AU1941700A - Valley gutter - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Application Number: Class Int. Class Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Applicant: STRAMIT CORPORATION LIMITED 6 THOMAS STREET CHATSWOOD NSW 2067

AUSTRALIA

PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK 367 Collins Street MELBOURNE VICTORIA 3000 Tel: (03) 9614 1944 Fax: (03) 9614 1867 Attorney Code: PO Address for service in Australia: Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "VALLEY GUTTER" Our Ref: IRN 571860 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicants: 1 forms\patfonrmcapfons .doc A VALLEY GUTTER The present invention relates generally to guttering systems for roofs.

The invention has particular application as a valley gutter for use at the junction of mutually inclined roofing sections and is herein described in that context.

However, it is to be appreciated that the invention has broader application and may be used in other roofing arrangements such as a channel gutter or the like which is located between adjacent roofing sections which are aligned in generally the same plane.

Roof structures often incorporate valleys where two mutually inclined roofing sections intersect at an acute angle. Valley gutters are commonly used at these junctions and run from a high point such as a ridge down to an eave gutter so as to be able to channel water running off the roofing sections to the eave gutter so as to be carried off to a down pipe or the like.

:"0i Traditionally valley gutters have included two underlying valley boards which are laid side by side across the rafters of the adjacent roofing sections.

These valley boards form a generally configuration and battens are placed over the valley boards to support the edge region of the roofing material of the roofing sections. Prior to placement of the roofing material, a metal sheet formed as a shallow channel is laid over the boards and the battens and o 20 secured in place. This sheet forms a valley gutter and the roofing material is o0* then fixed in position over the battens and overhangs the valley gutter formed.

A problem with previous valley guttering systems is that they are time e* S: consuming to install and are susceptible to leaking. Typically leaking may occur by seepage under the roofing material by inadequate overlap of the sheet over the battens or through perforations made in securing the metal sheet in place.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved gutter section for use between adjacent roofing sections and which is easier to install and is less prone to leaking than these previous systems.

In it's broadest terms, the present invention relates to a guttering section for use at the junction of adjacent roofing sections, the guttering section being formed of sheet material and including a body portion disposed between IRN571-1.DOC 18/02199 opposite side margins, the body portion incorporating spaced upstanding longitudinal ribs which include upper bearing surfaces and which are suitable for use as battens for respective ones of the roofing sections, and a central region disposed between the upstanding ribs the gutter section being arranged such that the ribs and the central region define a longitudinal drainage trough to carry off water discharging off the roofing sections.

An advantage of the present invention is that it substantially reduces the components required to make up the gutter as compared to previous systems.

The upstanding ribs not only replace the need for separate battens, but also provides strength to the resulting structure thereby enabling the guttering section to be directly supported on the spaced rafters or other underlying structure of the roof sections and be trafficable without requiring an supporting structure, such as valley boards to extend along the gutter length. Further, making the gutter a unitary structure ensures the integrity of the system thereby 15 minimises the likelihood of leakage by water penetration.

The guttering section is ideally suited for use at a roof valley where mutually inclined roofing sections intersect at an acute angle. In this arrangement, preferably the ribs are inclined inwardly towards one another so that the upper bearing surfaces of the ribs will be able to generally align with 20 the plane of the respective mutually inclined roofing sections.

In a particularly preferred form, the central region is formed as a shallow channel having a pair of diverging side portions which interconnect a substantially flat base portion. An advantage of this arrangement is that is increases the water carrying capacity of the trough as compared to a planar central region. Further the flat base portion of the central region provides a convenient space for foot traffic to walk along the gutter either prior to roof installation or after the roof has been finished.

Preferably in the arrangement where the guttering section is used as a valley gutter, the side portions of the central region are configured so as to be generally aligned with the slope of the mutually inclined roofing sections so that the side portion can locate on the rafters of respective ones of the roofing IRN571~1.DOC 18/02/99 sections. In this way, the side portions are generally parallel to the plane of the bearing surface of respective ones of the adjacent upstanding ribs.

Preferably the central region incorporate at least one pair of minor ribs.

These ribs which in a preferred form are disposed on respective ones of the side portions of the central region reinforce the central region and also reduce any distortion in the profile caused during forming of the section. Furthermore, the ribs are preferably positioned so as to provide a visual guide as to the length of the roof projection into the trough of the guttering section.

Preferably the side margins incorporate a tail portion which provides a fixing location to secure the guttering section to the underlying roofing structure.

The side margin also provides a ledge to support and fix the ends of the roof battens which intersect with the valley.

~Further, preferably the terminal edge of the side margins is rolled over.

This rolled over edge acts as a safety edge to protect users, both in manufacture and installation, and also enables the side margins to act as secondary water drains catching any water that may flow over the edge of the batten even though such an occurrence is unlikely.

Preferably, at least one of either the bearing surface of the ribs or the tail regions of the side margins have a dimpled top surface. The purpose of this 20 dimpled top surface is to prevent skidding of the roof fasteners. It also S.improves the engagement of the fastener with the guttering section thereby improving the withdrawal load.

Preferably the guttering section is configured from a roll forming process, although other forming processes such as those involving folding or pressing may be used.

Accordingly the present invention provides a guttering section with improved performance over existing systems yet which is easier to install.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valley guttering section; and IRN571-1.DOC 18/02/99 Figure 2 is a sectional end view of the guttering section when installed in a roof.

