Patent Publication Number: US-3874131-A

Title: Building construction

Description:
United States Patent 1191 1:111 3,874,131 Webster Apr. 1, 1975 15 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 3,150,851 9/1964 Ritchie et a1. 248/482 3,170,266 2/1965 R b t t l. 52/11 X Inventor: John Webster, Rlchmondv 3,344,561 10/1967 14262523,? 52/11 73 A R M Mtl C 3,344,562 10/1967 l Ss&#39;gnee f fi 3: ompany 3,344,566 10/1967 3,381,434 5/1968 [22] Filed: May 3, 1973 3,550,381 12/1970 3,007,662 11/1961 Featheringham 248/482 [21] Appl. No.: 356,963  
  Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser [52] US. Cl 52/11, 52/60, 52/95, A m Examiner-Carl D, Friedman 248/482 [51] Int. Cl. F04d 13/00 [58] Field of Search 52/11,94, 5s, 60, 95, 1 1 ABSTRAET 52/403; 248/4811 A building construction having an improved fascia, fascia fastener, and gutter hanger wherein such com-, [56] References C&#39;ted ponents are of simple and economical construction UNITED STATES PATENTS and readily installed in position and the building conl,940,369 12/1933 Peul 248/48.1 struction has optimum structural integrity and esthetic 2,635,841 4/1923 Bauhammer et al 248/481 appeal. 2,712,915 7/1955 Cohen et a1. 248/482 2,990,590 7/1961 Graveley 52/94 X 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 4&#39; 22 1.6 H2 1 98 9e 23 IZI :11  
 - 1 92 r 106 110 4 T 113 -85\ 97 F- 107 93 83 226 g BUILDING CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are numerous residential, commercial, and industrial buildings which have a roof structure which overhangs a wall structure and it is a common practice to provide a fascia strip or fascia at the terminal edge of the overhanging roof and to attach a gutter to the fascia. It is also common practice to provide a fascia which has flanges for receiving a soffit strip thcrebetween whereby the fascia holds one edge portion of the soffit strip and a frieze runner is provided on the wall structure and receives the opposite edge portion of the soffit strip whereby the soffit strip is supported between the fascia and the frieze strip.  
  However, previously proposed building constructions employing the above-mentioned components usually require additional parts to install components suchas the fascia, soffit, gutter, and the like; and, comparatively more labor is required for installation. Therefore, with the additional parts and added labor the previously proposed building constructions are still deficient in terms of cost, structural integrity, and esthetic appeal.  
 SUMMARY This invention provides an improved building construction having an improved fascia, fascia fastener, and gutter hanger wherein such components are of simple and economical construction and readily installed in position with minimum labor and the building construction has optimum structural integrity and esthetic appeal.  
  Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the embodiments thereof presented in the following specification, claims, and drawing.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The accompanying drawing shows present preferred embodiments of this invention, in which FIG. I is a view with parts in cross section, parts in elevation, and parts broken away particularly illustrating improved building ocnstruction of this invention which utilizes improved fascia, fascia fastener, and gutter supporting means;  
  FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view looking normally toward the vertical main body of the fascia of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken essentially on the line 33 of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofa fascia fastener of this invention also illustrating by dotted lines that the fastener is reversible; and  
 FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to an upper portion of FIG. 3 particularly illustrating a modification of the fascia of FIG. 3 which-allows such fascia to be supported in position simply by a hanging action.  
 DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawing which illustrates one exemplary embodiment ofthe improved building construction of this invention which is designated generally by the reference numeral and such building construction utilizes unique components of this invention including a fascia fastener 21 which has a fascia strip 22 (which will be referred to hereinafter simply as a fascia 22) fastened thereto and a gutter hanger 23 which cooperates with suitable means, to be subsequently described, provided on the fascia 22 to support a gutter 24 in position on the fascia 22. The fascia 22 also has suitable means for supporting a soffit material or soffit strip 25 (which may also be referred to hereinafter simply soffit 25) in a manner which will be described in detail subsequently.  
