WO2005039271A1

WO2005039271A1 - Gutter arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2005039271A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/004140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Robert Corbett
Original assignee: Haygrove Limited
Priority date: 2003-10-14
Filing date: 2004-09-28
Publication date: 2005-05-06
Also published as: GB2407105B; GB2407105A; GB0324046D0

Abstract

A gutter arrangement comprises a plurality of gutter support members (18), and an elongate flexible member (26) stretched between the gutter support members (18) to form a channel.

Description

Gutter Arrangement

This invention relates to a gutter arrangement, and in particular to a gutter

arrangement suitable for use with a polytunnel or similar structure and intended to

collect rainwater or the like draining from a covering thereof. Polytunnels commonly include apolythene or other flexible material covering

which is supported above the ground by a number of support hoops. In some

arrangements, the hoops are supported, in turn, by rows of legs. Where two or more

polytunnels are located adjacent one another, some of the legs may support the ends

of hoops from the tunnels on both sides thereof. The coverings of the adjacent

tunnels are typically spaced apart from one another by a small distance with the

result that rainwater tends to flow over the coverings and then through the gap

between the coverings. Where crops are planted close to the edges of the

polytunnels, there is a significantrisk of the rainwater impinging upon and damaging

the crops and this is clearly undesirable. Further, the ground at the edges of the

polytunnels may become waterlogged.

It is known to provide gutters to catch such rainwater. Typical gutters for use in this type of application comprise rigid channel members which are appropriately supported by the tunnel structure. However, the use of rigid channel members for the gutters is disadvantageous in that it leads to transportation and storage problems. Also, when used with a polytunnel which is not located on flat ground, or which is

not straight, difficulties can be faced in fitting the rigid, straight gutter members in

position as the brackets used to support the gutter members may not be located in

a straight line. It is an object of the invention to provide a gutter arrangement in which at

least some of the disadvantages associated with known gutter arrangements are

overcome.

According to the present invention there is provided a gutter arrangement

comprising a plurality of gutter support members, and an elongate flexible member stretched between the gutter support members to form a channel.

The flexible member is conveniently a waterproof fabric material.

The gutter support members conveniently comprise or are supported by the legs of a polytunnel.

It will be appreciated that a gutter arrangement of this type does not suffer from the transportation and storage difficulties associated with existing arrangements as the flexible gutter material can be folded or rolled for storage or transportation in a convenient manner. Further, the flexible nature of the material used in the gutter can accommodate the use of support members which are not arranged in a straight line. The gutter support members may further include features to which or around

which the ropes typically used to secure the covering of apolytunnel can be secured.

The legs of the polytunnel maybe adapted to allow adjustment of the height,

and volume, of the polytunnel, in which case adjustment of the height of the gutter

above the ground is also conveniently achievable. Alternatively, the polytunnel legs

may be of the type designed to support the polytunnel at a fixed height.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference

to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the gutter arrangement of an

embodiment of the invention, in use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating part of the gutter arrangement of

Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlargement of part of Figure 2; and

Figures 4 and 5 are views illustrating alternative configurations. A polytunnel typically comprises a number of hoops 10 (see Figure 1) which are supported upon legs 12. Each leg 12 is typically adapted to support ends of hoops 10 associated with two adjacent polytunnels. Over the hoops 10 is stretched a covering (not shown) which is secured in place by means of ropes 14 or the like which are typically tied or looped around fittings attached or forming part of the legs 12. As shown in Figure 2, each leg 12 may be provided, at its lower end, with a

screw arrangement 16 to allow the leg 12 to be firmly secured into the ground in an

upright condition.

A bracket 18 is provided at the upper end of each leg 12 to allow the hoops

10 to be secured to and supported by the leg 12. The bracket 18 is of generally V-

shaped form and includes two limbs 20 each of hollow tubular form to allow an end

part of each hoop 10 to be located therein. As shown in Figure 3, each tabular limb

20 of each bracket 18 is provided with a pair of screw-threaded studs 22. These are

conveniently secured in position by welding. It will be appreciated, however, that

other fixing techniques may be used. One of the studs 22 carries a hook-shaped

member 24, and both carry large diameter washers 22a as shown in the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the hook members 24 serve as the anchorage points for

the ropes 14 to which the ropes 14 can be tied or around which the ropes 14 can be

looped to secure the covering in position. It will be appreciated that in a constructed polytunnel arrangement, a number of legs 12 each carrying a bracket 18 are provided in rows which, typically, are generally straight although arrangements in which the rows are curved are also known. In accordance with the invention, a length of an elongate flexible, waterproof fabric material 26 extends along each row, the material being located between and supported by the limbs 20 of each bracket 18 so as to form a channel

of elongate form which serves as a gutter collecting rainwater or the like running off

of the covering of each polytunnel. The length of fabric material 26 is secured in

place upon each bracket 18 by means of the studs 22 passing through appropriately

positioned openings formed in the fabric material 26. Once the fabric 26 has been

so positioned a large diameter washer is located on the stud 22 and is secured in

position by a screw-threaded nut, clamping the fabric between the washers.

