WO1998037289A1

WO1998037289A1 - Covered rain gutter system

Info

Publication number: WO1998037289A1
Application number: PCT/AU1998/000088
Authority: WO
Inventors: James F. Clerkin
Original assignee: Clerkin James F
Priority date: 1997-02-21
Filing date: 1998-02-16
Publication date: 1998-08-27
Also published as: AUPO519997A0

Abstract

A covered rain gutter system is disclosed. The system consists of an integrally formed channel and cover (14), concealed support bracket (30) and bracing strut (50). The cover (14) is provided with perforated portion (15) which admits rainwater but rejects leaves and debris, such perforations are suitably small to discourage vermin, particularly mosquitos, from entering the channel. The outlet (20) from the gutter (10), is provided with suitable perforated screen (22).

Description

COVERED RAIN GUTTER SYSTEM

Background to the invention

This invention relates to improvements in rain gutter systems that collect and dispose of roof runoff, and in particular to covered rain gutter systems that capture rainwater and reject leaves and debris, and discourage vermin such as mosquitos from entering the channel.

Conventional rain gutters, in the main, consist of an open channel, placed at the outfall of a roof or covered area. While successful in capturing rain, these gutters also catch debris from the roof, leaves and twigs from overhanging trees, and other windborne material which can clog up the channel. Accumulated debris in a gutter restricts water flow and reduces carrying capacity. This debris, when moist, can become a breeding site for mosquitos, some of which are associated with health problems such as Dengue Fever, Malaria and Ross River Fever. Gutters that accumulate debris must be cleaned periodically. This task is tiresome and difficult to perform, not only because of internal gutter support straps but also diminished access between the edge of roofing material and gutter face. Cleaning and maintenance problems are exacerbated on taller buildings. In the case of forest or bush fires, open gutters can become a trap for burning embers, endangering the property and occupants. Another feature of existing gutters is that long lengths are assembled from shorter sections, which results in extra joints that can be unsightly and potential sources for leaks.

Description of the Prior Art

There have been many proposals to overcome the inherent shortcomings of the open trough gutter. For example, in US Patent 4,757,649 to

Vahldieck, a gutter with shield cover is disclosed, where the complex curve shield and channel are seamless and water is collected in preference to leaves and debris.

Another approach is to provide a flexible or rigid covering mesh or screen to an existing gutter. US Patent 5,555,680 to Sweers is a typical example of this type where one edge of a rigid polymerized screen connects with the outer face of the gutter and the other edge forms an apron which sits under roof sheeting. This system relies on a sympathetic roof pitch, appropriate roofing material and a horizontal gutter line to operate optimally.

A third approach is demonstrated in US Patent 5,435,105 to Visser, where the guttering system includes a bottom trough attached to a concave upper trough. Runoff initiating in the upper trough reaches the lower enclosure via small apertures fitted with strainers. Rejected debris is left to accumulate on the upper trough and eventually blow away. This modular system has multiple joints, due to spigot / socket connections at each component change. Spigots act as a natural obstacle to water flow. The limited rainwater outlets from the upper trough are susceptible to blockage by debris, so that in heavy downpours, the upper tray collector could overflow, and due to the curved gutter profile, backflow to the fascia, causing damage.

Objects of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a covered rain gutter system which accepts rainwater and rejects leaves and debris. Another object of the present invention is to provide a covered rain gutter system which is easy to assemble and install.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a guttering installation which has reduced cleaning maintenance and contributes to the health and safety of the building users by discouraging vermin, particularly mosquitos from entering and breeding in the channel, and not providing an open catchment for burning embers or similar from bush or forest fires.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to address and substantially overcome known problems with the present art.

Summary of the invention

According to one aspect of the present invention a covered rain gutter system is disclosed in which a channel, incorporating base, rear and front walls, is integrally formed with a cover, said cover being perforated to admit rainwater but reject leaves and debris, with such perforations sufficiently small to discourage vermin, particularly mosquitos, from entering the gutter.

Detailed Description of the Invention

in one form of the present invention, the channel and cover are formed from a single sheet of material, rolled or pressed to profile with open longitudinal edges joined in a standing seam to form a reinforced upstand at an upper rear edge. In another form of the present invention, the channel and cover may be formed from extruded material.

