GB1603870A - 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 state ment :- This invention relates to gutter fittings.

The invention, which is applicable to a wide variety of gutter fittings including gutter support brackets, unions, stop ends and downpipe connectors, provides a gutter fitting comprising a channel for receiving a length of gutter, a seal in said channel, and retaining clips snap fittable to the opposite longitudinal edges of the channel for overlying the longitudinal edges of a gutter length received in the channel in use and clamping such a gutter length within the channel in watertight sealing engagement with the seal.

In order that the invention may be well understood, one embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a gutter fitting snowing one gutter retalning clip removed and a length of gutter ready for insertion in the fitting; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same gutter fitting but with both gutter retaining clips in position and with the seal removed; Figure 3 is a scrap pictorial view illustrating one gutter retaining clip and the cooperating body shape of the fitting, and Figure 4 is a section along line IV-IV of Figure 2 but with one gutter retaining clip removed and with the seal in position.

The illustrated gutter fitting includes a channel 1 of part-circular cross-section to receive a plain-ended length of synthetic plastics gutter G which is also of partcircular cross-section. The opposite longitudinal edges of the channel 1 are fashioned to be fitted with gutter retaining clips 2 which serve to engage the longitudinal edges E of a gutter section G inserted into the channel 1 to clamp the gutter length therein in sealing contact with a seal 3 housed in the channel.

Both the channel 1 and the retaining clips 2 are one-piece mouldings of a synthetic plastics material having a degree of resiliency, such as unplasticised polyvinylchloride. The seal 3 is of a rubber or a rubber-like material such as neoprene.

Near to one end of the channel 1 is moulded a circumferentially extending groove 4 in which seats the seal 3 with sealing ribs 5 thereof standing proud of the internal face of the channel so as to be deformed by the gutter section G when clamped in the channel and makes a watertight joint therewith. The seal 3 is wider than the groove 4 so that it will be a compressed fit therein. That is the seal will be compressed when located in the groove and so bind against the walls of the groove thereby to hold itself firmly in position.

Along each of the upper, longitudinal edges of the channel 1, on each side of the groove 4 which interrupts those wedges, are provided outwardly proJecting ribs 6 having a bevelled face 7 to facilitate attachment of a gutter retaining clip 2 as will appear.

Moreover, the opposite side walls 8 of the groove 4 are terminated at 9 a short distance below each longitudinal edge of the channel 1. The base wall 10 of the groove 4 is, though, continued to the top of echannel.

Each retaining di 2 is fashioned with a longitudinal nib 11 from the inner edge of which depends a lip 12. When the retaining clips 2 are attached to the channel 1, the nibs 11 will overlie the upper, longitudinal edges E of the inserted gutter length G and press the gutter section firmly against the internal face of the channel 1 and hence the seal 3. The gutter G is prevented from springing past the nibs 11 by the downwardly projecting lips 12 thereon.

To enable the retaining clips 2 to be attached to the longitudinal edges of the channel 1, each has a pair of vertical flanges 13 depending from the outer edge of its nib 11 and each terminating in a bevelled bead 14. The flanges 13 are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the spacing between the channel ribs 6 and the length of each flange is similar to the length of each such rib. The gap between the flanges 13 is backed by a lug 15 dimensioned to abut the inner circumferential face 16 of the groove base wall 10 above the terminated regions 9 of the side walls 8 of the groove 4 when the retaining clip 2 is fitted to the channel 1.

The lug 15 defines with the adjacent edge faces 17 and 18 of the flanges 13 and rib 11, respectively, a recess 19 sized to receive the uppermost region 20 of the groove base wall 10 above the side wall terminations 9.

To fit a retaining clip 2 to a longitudinal edge of the channel 1, the clip is located so that its recess 19 registers with said uppermost region 20 of the groove base wall 10 and so that its lug 1 5 registers with the gap 21 between the channel ribs 6. At that time, the beads 14 will register with the spaced channel ribs 6. Downward pressure then applied to the retaining clip 2 will cause the bevelled beads 14 to ride on the bevelled faces 7 of the ribs 6, and the clip flanges 13 will spring open until the beads clear the ribs whereupon they will spring back to snap the beads under the ribs so that the ribs are received with recesses 22 defined between the beads and the nibs 11. At the same time, the clip lug 15 will slide into the gap 21 with the clip recess 19 receiving the groove base wall region 20.Thereby, the retaining clip 2 is firmly retained to the channel 1 by, on the one hand, the snap fit made by the clip beads 14 with the channel ribs 6, and, on the other hand by the abutment of the lug 15 with the inner circumferential face 16 of the channel wall portion 20.

To assemble a gutter length G into one end of the channel 1 already fitted with its seal 3, one retaining clip 2 could be fitted to the channel in the manner just described, the gutter could then be laid into the channel with one of the longitudinal edges E of the gutter received under the nib 11 and behind the lip 12 of that clip, and the second retaining clip 2 could then be snap fitted in the same manner to the opposite longitudinal edge E of the channel so that its nib 11 overlies the opposite longitudinal edge of the gutter and the associated lip 12 lies inside the gutter length, at which time the nibs 11 of the two retaining clips 2 would clamp the gutter into the channel 1 and into a watertight joint with the seal 3.

