Abstract:
An improved gutter bracket assembly attached to exposed rafters for supporting a gutter provides increased strength as well as flexibility in attaching to various types of rafters by including a pair of flanges that attach to lateral sides of a rafter. Thereby, greater attachment strength is achieved than typical at the open grain of the rafter end. Attachable front and back clips provide secure attachment after initial placement of the gutter is made.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefits of U.S. Pat. Appln. Ser. No. 60/620,389 of the same title filed on 20 Oct. 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates, in general, to gutter brackets attachable to a roof rafter for the purpose of supporting a gutter.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It has long been appreciated gutter brackets may be attached to a roof or a wall to support a gutter, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,478,837.  
         [0004]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,936, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, a single piece gutter bracket has a gutter support arm that is connected to a centrally disposed web with two spaced apart flanges extending substantially perpendicularly from opposing edges of the central web, in the direction opposite the gutter support arm. The distance between the flanges is approximately equal to the thickness of a rafter extension and may be substantially parallel or slightly angled in order to provide a frictional fit on a rafter extension. The flanges are secured directly to the sides of the rafter extension. The central web covers a portion of the end surface of the rafter extension, providing some protection to the rafter extension. The front of the gutter support arm may lie lower than the back of the gutter support arm to inhibit the flow of water, thereby helping to preserve the dwelling&#39;s building materials. The gutter bracket need not be installed during construction, beneath the roof shingles or the like, but may be installed after construction is complete. Accordingly, it is easily removed and replaced, without the need to disturb the building&#39;s roof supports or other architecture.  
         [0005]     Later, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,937, an expandable gutter bracket has a gutter support arm that is connected to a centrally disposed mounting portion, or web, with two spaced apart flanges extending substantially perpendicularly from opposing edges of the mounting portion, in the direction opposite the gutter support arm. The distance between the flanges is selectively provided by the mounting portion to be approximately equal to the thickness of a rafter extension and may be substantially parallel or slightly angled in order to provide a frictional fit on a rafter extension. Various configurations of the mounting portion are provided to select the appropriate thickness, including a plurality of attachments that pass through the gutter support arm and connect to each end of the flanges or two respective halves of a two-piece web.  
         [0006]     While these gutter brackets have a number of advantages and applications, further features are desirable to increase the number of applications for gutter brackets and to provide additional improvements.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The invention overcomes the above-noted and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing a gutter bracket assembly which includes a mounting bracket having a proximal portion that attaches to an exposed surface of a rafter extension and a distal portion that extends out beyond the rafter extension to support a gutter. An extension member is attached to the mounting bracket to adjust for variations in the shape of the rafter extension so that the gutter is supported horizontally and at the correct height above ground.  
         [0008]     In one aspect of the invention, a gutter bracket assembly has a mounting bracket with a curved distal portion shaped to follow a contour of an undersurface of the gutter. A back clip is fastened to the curved distal portion to grip an inner lip of the gutter. Similarly, a front clip is fastened to the curved distal portion to grip an outer lip of the gutter. Thereby, the gutter is securely held to the mounting bracket even if spaced away from a distal end of a rafter extension that is not plumb. Spacing away may be desired even if plump to reduce trapped moisture on the rafter extension that may lead to deterioration. Further, having a detached back clip rather than a fix gripping feature enables greater installation flexibility. For instance, the front and back clips may be selected for a particular placement that holds a gutter transversely horizontal even if the mounting bracket differs in its installed angle from other rafter extensions.  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the invention, a gutter bracket attaches to one lateral side of a rafter extension with a gutter bracket arm extending distally at an angle to accommodate variations in the angle of a distal end of the rafter extension as well as a pitch of the rafter extension.  
         [0010]     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0011]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective disassembled view of a gutter bracket assembly with opposing lateral flanges for rafter dimensional flexibility and with attachable front and back clips for securely holding down of a gutter.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of two dual arm gutter bracket assemblies having straight, proximal flange portions that attach to lateral sides of a rafter with lateral force distributing cylindrical spacers.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a dual arm gutter bracket similar to that shown in  FIG. 2  but with a straight distal portion passing through the proximal and distal lips of a supported gutter.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a gutter bracket assembly with an increased vertical projecting flange with a plurality of attachment holes to increase vertical adjustment of an attached gutter bracket arm.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a gutter bracket assembly with a downwardly projecting lateral bracket and gutter bracket arm having a horizontal proximal attachment portion.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an increased strength gutter bracket assembly with an elongated proximal portion of a gutter bracket arm attached to a plurality of downwardly projecting lateral flanges.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a contoured gutter bracket assembly.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a disassembled gutter bracket assembly of  FIG. 1  with back clips with a plurality of attachment holes in a triangular web that allows attachment to angled rafter ends.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternative pair of gutter bracket assemblies attached to respective exposed lateral sides of a rafter extension.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another alternative pair of gutter bracket assemblies with rotatably attachable gutter bracket arms and each mounted on respective exposed lateral sides of a rafter extension.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective, exploded view of the alternative pair of gutter bracket assemblies of  FIG. 10 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 12A  is a right side view in elevation of the gutter bracket assembly of  FIG. 10  installed on a rafter extension having a 10/12 pitch.  
