AU777425B2 - Gutter system - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "GUTTER SYSTEM" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2

TITLE

"GUTTER SYSTEM" FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to rain water gutters for buildings, brackets for their support, and screens for limiting entry of debris into the gutter and, in particular, gutters for the collection of rain water.

BACKGROUND ART Gutter obstruction by debris and accumulation of sediment are problems encountered wherever rain water gutters are used on buildings.

Typically, the problems are exaggerated in areas of high tree density where leaves form the majority of problem-causing debris.

Presence of such debris may impede water flow and cause occlusion of down-pipes and stormwater drains. The presence of leaves S' also exaggerates the accumulation of silt and other sediment in gutters and S: 15 prolongs retention of moisture, thereby leading to accelerated corrosion and failure of metal gutters and pollution of rain collected.

Retention of moisture and buildup of other litter may also attract organic growth, such as fungi, as well as insects like cockroaches, flies and mosquitos. Slugs, lizards and rodents may also be attracted to the 20 moist environment created in such a gutter. The presence of such :00000 ~organisms and animals and their waste is of particular significance where roof water is collected for drinking purposes.

The presence of such material may also necessitate institution of a maintenance program for removal of debris to ensure clean gutters and 3 free flow of water during rain periods. The known art gutters may have a rear wall higher than their front wall so that any overflow of the gutter will be away from the building to which it is attached. However, the difference in relative heights is usually a minor variation when compared to the height of the front wall. The structure of the gutter usually has a substantially ushaped profile with a gutter roll. Known art gutter brackets may support a gutter on its underside. Some brackets connect externally to the rear of a gutter and, in addition, have a stay to the gutter lip. However, these brackets contact the facia board up to a point substantially above the upper most edge of the gutter, thereby creating a profile in which the bracket impedes application of screens.

It is known to use screens, variously described as "gutter S:i• guards", in an attempt to limit the entry of debris, such as leaves into gutters. These screens usually comprise meshes of variable size and 15 typically are made from material such as plastic, metal or fibreglass. Such a o• gutter mesh is usually sprung into position by initially compressing it, locating oo••• it between the front and rear walls of a gutter, then releasing it, thereby causing retention of the mesh due to its natural resilience.

*The known art screens often rely on removal of retained leaves by removal due to the action of wind, either during a rain period or, subsequently when the leaves are dry and more prone to dislodgement by a breeze. Because of the above described shape of the conventional gutter, the gutter screens usually adopt a flat profile or one in which each edge of the screen is at approximately the same height so that there is no continuous slope towards the outside of the gutter. Rather, the screen adopts a convex curve with a substantially horizontal diameter. Leaves and debris tend to get caught in the mesh with limited opportunity for removal without manual intervention.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a gutter system that overcomes one or more of the above-identified problems or, at least, offers the public a useful alternative to existing gutter systems.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one form, although it need not be the only or, indeed, the broadest form, the invention resides in a gutter system for use on a building, said gutter system including: a gutter having an open top, a front wall, a base continuous with the front wall and a rear wall continuous with the base, 15 wherein the rear wall is higher than the front wall; lllll= (ii) an internal bracing bracket extending between the front wall and the rear wall; and (iii) a screen located above the internal bracing bracket and supported by the internal bracing bracket, which screen extends substantially over the open top of the gutter, whereby the base wall being higher than the front wall enables the screen to adopt a debris shedding profile.

Suitably, the rear wall is at least 25% higher than the front wall.

Preferably, the rear wall is at least 50% higher than the front wall.

The rear wall may be at least 75% higher than the front wall.

Suitably, the rear wall may be at least 100% higher than the front wall. The rear wall may be at least 125% higher than the front wall.

The rear wall may be at least 150% higher than the front wall.

Suitably, the rear wall is higher than the front wall to the extent that a screen located between an upper edge of the rear wall and an uppermost surface or edge of the front wall may adopt a debris shedding profile wherein water flow from an adjacent roof will tend to dislodge debris •on the screen.

