GB2429986A

GB2429986A - Guttering mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2429986A
Application number: GB0604128A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Peter Attrill; Mark Stephen Durham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-13
Filing date: 2006-03-02
Publication date: 2007-03-14
Also published as: GB0604128D0; GB0604118D0; GB2429985A; GB0518622D0; GB2429984A

Abstract

A guttering mounting with angular adjustment comprises a support member 13 and a support arm 12. The support member 13 is attached to a building in use and the support arm 12 has a guttering embracing portion 26 which engages guttering in use. The guttering embracing portion 26 is rotatable relative to the rest of the support arm 23 so that guttering supported therein can be rotated about an axis Z parallel to its length and within its profile. The embracing portion 26 and support arm 23 may comprise part arcuate formations 31, 33 which slide relative to each other to provide the rotation. Locking means may be provided to lock the support arm after adjustment. The locking means may be a locking screw or a ratchet system. The support arm may also be adjustable horizontally and vertically relative to the support member when mounted on the building. The vertical adjustment may be through a worm drive arrangement 18, locking means may be provided to lock the support arm in its adjusted vertical position. Another locking means may be provided to lock the support arm in the required horizontal position, this may be a ratchet locking means.

Description

GUTTERING

This invention relates to guttering and in particular to guttering support brackets for supporting a length of guttering from a building.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of guttering support bracket.

Thus according to the present invention there is provided a guttering support bracket comprising a support member for attachment to a building and a support arm extending generally horizontally from the support member when the bracket is mounted on the building, the support arm including a guttering embracing portion which directly engages the guttering and is rotatable relative to the remainder of the support arm so that the length of guttering supported by the arm can be rotated relative to the arm about an axis which extends generally longitudinally along and within the supported length of guttering.

Such a support bracket allows easy adjustment of guttering particularly when the brackets are not mounted on a smooth and flat surface.

Preferably one of the embracing portion and remainder of the support arm has a part arcuate formation thereon which slides in a co-operating part arcuate formation on the other of the remainder of the support arm or embracing portion to provide the rotation of the supported section of guttering.

A common support arm construction can be designed to receive a variety of alternative embracing portions designed to embrace guttering of different cross- sectional shapes.

A locking means may be provided to lock the embracing portion relative to the remainder of the support arm after the rotational adjustment has been made.

The locking means may comprise a locking screw or other locking member which engages aligned bores in the embracing portion and the remainder of the support arm.

Alternatively the locking means may comprise ratchet means on one of the remainder of the support arms and the embracing portion and detent means on the other of the embracing portion and the remainder of the support arm for engagement with the ratchet means, the detent means being disengageable from the ratchet means to allow rotational adjustment of the embracing portion relative to the remainder of the support arm.

Preferably a flange on the underside of the embracing portion extends through a slot in the upper surface of the remainder of the support arm and the flange carries the detent means which engages the ratchet means in the form of a plurality of teeth on an under surface of the remainder of the support arm.

The support arm is also preferably adjustable relative to the support member in a generally vertical sense considering the bracket when mounted on the building.

A generally horizontally extending projection may be supported on the support member and the support arm may be supported from the projection, the projection being vertically adjustable relative to the support member.

The projection may be vertically adjustable relative to the support member by a The worm drive arrangement may comprise a worm member held vertically captive but rotatable on one of the projection or support member, the other of the support member or projection having a plurality of teeth which engage the worm member so that on rotation of the worm member the projection is moved generally vertically relative to the support member.

A second locking means may be provided to lock the support arm relative to the support member after the generally vertical adjustment has been made.

The second locking means may comprise a second locking screw or other locking member which engages aligned bores in the projection and support member.

The support arm may also be adjustable relative to the support member in a generally horizontal sense considering the bracket when mounted on the building.

A third locking means may be provided to lock the support arm relative to the support member after the horizontal adjustment has been made.

The third locking means may comprise a locking screw or other locking member which engages aligned bores in the support arm and projection to provide the locking function.

Alternatively the third locking means may comprise further ratchet means on one of the projection or support arm and further detent means on the other of the support arm or projection for engagement with the further ratchet means, the further detent means being disengageable from the further ratchet means to allow the horizontal adjustment of the support arm relative to the projection.

In a preferred arrangement a pair of further detent means on the projection are biased apart into engagement with the further ratchet means in the form of two rows of ratchet teeth on the support arm, one row of teeth being engaged by a respective further detent, the further detents being disengageable from the rows of ratchet teeth by being displaced towards each other.

