Gutter systems

Abstract: A rainwater gutter system has lengths of gutter (10) each having an integral, longitudinally extending, outwardly directed mounting rail (16) projecting from the rear wall (18) thereof, brackets (34), for attachment to a building (60), each having at least one lug (36) configured to engage the gutter mounting rail; gutter retaining features (20, 50) provided on the gutter and brackets, that positively interlock one with the other upon transversely of the longitudinal axis of the gutter upon rearwards movement of the gutter towards the brackets; each gutter has at least one projecting integral hook (14), and gutter lengths are joined together by an essentially rigid jointing clip (64) shaped to fit within the gutter and having a rim portion (66) configured to engage the gutter hook, locking means (74) are provided to engage one gutter rim (30) and the other clip rim (70) to lock the clip in position when it is fitted within the abutting ends of a adjacent gutter lengths.

Description: This invention relates to rainwater gutter systems to be attached to buildings Its object is to provide a system that is easy to fit and which has a pleasing appearance with joining clips mostly hidden from view. One rainwater gutter system, sold by Alifabs Limited under the trade name "Ambassador", comprises lengths of extruded aluminium guttering having inturned lips just beneath their front and rear edges and lengths of gutter are joined together by a "spigot", of the same general section as the gutter, that is compressed within the gutter ends against a length of neoprene gasket, bonded to each gutter end; a "G" clamp being used to force the spigot into the gutters until the rims of the spigot engage under the gutter lips. Clearly this method of joining gutter lengths is cumbersome and lengthy; especially for 4 meter long lengths of gutter weighing 10 or 18.8 kilograms. Removal of a spigot is stated to be by "using two large screwdrivers and levering the spigot from under the lip on the front edge". Another rainwater gutter system sold by Blackburns (London) Limited under the trade name "Stormaster" has lengths of gutter joined together by an internal sleeve engaging under inturned rims of the gutter and located by bolts between each gutter length and the sleeve. Patent Specification EP-A-0 481 819 (B A Aluminium Limited) discloses roof guttering wherein a bridge 32 is provided at the juncture of two gutter bodies 1, the bridge is extruded from aluminium alloy to the same shape as a body 1 but of sufficiently smaller size both to fit within the body and also so that in a relaxed condition (not shown) its ends 33 and 34 are curved slightly towards one another. This arrangement enables one end, say 33, to be engaged under the hooked part 7 with the other end 34 outside the hooked part 11. The bridge 32 may then be flexed until its end 34 snaps beneath the hooked part 11 to hold the bridge firmly in place. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rainwater gutter system that is simpler to join together than any of the aforementioned systems. According to the present invention, a rain water gutter system for attachment to a building comprises lengths of gutter, each having at least one integral gutter hook projecting from one wall of the gutter; an essentially rigid jointing clip shaped to fit within the gutter and having one rim configured to engage the gutter hook; and a separate locking member shaped to engage the lip of the other wall of the gutter and the other rim of the jointing clip such as to lock the jointing clip in position when the jointing clip is fitted within and bridges the abutting ends of a adjacent gutter lengths. Thus, no flexing or springing of the gutter or clip is required neither is bolting of the clip to the abutting ends of adjacent gutter lengths ; this results in a simpler clip to fit and a stronger joint between gutter lengths. In an embodiment of the present invention, the integral gutter hook is a longitudinally extending channel formed by a rounded-section, inturned lip of said one wall of the gutter and said one rim of the jointing clip is rounded so that it can pivot longitudinally within the channel. Preferably, the gutter channel is shaped to permit the pivot line of said rim of the jointing clip to move transversely thereof within the channel to permit the jointing clip to rotate into the gutter. This enables the clip to rotate within the gutter past any sealing gasket and still maintain a tight fit within the gutter. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the locking member is slideable longitudinally of and engages said lip of the other wall of the gutter and said other rim of the jointing clip. Preferably, said lip of the other wall of the gutter has an inwardly-directed, longitudinally extending, locking channel and the locking member is a locking bar longitudinally slideable in the locking channel to trap said other rim of the jointing clip and bridge between the locking channels of abutting adjacent gutter lengths. Also according to the present invention, the system further comprises a tool shaped to engage under the gutter lip and to engage an upper surface of said other rim of the jointing clip; whereby rotation of the tool about the gutter lip forces the clip into adjacent gutter lengths to permit the locking bar to slide in the locking channel and trap the clip rim. The above and other features of the present invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the Drawings, wherein:- Fig.1 is an end elevation of a gutter length in accordance with the present invention; Fig.2 is an exploded, perspective view of a gutter length, jointing clip and locking bar, in accordance with the present invention; Figs 3 & 4 are, respectively, a front and an end elevation of a jointing clip for the gutter length of Fig.1; Fig.5 is an end elevation of the jointing clip being locked in position in the gutter length of Fig.4 by a tool; and, Fig.6 is a detail illustrating the lock between the gutter and the clip. As shown by Fig.1, a deep channel rainwater gutter 10 consists of a length of polyester powder coated aluminium extrusion having a generally asymmetric, ovoid cross-section 12. The gutter is formed with the following integral, longitudinally extending features:- an inturned, hook-shaped rear lip 14; and, a rearwardly opening, D-section channel 30 in the front lip 32. Fig.2 shows one end 62 of a length of gutter 10 together with a jointing clip 64. Clip 64 (shown in more detail in Figs 2 & 3) is, again, a polyester powder coated aluminium extrusion of a complimentary asymmetric ovoid shape to that of the inner section of the gutter and is formed with the following integral, longitudinally extending features:- a rounded rear rim 66; and, a flange 68 curving upwards and inwards from close below the clip front rim 70. Also shown is a locking bar 72, an anodised aluminium extrusion of a somewhat keyhole-shaped section; whereof the rounded part 74 is shaped to be a sliding fit in the gutter locking channel 30 and the locking bar base part 76 can protrude into the gutter. Gutter channel 30 is provided with a small longitudinal bead 31 and locking bar 72 has a complimentary longitudinal groove 73, the bead and groove combining to prevent the locking bar from being inserted the wrong way into the gutter channel. E.P.D.M. or natural rubber sealing strips 78 are bonded to the outer surface of the jointing clip 64. To join two lengths of gutter together, a locking bar 72 is slid into the locking channel 30 of one gutter length (as indicated in Fig.2). Another gutter length is then positioned close to gutter end 62 with an expansion gap between adjacent gutter ends. The clip rear rim 66 is then offered up to and engaged with the hooked rear lip 14 of each gutter, forming a ball and socket type pivot; the hooked rear lip 14 is not of simple circular section but is of an oval section. Keeping the clip rim engaged within the gutter's lip, the jointing clip is then rotated downwards, it may be necessary to apply a suitable lubricant to the sealing strips 78 to permit the clip and sealing strips to slide into the gutters. Also the clip will pivot about the rear part of the gutter's lips, increasing the clearance between the clip and the gutters. Towards the end of the rotation, a tool 80 (see Fig.5) is used to force the clip into the gutters and compress the sealing strips sufficiently for the locking bar 72 to be forced along channel 30 so that the locking bar base 76 can trap clip front rim 70 and lock the two lengths of gutter and the clip together. The leading and trailing corners 71 of the clip front rim 70 are relieved to help the locking bar ride up onto the front rim. The tool 80 is another aluminium extrusion having a reversed G-section leading end part 82; the depending part 84 of the tool engages under a bead 86 extending down from the gutter front lip 32. The leading end 88 of the tool co-operates with a curved upper surface 90 of clip flange 68 so that, when the tool is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the clip is forced into the gutter and brought forwards in the hooked gutter rear lip 14. By this means an essentially rigid clip can be used to join gutter lengths together; resulting in a much stronger joint that is also easy to install. To remove a joint, all that is necessary is to force the locking bar away from the clip, using a hammer for example, clip flange 68 can then be used as a handle to rotate the clip out of the gutter. The asymmetric ovoid shape of the gutter is particularly advantageous as it maintains a reasonable rainwater flow rate at low flow volume, whilst presenting a near vertical rear wall 18 to simplify the design of the bracket 34. Whilst the present invention has been described with respect to an extruded aluminium, deep channel rainwater gutter system, it is clear that the principle of jointing is applicable to any rainwater gutter system. The gutter lengths, jointing clips and locking bars can be manufactured from any suitable material and by any suitable method. Neither is it essential for the gutter lengths to be attached horizontally to a building, the system can equally well be applied to shallow channel gutters that have to be attached with a fall towards the downpipe.

