Abstract:
Gutters have on opposed side walls formations for engagement with ends of gutter straps, which ends include deformable formations for securement thereof to the gutter side wall formations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention concerns improvements in and relating to guttering. 
     To support guttering against distortion it is customary to provide straps linking opposite walls of the gutter channel at spaced intervals along the gutter. Such straps have to be fitted in advance of fixing the guttering to a structure. Indeed for metal guttering it is conventional to weld gutter straps in position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a gutter strap which may be fitted on site and to provide guttering suitable for receiving gutter straps on site. 
     According to this invention it is proposed that gutters have on opposed side walls formations for engagement with ends of gutter straps, which ends include deformable formations for securement thereof to the gutter side wall formations. 
     The side wall formations of the gutters are preferably channels formed by inverted generally L-shaped flanges along the gutter side walls. The gutter straps preferably have upturned ends that fit into the channels. Outer surfaces of the upturned ends of the gutter strap are preferably arcuate at least in part. 
     The deformable formations of gutter strap ends are preferably arranged to lock over the L-shaped flange of the gutter side walls when the strap is in position. Preferably extending inwardly from the gutter strap ends is a deformable web having a flange on one side that will overlie a gutter side wall flange when the deformable web is urged towards the upturned end of the strap from which it extends. The deformable web preferably has on its opposite side a second flange to act as a lever for deforming said web to lock or release the strap. Preferably the strap itself has a protrusion near each end on its top surface to provide a fulcrum for a lever tool, such as a screwdriver, to act on the lever flange of the deformable web. 
     Preferably the gutter straps of the invention will be manufactured from aluminium. 
     The invention may provide various advantages over the prior art. In particular, gutter straps of the invention may be fitted on site. There is no need to weld them in position beforehand. They can be easily removed and their spacing is easily adjustable. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is an end view of a gutter with a gutter strap according to the invention being fitted. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the accompanying drawing a gutter  10  is a channel section having a base  12 , a taller side  14  with an inwards overhang  16  and a shorter side  18 , which will be adjacent a structure, such as a conservatory. The overhang  16  serves to support a roof structure, typically glazing bars supporting glazing panels. At the junction of the base  12  and side wall  18  is a shaped longitudinal slot  20  for receiving a fixing component for securing the gutter to the adjacent structure. 
     Both side walls  14  and  18  have on the opposing faces an inverted L-shaped flange  22 ,  24  respectively forming downwardly open channels  26  with their respective side walls. These channels are to receive ends of a gutter strap  30 . 
     Each end of the gutter strap  30  has an upturn  32  whose outer surface  34  is arcuate. Extending inwardly from each end  32  is a deformable formation  36  having a securing part and a lever part  40 . The securing part has a first deformable web  42  extending from the end  32  and a second web  44  normal to the first web. The lever part  40  extends oppositely to the second web  44 . The strap  30  also has near each end on its intended top surface a fulcrum  46 . 
     The gutter strap is fitted to a gutter section in the following manner. The ends  32  of the strap are fitted into a respective channel  26 . The arcuate shaping of the ends  32 , facilitates that fitment. Then the formations  36  are bent over using a screwdriver  50  or another convenient tool, the screwdriver being pivoted around a fulcrum  46  to act against the lever part  40 , so that the part  38  fits over the L-shaped flange  22  or  24  to secure the strap in place. 
     To remove the gutter strap downward pressure is applied to the lever parts  40  of the deformable formations  36 . That action releases the deformable formations  36  from the L-shaped flanges  22 ,  24 , so that the strap can be lifted out of the gutter. 
     The side  18  of the gutter which bears the weight of the roof structure supported on overhang  16  can be distorted by the weight and the bottom corner of the gutter on side  18  forced downwards. The strap  30  serves to brace the gutter across its width to fixed side  18  against such distortion. 
     The gutter straps are desirably sited at optimum structured positions, which may be in the region of the glazing bars of the supported roof structure.