AU695867B2 - Eave arrangement - Google Patents

Description

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I

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Application Number Lodged Complete Specification Class Int. Class Lodged Accepted Published Priority: Related Art: Applicant's Ref: 4* a* Applicant: STRAMIT CORPORATION LIMITED 005 010 195) a. Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service is: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 VIC AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Our Ref: IRN 383968 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant: RNC/PM3107C.DOC p I EAVE ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to guttering and eave arrangements which may be used with a new roof frame construction, and to a roof truss adapted for the construction.

In a typical pitched house roof construction, the cross-sectional shape of the roof is generally triangular. The construction is based on the form of roof trusses, each having a bottom chord which forms a horizontal ceiling joist and two top chords which form roof rafters and are angled upwards to meet each other at a roof ridge. Each rafter meets it ceiling joist at the point above a wall e 10 of the house. The eave of the house is formed by continuing each rafter past its point of intersection with its joist such that the rafters overhang side walls of S.,o the house, usually by about 600mm measured at the rafters angle (about 4 450mm horizontally). Fascia sections and guttering are attached to the ends of the rafters, and an eave board is attached to the bottom of trimmers which are 15 constructed onsite to hang from the overhanging part of the rafters.

The present invention relates to a novel guttering and eave arrangement a a which is suitable for use on a roof frame construction which includes a substantially horizontally extendinlg eave structure. In a preferred form, the roof frame structure includes a plurality of substantially horizontal, elongate frame members which extend outwardly beyond walls of the building to form an eaves structure. The frame members, for each wall beyond which such members extend, preferably are substantially parallel.

According to the invention, an eave guttering section is provided for use on a substantially horizontal eaves structure of a building, wherein the guttering C \DJH\SPECnPA81636 DOC 91 3 side margins thereof, defines a longitudinal drainage trough having a width which is substantially in excess of its depth, and which is adapted to overlie said eaves structure.

In one aspect of the invention, the first side margin is intended to be innermost in use and the second side margin of the guttering section is intended to be an outermost margin in use. The guttering section is configured such that the first side margin defines an upstanding longitudinal rib suitable for use as a batten for roofing material, such as tiles, provided on a building having eaves structure and the second side margin defines an overflow weir setting a maximum height of liquid able to be contained in the trough which is below an upper edge of said first side margin.

The guttering section preferably is such that the drainage trough has a substantially flat basal surface on which the guttering section is supportable on an eaves structure. Further, the guttering section may be stepped inwardly of the rib such that the depth of the trough is reduced adjacent to the rib relative to a central region of the trough.

i The guttering section may be stepped inwardly of the weir such that the depth of the trough is reduced adjacent the weir relative to a central region of the trough.

The invention additionally provides a cladding assembly for an eaves

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structure including the guttering section described above and a cladding member, wherein said member is of elongate form and has mutually inclined first and second longitudinal, adjacent portions which are formed integrally, tilhe C \DJH\SPECIPA8i636 DOC first portion comprising a soffit lining and the second portion comprising a fascia strip. In the cladding member, the first portion preferably is substantially planar over at least a major part of its lateral extent.

In one form of the cladding member, the second portion comprises a web inter-connecting the first portion and a third portion which extends across and is spaced from the first portion, such that the third portion is adapted to extend over an eaves structure when the first portion is positioned under and the second portion is positioned adjacent the eaves structure. In that one form, the third portion preferably has at least one elongate rib which extends away from the first portion, and the/or a respective rib is adapted to provied support, for a guttering section according to the invention, at the second side margin and/or a portion of the guttering trough adjacent to the second side margin of the guttering section.

Either or each of the guttering section and the cladding assembly .oo..

15 according to the invention can be used with a roof frame structure as discussed above. In one form, each of at least some of the frame members preferably forms part of a respective roof truss for supporting roofing material such as tiles or sheet material. Each roof truss includes roof rafters secured to its roof frame member in a generally triangular configuration in which each rafter is secured to the roof frame member at or adjacent a part of the roof frame member at which the latter is mountable in relation to a wall of the building.

