GB2251004A - Rainwater gutter - Google Patents

Abstract

A rainwater gutter system comprises a support rail 1 attached to a fascia, and gutter supports or fittings 10 which can be hooked onto or plugged into the support rail. The gutter fittings have movable clips 26 for locating the gutter 20. Gutter fittings or brackets may have slots in their end faces for receiving push-fitted ends of gutters. The specification also describes a guttering system in which the gutters are formed on site from initially flat flexible or scored strips of material, held in appropriate shape by gutter brackets or fittings. <IMAGE>

Description

22310,34 1 DRAINAGE SYSTEM

This specification relates to rainwater drainage systems.

Rainwater drainage equipment is now universally made of plastics material, in general PVC, and comprises extruded gutter sections, and injectionmoulded fittings. The fittings comprise, among others, support brackets, corner pieces, downpipe connectors and so on.

Conventional guttering systems have a number of deficiencies and in particular are not easy to install, because of the need for accurate placing and levelling of the support brackets by which the gutters are attached to a building or other structure.

The provision of an improved rainwater drainage system is therefore very desirable.

A first aspect of the present invention resides in an improved manner of supporting the gutter and fittings and attaching them to a building.

Morespecifically, there is provided a guttering system for rainwater comprising at least one support adapted to be secured to or incorporated in a structure, at least -2 one length of gutter, and at least one gutter fitting adapted to engage with and to support the gutter, the said fitting(s) and support(s) having mutually inter-engageable configurations whereby the fitting(s) can be mounted on and supported by the support(s).

For the avoidance of doubt it is here stated that the term "fitting" herein includes gutter support brackets as well as fittings which actually form part of the gutter channel, unless the context requires otherwise.

Such a system has practical advantages, because it will usually be easier to install and level the support or supports, than is currently the case with conventional gutter systems. Furthermore, a common design of support can be used in conjunction with fittings and guttering of a range of different profiles.

A separate support, individually attached or attachable to a structure, may be provided for each gutter fitting. Such support may be designed to restrain the associated fitting from moving horizontally in a direction. generally parallel to the line of the gutter, or it may be such as to permit limited sliding movement of the fitting parallel to the line of the gutter, to facilitate placing of the fitting correctly relative to the gutter. Short lengths of a support rail or bar each provided with a suitable inter-engagement configuration 3 may be interconnected by integral or separate flexible lines in an arrangement resembling a "washing line,,, to be attached to a barge board or other element of a structure. This can provide a multiplicity of fitting mounting points in a compact form.

Alternatively, there may be provided one or more elongate strip-like or rail-like supports of substantial length relative t o an individual fitting. in this case, the support will usually be a flat strip which can be screwed or nailed to the building, in particular to a barge board, having on one face the said configuration for connection of fittings. The support is attached to the barge board or other part of a building or structure, and fittings are then hung or clipped onto it using the said configurations. The gutter is then mounted on the fittings.

Such a system is easy to install. Because the eventual position of the gutter is determined by the initial installation of the elongate support, which can be of a substantial straight length, rather than on the positions of individually fitted support brackets, the system makes it easy to maintain the correct height, level and fall of the gutter. In a preferred arrangement, the elongate support has a substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length, such that individual fittings can be slid along the rail. This 4 makes it very easy to set the fittings to the required positions relative to the length of the gutter, whereas conventional gutter systems require careful placing of the fittings before installation of the gutter.

The inter-engageable configurations of the support and the fittings can have any convenient form. In one embodiment, these configurations are such that the support can be hooked onto the rail, preferably with a snap or aetent retaining means, and/or a screw or rail, to prevent the fittings from being accidentally dislodged.

In an alternative embodiment, the support and fittings may inter-engage by means of projections on the fittings, push-fitted into recesses or slots provided on the support (or vice versa).

The support element may itself constitute an extruded plastics barge board, so that the basic support configuration for the gutter fittings is effectively integral with the building or other structure.

It is desirable that the inter-engaging configurations of the support and fitting be so designed that a fitting (including support brackets) can be removed from an installed support without damaging the support. This is particularly desirable if the support is an elongate strip-like or rail-like support. Damage to the fitting on removal is tolerable, because individual fittings can be replaced relatively easily and cheaply.

It is also desirable that the inter-engaging configurations be designed to resist rattling of gutters in the wind and creaking caused by thermal expansion and contraction. It is furthermore desirable that the interengaging configurations be designed to resist accidental separation if a ladder is rested against the side of the installed gutter, or against the structure or the fascia or barge board below the gutter in such a way that the top of the ladder presses upwards on the underside of the gutter, as is not uncommon during painting and other maintenance operations.

In the case of an elongate support, it is desirable to provide means resisting movement of fittings along the support after installation. This can be achieved for example by the use of a screw or nail to locate the fitting after installation. it can also be achieved by providing detent notches or pips spaced along the length of the support, optionally with matching configurations provided on the fittings.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to the interconnection of gutters and gutter fittings. Conventionally, gutter support brackets and other 6 fittings have rigid integral lips, under which the gutter is pushed. This is inconvenient and liable to lead to damage of the lips or of the gutter.

In this aspect of the present invention provides a rainwater gutter fitting comprising a concave body complementary in internal profile to a gutter, a seal for peripherally sealing a gutter received in the body, and a gutter-retaining member engaged or engageable with L-he body and movable in translation to a position in which the member is engaged firmly with the body for engaging and retaining in the body a gutter received in the body.