  The building construction 20 has a roof construction or structure which is supported on a suitable wall structure or wall 31 so that the roof structure 30 overhangs the wall 31 in the manner illustrated at 32. The roof structure 30 has a terminal end edge 33 and a fascia 22 is suitably detachably fastened against the terminal edge 33 utilizing the fascia fasteners 21 and as will be described in more detail later. The substantially vertical wall structure 31 also has a frieze runner or frieze strip 34 attached by fasteners 35 against the wall 31 and the frieze strip 34 has a pair of parallel flanges defining a channel 36 which is adapted to receive one end portion 37 of the soffit material or strip 25 with an opposite end portion 40 of such soffit material being sup ported by the fascia 22.  
  As seen particularly in FIG. 4 of the drawing the fascia fastener 21 which will be referred to hereinafter simply as clip 21, comprises a first portion 41 which is adapted to have the fascia 22 held flatly thereagainst and a second portion 42 which is foldably connected substantially perpendicular to the portion 41 along a rectilinear bend or fold 43 whereby the clip 21 has a roughly right angle shape or L-shaped configuration. The portion 42 of the clip 21 has a pair of substantially identical projections 44 extending in the same direction and in substantially parallel relation from opposite end portions 45 of portion 42 and each of the projections 44 is adapted to have a hooking end portion 46, see FIG. 3, of a flange 47 comprising the fascia 22 hooked therearound in a manner to be subsequently described.  
  The projections 44 have parallel outer edges 50 and arcuate end portions 51 when viewed normal or perpendicular to portion 42 of the clip 21. Each arcuate end portion has a substantially semicircular outer head portion 52 and a neck portion 53 arranged inwardly thereof with the neck portion 53 having a reduced width.  
  The portion 42 of clip 21 is constructed so that it is substantially symmetrical about an axis parallel to and arranged midway between outer edges 50 whereby the clip 21 is a reversible clip, i.e., the clip may be reversed so that portion 41 is arranged essentially as shown in the dotted line position at 54 in FIG. 4, and such clip may be employed at the opposite end (not shown) of the roof structure 30 and fascia 22 illustrated in FIG. 1. Further, to facilitate attachment of the clip 21 against associated structures, such as roof structure 30, a plurality of openings 55 may be provided for receiving associated fastening devices 56 therethrough and each fastening device 56 may be in the form of a nail, screw, bolt or the like, with it being understood that the clip 21 may be fastened to metal structures, wood structures, or structures made of any other suitable material.  
  The clip 21 has a cutout 60 in each end of each of its portions 41 and 42. Each cutout 60 is so positioned with respect to the bend or fold 43 that it removes clip material from each portion 41 and 42 at each end of the clip 21. Each cutout 60 defines a flange 61 in portion 41 at opposed ends of the clip and the flange 61 is adapted to have an associated fascia hooked therearound in a manner to be subsequently described.  
  The fascia 22 is a single piece unitary construction having integral gutter and soffit supports and such fascia will now be described with particular reference to FIG. 3. The fascia 22 has a body portion or main body 66 which has opposed surfaces shown as a front surface 67 and a rear surface 68. The fascia 22 also has a pair of soffit supports in the form of a lower flange 72 and the previously mentioned flange 47 which is an upper flange and such supports or flanges have inner portions which adjoin the rear surface 68 and are arranged in parallel relation.  
  The supports or flanges 47 and 72 are adapted to receive the soffit 25 therebetween and it will be seen that such flanges 47 and 72 extend transverse and in one direction, i.e., rearwardly, from the rear surface 68 of the body portion 66. As previously mentioned, the flange 47 has a hooking end portion 46 and portion 46 hooks away from the lower flange 72 and toward the surface 68 and the hooking end portion 46 is adapted to be hooked around an associated supporting projection and in particular the supporting projection 44 of an associated fascia fastening clip 21.  
