs 41 on the leg 42 of a corresponding spring clip 40 to realise a first holding position, or highest holding position. Then with each successive gutter spacer assembly 5 positioned along the length of the gutter 20, the flange 70 of each corresponding gutter spacer 60 is supported on the upper surface of the next highest positioned inwardly projecting tab 41 of the corresponding spring clip 40, and so on, until the flange 70 of the last gutter spacer 60 mounted along the length of the gutter 20 is supported on the lowest inwardly projecting tab 41 of the corresponding spring clip 40, or lowest holding position. By virtue of this arrangement, the gutter 20 is mounted to the fascia 30 with a gradual slope to allow any collected rainwater within the gutter 20 to flow downwardly toward the end of the gutter 20 under gravity.

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 [0057] Second Gutter Spacer Assembly [0058] Figures 18 to 20 illustrate various views of a second gutter spacer assembly 105 in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention. The gutter spacer assembly 105 is similarly comprised of two parts, namely, a gutter spacer 160 and the spring clip 40 described above.

[0059] As shown in Figures 21 to 22, the gutter spacer 160 shares many similarities to the gutter spacer 65 described above and includes a body portion 165 comprised of a pan 167 bounded on laterally opposite side edges by a pair of longitudinally extending side portions 162, 163 (hereinafter referred to as walls) extending outwardly in an upstanding fashion from the pan 167. Again, the height of the walls 162, 163 above the pan 167 defines a thickness of the body portion 165 of the gutter spacer 160, such that when the gutter spacer 160 is located between the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the front surface 33 of the fascia 30, the body portion 165 thickness defines the size of the overflow gap maintained therebetween by the gutter spacer 160.

[0060] A head portion 166 of the second gutter spacer 160 located at an upper end of the body portion 165 comprises the same means as the first gutter spacer 60 for catching the upper edge 23 of the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the same means for cooperating with a corresponding spring clip 40 to allow the gutter 20 to be mounted to the fascia 30 of a building with a gentle downward slope. That is, the head portion 166 comprises a web 164 that is integrally formed with an upper edge of the pan 167, and folded over at a generally orthogonal angle relative to a front face of the pan 167, a pair of laterally spaced apart tabs 168, 169 extending downwardly from a longitudinal edge of the web 164, folded over at a generally midway point of the tabs 168, 169 in an inwardly direction towards the front face of the pan 167 to define an upwardly angled hook at the terminal end of each tab 168, 169, and a flange 170 that is integrally formed with the longitudinal edge of the web 164 and disposed substantially between the pair of laterally spaced apart tabs 168, 169, that extends downwardly from the longitudinal edge of the web 164 at an acute angle relative to the front face of the pan 167.

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 [0061] As shown in Figures 21 to 22, the main difference between the two gutter spacers 60, 160 occurs at the head portion 166 of the second gutter spacer 160, in which the web 164 is longer in a lateral sense than the web 64 of the first gutter spacer 60 to define two laterally opposing side portions, each of which extends beyond a corresponding one of the two laterally spaced apart tabs 168, 169. The head portion 166 further comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart stiffener arms 180, 181, each of which is integrally formed with a respective one of the two side portions of the web 164. Each of the two arms 180, 181 has a corresponding first portion 180a, 181a that extends outwardly at a generally orthogonal angle relative to a front face of the pan 167. After a short distance, the two first portions 180a, 181a of the arms 180, 181 are each bent in an upwardly direction to define a corresponding angled portion 180b, 181b that then terminates at an end portion 180c, 181c thereof, which is bent in an upwardly direction again at a generally orthogonal angle relative to the angled portion 180b, 181b of the corresponding arm 180, 181.

[0062] In a preferred form, the gutter spacer 160 is manufactured from a sheet metal such as steel that is either stainless steel or steel that has been coated in a suitable weather resistant coating such as a zinc or zinc/aluminium coating.

[0063] As shown in Figures 23 to 25, when the gutter spacer assembly 105 is used to fasten the gutter 20 to the fascia 30 of a building, the two stiffener arms 180, 181 are each configured to support the gutter 20 at the front wall 24 by virtue of the end portion 180c, 181c of each arm 180, 181 being located within the inwardly rolled end portion of the front wall 24.

[0064] Advantages [0065] In addition to the advantage outlined above in respect of providing an overflow gap, the embodiments of the present invention are also advantageous in that when the gutter spacer 60, as representative of the two gutter spacers 60, 160, is installed, the space between the rear wall 26 of the gutter 20 and the front face of the pan 67, as defined by the two longitudinally extending walls 62, 63 upstanding from the front face of the pan 67, acts as a channel that allows rainwater to flow down through the gutter spacer 60, rather than around the spacer as is typical of conventional solid-type spacers used in the industry. This flowthrough precludes the

2018278998 14 Dec 2018 build-up of rainwater at the spacers and the likelihood of rainwater damage to the fascia 30 occurring as a result.

[0066] Other Embodiments [0067] It will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art that the two gutter spacer assemblies 5, 105 are not limited to the descriptions provided above, but may include other forms.