S* 10 Preferably, the front wall has a gutter roll.

o•• The gutter may further comprise water deflecting means for directing water flow towards the rear wall of the gutter.

Said water deflecting means may suitably be at least one 00.0 chamfer on the front wall. The chamfer may be continuous.

000 15 The internal bracing strap may include a single strap.

Preferably, the internal bracing bracket includes at least two straps. Each strap may include a pair of adjacent ends which are attached to each other at or near the gutter roll. The straps are preferably attachable to the rear wall so that a second strap locates on the rear wall higher than a first strap.

Most preferably, the bracket has three straps comprising a first, second and a third strap wherein the second strap is intermediate the first and third straps. Suitably, the three straps are attached to each other at a first end and attachable to the rear wall at a second end so that said second strap is attached higher than said first and third straps.

Alternatively, the first and third straps may be attachable higher than the second strap.

Preferably, the gutter further comprises a strap fixing means located on the rear wall for receiving the highest of the second ends of the straps of the bracket. The strap fixing means may suitably be a ledge. The ledge may suitably be formed by a triangular indent. Preferably the ledge is continuous.

The gutter system may include an adjustable flashing. The adjustable flashing may be integral with the rear wall. Alternatively, the adjustable flashing may be separate to the rear wall.

The gutter system may further include a screen locatable between an upper edge portion of the rear wall and a top edge portion of the front wall. Preferably, the mesh guard is formed from stainless steel. The :i mesh guard may have a fine mesh. Perforations in the fine mesh may be S" 1mm 2 or finer.

15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a high-back gutter of the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the gutter of the invention with an internal bracing bracket; FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a modified gutter of the oooo invention with internal bracing bracket; FIG. 4 shows the gutter of FIG. 3 when located in position on a building; FIG. 4A shows a sectional view of an alternative gutter roll and screen; FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of the gutter system of the invention as located on a comer of a building; FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank for producing an internal bracing bracket; FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a gutter assembly constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7A is a detailed view of the area marked with a cirle in phantom in FIG. 7; FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a gutter assembly constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15 FIG. 1 shows a high-back gutter 1 of the present invention.

The high-back gutter 1 has a front wall 2 with a gutter roll 3. The gutter roll 3 has an uppermost surface 4. The gutter 1 also has a rear wall 5 with an upper edge 6. The walls 2 and 5 are separated by base 7.

It is readily apparent from this view that rear wall 5 is substantially higher than front wall 2 when measured vertically from the base o* 7. The purpose and advantage of the high back will be described more fully in relation to FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 shows the high-back gutter 1 of FIG. 1 with an internal bracing bracket 8 formed by a top strap 9 and bottom strap 10, each having 8 a reinforced part 9A and 10A. The top strap 9 and bottom strap 10 arise from a common web or plate 11 which is affixed to a lower surface 12 of gutter roll 3. The straps 9, 10 then diverge from the common plate 11 and run to an upper fixing flange 13 and lower fixing flange 14, respectively. The straps may be connected to the gutter by any suitable fixing means, such as self tapping screws, pop rivets or roofing bolts located through common plate 11 and flanges 13, 14.

Referring to FIG. 3, a modified high-back gutter 101 is shown with a triangular indent 115 in rear wall 105. The effect of the indentation is to provide a top angled surface 116 for receiving upper fixing flange 113 of top strap 109. The advantage provided by triangular indent 115 and top angled surface 116 is to provide a fixing surface for top strap 109 which is closer to the lower surface 112 of gutter roll 103 so that straps 109, 110 may be the same length. This allows internal bracing bracket 108 to be 15 more easily manufactured as both top strap 109 and bottom strap 110 may be the same length and, therefore, manufactured from a single piece of **o.ol.

suitable material with only one strap length required rather than at least two.