         [0024]      FIG. 12B  is a right side view in elevation of the gutter bracket assembly of  FIG. 10  installed on a rafter extension having a 8/12 pitch.  
         [0025]      FIG. 12C  is a right side view in elevation of the gutter bracket assembly of  FIG. 10  installed on a rafter extension having a 6/12 pitch.  
         [0026]      FIG. 12D  is a right side view in elevation of the gutter bracket assembly of  FIG. 10  installed on a rafter extension having a 4/12 pitch. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  depicts a gutter bracket assembly  10  formed from a pair of right and left lateral flanges  12 ,  14  that are attachable to a rafter (not shown). Each presents opposing front webs  16 ,  18  that come together at parallel and projecting tabs  20 ,  22  respectively for being on each side of a proximal end  24  of a gutter bracket arm (“hook”)  26 . Fasteners (e.g., bolts and nuts)  28 ,  30  pass through holes  32 ,  33  and  34 ,  35  respectively in the projecting tabs  20 ,  22  and through holes  36 ,  38  in the proximal end  24 .  
         [0028]     Advantageously, a pair of back clips  40  each having a pair of holes  44 ,  46  are also attached by fasteners  28 ,  30 . A gutter (not shown) is set across gutter bracket arm  26 , as well as other gutter bracket arms, and is hooked on the backside under the back clips  40 ,  42 . Then front clips  52 ,  54  are attached with a fastener  56  to a distal end  58  of the bracket support arm  26  to engage the other lip of the gutter. The front clips  52 ,  54  are advantageously stamped or molded with substantial strength and possibly decorative ornamentation to provide a more appealing installation over a spring clip or other attachment.  
         [0029]     In  FIG. 2 , a pair of rafters  70 ,  72  each support a dual arm gutter bracket assembly  74  formed by a pair of gutter bracket arms  76 ,  78  that have a straight, proximal flange portion  80  and a curved hook portion  82 . A pair of back clips  84 ,  86  and a pair of front clips  88 ,  90  are attached opposingly on each end of the curved hook portion  82 . Fasteners  92 ,  94  pass through the flange portions  80  of both of the gutter bracket arms  76 ,  78 , advantageously with cylindrical spacers  96 ,  98  spacing the gutter bracket arms  76 ,  78  as desired for aesthetics or load distribution at the hook portions  82 . In addition, each separate or integral cylindrical spacer  96 ,  98  presents a larger surface for distributing loads to the side of the respective rafter  70 ,  72 .  
         [0030]     In  FIG. 3 , a pair of straight gutter bracket assemblies  120 ,  122  are attached to respective rafters  124 ,  126 . Each lateral portion  142  is bolted by bolts  128 ,  130  with cylindrical spacers  132 ,  134  formed therein. Instead of a hooked distal portion, a straight support portion  136  of each gutter bracket support arm  138 ,  140  passes through apertures formed in a gutter  142 .  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 4 , a gutter bracket assembly  200  provides additional fastener openings along a vertically extended projecting tab  202  of each lateral flange  204  providing additional vertical adjustment options for a gutter bracket arm  206 .  
         [0032]     In  FIG. 5 , a gutter bracket assembly  300  is adapted for a rafter  302  that presents a beveled lower surface  303  so that a vertically oriented lateral bracket  304  may present a downward attachment tab  306  to a gutter bracket arm  308  having a horizontal distal attachment portion  310 . The supported gutter  312  may be or may not be held down with back and front clips (not shown).  
         [0033]     In  FIG. 6 , a gutter bracket assembly  300  is adapted for a rafter  402  that presents an extended lower surface  403  so that a plurality of vertically oriented lateral brackets  404 ,  405  may present a respective downward attachment tab  306  to horizontal distal attachment portions  408 ,  410  of a proximal portion  412  of each gutter bracket arm  414 . Thereby, a gutter bracket assembly  300  may withstand greater loads.  