Preferably the support member and support arm are moulded from plastics material.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows a length of guttering supported from a building using support brackets in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of on of the brackets of figure 1 in an exploded condition; Figure 3 shows a further exploded perspective view of the bracket of figure 2 view from beneath; Figure 4 shows an assembled perspective view of the bracket of figure 2 from beneath; Figure 5 shows a bracket being assembled; Figure 6 shows an assembled partly cut-away bracket; Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic scrap section on line A-A of figure 5; Figure 8 shows diagrammatically an alternative form of guttering embracing member for the support of generally rectangular cross- section guttering, and Figures 9A to 9F show the bracket of Figure 2 in a nominal central retracted position, in its lowest position, its highest position, its two maximum rotated positions and its maximum horizontally extended position respectively.

Referring to the drawings, a length of guttering 10 is supported below the edge of a roof 11 from a facia board 11 a by brackets 12 in accordance with the present invention.

Each bracket 12, as shown in figure 2, comprises a support member 13 which is attached to facia board 1 Ia by screws which extend through holes 14 in the support member. Extending from the support member Es a generally horizontally extending projection 15 which has a pair of slots 16 which slide on co-operating flanges 17 formed on the support member 13. A worm member 18 is held vertically captive between flanges 19 formed on projection 15 and has a spiral tooth form 20 which engages with teeth 21 (see figure 3) formed in support member 13. As will be appreciated rotation of worm member 18 using screw driver slot formation 22 thus causes vertical movement of the projection 15 relative to the support member 13.

A support arm 23 is mounted on projection 15 by two slots 24 which engage flanges on projection 15 (see figure 3). The support arm is completed by a guttering embracing portion in the form of a clip 26 details of which will be given below.

Projection 15 carries a pair of integrally formed detents 27 whose teeth 27a engage corresponding rows of ratchet teeth 28 formed on the support arm 23.

As best seen in figures 4 and 6, if the end portions 27b of detent members 27 are pressed towards each other between the thumb and forefinger, as indicated by arrows X in figure 4, the detent teeth 27a disengage the ratchet teeth 28 allowing the support arm 23 to be slid along the flanges 25 of projection 15 thus allowing the support bracket to be adjusted in a generally horizontal direction.

This horizontal adjustment capability is the subject of the Applicants' co-pending application No. (Applicants' case Ref P2744).

As best seen from figures 3 to 5, the guttering clip 26 is generally of part arcuate shape and has end portions 26a and 26b which clip over the upper edges lOa and lOb of the guttering. A flange 29 formed on the base of clip 26 extends through a slot 30 in the support arm 23. Small cross flanges 31 (see figure 7) formed on flange 29 extend below the surface 32 of support arm 23 to retain the clip 26 in a correspondingly part arcuately shaped cut-out 33 formed in the upper surface of support arm 23.

Formed either side of slot 30 are two rows of ratchet teeth 34 which are engaged by a detent member 35 which is integrally formed on the lower portion of clip 26.

Detent member 35 has teeth 36 and a gripping tab 37 which can be used to move the detent 35 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 34 in the direction indicated by the arrow Y. Thus, as will be appreciated, when the detent teeth 36 are out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 34 the clip 26 can be slid within the slot 33 in a generally rotational sense as indicated by the arrow Z in figures 2, 3 and 5 about an axis B which extends generally along and within the supported length of guttering 10.

Thus the guttering support bracket described above is adjustable both horizontally by the sliding of the support arm 23 relative to the projection 15, vertically by the rotation of the worm member 18 to move the projection 15 vertically relative to the support member 13 and rotationally by the disengagement by the teeth 36 and 34 to rotate the clip 26 and thus the supporting guttering as indicated by the arrow Z. It is therefore possible for the length of guttering 10 to be fully adjusted relative to the facia board 1 Ia both during initial installation and subsequently should the guttering move over a period of time.

If desired, the projection 15 can be provided with a boss 40 (see figure 3) having a hole 41 through which a self tapping screw or similar fastener can be screwed into the underlying portion of support member 13 to hold the projection 15 in a fixed position relative to the support member 13 after the bracket has been adjusted to correctly align the guttering.

Similarly the locking means provided by the detent 27 and co-operating ratchet teeth 28 could be replaced by a self-tapping screw screwed through the support arm 23 into an underlying portion of the projection 15 in the vicinity of flanges 25 to lock the support arm 23 in a fixed position relative to the projection 15 after the guttering has been adjusted.

Again, if desired, the ratchet teeth 34 and co-operating detent teeth 36 could be replaced by setscrew or similar fastening means screwed through overlying portions of the support arm 23 and clip 26.

As shown in figure 8, a range of different clips 26 can be provided to support a wide variety of different cross section guttering.