In such case, a plurality of guttering section can be mounted on portions of the roof frame members which project outwardly beyond walls of the building, R44 with the guttering sections secured in end to end relationship in series around 7 b .a p a the building to form a guttering system. Also, a plurality of the cladding members can be mounted in relation to those portions of the roof frame members, in a similar end to end series around the building, with the first portion of each forming part of a continuous soffit lining and secured to the underside of the frame members, and with the second portion of each forming part of a continuous fascia for the building.

Where either or each of the guttering section and the cladding member is used with a roof frame structure, as described in the immediately preceding paragraph herein, there is only a small resultant loading on the roof frame structures. Indeed, such loading as does occur is more than counter-balanced by the loading on the portion of each roof frame member which is supported by opposed walls of the building. Accordingly, it is possible to use either or each of the guttering section and the cladding member with horizontal frame members, other than roof frame members, which extend outwardly beyond walls of a building to form an eaves structure. Thus, in a variant of the invention, either or each of the guttering section and the cladding section can be used with such horizontal frame members secured in relation to, and projecting outwardly from, an outer wall of a building to form an eaves structure.

In that variant, the horizontal frame members need not extend inwardly with respect to the wall and they may, for example, simply be anchored to the wall at one end and project outwardly therefrom. In the latter case, the eaves structure may comprise part of a verandah structure, with at least some of the frame members being supported at the outer end of each by a respective post or pillar.

c DJHSPECIPA816,.6 DOC In one form, the present invention is used with a pitched roof construction or a prefabricated truss in which the horizontal bottom chord extends past the walls to form part of an eaves structure. The top chords stop at their intersection with the bottom chord.

In a second form, the invention provides an eave construction in which a plurality of substantially horizontal roof frame members extend outwardly of the walls to form the eaves structure, the eaves board being attached to the underside of the horizontal members and a gutter is supported on top of the horizontal members.

Further preferred forms of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic end view of a typical prior art eave structure for a brick veneer house; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a roof truss construction according to the 15 invention; Figure 3 is a schematic end view of a first eave arrangement incorporating the roof truss of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective of a roof structure with the eave structure of Figure 3; and 20 Figure 5 is a schematic end view of a second eave arrangement incorporating the roof truss of Figure 2.

Figure 1 illustrates a prior art eave arrangement 10 for a building such as a house. In Figure 1, the building is represented by an external cavity wall 11 having an internal frame 12 and an external brick wall 13, and by part of a roof CI3 DJHSPECI PA9626 C3C structure 14. The latter is represented by ceiling joists 16, rafters 18 and roofing tiles In arrangement 10, roof trusses, which typically are pre-fabricated, comprise a respective ceiling joist 16 and an oppositely inclined pair of rafters 18. Each truss is of generally triangular form, with the bottom chord comprising a joist 16 of a length enabling each of Iis ends to terminate at and be supported on a respective opposed wall frame 12 of the building. Also, a pair of top chords of each truss, each comprising a rafter 18, projects outwardly and downwardly from the building wall, beyond its connection with a respective end of its joist 16.

Thus eave arrangement 10 is based on the overhang of the top chords comprising the rafters 18 of the roof trusses, past the wall frame 12. Each bottom chord, comprising a ceiling joist 16, ends at its intersection with each of the respective top chords 18, above the wall frame 12. A series of parallel 15 battens 22 are attached to the top of the rafters 18 of successive trusses for supporting and locating the roof tiles 20 or other roof cladding. A fascia 24 is t. attached by brackets 26 to the end of the rafters 18, and a gutter 28 is attached to the fascia 24 by further brackets (not shown). The gutter 28 is connected to a downpipe 30 via an offset 32.

A pair of vertical trimmers 34 are attached to the overhang of each rafter 18, to support a horizontal trimmer 36 to which an eave board 38 is fastened.

The trimmers 34 and 36 generally are cut and erected on site.

Figure 2 shows a roof truss 40 according to the invention. Like prior art S-A. trusses, it is generally triangular and consists of a bottom chord or joist 42, a J SpECT' PnYI;?6 DC IP1-- 8 pair of top chords or roof rafters 44 and a series of webs 46, joined by connector plates 48. However, the truss 40 varies from the prior art in that it is the bottom chord 42, not the top chords 44, which extends past the intersection to form the eaves overhang.

