HEAD PIECE FOR GUTTERS WITH ITS EDGE CUT INTO TONGUES ON TWO PLANES FOR EASY MOUNTING

Abstract: Head piece (10) for roof gutters (21) wherein at certain intervals along the curved edge (12), made to match up with the edge (16) of the gutter (21), the material is set back to a distance practically equivalent to the thickness of the metal sheeting used to make the head piece (10) and the gutter (21) in such a way as to create a series of tongues (13) separated from the rest of the edge (12) by transversal cuts (14), (15) extending across the whole width of said edge (12) so as to allow assembly of the gutter (21) by pressing it in between said tongues (13) and the remainder of the curved edge (12) of the head piece (10) in a simple and rational manner.

Description: HEAD PIECE FOR CUTTERS WITH ITS EDGE CUT INTO TONGUES ON TWO PLANES FOR EASY MOUNTING Gutters in the form of semi-cylindrical troughs, usually of sheet metal, are familiar sights fixed to the eaves of a house placed to catch rain water which then reaches the ground through a downpipe. The head pieces on gutters are generally rivitted or held in position by means of U-bends on each edge, or by other means often complex and costly bearing in mind the time needed to fit the separate pieces together. The above invention offers a simple solution for quick mount ing at considerably reduced costs as will be explained below. Subject of the invention is a head piece for roof gutters on whose curved edge, made to match with the end of the gutter, a quantity of metal, roughly equivalent to the thickness of the sheet metal forming the head piece and also the gutter, is bent inwards and, when cut transversally through the whol width of the edge, creating a number of tongues which said cu separate from the remainder of the edge. The gutter can therefore be quickly mounted to the head piec by simply pressing it in between said tongues and the rest o the curved edge of the head piece. In one execution the vertical face of the head piece if flat with a continuous edge bent inwards at an angle of about 90° to said vertical face. At each side of the head piece there are two sections so forme as to receive the curled over edge of the gutter. The projecting part of said section on the non-curled side o the gutter can be removed if it creates an obstruction. The tongue , formed by the lower part of said sect ion , remaining after removal of said section, is bent at an angle of 90 in relation to the vertical face of the head piece so as to become practically aligned with the edge of the head piece and, when the gutter has been fitted on, matching with the edge of said gutter. In a preferred execution there are five tongues. The width of the tongues in relation to the space between one tongue and the next, is preferably about 1 to 3. To give greater rigidity to the vertical face of the head piece, the central area on the inside of said face is in slight relief. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following example of its execution illustrated by drawings. Fig. 1 Inside view of the head piece with flat vertical f ce . Fig. 2 The head piece with flat vertical face when mounted onto the gutter. Fig. 3 Head piece with vertical face in relief. Fig. 4 Head piece with vertical face in relief when moun ¬ ted onto the gutter. The head piece 10 presents a flat vertical face 27 whose con tinuous edge 11, curved practically in a semi-circle in the zone 12 matching with the end of the gutter, contains a num ber of tongues 13 created by cuts 14 and 15. Said tongues lie inwards for a distance practically corres¬ ponding to the thickness of the metal sheeting used to make both the head piece and the gutter. The head piece and the gutter can therefore be quickly ass- embled together by pressing the edge 16 of said gutter be ¬ tween the edge 12 of the head piece and the tongues 13. Assembly is subsequently stabilized by welding in the usual way ensuring the required hermetic seal. At the two upper ends 17, 18 of the head piece there are shaped sections 19, 20 into one of which the curled edge 22 of the gutter 21 fits, the external diameter of said curled edge being substantially the same as the internal diameter of the shaped section. As generally the curl 22 is given to only one of the longi ¬ tudinal sides of the channel, if the edge 23 of the shaped section , corresponding to the rectilinear edge 24 of the gαt- ter, constitutes an obstruction, it can easily be cut off. The tongue 25, remaining after removal of the shaped section 20 practically up to the dotted line 26 (Fig. l), is then bent behind the edge 24 of the gutter 21 as the dotted line shows in Fig. 2. The zone 28, shaped practically like a half circle, raised towards the inside of the head piece, confers greater rigi¬ dity on the vertical face 27. The upper edge 32 of the head piece 30 with spherical cap 31 is curved to form the curl 33. The front edge 34 of the head piece, practically in the form of a semi-circle, made to match with the edge 36 of the gut ¬ ter 35, comprises a number of tongues 37 made by cuts 38,39. Said tongues lie slightly inwards, as in the previously des- cribed execution, to permit quick assembly of head piece and gutter by simply pressing the edge 36 of said gutter between the edge 34 of the head piece and the tongues 37. The structure of the head piece described is extremely simple and is made by elementary operations of cutting and stamping being, at the same time,' extremely strong and rigid as well as of a pleasing appearance. Mounting it onto the gutter is simple, quick and functio¬ nal . The complete gutter is absolutely stable and rigid while manufacturing and assembly costs are greatly reduced.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Head piece ( 10) for roof gutters characterized in that at certain intervals parts of the curved edge ( 12), made to match with the edge (16) of the gutter (21), are set back at a distance practically the same as the thickness of the met sheeting used to make the head piece ( 10) and the gutter (21 in such a way as to create a series of tongues ( 13) separate from the rest of the edge ( 12) by cuts ( 14), ( 15), thus maki possible assembly between the head piece and the gutter by simply pressing the latter between said tongues ( 13) and the remainder of the curved edge ( 12) of said head piece ( 10). 2. Head piece ( 10) for roof gutters as in claim 1, charac ¬ terized in that said head piece has a continuous edge, turne inwards at an angle of practically 90° in relation to the ve tical face (27) 3. Head piece (10) for roof gutters as in claim 1, charac¬ terized in that at the two upper extremities ( 17) , ( 18)said he piece has two sections ( 19), (20) shaped to receive the edge ( 16) of the gutter (21) curved to form a curl (22). 4. Head piece ( 10) for roof gutters as in claim 3, charac ¬ terized in that the edge of the shaped section (20) corres¬ ponding to the uncurved edge (24) of the gutter is cut off while the tongue (25) remaining after the rest is cut off an corresponding to the bottom of the shaped section, is bent a an angle of 90° in relation to the face (29) of the head pie ( 10) becoming practically aligned with the edge ( 12) of said head piece and, after assembly, matching with the edge ( 16) of the gutter (21). 5. Head piece ( 10) for roof gutters as in claim 1, charac- terized in that there are five tongues ( 13). 6. Head piece (10) for roof gutters as in claim 1, charac ¬ terized in that the width of the tongues (13) in relation to the space between one tongue (13) and the next is in the proportion of about 1 to 3. 7. Head piece (10) for roof gutters as in claim 1, charac¬ terized in that an internal zone (28) of the vertical face (27), in a central position in relation to the edges (11), (12), is slightly raised in the middle to create greater rigidity for said face (27).

Inventors: MINOLETTI BRUNO ENRICO, MINOLETTI, BRUNO, ENRICO
Applicants: MINOLETTI BRUNO ENRICO, MINOLETTI, BRUNO, ENRICO
Application year: 1987
Main classification: E04D13
IPC codes: E04D13