In the construction shown in figure 8 a clip 26' suitable for supporting guttering or generally rectangular channel shaped cross section is shown. This clip 26' still has the same part arcuate flange 29 etc. previously described and can be fitted on the same support arm 23.

As will be appreciated all the component parts of the guttering bracket can be conveniently moulded from plastics material with the detents 27 and 35 being integrally moulded with the projection 15 and the clip 26 respectively.

The present invention thus provides a guttering support bracket which enables a high level of adjustment of the guttering to be obtained, both initially when the guttering is installed and also subsequently to correct any sagging over a period of time. It is easy therefore to set up the necessary fall on the guttering for good drainage using the vertical adjustment and to adjust the guttering horizontally and rotationally to cater for any irregularities of the surfaces of building on which the brackets are mounted.

Figures 9A to 9F show the limits of the adjustability of the bracket. In Figure 9A the bracket is shown in a nominal central fully retracted position. In Figures 9B and 9C the bracket is shown in its lowest and highest positions respectively. Figures 9D and 9E show the bracket rotated to its maximum anti-clockwise and clockwise positions respectively and Figure 9F shows the bracket extended horizontally to its maximum extension.

Also, if required, the guttering with the clips 26 attached can be rotated so that the clips disengage the slots 30 and the guttering 10 and clips 26 can be removed as a unit giving better access to the support arms 23 and the support members 13.

Claims

1) A guttering support bracket comprising a support member for attachment to a building and a support arm extending generally horizontally from the support member when the bracket is mounted on the building, the support arm including a guttering embracing portion which directly engages the guttering and is rotatable relative to the remainder of the support arm so that the length of guttering supported by the arm can be rotated relative to the arm about an axis which extends generally longitudinally along and within the supported length of guttering.

2) A bracket according to claim 1 in which one of the embracing portion and remainder of the support arm has a part arcuate formation thereon which slides in a co-operating part arcuate formation on the other of the remainder of the support arm or embracing portion to provide the rotation of the supported section of guttering.

3) A bracket according to claim 1 or 2 in which a common support arm construction can receive a variety of alternative embracing portions designed to embrace guttering of different cross-sectional shape 4) A bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which a locking means is provided to lock the embracing portion relative to the remainder of the support arm after the rotational adjustment has been made.

5) A bracket according to claim 4 in which the locking means comprises a locking screw or other locking member which engages aligned bores in the embracing portion and the remainder of the support arm.

6) A bracket according to claim 4 in which the locking means comprises ratchet means on one of the remainder of the support arms and the embracing portion and detent means on the other of the embracing portion and the remainder of the support arm for engagement with the ratchet means, the detent means being disengageable from the ratchet means to allow rotational adjustment of the embracing portion relative to the remainder of the support arm.

7) A bracket according to claim 6 in which a flange on the underside of the embracing portion extends through a slot in the upper surface of the remainder of the support arm and the flange carries the detent means which engages the ratchet means in the form of a plurality of teeth on an under surface of the remainder of the support arm.

8) A bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the support arm is also adjustable relative to the support member in a generally vertical sense considering the bracket when mounted on the building.

9) A bracket according to claim 8 in which a generally horizontally extending projection is supported on the support member and the support arm is supported from the projection, the projection being vertically adjustable relative to the support member.

10) A bracket according to claim 9 in which the projection is vertically adjustable relative to the support member by a worm drive arrangement.

11) A bracket according to claim 10 in which the worm drive arrangement comprises a worm member held vertically captive but rotatable on one of the projection or support member, the other of the support member or projection having a plurality of teeth which engage the worm member so that on rotation of the worm member the projection is moved generally vertically relative to the support member.

12) A bracket according to any one of claims 8 to 11 in which a second locking means is provided to lock the support arm relative to the support member after the generally vertical adjustment has been made.

13) A bracket according to claim 12 when dependant of claim 9 in which the second locking means comprises a second locking screw or other locking member which engages aligned bores in the projection and support member.

14) A guttering support bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 13 in which the support arm is also adjustable relative to the support member in a generally horizontal sense considering the bracket when mounted on the building.

15) A bracket according to claim 14 the support arm being horizontally adjustable relative to the projection.

16) A bracket according to claim 15 in which third locking means are provided to lock the support arm relative to the support member after the adjustment has been made.

17) A bracket according to claims 15 and 16 in which the third locking means comprises a locking screw or other locking member which engages aligned bores in the support arm and projection to provide the locking function.

18) A bracket according to claims 15 and 16 in which the third locking means comprises further ratchet means on one of the projection or support arm and further detent means on the other of the support arm or projection for engagement with the further ratchet means, the further detent means being disengageable from the further ratchet means to allow the horizontal adjustment of the support arm relative to the projection.

