EP3231956B1

EP3231956B1 - Telescopic gutter, especially for roof windows

Info

Publication number: EP3231956B1
Application number: EP17164758.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miroslaw Kalicinski
Original assignee: Fakro PP Sp zoo
Current assignee: Fakro PP Sp zoo
Priority date: 2016-04-14
Filing date: 2017-04-04
Publication date: 2020-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-04
Also published as: PL125043U1; PL70283Y1; EP3231956A1

Description

The subject of the present invention is a telescopic gutter for removal of water flowing down along the roof over its inner roof covering elements, such as roofing membrane, particularly in the direction of the roof window.

State of the art.

Roof windows, due to the location of their installation, as well as the opening in the roof designed for them, require protection against rainwater or water from melting snow, including run-off from higher roof sections, this protection being ensured by means of sealed flashings, usually supplied by a window manufacturer. Also required is protection against water flowing over inner roof covering elements, for example, vapour-open roofing membrane, which is due to condensation on the upper surface of the said roofing membrane. Used for this purpose is a gutter divided into at least two parts so that it can be easily transported in joint packaging with flashing elements. This is because these gutters are usually longer than the flashing elements, thus if they were not divided, they would require larger packaging. From patent description PL 201773 B1 a waterspout gutter is known, composed of two segments with different cross-section profiles, so that one segment can be fitted into the other. This gutter has at least one U-shaped fixing element located in the interior of the waterspout gutter's drainage channel.
There is know solution of roof gutter published in application US2005016076A1 . Said gutter is build from identical segments which in mounted state are placed one into the other. Said segments are tightly connected to each other, and their edges are bent to keep them together such that a plurality of transverse cuts are made through the outer edge of the lip on the outer panel and on the upper end of the fascia panel. The cuts being spaced a distance of approximately one-half inch apart to form a plurality of tabs. To retain the ends of two adjacent lengths of gutter in assembled relationship, overlapping tabs on both the first and second lengths of gutter are folded over.

THE ESSENCE OF THE SOLUTION.

A telescopic gutter according to the invention comprises the features of claim 1. The telescopic gutter, intended especially for roof windows, comprising at least two segments connected together by one fitting into the other, is such that the gutter's segments are thin-walled and made of a pliable material and have identical cross-section dimensions. Each of these segments comprises at least a flat mounting plate, and a drainage channel. The distance between the end points of the drainage channel and the mounting plate is shorter than the inner width of the drainage channel. The gutter is installed in the roof above roof windows and is designed to drain, beyond the area of the opening in the roof for these windows, water flowing toward the window from the upper parts of a sloping roof. In particular, the gutter is designed to remove water vapour condensate flowing down the vapour-open roofing membrane located under the roof's outer covering.
In the first alternative of the invention, the drainage channel of the telescopic gutter has in its transversal cross-section a shape of an arc, particularly that of a circular arc, with a central angle greater than the straight angle. Preferably, the central angle of this arc is from 185 to 200 degrees, particularly 190 degrees. An extension of the drainage channel's arc-shaped cross-section is an external section of this drainage channel located in a plane tangent to the arc-shaped drainage channel, at the end point of its arc. As a result, the free end of the outer segment is closer to the mounting plate than the transition point from the arc into its final segment.
In the second alternative of the invention, the drainage channel has in its transversal cross-section a shape of a polygon, comprising at least three segments. Preferably, there should be a greater number of polygonal segments, which ensures that the shape of the transversal cross-section approaches a shape of an arc. At least the last of these segments is positioned so that the free edge of this segment of the channel is closer to the mounting plate than the connection of this segment to the adjacent segment of the drainage channel.
In both embodiments of the telescopic gutter, at least those segments that are located as outermost on the roof have a set of openings for fasteners securing the gutter to the rafters of the roof truss, these openings being located in the fixing plates, close to at least one end of the segment. In the two-segment gutters, this set of openings can only be on those ends of segments that form the ends of the gutter in its assembled state. In the three-segment gutters, the middle segment does need not to have openings for fasteners. Preferably, the sets of openings for fasteners securing the gutter to the rafters of the roof truss are provided at both ends of each of the telescopic gutter's segments. This makes it possible to standardize the production, transport and storage of telescopic gutter segments.
An advantageous result of using this invention, ensuing from an identical transversal cross-section of the individual telescopic gutter segments, is that it facilitates and reduces the cost of manufacturing the gutters, as both segments can be bent using the same instrumentation. Moreover, press-fit connections between segments of the telescopic gutter, due to their identical cross-sections, make it possible to eliminate the locking element located inside the gutter, as known from patent description PL 201773 B1 . Thereby removed from the interior of the gutter is an element that could be an obstacle to the free flow of water, and so where various debris would accumulate.
Invention embodiments. The telescopic gutter according to the invnetion is illustrated in the following in the drawing whose figures present the following:

