WO2007032040A1

WO2007032040A1 - Improved collar for fixing rainwater drainpipes

Info

Publication number: WO2007032040A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000643
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivano Carusi
Original assignee: Tecno Imac Spa
Priority date: 2005-09-16
Filing date: 2006-09-06
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: EP1931839A1; ITRM20050473A1

Abstract

A collar (1) for fixing rainwater drainpipes is characterized in that it comprises, in combination, a single band or strip (2) of flexible material, the ends of which (4-5) are shaped so as to be attachable by snap action and without the aid of any tool to a fixing and supporting element (3), anchored to the wall or load-bearing structure. The ends (4 and 5) of said band (2) are equipped with means of snap-action fast coupling to the supporting element (3).

Description

IMPROVED COLLAR FOR FIXING RAINWATER DRAINPIPES

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The present invention relates to the sector of pipes and ducts for collecting rainwater and in particular relates to \supporting brackets, referred to as "collars", which are used for fixing the descending pipes, referred to as "rainwater drainpipes", that convey the rainwater collected by the gutters down to the ground or directly into the drains.

Currently, the collars are generally made up of two half-rings: a rear one, which is anchored to the wall of the building, and a front one, which is fixed to the former after setting between them the drainpipe to be constrained to the building. It should also be noted that the rear half-ring of the collar is to be previously screwed on the projecting end of the shank of a screw of a purposely provided expander anchor bolt.

The mutual fixing of the two half-rings is usually obtained by means of two bolts. It is therefore clear that the anchorage of the drainpipe to the wall of a building necessarily involves the use of tools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, spanners, etc.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a collar for drainpipes that will enable fixing of the latter, without the aid of any tool. The above has been obtained, according to the present invention by providing a collar comprising a single band or strip of flexible material, the ends of which are designed to be attached by snap action to a fixing and supporting element anchored to the wall or load-bearing structure.

A better understanding of the invention will obtained from the ensuing detailed description, with reference to the attached figures, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, provided purely by way of non-limiting example.

In the plate of drawings :

^• Figure 1 is a photograph of a collar according to the known art, in which the corresponding expander anchor bolt is also visible;

Figure 2 is a front 3D view of the collar according to the invention, in the non-assembled configuration;

Figure 3 is a 3D view similar to the previous one, but from the rear;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the collar in the assembled configuration, where two collars of different lengths suitable for rainwater drainpipes of different diameters are' illustrated; and Figure 5 is a side elevation of Figure 4.

With reference to the figures, the collar

(designated as a whole by 1) comprises a band 2, preferably made of resistant plastic material, such as for example polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) , which has the two ends 4 and 5 equipped with means of snap-action fast coupling to the supporting element 3 to be anchored to the wall of the building.

According to the invention, the length of the band

2 is commensurate with the circumference of the drainpipe (not illustrated) that is to be anchored to the wall, so that it will present a slight sliding clearance inside the collar 1 itself.

With particular reference to Figure 3, the ends A-

5 of the band 2 of the collar that is described have at least one tooth or lug 4A-5A for snap-action coupling, designed to prevent accidental detachment of the band from the anchoring support 3. Evidently, however, for proper operation of said teeth 4A-5A it is indispensable that they should be inserted in their own seat in the correct direction, so that they can find the right positioning in the respective slot 4B-5B purposely provided in said anchoring element 3.

For this purpose, according to a peculiar characteristic of the present invention, each of the ends 4-5 of the band 2, which are designed to be attached to the anchoring element 3, has a shape different from the other so as to prevent the possibility of the installer inadvertently turning the band 2 itself upside down during installation.

It should moreover be noted that the anchoring element 3 is constrained to the building in a way altogether similar to what is already known for collars currently on the market.

The present invention has been described and illustrated in a preferred embodiment thereof, but it is clear that any person skilled in the branch may make modifications and/or technically and functionally equivalent replacements thereto, without thereby departing from the sphere of protection of the present industrial patent right.

Claims

CIAIMS :

1. A collar (1) for fixing rainwater drainpipes, characterized in that it comprises, in combination, a single band or strip (2) of flexible material, the ends of which (4-5) are shaped so as to be attachable by snap action and without the aid of any tool to a fixing and supporting element (3) , anchored to the wall or load-bearing structure.

2. The collar according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ends (4 and 5) of said band (2) are equipped with means of snap-action fast coupling to the supporting element (3) .

3. The collar according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that each of the ends (4-5) of the band (2) has at least one tooth or lug (4A-5A) for snap-action coupling, designed to prevent accidental detachment of the band itself from the anchoring support (3) , each of said teeth (4A-5A) being designed to engage by snap action with a respective slot (4B-5B) purposely provided in said anchoring element (3) .

4. The collar according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the ends (4-5) of the band (2) has a shape different from the other, thus enabling prevention of the possibility of the installer inadvertently turning the band (2) itself upside down during installation.

5. The collar according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said band (2) is made of resistant plastic material, such as for example pplymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) .

6. The collar according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the band (2) is commensurate with the circumference of the rainwater drainpipe (not illustrated) that is to be anchored to the wall, so that it will present a slight sliding clearance inside the collar (1) itself.

7. A collar for fixing rainwater drainpipes , substantially as described and illustrated in the present description and in the attached plate of drawings.