Claims: A rain water gutter system for attachment to a building comprising lengths of gutter (10), each having at least one integral gutter hook (14) projecting from one wall (12 or 18) of the gutter; and an essentially rigid jointing clip (64) shaped to fit within the gutter and having one rim (70 or 66) configured to engage the gutter hook; characterised in that the system further comprises a separate locking member (72) shaped to engage the lip (32) of the other wall (18 or 12) of the gutter (10) and the other rim (66 or 70) of the jointing clip (64) such as to lock the jointing clip in position when the jointing clip is fitted within and bridges the abutting ends of adjacent gutter lengths. A gutter system as claimed in Claim 1 and further characterised in that the integral gutter hook is a longitudinally extending jointing channel (14) formed by a rounded-section, inturned lip of said one wall (12 or 18) of the gutter (10) and said one rim (70 or 66) of the jointing clip (64) is rounded so that it can pivot longitudinally within the jointing channel. A gutter system as claimed in Claim 2 and further characterised in that the jointing channel (14) is shaped to permit the pivot line of said rim (70 or 66) of the jointing clip (64) to move transversely thereof within the jointing channel to permit the jointing clip to rotate into the gutter (10). A gutter system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 and further characterised in that the locking member (72) is slideable longitudinally of and engages said lip (32) of the other wall (18 or 12) of the gutter (10) and said other rim (66 or 70) of the jointing clip (64). A gutter system as claimed in claim 4 and further characterised in that said lip (32) of the other wall (18 or 12) of the gutter (10) has an inwardly-directed, longitudinally extending, locking channel (30) and the locking member is a locking bar (72) longitudinally slideable in the locking channel to trap said other rim (66 or 70) of the jointing clip (64) and bridge between the locking channels of abutting adjacent gutter lengths. A gutter system as claimed in Claim 5 and further characterised in that the system further comprises a tool (80) shaped to engage under the gutter lip (32) and to engage an upper surface (90) of said other rim (66 or 70) of the jointing clip (64); whereby rotation of the tool about the gutter lip forces the jointing clip into adjacent gutter lengths to permit the locking bar to slide in the locking channel and trap the clip rim. A gutter system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, and further characterised in that sealing strips (78) are bonded to the outer surface of the jointing clip (64) such that they are compressed between the jointing clip and the gutters (10) by the action of the locking member (72).

Inventors: STROWBRIDGE MICHAEL, WILLIAMS LESTER LLEWELLYN, STROWBRIDGE, MICHAEL, WILLIAMS, LESTER LLEWELLYN
Applicants: ALUMASC LTD, ALUMASC LIMITED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E04D13
IPC codes: E04D13