  The flange 72 has an outer portion 73 which is arranged perpendicular to its inner portion and the flange 72 has a roughly channel-shaped terminal end portion which is in the form of a substantially U-shaped portion which is designated generally by the reference numeral 74. The U-shaped portion has a bight 75 and a pair of substantially parallel legs 76 extending from opposite ends of the bight 75 with the parallel legs 76 being arranged substantially parallel to the body portion 66 and the outer leg 76 being arranged substantially vertically above and in an alignment with portion 73. The U- shaped portion defines a channel 78 which is particularly adapted to receive a resilient compressible material or member 77 therein and such member is such that the end portion 40 of the soffit material 25 is held tightly compressed against the flange 47 in a tight nonrattling manner; and, the opposite end portion 37 of the soffit material 25 is also suitably held tightly in position by the frieze strip 34.  
  The resilient compressible member 77 and the construction and arrangement of the U-shaped portion 74 and portion 73 relative to the remainder of the flange 72 is such that the soffit material 25 may be moved from the horizontal solid line position illustrated in FIG. 3 to an inclined position, such as the dotted line position illustrated at 80, while still holding the end portion 40 of the soffit 25 firmly in position in a nonrattling manner.  
  The fascia 22 has a gutter support 82 which extends from the front surface 67 of the body portion 66 in a direction opposite from the direction in which the flanges 47 and 72 extend. In particular, the gutter support 82 extends forwardly from the front surface 67; and, as seen in FIG. 3, the flange 72 and gutter support 82 are arranged so that when viewed in cross section or from an end they are arranged in aligned relation and have substantially coplanar outside surfaces.  
  The fascia 22 has a projection 83 arranged in vertically spaced relation from the gutter support 82 and the projection 83 defines a groove 84 which is adapted to receive the upper portion 85 of the inside wall 86 of the gutter 24 therewithin. The projection 83 holds such upper portion against the front surface 67.  
  The fascia 22 also has another projection 90 extending from the front surface 67 of the body 66 and is adapted to support the gutter fastener or hanger 23 in a manner to be subsequently described in detail. The projection 90 defines a groove 91 which is adapted to receive an associated hook-like portion of the hanger 23 therewithin.  
  As previously mentioned, the fascia 22 is a single piece unitary construction whereby its body portion 66, supports or flanges 47 and 72, and projections 83 and 90 are made as a single piece construction. The projections 83 and 90 extend in opposite directions from a common base portion 92 whereby when viewed in cross section the base portion 92 may be considered broadly as being in the form of a leg of a T-shaped construction having arms or projections 83 and 90.  
  As previously indicated the fascia fastener or clip 21 is suitably fixed in position utilizing fastening devices 56 on the associated roof structure 30 and the fascia 22 is simply fastened in position by hooking the hooking portion 46 of the flange 47 around the lower projection 44 of associated clips. Once the lower portion of the fascia 22 is fastened in position suitable fasteners which may be in the form of self-tapping screws 94 may be used to fasten the fascia to associated clips 21 and the screws 94 are fastened in position using techniques which are well known in the art.  
  It will also be appreciated that instead of using selftapping screws 94 to fasten the upper portion of a particular fascia into position, the fascia of this invention may be modified as shown in FIG. 5 and such modified fascia is designated generally by the reference numeral 22M. The fascia 22M has an upper downwardly hooking end portion designated generally by the reference numeral 95M. The hooking end portion 95M of the body portion 66M allows the fascia 22M to be hooked into position and held by the flange portion 61 and the projection 44 of each associated clip 21 without the need for self-tapping screws 94 or the like. Only a fragmentary portion of the fascia 22M is illustrated at FIG. 5; however, it will be appreciated that such fascia is identical to the fascia 22 with the exception of the downwardly hooking portion 95M.  
