AU595324B2 - Improvements in or relating to gutter joiners - Google Patents

Description

I 1, 11- 1 1 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA FORM PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLET E S P E C IF I C A T ION FOR OFFICE USE: 7 Class Int.Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: This document contains the amendments made Section 49 and is coei;t i, printing.

Priority: SRelated Art: S r Name of Applicant: Address of Applicar Actual Inventor: 595 3 24 Mon-i-er-E-i-m-i-t-ed it: -6.-8-ThomasJtr-e-e-t.

,-eH-A;TSWOOD-T-;.S--2-o-7 A( f c sHENWASEP5 1cLe-I'uW SLttRSL Sydney Address for Service: 4 Complete Specification for the Invention entitled:i' "Improvements in or Relating to Gutter Joiners" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- Complete of PH6154/86 Dated 29th May, 1987 ;i i i_ -2 This invention relates to an improved gutter joiner.

Hitherto, conventional gutter joiners have comprised a top and bottom component which were each channel shaped having a base portion and opposed side portions. Rach of the top and bottom components were interconnected by screw threaded fasteners which extended through each of the matin2 side portions as i well'as the mating base portions to join adjacent gutter sections to each other.

The use of screw threaded fasteners to interconnect each of the mating side portions of both top and bottom components was found to be ft disadvantageous in practice because of inaccessibility.

It was usually necessary to remove adjacent' tiles to 11 15 obtain appropriate access to the mating side portions c during installation or maintenance of the guttering.

In this regard it was necessary to use screw threaded fasteners to interconnect each of the mating side C tC KC portions to obtain proper clamping of each of the top and bottom components when joining adjacent gutter sections.

4 Conventional gutter joiners also required o, external coating or painting to obtain a colour match with the guttering. Also conventional gutter joiners were often formed from pressed metal or cast metal and because of the relatively complex shape it was to be f~ -3appreciated that the tooling required to manufacture these joiners was very expensive.

Another conventional gutter joiner comprised an external component only again of channel shape which was pop riveted to mutually adjacent gutter sections.

This type of gutter joiner utilized exposed fasteners which were subject to corrosion. Also difficulty was experienced in achieving proper alignment of the gutter sections using this conventional joiner and also difficulty was experienced in achieving appropriate sealing.

It therefore is an object of the invention to provide a new gutter joiner.

According to the invention there is provided a gutter joiner comprising mating top and bottom components adapted to clamp adjacent ends of gutter sections therebetween, wherein each component is channel shaped having a base portion and opposed side portions, and plug-socket means for interconnecting said top and bottom component.

In the context of the present invention, the expression "plug-socket means" shall be understood as referring to one or more fastening lugs on either the top or bottom component adapted to engage one or more sockets on the other component.

Preferably said plug-socket means to interconnect the top and bottom component is associated with each of the mating side portions of the top and bottom -3acomponent.

In one form, the bottom component includes an outer side portion and an inner side portion. The outer side portion may be provided with one or more (eg two) socket. The inner portion may also be provided with one or more sockets.

In the embodiment the top component may have #1r 44 4 e 4 4 4L 4 4C *CI I N 1/ -Ts~ *404i f 00 0 i t 4r *r 00Z o 04 00 941 0 *0 i: i i "I i-r~ -4one or more fastening lugs on each opposed side portion which are adapted to engage with a corresponding socket.

It will also be appreciated that the side portions of the top component may be provided with fastening lugs and the side portions of the bottom component be provided with sockets. However the former arrangement is preferred.

The sockets suitably comprise socket apertures although alternatively there may be provided socket cavities or recesses. However, again the use of socket apertures is preferred.

Preferably each of the top and bottom components are formed from plastics material and the aforementioned fastening lugs and sockets are integral with the body of the top or bottom component.

There also may be provided attachment means which is associated with each base portion of the top and bottom components. In one form this may take the form of co-aligned attachment apertures of holes for SucN' 05 c o.e-x the insertion of an appropriate elongate fastenerAto attach the bottom and top component to each other.

Preferably the inner side portion of the top and bottom component is substantially vertically oriented and the outer side portion of the top and bottom component is offset to the vertical so as to conform to the shape of conventional guttering. Each of the inner i-l 'F-t r i- l~'"u-ni--:ir i i I i- 9* rt t II and outer side portions of the top and bottom component may be V or U shaped in the case of a corner joiner with the socket apertures or fastening lugs being located at the base or vertex of the U or V.

In the case of a joiner for joining straight sections of gutter the opposed side portions of each of the top and bottom component may be planar or plate-like in shape.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the inner side portion of the top component may comprise an internal rib including a plurality of steps wherein each of the socket apertures is located in a top surface of a respective step. In this embodiment the outer side component may include a plurality of spaced steps with the socket apertures being locatd in a top surface of a respective step.