In such a fitting, the seal will generally resemble the seals provided in conventional fittings, that is to say, an arcuate seal in the internal wall of the fitting, against which seal the external surface of the gutter rests. The retaining member serves to press the gutter against the seal. However, this can lead to a relatively complicated design of the fitting and attendant cost.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rainwater gutter fitting or joint comprising a body having a crosssectional profile corresponding to that of a gutter, and having in at least one end a groove complementary to the profile of a 7 gutter for receiving an inserted end of a gutter.

In use, the end of the gutter is pushed axially into the groove. The fit may be close enough to provide an effective seal. Alternatively, the groove may have a internal body or lining of seal material, in particular an elastomeric material, to provide a seal when the gutter is inserted.

In use it will be necessary that the gutter system permit such axial movement. Thus, if this aspect of the present invention is used in a gutter system according to the first mentioned aspect of the invention, it will usually be necessary that the support member be of a kind permitting longitudinal sliding of fittings and in particular be an elongate strip-like or rail-like support of the type mentioned previously. However the gutter support brackets do not have to be slidably supported, as guttering resting in such brackets can be slid within them.

The fittings according to the second and third aspects of the invention can be made as composite fittings, each comprising a relatively simple fitting body, of a profile matching the gutter, together with one or more end members attached to or adapted to be attached by a user to the body and each incorporating a gutterretaining groove or member and a seal if 8 required. Common designs of end members can be used in combination with a variety of bodies, the bodies defining various types of fittings for example support brackets, downpipe junctions, end stops, corner fittings and so on. This enables the end members, which are relatively complicated. to be produced economically in large quantities as they are common to a wide range of different fittings, while the fitting bodies, which are simpler but produced in much smaller quantities for each 4- L-ype of body, can be produced using simplified tooling. The end members and bodies can be joined together eg on site or at the factory using any suitable assembly method for example solvent welding, ultrasonic welding and so on, for example using robotic assembly means and thereby eliminating the labour-intensive seal-fitting operations which are currently used.

Thus, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rainwater gutter fitting comprising a fitting body defining the function of the fitting and having a profile matching a gutter, and at least one end member attached or attachable to the body and incorporating gutter-retaining or engaging means, and a seal for the gutter if required.

For example, the end member may be attachable to the body on site, by means of a separate coupling member which has a profile corresponding to the gutter, and has 9 in each opposite side or edge a respective groove for engaging, respectively, an edge of the fitting body and an edge of the end member.

In conventional gutter systems, the gutter is of fixed cross-sectional profi'Le and is essentially rigid. A different gutter extrusion must be produced for each different gutter profile, for example half-round, square. ogee, and correspondingly shaped fittings must be provided for each gutter profile. This is costly as to manufacture and as to stocking. According to yet a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a rainwater guttering system comprising at least one elongate strip of flexible material capable of being placed in a first configuration with a substantially flat cross-section and in a second configuration with a concave cross-section to form a gutter, and at least one gutter fitting having means for engaging the said material in-its gutter-forming second configuration and maintaining this configuration.

In this system, the gutter itself has no predetermined cross-sectional profile, and can be produced and stored in the form of a flat strip, for example in coils. The eventual cross-sectional profile of the gutter can be determined by the gutter fittings which hold the gutter strip in position and in shape.

In one embodiment, the strip material is of essentially uniform thickness throughout its width, and can be formed only into a curved cross-section resembling a half-round gutter. This provides a particularly simple gutter material, which can be held in shape by means of clips which engage the -respective edges of the gutter when bent to shape and hold them at the required spacing, and/or by fittings engaging the ends of the gutter and having cross-sectional shapes corresponding to 'Che desired gutter profile.

Alternatively, the gutter strip material may have longitudinal grooves, or strips or lines of flexibility about which it can be folded. This enables the strip to be bent into a wide variety of cross-sectional profiles, for example square, U-shaped, or ogee. In this embodiment, the gutter shape will normally have to be maintained by support brackets and/or other fittings of corresponding cross-sectional shape.

Thus, the production or^ a range of different gutter profiles involves only the production of a corresponding range of gutter fittings of different profile, which can use a common strip material to form gutters of different profile. Preferably, the fittings of the different shapes have substantially the same peripheral length of the profile, so that exactly the same flat extruded material can be used in combination with them, to form gutters of all the different cross-sectional shapes.

This consideration is particularly important if the gutter is to be used with fittings of the kind having a groove or grooves, complementary to the gutter profile for -receiving an inserted end of a gutter, the groove being closed at its ends.

If the groove is open at one or both ends, maintaining the same peripheral length of profile among different shapes is less important and some differences in profile length can be tolerated. Also, in the case of fittings using moveable gutter-retaining members, it is not necessary to provide a peripheral length matched precisely to the width of the strip material, as the mechanical retaining members can be designed to accommodate discrepancies between the profile length of the fitting, and the width of the flat gutter-forming material.

A sixth aspect of.the invention comprises the use of adhesive-coated material for jointing gutters and fittings. For example, a fitting may contain one or more strips or layers of double-sided adhesive material extending in the peripheral direction, for adhesively engaging the external peripheral surface of one or more lengths of gutter, thereby simultaneously securing and sealing the external surface of the gutter in the 12 fitting.

The adhesive material may be in the form of double-sided adhesive-coated tape, or adhesive-coated foam material to provide improved sealing and tolerance to inaccuracies arising in manufacture and in installation.

A seventh aspect of the present invention relates to the connection of downpipes to gutters.

