GB2312692A

GB2312692A - A concealed bracket and gutter

Info

Publication number: GB2312692A
Application number: GB9708613A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Millward
Original assignee: Polypipe PLC
Current assignee: Polypipe PLC
Priority date: 1996-04-29
Filing date: 1997-04-28
Publication date: 1997-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-28
Also published as: GB2312692B; GB9608925D0; GB9708613D0

Abstract

A concealed bracket and gutter system comprises an L shaped bracket 3 and a gutter that hangs below the bracket 2. The bracket has an upright section 6 for securing to a facia and horizontal section 8 having gutter engaging means suspended from beneath it. The engaging means have hook-like members 5 and fingers 4 that snap fit together. Also disclosed is a protrusion 9 that obviates water from running off the horizontal section 8 and dripping on the ground below.

Description

A GUTTERING SYSTEM The invention relates to a guttering system, particularly of the kind which is mounted at the eaves of a roof of a building to catch rainwater, melting ice or snow which flows from a (sloping) roof and which would otherwise fall onto passers by, or into undrained areas, so causing inconvenience and possibly flooding. Such systems are often supported by unsightly brackets, which are particularly unaesthetic when the building is a low one, such as a bungalow.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a set of parts for providing a guttering system, comprising a gutter and a bracket therefor, each of the gutter and bracket having interengageable means whereby the gutter can be suspended from the bracket with a push fit from below.

Using the invention it is possible to provide a system in which the bracket is substantially masked.

The interengageable means may comprise snap fit means. This is a particularly simple yet effective construction.

One of the bracket and gutter may have hook-like engaging means and the other may have means cooperable therewith to provide the interengageable means.

The gutter may have the hook-like engaging means and the bracket the cooperable means. This provides for relatively simple manufacture, particularly where the cooperable means may comprise fingers projecting towards the interior of the gutter from opposite edges thereof.

The bracket may comprise an L-shape, and one limb may be adapted for securing to a substrate and the other limb for supporting the hook-like means.

The other limb may comprise means to obviate spillage of water from a free end thereof. This provides for non-dripping in use.

The means may comprise a barrier extending above an upper, in use, surface of the limb.

The barrier may comprise an upstanding flange, a lower in use end thereof which may comprise one hook-like engaging means.

The spillage prevention means may further comprise an end section of the other limb which slopes away from a free end thereof.

The end section may comprise a seat for receiving an upper edge of an outer in use wall of the gutter.

The other limb may comprise an angled top face.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a guttering system, assembled from a set of parts as hereinbefore defined.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a bracket for suspending a gutter from below, comprising means adapted for interengagement with a pushfit from below with interengageable means of a gutter.

The bracket may comprise an L-shape, one limb being adapted for mounting on a substrate and the other limb projecting therefrom, and the interengaging means may comprise hook-like means projecting from the other limb.

The other limb may comprise means to obviate spillage of water over a free end thereof.

The means may comprise a barrier extending above an upper, in use, surface of the other limb.

The barrier may comprise an upstanding flange, and a lower in use end thereof may.,Comprise one hook-like engaging means.

The spillage obviating means may further comprise an end section of the other limb which slopes away from a free end thereof.

The free end may comprise a slot for receiving an upper edge of an outer in use wall of the gutter.

The other limb may comprise an angled top.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a gutter, comprising means whereby it can be suspended from a bracket by a push fit from below.

The means may comprise interengaging means directed inwardly of the gutter from opposite walls thereof and adapted for interengagement with interengageable means of the bracket. The interengaging means may comprise fingers.

A guttering system, gutter and brackets embodying the invention, are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of a set of parts according to the invention, assembled to form a guttering system; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of bracket according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the bracket of Fig. 2; Fig...4 is a front elevational view of the bracket of Fig. 2; and Figs. 5 to 7 show, to a larger scale, respective plan, underneath plan, side elevational and front elevational views of a second embodiment of bracket according to the invention.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a set 1 of parts assembled to form a guttering system, comprising a gutter 2 and a bracket 3 therefor, each of the gutter 2 and bracket 3 having interengageable means 4, 5 whereby the gutter 2 can be suspended from the bracket 3 with a push fit from below.

The gutter 2 is of ogee form in the embodiment, though any desired shape, e.g.

square section, can be used. The gutter and bracket are suitably made of plastic, though metal or metal coated with plastic could be used.

The gutter 2 has projecting from opposite walls the interengaging means 4 in the form of fingers or projections which in use cooperate with the interengaging means 5 in the form of hook-like members of the bracket 3.

The bracket 3 is of L-shape, one limb 6 being in use upright and secured to say a fascia of a building by securing means such as screws inserted through holes 7. The other limb 8 of the bracket 3 projects at substantially 90" from the limb 6, the hook-like members 5 depending therefrom. The hook-like members 5 have their respective hooked free ends directed in opposite directions, to engage with the fingers 4. The hook-like member 5 is part of a flange 9 which extends above the level of the upper, as viewed, of the other limb 8 and laterally thereof to provide a barrier for passage of water along that limb to the free end thereof.

This helps to avoid spillage or dripping of water off the free end of the bracket.