It will be appreciated that by using a flexible waterproof material 26 for the

gutter arrangement rather than using lengths of a rigid channel for the gutter, the

gutter arrangement can still be used even where the legs 12 are not arranged in a

straight line either resulting from the polytunnel extending around a curve or due to

the polytunnel being erected upon an undulating surface, the flexibility of the

material 26 accommodating such variations.

Conveniently, modified bracket arrangements are provided at at least one end of the gutter arrangement to allow rainwater collected by the gutter arrangement to drain through a suitable drainpipe to an appropriate location. If desired, the rainwater could be transported to a suitable container to allow the rainwater to be stored for use in irrigation. Alternatively, the rainwater may be transported to a suitable location in which it is allowed to soak into the ground or otherwise drain away.

Although not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated

that if the covering of each polytunnel extends at least to the upper edge of the fabric

material 26 of the gutter arrangement, then the polytunnel can be substantially sealed

from the atmosphere, reducing heat loss from the polytunnel and also reducing the

risk of ingress of rainwater which can be undesirable, particularly if the rainwater

impinges upon crops located adjacent the edges of the polytunnel as the crops can

be damaged by such rainwater.

A further advantage of the invention is that, under high wind conditions, the

gutter can flex thus the risk of damage to the gutter under such conditions is

reduced.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 makes

use of brackets 18 designed specifically for use with a gutter arrangement in accordance with the invention. Figure 4 illustrates an adaptor which can be secured to the legs of a typical polytunnel arrangement to allow the provision of a gutter arrangement in accordance with the invention in a retrofit manner. The adaptor illustrated in Figure 4 comprises a generally V-shaped bracket 28 arranged to extend over the arms or limbs of a typical polytunnel support leg. The bracket 28 is provided with studs 30 and hook shaped anchorages 32 which, in use, serve the same purpose as the studs

22 and hook members 24 of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. The

bracket 28 is provided with openings 34 through which bolts (not shown) or other

suitable fixing arrangements can extend to secure the bracket 28 to the upper end of

the typical leg arrangement, for example by co-operating with the features usually

used to anchor ropes to the leg. It will be appreciated, however, that other

techniques may be used, if desired, to secure the bracket 28 to the typical leg.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification to the arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 and

is intended for use with a polytunnel arrangement of the type in which the ends of

the hoops 10 extend generally vertically, in use, with the result that the edge parts

of the polytunnel are of increased working height. As shown in Figure 5, in order

to accommodate this, the bracket 18 is shaped to define a region 36 within which the

fabric material 26 is located, in use, and above the region 36, the bracket 18 is

provided with limbs 20 adapted to support the end parts of the hoops 10, in use. In the arrangement of Figure 5, rather than providing hook members 24 located in the region of the fabric material 26, a component 38 is provided which serves the function of the hook members 24 of the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3, in allowing ropes to be anchored to the leg.

In all of the arrangements described hereinbefore, the legs 12 are designed to be of fixed height, and so are intended for use with a polytunnel arrangement also

of fixed height. It will be appreciated, however, that the brackets 18 may

alternatively be used on legs 12 adapted to be of adjustable height, for example by

including regions of telescopic form, to allow the polytunnel to be raised and

lowered during the growing season to allow the volume thereof to be modified.

Although several specific embodiments have been described hereinbefore, it

will be appreciated that a number of modifications to the described arrangements

may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, in each of the

described embodiments, the bracket 18 includes limbs 20 of generally hollow

tubular form into which the ends of the hoops 10 can be inserted. It will be appreciated, however, that the end parts 20 could be of solid form, the hoops 10 being of hollow tubular form and adapted to have the end parts 20 inserted into the hollow end part of each hoop. Other modifications and alterations can also be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A gutter arrangement comprising a plurality of gutter support members, and

an elongate flexible member stretched between the gutter support members to form

a channel.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a

waterproof fabric material.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the gutter support

members comprise the legs of a polytunnel.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the gutter support

members are supported by the legs of a polytunnel.

5. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

gutter support members further include features to which or around which the ropes

typically used to secure the covering of a polytunnel can be secured.

6. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the legs are adapted to allow adjustment of the height, and volume, of a polytunnel supported thereby, and hence to permit adjustment of the height of the gutter above the ground.

7. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the polytunnel legs are of the type designed to support the polytunnel at a fixed height.

8. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, further

comprising at least one projection carried by each gutter support member, the

projection extending through a respective opening provided in the flexible member,

and a nut clamping the flexible member in position.