In yet another form of the present invention, the channel and cover may be separately formed and joined with continuous seams. Cover perforations are typically in the form of slits, cut parallel with the gutter line, offset from one another in alternate rows, and where a front wall side of the slit is raised and a rear wall side lowered relative to the plane of material and expanded, and such space created forms an opening where the raised side acts to catch and direct rainwater into the channel, and such slitted opening is in essence oval shaped with a short dimension not greater than 0.8mm and a long dimension not greater than 1.5mm.

Perforations in the cover may also be in the form of punched openings variously shaped, where the front wall side of the opening is raised and the rear wall side lowered relative to the plane of material. In a preferred form, the cover slopes downwardly towards the front wall of the gutter.

In another form, the cover is essentially horizontal.

Preferably, where the cover slopes downwardly, the perforated cover is rippled or corrugated in profile such that a tangent to a convex / concave curve of one ripple inclines towards the front wall of the gutter.

An outlet opening from the covered rain gutter to a downpipe is provided with suitable perforated screen.

The channel suitably incorporates a continuous indent in the rear wall, featuring a horizontal aspect at its upper extremity for the purpose of providing support to the gutter when mounted on brackets.

Preferably the covered rain gutter system is provided with a bracing strut, adapted to fit internally in the gutter, spaced at regular intervals along its length, joining an upper region of the front wall with a lower region of the rear wall, which acts to strengthen the gutter, particularly under heavy rain loading, and formed of appropriate material to match the gutter.

Typically, the bracing strut is an elongated member having ends curved to accommodate the gutter profile and the strut body is strengthened longitudinally by providing a folded indent or integrally formed flange to increase compression resistance. The covered rain gutter system may be formed in such continuous lengths as are required at site of fixing, by passing sheet material through a series of punches and rollers to achieve a desired profile using a mobile or fixed former. The covered rain gutter system may be supported on a series of regularly spaced brackets fixed to a bearing surface such as a fascia, and laid to fall, said brackets each comprising flanges for fixing to the bearing surface, a support shelf, and securing lugs so that when a rear gutter indent is inserted into a bracket opening, the under horizontal surface of the indent comes to rest on the support shelf, allowing the securing lugs to be turned down over the upper standing seam of the gutter, preventing displacement of the gutter while permitting lateral movement.

A complete covered rain gutter assembly suitably includes at least one section of covered gutter supported on brackets, such section connectors (not shown), outlets and downpipes, with joints provided with water tight seals that perfectly match the channel profile, to facilitate the controlled collection and discharge of rainwater while rejecting leaves and debris, and allow the gutter to be used on a variety of roof shapes and types. The covered rain gutter system may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal or plastics material.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a sectional perspective view of the covered rain gutter system according to this invention,

FIGURE 2 shows a cross sectional side view of the covered rain gutter system of FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2, it can be seen that the covered rain gutter system 10, according to this invention, comprises a profiled channel and cover 14. The channel incorporates base 11 , rear wall 12 and front wall 13. The cover 14 comprises a perforated portion 15, which is rippled or corrugated as shown, and slopes downwardly towards the front wall 13. The outlet opening 20, from the base 11, is fitted with dropper 21, and perforated screen 22. The dropper and perforated screen 21, 22, are fitted to the base 11 , by means of fixings 23 such as rivets or screws. The gutter 10, is supported on a series of regularly spaced brackets 30, fixed to a bearing surface 19, such as a fascia by means of screw 32, or other suitable means. Each bracket comprises flanges 33, 37, for fixing to a bearing surface, a support shelf 31, and securing lugs 34, 35, 36. When gutter indent 25 is inserted in the bracket opening, surface 26 comes to bear on support shelf 31. Securing lugs 34,35, are then turned down over standing seam 40, preventing the gutter from coming forward. Lug 36 is then depressed to meet cover 14, which prevents the gutter from being forced upwards.

FIGURE 2 indicates a bracing strut 50, which has its ends 51,52, curved to accommodate the gutter profile, and has a folded indent 53 provided to increase compression resistance. The relationship of the gutter 10 to the roofing material 27 and downpipe 24 are also shown.

