AU2021202891B2

AU2021202891B2 - Gutter, Gutter Assembly and System

Info

Publication number: AU2021202891B2
Application number: AU2021202891A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Graham Germon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-01-15
Filing date: 2021-05-06
Publication date: 2022-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-11
Also published as: AU2021202891A1; AU2016200161A1; AU2016102464A4

Abstract

A gutter (12) for locating a fluid supply conduit (14) in a received condition, the gutter (12) having a base (12), and front and rear sides (22, 25) extending from the base (14) so as to define a channel therebetween. The front side (22) includes a receiving portion (23) adapted to at least partially receive the conduit (14) such that the conduit (14) is locatable lengthwise along the front side (22) in the received condition, a front supporting portion (26) arranged to elevate the receiving portion (23) relative to the base (23) and a top projecting portion (33) extending from the receiving portion (23) toward the rear side(25), the top projecting portion (33) being arranged to support a gutter barrier (51) in a fitted condition. The receiving portion (23) includes a mouth (28) located below the top projecting portion (33) and oriented toward the rear side (28) through which the conduit (14) is accessible and at least one aperture (48) located on an externally facing side (41) of the receiving portion (23) oriented away from the rear side (25) so as to allow a spray device (16) to be fluidly coupled with the conduit (14) in the received condition. A gutter assembly including the gutter, conduit and spray device is also disclose along with a fire suppressant system and associated method of use. 1 /6 10 12 18| 16 16( 18 14 Fig. 1 14 10 25 12 15 18 23 22 24 20 Fig. 2

Description

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Gutter, Gutter Assembly and System Technical Field

[001] The invention relates to a gutter, a gutter assembly and gutter system. In particular, the invention relates to a gutter, gutter assembly and gutter system for delivering water for fire protection.

Background

[002] Fire sprinkler systems may be provided on the rooves of houses or other structures to assist with wetting the roof or other external surfaces of the house for inhibiting fire such as those caused by bushfires.

[003] Once such fire sprinkler system includes providing one or more pipes having sprinklers located above and inwardly of the gutters of the house or along the ridgeline of the house.

[004] A problem with these fire sprinkler systems is that they are not aesthetically pleasing and that these sprinkler systems are not generally integrated with the building of the house and therefore may be overlooked.

[005] AU2005282199 discloses a gutter manifold clip for a pre-existing gutter. The clip may be arranged at intervals along the gutter to hold a pipe for delivering a fluid. The gutter manifold clip includes a relatively thin body having a saddle to hold the pipe and a thin tail that extends over the pipe to assist to retain the pipe.

[006] A problem with this gutter manifold clip is that the discrete clips may be not aesthetically pleasing and that these clips are generally not integrated with the building of the house and therefore may be overlooked. A further problem is that these gutter manifold clips may not protect the pipe and provide sufficient structural integrity for supporting pressurised sprinkler systems.

[007] The invention disclosed herein seeks to overcome one or more of the above identified problems or at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary

[008] In accordance with a first main aspect there is provided, a gutter for locating a fluid supply conduit in a received condition, the gutter having a base, and front and rear sides extending from the base so as to define a channel therebetween, wherein the front side includes a receiving portion adapted to at least partially receive the conduit such that the conduit is locatable lengthwise along the front side in the received condition, a front supporting portion arranged to elevate the receiving portion relative to the base and a top projecting portion extending from the receiving portion toward the rear side, the top projecting portion being arranged to support a gutter barrier in a fitted condition, and wherein the receiving portion includes a mouth located below the top projecting portion and oriented toward the rear side through which the conduit is accessible and at least one aperture located on an externally facing side of the receiving portion oriented away from the rear side so as to allow a spray device to be fluidly coupled with the conduit in the received condition.

[009] In an aspect, the receiving portion includes a rounded wall section extending from the front supporting portion at least partially around the conduit in the received condition to the top projecting portion, and wherein the top projecting portion includes a straight section extending from the rounded wall section toward the rear side.