         [0034]     In  FIG. 7 , a gutter bracket assembly  400  includes a curved proximal portion  402  of a gutter bracket arm  404  shaped to underlie a contoured rafter  406 . A lateral flange  408  is attached to a generally downward portion  410  of the rafter  406  to attach to the curved proximal portion  402 . For additional support, an attachment tab  412  attaches to a more distal portion of a hook portion  414  of the arm  404  to a rafter end surface  414 .  
         [0035]     In  FIG. 8 , a gutter bracket assembly  500  is identical to that described in  FIG. 1 . In this instance, back clips  502 ,  504  form a triangular flange with a plurality of holes  506 - 508  that allow adjusting the angle of the gutter bracket arm  26  to advantageously be brought to horizontal, even if the rafter end is not cut plumb or varies from application to application. A plurality of economically fabricated back clips  502 ,  504  thus provide additional installation flexibility. It should be appreciated that a back clip similar to that described may be used instead in combination with a separate triangular (or other shape) flange that only serves to pivot the orientation of a gutter bracket arm.  
         [0036]     In  FIG. 9 , a pair of identical gutter brackets  600  each include a proximal flange portion  602  fastened to a opposite, exposed lateral sides of a rafter extension  604 . The proximal flanges are dimensioned to provide fastener holes  605  spaced to provide enhanced strength. The thickness of the rafter extension  604  thus does not affect the ability to use one or two gutter brackets  600 , each extending a curved gutter bracket arm  606  with a fixed proximal hook  608  positioned to grip an inner lip of a gutter (not shown) and a clip recess  610  formed in a distal end for engaging an outer lip of the gutter.  
         [0037]     It should be appreciated that paired gutter brackets  600  installed together for each rafter extension  604  advantageously increase the support strength and provide a balanced aesthetic look. In some applications consistent with the present invention, fasteners or attaching members that transversely pass through the rafter extension and attach at each end to respective gutter brackets of the paired assembly assist in avoiding an unbalanced torque on a fastener that could lead to bending.  
         [0038]     In  FIGS. 10-11 , a pair of mirror-image left and right bracket assemblies  700  each include a proximal flange  702  that attaches respectively to opposite exposed lateral sides of a rafter extension  704 . Each flange  702  presents a number of spaced apart fastener holes  705  to provide for secure attachment to the rafter extension  704 . A distal tab  707  extends from each proximal flange  702 , presenting top and bottom arm fastener apertures holes  709 ,  711 . Each gutter bracket assembly  700  includes an attachable curved gutter bracket arm  706  with a fixed proximal hook  708  positioned to grip an inner lip of a gutter (not shown) and a clip recess  710  formed in a distal end for engaging an outer lip of the gutter. A proximal attachment tab  713  of the gutter bracket arm  706  includes a top hole  714  through which a fastener (not shown) may pivotally attach the gutter bracket arm  706  on an outer side of the respective distal tab  705  of the proximal flange  702 . Advantageously, a bottom slot  716  arcs in a fixed radius below the top hole  714  such that another fastener (not shown) may lock the gutter bracket arm  706  at a desired angle relative to the proximal flange  702 . Thereby, the gutter bracket arm  706  may be positioned horizontally without regard to whether a distal end of the rafter extension  706  is plumb, nor whether the pitch of the rafter extension varies from installation to installation (e.g., 10/12 in  FIG. 12A , 8/12 in  FIG. 12B , 6/12 in  FIG. 12C , and 4/12 in  FIG. 12D ). Depending upon the slope of the rafter extension.  
         [0039]     While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications may readily appear to those skilled in the art.  
         [0040]     For example, illustrative versions herein depict paired gutter brackets that form an assembly, perhaps even physically attached to each other. In addition, versions of a gutter bracket assembly shown herein include one gutter bracket arm sharing dual proximal flanges that attach to opposite lateral sides of a rafter extension. Thereby, an increased strength and aesthetically pleasing gutter bracket is realized. However, it should be appreciated with the benefit of the present disclosure that applications consistent with the present invention may include a single gutter bracket arm supported by attachment to only one lateral exposed surface of a wall or rafter extension due to user desires for reduced expense, reduced strength requirements, or personal preference. In particular, certain features disclosed herein for back clips, front clips, spacing lateral the proximal portion of a gutter bracket from the rafter extension, attaching to a bottom of a rafter extension, and/or adjusting to a pitch of a roof may be incorporated into such a single sided gutter bracket or gutter bracket assembly without the benefit of an identical or mirror-image portions on the other side of the rafter extension.  
         [0041]     For another example, while a pivotally attached gutter bracket arm advantageously allows for setting a desired angle to compensate for roof pitch, alternatively a range of fixed angle attachments may be provided for the installer to select from.