GB2321481A - Gutter system - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises a length of gutter 12 having a mounting rail 26 of downwardly open recessed profile extending from a rear wall thereof and a bracket 10 having an upstanding mounting lug 24 engageable with the mounting rail whereby the gutter length may be hung on the lug; an upwardly extending finger 30 on the bracket 10 being configured to positively interlock with a downwardly directed longitudinally extending lip 28 formed on the gutter length 12, upon downward movement of the gutter length 12 relative to the bracket 10. For bracket alignment purposes, the rail 26 can be temporarily hung on the lug 24 with the finger 30 and lip 28 out of vertical register whereby they do not interlock. A tool may be engaged between a flange on the gutter length and a fulcrum on the bracket to lever the finger and lip into engagement.

Description

GUTTER SYSTEMS This invention relates to rainwater gutter systems to be attached to buildings.

Our European Patent Specification No. 0 511 758 discloses a rainwater gutter system having lengths of gutter each having an integral, longitudinally extending, outwardly directed mounting rail projecting from the rear wall thereof; brackets, for attachment to a building, each having at least one upstanding lug configured to engage the gutter mounting rail; and retaining features provided on the gutter and on the brackets that engage one with the other transversely of the longitudinal axis of the gutter. The retaining feature on the gutter takes the form of a longitudinal flange projecting generally horizontally outwardly from the rear wall spaced below the mounting rail and the bracket feature is a similar flange projecting below the lug. Both flanges are provided near their free ends with interengageable barb-like formations. The mounting rail has a hook shaped cross-section enabling the gutter lengths to be hooked over the upstanding bracket lug and rotated to bring the barb-like formations of the retaining features into snap-fit engagement.

The system is convenient to install as the brackets can first be fixed to the building using screws or like fasteners; gutter lengths can then be loosely hung onto the bracket lugs without snap-fit engagement of the retaining features, allowing the brackets to be checked for proper alignment. When the brackets have been adjusted as necessary, the retaining features can be interengaged to secure the gutter lengths against unauthorised removal and against normal service loads. No separate fasteners are needed to retain the gutter lengths on the brackets, which are then largely hidden, producing a neat finished appearance.

A drawback of this system is that the retaining features can be prematurely interengaged for example by an accidental downward pull applied to the outer edge of the gutter, prior to adjustment of the brackets. Disengagement of the retaining features is difficult. Also, the arrangement of the barb-like formations permits a small degree of movement between the engaged retaining features in some circumstances, which is undesirable.

The present invention aims to overcome some or all of these disadvantages and accordingly provides a gutter system comprising a length of gutter having a mounting rail of downwardly open recessed profile extending from a rear wall thereof and a bracket having an upstanding mounting lug engageable with the mounting rail whereby the gutter length may be hung on the lug; the system hither comprising retaining features provided on the gutter length and bracket respectively for securing the gutter to the bracket, the respective features being configured to positively interlock one with the other upon downward movement of the gutter length relative to the bracket. Such downward interlocking movement ensures that premature engagement of the retaining features is far less likely than with our previous gutter system referred to above.

Preferably the rail of the gutter length can be temporarily hung on the lug with the retaining features out of vertical register whereby they do not interlock. This allows the brackets to be initially fixed to the building by a bottom screw so that their alignment can be checked using the temporarily hung gutter sections. Once correctly aligned, each bracket can be permanently secured by removing the gutter sections and additionally installing an upper screw. The gutter lengths can then be finally installed by repositioning them above the brackets with the retaining features in vertical register and lowering the gutter lengths relative to the brackets to interlock the retaining features.

The retaining features are preferably configured such that when interlocked there is substantially no freedom of movement of the gutter length relative to the bracket horizontally of the gutter longitudinal axis.

The retaining feature on the bracket may comprise an upwardly extending finger and the retaining feature on the gutter length may comprise a downwardly directed longitudinally extending lip, the finger and/or the lip being provided with an inclined cam surface leading to a locking shoulder engageable with a complementary locking shoulder on the other of the lip or finger; the cam surface(s) causing deflection of the finger and/or lip as they are moved vertically past each other, until the locking shoulders snap-fittingly interlock.

Advantageously, when interlocked, the finger lies closer to the rear wall of the gutter length than the lip and the gutter length is braced against the bracket to substantially eliminate relative horizontal movement. Such bracing may be by way of a nose extending towards the gutter length from the lower end of the bracket, restricting access to the retaining features and enhancing security against theft or vandalism. Alternatively, the gutter length and bracket may be braced against each other by engagement between a shoulder on the lip and a forwardly facing surface of the bracket.

The retaining features may be disengageable by the application of upward force on the gutter length relative to the bracket. Advantageously they can be levered into engagement by an installation tool.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention, being a transverse section through a gutter length and a bracket prior to assembly; Fig. 2 shows the gutter length and bracket of figure 1 loosely assembled without interlocking; Fig. 3 shows the gutter length and bracket of figure 1 interlocked, and a union clip for uniting adjacent gutter lengths and Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention, together with an assembly tool.

The illustrated gutter system comprises a plurality of brackets 10 and gutter lengths 12 (only one of each shown) formed for example as aluminium extrusions. As shown in figure 3 adjacent gutter lengths 12 may be secured and sealed together by internal union clips 14, gaskets 16 and locking bars 18 as described in our European Patent No. 0 511 758.

