Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights
  • E04D13/04—Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the like
  • E04D13/064—Gutters
  • E04D13/068—Means for fastening gutter parts together
  • E04D13/0685—Means for fastening gutter parts together in combination with hanging means
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights
  • E04D13/04—Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the like
  • E04D13/064—Gutters
  • E04D13/068—Means for fastening gutter parts together

Definitions

• This invention relates to gutters and seals for gutters .
• plastics gutters are extruded, in a continuous length of uniform cross-section, before being cut into standard length pieces, e.g. 4-5 metre lengths.
• a union piece is separately moulded by an injection moulding process so as to encompass and clamp around the outer surfaces of the two respective ends.
• a double- ended socket is used to receive the two gutter ends .
• a seal is generally required for each gutter end. These are usually provided in recesses formed around the inner circumference of the respective socket portions to form a seal against the outer surface of the gutter.
• the outer surface of the gutter is particularly suitable for forming a good seal since it is necessarily made smooth in order to give an acceptable external appearance.
• the texture of the inner surface of the gutter is less critical since it will not be seen and it is therefore allowed to be relatively rough so as to minimise the cost of the extrusion tool required.
• a gutter system comprising a number of injection moulded plastics gutter sections each of which has a main section of substantially constant cross section extending from one end of the gutter section to a relatively short portion of reduced cross section at the other end which forms a spigot whose external cross- section substantially matches the internal cross-section of the main section, the spigot being provided with a seal around its external surface and being adapted to fit into the said one end of a like gutter section, so as to form a sealed joint between the two gutter sections .
• a moulded gutter section having a main section extending from one end to a relatively short portion of reduced cross section at the other end which forms a spigot whose external cross- section substantially matches the internal cross-section of the main section, the spigot being provided with a seal around its external surface and being adapted to fit into the said one end of a like gutter section, so as to form a sealed joint between the two gutter sections, wherein the seal comprises a sealing element of flexible compressible material and retaining means of a more rigid material, the retaining means being connected to the spigot.
• a sealing element of thermoplastic rubber can if desired be co-moulded with retaining means of a compatible material such as polypropylene, which can then be connected to the spigot by mechanical means such as a snap fit, interference fit, clip or the like.
• polypropylene would not be a suitable material for the gutter section itself, due to degradation under the effects of UV radiation, its use as retaining means for the sealing element would not be a problem.
• the retaining means would be positioned between the spigot and the internal wall of another gutter section, and thus shielded from the effects of UV radiation.
• this gutter may have a substantially uniform cross- section along most of or indeed the whole of its length. The advantage of this is that the gutter can be cut virtually anywhere along its length and still make a good sealing joint with a spigot since the latter provides the seal so that the gutter itself does not need to .
• the retaining means does not need to be attached to the sealing element so as to be watertight, but needs only to hold it in place.
• the seal can be attached by hand.
• seals could be supplied separately for connection to a spigot as and when required. This also opens up the possibility of seals being able to be replaced if they become worn or damaged, the old seal simply being removed from the spigot and a new one connected in its place..
• the invention provides a seal for a gutter section as described above, comprising a sealing element of flexible compressible material and retaining means of a more rigid material attached thereto, the retaining means being adapted to be connected to the spigot of the gutter section.
• a gutter system comprising a plurality of gutter sections as described above, with the spigot of one gutter section being fitted into the larger cross-section end of another gutter section to form a sealed joint therebetween.
• a gutter union for joining together two gutter sections, the union having a pair of spigots whose external cross sections substantially match the internal cross-sections of the gutter sections, each spigot being provided with a seal around its external surface and being adapted to fit into the end of a said gutter section, so as to form sealed joints between the union and the two gutter sections .
• the advantage of using a gutter union having a pair of spigots is that the previously described advantages arising from the use of spigots may be achieved whilst still using an extruded gutter.
• Extruded gutters are preferable to injection moulded ones in some respects, chiefly the relatively low cost of production and ability to utilise a continuous production process.
• the spigots may be different to allow different gutters to be joined.
• Preferably however the spigot parts are the same to allow identical gutters to be joined.
• the seals on the spigots may be bonded thereto by adhesive, co-moulding, ultrasonic welding or the like.