Figure 3 shows a first eave arrangement 50 which is constructed using trusses 40 according to Figure 2, although the arrangement may also be used for an on-site roof construction. As shown in Figure 3, the eave arrangement is formed by the extension of the ceiling joists 42 past the wall frame 52 and the external brickwork 54 or other cladding. The rafters 44 end at their intersection with their joist 42 substantially above a top plate 56 of the wall frame 52.

Unlike conventional roof construction, the roof cladding does not extend s across the eave arrangement 50 in the illustrated embodiment of Figure 3.

Instead, the eave arrangement 50 is clad by two roll-formed metal sections of 15 indefinite length, generally designated as a gutter member 58 and a soffit member 60. The gutter member 58 sits on top of the extended joists 42 and S°forms a lowermost tile batten 62, a wide gutter 64 above the eave arrangement 50 and a weir overflow 66 at its outer extremity. The outermost face 68 of the :gutter member 58 forms the top part of a fascia, ending in a return portion The soffit member 60 has an upper part which rests on the joists 42 and supports the outer part of the gutter member 58. This upper part has a series of raised top hat shaped sections or ribs 71 for resisting anticipated foot traffic loads on the gutter member 58. The soffit member 60 also forms the lower part 72 of the fascia, while it also forms a soffit lining 74.

H~ Ci ~IYI Y I I I 9 In fixing the eave cladding sections 58 and 60, the soffit member 60 is slid into position on the joists 42 and attached firstly by fasteners, such as self-driving screws, passing into the joists 42 at position 76. The soffit lining part 74 may be supported temporarily by hanging clips during this procedure.

The position of the soffit lining 74 can then be adjusted so that the fascia surface 72 is vertical and further fasteners are passed through the vee-notches 78, 78a and 78b in the soffit member 60 into the bottom of the joists 42.

Tle gutter member 58 is then positioned on the top of the joists 42, with its outer edge overlapping the upper part of the soffit member 60 and the outermost fac, 68 giving the appearance of being a continuation of the fascia 72. The notch 78c and gap 80 assist in this regard. The outer region of the gutter member 58 forms a box section 81 with the soffit member The gutter member 58 is fixed in position by fasteners 82 passing into the rafters 44 and further fasteners 84 passing into the soffit member 60. The 15 tile batten 62 integral with the gutter supports the bottom layer of roof tiles A AC providing a datum for the roof tiles.

A The provision of the gutter 64 above the eave allows a wide gutter of oe relatively large cross-section to be used. Thus, the gutter 64 is open to the breeze to allow leaves and debris to dry out, so that corrosion of the gutter is

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20 reduced. The provision of the integral tile batten 62 results in a high point at the back or inner edge of the gutter member 58, above the level of the weir overflow 66, so that water cannot flow back into the house. A nozzle 86 extends straight down between two successive joists 42 for connection of a _downpipe 88.

C DJH'SPECIPA81e26 C I -R II It is believed that the illustrated arrangement will provide advantages over the prior art eaves construction. Firstly, as it is no longer necessary to cover the eaves area with roof tiles, the tiled roof area may be reduced by up to about 20%, with consequent savings in material and labour costs. Also, the labour and material costs for on-site construction of the trimmers are eliminated.

TI-E fixing of the eave cladding may be achieved without the use of the large number of brackets associated with conventional metal fascia and guttering, with the members being fixed directly to the house frame. An offset for the downpipe is not required.

It is also believed that the invention will result in an eave and gutter arrangement of increased strength, particularly as many truss manufacturers use a larger timber section for the bottom chord than for the top chords. Also, the weight of the eaves area will be at least partly counterbalanced by the 15 downward load of the ceiling on the joists 42. This, together with the lack of roof tiles over the eaves, will result in little downward weight on the eaves.

By having the tile weight inwardly of the gutter member 58, rather than a.

over the fascia, any distortion due to this weight will not be visible. Similarly, the weight of water in the gutter 64 will be over the extended joists 42 and any distortion of the gutter 64 will not be seen.

