CA1291624C

CA1291624C - Eavestrough

Info

Publication number: CA1291624C
Application number: CA000549244A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Florencio N. Palma
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-14
Filing date: 1987-10-14
Publication date: 1991-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-05

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention provides an eavestrough section for use in an eavestroughing assembly wherein the section comprises a first flat wall set in a vertical position and having a bottom end meeting at a sharp angle with a second flat wall set in an upwardly outwardly angled position thereby creating a water trough at the juncture between the two walls. The second flat wall has an outer end terminating at a short vertical stud mount wall section parallel to the first wall. The assembly further includes a mounting stud which fits through both the stud mount wall section and the first wall with the water trough being located at the base of the first wall immediately beneath and in line with the secured end of the mounting stud.

Description

i29~6Z~i FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an eavestrough assembly in which the eavestrough section is designed to create a high rate of water flow therethrough with substantially no torque action on the eavestrough section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A traditional eavestrough comprises a generally rounded eavestrough section with a mounting bracket secured at one side of the eavestrough section. This mounting bracket then extends beneath to the other side of the eavestrough section.

There are two primary drawbacks with conventional eavestrough sections as described above. Firstly, because of their rounded nature they tend to have a very wide surface area over which water flows through the eavestrough section. This results in a relatively slow water flow without the ability to carry leaves, sediment and debris, etc. along the eavestrough.

In addition, and again as a result of the relatively wide flow path along a conventional eavestrough, there is a substantial amount of torque or twisting outwardly away from the point at which the eavestrough is secured to a building or the like. This is very evident by simply looking at most eavestroughs and seeing how they have either been bent downwardly or actually pulled away from the building.

1 A second major drawback with standard eavestrough construction is that during periods of freezing the typical rounded design does not shed water well and allows for the buildup of large icicles which is again very evident on almost all eavestrough.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
.

The present invention provides an eavestrough section for use in an eavestrough assembly whereby the section itself is designed to overcome the problems described above. More particularly, the eavestrough section of the present invention comprises a first interior flat wall set in a vertical posi-tion and having a bottom end meeting at a sharp angle with a second flat wall and thereby creating a water trough at -the juncture between the two walls. The second flat wall is set in an upwardly-outwardly angled position and has an outer end terminating at a short vertical stud mounting wall section parallel to the first wall.

With the arrangement as described above, the sharp angled water trough or flow region is located immediately beneath and in line with the location at which the eavestrough section is mounted to a building. The interior wall presents no ice buildup surface whatsoever, while the outwardly angled wall has very little grip surface for the buildup of ice.

1;~9~624 -- 3 ~

The above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an eavestrough assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is sectional view through the upper end of the inner vertical wall of the eavestrough section from Figure l;

Figure 3 is an assembled perspective view of the eavestrough assembly of Figure 1 when mounted to a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Figure 1 shows the components of the overall eavestrough assembly. These components comprise an eavestrough section 1, a screen 11 for removably mounting to the eavestrough section and a mounting stud or screw 19.

Eavestrough section 1 comprises a first interior flat wall 3 and a second flat wall 5 joining at the base of the interior wall and extending upwardly, outwardly therefrom. The juncture of these two walls creates a sharply defined or angled trough or water flow region 7.

1 Extending upwardly from the outer end of wall 5 is a third short stud mount wall section 9. The upper end of this stud mount wall section is level or coterminous with the upper end of interior wall 3.

The mounting of the eavestrough section to the building as shown in Figure 3 is designed for fast and efficient do-it-yourself installation. The trough section can either be prepunched, as indicated at 17, or it can be left solid for the do-it-yourself to punch at desired locations. The mounting screw or stud 19 which includes a self-tapping inner end 21 and an enlarged head 23 with a screw drive is simply forced through the opening punched in stud mount 19 for penetration directly through the interior wall 3 and tapping into the building as again shown in Figure 3. Located immediately next to the head 23 on the stud mount is a small recess 25 which when the stud has fully penetrated the eavestrough section provides a bracket-like hanger at the stud mount wall section 9.

As will be clearly apparent from the drawings, the interior wall is completely hidden from ice buildup and the like and the outwardly angled wall does not present any curving surfaces which might otherwise allow the buildup of ice on the bottom of the eavestrough section. In addition, all water flowing through the eavestrough section will immediately move to the sharply angled trough area 7 resulting in an extremely high flow rate through and self-cleaning properties of the eavestrough. In addition, this flow area is directly beneath and in line with the point at which stud 19 ~gl624 1 penetrates the building, i.e. the area of maximum strength of, with substantially no torquing or twisting on the eavestrough. Essentially all the weight carried by the eavestrough hangs directly down from the secured end of the stud and is supported inwardly by the building itself.

Screen 11 is designed to snap in and out of eavestrough section 1. The fitting of the screen, designed for preventing leaves from getting down into the eavestrough, is best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.
Here it will be seen that the screen includes outer V-shaped ends 12 designed to fit into small screen receiving channels to either side of the eavestrough. In particular, the upper end of interior wall 3 is provided with channel 13 with channel 15 being provided to the outside of the eavestrough section. Each of these channels is provided with an inwardly directed ridge for releasably locking with the V-shaped outer ends 12 of screen 11. Again, Figure 2 shows channel 13 provided with inwardly directed ridge 14 engaging the outer end of the screen. A similar ridge and screen engagement is provided to the outside of the eavestrough section.

For mounting purposes, the screen, which has elastic properties, is simply deformed or bent as shown in Figure 3 to snap into the two channels at either side of the eavestrough section. It is then held in position by its own expansion properties and can be quickly and easily snapped out of position by manually collapsing the screen.

It will now be seen how the eavestrough assembly of the present invention, which is specifically designed for the do-it-yourselfer, has high water flow 1~:9~24 1 self-cleaning characteristics with structural integrity designed specifically to prevent pulling of the eavestrough section away from the building to which it is mounted.

Although various preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An eavestrough section comprising a first flat wall set in a vertical position and having a bottom end meeting at a sharp angle junction with a second flat wall set in an upwardly outwardly angled position and having an outer end terminating at a short vertical stud mount parallel to said first wall, said sharp angle junction providing water flow region substantially at the bottom end of said first wall in a position of minimal torque on said eavestrough section.

2. An eavestrough section as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said first flat wall and said stud mount have substantially co-terminus upper ends.

3. An eavestrough section as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each of said upper ends on said first flat wall and said stud mount are provided with screen receiving channels, said screen receiving channels in turn being provided screen locks.

4. An eavestrough section as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said screen locks comprise small inwardly directed ridges along each of said channels.

5. An eavestrough assembly comprising an eavestrough section formed bya first flat wall set in a vertical position and having a bottom end meeting at a sharp angle with a second flat wall set in an upwardly outwardly angled position and having an outer end terminating at a short vertical stud mount parallel to said first wall and a securing stud, said securing stud passing horizontally through said stud mount and said first wall and having a self tapping inner end and an enlarged head outer end with a reduced diameter neck region immediately in advance of said head of said stud.

6. An eavestrough assembly as claimed in Claim 5, including a screen for said eavestrough section, said eavestrough section being provided with screen receiving channels, said screen and said channels having co-operating locking means for removably locking said screen over said eavestrough section.