• the seal for each spigot comprises a sealing element of flexible compressible material and retaining means of a more rigid material, the retaining means being connected to the spigot .
• This method of attachment is preferred for the reasons described above .
• a seal for the spigot of a gutter union as described above, comprising a sealing element of flexible compressible material and retaining means of a more rigid material bonded thereto, the retaining means being adapted to be connected to the spigot of the gutter union.
• a gutter system comprising a plurality of gutter sections joined together by a union as described above, with each spigot of the union being fitted into the end of a respective gutter section to form a sealed joint therebetween.
• one or each of the pair of spigots of the gutter union described above is provided with means cooperating, or for cooperating with, means on the gutters to which it is to be joined, to allow a limited amount of longitudinal movement of the spigot relative to the respective gutter.
• This is novel in its own right and thus from a further aspect the invention provides a plastics gutter and a spigot receivable in said gutter wherein the external cross-section of said spigot matches the internal cross-section of said gutter, said gutter and spigot comprising cooperating means to allow a limited amount of axial movement therebetween.
• the cooperating means may take any suitable form, but preferably comprise a protrusion arranged to protrude into an aperture, the movement being limited by the edges of said aperture.
• the protrusion is formed on the spigot and the aperture on the gutter.
• the spigot may be a part of a gutter length, e.g. integrally moulded therewith or may be part of a separate union member, e.g. a double spigot.
• seals for a gutter union as described above can be of the same type used for the gutter sections with integral spigots in the system described earlier.
• an invention disclosed herein provides a seal for use on the external surface of a spigot which is adapted to fit into the end of a gutter section in order to join two gutter sections together, the seal comprising a sealing element of flexible compressible material and retaining means of a more rigid material bonded thereto, the retaining means being adapted to be connected to the spigot .
• the retaining means of the seal as described above may take any suitable form. For example it may comprise two parts provided at respective lateral ends of a sealing element, so that in use the seal is stretched around the outer surface of the spigo .
• the retaining means is frame-like and may thus surround or substantially surround the sealing element.
• the retaining means may be connected to the spigot by any suitable means .
• the retaining means may clip over the upper edge of the spigot or may be provided with clips, apertures or the like adapted to receive corresponding protrusions from the spigot, or vice versa.
• the retaining means comprises tabs at either end of the seal for insertion into recesses or holes formed in an upper part of the spigot.
• the invention provides a seal for connection to a spigot which is for insertion into a gutter as described above, wherein the seal comprises two oppositely facing seal surfaces, one of which is for sealing against the outer surface of said spigot part and the other of which is for sealing against the inner surface of said gutter; and means provided on the seal for cooperating with corresponding means on the spigot part to enable the seal to be mechanically connected to said spigot part.
• a seal in accordance with this aspect of the invention may be simply made of a single suitable material which has adequate seating and compression properties, such as a rubber of the like, or may be stiffened at its ends to facilitate the mechanical connection, e.g. by treating the edges to stiffen them.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an injection moulded gutter having a spigot on one end with a seal in accordance with the invention mechanically attached thereto;
• Figs. 2a to 2c are front, plan and side views respectively of a seal
• Fig. 2d is a scrap section through the seal
• Fig. 2e is a detail view of a seal clip.
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a double spigot for joining two extruded gutters
• Fig. 4 is an assembled view of a second embodiment of the double spigot ;
• Fig. 5 is a close-up sectional view showing how the seal and spigot are attached in the embodiment of Fig. 4.
• FIG. 1 there is shown an injection- moulded gutter 2 , on one end of which is provided a spigot 4 which is adapted to be received in the opposite end of a like gutter 2a so as to form a continuous outer face when a gutter system is assembled.
• Hooks 6 are provided at the upper edges of the spigot to engage around lips 8 formed at the upper edges of the main socket part of the adjacent gutter 2a.
• a support brace 10 is provided across the open top of the spigot portion 4 to lend extra rigidity and stability to the gutter.
• a seal 12 which may be seen more clearly in Figs. 2a to 2e.
• a slot 14 is provided on each hook 6 to receive clips 16 on the seal .