The presence of triangular indent 115 has an additional o° advantage when joining lengths of guttering. It is relatively common in such joins for a weakness in sealing to occur towards the rear wall in the base S. join. However, the indent tends to lock the overlapped lengths of gutter together and force the bases into contact, thereby strengthening the seal.

It is clear to a skilled addressee that triangular indent 115 may, in fact, be of any suitable shape, such as, for example, a curved 9 surface or even a polygonal surface. The triangular indent in this view forms a continuous ridge but could, in fact, be individual, discrete indentations along the rear wall 105.

The front wall 102 is angled on a chamfer 117 from a crease 118 to an intersection 119 with the base 107. The crease 118 is intermediate the gutter roll 103 and base 107. During rain, water runs from a roof (see FIG. 4) into the gutter with some velocity. It, therefore, tends to impact on the gutter on or towards the front wall 102. In this situation, the chamfer 117 acts as a deflector to channel the water back towards the area of the base 107 adjoining or near the rear wall 105. This area is the principle site of accumulation and retention of sediment which forms under the overhang of the roof. The action of the water in striking such sediment tends to dislodge the sediment and move it away in the current generated S°by water flowing in the gutter towards a gutter outlet such as a down-pipe.

15 While a chamfer is shown in this view, it is clear to a skilled addressee that other geometric shapes may be suitable for the same purpose.

•FIG. 4 shows the high-back gutter 101 of FIG. 3 when located in position on a facia board 120. Internal bracket 108 is shown fixed to gutter 101 by self tapping screws 121, 122, 123. A retaining screw 124 is also shown penetrating the rear wall 105 and an adjustable flashing 125.

Self tapping screw 122 also penetrates lower fixing flange 114, rear wall 105 and is screwed into facia board 120. A mesh screen 126 is shown located in operating position in relation to high-back gutter 101. The mesh screen 126 may be of any suitable material and pattern but is preferably made from stainless steel and has a relatively fine mesh with apertures in the order of approximately 1 mm 2 The advantage of the high-back gutter is readily apparent in this view when used with a gutter screen. The gutter 101 is dimensioned so that the upper edge 106 of the back wall 105 is substantially higher than the uppermost surface 104 of gutter roll 103. Location of screen 126 between upper edge 106 and uppermost surface 104 provides anchoring points that are vertically separated so that mesh screen 126 defines a substantially smooth curve in cross section, as shown. Bottom edge 131 of screen 126 is shown locked into engagement with gutter roll 103. However, the screen 126 can be affixed to or near the gutter roll in any suitable manner known to a skilled addressee and may also be affixed to a gutter without a gutter roll.

4:90 Likewise, top edge 130 of screen 126 is shown locked under adjustable flashing 125 and simply in the vicinity of top edge 106 of rear wall 105. Top 15 edge 106 may be in contact with rear wall 105, but this is not essential. In 0@ the absence of adjustable flashing 125, for example, screen 126 may simply be "sprung" under roof 127.

During rain periods, water from adjacent roof 127 is discharged onto the screen 126 and will tend to permeate the mesh and fall into the gutter. If the flow is heavier or fast enough, water will carry and/or .oo.

~strike leaves and other debris 128 which has fallen directly on the screen 126 or is carried by water from the roof 127. The leaves and other debris 128 are unable to penetrate the mesh and are pushed towards the gutter roll 103 of the gutter and eventually over the edge. Water passing through 11 the screen 126 may strike chamfer 117 and be deflected towards rear wall 105, thereby dislodging sediment 129 located towards the rear wall 105 or the base 107.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear wall 105 is approximately 120% higher than front wall 102 (ie. rear wall 105 is 2.2 times higher than front wall 102) when measured vertically from the base. However, the inventor has found a range of effective relative dimensions with the rear wall being at least 25% higher than the front wall when both are measured vertically from the base. Preferably, the rear wall height is at least 50% higher than the front wall. The height of rear wall 105 may be at least 75% higher and, most preferably, is at least 100% higher than the height of front wall 102.The height of the rear wall may be at least 125% higher than the front wall. The applicant has found that the rear wall may be at least 150% higher than the front wall.

