AU2815801A - Weather protectors - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicants: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Invention Title: Ricky Steven WAYE and Dennis Joseph

FINN

As above CULLEN

CO.,

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

WEATHER PROTECTORS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

WEATHER PROTECTORS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to devices for providing protection against climatic elements.

BACKGROUND ART When new dwellings are erected in many cases little or no architectural provision is made for shade or protection from wind, hail and rain, or to preserve privacy.

Multi-dwelling structures in particular are often built with a view to achieving a good return on investment rather than for the creature comfort of those who reside in them.

Tenants are often required to maintain a building in its original state and rental agreements imply or regulate that no alterations or additions to the structure of a building can take place without the consent of the building owner.

Conventional awnings and pagoda structures and the like are *...*relatively expensive and even if consent is given there is a natural reluctance on the part of tenants to invest in a convenience which they may need to S" leave behind should they change residence.

Because of the substantial variation in the position of the sun between seasons it would be convenient for householders in general to have a portable weather protection facility which can be readily re-positioned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shade for weather protection and privacy which can be attached to a structure without the need for fixtures and one which can be readily repositioned as required.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a support and shade panel said support comprising attachment means for engagement with a roofing gutter and a pivotal attachment between the attachment means and the shade panel which allows the shade panel to be pivoted between vertical and horizontal planes to provide an underlying shaded region, characterised in that the attachment means comprises a first limb adapted to overlie the front wall of a gutter a second limb which underlies the base of gutter and a third limb which traverses the internal section of a guttering and engages with the base and/ or back wall of the gutter.

The shade panel can comprise a first section pivotably connected to the attachment means and a second section pivotably connected to the first section.

The shade panel can be a multipart panel.

**.The corners of the shade panel can be assembled to corner brackets which provide sockets for tubular frame members disposed at right angles to one-another.

The corner brackets can be provided with a boss for pivotal connection to the attachment means.

The attachment means is provided with a fourth limb extending from the third limb which braces the attachment means with respect to the front wall of a gutter to which it is attached.

The first, second and third limbs can be relatively stiff and the fourth bracing limb can be resilient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 99 9 S°Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic end view of one possible form of support in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the support and a gutter illustrating various shape options and attachment possibilities, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic front view of a panel for the support of figure 1, and Figure 4 of the drawings is a partial side view of a support and frame in accordance with a further possible embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 of the drawings is a side view of a support according to a further possible embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 of the drawings is a side view of a plastic moulded support according to another aspect of the present invention.

With respect to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings the present invention provides a support generally indicated by arrow 1 which allows a panel generally indicated by arrow 2 to be supported with respect to a gutter 3.

The gutter 3 may be of any configuration and the support utilises the front wall 3a of the gutter as a primary means of detachable engagement ,,,with the gutter.

The shape of the support 1 and its means of attachment to the 000000 °::gutter 3 may vary.

~Because the shade subjects a gutter system to additional loading over and above what it was designed for it is considered that the most :.o!satisfactory shape is one which utilises the base of the gutter to support vertical loads and the front wall and/or base of the gutter to prevent lateral displacement.

The illustrated embodiment provides this facility and the broken lines of figure 2 indicate possible shape variations.

r. ~The support illustrated comprises an attachment to the gutter 3 owhich may include a first limb 4 which is complementary in depth to the front wall 3a of the gutter, a second conjoined bracing limb 5 which extends over the lip of the front wall 3a from the first limb 4 at an angle of approximately degrees the free end 5a of which makes contact with the base 3b of the gutter 3.

The first limb 4 of the attachment can be provided with an extension 6 which extends beneath the gutter 3 the free end 6a of which provides pivot support for the panels 2.

The panel 2 may be a single panel which can be suspended vertically to shade a window or the like and be supported by stays 7 in an inclined or substantially horizontal position.

The stays 7 may be replaced by a further panel pivotally connected to the panel suspended from the support.

The panels 2 may be solid panels or be based on a metal, timber or plastics framework which can be assembled using brackets, elbows and the like.

The framework may provide support for shadecloth, canvas or any other materials capable of providing relief from the elements.

A further possible embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by Figure 4. In this embodiment a support generally indicated by arrow 10 provides a pivoted connection to a bracket 11 of a framework generally indicated by arrow 12.

A first limb 13 of the support 10 has an upper portion 13a fastened into a hook with the free end 14 of the hook being cranked.

The lower end 13b of the support 10 is also cranked and provides a pivot connection at 15 for the framework 12. The support 10 is adapted to engage with a gutter 16 in the manner illustrated.

The framework 12 comprises an assembly of the brackets 11 and rods or tubes 17.

Each of the brackets 11 are provided with lugs 18 and sockets 19 to which the rods or tubes 17 engage to form substantially a rectilinear S: framework which as indicated may be used for providing a substantially vertical and/or horizontal shade.

The lugs 18 are spaced at approximately ninety degrees and can be paired or separated as illustrated by the diagram to provide varying inclinations between sections of the framework.

Figure 5 of the drawings a support 10 similar to that described in relation to Figure 4 may be provided with an inner resilient contact membrane indicated by arrow 20 which is attached to a rigid or semi-rigid support bracket 21.

The bracket can be shaped similarly to that illustrated by Figure 4, and may be strengthened by a web.

The internal portions of the bracket 21 can support two upwardly inclined contact flexible fingers 22 which grip and conform to varying gutter shapes and should enhance grip on a gutter, eliminate rattling in stormy winds and lessen the risk of damage to a gutter by scratching.

With respect to Figure 6 of the drawings a plastic moulded support is shaded similarly to the support illustrated by Figure 5 and comprises first, second and third limbs 23, 24 and 24 respectively stiffened by webs 26. In this embodiment a fourth limb 27 acts as a resilient brace between the front wall of a gutter and a lower portion of the third limb We consider that the major advantages of our invention are that it can be economically produced and packaged for semi-skilled installation.

No fasteners required to install the protector. The concept will appeal to householders in general and in particular rental dwellers as a utility which they can take with them when they change premises.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (8)

1. A support and shade panel said support comprising attachment means for engagement with a roofing gutter and a pivotal attachment between the attachment means and the shade panel which allows the shade panel to be pivoted between vertical and horizontal planes to provide an underlying shaded region, characterised in that the attachment means comprises a first limb adapted to overlie the front wall of a gutter a second limb which underlies the base of gutter and a third limb which traverses the internal section of a guttering and engages with the base and/or back wall of the gutter.

2. A support and shade panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shade panel comprises a first section pivotably connected to the attachment *means and a second section pivotably connected to the first section.

3. A support and shade panel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 15 wherein the shade panel is a multipart panel. ooooo

4. A support and shade panel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the corners of the shade panel are assembled to corner brackets which provide sockets for tubular frame members disposed at right angles to one-another.

5. A support and shade panel as claimed in claim 4 wherein the corner brackets are provided with a boss for pivotal connection to the attachment means.

6. A support and shade panel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to wherein the attachment means is provided with a fourth limb extending from the third limb which braces the attachment means with respect to the front wall of a gutter to which it is attached.

7. A support and shade panel as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first, second and third limbs are relatively stiff and the fourth bracing limb is resilient.

8. A support and shade panel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 2 1 ST day of March 2001 RICKY STEVEN WAYE AND DENNIS JOSEPH FINN By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN Co.