NZ201985A - Fascia and soffit support bracket - Google Patents

Description

2 0 19 8 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: 201985 Date: 2 3 September 19 82 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to support means for use in supporting a fascia and a soffit. i/We, AH I OPERATIONS LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 640 Great South Road, Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to ti££6$ub, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - 201985 This invention relates to support means for use in supporting a fascia and a soffit on buildings and/or a building.

It is an object of the present invention to provide support means for use in supporting a fascia and a soffit on building and/or a building which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in support means for use in supporting a fascia and a soffit on a building, said support means comprising a bracket having a fixing portion and a fascia support portion, said bracket is i able to be fixed through said fixing portion to the side face of a rafter of said building in use, said fascia support portion extending from said fixing portion whereby the fascia is supported in use, and soffit support means being provided as part of said bracket such that on said building a plurality of said brackets support a fascia and wherein said soffit support means support the outer edge of a soffit.

In a further aspect the invention consists in a building having thereon a fascia, a soffit and a support means for said fascia and said soffit, said support means comprising a bracket having a fixing portion and a fascia support portion, said bracket being fixed through said fixing portion, to the side face of a rafter of said building, said fascia support portion extending from said fixing portion whereby the fascia is supported, and soffit support means being provided either as part of said bracket or as an independent member mounted °A OJ -JUL 1987*1 * */2a 201985 on said side face of said rafter, such that on said building a plurality of said brackets support said fascia and wherein said soffit support means support the outer edge of said soffit.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely —— -2a— 201985 illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one preferred form of support means acording to the invention for use in supporting a fascia and a soffit; Figure 2 is a side elevation of an alternative form of the invention; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a soffit support strap for use in the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, support means are provided for use in supporting a fascia and a soffit on buildings as follows: In the construction of figure 1, support means 1 which supports both a fascia and a soffit are provided as follows.

A bracket 2 is provided formed, for example, of galvanised metal such as iron or steel, the bracket 2 has a fixing portion 3 whereby the bracket is fixed to a building in use and, for example, the bracket may be fixed to a rafter 4 or a soffit bearer 5, for example, by nailing through the fixing portion 3. Such nailing may be through preformed holes or could be through the material of the bracket 2 itself. 201985 Grooves or ribs 6 may be provided in the bracket 2 to provide additional stiffening or strength.

The bracket 2 is able to support a fascia 6 and to this end the bracket 2 provides a fascia support member 7 having an upper holding member 10 and a lower holding member 8. The fascia support member 7 extends upwardly from the fixing portion 3.

The fascia support member 7 may be formed by turning the outer edge 9 of the bracket 2 through substantially a right angle so that the fascia 6 at its upper edge can clip over the upper holding member 10 of the end 9.

The upper edge of the end 9 which forms the upper holding member 10 may be rolled or doubled for example as shown in figure 1.

The fascia 6 may be formed to provide a channel 11 at its upper edge 12 in use by turning back the upper edge 12.

The lower holding member 8 may be formed by providing a downward extension 13 from the bracket 2 about which the fascia 6 may again be passed, for example, forming a channel 14 at the lower edge 15 in use of the fascia 6.

Soffit support means are provided and in one embodiment of the invention the soffit support means are provided by the bracket 2 by providing a slot 16 into which the soffit 17 is positioned.

The slot 16 is provided at or adjacent the lower fascia holding member and to this end the slot 16 may be formed at the upper part of the face 18 of the extension 13 which 2019 face is directed away from the substantial part of the fascia 6.

It is desirable to provide an outward flange 19 at the lower edge of the fascia 6 so as to provide some additional support for the soffit 17 and also to provide an attractive appearance.

Into the space 20 provided by the shape of the bracket 2 may then be fixed a gutter to complete a concealed gutter design.

Referring to the construction shown in figures 2 and 3, a bracket 2 is provided which may be substantially of the same form as the bracket 2 with or without the slot 16. The soffit support means however is provided by a soffit support member 21 which has a fixing part 22 enabling the soffit support member 21 to be mounted on a building for example to either side of the rafters 4 or soffit bearers 5 and also has a soffit receiving member preferably provided by channel 23 which is formed by folding back the end edge of the fixing part.

