BE1014010A6 - DISCRETE GUTTER SUPPORT. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a discrete support,

Description

Discreet gutter support

The present invention relates to a discreet support for fixing the edge of the roof of a building of a gutter intended for the recovery of rainwater. By discrete support, we mean here a support which is not provided with a support located under the gutter and which is placed either just above the gutter, or inside the gutter itself. It is therefore almost invisible from the ground.

Discrete supports have been developing gradually for a few years for aesthetic reasons to the detriment of traditional supports which are arch-shaped and support the gutter body from below. However, known discrete supports have the disadvantage i. either a relatively heavy or complex construction, or a construction that requires a lowered placement of the gutter relative to the roof.

Such a support is described in US Pat. No. 5,004,191. However, the large overhang requires an extremely solid support, preferably of extruded aluminum. This is relatively heavy and expensive. In addition, this support does not allow any movement in the longitudinal direction of the gutter: this will cause deformation and degradation of the materials following thermal expansion.

Another support is described in US Pat. No. 4,910,926. This support is fixed to the wall well above the upper level of the gutter, which implies a lowered placement of the gutter. The assembly is light and solid because the support works in traction and not in bending. But the lowered placement of the gutter is not always desired. This support therefore remains somewhat visible despite everything. It consists of a bulky assembly of several parts and requires a relatively complex assembly.

Note that the use of plastic supports is not recommended: their outdoor life is much shorter than that of zinc, the preferred material for gutters.

Note also that we do not consider the hooks provided with a support located under the gutter, these are not considered here as discrete.

The object of the invention is therefore the development of a discrete gutter support which overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above.

More particularly, the invention relates to a rainwater harvesting system comprising a gutter body (1) provided with a fold forming a clamp (2) on its edge closest to the roof and with a stiffening device (3) on its edge furthest from the roof, and with this at least a discreet support for fixing the gutter to the edge of the roof. This system is characterized in that said support is shaped from a single metal sheet and has at least one orifice (4, 4 ') for fixing it to the edge of the roof, a pin (5) cooperating with said clamp (2 ) allowing the gutter to be maintained along its edge closest to the roof and offering a play-free support (6) on the inside face of the gutter, a straight section (7) crossing the gutter from said support without play ( 6) located on the side closest to the roof towards said stiffening device (3) on the edge furthest from the roof along a substantially rising slope, an element (8) placed at the end of the straight section (7) cooperating with said stiffening device (3) and allowing the maintenance of the gutter along its edge furthest from the roof.

The invention also relates to the gutter support itself.

The solidity of the support according to the invention resides in the recovery of the weight of the gutter and its content by a straight section (7) working in compression and placed through the gutter. The wall-to-wall base of this rectilinear section must rest without play on the interior face of the gutter at a relatively lower point (6); the far side end of the wall of this section must be fixed to the edge of the gutter at a relatively higher point (8). However, care must be taken to ensure that the base of the straight section does not descend too low inside the gutter as this would promote its clogging by accumulation of debris such as dead leaves. On the other hand, the straight section must rise towards the opposite edge of the gutter according to a sufficient slope, otherwise the straight section will work in bending and not in compression. A climb angle ranging from 10 to 25 degrees is recommended.

This configuration very significantly increases the rigidity and therefore the efficiency of said support: any downward movement of the gutter on its side furthest from the wall tends to compress the straight section. This section resists well to this type of effort, especially since it can be provided with a reinforcing rib.

The simplicity lies in the projection of the different functions of the support on a single metal tab, adequately cut and folded. These functions are: - (a) fixing the support to the wall; - (b) maintenance of the gutter on the wall side; - (c) presentation of a backlash without play at the base of the straight section; - (d) maintaining the gutter away from the wall at the end of the straight section.

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There is also no risk of unclipping or dislodging of the parts forming the support since the latter is formed in one piece.

> Such a support allows you sliding movement of the gutter in its longitudinal direction since neither the support nor the fixing means pierce it. The system thus protects the free thermal expansion of the metal, which ensures the durability of the gutter and its fixing.

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The support can be shaped from a sheet of galvanized steel, stainless steel or aluminum alloy.