As the eaves construction is boxed around the extended joists 42, it will provide a strong support for leaning ladders against. The box section 81 at the top edge of the fascia 72 provides resistance to local deformation by ladder C 'DJH SPECITPA6 DGC -I Ir I 11 loads. The construction also provides a flat area around the edge of the roof for alighting and getting on the ladder, potentially increasing safety.

A further advantage of the illustrated gutter member 58 and soffit member 60 is that they can ba roll-formed from the standard width feed material for roofing sheet, allowing good colour availability, little waste and a common stockpile of feed material.

The eave arrangement of the invention does result in some difference in the appearance of the house, in that the eave is higher. Figure 4 shows a house construction with the eave arrangement of Figure 3. The arrangement is also suitable for use with sheet roofing materials in place of the roof tiles.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative eaves arrangement suitable for sheet roofing materials, making use of the truss or roof frame arrangement of the e invention. In Figure 5, the roof truss arrangement is the same as that of Figure 3, with the eaves overhang formed by extension of the ceiling joists 42.

15 However, unlike Figure 3, the gutter 90 and fascia 92 in the arrangement of Figure 5 are attached by brackets 93 to the end of the joists 42, The sheet roofing material 94 is attached to battens 96 on the rafters 44 of the roof pitch, in accordance with conventional construction. However, at the junction of the roof pitch with the horizontal eave, material 94 is curved to follow a much more gentle pitch over joists 42. In order to prevent the pooling of water on the eave, the batten 96a at the junction of the rafters 44 and the joists 42 may be of greater height than the other battens to give additional slope to the eave portion of the roof material 94. A soffit lining 98 is fixed directly to the bottom of the overhanging joist, without the need for trimmers.

c'1 i i'O Ag-: The general, Figure 5 construction may also -ed for roofing sheets which cannot be curved, such as rib and pan type profiles. In such cLses, an overlap between the differently pitched roofing sheets may be used in place of the curve shown for material 94.

It will be evident that many of the advantages discussed above in relation to Figure 3, including those relating to the attachment of the soffit lining, also apply to Figure The joists and/or rafters of the roof frame structure and truss of the invention can be of timber. Alternatively, they can be of metal. As indicated, they can be pre-fabricated, or constructed on site. The roofing material can be of any suitable type, such as tiles, or sheet material such as metal.

While particular embodiments of this invention ha-/e been described, it be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential ooooo 15 charactetistics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

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Claims (17)

1. An eave guttering section for use on a substantially horizontally extending eaves structure of a building, wherein the guttering section is of elongate form and, between upturned first and second longitudinal side margins thereof, defines a longitudinal drainage trough having a width which is substantially in excess of its depth, and which is adapted to overlie said eaves structure with the first and second side margins being respectively the innermost and outermost margins in use, the guttering section being configured such that the first side margin defines an upstanding longitudinal rib suitable for use as a batten for roofing material, such as tiles, provided on a building having the eaves structure and the second side margin defines an overflow weir setting a maximum height of liquid able to be contained in the trough which is below an upper edge of said first side margin.

2. A guttering section according to claim 1, wherein the drainage trough has a substantially flat basal surface on which the guttering section is supportable on the eaves structure. •o I: 3. A guttering section according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the guttering section is stepped inwardly of the rib such that the depth of the trough is e reduced adjacent to the rib relative to a central region of the trough. 20 4. A guttering section according to any preceeding claim, wherein the guttering section is stepped inwardly of the weir such that the depth of the trough is reduced adjacent the weir relative to a central region of the trough.

5. A cladding assembly for an eaves structure, including a guttering section *59* according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a cladding member, wherein said /VT C DJH\SPECI\PAg1636.DOC 14 cladding member is of elongate form and has mutually inclined first and second longitudinal, adjacent portions which are formed integrally, the first portion comprising a soffit lining and the second portion comprising a fascia strip.

6. A cladding assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first portion is substantially planar over at least a major part of its lateral extent.

7. A cladding assembly according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the second portion includes a web inter-connecting the first portion and a third portion which extends across and is spaced from the first portion, such that the third portion is adapted to extend over an eaves structure when the first portion is positioned under and the second portion is positioned adjacent the eaves structure.