[0010] In another aspect, the straight section of the top projecting portion is substantially parallel to the base.

[0011] In yet another aspect, wherein an upper angled junction between the rounded wall section of the receiving portion and the straight section of the top projecting portion defines a step against which the gutter barrier is abutted in the fitted condition.

[0012] In yet another aspect, the rear side includes a top and wherein the gutter barrier extends between the step and the top of the rear side in the fitted condition.

[0013] In yet another aspect, the front supporting portion includes a substantially straight front wall section, and wherein the rounded wall section of the receiving portion extends from the front wall section so as to define a lower angled junction, the lower angled junction being relatively below and spaced apart from the upper angled junction so as to define a width of the mouth.

[0014] In yet another aspect, the aperture is located on an opposing side of the receiving portion relative to the mouth.

[0015] In yet another aspect, the mouth is narrower than the conduit so as to retain the conduit therein.

[0016] In yet another aspect, the top projecting portion is provided in the form of a tab projecting toward the rear side and extending lengthwise along the gutter.

[0017] In yet another aspect, the tab is located immediately above the mouth.

[0018] In yet another aspect, the gutter is formed of a resilient material such that the mouth is openable to allow passage of the conduit.

[0019] In yet another aspect, the receiving portion is arranged to substantially conceal the conduit from external view.

[0020] In yet another aspect, the gutter is formed from a single sheet of material that is at least one of pressed and folded to shape.

[0021] In yet another aspect, the receiving portion includes a plurality of apertures located on the externally facing side of the receiving portion oriented away from the rear side, the plurality of apertures being spaced apart in a lengthwise direction along the gutter and being arranged so as to allow the spray device to be fluidly coupled with the conduit in the received condition.

[0022] In accordance with a second main aspect there is provided, a gutter assembly including a gutter according to any one of the previous claims, a conduit extending lengthwise along the receiving portion of the gutter and a spray device fluidly coupled between a spray aperture of the conduit and the at least one aperture of the receiving portion.

[0023] In another aspect, the spray device is a jet configured to provide a spray of fluid externally of the receiving portion in a direction away from the gutter.

[0024] In yet another aspect, the gutter assembly further includes a connecting part arranged to allow coupling of a second fluid supply conduit with the fluid supply conduit via the mouth.

[0025] In yet another aspect, the connecting part including a first section and a second section extending from the first section, the first section being arranged to be received by the receiving portion and communicate one or more adjacent fluid supply conduits, and the second section being arranged to extend through the mouth so as to couple with the second fluid supply.

[0026] In accordance with a third main aspect there is provided a system for supressing a fire including one or more gutter assemblies as defined above.

[0027] In an aspect, the system further includes a conduit support assembly including a bracket portion for attachment to an external structure and a conduit locating portion supported by the bracket portion, the conduit locating portion being arranged to receive and locate the conduit or a further conduit in a received condition.

[0028] In another aspect, the conduit support assembly includes a spray device fluidly coupled to a spray aperture of the conduit or the further conduit via an aperture of the conduit locating portion.

[0029] In yet another aspect, the external structure is at least one of an eave of a house and an external fascia board.

[0030] In yet another aspect, the bracket portion includes a straight section and wherein the conduit locating portion includes a rounded wall section arranged to extend from the bracket portion substantially around the conduit in the received condition.

[0031] In yet another aspect, the aperture of the conduit locating portion is located on a side of the locating portion proximate and below the bracket portion.

[0032] In yet another aspect, the bracket portion and conduit locating portion are formed from a single piece of material being at least one of rolled or pressed to shape.

