Patents Form No 5
NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953
OurRef PT501000
Complete After Provisional No 270954 Filed 19 April 1995
MPLETE AFTER PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION GUTTER MOUNTING MEANS
We, MARLEY NEW ZEALAND LIMITED, a New Zealand company of 32 Mahia Road, Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which We pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement i intellectual property offic of n2
13 AUG 1998 RECEIVED
PT0573703
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a gutter mounting means and more particularly to a gutter bracket for supporting an elongate gutter adjacent a fascia of a building roof
Traditionally gutter supports, particularly those which are intended for exposed gutter fascia mounted systems, generally incorporate a bracket which is initially fixed with the fascia board or a panel of the roof structure in the required posstion and by use of a stringline, levels and the like, further brackets are fixed at spaced intervals to support the gutter Generally, such gutter brackets are provided to engage with the upper open top region of the gutter, preferably engaging at an inner and an outer upper edge with a support arm spanning across the open top region, spaced therefrom, to thus support the gutter relative to the fascia
Significant difficulties are experienced in the preliminary accurate placement, levelling and fixing of the brackets one relative to the other on the fascia to achieve an accurate "run" of the gutter on the fascia, particularly when installers are working from ladders, scaffolding and the like and often in adverse conditions
It will be appreciated that if traditional gutter brackets are not accurately positioned, there is a tendency for the gutter to undulate out of level, for rainwater to "pond" leading to deterioration of the gutter through corrosion, moss growth and also for the gutter to encourage breeding of
insect?, such as mosquitos and the like Out of level/line gutter placement can also be aesthetically unsightly and is to be avoided
Accurate placement and fixing of traditional gutter brackets on the fascia throughout a roof can lead to difficulties, particularly where the fascia board surrounds the building. In these forms of construction it is even more necessary for the guttering arrangements to accurately match up completely around all sides of the building Often even skilled tradesmen find it is necessary for such traditional support apparatus to be removed and repositioned to achieve the required result Removal often causes damage to the fascia where it is prefinished and loss of the bracket due to deformation/breakage
%
Attempts have been made to come some way in overcoming the difficulties mentioned hereinbefore, by providing a substantially two-piece gutter support means incorporating a base portion secureable with the fascia and a gutter support portion engageable with the base portion in a plurality of pre-determined height positions using such an assembly gutter height can be adjusted after initial fixing of the support assembly with the fascia One such arrangement is disclosed in^ew Zealand patent specification No 206655
Such two-piece arrangements have been found to be only suitable, in the main, for use with specialist fascia configurations and may not address a large retro-fit market adequately Further, it has been found that there exists limitations in the positional relationship of the base pcrtion
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relative to the gutter support portion which limit tfie effectiveness of the adjustability sought to be provided
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to come some way in overcoming the abovementioned problems or at least provide the public with a useful choice Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a support for a gutter including a base member adapted for mounting with a fascia, a gutter support member having an engaging portion thereof engageable with said base member, said engagement enabling limited movement of said gutter support member relative to said base member, said gutter support member engageable with a pre-determined portion of a gutter to assist in the support of said gutter relative to said fascia, a securement portion on said gutter support member extending away from remaining portions of said gutter support member, through a plane of the engagement of said base member with said gutter support member, for securement of said gutter support member with said fascia to disable further movement of the engagement between said base member and said engaging portion intellectual property office of n.z
2 6 FEB 1999 RECEIVED
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Other aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description Modifications are envisaged and may be incorporated without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference in the specification is made to drawings in which
Figure 1 is a substantially frontal perspective view showing the gutter support apparatus in perspective view and in relation to a portion of typical fascia, the fascia portion shown in broken lines
Figure 2 is the gutter support apparatus of Figure 1 in a rear perspective view (fascia in broken line representation not included)
Figure 3 is a typical cross-section through a fascia, gutter bracket/ gutter assembly according to the present embodiment of the invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention will now be described with reference to one embodiment In this embodiment, the support means is formed in mild steel sheet, cut, pressed or folded to the required configuration for use intellectual property office of n2
