GB2547199B

GB2547199B - An eaves trough hanger device

Info

Publication number: GB2547199B
Application number: GB1602298.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Stephen Rashleigh Joshua
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-02-09
Filing date: 2016-02-09
Publication date: 2019-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-09
Also published as: GB2547199A; GB201602298D0

Description

AN EAVES TROUGH HANGER DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an eaves trough hanger device, in particular a device for hanging troughs or gutters at eaves of a building, or onto the fascia boards at eaves.

Background

Increasing rainfall in many societies leads to a greater awareness of and pursuit of effectiveness in guttering on buildings to catch rainfall water at the eaves of a building from the roof or elsewhere.

Guttering generally comprises elongate troughs of semicircular or angular sectional construction, hung in clips fixed to the eaves or onto fascia boards at the eaves.

The guttering needs to be at an incline to cope with particular requirements for the particular eaves, comprising a means to utilise gravity to drain the water from the troughs.

The troughs hung at the eaves to for the guttering may require maintenance, the fascia onto which the guttering is fixed may require maintenance, the guttering may move, the fasciae supporting it may move. Any of these can be problematic as the trough will be typically required to be displaced. As the troughs are often fixed together and clipped into hangers, the troughs will need dismantling, and unclipping from the clips, and perhaps the clips resecured to the fasciae, for example at the correct height.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

Granted Australian patent AU 689 012 (AXFORD) discloses an adjustable gutter bracket assembly comprising: a mounting member; a support arm releasably attachable to said mounting member; and a cover attachment member releasably attached to said support arm; said mounting member and said support arm having complementary engagement means associated therewith to provide releasable attachment of said support arm to said mounting member in a plurality of height adjustment positions; and said cover attachment member and said support arm having further complementary engagement means associated therewith to provide releasable attachment of said cover attachment means to said support arm, wherein said further complementary engagement means provides releasable attachment in a plurality of height adjustment positions.

United Kingdom patent application GB 759 039 (RALEIGH) discloses a gutter bracket comprising a fixed 75 part having a vertical portion with a series of holes, slots or grooves and an adjoining portion for attachment to a roof member, and a vertically adjustable part with a curved gutter support, slidable along the vertical 80 portion of the fixed part and adapted to be secured thereto at any desired height by a projecting part engaging in one of the holes, slots or grooves in the said vertical portion.

United States patent application US 1 755 453 (MULLEN) discloses an eaves trough hanger comprising a stationary resilient vertical bar having a longitudinal slot providing it with two parallel side members, a trough-supporting 'member having a portion abutting the front side of said liar and provided with parallel vertical flanges straddling said bar, a lug on -said trough-supporting member 'adapted to enter said slot, momentarily spring said side members apart and then snap into engagement with said side members, and bar-engaging means on said trough-supporting member above said lug, said means slidably and, pivotally engaging said bar.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an eaves trough hanger device comprising: a plinth in which a screw-threaded cylinder is freely turn-able; a trough hanger comprising an arm with a base at a first end and a trough catch at a second opposed end, wherein the base comprises an indentation engage-able with the screw-threaded cylinder; and an incremental adjustment mechanism comprising the indentation and the screw-threaded cylinder arranged in use for vertical adjustment of the trough hanger relative to the plinth; wherein the trough is arranged in use to be positioned above the arm, and in which the base is arranged in use to connect to the plinth, and the plinth is arranged in use to be secured to an eave; and wherein the adjustment mechanism is accessible in use below the trough.

The plinth and base may comprise discrete parts.

In some embodiments the plinth and base may comprise a connection mechanism. Such mechanism may comprise or complement the adjustment mechanism.

Advantageously the mechanism allows mutual movement between the connected plinth and base.

The plinth may be arranged to secure to a fascia board on an eaves, for example a wooden or plastic fascia board. The plinth securement means may comprise at least one screw hole, and screw in use. The securement means may consequently be arranged in a manner known in the prior art.

The trough may be clipped into, onto, or rest upon the arm.

The arm may therefore be envisaged to limit the troughs vertical movement. In some embodiments the arm is situated under the trough in use. In this way the trough may be clipped down into horizontally spaced part devices or arms in order to initially form the rainwater trough system, as known in the prior art.

