Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley – With separator; e.g. – strainer
Patent
1991-06-26
1995-07-25
Friedman, Carl D.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley
With separator; e.g., strainer
52 14, E04D 1306
Patent
active
054351057
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to guttering systems having a top trough which initially receives runoff and diverts this to a bottom trough which carries the runoff to an outlet. Any leaf matter on the top trough is prevented from entering the bottom trough.
A gutter of the type generally described above is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,436,878 to Singer. The Singer Patent describes a gutter having a leaf guard which is formed as a channel located above the gutter. The gutter and leaf guard are attached to a supporting surface by screws at locations spaced along the length of the gutter.
The leaf guard and gutter arrangement disclosed by Singer is time consuming to install. Furthermore, the perforations in the channel are designed to trap leaf matter, and require periodic cleaning.
One aspect of the present invention seeks to provide an improved guttering assembly or kit with increased ease of installation. Another aspect of the invention relates to an improved leafless gutter design.
Thus, in a first form, the present invention provides a modular guttering assembly or kit comprising: trough; and plug and socket connection between the gutter portion and the further guttering component.
The further guttering component may be a further gutter portion, a connector or an end member.
The gutter portion or the connector, preferably the latter, may have means for attachment to a support surface. The attachment means may be lugs projecting from the connector member for fastening to the support surface. The top trough of the gutter portion is preferably integrally formed with the bottom trough such that the top and bottom troughs form upper and lower walls respectively of a tubular gutter portion. This has been found to increase the sectional strength of the gutter and allow the gutter assembly to be supported via the connector members without the need for intermediate brackets. Preferably the cross-sectional shape of the gutter is substantially constant to allow the use of standard connectors.
The gutter portions are preferably attached to the connector member by means of sockets and/or spigots on the connector which receive or are received in the ends of gutter portions. The use of spigots is preferred. The connectors preferably have top and bottom troughs, with the top troughs of the gutter portions abutting against the top trough of the connector when the gutter portions are attached to the connector. The top troughs of the gutter portions and connector preferably form a substantially continuous collection surface for runoff.
The gutter portions and/or the connector, preferably at least the latter, may have apertures which allow at least part of the runoff to be diverted to the bottom trough. The apertures may contain strainer members adapted to retain any debris in the top trough.
In a further form, the invention provides a gutter comprising: initially receive runoff and to divert the runoff to apertures in communication with the bottom trough, the apertures being fitted with strainer members.
The top trough preferably has a substantially smooth concave surface which may slope downwardly from a rear uppermost portion to a central lowermost portion. Apart from the apertures and the strainer members, the gutter preferably has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape throughout its length.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention shall now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a expanded perspective view of a gutter assembly according to the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector in FIG. 1.
The gutter assembly of FIG. 1 includes gutter portions 11 having top 12 and bottom 13 troughs, joined by a rear wall 14 and front wall 15. The front wall may be shaped to give aesthetic appeal or to receive a decorative gutter fascia. The gutter portions 11 in FIG. 1 are shown having a reduced length. In practice, the length of each gutter portion could vary but would usually be in the range of from one to three meters.
Adjacent gutter port
REFERENCES:
patent: 1002611 (1911-09-01), Wagner
patent: 3611731 (1971-10-01), Edmondson
patent: 3667717 (1972-06-01), Fasth
patent: 4257716 (1981-03-01), Woodrow
patent: 4964247 (1990-10-01), Spica
patent: 5010696 (1991-04-01), Knittel
patent: 5038528 (1991-08-01), Brant
Canfield Robert
Friedman Carl D.
Vishill-Tech (Patents) Pty. Limited
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