Conventionally, a downpipe is connected to the gutter by a special downpipe fitting which is mounted as an extension of the gutter and has an integral downwardly projecting pipe stub for connection to the downpipe.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a rainwater downpipe joint comprising a gutter provided with a hole in its base, coupling members respectively above and below the gutter base, at least one said coupling member extending through the gutter and engaged with the other coupling member for securing the coupling members to the gutter, and at least one of the coupling members being provided with a downpipe or pipe stub communicating with the hole.

Also there is provided-a method of providing a gutter with a downpipe which comprises providing a-hole in the base of the gutter, installing at the said hole an 13 adaptor sealed to the gutter and provided with a downwardly projecting pipe or pipe stub communicating with the hole.

This eliminates the need for special downpipe fittings.

The various above-mentioned aspects of the invention can all be used individually, or two or more of them can be used in combination with one another, as will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a support strip, support bracket and gutter of a first rainwater drainage system embodying the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-section showing the support strip installed on a building, Figure 3shows a modified support bracket, Figure 4 shows a further modified support bracket, Figure 5 shows a gutter, support bracket and support strip of a second rainwater system embodying the invention, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 2, of the second rainwater system shown in Figure 5, Figure 7 illustrates a seal used in the second rainwater system, Figure 8 illustrates a multi-part support bracket used 14 in the second rainwater system, Figure 9 shows a support rail and bracket of a third rainwater system embodying the invention, Figure 10 shows a gutter, coupler and end stop of the third rainwater system, Figure 11 illustrates corresponding components of a fourth rainwater system, Figures 12 to 14 illustrate the installation of the fourth rainwater system, Figure 15 shows a downpipe connection of the fourth rainwater system, Figures 16 and 17 show a further form of support and support bracket, Figures 18 to 27 show yet more cross-sectional profiles capable of being used for the support and/or support brackets, Figure 28 shows three seal profiles usable in place of that shown in Figure 7, and Figure 29 shows an alternative profile of the gutter to that shown in Figure 10.

The system shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an elongate extruded plastics support rail 1. Suitable plastics incude uPVC and polypropylene. The profile of the rail consists of a back plate 2, a forwardly projecting flange 3 extending along the lower edge of the back plate, an upwardly extending hook 4 of inverted L-section integral with the forward face of the back plate, and a detent nib 5 of downwardly facing sawtooth profile integral with the front face of the back plate, disposed behind the upwardly extending limb 6 of the hook 4.

The back plate is provided.7ith fixing holes 7 to receive screws or nails by which the back plate is fixed directly to the barge board 8 or equivalent component of a structure as shown in Figure 2.

A gutter bracket 10 of half-round profile has, on its rear side, one or more downwardly projecting hooks 11, of which the downwardly extending limb has, at its lower.end, a rearwardly projecting lug 12 of upwardly facing saw-tooth profile, shaped and dimensioned to fit below the sawtooth nib 5 of the back plate, below this nib and in the channel defined between the back plate and the front limb 6 of the hook 4.

Thus, the gutter bracket 10 can be mounted on the support rail 1 simply by inserting the hook 11 behind the hook 4 and pressing it downwards until the lug 12 snaps under the nib 5. The gutter bracket is then positively retained on the back plate as regards vertical movement and cannot be accident"ally detached, but it can be slia easily along the support rail.

After mounting of the gutter bracket on the support 16 rail, the half-round gutter extrusion 20 can be fitted into the bracket 10.

Other gutter fittings can be attached to the support rail in a similar manner.

Because the support rail is rectilinear and essentially rigid, it is very easy to install it at the correct height and with the correct level or fall using conventional levelling and measuring tools. The problems inherent in achieving the correct level using separate independently mounted support brackets attached individually to the barge board are eliminated. As already mentioned, the support bracket and other fittings can easily be slid along the support rail to the correct positions.

Other forms of engagement between the gutter fittings and the support rail can be used, for example as shown in Figure 5.

Because the support rail (which can be made as an integral part of a plastics barge board) is independent of the gutter and fittings, the same design of support rail can be used with a range of gutters and fittings of different shapes and sizes.

1 The gutter can be held in the support brackets and other 17 fittings by conventional means, and essentially conventional seals can be provided.

Preferably, however, the gutter is retained and the seal is compressed by a loose clip which is pushed down by finger or thumb pressure onto the upper edge of the gutter.

Figure 1 shows a first form of gutter-retaining clip. This comprises a tie wrap or strap 22 which lies in an external peripheral channel or groove 23 provided in the bracket 10, spaced from one or both ends of the bracket. The rear end of the tie wrap 22 has a head 24, to prevent the - ie wrap from being pulled out of the channel 23. The forward end of the tie wrap has a long tail 25, on which is fitted a clip 26 provided with a slot 27 through which the tie wrap tail 25 passes, and with an internal tooth or profile such that the cli.p can be moved easily along the tie wrap towards thegutter bracket 10 but cannot easily be moved away from the gutter bracket.

The clip 26 is of channel section, with a channel 28 of such profile that it can fit over the adjacent edge 29 of the gutter bracket and over the edge 30 of a gutter seated in the bracket.

In use, the gutter is placed inside the gutter bracket, 18 with the rear edge 31 of the gutter below a retaining nib 32 projecting forwardly from the upper rear edge of the bracket, the external surface of the gutter resting on an internal sealing strip 33 provided in the gutter bracket adjacent the end of the bracket. The tie wrap is then pulled tight using the tail 25, and the clip 26 is pushed downwards along the tie wrap until it engages the edges 29, 30 of the bracket and gutter. The tie wrap is thus trapped between the external surface of the bracket and the internal surface of the clip, which is provided with a tooth or other profile to prevent the clip from moving upwards relative to the tie wrap. The tie wrap and clip are pulled as tight as possible, and its free end can then be cut off.