15 The height of the rear wall 105 compared to front wall 102 should be such that a screen located between an upper edge of rear wall (or in its vicinity) and the upper region (eg. gutter roll 103) of front wall 102 may adopt a debris shedding profile. Such a profile is one in which water flow from adjacent roof 127 will tend to dislodge debris on the screen and preferably force it towards front wall 102. Such a profile may suitably be a curve wherein the mesh rises continually from its lowest to highest point, "lil both points being proximate to opposite edges of the mesh.

In addition, the curve of the mesh strengthens its resistance to branch strike. A flat or uncurved mesh is prone to damage or permanent 12 distortion as a result of impact by falling boughs and branches. The curved mesh is inherently braced to resist such impact. This is particularly so when the gutter is internally braced.

The adjustable flashing 125 may be made of malleable metal such as a thin gauge galvanised iron or even lead. The flashing may be bent into a suitable shape so that it is in contact with the underside of roof 127 and prevents water penetrating between roof 127 and facia 120. A sealant may be applied between flashing 125 and roof 127.

Adjustable flashing 125 may, of course, be formed integrally with the rear wall 105.

The advantage of internal bracing bracket 108 is also readily apparent in this view. The screen 126 is located above the bracket 108.

Therefore, a continuous run of screen can be located in a gutter without any breaks for the purpose of accommodating brackets. This can create a :15 barrier of unbroken integrity which provides better prevention against animal and debris entry into the gutter. This is in distinction to many conventional brackets which may support the gutter internally but have a high lateral profile necessitating the cutting of sections of mesh for insertion between adjoining brackets.

A further advantage arising from the bracket and gutter arrangement relates to adjustment of gutter alignment. It is common for :buildings to settle after construction which often leads to disruption of the fall of a gutter. In order to correct this misalignment, it is usually necessary to remove an entire length of gutter and supporting brackets and then reapply 13 the combination to a new line. However, in the present system, it is simply necessary to remove the local screws in a misaligned section where those screws enter the facia board. The positioning of that section may then be corrected and the screws reapplied thereby re-establishing a consistent fall.

A further advantage of the gutter system arises from the fact that birds cannot perch on the gutter edge with their tail positioned into the gutter when screen 126 is in place. Rather, if a bird perches on the gutter at all, its tail must be outside the gutter thereby preventing deposition of bird excreta into the water collecting area.

During installation, sealant may be applied between adjustable flashing 125 and roof 127. Further, sealant may be applied between screen mesh 126 and gutter top roll 103, thereby preventing capillary flow in the first instance and lodgement of debris in the gutter roll in the second instance.

In FIG. 4A, the uppermost surface 204 is angled downwardly 15 at approximately 450 from the horizontal. The screen 226 has a regular curve to the edge 231. The advantages in this arrangement include the fact that once cut to width, the screen may be inserted straight into contact with gutter roll 203 without any bending of its edge.

Additionally, water which flows towards the outside of the gutter will be trapped by the vee formation of uppermost surface 204 and screen 226 and be diverted into the gutter. Enhanced action may be S".i obtained by running a bead of sealant along the form line of surface 204 and screen 226.

In FIG. 5 a high-back gutter 101 is shown worked to a 900 14 angle around a facia board 120. A retaining screw 124 is shown positioned for penetration of the rear wall 105 of gutter 101 and adjustable flashing 125. One run of screen 126 is shown in place and the commencing piece of a second adjoining run of screen 126A is shown in exploded position for location in the gutter 101: The top edge 130 of screen 126 is shown sprung under adjustable flashing 125 and bottom edge 131 of screen 126 is sprung into gutter roll 103. Although this means of locating the screen is preferred, any suitable means of retaining a screen may be used and edges 130, 131 may be located merely in the vicinity of the upper edge 106 of rear wall 105 and gutter roll 103.