Brief Description of the Figures

[0033] The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying figures, in which;

[0034] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a section of a gutter assembly including a gutter profile supporting a conduit and jets extending between the conduit and the gutter profile;

[0035] Figure 2 is an exploded parts perspective view illustrating the gutter assembly;

[0036] Figure 3 is part front view illustrating the gutter assembly;

[0037] Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the gutter assembly along section A-A as shown in Figure 3;

[0038] Figure 5 is a part bottom view illustrating the gutter assembly;

[0039] Figure 6 is an end view illustrating the gutter assembly;

[0040] Figure 7 is a perspective backside view illustrating a section of a conduit support assembly including conduit support profile supporting a conduit and jets extending between the pipe and the conduit support profile;

[0041] Figure 8 is a perspective front side view illustrating a section of a conduit support assembly;

[0042] Figure 9 is an exploded parts perspective view illustrating the conduit support assembly;

[0043] Figure 10 is part front view illustrating the conduit assembly;

[0044] Figure 11 is an end view illustrating the conduit assembly;

[0045] Figure 12 is a sectional view illustrating the conduit support assembly along section B-B as shown in Figure 10;

[0046] Figure 13a is a perspective view illustrating a T-piece connector part being fitted to a receiving portion of the gutter;

[0047] Figure 13b is a side section view illustrating the T-piece connector part fitted to the gutter; and

[0048] Figure 14 is a perspective view illustrating a building structure in the form of a house being fitted with a sprinkler system including the gutter assembly and the conduit support assembly.

Detailed Description

[0049] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a gutter assembly 10 including a gutter or gutter profile 12 and conduit 14 and one or more spaced spray devices 16 provided in this example in the form of jets 18 fluidly coupled to the conduit 14.

[0050] The gutter profile 12 includes a gutter body 15 being generally channel shaped having a base or bottom 20 and front and rear sides or side walls 22, 25 that extend upwardly from opposing sides of the base 20. The front side 22 is adapted to support the conduit 14 and the rear side 25 may be arranged to be attachable with a building or roof structure to support the gutter assembly 10 extending laterally along the building structure.

[0051] Referring additionally to Figures 3 to 6, the front side 22 includes a conduit receiving portion 23 having a recess or saddle 24 into which the conduit 14 is received such that the conduit 14 is supported in a lengthwise orientation along the gutter profile 12. The conduit receiving portion 23 includes a mouth 28 leading to the recess 24. It is noted that the shape of the recess 24 may be varied to suit a pipe of non-circular cross section.

[0052] The mouth 28 is oriented toward the rear side 25 through which the conduit 14 is accessible and may be resiliently receivable. The conduit receiving portion 23 further includes at least one aperture 48 located on an externally facing side 41 of the receiving portion 23 oriented away from the rear side 25 so as to allow the spray device 16, preferably in the form of the jet 18, to be fluidly coupled with the conduit 14 in the received condition, as shown best in Figure 4.

[0053] In this example, the conduit receiving portion 23 is elevated relative to the base 20 by a front supporting portion 26 of the front side 22, which extends between the base 20 and a lower one of opposing sides 29 of the mouth 28 of the recess 24. The front supporting portion 26 includes a straight wall section 31 arranged generally perpendicular to and extending from the base 20.

[0054] The conduit receiving portion 23 is generally circular in shape and includes a rounded wall section 30 that defines the recess 24 in which the conduit 12 is received. The rounded wall section 30 extends around the conduit 14 and terminates at a top projecting portion 33. The top projecting portion 33 extends from the receiving portion 23 toward the rear side 25 and is arranged to support a gutter barrier or part 51 in a fitted condition, as shown in Figure 4. The mouth 28 is located immediately below the top projecting portion 33. The top projecting portion 33 includes a straight section 37 that extends substantially parallel to the base 20 and toward the rear side 25.

[0055] More specifically, in this example, the rounded wall section 30 extends from a lower fold or angled junction 47, at the lower one of the opposite sides 29 of the mouth 28, around the recess 24, to an upper fold or angled junction 59, that provides an upper one of opposing sides 29 of the mouth 28, between the rounded wall section and the straight section 37 of the top projecting portion 33. The upper angled junction 59 between the rounded wall section 30 of the receiving portion 23 and the straight section 37 of the top projecting portion defines a nook or step 43 against which the gutter barrier is abutted in the fitted condition.

