AU601572B2

AU601572B2 - Rachet assembly

Info

Publication number: AU601572B2
Application number: AU15125/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John P. McLanders; Martin Rohde
Original assignee: KH STRAMIT CORP Ltd
Current assignee: Stramit Corp Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-04-23
Filing date: 1988-04-22
Publication date: 1990-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2008-04-22
Also published as: AU1512588A

Description

To: The Commissioner of Patents, Commonwealth of Australia R.T. KELLY COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA FORM PATENTS ACT 1952

COMPLETE

S P E C I FICATION FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int.Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: 4Ia I 4 g0~I p~ c -*ri I 4 I I. V Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant:

-MONIER---IM-ITED

19 Pritohard Road, 4014, Commonwealth %,l Virginia, Queensland, of Australia Actual Inventor: -Address for Service: r-rOiS C0 -S OOGy Qsw N 1 -SH-E M Z -2 W Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: "RATCHET ASSEMBLY" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:i 1 Complete of PI 1553 dated 23rd April, 1987 This invention concerns an improved ratchet assembly suitable for engaging between a gutter bracket and a fascia support clip or other building fixture. Ratchet assemblies are commonly used between gutter brackets and fascia support clips because they provide a convenient means for achieving the desired slope in the gutter. The invention also concerns a gutter bracket or building fixture associated with a first, improved, part of a o0o a 9 ratchet.

O" 40 A known ratchet assembly, described in Australian Patent Specification 544,916, provides a rack associated with a gutter bracket and comprising a plurality of spaced slots or projections which are engageable by a pawl or aoo projectio associated with a fascia support clip. The o o engagement between the pawl and rack permits relative movent between gutter bracket and fascia only in one direction. This means that once a gutter has been installed adjustment of the gutter brackets in a direction t reverse to that allowed by the ratchet mechanism is not possible. The gutter brackets are commonly arranged in desired positions relative to the associated fascia support clips prior to installation of the gutter,, Later installation of the gutter, say using 'snap-on' fittings may then result in undesired and irreversible relat've movement between the gutter brackets and fascia support clips. This undesired movement is also sometimes caused when the gutter suffers impact after installation.

i i ~kNJuULBIJJ m Other disadvantages of the ratchet assembly as described in Australian Patent Specification 544,916 include a lack of ability allow for manufacturing tolerances between rack and pawl, which can lead to inefficient functioning of the ratchet assemblies. Also the pawls, formed by tongues cut from sheet metal, weaken after a period of use and sometimes distort under load.

Q o It therefore is an object of the invention to provide o a ratchet assembly in which one or more of the disadvantages described above are at least ameliorated.

o to According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a ratchet assembly suitable for engaging between a gutter bracket and a fascia support clip or 0 0# other building fixture, comprising: A 41 a rack means including a plurality of spaced l apertures or recesses; a pawl means including a resilient tongue having a catch; and 4 a locking member slidably movable relative to the resilient tongue between a first position in which flexing of the resilient tongue and operation of the ratchet is possible and a second position in which movement of the resilienc tongue is inhibited and, in use, the catch is locked in one of the apertures or recesses.

The rack means preferably comprise a plate or shaft having a series of alternate apertures and projections or ribs. In an alternative embodiment recesses are formed by a plurality of projections cut out from the plate.

-3 ,i~ The resilient tongue of the pawl may be mounted on a support plate so that the tongue extends parallel and in *?ro ~t p34* of the support plate and has its distal end curved back toward the support plate.

The catch preferably comprises a projection cut out from the iresilient tongue, but in another variation is formed by a free end of the resilient tongue.

The locking member is preferably provided with a pair Sof locating ribs which bear against opposed edges of the tongue in order to maintain the desired orientation 1 relative to the resilient tongue. The locking member i will often have uniform thickness but may if desired have I a wedge-shapP- '-oss section. The locking member preferably sli,- s on the side of the resilient tongue remote from the rack means.

Preferably the apertures or recesses are angled at Sabout 453 with respect to the surface of the rack. The catch is also angled at about 450 and preferably extends out of the surface of the resilient tongue in the reverse direction to that which the tongue extends.

In regard to a gutter mounting assembly the rack means may be associated with th, fascia support clip or, Jpreferably, the gutter bracket.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a gutter bracket or building fixture associated with a first part of a ratchet assembly, the first part comprising: I- 4 f7 t, a pawl means including a resilient tongue having a catch engageable in one of the apertures or recesses of a rack means of a second part of the ratchet assembly; and a locking member slidably movable relative to the resilient tongue between a first position in which flexing of the resilient tongue is possible and a second position in which movement of the resilient tongue is prevented when the catch is engaged in one of the said apertures or recesses.