Figure 3 shows an alternative clip 35 provided with an internal double saw tooth or "Christmas tree"-section channel 36, which can be pushed onto and snap-fitted to a correspondingly profiled wall region 37 of the gutter bracket 10 so as to retain the clip firmly on the bracket. On one side, the clip has a projecting lip 38 which, when the clip is fitted onto the bracket, projects inwardly into the internal space of the bracket and overlies the front edge 30 of a gutter seated in the bracket.

In use, the gutter is placed in the bracket with its rear edge under the nib 32 on the bracket, and the clip 19 is then pushed downards onzo the region 37 of the bracket until its lip 38 presses down on the front edge of the gutter, with the inner limb 39 of the bracket lying between the external surface of the gutter and the inner surface of the region 37 so that the pressure exerted by the gutter on the limb 39 helps to retain the clip in firm engagement on the region 37.

In a modification, only the inner limb 39 of the clip and the corresponding inner surface of the bracket are provided with interengaging saw tooth profiles, the outer limb 40 of the clip and the outer surface of the bracket being smooth. This modification makes it possible to remove the clip relatively easily.

Figure 4 shows yet another form of clip, viewed in this case from the rear side of the gutter bracket 10. In this case the forward edge of the bracket has a symmetrical ramp 50, with a saw tooth profile 51 on its underside. Two clips 52 are provided, one for each end of the gutter bracket. Each clip contains a channel 53 matching the ramp 51 and provided with a corresponding saw tooth profile 54. These clips are fitted onto the ramp 50, and each has a downwardly facing shoulder 55 which projects into the interior space of the bracket and overlies the forward edge 30 of a gutter seated in the bracket.

The profiles of the channels 33 and ramp 50 are such that, when the clips are in the axially inner region of the ramp, there is clearance between the shoulder 55 and the gutter edge 30. When the clips are pushed axially outwards towards the ends of the gutter bracket, the shoulders 55 move downwards into engagement with the gutter edge 30 and thereby clamp the gutter in the bracket and compress the seals 33 with a wedging action maintained by the saw tooth profiles 51, 54 which prevent accidental release of the clips. The mechanical advantage provided by the ramp enables the user to exert greater pressure on the gutter and seal, than the clips shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Alternatively, the gutter ends may be received in grooves provided in the fitting ends and incorporating seals. This eliminates the need for separate clips. Such an arrangement is illustrated by the system shown in Figure-5 to-8.

In this second system, the support rail 100 comprises a back plate 101- On its forward face are two pairs of forwardly projecting longitudinal walls 102, each pair enclosing a channel 103 of which the internal profile is a double saw tooth or "Christmas tree" with the teeth facing the base of the channel.

The gutter bracket 110 (illustrated as being 21 quarterround in this embodiment) has on its vertical rear wall 111 a pair or parallel horizontal ribs 112 each with a double saw tooth or "Christmas tree" external profile matching the channels 103.

The bracket can be installed on the support rail 100 either by being pushed from the front so that the ribs 112 enter and are retained in the channels 103, entry being permitted by the resilience of the wall 102, or alternatively, the ribs 112 can be fitted into the channels 103 from the ends of these and can then be slid along the channels to the desired position.

In each end of the bracket is a deep axially extending groove 115 of a shape matching that of the gutter 116. The gutter end is a push fit in the groove 115. Engagement between the gutter and the groove can be achieved by longitudinal movement of the gutter and/or longitudinal movement of the bracket, the latter being permitted by the slidability of the ribs 112 in the channels 103. It is of course equally possible to fit the bracket and gutter together before fitting the bracket to the support rail 100.

To facilitaY-e installation, using for example two brackets already fitted to the support rail, the gutter can be rested on one of these brackets while being slid lengthwise into the groove 115 of the other, and the 22 first mentioned bracket is then slid along the support rail clear of the adjacent end of the gutter, and is then slid back to engage its groove 115 with the gutter end.

To provide a completely reliable seal, the groove 115 may be provided with an internal lining 117 of seal material, such as an elastomer. This lining may be profiled to form a pad or ribs 118 to enhance sealing while making it easier to insert the gutter end. This construction is illustrated in Figure 7, with reference to the groove of an end stop 119.

Similarly-formed fittings can be provided for other purposes, for example as downpipe connectors, bends, etc.

Figures 5 and 7 show coupling grooves of symmetrical cross-section, with inner and outer limbs of equal length.

In a push-fit coupling, it may be desirable to make the groove asymmetrical in cross-section, in particular, with an inner limb which is shorter than the outer limb, a seal being provided on the outer limb where the latter projects beyond the inner limb. Such an arrangement will make it easier to engage the gutter end in the groove, because the extended outer limb will act as a guide-in surface. Furthermore, initial friction between 23 the gutter outer surface and the seal will be less than in a groove of symmetrical cross-section, making insertion easier. The interaction between the inserted gutter end and the shorter inner limb, as the gutter is inserted in the groove, will cause the external surface - a progressively increasing of the gutter to exert pressure on the seal provided on the projecting region of the outer limb, ensuring a good seal when the gutter is fully inserted in the groove.