19) A bracket according to claim 18 in which a pair of further detent means on the projection are biased apart into engagement with the further ratchet means in the form of two rows of ratchet teeth on the support arm, one row of teeth being engaged by a respective further detent, the further detents being disengageable from the rows of ratchet teeth by being displaced towards each other.

20) A bracket according to any one of claims I to 19 in which the support member and support arm are moulded from plastics material.

21) A bracket according to claim 20 in which any ratchet means or detent means which is used is formed integrally with the component on which it is supported.

22) A bracket according to claim 11 and 20 in which the worm member and cooperating teeth are also formed from plastics material.

23) A guttering support bracket according to claim 1 constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in figures 1 to 7 and 9A to 9F or 8 of the accompanying drawings. /3

P2745GB 1) An adjustable guttering support bracket comprising a support member for attachment to a building and a support arm extending generally horizontally from the support member when the bracket is mounted on the building, the support arm including a guttering embracing portion which engages the underside of the guttering and includes a part-arcuate portion which is rotatable relative to a part-arcuate portion of the remainder of the support arm so that the length of guttering supported by the arm can be rotationally adjusted and locked in a plurality of water receiving positions relative to the arm using first locking means acting between the embracing portion and the remainder of the support arm.

2) A bracket according to claim 1 in which the locking means comprises a locking screw or other locking member which engages aligned bores in the embracing portion and the remainder of the support arm.

3) A bracket according to claim 1 in which the locking means comprises ratchet means on one of the remainder of the support arms and the embracing portion and detent means on the other of the embracing portion and the remainder of the support arm for engagement with the ratchet means, the detent means being disengageable from the ratchet means to allow rotational adjustment of the embracing portion relative to the remainder of the support arm.

4) A bracket according to claim 3 in which a flange on the underside of the embracing portion extends through a slot in the upper surface of the remainder of the support arm and the flange carries the detent means which engages the ratchet means in the form of a plurality of teeth on an under surface of the remainder of the support arm.

5) A bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which a common support arm construction can receive a variety of alternative embracing portions designed to embrace guttering of different cross-sectional shapes.

6) A bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the support arm is also adjustable relative to the support member in a generally vertical sense considering the bracket when mounted on the building.

7) A bracket according to claim 6 in which the support arm is vertically adjustable relative to the support member by a worm drive arrangement.

8) A bracket according to claim 7 in which the worm drive arrangement comprises a worm member held vertically captive but rotatable on one of the :: support arm or support member, the other of the support member or support arm having a plurality of teeth which engage the worm member so that on rotation of the worm member the support arm is moved generally vertically relative to the support member.

9) A bracket according to claim 7 or 8 in which a second locking means is provided to lock the support arm relative to the support member after the generally vertical adjustment has been made.

10) A bracket according to claim 9 in which the second locking means comprises a second locking screw or other locking member which engages aligned bores in the projection and support member.

11) A guttering support bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the support arm is also adjustable relative to the support member in a generally horizontal sense considering the bracket when mounted on the building.

12) A bracket according to claim 11 in which a generally horizontally extending projection is supported on the support member and the support arm is supported from the projection, the projection being vertically adjustable relative to the support member and the support arm being horizontally adjustable relative to the projection.

13) A bracket according to claim 11 or 12 in which third locking means are provided to lock the support arm relative to the support member or the projection after the horizontal adjustment has been made.

14) A bracket according to claim 13 in which the third locking means comprises a locking screw or other locking member which engages aligned bores in the support arm and projection to provide the locking function.

15) A bracket according to claim 13 in which the third locking means comprises further ratchet means on one of the projection or support arm and further detent means on the other of the support arm or projection for engagement with the further ratchet means, the further detent means being disengageable from the further ratchet means to allow the horizontal adjustment of the support arm relative to the projection.

16) A bracket according to claim 15 in which a pair of further detent means on the projection are biased apart into engagement with the further ratchet means in the form of two rows of ratchet teeth on the support arm, one row of teeth being engaged by a respective further detent, the further detents being disengageable from the rows of ratchet teeth by being displaced towards each other. 11b

17) A bracket according to any one of claims I to 16 in which the support member and support arm are moulded from plastics material.

18) A bracket according to claim 17 in which any ratchet means or detent means which is used is formed integrally with the component on which it is supported 19) A bracket according to claim 8 and 17 in which the worm member and cooperating teeth are also formed from plastics material.

20) A guttering support bracket according to claim 1 constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in :. figures 1 to 7 and 9A to 9F or 8 of the accompanying drawings. ( (