[0056] In this example, the top projecting portion 33 is preferably provided in the form of a tab or ledge 32 that extends substantially parallel to the base 20 and toward the rear side 25. The tab or ledge 32 may extend lengthwise along the gutter profile 12. The tab or ledge 32 advantageously functions to support the gutter barrier 51, which may be mesh or the like, for guarding the gutter 12 may be supported. The tab 32 also advantageously functions as a roof to protect the conduit from light, to inhibit UV damage, and hot embers or heat in the event of a fire.

[0057] The width of the mouth 28, between its opposing sides 29, may be less than the diameter of the conduit 14 so as to assist with retaining the conduit 14 within the recess 24. The gutter profile 12 may be preferably formed from a metal material that allows the mouth 28 to be widened thereby allowing resilient insertion and removal of the conduit 14. The tab 32 may be used as a handle to assist with opening the mouth 28. It is noted that the conduit 14 may initially be fed lengthwise along the recess 24 during installation and the mouth 28 of the recess 24 may simply be used for maintenance access or the like.

[0058] As may be best appreciated from, for example Figure 4, in a fitted condition in which the conduit 14 is received and fitted within the recess 24, the conduit 14 is located generally within and substantially concealed by the the body 15 of the gutter profile 12. Accordingly, the conduit 14 is generally not viewable from outside the gutter profile 12 and the conduit 14 is protected by the preferably metal material of the body 15 ofthe gutterprofile 12.

[0059] The jets 18 may be provided in the form a sprinkler jets 38 having a threaded stem 40, a spray head 42 and an annular retaining flange 44 located between the stem and the spray head 42. The jets 18 may be arranged to provide a vertical spray, lateral spray or define a circular spray along side walls or surfaces of the house. Different jets 18 may be configured to project spray at various heights or distances depending on the wall height or height of the gutter 12.

[0060] The external facing side 41 of the recess 24 preferably includes a plurality of spaced apart aperture 48 into which the threaded stems 40 of respective jets 18 are received and retained. The threaded stem 40 is then coupled in fluid communication with the conduit 14. The threaded stem 40 may include a tip 49 arranged to pierce the walls of the conduit 14 in examples where the conduit is a plastic pipe, such as polyurethane pipe, or the like. The spray head 42 may be configured to deliver a spray of fluid, preferably water, outwardly of the gutter profile 12. In other examples, the conduit 14 may include pre-formed apertures 50 that may be aligned with the apertures 48 of the conduit-receiving portion 23.

[0061] The gutter profile 12 may be formed or pressed from an elongate sheet of metal such as steel, for example Colourbond T M or aluminium or the like. In this example, the width, between the sides 22, 25 of the gutter profile 12 may be about 120 mm and the overall height may be between about 65 to 70 mm. The width of the mouth 28 may be about 13mm and the conduit 14 may be 25mm ID polyethylene pipe. The jets 18 and corresponding apertures 48 may be spaced along the gutter profile 12 at intervals of about 1 meter. Other dimensions may also be used.

[0062] Referring now to Figures 7 to 12, there is provided a conduit support assembly including conduit support profile 81 having a straight bracket portion 82 for attachment to an external structure (such as a building or house, or more specially the eaves of the house and/or an external fascia board), a conduit locating portion 84 arranged to receive and locate the conduit 14 extending from the gutter assembly 10 or a further separate conduit. The conduit support assembly 80 may be used in combination with the gutter assembly 10 to assist with fitting and protecting the conduit 14 along parts of the building or house that do not necessary include or require a gutter. For example, as shown best in Figure 13, the conduit support assembly 80 may be used to support the conduit 14 along the facia of the house.

[0063] The conduit-locating portion 84 includes a rounded wall 90 rolled over and terminating at a free end 92 to define a circular recess 88 into which the conduit 14 is received. The conduit-locating portion 84 includes an aperture 94 through which a spray device 16 in the form of a jet 18 is fluidly coupled with the conduit 14. The spray device 16 may be the same as the spray device of the first example, and is therefore not again described here. The conduit-locating portion 84 substantially conceals and protects the conduit 14. The aperture 94 of the conduit locating portion is located on a side of the locating portion 64 proximate to and below the bracket portion 82.