In the system shown in Figures 5 to 7, (as in that of Figure 1 to 4), the gutter-retaining and sealing means are essentially identical on a wide range of different gutter fittings. Because the retaining and sealing means are relatively complex, manufacturing a wide range of gutter fittings each provided with these means as integral parts is relatively costly. It may therefore be advantageous to manufacture the fittings ascomposite products, with fitting bodies peculiar to specific purposes united with gutterretaining and sealing components, common to every type of fitting. This is illustrated, with reference to a gutter bracket of the second rainwater system, in Figure 8. It will be observed that in this case, the means for attaching the fitting to the support rail are provided on the end pieces which also incorporate the gutter-retaining and sealing means.

24 Specifically, the illustrated gutter bracket comprises a central body 120, and a pair of end members 121 each prov ded with a gutterreceiving groove 115 and a seal lining 117, these three components being united at the factory for example by solvent welding, ultrasonic welding or any other convenient process.

It will also be noted that Figure 8 shows a slightly modified form of the projections provided for attaching the bracket to the support rail. Each rib 112 shown in Figure 5 and 6 is modified by the provision of a central longitudinal gap or channel 122, enabling the saw-tooth regions to flex when inserted in the channels of the support rail.

In an analagous manner, a downpipe fitting would comprise a central body with a stub downpipe at its base, and a pair of end members identical to the end members 121 shown in Figure 8, whereas an end stop would comprise a single end member 121 united with a body in the form of an end wall.

Conventionally, and in the systems shown in Figures 1 to 8, plastics rainwater guttering is essentially rigid. This makes it costly to store and awkward to handle. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a rainwater system which overcomes these disadvantages.

The gutter is formed from flat strip material with a bead 150 along each edge. Because this material is flat, it takes up relatively little space when stored and, if sufficiently flexible, can be stored and/or handled in the form of a coil.

In use, the flat strip material is bent into the required gutter profile (half-round in the example shown in Figure 10), by hand or using a tool, and it is then held in this position by clips 151 which engage the beads 150 and comprise horizontal arms 152 interconnecting the beads 150 to maintain the proper spacing between them. Each clip has, at each end of the arm 152, a socket 153 with a profile complementary to the.bead 150. Preferably, the profiles of the beads 150 and sockets 153 are such that the beads can be snap-fitted into the sockets. The rear end of the clip carries a pair of rearwardly projecting vertically spaced lugs 154 with saw tooth profiles on their outwardly facing surfaces, shaped and dimensioned to fit within a double saw tooth or "Christmas tree,' profiled channel 155 defined between a pair of longitudinal ribs 156 integral with and projecting forwardly from the back plate 157 of an extruded plastics support rail 158. In use, the clips 151 are snap-fitted into the channel 155, and thereafter the strip of gutter material is offered up to the clips and its rear edge bead is located in the rear socket 153 of each clip. The gutter strip is then ? 6 bent forwards and upwards and its front edge bead is located in the front socket 153 of the clips, which clips thereafter hold the gutter in its half-round bent condition.

The number of clips required will be determined by the need to maintain an essentially constant gutter profile over the length of the gutter.

Figure 10 also illustrates an alternative form of composite gutter fitting using a common seal member with various types of fitting body.

in this embodiment, the common seal member 160 is a half-round channel of plastics or stiff elastomer, having in each end edge a groove 161 which is a push fit on the end of the gutter, and on the end of the fitting body member 162, illustrated as an end stop. The grooves 161 may have ribbed linings or ribbed internal profiles to facilitate sealing on the gutter and body member. Identical seal members can be used to connect the gutter to-bodies in the form of bends, downpipe connectors, etc.

The use of such a common seal member is not limited to the system shown in Figurs 9 and 10 but is of general applicability, eg to rainwater systems having other feaures as shown in Figures 1 to 6 and 11 to 15.

27 Flat strip gutter material of uniform thickness, as shown in Figure 10, can form essentially only half-round and similar gutter profiles. To form gutters of other profile, the strip material can be provided with a thickness that varies over its cross-section so as to render it flexible preferentially in one or more specific regions, so that when bent it will adopt a non-circular profile.

The variation in thickness may comprise a plurality of parallel grooves 180 extending along and spaced across the width of the flat strip gutter material 181, as shown in Figure 11. The gutter material will bend preferentially at the grooves 180, and if a sufficient number of these are provided, the flat strip material can be bent to form a wide range of gutter profiles, for example square, quarterround, ogee. Figures 11 to 14 illustrate the formation of a square-section gutter. In each case, the final cross-sectional shape of the gutter is maintained by the use of gutter fittings of the required shape.

Figures 11 to 14 show gutter brackets 182 of bevelled square profile, to which shape the gutter strip 181 is adapted by bending about four of its longitudinal grooves 180, in stages, as shown in Figures 13 and 14.

The gutter brackets, and other gutter fittings, may be 28 provided with clips to retain the gutter, for example in a manner analagous to Figures 1 to 4; alternatively they may be provided with grooves to push fit on the ends of _the gutter in a manner analagous to Figures 5 to 10, or they may simply have internal adhesive to hold the gutter profile in place and in shape, for example double-sided adhesive tape or foam strip 183 which can also act as a seal.

Figures 11 to 13 also show vet another form of gutter support rail 190. This comprises a back plate 191 with an integral longitudinal rib 192 projecting'forwards from its front surface. In this rib 192 are defined two parallel longitudinal grooves 193 each with an arrow-head profile. The rear wall of the gutter bracket fitting-182 has a pair of parallel horizontal ribs 194 each with an arrow-head profile, matching the grooves 193. The brackets 182 are installed by being pushed against the support rail 190 so that the ribs 194 enter and snap into the grooves 193, as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

The system will include other types of fitting, for example end stops, of profile corresponding to the bracket 182 and provided with clips or adhesive tape for securing to the gutter and maintaining the gutter profile.