  Thus, once a single fascia 22 or a plurality of rectilincarly aligned fascia members 22 are suitably fixed in position on an associated structure of a building construction utilizing fascia fasteners or clips 21, a gutter 24 may be simply fastened in position by sliding such gutter along the fascia 22 with the upper edge portion 85 of the gutter held in position by the projection 83 and its lower inside corner supported by the flange 82. The gutter 24 may also be installed in position by tilting such gutter so that the outermost edge thereof, as viewed in FIG. 3, is at a location somewhere between the illustrated location and a location above and to the right of the illustrated location allowing the upper portion 85 of the gutter back wall 86 to be slipped behind the projection 83 whereupon the gutter 24 is then rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, so that its bottom inside corner rests on the flange 82.  
  To assure that the gutter 24 is held firmly in position the gutter fastener or hanger 23 made in accordance with the teachings of this invention is provided and such hanger will now be described in detail making particular reference to FIG. 3. The hanger 23 has a main body portion or body 93 which has opposed end portions with one of such end portions being in the form of a first substantially L-shaped hook 98 which is adapted to be hooked around an associated support therefor and in this example is adapted to be received within the groove 91 of the fascia 22 and supported by supporting projection 90 of such fascia.  
  The hanger 23 has a second hook 95 which defines the opposite end portion of the body 93 and the hook 95 has a substantially L-shaped configuration including a first leg 96 which is arranged substantially in alignment with the main body 93 and a transverse leg 97 which extends substantially perpendicular to the leg 96 with the transverse leg 97 having an extension 100 extending therefrom substantially parallel to the leg 96. The L-shaped book 95 is adapted to be hooked around an outer portion 101 of the gutter 24 with the extension I00 arranged beneath a corner 102 of such outer portion 101 whereby the hanger 23 supports the top outer portion of the gutter 24 firmly in position. It will be appreciated that a plurality of such hangers 23 are provided along the length of the gutter 24 as illustrated at 103 and 104 in FIG. 1. The hanger 23 is particularly adapted to be used with a gutter 24 in which the top part of its outer portion is substantially L-shaped and defined by a vertically extending leg 105 and a horizontal leg 106 which is directed toward the back gutter wall 86.  
  The leg 96 of the L-shaped hook 95 has a retaining shoulder I07 provided with a concave arcuate surface 0. The hanger 23 also includes a detachable substantially L-shaped locking member Ill and the locking member has a convex arcuate surface 112 which is adapted to be received within the concave arcuate surface ll0. After the main part of the hanger 23 is fastened around the gutter 24 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3, the locking member 111 is placed with its arcuate surface I12 into engagement with the surface 110 and its transverse leg H3 arranged therebeneath. The member 111 is then rotated clockwise so that the terminal end edge 114 of its leg 113 is wedged into position against the inside surface of the gutter corner I02 essentially in a snap-fitted relation or manner. With the locking member 111 snap fitted in position, which is the position illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be seen that the leg 113 thereof is arranged vertically and sandwiches gutter portion 105 firmly against leg 97 of hanger 23. The locking member 1]] has another leg 116 which sandwiches portion 106 of the gutter 24 against leg portion 96 of the L-shaped hook.  
  The hanger 23 has a brace 120 which extends from and beneath the main body portion 93 at an acute angle 12] so that the brace 120 and the main body portion 93 define a roughly Y-shaped configuration. The brace 120 has a larger area terminal bearing surface 122 which is particularly adapted to engage the gutter wall 86 and compress such wall firmly against the main body portion 66 of the fascia 22.  
  Thus, it is seen that the building construction utilizes a unique dual-purpose fascia 22 which has integral means for supporting both the frieze material and the gutter 24. Further, it will be seen that an improved reversible clip 21 and hanger 23 are provided with the gutter hanger 23 having a&#39;locking member 111 for locking the hanger into position against an associated outer portion of a gutter 24.  
  Each fascia 22 or 22M is particularly adapted to be used with a gutter which may be made of a comparatively thin material; yet, optimum support is provided for such gutter by the fascia and the gutter hangers of this invention.  