[0064] In use, the bracket portion 82 is coupled to, for example, the facia of a building with the conduit 14 located directly below the straight bracket portion 82. The conduit profile 81 may be formed or pressed from an elongate sheet of metal such as steel, for example Colourbond T M or aluminium or the like.

[0065] Referring now to Figure 13a and 13b, the gutter assembly 10, or system 102 as discussed below with reference to Figure 14, may further include a conduit connecting part 60 arranged to allow fluid coupling or communication of a second fluid supply conduit 14b with the fluid supply conduit 14 via the mouth 28. In this example, connecting part 60 is a T-piece connector 62 having a first section 64 and a second section 66 extending perpendicularly and intermediate the first section 64. The first section 64 is arranged to be received lengthwise by the receiving portion 23 and couple adjacent fluid supply conduits 14, and the second section 66 is arranged to extend through the mouth 28 so as to couple with the second fluid supply 14b. The second section 66 may be flared toward the first section 64 to distribute the flow evenly to minimise losses to the first section 64. The connecting part 60 may also be used or provided as an end piece and/or to direct flow from the conduit 14 located at one section of the roof to another section of the roof, or the like.

[0066] In use, referring to Figure 14, there is shown a building 100, in this example a house, fitted with a sprinkler system or fire suppressant system 102 including the gutter assembly 10 and the conduit support assembly 80. The sprinkler system 102 may comprise the gutters of the house in the form of one or more of the gutter assembly 10 and the conduit support assembly 80 may be coupled to the facia boards of the house. The conduit 14 may be connected to a pressurised water supply and the jets 18 arranged to deliver a spray, preferably an atomised spray in a vertical and lateral direction of the jets 18, so as to form a water curtain at least partially around the house. The water curtain assist to wet the house as well as form a barrier to passing embers or flames to assist to prohibit fire. A method of fire protection or fitting a sprinkler system 102 to a building is also contemplated using the gutter assembly 10 and the conduit support assembly 10 so as to provide a fire protection curtain, including a fluid mist, around a building such as a house.

[0067] Advantageously, there has been provided a gutter profile that allows the supporting, concealing and protection of a conduit. The gutter profile is formed as a folded or pressed section having an integrally formed conduit retainer for locating and supporting the conduit. The gutter profile have pre-formed apertures to fit with spray devices to deliver water from the conduit to the environment externally of the gutter profile. The gutter profile may be formed or constructed as an assembly having a conduit and the spray jets fitted with the gutter profile. Most advantageously, the gutter profile allows for the visual concealing and protection of the conduit.

[0068] A conduit support profile may also be provided that may be arranged as a conduit support assembly including a conduit and spray device. The conduit support assembly also advantageously supports and conceals the conduit. The conduit support assembly may be used in combination with the gutter assembly to provide a fire sprinkler system for fitting with a building such as a house. The gutter assembly may be fitted to provide the gutters and the conduit support assembly may be used at the ends of the gutters to continue and support the conduit or support and conceal the conduit along other parts of the building such as facia, balconies, decks or along the underside of houses or the like.

[0069] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, terms used in relation to specific orientations such as, "top", "bottom", "front" and "rear", are to be interpreted with respect to the gutter profile, and related components, being in a usual or normal in use orientation.

[0070] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0071] The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.

[0072] While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

[0073] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

Claims

The claims defining the Invention are as follows:

1. A gutter for locating a fluid supply conduit in a received condition, the gutter having a base, and front and rear sides extending from the base so as to define a channel therebetween, wherein the front side includes a receiving portion adapted to substantially receive the conduit such that the conduit is locatable lengthwise along the front side in the received condition, a front supporting portion arranged to elevate the receiving portion relative to the base and a top projecting portion extending from the receiving portion toward the rear side, the top projecting portion being arranged to support a gutter barrier in a fitted condition, and wherein the receiving portion includes a mouth located below the top projecting portion and oriented toward the rear side through which the conduit is resiliently fittable and removable, and at least one aperture located on an externally facing side of the receiving portion oriented away from the rear side so as to allow a spray device to be fluidly coupled with the conduit in the received condition.