29 It is to be understood that the type of support rail illustrated in Figure 11 can be substituted for the illustrated support rails in the systems shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 5 to 8, and vice versa, and more generally, individual features of any one of the systems described can be substituted for corresponding features in any of the other systems described.

Figure 15 shows a downpipe connection adapted particularly for use with guttering formed from flat strip stock, in particular that shown in Figure 11. This can eliminate the need for special downpipe f ittings.

As shown in Figure 15, a large hole 190 is cut or drilled in the gutter strip, before or after the gutter is shaped and installed on the gutter brackets. An upper joint aember 191 consists of a stub pipe 192 with a saw-tooth peripheral rib 193, projecting downwards from a flange 194. The diameter of the hole 190 is such as to permit the stub pipe 192 to project downwards through it, with the flange 194 resting in the base of the gutter.

Below the gutter is a second joint member 195 comprising a flange 196 which in use rests against the under surface of the gutter, and a stub pipe 197 projecting downwards from the flange 196. The interior of the stub pipe 197 has peripheral grooves or ribs, which are engaged by the r b 193 of the upper stub pipe 192, which fits closely within the lower stub pipe 197, so that the base of the'gutter is clamped between the flanges 194, 196. To provide reliable sealing, the upper surface of the flange 196 way carry a rad 198 of elastomer, optionally provided with a contact adhesive surface.

As shown in Figure 11, the stub pipe 197 fits into and _provides a direct connection to the downpipe 199.

Within the scope of the invention, a very wide range of profiles can be used for, on the one hand, the gutters and fittings, and on the other hand, for the supporting means.

Figures 16 and 1-7 show a support bracket 201 and two types of support namely a support rail 203 and a support pad 205. The support brackets (and corresponding gutter fittings) can be attached either to a support rail 203 or to a support pad 205. The support rail 203 permits longitudinal movement, necessary if the gutter system includes push-fit couplings or fittings for example as shown in Figure 5. In a gutter system using mechanical locking of the gutter in the fittings for example as shown in Figure 1, longitudinal sliding is not essential and in this case, individual support pads 205 or short lengths of support rail 203 can be used to carry 31 individual gutter brackets and other fittings, instead of a continuous length of support rail 203. Thus, the illustrated support pad 205 is designed positively to prevent movement of the fittings in the longitudinal direction of the gutter.

The profile of the support rail comprises a back plate 207, a forwardly offset hook 209 along the upper edge of the back plate, and a forwardly projecting flange 211 along the lower edge of the back plate, with a diagonal brace 213 extending downwardly and rearwardly from the forward edge of the flange 211 so as to rest against the barge board and support the flange, as shown in Figure 17.

Above and parallel to the flange 211 is a rib 215, with a detent nib 217 of rearwardly facing sawtooth profile on its underside at its forward edge.

Correspondingly, the gutter bracket 201 has, projecting rearwardly from its uppermost rearward region, a downwardly facing hook 219 which can be engaged over the hook 209. A rearwardly projecting lug 221 is placed so as to fit under the rib 215 when the hook 219 is engaged over the hook 209 and the support braclet is pushed rearwardly into engagement with the support rail 203. On the upper rear extremity-of the lug 221 is a forwardly facing upwardly projecting saw-tooth nib 223 32 arranged to snap behind the nib 217 and thereby prevent the gutter bracket from being accidentally moved forwards. An oblique surface 225 in the rear base region of the gutter bracket bears against the brace 213.

The described bracket and support are easy to fit together and are resistant to accidental separation for example by a ladder resting against the forward edge of the gutter. For added security, a screw or nail may be inserted through the surface 221 and brace 213 into the barge board.

The support pad 205 has a cross-sectional profile corresponding essentially to that of the rail 203, but the effective profile has a width substantially equal to that of the hook 219, lug 221 and surface 225, the corresponding parts of the pad profile being bounded by vertical spaced parallel side walls 227 which engage the sides of the rear portion of the gutter bracket and positively locate it in the longitudinal direction of the gutter.

Similarly, support means of the profiles shown in other figures of this specification can be provided in the form of short lengths or individual support pads, in a manner analagous to that illustrated in Figure 16 in respect of the support rail 203 and Dad 205.

33 Figure 18 shows a support configuration generally analagous to that of Figure 1, comprising an upwardly facing hook 231 in the upper region of the support back plate, a corresponding downwardly facing hook 233 in the upper rear region of the gutter bracket, and a lower clip comprising a lug 235 on the rear of the gutter bracket engaging a channel between a pair of ribs 237 projecting forwardly from the lower region of the support back plate. In this embodiment, as in that of Figures 16 and 17, the weight of the gutter is carried essentially by the upper hooks, and the lower configuration 215, 221; 235, 237 acts essentially as a locating or clipping means.

Figures 16 to 18 provide the advantage that the gutter bracket and other fittings can easily be manipulated.

In use, the upper hooks are engaged first, the gutter fitting can then easily be moved to the correct longitudinal position, and finally the lower locating and/or retaining configurations are engaged by pushing the gutter bracket into firm engagement with the support.

