Modular channel section for providing gutters

Abstract: A modular assembly of channel sections (2) is disclosed which are connected to one another for providing gutters by a shutter coupling between a groove 24 formed at one end of any channel section and a rib (6′) formed at the other end. Channel section (2) has a modular construction as it is provided with a number of parallel ribs (6′) extending in a plane perpendicular to the length of the section at regular intervals so that the length of the final assembled channel can be changed by varying the coupling of the sections. Further anchoring ribs (6) are provided near ribs (6′). A shutter head member (26) coupled at either end of channel section (2) and having a dead but easily pierceable pipe fitting (30) is also provided.

Description: The present invention relates to a ground gutter assembly for water or other liquids. Ground gutter assemblies, for example, for rain water or any other liquid are used in several both covered and uncovered places. The document DE-A-3 519 108 (see figs.1,2,4 and 5; column 6, lines 10-27) decribes modular channel sections for water and other liquids suitable for being coupled in their full or reduced length. In order to assemble two channel sections, the last rib 32', extending perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal channel axis, and provided at one end of the first channel section, fits into a corresponding groove, foreseen at the other end of the other channel section. Cutting the channel sections in order to obtain a reduced length is suggested. The shutter coupling is then achieved by inserting one of the single ribs 32, being provided along the channel section at regular intervals, into the corresponding groove. However, the horizontal protrusions 48 of the single ribs 32 must be removed in advance. Thus the known gutter assemblies suffer from the drawback that they cannot be easily fitted to the desired length. One object of the present invention is to avoid that drawback. Another object of the present invention is to provide a gutter assembly having anchoring means for its securing to the cement support on which it is laid. Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a gutter assembly which can be easily and quickly assembled without requiring special means. Such objects are achieved by providing channel sections whose basic feature consists in being modular and connectable to one another to form a modular construction, thus allowing the length thereof to be shortened by cutting them at a predetermined distance and keeping the connection capability of any section to the other sections unchanged, which widens the range of possible lengths of the final assembled gutter. Therefore, the present invention relates to a ground gutter for water or any other liquid comprising channel sections of semitubular form having pairs of first and second ribs extending in a plane perpendicular to the channel section at the outer surface of the same in a short distance from each other, which pairs are provided along the length of the channel section at regular intervals which are submultiple of the length of the channel section, the first ribs being shaped so as to facilitate the engagement of the channel section to the cement support on which it is laid, the second ribs being formed with a male profile so as to provide a shutter coupling with a corresponding groove provided at one end of the channel section. The second rib of each pair of ribs is nearer to such groove so that the channel sections always end in a male profile, when they are cut at the gap between the two ribs to reduce their length, and can always be coupled in their full or reduced length to form channels of given length. An embodiment of the invention provides a shutter head member which can be coupled at both ends of the channel section as it is provided with a profile for shutter engagement into the above-mentioned groove at one end, and with a projecting edge adapted to engage the other end of the channel section and to fit the inner shape thereof. According to another embodiment of the invention, such head member is also provided with a dead but easily pierceable pipe fitting. Preferred embodiments are set forth in the depending claims. The present invention will be best understood referring to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment illustrated only by way of a non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of the channel section according to the present invention; Fig. 2 still shows a perspective view of the shutter head member. With reference to the figures the channel section includes two pieces 2 and 26 both of plastic material. Channel section 2 has a generally semitubular form with an outer surface 4 having several pairs of first and second ribs 6, 6' laying in planes perpendicular to the extension of the channel at regular intervals which are submultiple of the length of channel section 2. The rims of the channel section are provided with edges having a L-shaped section. Ribs 6, 6' end against the horizontal legs 10, 10' of such edges at a distance from the vertical legs 14, 14' thereof. Ribs 6 perform the function of anchoring the channel section to the cement support on which they are laid. To this purpose they have a generally rectangular shape with chamfers 16 provided at the corners of the bottom sides 18 and notches 20 provided at the lateral sides after the chamfers. Stiffening rods 22 extend longitudinally at the bottom of the channel section and form a further anchoring member both crosswise and lengthwise by means of free end 22a. Ribs 6' have the shape of the channel section and a lower height than ribs 6 as they project a little from the surface of channel section 2 at a short distance 7 therefrom. They have a function described afterwards and contribute to the