[0068] For instance, in other embodiments, the spring clip 40 and the two gutter spacers 60, 160 are not limited to being manufactured from steel, but may instead be manufactured from another sheet metal or metal alloy such as brass, aluminium or the like, that exhibits good weather-resistance and is of low cost to manufacture.

[0069] In other embodiments, the spring clip 40 and the two gutter spacers 60, 160 may also be manufactured from a sheet metal such as steel that has been coated with a polymer such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

[0070] While the invention has been described in conjunction with a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications and variations in light of the foregoing description are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed.

Claims (18)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A gutter spacer for locating between the rear wall of a rainwater gutter and an upright surface of a building, such as a roof fascia, the gutter spacer including:

   - a body portion configured for locating between the rear wall of the gutter and the upright surface of the building for maintaining a gap therebetween to allow water overflowing the rear wall of the gutter to pass between the gutter and the upright surface of the building; and

   - a head portion located at an upper end of the body portion that includes a flange member that is positioned to engage and be supported by one of a plurality of spaced apart projections on a first leg of a spring clip to hold the gutter spacer in a selected one of a plurality of holding positions relative to the spring clip.
2. 2. A gutter spacer according to claim 1, wherein the flange member is oriented at an angle that is complementary to an angle of each of the plurality of spaced apart projections.
3. 3. A gutter spacer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring clip includes a second leg and a web extending between and connected to the first leg and the second leg to define a generally U-shaped profile, and wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart projections on the first leg is oriented upwardly toward the web.
4. 4. A gutter spacer according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart projections is oriented at an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the orientation of the first leg.
5. 5. A gutter spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head portion of the gutter spacer includes means for catching an upper edge of the rear wall of the gutter to support the gutter spacer at the gutter.
6. 6. A gutter spacer according to claim 5, wherein the means for catching the upper edge of the rear wall of the gutter includes a pair of laterally spaced apart hook shaped members located either side of the flange member.

   2018278998 14 Dec 2018
7. 7. A gutter spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion includes a pan adapted for contacting the upright surface of the building and a pair of laterally opposing side portions extending outwardly from the pan adapted to contact the rear wall of the gutter, wherein a thickness of the gap maintained between the rear wall of the gutter and the upright surface of the building is defined by the depth of the side portions extending outwardly from the pan.
8. 8. A gutter spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head portion of the gutter spacer further includes a pair of laterally spaced apart stiffener members for engaging and supporting a front wall of the gutter.
9. 9. A gutter spacer according to claim 8, wherein the stiffener members are located either side of the laterally spaced apart hook shaped members.
10. 10. A gutter spacer assembly for mounting a rainwater gutter to an upright surface of a building, such as a roof fascia, the gutter spacer assembly including:

    - a gutter spacer configured for locating between a rear wall of the gutter and the fascia and including a body portion having a thickness for maintaining a gap between the rear wall of the gutter and the fascia to allow water overflowing the rear wall of the gutter to pass between the gutter and the fascia and a head portion located at an upper end of the body portion; and

    - a spring clip including a pair of spaced apart legs and a web extending between and connected to the legs to define a generally U-shaped profile, a first of the legs being adapted to engage a front surface of the rear wall of the gutter and a second of the legs being adapted to engage a rear surface of the fascia to thereby support the gutter in relation to the fascia, wherein the first leg includes a plurality of projections disposed in spaced apart arrangement, wherein when the gutter spacer assembly is assembled, the head portion of the gutter spacer includes a flange member that is positioned to engage and be supported by one of the plurality of spaced apart projections on the first leg of the spring clip to hold the gutter spacer in a selected one of a plurality of holding positions relative to the spring clip.

    2018278998 14 Dec 2018
11. 11. A gutter spacer assembly according to claim 10, wherein the flange member is oriented at an angle that is complementary to an angle of each of the plurality of spaced apart projections.
12. 12. A gutter spacer assembly according to claim 10 or 11, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart projections on the first leg is oriented inwardly and upwardly toward the web.
13. 13. A gutter spacer assembly according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart projections is oriented at an angle of between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the orientation ofthe first leg.
14. 14. A gutter spacer assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the head portion of the gutter spacer includes means for catching an upper edge of the rear wall of the gutter to support the gutter spacer at the gutter.
15. 15. A gutter spacer assembly according to claim14, wherein the means for catching the upper edge of the rear wall of the gutter includes a pair of laterally spaced apart hook shaped members located either side ofthe flange member.
16. 16. A gutter spacer assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the body portion includes a pan adapted for contacting the upright surface of the building and a pair of laterally opposing side portions extending outwardly from the pan adapted to contact the rear wall of the gutter, wherein a thickness of the gap maintained between the rear wall of the gutter and the upright surface of the building is defined by the depth of the side portions extending outwardly from the pan.
17. 17. A gutter spacer assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the head portion of the gutter spacer further includes a pair of laterally spaced apart stiffener members for engaging and supporting a front wall ofthe gutter.
18. 18. A gutter spacer assembly according to claim 17, wherein the stiffener members are located either side ofthe laterally spaced apart hook shaped members.