ThiS spillage avoidance is enhanced by the free end 10 of the other limb 8 being inclined downwardly (to the left as viewed in Fig. 1) away from the free edge so that water flows into the gutter 2. Water flows downwardly and strikes the barrier 8 and then falls into the gutter 2. The free edge is also turned down to provide a curl or seat 11 in which the free edge of the outer (in use) wall 12 of the gutter 2 is received in use.

There is an inclined top face 13 of the other limb 8, the inclination being downwardly towards the free edge to provide an aesthetic "feathering" effect in the assembled systems.

It will be understood that there will usually be a plurality of brackets 3 spaced apart along a fascia, though only one is shown for clarity.

In use, a plurality of brackets 3 is secured as by screws inserted through the holes 7 to a fascia, the other limbs 8 being horizontal and lying in the same horizontal plane. A length of guttering 2 is then offered up to the underside of the other limb 8 so that the upper (as viewed and in use) free edges of the inner 13 and outer 12 walls enter gaps between the one leg 6 and the inner hook member 5 and the seat 11 and the outer hook member 5 respectively. In doing so, the fingers 4 engage the bottom of the hook members 5 which move out of their path owing to the natural resilience of the hook members 5 and the fingers 4. When the fingers 4 have gone past the hook ends with the free edges of the inner and outer walls 14, 12 abutting the underside of the other limb 8 with the free edge of the outer wall 12 in the seat 11, the hook members 5 spring back, under the fingers 4. The gutter 2 is thus snap-engaged in position by being inserted from below, and retained by the hook means, the gutter being suspended from above by the bracket 3. The bracket 3 is thus virtually totally hidden by the gutter.

Running or dripping of water over the free end of the bracket adjacent the seat is prevented by the barrier 9 and the inclined portion, which provide flooding obviating means for water running down the angled top 8 of the bracket 3.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8, there is shown a second embodiment of gutter bracket 200 for "hanging" a gutter therefrom as in Figs. 1 to 4, like parts being indicated by like numerals. The bracket 200 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, there being a barrier 209 for preventing flow of water which is of triangular shape, and there is a strengthening web 201 under the part 210 equivalent to the part 10. There is also a longitudinally extending lower, in use, web 202 which also assists in rigidifying the limb 208. The bracket 200 functions in the same way as described hereinbefore with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.

Claims

1. A set of parts for providing a guttering system, comprising a gutter and a bracket therefor, each of the gutter and bracket having interengageable means whereby the gutter can be suspended from the bracket with a push fit from below.

2. A set of parts according to Claim 1, the interengageable means comprising snap fit means.

3. A set of parts according to Claim 2, one of the bracket and gutter having hook-like engaging means and the other having means cooperable therewith to provide the interengageable means.

4. A set of parts according to Claim 3, the bracket having the hook-like engaging means and the gutter the cooperable means.

5. A set of parts according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, the cooperable means comprising fingers projecting towards the interior of the gutter from opposite edges thereof.

6. A set of parts according to either of Claims 5 or 6, the bracket comprising an L-shape, one limb being adapted for securing to a substrate and the other limb supporting the hook-like means.

7. A set of parts according to Claim 6, the other limb comprising means to obviate spillage of water from a free end thereof.

8. A set of parts according to Claim 7, the means comprising a barrier extending above an upper, in use, surface of the limb.

9. A set of parts according to Claim 8, the barrier comprising an upstanding flange, a lower in use end thereof comprising one hook-like engaging means.

10. A set of parts according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, the spillage prevention means further comprising an end section of the other limb which slopes away from a free end thereof.

11. . A set of parts according to Claim 10, the end section comprising a seat for receiving an upper edge of an outer in use wall of the gutter.

12. A set of parts according to any of Claims 6 to 11, the other limb comprising an angled top face.

13. A set of parts for providing a guttering system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A guttering system, assembled from a set of parts according to any preceding claim.

15. A bracket for suspending a gutter from below, comprising means adapted for interengagement with a push-fit from below with interengageable means of a gutter.

16. A bracket according to Claim 15, comprising an L-shape one limb being adapted for mounting on a substrate and the other limb projecting therefrom, the interengaging means comprising hook-like means projecting from the other limb.

17. A bracket according to Claim 16, the other limb comprising means to obviate spillage of water over a free end thereof.

18. A bracket according to Claim 17, the means comprising a barrier extending above an upper, in use, surface of the other limb.

19. A bracket according to Claim 18, the barrier comprising an upstanding flange, a lower in use end thereof comprising one hook-like engaging means.

20. .~ A bracket according to Claim 19, the spillage obviating means further comprising an end section of the other limb which slopes away from a free end thereof.

21. A bracket according to Claim 20, the free end comprising a slot for receiving an upper edge of an outer in use wall of the gutter.

22. A bracket according to any of Claims 16 to 21, the other limb comprising an angled top face.

23. A bracket for suspending a gutter from below, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A gutter, comprising means whereby it can be suspended from a bracket by a push-fit from below.

25. A gutter according to Claim 24, the means comprising interengaging means directed inwardly of the gutter from opposite walls thereof and adapted for interengagement with interengageable means of the bracket.

26. A gutter according to Claim 25, the interengaging means thereof comprising fingers.

27. A gutter for a gutter system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.