GB2083094A - Gutter brackets - Google Patents

Abstract

A gutter bracket assembly has an elongated bracket member (1) with fixing holes (4) at one end for securing it to a rafter. At its other end the bracket member 1 carries a cradle (7) for supporting a length of guttering. The cradle (7) makes a snap fitting connection with a cradle locating member (6) and the bracket member (1) passes between the locating member (6) and the cradle (7). The assembly is secured together by a nut and bolt (16, 17) the shank of the bolt passing through aligned holes in the locating member (6) and cradle (7) and through an elongated slot (5) in the bracket member (1). Thus, with the nut and bolt (16, 17) loosened off the cradle (7) together with the cradle locating member (6) can be adjusted along the bracket member (1) to the extent that the bolt shank can move along the slot (5) in the bracket member (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rafter brackets This invention relates to rafter brackets assemblies of the kind used for supporting lengths of rainwater guttering. Such bracket assemblies have an elon gated bracket member which extends at one end under the eaves of a building and is secured to the rafter for example by screws or nails. At its other end the bracket member carries a cradle for locating a length of guttering.

In the past it has been customaryforthe bracket member to be made of metal and the cradle, which may for example be of plastics material is secured to the bracket member by a nut and bolt, the bolt shank passing through aligned holes in the bracket member and cradle.

The disadvantage of this securing arrangement is that the line of fall of the guttering is determined solely by the fixing of the bracket members to the rafters and if the fall is incorrectthe bracket members have to be removed and re-positioned. The object of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage.

According to the invention, in a rafter bracket assembly of the kind described, the elongated bracket member has a longitudinal slot and the cradle has a snap fitting connection with a cradle locating member, the bracket member passing between said locating member and the cradle and the assembly being secured together by a nut and bolt, the shank of the bolt passing through aligned holes in the said locating member and cradle and through the elongated slot in the bracket member. Thus with the nut and bolt loosened off the position of the cradle together with the cradle locating member can be adjusted vertically; hence the line of a series of the cradles can be suitably adjusted to set the desired fall of the guttering without having to remove the bracket members and re-position them.

One rafter bracket assembly in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single Figure of which shows a partly broken away section through the assembly.

Referring now to the drawing, the assembly has a bracket member 1 having in known manner two limbs 2 and 3 extending at an angle to each other the limb 2 having fixing holes 4 (only one of which is shown in the drawing) through which the bracket member 1 is fixed to the top side of a rafter by screws or nails. The angle between the limbs 2 and 3 is such that when the bracket member 1 is fixed to a rafter the limb 3 extends vertically downwards. In an alternative form of bracket member the plane of the limb 2 is twisted through 90 relative to the plane of the limb 3 so that it can be secured to the side of a rafter. The limb 3 of the bracket member 1 has an elongated slot 5 extending along it and open at its lower end.

Mounted on the limb 3 of the bracket member 1 is a cradle locating member 6 and a gutter supporting cradle 7, both moulded from p.v.c. The member 6 is formed with a forwardly facing channel along which the limb 3 of the bracket member 1 passes, the base of the channel being referenced 8, and the one side of which visible in the drawing being referenced 9.

Extending rearwardly from the base 8 is a nutretaining boss 10. Adjacent the top of the channel projections 12 extend for a short distance across the mouth of the channel from the opposite sides of the channel and provide a guide for the limb 3 and an abutment for the top edge of the cradle 7.

Lugs 13 are provided below the projections 12 and extend for a short distance across the mouth of the channel from the opposite sides of the channel.

These lugs 13 extend along the free edges of the sides of the channel and their surfaces 14 are chamfered so as to define a gap of gradually decreasing width between them as one proceeds into the depth of the channel. The cradle 7 has a rear vertical limb 15 whose width is such that it can locate with a fairly close fit in the channel of the member 6. To fit the cradle 7 into the member 6, it is pushed into the mouth of the channel to deflect the lugs 13 until it snaps behind the lugs. The deflection of the lugs is permitted by the inherent resilience of the member 6.

The assembly is secured together by a nut 16 and bolt 17 the nut being retained against rotation in the boss 10 and the shank of the bolt 17 passing through aligned holes in the member 6 and cradle 7 and through the elongated slot 5 in the limb 3 of the member 1.

It will be seen that the cradle 7 can be readily adjusted vertically simply by loosening the nut and bolt and sliding the member 6 and cradle 7 along the limb 3 of the member 1, the elongated slot 5 permitting the passage of the bolt shank. It will also be appreciated that the cradle locating member 6 and the cradle 7 can be assembled together and the nut and bolt fitted and the thus assembled parts fitted on the bracket member 1, the shank of the bolt being entered through the lower open end of the slot 5.

1. A rafter bracket assembly for supporting rainwater guttering and having an elongated bracket member which in use extends at one end underthe eaves of a building and is secured to a rafter and at its other end carries a cradle for locating a length of guttering, characterised in that the elongated bracket member has a longitudinal slot and the cradle has a snap fitting connection with a cradle locating member, the bracket member passing between said locating member and the cradle and the assembly being secured together by a nut and bolt, the shank ofthe bolt passing through aligned holes in said locating member and cradle and through the elongated slot in the bracket member.

