Guttering system
An apparatus for pivotally securing a gutter to a facia such that it may be pivotally moved between a first (draining) position, and a second (cleaning) position. The apparatus includes an outwardly extending arm 2 with a hinge 4 thereon. The gutter is attached, for instance, by means of a gutter bracket 3 to the hinge, such that pivotal movement of the gutter relative to the bracket is effected. To clean the gutter, the gutter may be pivoted to a cleaning position, whereat the gutter is disposed outwardly relative to its draining position. After removal of tool (FIG. 8) may be utilised in order to effect movement of the gutter.
The present invention relates to a guttering system, and in particular, to an apparatus for securing a gutter to a fascia such that it can move in a pivoting manner, and, to a method of cleaning a gutter enabled by pivotal movement of the components thereof. The present invention also incorporates a specialised tool for reading and effecting the pivotal movement of the gutter from a substrate surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTThe reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.
In many areas, the build-up of leaves on the roofs and in the gutters of houses and other buildings is a common problem.
Various attempts to minimise the collection of leaves in such guttering systems have been made. For example, various screens and mesh materials have been used to extend outwardly of the roof surface to cover the gutter, such that leaves do not fall into the gutter, but rather, are directed across the gutter to fall from the roof These devices function such that water collected on the roof surfaces is still able to enter the guttering system and be carried away appropriately by downpipes to the stormwater system. Whilst these devices are effective to a certain extent, in that leaves larger than the mesh size will not fall through the mesh or grate material and will be moved away as required, small leaves, dirt, etc., still fall into the guttering system whether or not the mesh material is in situ.
In addition to such mesh materials not functioning to prevent leaves and dirt from entering the filtering the stormwater system particularly well, another major problem caused as a result of the build-up of leaves and other material in guttering system is that the houses or other buildings can become an extreme bushfire risk.
This therefore identifies a need to provide a system and method for being able to more effectively clean out the guttering systems of houses and other buildings, to avoid the build-up of leaves and other debris therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention seeks to provide a solution to the aforementioned problem, or at least an alternative to the presently known methods and systems.
In one broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for pivotally securing a gutter to a fascia such that it may be pivotally moved between a first (draining) position and a second (cleaning) position.
Preferably, the apparatus includes a bracket having an arm outwardly extending therefrom, and, a hinge means provided at a remote end of said arm, said gutter adapted to be secured to said hinge means such that pivotal movement is effected thereabouts.
In one preferred form, said gutter includes an integrally formed connection means for pivotal attachment of said gutter to said hinge means on said arm.
In an alternative, but also preferred form, the apparatus includes a connection means which is adapted to be secured to said gutter and to said hinge means.
Preferably, said connection means is shaped to substantially surround and thereby support said gutter therein.
Also preferably, the extremities of said connection means are formed with deformable tabs thereon, which are adapted to be deformed to at least partially surround lips formed on the edges of said gutter's walls.
Preferably, the apparatus further includes a releasable locking means to lock said gutter in said first (draining) position.
In a further broad form, the present invention provides a gutter adapted to be pivotally secured to a fascia such that it can be pivoted between a first (draining) position and a second (cleaning) position.
Preferably the gutter includes a hinge means for effectively pivotal movement thereabouts.
Also preferably, said apparatus is shaped to complement the profile of the gutter to which it is attached.
Preferably, said arm extends outwards from said connection means in a substantially L-shaped configuration.
In a further broad form, the present invention provides a guttering system which enable pivoted movement of a gutter component between a first (draining) position and a second (cleaning) position.
Preferably, said guttering system pivots upwardly and outwardly from a pivotal axis which is displaced outwards from a fascia to which said guttering system is affixed.
Also preferably, a guttering system is adapted to pivotally move relative to compatible ancillary components including, but not limited to, corner gutter components, downpipe components, etc.
Preferably, a seal is provided between said respective gutter components and/or said compatible ancillary components.
In a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of cleaning a gutter, including the steps of:
-
- pivoting said gutter to a cleaning position, such that the gutter is disposed outwardly relative to its draining position;
removing leaves from said gutter; and,
returning said gutter to said draining position.
Preferably, the tool further includes lock operating means to lock and/or unlock a locking means.
In yet a further broad form, the present invention provides a tool for effecting movement of a gutter system between a first (draining) position and a second (cleaning) position, including a tool having a shaped end adapted to engage with said gutter, said tool being provided on an elongate handle such that said movement may be effected from a substrate surface remote from said gutter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of preferred but non-limiting embodiments thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawing(s), wherein:
Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be used to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated.
As shown in
A gutter bracket 3 is shaped such that it can receive a gutter within its side walls 6 and 7, such that the tabs 8 and 9 extending therefrom, respectively, may be bent to straddle the lip of the gutter (not shown).