2 6 FEB 1999
! RECEIVED
Preferably the mild steel sheet is surface treated, for example by zinc galvanising or other surface treatments, however this is in no way essential to the invention
Whilst the invention is described with reference to manufacture in formed sheet metal it is to be appreciated that in alternative forms of the invention, the apparatus can be manufactured in other materials such as certain plastics, a combination of metal or plastics and other materials, subject to the materials having the required inherent properties of strength, formability and durability for manufacture and use
The invention will now be described with reference to one embodiment In this embodiment, the support means is formed m mild steel sheet, cut, pressed or folded to the required configuration for use Preferably the mild steel sheet is surface treated, for example by zinc galvanising or other surface treatments, however this is in no way essentia! to the invention
Whilst the invention is described with reference to manufacture in formed sheet metal it is to be appreciated that in alternative forms of the invention, the apparatus can be manufactured in other materials such as certain plastics, a combination of metal or plastics and other materials, subject to the materials having the required inherent properties of strength, formability and durability for manufacture and use
In the following description, reference is made to orientational terms such as "upper" and "lower" It is to be appreciated that these orientations are in accordance with the orientation of the drawings referred to hereinbefore Further the terms "inner" and "outer" and the like relate to positions relative to the mid-portion of a building roof
Referring to the drawings the gutter bracket assembly as generally indicated by arrow 1 is preferably formed in folded galvanised mild steel The bracket assembly 1 includes a base portion as generally indicated by arrow 2 and a gutter support portion as generally indicated by arrow 3
In a first embodiment generally the base portion 2 is adapted for engagement with a fascia member F (see Figures 1 and 3) to position the bracket assembly 1 to an exterior or outer face of the fascia F in e position for supporting a gutter G {see Figure 3) for accepting rainwater run-off from a roof in this preferred form of the invention, the base membe" 2 provides a main body portion 4 which is arranged to have a rear face 5 thereof arranged into a substantially single plane abutment face for abutment against the outer face of the fascia F. In the preferred form o* the invention, preferably a mid-portion 5a of the rear face 5 is somewhat recessed (see figure 2; so as to avoid undue rocking of the face 5 relative to the front face of the fascia F and to provide a substantially stable platform on the fascia F for mounting the gutter G
An upper portion 6 of the body portion 4 is provided with a rearwardly extending substantially L-shaped finger 7 which preferably extends outwardly and slightly downwardly in a first portion 7a thereof and then substantially downwardly in a second portion 7b thereof which aligns preferably substantially parallel with the rear abutment face 5 but spaced a distance therefrom to define a recess 8 of a corresponding dimension to a thickness of the fascia F upper edge, such that the finger portion 7 can engage thereabout to position the base portion 2 and secure the base portion 2 relative to the fascia F with the body 4 on the frontal face of the fascia F
In the preferred form of the invention the downwardly depending portion 7b of the finger portion 7 is provided with a lip 9 which preferably fits into a recess formed in the fascia F, such as beneath the edge of the material defining the formed upper edge of the fascia F or into a longitudinal groove on a plastic or timber fascia F, however, this is in no way essential to the invention
Preferably the finger portion 7 is slightly "overformed" to provide a degree of bias to an "engaged position" upon the base portion 2 being "sprung" into position by forcing downwardly over the upper edge of the fascia F, the finger portion 7 springing outwardly and sliding over the fascia F edge until the lip 9 can engage, to securely mount the base portion 2 on the fascia F in a longitudinally slideable manner but with a friction engagement
The body portion 4 in the preferred form of the invention provides on a frontal face 10 thereof, remote from the abutment face 5, a pair of opposingly oriented longitudinal recesses or slots 11 defined by inwardly formed edges M the sheet material forming the body portion 4 In this way it will be appreciated that the pair of slots 11 are defined of a predetermined size to be an interference or friction fit with a tongue 12 on an inner end 13 of the gutter support member 3, such that the tongue 12 can be engaged in the slots 11 and slide therewith, the substantially interference fit able to at least temporarily hold the gutter support member 3 to the base member 2
Preferably the formation of the body portion 4 is such that the slots 11 are oriented substantially parallel with one another and enable engagement of the tongue 12 according to a substantially upright plane substantially parallel with the front face of the fascia F The depressed rear abutment face 5 also provides a correspondingly distended mid-portion between the slots 11 which impinges on the mid-portion of the tongue and co-operates with the slots 11 to create a bend tension in the tongue 12 to provide additional control over the interference or friction engagement of the gutter support portion 3 with the base member 2.