Preferably the resilient tongue extends parallel and in front of the gutter bracket or building fixture and has its distal end curved back towards the bracket. The catch preferably comprises a projection cut out from the resilient tongue, but may be formed at the end of the tongue. The locking member slides between the tongue and the gutter bracket or fixture and is provided with a pair of locating ribs which engage either side of the tongue Sand maintain the locking member in the correct orientation with respect to the tongue.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a gutter bracket and fascia support clip embodying the invention; figure 2 is a perspective view of the fascia support clip of figure 1 in which the locking member is in the locked position; figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of the gutter bracket and fascia support clip of figure 1 showing the or ration of the locking member.

5 Referring now to figure 1 gutter bracket 1 comprises a plate-like body 2 from which extends a first support portion 3 adapted to support an outer edge of a gutter. A second extension 4 comprises a bendable finger adapted to be bent over the inner edge of a gutter and thus retain it. A bottom flange 5 supports the underneath of a gutter.

i| Plate-like body 2 is equipped with reinforcing ribs i 6, and a keyhole aperture 7. Flanges 8 extend from either side of plate 2 in order to co-operate with a building i fixture to which the bracket is to be attached. A rack means 9 is positioned on body 2, and provides a series of apertures 10 extending through body 2 separated by ribs S11. Ribs 11 are angled at about 450 with respect to the surface of plate 2 and extend equally in front of and behind the plate.

Fascia support clip 12 also comprises a plate-like body 13 from which extend an upper attachment flange 14 and a lower attachment flange 15 which in use attach the fixture to the edge of a roof. The sides of plate 13 are folded forwards and across the front face of the plate in I order to form channels 16 in which the flanges 8 of the gutter bracket may slide. Indentations 17 are provided to constrict channels 16 near the top ends.

A tongue 18 is cut from body 13 and extends parallel and in front of the body. A catch 19 is cut from the tongue and faces out from the surface of the tongue at an angle of approximately 450 in the direction away from the distal end of the tongue. A locking member 20 is 6 positioned between tongue 18 and the front surface of body 13 and is able to slide up and down behind the tongue. A stop 21 on the surface of body 13 prevents removal of locking member 20. Locking member 20 is equipped with two Sextending ribs 22 which co-operate with either side of tongue 18 to maintain the locking member in the correct orientation with respect to the tongue.

Locking member 20 may travel from the position shown o in figure 1 where the distal end of tongue 18 is free to "O flex and the position shown in figure 2 where the distal o ,S end of tongue 18 is restrained from flexing in the direction towards the front surface of plate 13.

In use bracket 1 is connected to fascia support clip o« 12 in the following way: The rear face 23 of gutter B t bracket 1 and the front face 24 of clip 12 are brought 1 *together and the upper ends of flanges 8 are inserted into the lower ends of channels 16. Then gutter bracket 1 is slid up with respect to clip 12 until catch 19 engages the uppermost of the apetw\res 10. Further upward movement of gutter bracket 1 causes flexing of the distal end of tongue 18 and catch 19 to slide over ribs 11. Catch 19 extends upwards and apertures 10 face downwards and the l sliding action is designed to be irreversible and care must be taken that the gutter bracket is not inserted too far. Should the gutter bracket be inserted further than required a tool must be employied to flex the distal end of tongue 18 away from rack 9 in crder to release catch 19 from its aperture.

7- When the desired relative position of gutter bracket and support clip is attained the locking member 20 is slid down to the position shown in figure 2. This prohibits further flexing of tongue 18 in the direction away from gutter bracket 1 and prevents removal of catch 19 from the aperture in which it is engaged. Locking member 20 also prevents flexing of tongue 18 to such an extent that further passage of the catch 19 past ribs 11 in the direction of permissible ratchet movement can no longer be effected. When locking means 20 is in this position catch 19 is forced into its retaining aperture to give maximum holding power.

This operation will now be described in more detail with reference to figures 3 and 4, In figure 3 projection 19 is shown positioned in aperture 10A of rack 9. Tongue 18 is free to flex relative to rack 9 and thus further upward movement of gutter bracket 1 relative to clip 12 is possible. The locking member 20 is positioned behind the upper end of resilient tongue 18 and does not prevent its distal end from flexing.

Locking member 20 may be of any suitable shape and i{ may be reversible so that it m) y bo easily inserted either way up. This is particularly useful when the locking member is sol6 oeparately from the building fixture. The locking member may be formed from any suitable material such as plastics or metal.