Once the gutter bracket 3 is installed to the fascia bracket 2 by alignment of the hinge components 10 and 11, and then affixed by the insertion of the hinge pin 4, which may be held into place by split pin 12, it will be appreciated that the gutter bracket 3 may be pivotally rotated in the direction shown by arrows 13 in
It will be appreciated that the method of cleaning the gutter includes a few simple steps. Firstly, the swivel lock may be rotated, permitting the gutter to be outwardly pivotally moved in the direction shown by arrows 13 in
It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that, when a single piece of guttering is required to be positioned along one edge of a roof, a relatively simple embodiment shown in
It will be appreciated that in most situations, an entirely waterproof seal need not be provided so, for example, the downpipe extension 17 can simply rest intermediate the walls of a downpipe 18. In some situations, it may be more desirable to have a more watertight seal, and it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that this can easily be achieved by the provision of an o-ring type seal or a silicon or rubber type seal between the components. Like seals may also be provided between the various guttering components and cornering components shown in
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention therefore provides a guttering system which may be easily cleaned, such that bushfire hazard build-up of leaves is easily avoided. It will be appreciated that the guttering components of the present invention may be easily combined to form a guttering system, and that numerous variations and modifications are envisaged to the guttering system.
For example, whilst a specific arrangement of components is illustrated in
An example of an alternatively preferred embodiment is shown in
Whilst the guttering system shown in
An alternatively preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in
All these and other variations and modifications which become apparent to persons skilled in the art from a reading of the specification herewith should be considered to fall within the scope of the present invention as broadly hereinbefore described and as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. An apparatus for pivotally securing a gutter to a fascia, such that it may be pivotally moved between a first (draining) position and a second (cleaning) position, said apparatus including:
- a bracket adapted to be attached to said fascia, having an arm outwardly extending therefrom;
- a connector adapted to be attached to said gutter;
- a hinge provided at a remote end of said arm, pivotally connecting said connector to said bracket; and,
- a releasable locking means, to releasably lock said gutter in said first (draining) position.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arm of said bracket extends outwards from said fascia to a distance which is less than the width of said gutter.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1, wherein said gutter includes an integrally formed connection means for pivotal attachment of said gutter to said hinge means on said arm.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a connection means which is adapted to be secured to said gutter and to said hinge means.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said connection means is shaped to substantially surround and thereby support said gutter therein.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the extremities of said connection means are formed with deformable tabs thereon, which are adapted to be deformed to at least partially surround lips formed on the edges of said gutter's walls.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1, wherein said apparatus is shaped to complement the profile of the gutter to which it is attached.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1, wherein said arm extends outwards from said connection means in a substantially L-shaped configuration.
9. A gutter adapted to be pivotally secured to a fascia such that it can be pivoted between a first (draining) position and a second (cleaning) position, said gutter including:
- connector means associated with said gutter which is adapted to cooperate with a hinge, the hinge being provided at a remote end of an arm of a bracket, an outer end of which attached to a fascia,
- whereby said gutter is releasably locked to said bracket in said first (draining) position.
10. A gutter as claimed in claim 9, wherein said arm of said bracket extends outwards from said fascia to a distance which is less than the width of said gutter.
11. A guttering system which enables pivotal movement of a gutter component between a first (draining) position and a second (cleaning) position, said guttering system including:
- at least one gutter component, including straight gutter components, corner gutter components and shaped gutter components;
- connector means attached to each said gutter component;
- at least one bracket, for attachment to a fascia, said bracket having an outwardly extending arm;
- a hinge provided at a remote end of each said arm; and,
- a releasable locking means, to releasably lock each said gutter component in said first (draining) position.
12. A guttering system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each said gutter component pivots substantially upwardly and outwardly from a pivotal axis which is displaced outwards from a fascia to which said guttering system is affixed.
13. A guttering system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said arm of said bracket extends outwards from said fascia to a distance which is less than the width of said gutter.
14. A guttering system as claimed in claims 11, wherein the or each gutter component is adapted to pivotally move relative to compatible ancillary components including, but not limited to, corner gutter components, downpipe components, etc.
15. A guttering system as claimed in claim 14, wherein a seal is provided between said respective gutter components and/or said compatible ancillary components.
16. A method of cleaning a gutter, including the steps of:
- unlocking a locking means of said gutter from a first (draining) position;
- pivoting said gutter to a second cleaning position, such that the gutter is disposed outwardly relative to its draining position;
- removing leaves from said gutter;
- returning said gutter to said first (draining) position; and, relocking said locking means.
17. A tool for effecting movement of a gutter system between a first (draining) position and a second (cleaning) position, including a tool having a shaped end adapted to engage with said gutter, said tool being provided on an elongate handle such that said movement may be effected from a substrate surface remote from said gutter, said tool further including lock operating means to lock and/or unlock a locking means.
18-22. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 17, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 12, 2007
Inventor: James Yilas (Wauchope)
Application Number: 10/579,380
International Classification: E04D 13/00 (20060101);