lengthwise anchorage of the channel section. Channel section 2 has a double modularity as it is intended to form a channel by being connected to other channel sections, besides its construction is such as to provide a piece similar to but shorter than the original when it is cut in predetermined lengths. The modularity of channel section 2 widens the range of possible lengths of the channel as the multiples of the channel section lengths add to the multiples of the lengths of the crit modular pieces. Such modular construction of the cut pieces is due to the fact that the above-mentioned ribs 6' are provided at regular intervals along the extension of channel section 2, and that a groove 24 for shutter engagement, which can be coupled to ribs 6', is provided at one end of channel section 2. The length of channel section 2 is reduced by being cut at gaps 7 so as to always end in a rib 6'. Of course the cutting operation should keep groove 24 for shutter engagement so that the channel section is always shortened by cutting away its opposite end. The cutting operation is carried out by an ordinary bow saw. Advantageously the room between ribs 6 and 6' is such as to allow the bow saw to be inserted therebetween, thus acting as a guide. A guide notch for the bow saw can be also provided in such room to make the sawing operation easier. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the length of channel section 2 is 50 cm and the distance between ribs 6 or 6' is 10 cm. Thus lengths of the channels multiple of 10 cm are possible. The shutter connection between rib 6' and groove 24 is made stronger by adhesives such as for example glues or silicones. The channel section of the present invention comprises also a shutter head member 26 adapted to be coupled to groove 24. It has on one side a horizontally projecting edge 28 which can engage channel section 2 so as to fit the inner shape thereof, and on the other side a pipe fitting 30. Due to edge 28 head member 26 can also be coupled at the opposite end of the channel section, i.e. that end without groove, such coupling being made stronger by adhesives such as silicone glue. An adhesive will make stronger also the shutter connection between channel sections 2 as mentioned above. Head member 26 is a dead piece, i.e. pipe fitting 30 has originally a dead end, but it can be pierced by an easy operation. With this construction head member 26 can either connect or shut off a water leak to one end of the channel section. Of course the gutter assembly 2, 26 of the present invention can be dimensioned at will. By changing the depth and/or the width of channel section 2 it is possible to vary the water flow rate and by changing the size of pipe fitting 30 several pipes of different diameters can be connected. The present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof but it is obvious that changes and/or additions can be made without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: A modular channel section assembly for providing ground gutters for water and/or other liquids, wherein it comprises a plurality of channel sections (2) having pairs of first (6) and second (6') ribs extending in a plane perpendicular to the channel section at the outer surface (4) of the same, which pairs are provided along the length of the channel section at regular intervals which are submultiple of the length of the channel section (2), the first ribs (6) being shaped so as to facilitate the engagement of the channel section to the cement support on which it is laid, the second ribs (6'), which are placed at a short distance from the first ribs (6), being formed with a male profile so as to provide a shutter coupling with a corresponding groove (24) provided at one end of the channel section (2), the second ribs (6') of each pair being nearer to said groove (24) than the first ribs (6) so that the channel sections (2) always end in a male profile, when they are cut at the gap (7) between the first (6) and the second (6') ribs to reduce their length, and can always be coupled in their full or reduced length to form channels of any length multiple of the distance between the first ribs (6) or the second ribs (6'). The modular channel section assembly of claim 1, wherein it further comprises shutter head members (26) provided with a male profile (27) for shutter engagement with said groove (24), and on one side with a projecting edge (28) adapted to fit the inner surface (5) of channel section (2) and on the other side with a pipe fitting (30) which is dead but easily pierceable, so that said head members can be used at both ends of channel sections (2) both in full and reduced length. The modular channel section assembly of the preceding claims, wherein the first ribs or anchoring ribs (6) project so as to form a rectangular profile with chamfered corners. The modular channel section assembly of the preceding claims, wherein the edges of the channel section are provided with L-shaped edge profiles (8, 8'). The modular channel section assembly of the preceding claims, wherein stiffening rods (22) engage said first ribs (6) and extend longitudinally at the bottom of the channel section for its anchoring. The modular channel section assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein channel section (2) is 50 cm long and the regular interval between ribs (6 or 6') is 10 cm. The modular channel section assembly of the preceding claims, wherein both channel section (2) and head member (26) are of plastic material. The modular channel section assembly of claim 6, wherein the connection between members (6', 24; 6', 27; 5, 28) are made stronger by means of silicone glue or adhesives.

Inventors: MANTELLI GIULIO, MANTELLI, GIULIO
Applicants: FIRST PLAST SRL, FIRST PLAST S.R.L.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E01C11
IPC codes: E01C11