When gutter bracket 1 is positioned correctly with respect to fascia clip 12 the locking member 20 may be slid down with respect to tongue 18. As locking member 8 L _i .i

L

approaches the distal end of tongue 18 it restricts movement of the tongue. An inwardly curved portion 25 at the distal end of tongue 18 may be provided to assist in inhibiting this movesint. Locking member 20 is moved downwards until it engages stop 21 as shown in figure 4 at which point all further movement of tongue 18 is prevented and the catch 19 is irreasably engaged in its aperture.

While the locking member remains in this locked position the ratchet mechanism is no longer adjustable.

1 0 Furthermore the locking plate provides a camming action on tongue 18 relative to rack 9 which increases the effectiveness of the ratchet mechanism. In this way the ratchet assembly also compensates for errors in the manufacture of the relative parts of the ratchet. The locking member also reinforces the area behind tongue 17 and reduces the stress placed on the tongue when under load.

The locking plate may be moved back to the unlocked position by use of a suitable tool and further adjustment of the relative positions of the gutter bracket and building fixture are then possible.

It should also be appreciated that the ratchet assembly of the invention may be utilized in situations other than gutter assemblies as described in the preferred embodiment. For example the ratchet assembly of the invention could be applied to ratchet mechanisms used in vehicle seats in order to adjustably support a vehicle seat on a fixed chassis frame.

9 _I ~i .rs.

Claims

1. A ratchet assembly suitable for engaging between a gutter bracket and a fascia support clip or other building fixture, comprising: a rack means including a plurality of spaced apertures or recesses; a pawl means including a resilient tongue having a catch; and a locking member slidably movable relative to the resilient tongue between a first position in which flexing |L°O of the resilient tongue and operation of the ratchet is 'o 8 possible and a second position in which movement of the resilient tongue is inhibited and, in use, the catch is o locked in one of the apertures or recesses.

2. A ratchet assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the resilient tongue is mounted on a support plate so that the tongue extends parallel and in front of the support plate and has its distal end curved back towards the support plate.

3. A ratchet assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the catch comprises a projection cut out from the resilient tongue.

4. A ratchet assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the catch is formed by a free end of the resilient tongue.

A ratchet assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the locking member is provided with a pair of locating ribs which bear against opposed edges of the tongue in order to maintain orientation relative to the resilient tongue. 10

6. A ratchet assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the locking plate has a wedge-shape section.

7. A ratchet assembly as claiT- laim 1, 5 or 6 wherein the locking member slides on the side of the resilient tongue remote from the rack means.

8. A ratchet assembly as claimed in Claim 2 wherein Vhe locking member slides between the resilient tongue and the r support plate.

9. A ratchet assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the catch extends at an angle of substantially 450 from the resilient tongue in the direction away from the distal end of the tongue, and engages apertures or recesses angled at approx.mately 450 with respect to the surface of the rack.

A gutter bracket or building fixture including a first part of a ratchet assembly, the first part comprising: a pawl means including a resilient tongue having a catch engageable in one of the apertures or recesves of a rack means of a second part of the ratchet oe*~blv' and a locking member slidably movable relative to tht resilient tongue between a first position in which flexing of the resilient tongue is possible and a second position in which movement of the resilient tongue is prevented when the catch is engaged in one of the said apertures or recesses. i- i _~iil IL4 Y~ _.iS*

11. A gutter bracket or building fixture as claimed in claim 10 wherein the resilient tongue extends parallel and in front of the gutter bracket or building fixture and has its distal end curved back towards the gutter bracket or building fixture.

12. A gutter bracket or building fixture as claimed in claim 10 wherein the catch comprises a projection cut out from the resilient tongue.

13. A gutter bracket or building fixture as claimed in claim 10 wherein the catch is formed by a free end of the resilient tongue.

14. A gutter bracket or building fixture as claimed in cl'im 10 wherein the IL king member is provided with a I pair of locating ribs which bear against opposed edges of the tongue in order to maintain orientation relative to the resilient tongue.

A gutter bracket or building fixture as clairmied in claim 10 wherein the locking plate has a wedged plate section.

16. A gutter bracket or building fixture as claimed in claim 10 wherein the locking member slides between the resilient tongue and the body of the gutter bracket or building fixture.

17. A i9utter bracket or building fixture as claimed in any of claims 10 to 16 wherein the catch extends at an angle of substantially 450 from the resilient tongue in the direction away from the distal end of the tongue. 12

18. A ratchet assembly substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings,

19. A gutter bracket or building fixture including a first part of a ratchet assembly substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 21st day of April, 1988 MONIER LIMITED: Attorney: WILLIAM S. LLOYD Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of -SH-ELS-TON-WA-TERS- CP4 f tla~~ba~~3- o 5'1h G ki ~1 Qc) v 13