In this embodiment the inner side portion of a bottom component may also include an internal rib including a plurality of steps wherein each step is split into an upwardly projecting fastening lug and notch located rearwardly of an associated lug. The outer side portion may also include a plurality of spaced steps wherein each step is also split into a leading fastening lug and a notch located rearwardly of an adjacent lug. In this embodiment the mutually adjacent planar parts of the inner side portion bounding the internal rib and the adjacent planar parts -6of the outer side portion bounding the spaced steps may comprise gutter support sections in the case of both the bottom component and top component. Thus, the upper surfaces of the said planar parts form gutter support surfaces in relation to the bottom component and the bottom surfaces of the planar parts of the top component also form gutter support surfaces as will be appreciated from the drawings herein.

It is also preferred that the fastening lugs and mating sockets associated with the inner side portion 13 of the top or bottom component be ramped so that when both the top and bottom components are being attached a camming effect is obtained wherein both mating inner e' side portions clamp together.

Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a S gutter external corner joiner; I i Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a j 20 gutter internal corner joiner; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a straight gutter joiner; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the gutter joiner shown in Figure 1 before installation; and, Figure 5 is a similar view to that of Figure 4 showing the gutter joiner after installation.

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t 4 r In Figure 1 there is shown external gutter joiner 10 comprising Lop component ii and bottom component 12. Top component 11 has outer side portion 13 and inner side portion 14. Inner side portion 14 is substantially upright or vertically orientated as shown and outer side portion 13 is offset to the vertical as shown.

Inner side portion 14 includes wings 15 and rib 16 having steps 17 with sockets 18 being located in the top surfaces of steps 17. There is also shown base portion 19 having attachment sockets 20 located in steps 21. Also showin are steps 22.

Outer side portion 13 includes wings 23 and attachment apertures 24 for insertion of rivets 25 for attachment to the top rib 26 of gutter 27. Also shown are steps 28 having sockets 29. Also shown are base steps 28A and base sockets 29A. Clamping screws 30 are shown for retention in sockets 20 and 29A after installation.

The bottom component 12 includes opposed side portions 31 and 32 with vertical side portion 31 being the inner side portion and offset side portion 32 being the outer side portion as shown. There is also included internal rib 33 having notches 34 and fastening lugs 35 having ramps 36 which may extend through corresponding sockets 18 in top component 11.

There is also shown base portion 37. Side portion 32 *r 4 i* 4. -8has Upwardly extending fastening lugs 38 and notches or bearing parts 39 located in a plurality of steps 38A.

Also shown are strengthening ribs 41. Gutter 27 includes inner wall 42, top flange 43, internal rib 44, base part 45 and outer wall 46.

In Figure 2 there is shown top component 47 and bottom component 48 of internal corner gutter joiner 49. Top component 47 includes outer side portion and inner side portion 51 and base portion 52. Inner side portion 51 includes wings 53 and steps 54 which have sockets 55 located in the top surfaces thereof.

Also included are base steps 56 and attachment sockets S"f" 57 for clamping screws 58. Also shown are steps 59.

The outer side portion 50 has wings 60, attachment ci apertures 61 for blind rivets 62 for attachment to the top rib 26 of -utter 27 and sockets 63 located in the tt t top surfaces of steps 64.

Also shown is bottom component 48 having outer side portion 65 and inner side portion 66 as well as o 04 base portion 67. Inner side portion 66 includes wings 20 68 and fastening lugs 69 and notches 70 located in internal rib 71. Also shown are attachment sockets 72 c6 oo, aligned with mating sockets 57 and base steps 72A.

4 z Outer'side portion 65 includes wings 73, fastening lugs 74 and notches 75. Also shown are ramps 36 of fastening lugs 69.

In Figure 3 there is shown top component 76 and i- ,i i i i i~e bottom component 77 of straight joiner 78. Top component 76 includes inner side portiop 79 and outer side portion 80 as well as base portion 81. Inner side portion 79 includes body rib 82 having sockets 83 located in steps 84. Outer side portion 80 includes S sockets 86 located in steps 87. There is also provided attachment sockets 90 located in opposed steps 91 which are oriented with clamping screws 93 as shown.

The bottom component 77 includes inner side portion 94 and outer side portion 95 as well as base portion 96. There is also shown fastening lugs 97 of outer side portion 95 and notches 98. Also shown are fastening lugs 99 and notches 100 of outer side portion Notches 98 are located in internal rib 101 of inner side portion 94. Also shown are attnachent sockets 103 located in base steps 104 which are aligned with corresponding attachment sockets 90. Also shown 4 1 0. are ramps 36.

Figures 4 to 5 show the procedure which is 0Q- applicable during installation of the gutter joiner of 20 the invention which is applicable to the external 0 corner joiner shown in Figure 1.