Fig. 1 - A gutter with a drainage channel with an arc-shaped cross-section, consisting of two segments - in an axonometric view.
Fig. 2 - The connection of two segments of the gutter with an arc-shaped drainage channel - in cross-section.
Fig. 3 - The connection of two segments of the gutter with a polygonal drainage channel - in cross-section.
Fig. 4 - The use of a two-segment gutter above a single roof window - as seen from the direction perpendicular to the roof.
Fig. 5 - Attachment of a telescopic gutter to rafters - in cross-section with vertical surface parallel to the rafters.
Fig. 6 - The use of a three-segment gutter above a set of two roof windows - as seen from the direction perpendicular to the roof.

Example 1. The telescopic gutter 1 (Figs. 1 and 2 in the drawing) consists of two identical segments 1a and 1b, each of which, bent from thin, pliable sheet metal, has the same cross-section along its entire length. In the free state of segments not joined together, the cross-section of both the segments is also identical. Each of the segments has a flat mounting plate 11 and a drainage channel 12 bent into the shape of a circular arc. The central angle of the drainage channel's 12 circular arc is larger than the straight angle and in the present embodiment amounts to 190 degrees. An extension of the arc-shaped cross-section of the drainage channel 12 is the outer segment 13, located in a plane tangent to the arc-shaped drainage channel 12, at the end point of its curve. The distance B12 between the end points of the arc-shaped cross-section of the drainage channel 12 and the flat mounting plate 11, and likewise the distance B13 between the free end of the outer segment 13 and the mounting plate 11, is smaller than the inner width B1 of the drainage channel 12.
Gutter segments 1a and 1b are connected to each other by placing the drainage channel 12 of segment 1a in the interior of drainage channel 12 of segment 1b. Then, segments 1a and 1b are deformed within the extent of their elasticity, as a result of which, on that section L where the segments overlap each other they form a pressure-fit connection. A side effect of the deformation of the pliable segments is that the free ends of the outer sections 13 of both segments slightly protrude from each other, such that a space extending in the width direction of the channel 12 is formed between the free ends of the outer sections of both segments 1a, 1b, 1c, but this does not produce any significant effects in the functioning of the telescopic gutter. The length of section L and the overlap of segments 1a, 1b are selected according to the spacing of the rafters of the truss roof between which the roof window is mounted.
Each of the segments 1a, 1b of the telescopic gutter has a set of drilled openings 14 in the upper part of its mounting plate 11, near its ends, for the screws or nails securing the telescopic gutter to the rafters of the truss roof. In Figure 1 of the drawing, the openings in segment 1b are visible only at one end, and the view of the second set of openings is obstructed by segment 1a. The openings 14, which are found in the set of the two segments 1a and 1b located in the centre of the length of the telescopic gutter 1 are not used to attach this set of telescopic gutter; the openings indicated are included at both ends of the segment in order to avoid having to make separate right and left versions of these segments.
Example 2. The telescopic gutter consists of two identical segments 2a and 2b, each of which, bent from thin pliable sheet metal, has the same cross-section along its entire length. In their free state where the segments are not joined together, the cross-section of both segments is also identical. Each segment has a flat mounting plate 21 and a drainage channel 22 bent in a polygonal shape composed of seven sections (Fig. 3 of the drawing). The outer section 23 of the polygon forming the drainage channel 22 is so positioned so that the free edge of this section is closer to the mounting plate 21 than the connection of this section with the adjoining section 24 of the drainage channel, which is to say the distance B23 between the free end of the outer section 23 and the mounting plate 21 is smaller than the inner width B2 of the drainage channel 22.
Gutter segments 2a and 2b are connected to each other by fitting the drainage channel 22 of segment 2a inside the drainage channel 22 of segment 2b. Then the pliable segments 2a and 2b are elastically deformed, as a result of which on the section where the segments overlap each other they form a pressure-fit connection as in the first embodiment of the invention. A side effect of the deformation of the pliable segments is that the free ends of the outer sections 23 of both segments slightly protrude from each other, such that a space extending in the width direction of the channel 22 is formed between the free ends of the outer sections of both segments 2a, 2b, but this does not produce any significant effects in the functioning of the telescopic gutter.
Each of the segments of the telescopic gutter, in the upper part of its mounting plate, near its ends, has a set of drilled openings for screws or nails for securing the telescopic gutter to the rafters in the roof structure, just as in the first embodiment of the invention.
The telescopic gutter is mounted (in accordance with Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing) in a roof, whose support structure is composed of rafters 3 on which vapour-open roofing membrane 4 (omitted in Fig. 4) is located. Battens 31 are mounted along the rafters 3, on the vapour-open roofing membrane 4, and on these battens horizontal laths 32 are mounted transversely to the rafters 3. The roof's outer shell, in particular roof tiles, is laid on these laths. Thanks to the battens 31 there are ventilation gaps between the vapour-open roofing membrane 4 and the laths 32. The telescopic gutter 1 is placed in the roof above the roof window 5 along with its sealing flashing 51. The telescopic gutter is placed directly on the rafters 3, and for this purpose the battens 31 have gaps left in the areas where the telescopic gutter is to be located. A cut is made in the vapour-open roofing membrane 4 through which the mounting plate 11 for the telescopic gutter is inserted beneath this roofing membrane, thus ensuring runoff of water from the vapour-open roofing membrane 4 to the drainage channel 12 of the telescopic gutter. To ensure proper runoff of water in the drainage channel 12, the telescopic gutter 1 is mounted at an incline relative to the laths 32, while segment 1a, located in the connection of the two sections inside the drainage channel 12 of segment 1b, is positioned in the roof at a point higher than segment 1b. The ends of the telescopic gutter 1 composed of the sections 1a and 1b extend beyond the rafters 3 - and particularly important, the lower end of segment 1b must protrude beyond the rafter 3, which prevents water leaking onto the rafter 3. The telescopic gutter 1 is secured to the rafters 3 by means of nails 15 passing through the openings 14 in the mounting plates 11 of each of the segments 1a, 1b.
The telescopic gutter can also be composed of three segments 1a, 1b, 1c - creating a common gutter for a set of two roof windows 5, positioned next to each other (Fig. 6 on the drawing), this being equipped with a common set of sealing flashings 52. The three-segment gutter is supported on three rafters 3, on each of which gaps are left in the battens 31, while this kind of gutter is attached only to the end rafters 3.

