GB1603819A - Guttering - Google Patents

Description

(54) GUTTERING (71) We, WAVIN B.V., a Dutch corporate body of Handellaan 251, Zwolle, Holland, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to gutter fittings.

The invention provides a gutter fitting comprising a channel for receiving a length of gutter therein, and a resilient sealing pad retained in the channel by aperture means in the sealing pad resiliently deformed over retaining means integral with the channel for making a watertight seal with such a gutter length.

In order that the invention may be well understood, two embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be des.

cribed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gutter support bracket and union; Figure 2 is a plan view of a sealing pad; Figure 3 is an elevation looking on one end of the sealing pad of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end elevation showing a length of gutter assembled to a gutter fitting comprising the support bracket and union of Figure 1 fitted with the sealing pad of Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a section along line V-V of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a section corresponding to that of Figure 5 but through an alternative gutter support bracket and union.

A gutter support bracket and union, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, incorporate a channel 1 of part-circular cross-section along the upper longitudinal edges of which extend inwardly directed nibs 2 each terminating in a downward projection 3 by which narrow retaining slots 4 are provided for receiving the longitudinal edges of a pair of part-circular cross-section synthetic plastics gutter lengths inserted in opposite ends of the channel 1. One such gutter length G is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

A thickened body part 5 joins each nib 2 to the part-circular wall of the channel 1 and defines adjacent and along each longitudinal edge of the channel 1 a narrow longitudinal groove 6 for receiving and retaining the opposite ends of a sealing pad S when laid in the channel, as will appear. The sealing pad S is of a suitable resiliently deformable material.

The channel 1 is fashioned as a central section 7 between two end sections stepped outwardly at 8 of the central section to provide end troughs 9.

The profile of the central channel section 7 approximately corresponds to that of a gutter section G. The sealing pad S is of substantially the same width circumferential length as the channel 1 and is fashioned with a thin central part 10 spanning the width, when stretched, of the central channel section 7 and two thicker end parts 11 depending from the thin central part and dimensioned to seat in the end troughs 9 each compressed against a step 8. Sealing ribs 12 are upstanding from the pad end parts 11.

Means are provided for positively locating the sealing pad S in the channel 1. Such means comprise retaining means integral with the channel 1 and aperture means in the pad S adapted to be resiliently deformed over the retaining means.

As illustrated, the retaining means comprises Tsectioned lugs 13 upstanding from and integral with the base of the central channel section 7 midway between its ends and extending transverse the longitudinal edges of the channel 1 and the aperture means comprises the same number of lengthwise extending slots 14 in the thin central part 10 of the pad S dimensioned so that when the pad is stretched widthwise they can be fitted over the enlarged heads, or crossbars, 15 of the Tsectioned lugs 13 to engage under the crossbars 15 thereof when the pad is allowed to contract, as is shown in Figure 5.

Secure retention of the sealing pad S in the channel 1 is assisted by deforming the upper margins of the pad into the longitudinal grooves 6 along the upper edges of the channel.

Positive retention of the sealing pad S is further assured if each of the channel steps 8 is formed with a groove extending transverse the longitudinal edges of the channel and defining an undercut 8a, as shown in the alternative support bracket and union depicted in Figure 6. The pad is axially dimensioned so that when the thickened end parts 11 are seated in the end troughs 9, its thin central part 10 is in a stretched condition thereby to pull the end parts towards one another and hence deform their edges extending transverse the longitudinal edges of the channel into the undercuts 8a.

Integral with the external periphery of the central channel section 7 is a stiffening web 16 which terminates at the back of the gutter fitting in a vertical flange 17 providing a mounting face for location as against a fascia board of a building. The inside face of the central channel section 7 is recessed at 18 adjacent its upper, back edge to provide a vertical face through which extends an aperture 19 by which the bracket may be screwed to the fascia board with its vertical flange 17 mounted thereagainst.

With the bracket so mounted to a building and having the sealing pad S seated and secured in the channel 1, lengths of gutter G may be assembled into opposite ends of the channel so as to provide a continuous water passage sealed against leakage by the sealing pads S making watertight joints with the outer periphery of the respective gutter sections.

To so assemble a gutter length G into one end of the channel 1, the gutter would be laid into the channel to bear against the respective sealing pad Sand so that one of its longitudinal edges engages in the retaining slot 4 at the back of the bracket.

The bracket is fashioned so as to have a degree of resiliency, and, thereby, by applying hand pressure to the front of the bracket at the front nib 2 the channel can be sprung open to facilitate insertion of the opposite longitudinal edge of the gutter into the retaining slot 4 under that nib.

Upon release of the hand pressure, the channel will spring back and, in so doing, the gutter section will be firmly clamped by the nibs within the channel and pressed against the sealing pad to make a watertight joint therewith and, in particularly, the sealing ribs 12 thereof which will be deformed against the external surface of the gutter.

The sealing pad S of this particular embodiment has a cavity 20 in the base of each of its thickened end parts 11 into which the material of the pad can deform when the pad is subjected to the clamping pressure of the gutter length G.

As will be appreciated, the T-sectioned lugs 13 provide an abutment means separating the plain ends of two gutter lengths G inserted in the opposite ends of the channel 1.

The bracket may be a one-piece moulding of a suitable synthetic plastics material such as unplasticised polyvinylchloride. The sealing pad may be of rubber or arubber-like material such as neoprene.