  The hanger 23, clip 21, and fascia 22 may be made by any suitable process and using any suitable material. Further, the fascia 22 is made preferably by extrusion process and of a suitable metallic material such a metallic material containing aluminum. Further, it has been found that these described components cooperate to suppor-t an associated gutter and a frieze material in a high strength and esthetically attractive manner for an extended service life.  
  While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods of practicing the same, have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.  
 What is claimed is:  
  l. A fascia having integral gutter and soffit supports comprising, a body portion having opposed surfaces and a top edge, a pair of rigid :soffit supports each adjoining and extending transverse and in one direction from one of said surfaces, a gutter support extending from the other of said surfaces in a direction opposite from said one direction, and a T-shaped portion arranged in spaced relation from said gutter support at a location beneath said top edge, said T-shaped portion having a leg portion adjoining and extending from said other surface and having a pair of projections extending from the outer end of said leg portion in opposite directions, one of said projections extending toward said gutter support and being adapted to hold an upper portion of said gutter against said other surface and the other of said projections extending away from said gutter support and being adapted to support a hanger for said gutter, said pair of soffit supports being defined as an upper and a lower flange having inner portions arranged in parallel relation and being adapted to receive a soffit therebetwecn, said lower flange having a roughly channel-shaped terminal end portion which is adapted to receive a resilient compressible member therewithin and said lower flange having an outer portion arranged substantially perpendicular to its inner portion with said channel-shaped portion adjoining said outer portion.  
  2. A reversible fastener for fastening a fascia on an associated structure, said fastener comprising, a first portion adapted to have an associated fascia held thereagainst and a second portion arranged transverse said first portion, said second portion having a pair of substantially identical projections extending in the same direction and in substantially parallel relation from opposite end portions of said second portion, said second portion being substantially symmetrical about on axis parallel to and arranged midway between outer edges of said projections enabling said fastener to be reversed and used to fasten either end of said fascia on said associated structure, each of said projections being adapted to have a hooking end portion of a flange comprising said fascia hooked therearouncl, said first and second portions being foldably connected substantially perpendicular to each other along, a rectilinear fold as a single piece construction and further comprising a cutout in at least one of said portions at each end of said rectilinear fold defining a flange which is adapted to have a portion of said fascia hooked therearound.  
  3. A gutter hanger comprising a main body having opposed end portions, a first hook defining one of said opposed end portions with said first hook being adapted to be hooked around an associated support, a second hook defining the other of said opposed end portions, said second hook having a substantially L- shaped configuration including a first leg and a transverse leg which extends substantially perpendicular to the first leg of said L-shaped hook, and an extension extending from said transverse leg and substantially parallel to said first leg, said second hook being adapted to be hooked around a corner part of a gutter with said extension arranged beneath said corner part, said first leg having a retaining shoulder extending therefrom generally toward said extension and said hanger further comprising a detachable locking member which is adapted to be snap-fitted between said shoulder and said extension with an L-shaped portion of said gutter sandwiched between said locking member and L-shaped second hook.  
  4. A hanger as set forth in claim 3 in which said detachable locking member comprises a roughly L- shaped member having an arcuate surface which is adapted to engage a corresponding arcuate surface defining the outside surface of said retaining shoulder.  
  5. A gutter hanger comprising a main body having opposed end portions, a first hook defining one of said opposed end portions with said first book being adapted to be hooked around an associated support, a second hook defining the other of said opposed end portions, said second hook having a substantially L- shaped configuration including a first leg and a transverse leg which extends substantially perpendicular to the first leg of said L-shaped hook, an extension extending from said transverse leg and substantially parallel to said first leg, said second hook being adapted to be hooked around a corner part of a gutter with said extension arranged beneath said corner part, and a brace extending from the central portion of said main body at an acute angle between said main body and brace to define a substantially Y-shaped configuration, said brace being arranged beneath said main body with said hanger fastened in position, said brace having a solid terminal bearing surface which is particularly adapted to engage a wall of said gutter and compress said wall against a structure associated with said gutter.