2. The gutter according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion includes a rounded wall section extending from the front supporting portion at least partially around the conduit in the received condition to the top projecting portion, and wherein the top projecting portion includes a straight section extending from the rounded wall section toward the rear side.

3. The gutter according to claim 2, wherein the straight section of the top projecting portion is substantially parallel to the base.

4. The gutter according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein an upper angled junction between the rounded wall section of the receiving portion and the straight section of the top projecting portion defines a step against which the gutter barrier is abutted in the fitted condition.

5. The gutter according to claim 4, wherein the rear side includes a top and wherein the gutter barrier extends between the step and the top of the rear side in the fitted condition.

6. The gutter according to claim 4, wherein the front supporting portion includes a substantially straight front wall section, and wherein the rounded wall section of the receiving portion extends from the front wall section so as to define a lower angled junction, the lower angled junction being relatively below and spaced apart from the upper angled junction so as to define a width of the mouth.

7. The gutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the aperture is located on an opposing side of the receiving portion relative to the mouth.

8. The gutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the mouth is narrower than the conduit so as to retain the conduit therein.

9. The gutter according to any one of the pervious claims, wherein the upper projecting portion is provided in the form of a tab projecting toward the rear side and extending lengthwise along the gutter.

10. The gutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the tab is located immediately above the mouth.

11. The gutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the gutter is formed of a resilient material such that the mouth is openable to allow passage of the conduit.

12. The gutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the receiving portion is arranged to substantially conceal the conduit from external view.

13. The gutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the gutter is formed from a single sheet of material that is at least one of pressed and folded to shape.

14. The gutter according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the receiving portion includes a plurality of apertures located on the externally facing side of the receiving portion oriented away from the rear side, the plurality of apertures being spaced apart in a lengthwise direction along the gutter and being arranged so as to allow the spray device to be fluidly coupled with the conduit in the received condition.

15. A gutter assembly including a gutter according to any one of the previous claims, a conduit extending lengthwise along the receiving portion of the gutter and a spray device fluidly coupled between a spray aperture of the conduit and the at least one aperture of the receiving portion.

16. The gutter assembly according to claim 15, wherein the spray device is a jet configured to provide a spray of fluid externally of the receiving portion in a direction away from the gutter.

17. The gutter assembly according to claim 15, further including a connecting part arranged to allow coupling of a second fluid supply conduit with the fluid supply conduit via the mouth.

18. The gutter assembly according to claim 17, wherein the connecting part including a first section and a second section extending from the first section, the first section being arranged to be received by the receiving portion and communicate one or more adjacent fluid supply conduits, and the second section being arranged to extend through the mouth so as to couple with the second fluid supply.

19. A system for suppressing a fire including one or more gutter assemblies as defined in any one of claim 15 to 18.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the system further includes a conduit support assembly including a bracket portion for attachment to an external structure and a conduit locating portion supported by the bracket portion, the conduit locating portion being arranged to receive and locate the conduit or a further conduit in a received condition.

21. The fire suppressant system according to claim 20, wherein the conduit support assembly includes a spray device fluidly coupled to a spray aperture of the conduit or the further conduit via an aperture of the conduit locating portion.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the external structure is at least one of an eave of a house and an external fascia board.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein the bracket portion includes a straight section and wherein the conduit locating portion includes a rounded wall section arranged to extend from the bracket portion substantially around the conduit in the received condition.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the aperture of the conduit locating portion is located on a side of the locating portion proximate and below the bracket portion.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the bracket portion and conduit locating portion are formed from a single piece of material being at least one of rolled or pressed to shape.

2016200161 0611May Jan 2021