The arm may comprise a clip arranged to catch the arm and limit its movement in at least one further axis to the arm, or may be arranged with a stopper to catch the arm, wherein in both embodiments the catch may be arranged to limit both lateral and vertical movement of the trough from or in relation to the arm. Horizontal or longitudinal movement is typically limited by successive troughs and fixings.

As the screw-threaded cylinder is turned, there is movement of one part of the device along the screwthread relative to the other.

Preferably the screwthread adjustment mechanism may comprise a screw head located facing in use downwards on or in the base or plinth.

The screw-threaded cylinder is arranged vertically in use, so as to allow for vertical adjustment of relative heights.

In this way the device advantageously provides a trough or gutter hanger or bracket that after securing or fixing to an eaves or fascia board, can be adjusted from underneath with a screwdriver. This saves the user time and trouble to remove the guttering and re-fix the bracket. Another benefit is that over time where the fascia board moves causing water to sit in the gutter, the user can easily and quickly adjust the guttering themselves without employing third parties or complicated steps.

Brief Description of Figures

Figures 1 show isometric views of a first embodiment ofthe device according to the present invention;

Figures 2 show exploded isometric views ofthe embodiment shown in Figures 1;

Figures 3 show plan from below, side and plan views from above respectively ofthe embodiment shown in Figures 1;

Figures 4 show end views ofthe embodiment shown in Figures 1;

Figures 5 show isometric views of a second embodiment ofthe device according to the present invention;

Figures 6 show a side and plan view from above of the embodiment shown in Figures 5, respectively;

Figures 7 respectively show plan from below, and end views of the embodiment shown in Figures 5;

Figure 8 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figures 5;

Figures 5 show isometric views of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 8 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figures 5;

Figure 9 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figures 5;

Figure 10 shows a sketch of an exploded isometric view of an eaves trough hanger; and

Figures 11 show sketches of a side exploded view and a rear view of a device outside the scope of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment formed substantially in plastics such as polyethylene or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The device comprises a plinth 2 and a hanger 1, wherein the hanger comprises an arm 3 and a base 4.

The plinth is formed as a monolithic part and the hanger is formed as a monolithic. Both may be injection moulded from thermoplastics for ease of manufacture.

The arm comprises a downwardly curved circular segment, leading from an end proximate the plinth in use, to a distal end comprising a catch for the trough. This is envisaged for use with insertion laterally of longitudinally extending troughs, having curved sectional profiles, describing an indented or concave upper face.

The arm is envisaged to surround the trough’s outer face and expose its upper face for receipt of rainwater.

The catch in the first embodiment comprises a clip, which clip comprises a return tab 6, returning back along the arm, which tab comprises a return flap 5 for displacement purposes. The tab and flap comprise resiliently deformable material so as to permit movement to allow the trough to keep the tab in place in use, and allow for displacement when the user wants to move the trough from the device.

The clip provides a clip around the distal edge of the trough in use, wherein the edge slots into a catch 26 between the upper surface of the arm and the lower surface of the tab, and the flap inclines upwards therefrom to provide a part to pull against to open the catch.

The arm further comprises some degree of resilient deformability.

The base comprises a matching catch, which catch is intended to catch the proximal edge of the trough in use, comprising a hook, which hook comprises diagonally extending body 14, intermediate catch 13 and vertically depending block 12, wherein the trough’s edge is inserted into the catch.

The catch is thereby spaced apart from the base, so as to aid in insertion of the trough into the device. The upper surface 7 of the arm is furthermore spaced horizontally apart from the base, so as to further provide space beneath the proximal catch.

The base comprises a vertical back, formed in section as a T shape, with vertical perimetric wings 10 that slide into the plinth, and the arm and catch centred horizontally therebetween.

The device further comprises a centrally situated vertically operable screw mechanism, comprising a screw bolt 15, with a screwthread 16 wherein the hanger comprises an indentation 9 with half a screwthread 11, and the plinth comprises a semicircular housing 22 in which the bolt turns freely but is prevented from exiting by vertical blocks.

The hanger is capable of moving vertically, and exiting the plinth vertically. In some embodiments the hanger may be prevented from exiting the plinth at the top and/or bottom, for example by locks.