2. A rafter bracket assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that said cradle locating member is formed with a channel along which the bracket member extends and the cradle is snap fitted

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Rafter brackets This invention relates to rafter brackets assemblies of the kind used for supporting lengths of rainwater guttering. Such bracket assemblies have an elon gated bracket member which extends at one end under the eaves of a building and is secured to the rafter for example by screws or nails. At its other end the bracket member carries a cradle for locating a length of guttering. In the past it has been customaryforthe bracket member to be made of metal and the cradle, which may for example be of plastics material is secured to the bracket member by a nut and bolt, the bolt shank passing through aligned holes in the bracket member and cradle. The disadvantage of this securing arrangement is that the line of fall of the guttering is determined solely by the fixing of the bracket members to the rafters and if the fall is incorrectthe bracket members have to be removed and re-positioned. The object of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage. According to the invention, in a rafter bracket assembly of the kind described, the elongated bracket member has a longitudinal slot and the cradle has a snap fitting connection with a cradle locating member, the bracket member passing between said locating member and the cradle and the assembly being secured together by a nut and bolt, the shank of the bolt passing through aligned holes in the said locating member and cradle and through the elongated slot in the bracket member. Thus with the nut and bolt loosened off the position of the cradle together with the cradle locating member can be adjusted vertically; hence the line of a series of the cradles can be suitably adjusted to set the desired fall of the guttering without having to remove the bracket members and re-position them. One rafter bracket assembly in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single Figure of which shows a partly broken away section through the assembly. Referring now to the drawing, the assembly has a bracket member 1 having in known manner two limbs 2 and 3 extending at an angle to each other the limb 2 having fixing holes 4 (only one of which is shown in the drawing) through which the bracket member 1 is fixed to the top side of a rafter by screws or nails. The angle between the limbs 2 and 3 is such that when the bracket member 1 is fixed to a rafter the limb 3 extends vertically downwards. In an alternative form of bracket member the plane of the limb 2 is twisted through 90 relative to the plane of the limb 3 so that it can be secured to the side of a rafter. The limb 3 of the bracket member 1 has an elongated slot 5 extending along it and open at its lower end. Mounted on the limb 3 of the bracket member 1 is a cradle locating member 6 and a gutter supporting cradle 7, both moulded from p.v.c. The member 6 is formed with a forwardly facing channel along which the limb 3 of the bracket member 1 passes, the base of the channel being referenced 8, and the one side of which visible in the drawing being referenced 9. Extending rearwardly from the base 8 is a nutretaining boss 10. Adjacent the top of the channel projections 12 extend for a short distance across the mouth of the channel from the opposite sides of the channel and provide a guide for the limb 3 and an abutment for the top edge of the cradle 7. Lugs 13 are provided below the projections 12 and extend for a short distance across the mouth of the channel from the opposite sides of the channel. These lugs 13 extend along the free edges of the sides of the channel and their surfaces 14 are chamfered so as to define a gap of gradually decreasing width between them as one proceeds into the depth of the channel. The cradle 7 has a rear vertical limb 15 whose width is such that it can locate with a fairly close fit in the channel of the member 6. To fit the cradle 7 into the member 6, it is pushed into the mouth of the channel to deflect the lugs 13 until it snaps behind the lugs. The deflection of the lugs is permitted by the inherent resilience of the member 6. The assembly is secured together by a nut 16 and bolt 17 the nut being retained against rotation in the boss 10 and the shank of the bolt 17 passing through aligned holes in the member 6 and cradle 7 and through the elongated slot 5 in the limb 3 of the member 1. It will be seen that the cradle 7 can be readily adjusted vertically simply by loosening the nut and bolt and sliding the member 6 and cradle 7 along the limb 3 of the member 1, the elongated slot 5 permitting the passage of the bolt shank. It will also be appreciated that the cradle locating member 6 and the cradle 7 can be assembled together and the nut and bolt fitted and the thus assembled parts fitted on the bracket member 1, the shank of the bolt being entered through the lower open end of the slot 5. CLAIMS

1. A rafter bracket assembly for supporting rainwater guttering and having an elongated bracket member which in use extends at one end underthe eaves of a building and is secured to a rafter and at its other end carries a cradle for locating a length of guttering, characterised in that the elongated bracket member has a longitudinal slot and the cradle has a snap fitting connection with a cradle locating member, the bracket member passing between said locating member and the cradle and the assembly being secured together by a nut and bolt, the shank ofthe bolt passing through aligned holes in said locating member and cradle and through the elongated slot in the bracket member.

2. A rafter bracket assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that said cradle locating member is formed with a channel along which the bracket member extends and the cradle is snap fitted through the mouth of said channel.

3. A rafter bracket assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that said cradle locating member has lugs which extend across the mouth of the channel and which are resiliently deflected when said cradle is pressed into the channel to provide the snap fit.

4. A rafter bracket assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the longitudinal slot in said bracket member is open at one end to permit the shank of the bolt to be entered into the slot after being located in the aligned holes in the cradle and cradle locating member.

5. A rafter bracket assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.