The gutter fitting could have its opposite end fashioned similarly in which case it would serve as a union connection two gut ter lengths together. The fitting could also be provided with means by which to be mounted to the fascia of a buliding by which to serve as a support bracket. Yet again, the fitting could be formed as a stop end and as a downpipe connector, for example.

To summarise, the illustrated gutter fitting comprises a channel in which is provided a seal and to the opposite longitudinal edges of which are snap fitted retaining clips having nibs for overlying the longitudinal edges of a length of gutter when inserted in the channel so as to clamp the gutter within the channel in a water-tight sealing engagement with the seal.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A gutter fitting comprising a channel for receiving a length of gutter, a seal in said channel, and retaining clips snap fittable to the opposite longitudinal edges of the channel for overlying the longitudinal edges of a gutter length received in the channel in use and clamping such a gutter length within the channel in watertight sealing engagement with the seal.

2. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the each retaining clip is provided with flange means which are snap fittable over outwardly projecting rib means on the channel and lug means engageable with an inner face of the channel.

3. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flange means comprise two flanges having said lug means therebetween.

4. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lug means is engageable in a groove of said channel, in which groove said seal is located.

5. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lug and flange means define a recess in each clip for receiving a base portion of said groove.

6. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the seal is a compressed fit in the groove.

7. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clips are provided with nibs which extend inwardly of said channel when the clips are fitted thereto for engaging the longitudinal edges of a gutter length received in the channel in use.

8. A gutter fitting substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. each flange is similar to the length of each such rib. The gap between the flanges 13 is backed by a lug 15 dimensioned to abut the inner circumferential face 16 of the groove base wall 10 above the terminated regions 9 of the side walls 8 of the groove 4 when the retaining clip 2 is fitted to the channel 1. The lug 15 defines with the adjacent edge faces 17 and 18 of the flanges 13 and rib 11, respectively, a recess 19 sized to receive the uppermost region 20 of the groove base wall 10 above the side wall terminations 9. To fit a retaining clip 2 to a longitudinal edge of the channel 1, the clip is located so that its recess 19 registers with said uppermost region 20 of the groove base wall 10 and so that its lug 1 5 registers with the gap 21 between the channel ribs 6. At that time, the beads 14 will register with the spaced channel ribs 6. Downward pressure then applied to the retaining clip 2 will cause the bevelled beads 14 to ride on the bevelled faces 7 of the ribs 6, and the clip flanges 13 will spring open until the beads clear the ribs whereupon they will spring back to snap the beads under the ribs so that the ribs are received with recesses 22 defined between the beads and the nibs 11. At the same time, the clip lug 15 will slide into the gap 21 with the clip recess 19 receiving the groove base wall region 20.Thereby, the retaining clip 2 is firmly retained to the channel 1 by, on the one hand, the snap fit made by the clip beads 14 with the channel ribs 6, and, on the other hand by the abutment of the lug 15 with the inner circumferential face 16 of the channel wall portion 20. To assemble a gutter length G into one end of the channel 1 already fitted with its seal 3, one retaining clip 2 could be fitted to the channel in the manner just described, the gutter could then be laid into the channel with one of the longitudinal edges E of the gutter received under the nib 11 and behind the lip 12 of that clip, and the second retaining clip 2 could then be snap fitted in the same manner to the opposite longitudinal edge E of the channel so that its nib 11 overlies the opposite longitudinal edge of the gutter and the associated lip 12 lies inside the gutter length, at which time the nibs 11 of the two retaining clips 2 would clamp the gutter into the channel 1 and into a watertight joint with the seal 3. The gutter fitting could have its opposite end fashioned similarly in which case it would serve as a union connection two gut ter lengths together. The fitting could also be provided with means by which to be mounted to the fascia of a buliding by which to serve as a support bracket. Yet again, the fitting could be formed as a stop end and as a downpipe connector, for example. To summarise, the illustrated gutter fitting comprises a channel in which is provided a seal and to the opposite longitudinal edges of which are snap fitted retaining clips having nibs for overlying the longitudinal edges of a length of gutter when inserted in the channel so as to clamp the gutter within the channel in a water-tight sealing engagement with the seal. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A gutter fitting comprising a channel for receiving a length of gutter, a seal in said channel, and retaining clips snap fittable to the opposite longitudinal edges of the channel for overlying the longitudinal edges of a gutter length received in the channel in use and clamping such a gutter length within the channel in watertight sealing engagement with the seal.

2. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the each retaining clip is provided with flange means which are snap fittable over outwardly projecting rib means on the channel and lug means engageable with an inner face of the channel.

3. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flange means comprise two flanges having said lug means therebetween.

4. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lug means is engageable in a groove of said channel, in which groove said seal is located.

5. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lug and flange means define a recess in each clip for receiving a base portion of said groove.

6. A gutter fitting as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the seal is a compressed fit in the groove.

7. A gutter fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clips are provided with nibs which extend inwardly of said channel when the clips are fitted thereto for engaging the longitudinal edges of a gutter length received in the channel in use.

8. A gutter fitting substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.