Claims

A telescopic gutter for a roof window comprising
- at least two segments (1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b), connected together by one fitting into the other, and the gutter is arranged to be mounted above the roof window and fixed to a roof, wherein said segments (1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b) are thin-walled and made of a pliable material and each comprises a flat mounting plate (11, 21), a drainage channel (12, 22) and an outer section (13, 23) being an extension of said drainage channel, where said segments comprise identical dimensions in the transversal cross-section

- and the drainage channel is arranged to be bent into the shape of a circular arc or into a polygonal shape, wherein

- the arc-shaped drainage channel (12) cross-section comprises a centre angle (α) larger than the straight angle, preferably from 185 to 200 degrees, particularly 190 degrees, and the outer section (13) of the arc shaped drainage channel is, located in a plane tangent to the arc-shaped drainage channel at the end point of its curve,

- or the polygonal cross section of the drainage channel (22) comprises at least three sections and at least the last of the three sections of the polygonal drainage channel (22) is positioned so that the free edge of this last section (23) is closer to the mounting plate (21) than the connection of this last section with its adjacent section (24) of the drainage channel,

- while the distance between the end points of the drainage channel's cross-section (B12, B13, B23) and the mounting plate (11, 21) is shorter than the inner width (B1, B2) of the drainage channel (12, 22) wherein the segments (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b) are arranged to overlap each other on a section L and in said section L the segments (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b) are deformed within the extent of their elasticity and are arranged to form a pressure-fit connection with each other, wherein the free ends of the outer or last sections (13; 23) of both segments slightly protrude from each other such that a space extending in the width deirection of the channel (12, 22) is formed between said free ends of said outer or last sections of both segments (1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b).
The telescopic gutter according to claims 1, characterized in that at least those segments that are located as outermost on the roof, in their mounting plates (11) near at least one end of the segment, comprises a set of openings (14) for fasteners (15) securing the telescopic gutter (1) to the rafters (3) of the roof truss.
The telescopic gutter according to claim 2, characterized in that the sets of openings (14) for fasteners (15) securing the gutter to the rafters (3) of the roof truss are provided at both ends of each of the segments (1a, 1b) of the gutter.