AU742448B2 - System for fitting gutter mesh to flat panel roofs - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT *v S* Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: RODNEY GEORGE WADE RODNEY GEORGE WADE CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

SYSTEM FOR FITTING GUTTER MESH TO FLAT PANEL ROOFS Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application: No. PP4830 filed 23 July 1998 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with fitting gutter mesh in place over roof gutters and is particularly concerned with securing gutter mesh to flat panel roofs which may or may not have longitudinal ridges extending away from the gutter.

Gutter mesh is either a gauze-like product, a 10 perforated sheeting, a woven wire mesh, or like product which is fitted over the roof gutters of buildings in order to prevent leaves and other air borne debris and vermin which typically collects on roofs, from being S. washed into the gutters when it rains. It is preferable S 15 to arrange such gutter mesh so that it also extends over the lower skirting section of the roof so that as the leaves and debris are washed down, the mesh provides a path which the leaves and debris can readily follow over -the gutter and onto the ground. Various arrangements 20 have been devised for securing gutter mesh to achieve this desired result to tiled and corrugated roofing profiles but none is known which is considered adequate

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for flat panel roofs or such roofs which incorporate longitudinal ridges which run perpendicular to the gutter.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement for securing gutter mesh to such roofs and which enables the gutter mesh to be readily removed, if need be, to gain access to the gutter for cleaning or disinfecting purposes.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a clip for securing an intermediate section of gutter mesh to an edge of a flat roof pan, which clip has a main portion which is adapted to extend around the lowermost edge of a roof pan, and a projected planar portion which is adapted to extend out over the edge of the roof pan zi~A and provide a region to which gutter mesh can be fixed.

In the case where the gutter is set high on the building eaves, additional fixing of the gutter mesh can be effected by inserting fixing pins or the like through the gutter mesh into the apices of the spaced roof ridges. This will create a downforce on the outside edge of the gutter mesh so that it is held tightly over the gutter.

The securing clip can be pressed from a single blank of sheet metal and will be of sufficient resiliency 10 that it can be easily fitted and removed as need be over the edge of the roof. One preferred configuration for the securing clip comprises a planar lower part which is adapted to extend under the roof edge, an integral planar intermediate part which is adapted to pass over the end 15 of the roof edge, a first integral terminal planar portion which is adapted to project beyond and be substantially co-planar with the roof, and second and third integral terminal parts which are adapted to project onto the roof surface and act ass clasps in 20 conjunction with the planar lower part. The first integral planar part will suitably have one or more, preferably two, holes to enable the gutter mesh to be fixed to it by screws or the like.

The securing clip will normally be fitted midway between the roof ridges and will be of the order of 120 to 150mm in length. For flat roofs without ridges securing clips can suitably be placed at intervals of approximately 600mm.

It will be appreciated from the aforementioned discussion that the gutter mesh can be firmly retained in situ no matter what the relative location of the gutter is with respect to the roof surface, and that the gutter mesh can be removed to allow access to the gutter without any damage to the roof surface what-so-ever.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a securing clip according to the invention; SFigure 2 is a top perspective view of a flat roof showing the securing clip of Figure 1 in situ.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in all of which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

The securing clip 22 is an element used to hold the gutter mesh down when the gutter is set low as shown in figure 2. The securing clip comprises a rectangular lower part 23 which fits under the roof edge, an integral intermediate rectangular connecting part 24, a projected rectangular mesh support portion 25, and two terminal parts 26, 27 which fit over the top of the roof edge.

Figure 2 shows an arrangement in which the S" 15 gutter 33 is lowset, that is, its outer edge is lower than the lower edge of the roof 29. In this arrangement, •the securing clip is required to fasten the mesh 34 down :o:onto the outer edge of the gutter 33. That is, to create a downwardly directed force on the gutter edge, the mesh 20 34 is cranked in the region 35 and screwed by screws 36, 37 to the rectangular mesh support part 25 of the clip Soe 22.

oe ~The Figure 2 arrangement provides an effective screening means for gutters associated with flat roof pans and simultaneously permits ready removal of the mesh without damage to the roof.

Claims (2)

1. 2. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip is oo formed from sheet metal. oooe
2. 3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the main portion comprises three parts a planar lower 15 part which is adapted to extend under the roof edge, an integral planar intermediate part which is adapted to pass over the end of the roof edge, and second and third :o :planar terminal parts which are adapted to project onto the roof surface and act as resiliently deformable clasps 20 in conjunction with the lower part. e 4. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, oe wherein the projected planar portion is formed in the same plane as the second and third planar terminal parts. A clip for securing an intermediate section of gutter mesh to an edge of a flat roof pan, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 5 th Day of November 2001 Rodney George Wade By his Patent Attorney CULLEN CO