8. A cladding assembly according to claim 7, wherein the third portion has at least one elongate rib which extends away from the first portion, the/or a respective rib being adapted to provide support for said second side margin and/or a portion of the gutter trough adjacent to the second side margin.

9. A roof frame structure for a building, including a guttering section according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the structure includes a plurality of substantially horizontal, elongate frame members which extend outwardly I: beyond walls of the building to form a substantially horizontally extending eaves structure, and wherein the drainage trough of the guttering section is supported on said eaves structure. °10. A roof frame structure according to claim 9, wherein each of at least some of the frame members of the roof frame structure comprise a roof frame I. SDJSPECRPA1636 C DH°P •P~63.O member forming part of a respective roof truss for supporting roofing material such as tiles or sheet material, each roof truss includes roof rafters secured to its roof frame member in a generally triangular configuration in which each rafter is secured to the roof frame member at or adjacent a part of the roof frame member at which the latter is mountable in relation to a wall of the building.

11. A roof frame structure according to claim 10, wherein the first side margin of the guttering section is located along an inner edge of the roof frame structure to define a batten for supporting roofing material for the building.

12. A roof frame structure according to claim 11, wherein the second side margin of the guttering section is configured along an outer edge of the roof frame structure to define at least an upper portion of a fascia for the eaves structure.

13. A roof frame structure according to any one of claims 10 to 12, further including a cladding member as defined in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the cladding member being mounted to said structure so that said first portion defines a soffit lining secured to the underside of the roof frame members.

14. A roof frame structure according to claim 13, wherein the second portion of said cladding member defines at least a lower portion of a fascia for the 20 eaves structure. A roof frame structure according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the guttering section is mounted at the outer ends of the frame members.

16. A roof frame structure according to claim 15, wherein the roof frame structure further includes a fascia mounted at the outer ends of the frame structure further includes a fascia mounted at the outer ends of the frame C:\DJH\SPECI\PA81 636.DOC I 16 members, and a soffit lining attached to the underside of the frame members, with the fascia and soffit lining being either defined by a common member or by respective members.

17. A roof frame structure according to any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein a roof truss is used in the roof frame structure, the truss being of triangular form and defined by a first chord to comprise a roof joist and two second chords each to comprise a respective roof rafter, the second chords are connected together at a first respective end thereof and to the first chord at a second respective end, and wherein the first chord is of a length such that it projects beyond the second end of each second chord to define an eaves structure- forming portion thereof.

18. An eave guttering section when secured to a substantially horizontally extending eaves structure of a building, the guttering section being of elongate form and, between upturned first and second longitudinal side margins thereof, defines a longitudinal drainage trough having a width which is substantially in excess of its depth, the drainage trough having a substantially flat basal surface which overlies, and is supported by, the eaves structure. oloeo S" 19. An eave guttering section when securred to a horizontally extending e eave structure according to claim 18 and being in a form as defined in any one 20 of claims 1 to 4. An eave guttering section according to either claim 18 or 19 when secured to a horizontally extending eave structure as defined in any one of c i 9 1 claims 9 to 17. o• C:\DJH\SPECIPA81636 DOC

21. An eave guttering section substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A cladding assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings,

23. A roof frame structure substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. DATED: 20 July, 1998 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for STRAMIT CORPORATION LIMITED 9 o. e C:\DJH\SPECI\PA81636 DOC r ABSTRACT A roof frame structure for a building, including a plurality of substantially horizontal, elongate frame members. An eaves structure is formed by the frame members extending outwardly from walls of the building, such as in substantially parallel relationship along each wall. A guttering section, mountable on such eaves structure, is of elongate form and, between upturned first and second longitudinal side margins thereof, defines a longitudinal drainage trough having a width substantially in excess of its depth. A cladding member mountable in relation to such eaves structure, is of elongate form and has mutually inclined first and second longitudinal, adjacent portions which are formed integrally, with the portions respectfully comprising a soffit lining and a fascia strip. RNCABSTRACT.DOC i i