The plinth thereby comprises a central vertical housing flanked in front by vertical runners 23, wherein the arm in use extends from between the runners and the wings and runners prevent the hanger’s horizontal exit from the plinth.

The housing has a lowermost semicircular lacuna 20 and no lacuna topmost. Using the lacuna at least the lowermost centre of the bolt is accessible from below the plinth through the lacuna. The bolt comprises a blank top end 25 and bottom slotted end 17, which may be used to turn the bolt with a slothead screwdriver or similar; and consequently travel the base and hanger along the bolt, vertically relative to the plinth. In some embodiments the top of the bolt may be similarly equipped.

In the pictured embodiment the runners are open ended, such that the wings may exit the plinth, wherein the base comprises a channel that stands forward of a securement plate and comprises the housing. The securement plate for the plinth includes two vertically spaced sets of two screw holes 19 for securement to a fascia using four screws 21.

The hanger arm further comprises a vertically depending brace 8 to limit flexure in the arm.

The eaves trough hanger shown in Figure 10 is arranged to provide a wider hanger for example but not exclusively for a joint between two pieces of trough, the hanger comprising two arms, and three braces.

The upper surface of the arm replicates a section 32 of the trough, and provides two spaced apart trough interfaces 28, uppermost on the section, corresponding to arms 29 below the section. The interfaces comprise rubber or silicone, so as to both allow for movement of the trough, and provide greater friction.

The arms comprise clipped parts clipped over the section in use, and having perimetric catches 27 for the trough, with return displacement tabs 33. The section is secured to the plinth and comprises three parallel braces below from the plinth, and four moulded guides 31 providing two channels for receipt of the arms.

In some embodiments the arm in single arm embodiments may comprise such an interface. In some embodiments more arms may be provided, and in other embodiments a single arm may support a section replicating a section of trough.

In other embodiments the plinths may be comprised in a fascia board, or may be otherwise combined or spaced apart in a fixed combination for easier mounting at eaves.

In the eaves trough hanger pictured in Figure 10, the mechanism comprises a base 44 with vertical teeth 47 secured at a screw to the arm, and arranged to travel with reference to a gear wheel 40, turning about a horizontal axle 42, seated in an end 41 held in a housing 45, with removable back plate 46.

Shown in Figure 11 is a device outside the scope of the present invention. A mechanism comprises resiliently deformable horizontal catch studs 35 extending rearwards on the hanger base, seating into a plinth having a securement plate 38, housing 36 and vertically spaced slots 37 for the catch studs, which may be displaced by tabs 34 extending forwards horizontally from the base.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An eaves trough hanger device comprising: a plinth in which a screw-threaded cylinder is freely turn-able; a trough hanger comprising an arm with a base at a first end and a trough catch at a second opposed end, wherein the base comprises an indentation engage-able with the screw-threaded cylinder; and an incremental adjustment mechanism comprising the indentation and the screw-threaded cylinder arranged in use for vertical adjustment of the trough hanger relative to the plinth; wherein the trough is arranged in use to be positioned above the arm, and in which the base is arranged in use to connect to the plinth, and the plinth is arranged in use to be secured to an eave; and wherein the adjustment mechanism is accessible in use below the trough.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises the screw-threaded cylinder arranged as a vertical in use screw threaded bolt between the plinth and hanger.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the indentation is formed with a half screw-thread in the base by which the indentation is engage-able with the screw-thread cylinder.

4. A device according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the plinth is formed with a lacuna for accessing and turning the bolt for vertical adjustment of the trough hanger

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises the screw-threaded cylinder arranged as a horizontal in use screw thread gear between the plinth and hanger.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the indentation is formed with vertically spaced teeth in the base by which the indentation is engage-able with the screw-thread cylinder.

7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the base comprises a back arranged vertically in use, wherein the back is formed in section as a T shape with vertical perimetric wings arranged to slide in the plinth.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the plinth comprises a central vertical housing flanked by vertical runners, wherein the arm in use extends from between the runners and the wings slide in the runners which prevent the hanger from exiting the plinth horizontally.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the runners are open ended such that the wings may exit the plinth.

10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein an upper surface of an arm replicates a section of a trough.

11. A device according to any preceding claim comprising a fascia board comprising the plinth.

12. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the plinth comprises blocks that prevent exit of the screw threaded cylinder from the plinth.