It is particularly suitable for supporting zinc gutters. i

An exemplary embodiment of the gutter support according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows a side view of the support and its placement relative to a gutter.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the support.

The support is fixed to the wall simply by providing at least one hole (4, 4 ‘) for the passage of screws or nails.

The gutter is held on the wall side support by a pin (5) allowing the passage of the gutter clamp (2). This passage can be closed by the flap of at least one ear (9, 9 ') placed to provide support for the clamp. A rib may be provided on the pin to allow temporary mounting by clipping the gutter onto the supports before the final mounting by ear flap. The presence of two ears, placed symmetrically on either side of the pin and perforated so as to fold down more easily, is particularly useful.

The pin offers, after flap of the ears, a support without play (6) on the inner wall of the gutter at the base of the straight section (7) which goes up towards the stiffening device (3) of the gutter on its side the farther from the wall. This device can be a clip, a hem or a bead.

Maintaining the gutter on its side furthest from the wall is achieved by matching shapes between an element (8) at the end of the straight section (7) and the stiffening device (3) of the gutter. It is important that the compression force is transmitted without deformation and play direction to the straight section (7). In the case where said stiffening device (3) is formed by a bead facing outwards, the element (8) can be a hook which fits firmly around said bead.

Thanks to the slightly raised placement of the fixing hole (s) (4, 4 *), access to the fixing means is constantly preserved. The supports can therefore be mounted on a section of gutter before its installation at the edge of the roof. In doing so, the rigidity of the assembly is greatly improved during assembly manipulations.

Claims (6)

1. Rainwater harvesting system comprising a gutter body (1) provided with a fold forming a clamp (2) on its edge closest to the roof and a stiffening device (3) on its furthest edge of the roof, and with this at least one discrete support for fixing the gutter at the edge of the roof, characterized in that said support is shaped from an ionic metal sheet and comprises at least one orifice (4, 4 ') for its attachment to the edge of the roof, a pin (5) cooperating with said clamp (2) allowing the gutter to be maintained along its edge closest to the roof and offering a play-free support (6) on the inner face of the gutter, ^ a rectilinear section (7) crossing the gutter going from said backlash without play (6) located on the side closest to the roof towards said stiffening device (3) on the edge furthest from the roof along a slope which is substantially rising, an element (8) placed at the end emitted from the straight section (7) cooperating with said stiffening device (3) and allowing the gutter to be maintained along its edge furthest from the roof. 2. Support for roof gutter capable of being implemented in a construction according to claim 1. 3. Support for roof gutter according to claim 2, characterized in that the pin (5) offering the support without play (6) comprises at least one lug (9, 9 ') capable of being folded down during assembly so as to form a stop against the inner face of the gutter. 4. Support for roof gutter according to claim 2 and 3, characterized in that said rectilinear section (7) and / or the pin (5) are provided with a reinforcing rib. 5. Support for roof gutter according to claim 2 to 4, shaped from a sheet of galvanized steel, stainless steel or aluminum alloy. 6. Use of supports according to claims 2 to 5 for the installation of a gutter at the edge of the roof. The present invention relates to a discrete support, that is to say almost invisible from the ground, for the fixing at the edge of the roof of a building of a gutter. More particularly, the invention relates to a rainwater harvesting system comprising a gutter body (1) provided with a fold forming a clamp (2) on its edge closest to the roof and with a stiffening device (3) on its edge furthest from the roof, and with this at least a discreet support for fixing the gutter to the edge of the roof. This system is characterized in that said support is shaped from a single metal sheet and comprises at least one orifice (4, 4 ') for its attachment to the edge of the roof, a pin (5) cooperating with said clamp (2 ) allowing the gutter to be maintained along its edge closest to the roof and offering a play-free support (6) on the inside face of the gutter, a straight section (7) crossing the gutter from said support without play ( 6) located on the side closest to the roof towards said stiffening device (3) on the edge furthest from the roof along a substantially rising slope, an element (8) placed at the end of the straight section (7) cooperating with said stiffening device (3) and allowing the maintenance of the gutter along its edge furthest from the roof. The invention also relates to the gutter support itself. at