Preferably the slots 11 are substantially "overformed", to provide a friction fit, in the edge region of the slots 11 as shown in figure 1 particularly, however, this is not essential to the invention
Referring particularly to Figure 2, preferably a lower mid-portion 10a of the body 4 is cut away at 14 to a pre-determined distance from a
lower portion 10b thereof The recess 14 enables a securement tab 15 (formed on the tongue 12 by punching and deformation out of register with remaining portions of the tongue 12) to project through said recess
14 and to position aligned lo^J^preferred form of the invention, substantially through the plane defined by the rear abutment face 5 of the body 4 Preferably the tab 15 is apertured, to enable the engagement of fixing means therethrough such as a blind rivet, screw and the like
Whilst the tab 15 in the present invention is shown to position the apertured portion reasonably significantly inwardly of the rear abutment face 5 of the body 2, this assembly will be seen to be dependant upon the profile of the fascia F with which the apparatus 1 is intended to be used Should the fascia F be substantially flush faced, the extent of deformation of the tab 1 5 Will be correspondingly less so that a rear face 16 of said tab
aligns substantially with the rear face 5 of the body 4, plus a slight working tolerance
Preferably the tongue 12 is additionally provided with alternative fixing apertures 17 and a substantially orthogonally extending foot 18 for supporting a lower inner corner of the gutter G as is shown by Figure 3
Whilst the tongue 12 is provided of a width to engage within the opposing slots 11 of the body 4, an upper portion 1 9 thereof is provided of substantially reduced width to project as an arm 20 outwardly from normal engagement with the base portion 2 to position a distal end 21 thereof remote from the base portion 2 in such a position that it can engage within an outer upper rolled edge of the gutter G
Preferably the arm 20 is substantially depressed at its mid-portion 22 thereof to enable edge portions of a roof covering to be substantially covered from view by the gutter G Further, preferably a downwardly depending inner portion 23 of the arm 20 is preferably formed into a pair of spaced apart fulcrum portions 24 extending toward the tongue 12, the fulcrum portions 24 being recessed at an inner region 25 to accommodate an enlargement generally found on an upper inner edge of the gutter G (as shown in Figure 3) and to position a contact point 26 of the fulcrum portions 24 outwardly therefrom
It will be appreciated that weight on the gutter G or the gutter support portion 3 depresses the arm 20 causing the fulcrum portions 24 to reinforce the arm 20, enhance the securement of the gutter G with the bracket apparatus 1 and resist further arm 20 deflection or "splaying" of the gutter G It will also be appreciated that weight on the gutter G will also enhance the contact and support between lower portions of the gutter G and the foot 1 8, to thus enable the apparatus to securely hold the gutter G in the preferred position
It will be appreciated by reference to Figure 3 that the body portion 4 also provides an outer abutment face 27 against which a rear face of the gutter G rests This abutment serves to ahgn the gutter G with the fascia F spaced a pre-determined distance therefrom Spacing of the gutter G from the fascia F facilitates convenient ventilation between the rear face of the gutter G and the fascia F to achieve reasonable drying of those areas should they become wet, to reduce the possible incident of corrosion Furthermoie, the gap facilitates a convenient overflow for the
gutter G should downpipes and the like become blocked, or unable to cope with the extent of rainfall, thus reducing the likelihood of flooding to remaining roof areas behind the fascia F
An aperture 28 is provided in the finger 7 to enable fixing of the base member 2 to the fascia F should that be desired, for example where non-grooved timber or plastics fascia F elements are used
In use, it will be appreciated that the apparatus enables the convenient engagement of guttering G relative to a roof fascia F In the preferred form the apparatus 1 is engaged with the fascia F in a substantially assembled form, that is, with the gutter support portion 3 having its tongue 12 engaged within the slots 11 of the base member 2