Internal bracing bracket 108 is shown with a single top strap 109 intermediate two bottom straps 110. The straps originate from common eloe plate 111. Alternatively, the two outer straps may be attached higher than .i 15 the single intermediate strap. That is, the positions may be reversed.

Referring to FIG. 6, a blank 133 is shown in plan view from which the internal bracing bracket 108 of FIG. 5 may be stamped. This view *highlights the advantage of triangular indent 115 in that all straps may be cut to the same length, thereby avoiding the need for cuts of varying length of the strap. Pre-drilled holes 132 may be formed in the blank to facilitate location of retaining screws during installation.

:The advantages of the gutter system includes the fact that rain discharged from a roof during a rain period will tend to dislodge leaves and debris from the screen and flush them towards or over the front wall of the gutter. This will limit the amount of intervention required to keep such a screen clear and operational.

A gutter system incorporating a water deflecting means will also counteract the tendency for sediment to accumulate and thereby maintain a cleaner base as well as preventing conditions attracting organic activity.

Use of the gutter bracket provides an alternative to known brackets and also provides a strong and braced support for the gutter. The full strength of attaching means, such as screws can then be utilised to positively support and restrain the gutter. The gutter bracket also allows an uninterrupted run of mesh applied as gutter guard, thereby increasing its efficiency.

It should be understood that the scope of the invention extends to the gutter alone, the bracket alone and the mesh alone. The oooo 15 invention also extends to a method of manufacturing the bracket, a method of installing a gutter and a method of installing a gutter system including a mesh.

Throughout this specification, the aim has been to describe the preferred embodiments of the invention without limiting the invention to .20 any one embodiment or specific collection of features.

In relation to FIG. 7, there is provided gutter assembly 150 :showing gutter 151 having base 107, chamfer 117, crease 118, gutter roll 103, uppermost surface 104 of gutter roll 103, mesh screen 126 and sealant 152. Gutter 151 also has rear wall 105, indent 115 and top edge section 16 106A having upper flange 153. There is also provided internal bracket 108A having end portion 154 attached to horizontal part 155 of gutter roll 103A by fastener 121. Horizontal part 155 is located adjacent vertical part 156 of gutter 151. Internal bracket 108A also has end portion 156 attached to rear wall 105 by fastener 157. There is also provided an auxiliary bracket 158 located behind top part 106A of gutter 151 and fastener 159 attaches flashing 125A, bracket 158 and top part 106A to fascia 120. There is also provided fastener 160 attaching top part 106A to fascia 120. There is also shown roof 127 with angled edge 127A. There is also provided roof batten 161, rafter 162 and soffit grooves 163 and 164.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the invention referring to gutter assembly 170 and similar reference numerals are used to describe similar parts as shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 8 gutter bracket 108A has a modified L shaped end part 154A which is attached to gutter roll 103 by 15 fastener 121A. Instead of wooden fascia 120 there is used a metal bracket 171 which has attachment apertures 172, 173, 174, 175, 176 and 177 for attachment to batten 162. Bracket 171 is also provided with attachment •lO oi flange 178 for attachment of fasteners 157, 159 and 160. There is also provided bottom attachment flange 179 for attachment of fastener 180 to soffit flashing 181. Soffit flashing 181 has an end flange 182 engageable in notch 183 of bracket 171. There is also provided spare attachment aperture :°ooeo :184 and slot 185 which can be cut at line 186 indicated in phantom. After cutting at 186 the bracket 171 may be bent to suit the pitch of the soffit (not shown) and refastened to the soffit before attachment of soffit flashing 181.

17 The use of auxiliary bracket 158 in FIGS. 7-8 facilitates the fall of bracket 151 to an adjacent downpipe (not shown). Adjustment for realignment may be carried out without removal of gutter 151. The use of flashing 125A also facilitates the maintaining of roof 127 and mesh screen 126 in the correct orientation without change of the internal angle 187A of flashing 125A. The flashing 125A also functions to return driven rain to gutter 151.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is suitable for installation to a new structure without a fascia 120. There is also provided a metal roof batten 187 attached to rafter 162 by fasteners 188.