Figures 19 to 23 show alternative configurations in which the gutter bracket has an upwardly facing hook, 241 in its upper rear region which fits under and behind a downwardly facing hook 243 provided in the upper region of the support. This prevents the gutter bracket 1 34 from moving or tilting forwards. Vertical support is provided by engagement between a configuration in the lower rear region of the gutter bracket and the lower region of the support.

In Figure 19 this supporting configuration consists of a downwardly facing hook 245 on the support and an upwardly facing hook 247 on the gutter bracket, each provided with mating saw-tooth profiles.

Figures 20 to 23 show embodiments in which the load-supporting configuration comprises a rearwardly and downwardly projecting oblique lug 251 on the gutter bracket which snaps over and rests on a forwardly projecting shoulder of the support, together with an oblique brace 255 on the support below the shoulder 253 and a corresponding oblique lug 257 on the gutter bracket, generally similar to the elements 213, 225 shown in Figures 16 and 17.

Figure 22 shows a modification in which the support has a forwardly projecting flange 261 at its upper edge, arranged to engage the upper rear edge of a gutter fitting and an inserted gutter 263, in order to provide reliable compression of the gutter against a peripheral seal 265 provided between it and the gutter fitting.

Figure 23 shows a further modification in_which the integral flange 261 shown in Figure 22 is replaced by separate pressure and retaining member 269 which is trapped between the gutter fitting and the hook 243 of the support, and has a forwardly projecting retaining arm or flange 271 which rests against the upper edges of the gutter fitting and the gutter.

In certain circumstances, the support may be installed by a different person or at a different time from the gutter brackets and fittings. If an error is made in installing the support, this may not be known to the person who subsequently fits the gutter brackets and fittings. It is therefore desirable that the supports allow for attachment of the gutter brackets and fittings at different heights.. This can be achieved by providing on the support'a plurality of corresponding retaining configurations at different heights. Figures 24 and 25 show such arrangements. These are particularly applicable if the support is an integral part of an extruded plastics barge board.

Figure 24 shows an embodiment in which the support has three engagement configurations at different heights, each comprising a first channel or recess 281 with a flat lower wall and a saw-tooth profile upper wall, and a lower channel 283 with a flat upper wall and a saw-tooth profile lower wall. Correspondingly, the gutter fitting 285 has at its upper rear. region an 36 engagement configuration comprising a lower plain arm 287, and a flexible upper arm 289 with an upwardly facing saw-tooth profile to engage that of a channel 281. In the lower rear region of the gutter bracket or fitting 285 is an engagement configuration comprising a plain upper arm 291 and a flexible lower arm 293 with a downwardly facing saw-tooth profile matching that of a channel 283. To install the gutter bracket or fitting it is simply pushed rearwards so that its arms 287-293 enter the selected pair of channels 281, 283 at the required height, and are retained by the interengaging saw-tooth profiles.

Figure 24 also illustrates a configuration which can easily be released without damage to either the support or the gutter fitting, by the application of pressure to the arms 289, 293 so as to release these from the saw teeth of the support.

Figure 25 shows a support configuration with a plurality of channels 301 of identical Christmas-tree profile, parallel to one another and facing forwards at uniform vertical intervals. Correspondingly the gutter bracket or fitting has a pair of vertically spaced rearwardly projecting Christmas-tree section lugs or ribs 303 which can be pushed into a selected pair of channels 301 at the desired height. This configuration does not permit easy removal of the gutter bracket or other fitting from 37 the support.

Figures 26 and 27 show engagement configurations which, like that of Figure 24, comprise flexible upper and lower arms engageable with configurations on the support, and rearwardly projecting locating elements. However in this case the locating elements are effectively rigid whereas in Figure 2.4 the arms 287, 291 would have at least limited flexibility. Accordingly the engagement configurations shown in Figures 26 and 27 provide more reliable retention of the gutter fittings.

Figure 26 shows a gutter bracket 311 with substantially symmetrical flexible rearwardly projecting upper and lower arms 313 and 315, each with a retaining tooth 317 at its free end to engage corresponding retaining teeth 319 provided on the forward ends of upper and lower arms or flanges 321 and 323 of the support.

Between the arms 321, 323 is a pair of vertically spaced arms or flanges 325. Between these fit a pair of stabilizing ribs or arms 327 projecting from the rear of the gutter brabket 311. one or more vertical webs 329 extends between the ribs 327 and prevents vertical flexing of these, providing positive vertical location of the gutter bracket. To remove the gutter bracket, the user must press down on the arm 313 and up on the 38 arm 315 simultaneously.

Figure 27 shows a gutter bracket similarly provided with locator ribs 327 and a stabilizing web 329. In this case, the flexible upper and lower arms 313, 315 have respective upwardly and downwardly facing saw-tooth profiles 331, to engage corresponding profiles provided on the support in place of the hooks 319 shown in Figure 26.

Figures 28a, b, c show seal configurations for push-fit couplings and fittings, alternative to the seal configuration shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Each figure shows an end region of a gutter fitting 321, containing a groove 115 extending peripherally and either open or closed at its ends, that is to say at the front and rear upper edges of the fitting. An edge region 323 of a length of gutter extrusion is pushed into the groove 115.

Figure 28a shows a seal 325 provided on each lip of and extending part of the way into the groove 115, with spaced ribs or tongues 327 at the inner ends of the seals to make wiping contact with the inserted gutter.

Figure 28b shows the groove provided with a continuous lining 329 of seal material of uniform thickness.

39 Figure 28c shows the groove provided with a pad or strip 331 of seal material on and within one lip only (which can be the inner or the outer lip) and extending only part way into the groove.