Thus, when top component 11 and bottom component engage 12 the respective base portions 19 and 37 abut 9' as shown in Figure 5. The adjoining gutter sections 27 which are oriented at right angles are attached with the leading portions 40 of both adjacent gutter -i -u sections 27 being received on support parts 41A of lower component 12 as shown indicated by 41B engaged with portions 41A to clamp gutter section 27 firmly in between as shown in Figures 4 to 5. Attachment is effected by clamping screws 30 as shown with lugs 38 engaging in sockets 29 as shown. A similar method of attachment is used for the internal gutter joiner 49 having regard to mating bearing surfaces 41A and 41B and the same is illustrated in Figure 3 for straight joiner 78.

The use of ramps 36 as shown is especially advantageous as this enables mating vertical side portions of the top and bottom components to clamp together when brought into full engagement with each other.

t ,15 The adoption of the gutter joiner of the invention will be found to achieve many advantages.

The necessity of attachment fasteners for attaching mutually adjacent side portions of both the top and V. bottom component together with the associated problems S 20 of inaccessibility is now avoided. The use of gutter o. joiners in accordance with the invention will now he found to markedly decrease installation time and increase efficiency and the gutter joiners have an inherent self-clamping facility by the use of ramps 36.

It will also be appreciated that internal ribs 44 of the gutter sections 27 shown in Figure 1 have

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-11- Sbeen omitted from Figures 2 and 3 for convenience. As shown in Figure 1 ribs 44 mate with steps 22 of top component 11 as well as steps 59 of top component 47 shown in Figure 2 and steps 105 of top component 76 shown in Figure 3.

While the opposed side portions of botn the top and bottom components have been shown with the inner side portion substantialaly vertically oriented and the outer side portion beiing offset to the vertical it will also be appreciated thata this is not essential and any suitable channel shape for both top and bottom components may be adopted similar to conventional guttering profiles such as for example, each opposed side position of both top and bottom components being substantially vertically oriented.

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Claims (16)

1. A gutter joiner comprising mating top and bottom components adapted to clamp adjacent ends of gutter sections therebetween, wherein each component is channel shaped having a base portion and opposed side portions, and plug-socket means (as herein before defined) for interconnecting said top and bottom component.

2. A gutter joiner according to claim 1 wherein said opposed side portions of said bottom component each have one or more sockets and said top component tilt has one or more fastening lugs on each opposed side t tr I ,portion thereof adapted to engage said socket or sockets to form said plug-socket means.

3. A gutter joiner according to claim 1 wherein said opposed side portions of said top component each have one or more lugs and the bottom component has one or more sockets on each opposed side portion thereof adapted to engage said lug or lugs to form said plug-socket means.

4. A gutter joiner according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the lugs and the sockets are integral with the side portions of the top and bottom component. r irr A gutter joiner according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein each said socket comprises an aperture, r cavity or recess. i t SC 6. A gutter joiner according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said opposed side portions comprise respective inner and outer side portions.

7. A gutter joiner according to claim 6 wherein the inner side portion of the top and bottom component is substantially vertically oriented and the outer side portion of the top and bottom component is offset to the 13 vertical to conform to the shape of the guttering being joined.

8. A gutter joiner according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the respective inner side portions of the top and bottom component each include an internal rib having a plurality of steps, said plug-socket means being located on one or more of said steps.

9. A gutter joiner according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the respective outer side portions of the top and bottom component each include a plurality of spaced steps, said plug-socket means being located on one or more of said steps of said outer side portions. A-

10. A gutter joiner according to claim 8 or 9 wherein said plug-socket means comprise a socket aperture located in a top surface of one or more of said steps of the top component and one or more of the steps of said lower 'ti component is split into an upwardly projecting fastening lug and a notch located rearwardly of an associated lug, said lug or lugs adapted to engage an associated socket aperture or apertures of said top component.

11. A gutter joiner according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each base portion of the top and bottom component includes attachment means.

12. A gutter joiner according to claim 11 wherein said i attachment means comprise co-aligned attachment apertures adapted to receive an elongate fastener for attachment of the top and bottom component. ~C r i- 14 00 Oi o 0 0 o 0 0 0) 00 0 0 0 000 *0 00 a0 tr t ta t at t( 0 00 Ott 0 Of

13. A gutter joiner according to any one of claims 2 to or 8 to 10 wherein the lugs and the sockets of the opposed inner side portions of the top or bottom component are ramped so that during interconnection thereof a camring effect is produced whereby the opposed inner side portions are clamped together.

14. A gutter joiner according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the opposed side portions of the top and bottom component are substantially V-shaped or U-shaped in cross-section.

15. A gutter joiner according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the opposed side portions of each of the top and bottom component are substantially planar or plate like.

16. A gutter joiner according to claim 15 wherein mutually adjacent planar parts of the inner side portion bounding the internal rib and the adjacent planar parts of the outer side portion bounding the spaced steps of the top and bottom component each comprise a gutter support section.

17. A gutter joiner according to claim 16 wherein the upper surface and lower surface of said planar parts form gutter support surfaces.

18. A gutter joiner substantially as herein described with reference Figure 1, Figure 2, or Figure 3 to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 25th day of September1989 K.H. STRAMIT CORPORATION LIMITED I-