The installer in the first instance mounts the assembly onto the fascia F by merely clipping the base portions over the fascia F A required height for the gutter G is decided and, for example, a bracket substantially adjacent a corner of the fascia F, the gutter support portion 3 is slid upwardly or downwardly against the frictional ergagement to the required position A second gutter bracket 1 assembly remote from the first is set in position, to achieve the required fall or level for the gutter G A line is tensioned between the pre-set brackets 1 and remaining gutter brackets can be conveniently aligned by tapping or pushing gutter support members 3 into position
Once the whole alignment of the bracket assembly 1 has been achieved and checked the installer can fix the alignment by merely drilling
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and nveting, or in the case of a wooden fascia, nailing or screwing the tab portions 15 of each bracket 1 with the fascia F, to disable the sliding adjustability of the gutter support portion 3 relative to the base portion 2 and secure the bracket assembly 1 to the fascia F Thus a highly convenient engagement of the gutter support apparatus is provided in a manner where the levels can be readily checked and adjusted very accurately and rechecked for position prior to final fixing
Once the installer is completely satisfied it is then possible for the gutter G to be engaged with the brackets 1
It is envisaged that while the construction and arrangement of the base portion 2 and the gutter support means 3 :s arranged for co-operative usage as described hereinbefore, in alternative situations it will be appreciated that the gutter support portion 3 may be usea independently in the manner of a traditional bracket by merely discarding the base portion 2 and utilising preformed apertures 17 in tfr? tongue and others correspondingly positioner thereabove (not shown)
Independent use of the gutter support portion 3, in the preferred form of the invention is achieved by the provision of a purpose constructed gutter bracket where the tab 15 is either not formed, or not fully formed, so that the rear face of the tongue 12 is provided to be substantially plainer Thus it will be appreciated a manufacturing organisation can, with a little planning, conveniently supply gutter support portions free for both independent use and for use with the base portion 2 in the manner of the invention described hereinbefore intellectual property office
OF NZ
2 6 FEB 1999
RECEIVED
Alternatively, one form of gutter support portion 3 may be supplied, with the tab either formed out of register as described hereinbefore, or alternatively, not formed, and the user can form the tab to the required configuration for use at the time of installation
Whilst the invention has been described with reference to the use of the apparatus of the invention with a profiled metal fascia, the invention is not limited to such usage and it is to be appreciated that the assembly of the present invention is also suitable to other fascia forms such as timber or plastics fascia and the like
It will be appreciated that owning to the manner of engagement of the base portion 2 with the fascia, substantial robustness of the engagement is provided which reduces the need for fixing means specific to the base portion 2 to itself This is regarded by the applicant as a significant advantage in the field in that it reduces the need for tools and materials and fixing time in an area where access is often difficult.
It will furthermore be appreciated that placing of the gutter support means is able to be achieved relatively conveniently to suit the various gutter lengths and the like and that during placement of the gutter and prior to fixing of tne levels as described hereinbefore the gutter brackets can be readily moved tn their position, particularly should an original position chosen be found to be unsuitable
In further embodiments, the engagement of the base portion 2 to the fascia may be utilised without ot^er aspects of the invention A gutter
fixing bracket is a single piece form as opposed to the two piece gutter fixing bracket described in the preferred form may use the form of engagement to engage a fascia and still provide at least some of the advantages described earlier
Thus by this invention there is provided a gutter support means for fascia engagement in a building construction
270954