In use, the covered rain gutter system is mounted beneath a roof outfall 28 and attached to a bearing surface 19 of a building such as a fascia, such that the overhang delivers rainwater to the perforated cover portion 15. The lipped nature of perforations ensures that water is directed down and into the channel, which in turn directs the flow to outlet 20 and downpipe 24. Debris which has been rejected by the perforated cover portion 15 is encouraged under gravity to pass along the cover surface and fall to the ground.

By use of the covered rain gutter system as described, it can be seen that the channel conveys rainwater of a relatively uncontaminated nature to a downpipe outlet. The maximum impurity cross section is determined by the perforation opening of the cover. Since the outlet is provided with similar perforated material, fine debris entering through the cover can be washed through the downpipe, ensuring that the channel remains self cleaning and maintains full capacity.

It will be realised that the covered rain gutter system according to this invention is not restricted to the form or profile shown in this example, but may be half round, ogee or other classical shape or arrangement, covered in suitable perforated material to admit rainwater but reject debris and where the openings are sufficiently small to discourage vermin, particularly mosquitos, from entering the gutter.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A covered rain gutter system for collecting roof runoff, in which a channel, incorporating base, rear and front walls, is integrally formed with a cover, said cover being perforated to admit rainwater but reject leaves and debris, with such perforations sufficiently small to discourage vermin, particularly mosquitos, from entering the gutter.

2. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein the channel and cover are formed from a single sheet of material, rolled or pressed to profile with open longitudinal edges joined in a standing seam to form a reinforced upstand at an upper rear edge.

3. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 , wherein the channel and cover are formed from extruded material.

4. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 , wherein the channel and cover are separately formed and joined with continuous seams.

5. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein the cover perforations are in the form of slits, cut parallel with the gutter line, offset from one another in alternate rows, and where a front wall side of the slit is raised and a rear wall side lowered relative to plane of material and expanded, and such space created forms an opening where the raised side acts to catch and direct rainwater into the channel, and such slitted opening is in essence oval shaped with a short dimension not greater than 0.8mm and a long dimension not greater than 1.5mm.

6. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein perforations in the cover are in the form of punched openings variously shaped, where the front wall side of the opening is raised and the rear wall side lowered relative to plane of material.

7. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein the cover slopes downwardly toward the front wall of the gutter.

8. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein the cover is essentially horizontal.

9. The covered rain gutter system of claim 7 wherein the perforated cover portion is rippled or corrugated in profile such that a tangent to a convex / concave curve of one ripple inclines towards the front wall of the gutter.

10. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein an outlet opening from the gutter to a downpipe is provided with suitable perforated screen.

11. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein the channel incorporates a continuous indent in the rear wall, featuring a horizontal aspect at its upper extremity for the purpose of providing support to the gutter when mounted on brackets.

12. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein the gutter is provided with a bracing strut, adapted to fit internally in the gutter, spaced at regular intervals along its length, joining an upper region of the front wall with a lower region of the rear wall, which acts to strengthen the gutter particularly under heavy rain loading, and formed of appropriate material to match the gutter.

13. The covered rain gutter system of claim 12 wherein the bracing strut is an elongated member having ends curved to accommodate the gutter profile and the strut body is strengthened longitudinally by providing a folded indent or integrally formed flange to increase compression resistance.

14. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein the gutter is formed in such continuous lengths as are required at site of fixing, by passing sheet material through a series of punches and rollers to achieve a desired profile using a mobile or fixed former.

15. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein the gutter is supported on a series of regularly spaced brackets fixed to a bearing surface such as a fascia, and laid to fall, said brackets each comprising flanges for fixing to the bearing surface, a support shelf, and securing lugs so that when a rear gutter indent is inserted into a bracket opening, an under horizontal surface of the gutter indent comes to rest on the support shelf, allowing the securing lugs to be turned down over the upper standing seam of the gutter, preventing displacement of the gutter while permitting lateral movement.

16. The covered rain gutter system of claim 1 wherein a complete gutter assembly includes at least one section of covered gutter supported on brackets, such section connectors, outlets and downpipes, with joints provided with water tight seals that perfectly match the channel profile, to facilitate the controlled collection and discharge of rainwater while rejecting leaves and debris, and allow the gutter to be used on a variety of roof shapes and types.

17. The covered rain gutter system of any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the assembly is formed of any suitable material, such as metal or plastics material.

18. The covered rain gutter system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.