NZ785985B2 - Gutter, Tank or Container Lid, Tank or Container and Method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention comprises a gutter for collecting and draining a fluid therein from a tank or container/curved surface and includes an elongate channel shaped body having a length and cross sectional profile comprising a rear wall portion 44 and front wall portion 48 separated by a base floor portion 46 to form a channel collecting space 28 there between. The gutter is formed of a flexible or bendable material enabling the gutter to be shaped in its length to substantially match the outer shape of a support surface 4 or to a surface of a tank, or container to allow attachment thereto. The rear face 32 of the rear wall portion 44 or rear of lower portion of the channel 46, is configured to be able to be attached by attuiting directly to at least a portion of the shape of the support surface 4. The gutter is also configured to be able to be attached to a wall and/or lid of a tank or container or the lid or wall of the tank or container is integrally formed with the gutter of the present invention therein. A method is also included.

Claims (20)

What I claim is:

1. Claim 1: A gutter for collecting and draining a fluid therein from a tank or container or surface wherein the gutter includes an open elongate channel shaped body having a length and cross sectional profile comprising a rear wall portion and front wall portion separated by a base floor portion to form a channel collecting space there between having a fluid collecting inner channel surface thereon, wherein the gutter is formed of an extruded flexible rubber or plastics material to allow the gutter when in use to be shaped in its length to match or complement the outer shape of the tank or container or shaped surface having a support surface wherein a rear face of the rear wall portion of the gutter is attachable by fixing means directly to substantially at least a portion of the outer shape of the support surface so that the rear face of the rear wall portion and the portion of the outer shape of the support surface are abuttingly affixed to one another and the shape of the gutter after being shaped remains in that shape when connected to the support surface, and further wherein, the cross section of rear wall portion of the elongate channel shaped body is shaped having a substantially triangular cross section having a pointed top edge, the base floor portion providing a curved shape and the front wall portion being planar rectangular in cross section with a bevelled top edge, thereby forming a substantially U shaped or V shaped cross sectional member having a curved base, channel collecting space, wherein the bevelled top edge is higher than the pointed top edge of the rear wall portion.

2. The gutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gutter is made of separate components joined or connected together wherein the front wall portion having the base floor portion, is joined to the rear wall portion.

3. The gutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the gutter is manufactured with a curve in it so it won’t spring back into a straight piece.

4. The gutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the fixing means is an adhesive, adhesive tape and/or fasteners.

5. The gutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein one length portion of the gutter is a segment having its ends shaped and configured to be movably connected to another segment by hinges wherein each hinge is formed to allow each segment together in combination to move with respect to another segment to work to collect a fluid therein and there through, to allow abutting connection to supporting surface.

6. 6: A tank or container for containing a fluid wherein the tank or container includes a body having a lid portion, wall portion, and base portion, forming a container having the body with an outer wall surface and inner surface and sides, for the fluid to be stored therein and having the gutter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 where the gutter is circumferentially located at an upper portion of the outer surface of the wall portion or peripherally of at least a portion of a lid surface of the tank or container, for collecting and draining a fluid therein the tank or container wherein the gutters elongate shaped body includes an at least one outlet for draining collected fluid into or inside the tank or container, thereby allowing the tank or container to be self-filling.

7. The tank or container as claimed in claim 6 wherein, the support surface is a curved or angled surface extending in a horizontal or vertical plane, wherein the curved or angled surface is an outer wall or non vertical surface of the tank or container.

8. The tank or container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the support surface is part of a lid portion i.e. lid surface of the tank or container, to form a cap like member, the lid portion is a curved or angled lid and the lid portion is recessed with respect to a peripheral edge of the lid portion.

9. The tank or container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the gutter is located at a top end of at least one side wall portion of the tank or container wherein the gutter is peripherally recessed with respect to the outer surface of the lid portion.

10. The tank or container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inner channel surface is sloped or the base floor portion is sloped to cause drainage to at least one outlet and the rear wall portion includes at least an end surface of the base floor portion.

11. The tank or container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tank or container is a round shaped tank or container, or square shaped tank or container.

12. The tank or container for containing a fluid as claimed in claim 6 wherein, the gutter is located at an in use top or upper end of a side wall of the tank or container wherein the gutter is peripherally located.

13. The tank or container for containing a fluid as claimed in claim 6 wherein one length portion of the gutter is a segment having its ends shaped and configured to be movably connected to another segment by hinges wherein each hinge is formed to allow each segment together in combination to move with respect to another segment to work to collect a fluid therein and there through, to allow abutting connection to supporting surface.

14. The tank or container for containing a fluid as claimed in claim 6 wherein a stopper formed as an end wall is attached to at least one end of a length of the gutter.

15. The tank or container for containing a fluid as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tank or container is a round shaped, or square shaped.

16. Claim 16: A method of mounting a gutter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 to a support surface wherein the gutter is for collecting and draining a fluid therein wherein the gutter includes an elongate channel shaped body having cross sectional profile comprising a rear wall portion and front wall portion separated by a base floor portion having a fluid collecting inner surface, wherein the rear wall portion is configured to be able to be attached to a curved support surface of a wall, tank or container, the gutter being provided in a rolled up configuration, wherein steps of the method include: 1. Unrolling the gutter; 2. Marking the position for the gutter on support surface allowing for fall; 3. Measuring length of gutter as proposed for fixing to the support surface; 4. Cutting the gutter to length around the support surface or around a tank or container; 5. Applying fixing to the rear wall surface of the gutter and/or to the support surface; 6. Fitting gutter to support surface whereby at least a rear face of the rear wall portion is configured and shaped to match the shape of the support surface to be able to be attached directly to substantially at least a portion of the outer shape of the support surface; 7. Drilling at least one outlet through the base floor portion.

17. The method of mounting a gutter to a support surface as claimed in claim 16 wherein the fixing applied in step 5 is an adhesive, adhesive tape and/or fasteners.

18. The method of mounting a gutter to a support surface as claimed in claim 16 wherein after or before applying adhesive to the rear wall surface, adhesive is applied to the support surface.

19. The method of mounting a gutter to a support surface as claimed in claim 16 wherein the gutter includes an elongate channel shaped body having cross sectional profile comprising a rear wall portion and front wall portion separated by a base floor portion wherein the gutter is located peripherally on at least one side of the lid portion and has an at least one outlet for draining the collected water into the tank or container.

20. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein, the gutter is manufactured with a curve in it so it won’t spring back into a straight piece. PIPERS Attorneys for the Applicant BRAY, Michael Aaron 1 of 9 2 of 9 3 of 9 4 of 9 5 of 9 6 of 9 7 of 9 8 of 9 9 of 9