It will be realized that whilst this embodiment provides a gutter fitting serving both as a union and a support bracket, that the means enabling the fitting to be seucred to a fascia board could be omitted in which event the fitting would constitute a "simple" union. Other forms of gutter fittings capable of embodying the features disclosed herein will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

To summarize, the illustrated gutter fitting comprises a channel for receiving a length of gutter clamped within the channel against a resilient sealing pad therein by nibs at the upper longitudinal edges of the channel and engaging the longitudinal edges of the inserted gutter length, the sealing pad being retained in the channel by having apertures resiliently deformed over retaining means integral with the base of the channel.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A gutter fitting comprising a channel for receiving a length of gutter therein, and a resilient sealing pad retained in the channel hy aperture means in the sealing pad resiliently deformed over retaining means integral with the channel for making a watertight seal with such a gutter length.

2. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 1, further comprising inwardly directed nibs at the upper longitudinal edges of the channel for engaging the longitudinal edges of a gutter length received in the channel in use and clamping the gutter length against the resilient sealing pad.

3. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 2, wherein said nibs are integral with the channel.

4. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said nibs terminate in projections so as to form slots for receiving the longitudinal edges of the gutter length.

5. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said retaining means comprises a lug upstanding from and integral with the base of the channel transverse the longitudinal edges of the channel and having an enlarged head portion over which said aperture means is resiliently deformed.

6. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing pad is deformed into and retained by longitudinal grooves in the channel adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof.

7. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an edge of the sealing pad extending transverse the longitudinal edges of the channel is deformed into and retained by a transverse groove in the channel.

8. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 7, wherein said transverse groove is formed as an undercut in the channel.

9. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said channel comprises a central section located between two stepped end sections providing end troughs, and wherein said sealing pad has a central part stretched across said central section and two end parts, which are thicker than said central part, seated in said end troughs for making watertight seals with respective gutter lengths, said aperture means being provided in said central part of the sealing pad and said retaining means being integrally formed with said central section of the channel.

10. A gutter fitting substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 1 to 5 and modified as shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. which terminates at the back of the gutter fitting in a vertical flange 17 providing a mounting face for location as against a fascia board of a building. The inside face of the central channel section 7 is recessed at 18 adjacent its upper, back edge to provide a vertical face through which extends an aperture 19 by which the bracket may be screwed to the fascia board with its vertical flange 17 mounted thereagainst. With the bracket so mounted to a building and having the sealing pad S seated and secured in the channel 1, lengths of gutter G may be assembled into opposite ends of the channel so as to provide a continuous water passage sealed against leakage by the sealing pads S making watertight joints with the outer periphery of the respective gutter sections. To so assemble a gutter length G into one end of the channel 1, the gutter would be laid into the channel to bear against the respective sealing pad Sand so that one of its longitudinal edges engages in the retaining slot 4 at the back of the bracket. The bracket is fashioned so as to have a degree of resiliency, and, thereby, by applying hand pressure to the front of the bracket at the front nib 2 the channel can be sprung open to facilitate insertion of the opposite longitudinal edge of the gutter into the retaining slot 4 under that nib. Upon release of the hand pressure, the channel will spring back and, in so doing, the gutter section will be firmly clamped by the nibs within the channel and pressed against the sealing pad to make a watertight joint therewith and, in particularly, the sealing ribs 12 thereof which will be deformed against the external surface of the gutter. The sealing pad S of this particular embodiment has a cavity 20 in the base of each of its thickened end parts 11 into which the material of the pad can deform when the pad is subjected to the clamping pressure of the gutter length G. As will be appreciated, the T-sectioned lugs 13 provide an abutment means separating the plain ends of two gutter lengths G inserted in the opposite ends of the channel 1. The bracket may be a one-piece moulding of a suitable synthetic plastics material such as unplasticised polyvinylchloride. The sealing pad may be of rubber or arubber-like material such as neoprene. It will be realized that whilst this embodiment provides a gutter fitting serving both as a union and a support bracket, that the means enabling the fitting to be seucred to a fascia board could be omitted in which event the fitting would constitute a "simple" union. Other forms of gutter fittings capable of embodying the features disclosed herein will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To summarize, the illustrated gutter fitting comprises a channel for receiving a length of gutter clamped within the channel against a resilient sealing pad therein by nibs at the upper longitudinal edges of the channel and engaging the longitudinal edges of the inserted gutter length, the sealing pad being retained in the channel by having apertures resiliently deformed over retaining means integral with the base of the channel. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A gutter fitting comprising a channel for receiving a length of gutter therein, and a resilient sealing pad retained in the channel hy aperture means in the sealing pad resiliently deformed over retaining means integral with the channel for making a watertight seal with such a gutter length.

2. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 1, further comprising inwardly directed nibs at the upper longitudinal edges of the channel for engaging the longitudinal edges of a gutter length received in the channel in use and clamping the gutter length against the resilient sealing pad.

3. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 2, wherein said nibs are integral with the channel.

4. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said nibs terminate in projections so as to form slots for receiving the longitudinal edges of the gutter length.

5. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said retaining means comprises a lug upstanding from and integral with the base of the channel transverse the longitudinal edges of the channel and having an enlarged head portion over which said aperture means is resiliently deformed.

6. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing pad is deformed into and retained by longitudinal grooves in the channel adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof.

7. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an edge of the sealing pad extending transverse the longitudinal edges of the channel is deformed into and retained by a transverse groove in the channel.

8. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 7, wherein said transverse groove is formed as an undercut in the channel.

9. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said channel comprises a central section located between two stepped end sections providing end troughs, and wherein said sealing pad has a central part stretched across said central section and two end parts, which are thicker than said central part, seated in said end troughs for making watertight seals with respective gutter lengths, said aperture means being provided in said central part of the sealing pad and said retaining means being integrally formed with said central section of the channel.

10. A gutter fitting substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 1 to 5 and modified as shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.