Any suitable seal material can be used, for example conventional and thermoplastic rubbers.

Plastics guttering is subject to thermal expansion and 1 contraction. An end of a length of a gutter can move by as much as 9mm. The groove depths and gutter lengths must be so related as to permit such movement, and it may be desirable to provide guide marks on the gutter or on the gutter fitting to indicate to the user, how far the gutter should be inserted in the groove of the fitting.

Fittings which act as couplings can cause irregularities in the internal surface of the water channel. It may therefore be desirable to cut away or recess the inner surface of the coupling in the region of the bed of the gutter, to allow the water to flow more freely.

Figure 29 shows an alternative profile, and in particular alternative edge configurations, for the flat flexible gutter material illustrated in Figure 10. The illustrated profile provides easy snap-fitting engagement between the edge beads 341 of the gutter strip, and the suspending and locating clip. The edge beads, as shown, are of extruded hollow profile defining a pair of-spaced arms each provided with a saw-tooth profile to engage the suspending clip. With this profile, the gutter can be released, by compressing the edge beads.

Alternative forms of flat gutter-forming strip are possible. Thus, instead of the longitudinally grooved strip shown in Figure 11, a transversely bendable strip can be formed in other ways, for example by forming the strip with longitudinally extending regions of materials of different flexibility, or by forming the strip of longitudinal slats on a flexible backing of cloth or other material.

In the latter embodiment, the slats. may have bevelled edges, analagous to the edges of the longitudinal grooves shown in Figure 11.

A strip formed of alternate regions of flexibility can be made for example by co-extrusion of rigid material, alternating across the width of the strip with flexibl material.

Both of these forms of laterally flexible strip have the advantage that the flexing can be made to occur at distances smaller than is possible in the strip shown in 41 Figure 11, because in the latter, the longitudinal grooves weaken the strip and a large number of such grooves would excessively weaken the strip.

In a further embodiment, the flexible gutter-forming strip material may comprise plastics material in the form of a corrugated core with a flat impervious surface layer on one or both faces, the corrugations extending in the longitudinal direction of the gutter.

The rainwater gutter systems described herein can be made of any suitable material. They can be made of conventional uPVC. However, the use of polypropylene may be preferable, for a number of reasons.

First, polypropylene is inherently more flexible than UPVC.

If any part of the system is to be made by co-moulding or co-extrusion, the use of polypropylene will in general be necessary rather than that of uPVC. Co-extrusion may be used for example to produce flexible flat strip with adjacent regions of different materials, for forming gutter profiles. Co-moulding may be used for example to manufacture the push-fit couplings and fittings with integral elastomer seals for example as in Figures 7 and 8 and Figure 28.

42 Numerous other variations within the scope of the invention will naturally suggest themselves to the skilled reader.

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Claims (13)

1. A guttering system for rainwater comprising at least one support adapted to be secured to or incorporated in a structure, at least one length of gutter, and at least one gutter fitting adapted to engage with and to support the gutter, the said fitting(s) and support(s) having mutually inter-engageable configurations whereby the fitting(s) can be mounted on and supported by the support(s).

2. The system claimed in claim 1 having a separate support, individually attached or attachable to a structure, provided for each gutter fitting.

3. The system claimed in claim 1 in which each support restrains the associated fitting from moving horizontally in a direction generally parallel to the line of the gutter.

4. A rainwater gutter fitting comprising a concave body complementary in internal profile to a gutter, a seal for peripherally sealing a gutter received in the body, and a gutter-retaining member engaged or engageable with the body and movable in translation to a position in which the member is engaged firmly with the body for engaging and retaining in the body a gutter received in the body.

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5. A rainwater gutter fitting or joint comprising a body having a cross- sectional profile corresponding to that of a gutter, and having in at least one end a groove complementary to the profile of a gutter for receiving an inserted end of a gutter.

6. The fitting claimed in claim 5 in which the groove has an internal body or lining of seal material, in particular an elastomeric material, to provide a seal when the gutter is inserted.

7. A rainwater gutter fitting comprising a fitting body defining the function of the fitting and having a profile matching a gutter, and at least one end member attached or attachable to the body and incorporating gutter-retaining or engaging means, and a seal for the gutter if required.

8. A rainwater guttering system comprising at least one elongate strip of flexible material capable of being placed in a first configuration with a substantially flat cross-section and in a second configuration with a concave cross-section to form a gutter, and at least one gutter fitting having means for engaging the said material in its gutter-forming second configuration and maintaining this configuration.

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9. The system of claim 8 in which the gutter strip material has longitudinal grooves, or strips or lines of flexibility, about which it can be folded.

10. A gutter fitting having one or more strips or layers of double-sided adhesive material extending in the peripheral direction, for adhesively engaging the external peripheral surface of one or more lengths of gutter, thereby simultaneously securing and sealing the external surface of the gutter in the fitting.

11. A rainwater downpipe joint comprising a gutter element provided with a hole in its base, coupling members respectively above and below the gutter base, at least one said coupling member extending through the gutter element and engaged with the other coupling member for securing the coupling members to the gutter element, and at least one of the coupling members being provided with a downpipe or pipe stub communicating with the hole.

12. A method of providing a gutter with a downpipe which comprises providing a hole in the base of the gutter, installing at the said hole an adaptor sealed to the gutter and provided with a downwardly projecting pipe or pipe stub communicating with the hole.

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13. A rainwater gutter system or component, substantially as described with reference to any figure of the accompanying drawings.