WO1997037100A1

WO1997037100A1 - Roof gutter bracket

Info

Publication number: WO1997037100A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000209
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keith Anthony Mitchell
Original assignee: Mitchell, Jodie, Louise; Squire, Mark, Alan
Priority date: 1996-04-01
Filing date: 1997-04-01
Publication date: 1997-10-09
Also published as: AUPN904896A0

Abstract

The present invention provides a roof gutter bracket for the prevention of damage to the gutter (6), including a first portion (9) which in use engages an interior surface of the gutter (6), and a second portion (17) connected to the first portion (9) which in use is adapted to engage a ladder (12) or building element to prevent contact between the ladder (12) or building element and the gutter (6).

Description

ROOF GUTTER BRACKET

Technical Field

This invention relates to the protection of roofing gutters against damage due to ladders or other roofing materials being passed over the gutter.

Background Art

It is a well known problem in the roofing and maintenance industry that roofing gutters tend to be damaged when ladders are leant against them or when roofing material is passed over the gutter either in dismantling of a roof or in its construction. A further well known problem is that aluminium ladders, because they are light, tend to be blown away by the wind when a person is not standing on them, stranding the roofing worker on the roof.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the current invention to overcome one or both of the above mentioned difficulties.

Therefore in accordance with a first broad aspect of the invention there is provided a roof gutter bracket comprising a first portion which in use engages an interior surface of the gutter, and a second portion connected to the first portion which in use is adapted to engage a ladder or building element to prevent contact between the ladder or building element and the gutter, thereby preventing damage to the gutter.

Preferably, the first portion comprises a counter balance weight to hold the bracket in an orientation suitable for engagement by the ladder or building element prior to said engagement.

Preferably, to assist engagement of the ladder with the second portion, there are provided first and second guide bars to receive and engage with rails of the ladder at first and second points thereof.

Preferably, the guide bars are disposed between first and second side pieces between which in use the ladder is rested. The side pieces may have protrusions between the first and second guide bar to prevent slippage of the ladder off the bracket.

Each of the side pieces may be constructed from a single bent tubular piece of metal.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be more clearly ascertained, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings where:

Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention in perspective view; and

Figure 2 shows the embodiment of figure 1 in cross-section in use.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to figure 1, the bracket according to the preferred embodiment of the invention can be seen to comprise two identical side pieces 1 and 2. The side pieces are constructed from solid tubular steel of approximately 1 cm diameter. The side pieces 1 and 2 are joined by first and second guide bars 3 and 4 and a counter balance weight 5. The first and second guide bars and counter balance weight are welded to the first and second side pieces.

Referring now to figure 2, the operation of the invention can be seen with reference to a cross-sectional view of the bracket installed in a gutter, with a ladder engaging the bracket. A gutter 6 is shown installed at the top of a wall 7 beneath a roof line 8. A first portion of the tubular steel side pieces comprises a heel 10 which is engaged in an outer part of the inner surface of the gutter 11. Before a ladder 12 is engaged on the bracket, a counter balance weight 5 assists the bracket in maintaining the correct orientation for engagement with the ladder 12. An inwardly angled section 13 of the side pieces further assist in this counter balancing function. The guide bars 3 and 4 receive the rails 14 of the ladder 12 at first and second points 15 and 16 thereof. An angled protrusion 17 in each side rail prevents the ladder from slipping side ways off the bracket due to wind gusts or accidental knocks.

In can be seen that the ladder is able to be rested against the bracket rather than the outer edge of the gutter 11, thereby preventing bowing and damage to the gutter.

A further advantage of the angled piece 13 is that any roofing material which is placed temporarily on the roof without fastening is held in place, and cannot slip off the roof.

In use, the bracket is inserted by manual introduction of the first portion 9 from above and rotation if necessary of the counter balance weight 5 past the end of the roof line 8. Removal is the reverse of insertion.

In will be appreciated that the use of the bracket is not restricted to cradling ladders, and may also be applied to situations where roofing sheets are to be passed off the roof towards the ground or onto the roof from the ground and it is desired to prevent contact between such building materials and the gutter. In such embodiments, the guide bars 3 and 4 and the protrusion 17 can be omitted if desired, and optionally a roller can assist sliding the building materials over the bracket. Modifications may be made to the invention as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art of building tool design. These and other modifications may be made without parting from the ambit of the current invention, the nature which may be ascertained from the foregoing description and the drawings.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A roof gutter bracket including: a first portion which in use engages an interior surface of said gutter, and a second portion connected to said first portion which in use is adapted to engage a ladder or building element to prevent contact between the ladder or building element and the gutter, thereby preventing damage to the gutter.

2. A roof gutter bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises a counter balance weight to hold said bracket in an orientation suitable for engagement by said ladder or building element prior to said engagement.

3. A roof gutter bracket as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, wherein said bracket is provided with first and second guide bars to receive and engage with rails of the ladder at first and second points thereof, to assist engagement of said ladder with said second portion.

4. A roof gutter bracket as claimed in claim 3, wherein said guide bars are disposed between first and second side pieces between which in use said ladder is rested.

5. A roof gutter bracket as claimed in claim 4, wherein said side pieces have protrusions between said first and second guide bar to prevent slippage of said ladder off said bracket.

6. A roof gutter bracket as claimed in either claim 4 or 5, wherein each of said side pieces is constructed from a single bent tubular piece of metal.