Thus the support member 21 may comprise a strap which is folded along its length for example along line 24 so that the part 22 lies in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the channel 23.

Thus the channel 23 in use carries the edge 25 of the soffit 17.

The use of the invention is as follows: In the construction of figure 1 a plurality of brackets 2 are fixed for example to rafters 4 or soffit bearers 5. 2 019 8 5 Soffit 17 has its remote edge 25 inserted into slot 16 and also desirably is affixed to the soffit bearer 5 for example by nailing through the soffit 17 into the underside of the soffit bearer 5.

The fascia 6 may then be engaged with the bracket 2 for example by hanging the soffit from the upper soffit holding member provided by edge 10 and the lower edge of the fascia 16 may then be sprung over the lower fascia holding member 8 so that (in the preferred form) the flange 19 rests against the underside of the soffit 17.

The use of the construction of figures 2 and 3 is substantially identical except that the holding member 21 is fixed to the rafters 4 or soffit bearers 5 for example by nailing through apertures 26 so that the end 25 of the soffit 17 is thereby placed into channel 23.

In construction the depth of channel 23 can be varied by extending or shortening the edge 27 of the soffit support-member 21 so that a shorter soffit can still be contained within the channel 23.

The fascia 6 is then sprung over the lower fascia holding member 8 as before.

Should the fascia 6 require to be removed, for example, for maintenance or replacement, the fascia 6 can be removed without disturbing the soffit 17.

Thus it can be seen that support means are provided to support a fascia and a soffit on buildings which at least in the preferred form of the invention has some advantages. 201985 In particular the fascia and soffit are independently supported so that the fascia can be removed without disturbing the soffit thereby allowing replacement or maintenance of the fascia and also the gutter without disturbing the soffit. The construction does however provide support for the outer edge of the soffit where it extends beyond the rafters and soffit bearers. Also in constructions wherein the soffit is supported by the fascia the embodiment of the invention shown in figures 2 and 3 enables the fascia to be removed, for example, for maintenance so that a soffit support member can then be engaged with the rafter or soffit bearer to support the soffit independently of a replacement or replaced fascia. % #

Claims (9)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS;

1. Support means for use in supporting a fascia and a soffit on a building, said support means comprising a bracket having a fixing portion and a fascia support portion, said bracket is able to be fixed through said fixing portion to the side face of a rafter of said building in use, said fascia support portion extending from said fixing portion whereby the fascia is supported in use, and soffit support means being provided as part of said bracket such that on said building a plurality, of said brackets support a fascia and wherein said soffit support means support the outer edge of a soffit.

2. Support means as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said fascia support portion includes an upper holding member whereby an upper edge of the fascia is supported in use, and a lower holding member whereby the lower edge of the fascia is supported in use.

3. A support means as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said soffit support means comprises a slot in said bracket to receive in use an edge of a said soffit.

4. A support means as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said slot is positioned adjacent said lower holding member.

5. A support means as claimed in either Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein said bracket has an extension thereon, said extension forming said lower holding member, said slot being provided in or adjacent the edge of said extension facing said building in use. w

6. A support means substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1. -8- 201985

7. A Building having thereon a fascia, a soffit and a support means for said fascia and said soffit, said support means comprising a bracket having a fixing portion and a fascia support portion, said bracket being fixed through said fixing portion, to the side face of a rafter of said building, said fascia support portion extending from said fixing portion whereby the fascia is supported, and soffit support means being provided either as part of said bracket or as an independent member mounted on said side face of said rafter, such that on said building a plurality of said brackets support said fascia and wherein said soffit support means support the outer edge of said soffit.

8. A Building substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1.

9. A Building substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. DATED THIS 'laJ- DAY OF "3^ m~> A.J. PARK & SON AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANT Reference has been directed in pursuance of section 16(1) of of the Patents Act 1953 to Patent No. 196724. H. Burton Acting Commissioner of Patents