In FIG. 9 there is shown a similar embodiment to that shown in FIG. 7 with the exception that mesh screenl26 is shown being retained in notch 189 of roof tile 190. There is also provided sealant 191.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a gutter 15 system including a gutter having a front wall, base and rear walls and an S• internal bracket extending between the front and rear wall.

In this aspect of the invention there also may be provided a screen located above the internal bracket extending between an upper edge portion of the rear wall and a top edge portion of the front wall.

llllolt go o

Claims (26)

1. A gutter system for use on a building, said gutter system including: a gutter having an open top, a front wall, a base continuous with the front wall and a rear wall continuous with the base, wherein the rear wall is higher than the front wall; (ii) an internal bracing bracket extending between the front wall and the rear wall; and gill* (iii) a screen located above the internal bracing bracket and supported by the internal bracing bracket, which screen extends substantially •o over the open top of the gutter, whereby the base wall being higher than the front wall enables the screen to adopt a debris shedding profile.

2. A gutter system as claimed in claiml, wherein the rearwall is at S"least 25% higher than the front wall.

3. A gutter system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rear wall is at least 50% higher than the front wall.

4. A gutter system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rear wall is at least 75% higher than the front wall.

A gutter system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rear wall is at least 100% higher than the front wall.

6. A gutter system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rear wall is at least 125% higher than the front wall. 19

7. A gutter system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rear wall is at least 150% higher than the front wall.

8. A gutter system as claimed in any preceding claim, having water deflecting means for directing water flow towards the rear wall of the gutter.

9. A gutter system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the water deflecting means is a chamfer on the front wall.

A gutter system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the chamfer is located below a gutter roll located on the front wall.

11. A gutter system as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the gutter includes a gutter roll in the front wall.

12. A gutter system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the internal bracing bracket extends between the front wall and the rear wall. lO i e

13. A gutter system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the internal :oil S"bracing bracket is in the form of a single strap.

14. A gutter system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the internal bracing bracket includes at least two straps wherein each strap has a pair of adjacent ends which are attached to each other proximal to a gutter roll in the front wall of the gutter.

A gutter system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of the straps are attachable to the rear wall so that a second strap locates on the rear wall higher than a first strap.

16. A gutter system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the internal bracket has three straps comprising a first strap, second strap and third strap, wherein the second strap is located intermediate the first strap and second strap.

17. A gutter system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the straps are attached to each other at respective first ends and attached to the rear wall at respective second ends.

18. A gutter system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second strap is attached to the rear wall at a location higher than the first and third O 0 straps. 0* 0. .i

19. A gutter system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and S.third straps are attached to the rear wall at a location higher than the second 0'. strap.

A gutter system as claimed in any one of claims 14-19, wherein the rear wall has strap fixing means in the form of a ledge or indent. 0.

*21. A gutter system as claimed in any preceding claim, including adjustable flashing adjacent to or integral with the rear wall.

22. A gutter system as claimed in any preceding claim, including a screen located between an upper edge portion of the rear wall and a top edge portion of the front wall.

23. A gutter system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the screen is a mesh guard.

24. A gutter system as claimed in claim 23 or 23, wherein the top edge portion of the front wall includes a notch or recess for retention of an adjacent part of the screen.

A gutter system including a gutter having a front wall, base and rear walls and an internal bracket extending between the front and rear wall.

26. A gutter system as claimed in claim 25, wherein there is also provided a screen located above the internal bracket extending between an upper edge portion of the rear wall and a top edge portion of the front wall. DATED this Twenty Seventh Day of June 2003 ANTHONY CHARLES OTTO by his Patent Attorneys FISHER ADAMS KELLY