• the seal 12 is shaped to conform to the profile of the spigot portion 4 in Fig. 1.
• the seal 12 comprises a sealing member 18 made of thermoplastic rubber which is supported by a frame 20 made of polypropylene.
• the sealing member 18 has three longitudinal fins 22 which will sealingly abut against the smooth inside surface of the gutter length 2a in use.
• a single longitudinal ridge 24 is provided to make sealing contact with the spigot 4.
• the frame 20 surrounds the sealing member 18 on all lateral sides and is bonded thereto by ultrasonic welding or co-moulding.
• Clips 16 are integrally moulded at the two ends of the frame 20 as may be seen particularly in Fig. 2e.
• the heads 26 of the hooks 16 are adapted to click into the slots 14 formed in the spigot hooks 6 so as to engage over a shoulder formed therein (not shown) and thereby retain the seal 12 onto the spigot 12.
• the seal 12 may simply be snapped into place by pressing upwardly once it has been properly aligned on the spigot.
• the seal may be removed by using a sharp tool such as a screwdriver to release the hooks 16 or it may be necessary to break them off. However this does not matter as the seal will only need to be removed if it requires replacement anyway.
• the seal 12 is received in a recess 28 in the spigot portion 4.
• the depth of this recess is such that frame 20 is flush with the outer surface of the spigot portion 4 with the sealing member 8 protruding proud thereof.
• the recess 28 guides the seal 12 into proper alignment with the slots 14 during fitting. This makes the process of snapping the seal onto the spigot 4 extremely straight-forward.
• a double spigot gutter union denoted generally at 30, for joining two lengths of extruded gutter 32.
• Each spigot of the union is identical to the spigot portion 4 in Fig. 1 and is thus not described further.
• the double spigot union 30 is provided with recesses 28 and slots (not visible in Fig. 3) in the hooks 6 in order for seals 12 of the type described above to be attached thereto, it is not necessary to use such seals. Instead a ribbon seal or the like may be glued, co-moulded or ultrasonically welded to each spigot for example.
• Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a double spigot union 40 for joining two lengths of extruded gutter 42.
• the form of the upper edges of the extruded gutters differ from those previously described in that they have hook-like formations 44 rather than these being formed on the spigot. Consequently, the means of attachment of the seal to the spigot is different.
• the seal comprises a sealing member 18 and a frame 46.
• the frame differs in this embodiment in that rather than being formed with a clip (see claim 16 on Fig. 2a) it is formed with a horizontally extending rectangular tab 48.
• the tab 48 fits into a corresponding cut-out 50 made in the upper edge 52 of the spigot moulding so as to cause the top of the seal frame 46 to be flush with the upper edge 52 of the spigot.
• a central pillar 54 is provided mid-way along the double spigot union 40 to act as an end-stop when the two gutter lengths 42 are slid on. As will be seen from Fig. 4, when the gutters 42 are slid on, the central pillar 54 is flush with the outer and upper faces of the gutters 42, thus forming a smooth continuous surface.
• rectangular protrusions 56 At each end of the double spigot union are rectangular protrusions 56 (only one being visible in Fig. 5) .

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Sewage (AREA)
• Crystals, And After-Treatments Of Crystals (AREA)
• Mechanical Treatment Of Semiconductor (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
• Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)
• Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
• Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
• Joining Of Building Structures In Genera (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 1998
  • 1998-10-07 GB GBGB9821881.1A patent/GB9821881D0/en not_active Ceased
• 1999
  • 1999-10-07 PL PL99347158A patent/PL347158A1/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-10-07 DE DE69929227T patent/DE69929227T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-10-07 AT AT99949164T patent/ATE314537T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-10-07 EP EP99949164A patent/EP1121499B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-10-07 WO PCT/GB1999/003310 patent/WO2000020704A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-10-07 CZ CZ20011249A patent/CZ20011249A3/cs unknown
  • 1999-10-07 BR BR9914344-5A patent/BR9914344A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-10-07 HU HU0104015A patent/HUP0104015A3/hu unknown
  • 1999-10-07 AU AU62150/99A patent/AU6215099A/en not_active Abandoned
• 2001
  • 2001-03-30 IS IS5912A patent/IS5912A/is unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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