The bracket 10 has a back plate 20 provided with an upper through hole 22 and a lower vertically extending through slot 23 for screws or similar fasteners by which the bracket can be secured to a building. The upper end of the bracket 10 forms an upstanding lug 24 over which a downwardly open recessed rail 26 formed on the rear rim of the gutter length 12 can be hooked. The rear wall of the gutter length 12 carries a longitudinally extending downwardly directed lip 28 co-operable with a finger 30 upstanding from a lower limb 32 of the bracket 10.

The finger 30 and lip 28 constitute interlocking retaining features having respective cam surfaces 34, 36 by which they are mutually deflected upon downward movement of the gutter length 12 towards the bracket 10, until locking shoulders 38, 40 interlock as a snap fit. In this position (illustrated in figure 3) a nose 42 formed as an extension of the bracket limb 32 is braced against the gutter section rear wall so that the bracket 10 and gutter length 12 are held securely and rigidly united.

As shown in figure 2 it is possible to loosely hook the gutter rail 26 over the bracket lug 24, with the lip 28 and finger 30 out of vertical register, whereby no interlocking takes place. This is useful in allowing the gutter to be temporarily hung whilst the bracket alignment is checked.

If necessary the alignment can be adjusted by sliding the slots 23 up or down relative to the lower securing screws (not shown). When all the brackets 10 have been positioned to support the gutter lengths evenly at the desired fall, the gutter lengths can be removed allowing upper securing screws to be installed and tightened in the bracket holes 22. Each gutter length can then be repositioned above its respective brackets with the finger 28 and lip 30 in vertical register as shown in figure 1, whereupon downward movement of the gutter lengths will lock them to the brackets as shown in figure 3.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment in which the gutter length 12 and bracket 10 are braced against relative transverse movement by engagement between a shoulder 46 on the lip 28 and a forwardly facing surface 48 of the bracket 10. A hooked end 52 of an installation tool 50 is engageable between a lower flange 54 provided on the gutter length 12 and a fulcrum 56 formed on the finger 30 in place of the nose 42. The more deeply recessed gutter rail 26' can be loosely hooked over the bracket lug 24 so that the camming surface 36 rests on top of the camming surface 34. In this position the lower flange assumes the position 54' shown in dotted lines. Swinging the tool 50 clockwise as shown, about the fulcrum 56, levers the lower flange downwardly to its full line position 54, simultaneously causing the camming surfaces 34, 36 to ride over one another until the locking shoulders 38, 40 interlock as a snap fit. The opposite end 58 of the tool 50 is shaped for installation of gutter union clips 14 and locking bars 18 (fig. 3) as disclosed in our European Patent No. 0 511 758. If desired, the gutter lengths 12 can be temporarily hung on the brackets with the retaining features 28, 30 out of vertical alignment in like manner to figure 2.

As shown in figure 4, the included angle between the adjacent surfaces of the locking shoulder 40 and the downwardly directed portion of the lip 28 is approximately 120 . The included angle between the adjacent locking shoulder 38 and finger 30 surfaces correspondingly is about 120 . This enables the gutter lengths to be disengaged from the brackets by application of upward force. The force required for disengagement is considerably greater than the downward force required for engagement. As shown in figures 1-3, the corresponding included angles are substantially 90 , with the result that the gutter lengths cannot be removed from the brackets except by prying apart the lips 28 and fingers 30 in the horizontal direction. The locking shoulder included angle can be selected at will to produce a desired resistance to disengagement.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment that operates in a similar manner to the gutter and bracket shown in figure 4. It includes a dog leg bend in the downwardly extending portion of the lip 28, instead of the forwardly facing surface 48 of the bracket, which is straight.

Instead of being positioned below lip 28 and finger 30, as shown in figures 1-3, nose 42 may be positioned above these. Moreover it may extend from the gutter length 12 towards the bracket 10. Alternatively the nose may be replaced by a further lip or finger extending beside those illustrated.

Claims (10)

1. A gutter system comprising a length of gutter having a mounting rail of downwardly open recessed profile extending from a rear wall thereof and a bracket having an upstanding mounting lug engageable with the mounting rail whereby the gutter length may be hung on the lug; the system further comprising retaining features provided on the gutter length and bracket respectively for securing the gutter to the bracket, the respective features being configured to positively interlock one with the other upon downward movement of the gutter length relative to the bracket.

2. The gutter system of claim 1 wherein the rail of the gutter length can be hung on the lug with the retaining features out of vertical register whereby they do not interlock.

3. The gutter system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the retaining features are configured such that when interlocked there is substantially no freedom of movement of the gutter length relative to the bracket horizontally of the gutter longitudinal axis.

4. The gutter system of any preceding claim wherein the retaining feature on the bracket comprises an upwardly extending finger and the retaining feature on the gutter length comprises a downwardly directed longitudinally extending lip, the finger and/or the lip being provided with an inclined cam surface leading to a locking shoulder engageable with a complementary locking shoulder on the other of the lip or finger; the cam surface(s) causing deflection of the finger and/or lip as they are moved vertically past each other, until the locking shoulders snap-fittingly interlock.

5. The gutter system of claim 4 wherein, when interlocked, the finger lies closer to the rear wall of the gutter length than the lip and the gutter length is braced against the bracket to substantially eliminate relative horizontal movement.

6. The gutter system of claim 5 wherein the bracing is by way of a nose extending towards the gutter length from the lower end of the bracket.

7. The gutter system of claim 5 wherein the bracing is by way of a shoulder on the lip which is engageable with a forwardly facing surface on the bracket.

8. The gutter system of any preceding claim wherein the retaining features are disengageable by the application of upward force on the gutter length relative to the bracket.

9. The gutter system of any preceding claim wherein the retaining features can be levered into engagement by an installation tool.

10. A gutter system substantially as described with reference to or as shown in the drawings.