As illustrated, a valley gutter section 10 is disclosed which is made from sheet metal. The section is formed by a roll forming process which both shapes the section and provides dimples to components of the gutter as will be discussed in more detail below.

The guttering section 10 is notionally divided to include a body potion 11 and side margins 12. The body portion includes a central region 13 and a pair of upstanding ribs 14. With this arrangement, the ribs 14 and central region 13 define a drainage trough 15 for the guttering section with inner sides 16 of the ribs 14 forming marginal sides of the drainage trough The guttering section is designed for use at a roof valley which is formed at the junction of mutually inclined roofing sections 101, 102 which meet at an °i acute angle. The upstanding ribs have a dual function of strengthening the resulting structure to enable the guttering section 10 to be trafficable and also to act as battens to support roofing material 103. The roofing material may be metal cladding or tiles or the like. To be suitable for this purpose, the section 10 is of generally shape with the ribs 14 being inclined towards each other. In this way the upper bearing surfaces 17 of the ribs are aligned S 20 generally in the plane of the respecting roofing sections 101,102.

l i The central region 13 is of a shallow channel form having diverging side regions 18 which are connected to a flat base portion 18. The side regions are Salso generally aligned with the plane of the respecting roofing sections 101, 102 S"so as to be easily located on and be supported by, rafters 104, 105 or other underlying structure of the roofing sections.

The flat base portion 18 of the central region provides a convenient space for foot traffic to walk along the gutter either prior to roof installation or after the roof has been finished.

The side portions 18 also include ribs 20. These ribs are substantially smaller than the batten ribs 14 and in the illustrated form, a pair of ribs 20 is incorporated in each side portion 18. The ribs assist in reinforcing the central region and also reduce any distortion in the profile, commonly called "oil IRN571-1.DOC 18102199 canning" which may occur during forming of the section. Furthermore the ribs are positioned so as to provide a visual guide as to the length of the roofing material 103 which projects over the battens 14 into the trough 15 of the guttering section.

Each of the side margins 12 incorporates a tail portion 21 which is aligned with the side portion of the central region 13 and provides a fixing location to secure the guttering section to the underlying roofing structure. The side margins also provide a ledge to support and fix the ends of roof battens 108 which intersect with the valley. Whilst not shown, these battens are secured to the side margins 12 by fasteners which extend through the tail portion 21.

The terminal edge 22 of each side margin is rolled over such that a safety edge is formed which protects users, both in manufacture and installation and also gives the side margin the capability to carry water along the guttering section. In this way, the side margins form secondary water drains which are adapted to catch any water that may flow over the edge of the battens.

The guttering section 10 is secured to the underlying structure 104, 105 by fasteners which extend through the side margins. To improve the fixing 20 action of the guttering section to this underlying structure, the tails 21 of the 0 0 side margins 12 include a dimpled surface. This dimpled surface is formed by moving the sheet through a pair of opposed rollers, each roller having an array l" of projections which are designed to intermesh. This dimpled surface prevents skidding of the roof fasteners as they are being secured in place and also improves the engagement of the fastener with the gutter section thereby improving the withdrawal load. Typically the guttering section is secured by self taping screws 106 of the like.

The ribs are sized so as to be able to be used in conjunction with conventional timber battens as well as metal battens such as those sold by the applicant. When the roofing material 103 is in the form of sheet metal, fasteners 107 are driven through the roofing material and into the bearing surface 17 of the respective ribs 14. These fasteners are typically tex screws or IRN571-1.DOC 18102199 the like and the bearing surface 17 of the ribs is dimpled in a similar fashion to the side margins to improve engagement of the fastener with the guttering section to thereby improve the withdrawal load. Further, metal battens typically include outwardly extending flanges which can be fixed to the side margins 12 by similar fasteners (not shown) to those used to secure the side margins 12 to the rafters 104, 105.

In installation of the valley gutter, the guttering section 10 is laid over the rafters 104, 105 of the adjoining roof sections 102, 101, and is secured in place by the fasteners 106 being driven through the side margins 12 into the rafters.

The roofing material is then placed in position with the inner ribs 20 acting as visual guides to assist in locating and aligning the roofing material correctly.

Once correctly positioned the roofing material is then fixed in place merely by driving the fasteners 107 through the roofing material and into the upper °bearing surface 17 of the respective ribs.

It will be appreciated that variations and or modifications can be made to the parts and arrangements previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

oo IRN571-1.DOC 18102199

Claims (11)

1. A guttering section for use at the junction of adjacent roofing sections, the guttering section being formed of sheet material and including a body portion disposed between opposite side margins, the body portion incorporating spaced upstanding longitudinal ribs which include upper bearing surfaces and which are suitable for use as battens for respective ones of the roofing sections,and a central region disposed between the upstanding longitudinal ribs, the guttering section being arranged such that the ribs and the central region define a longitudinal drainage trough to carry off water discharging off the roofing section.

2. A guttering section according to claim 1, wherein the guttering section is arranged for use at the junction between mutually inclined roofing sections, and wherein the bearing surfaces are inclined relative to one another so as to be substantially parallel to respective ones of said roofing sections.

3. A guttering section according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the central 15 region includes a substantially flat base portion and two side portions.

4. A guttering section according to claim 3, wherein each side portion lies in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the bearing surface of its adjacent longitudinal rib.

5. A guttering section according to any preceding claim, wherein the central 20 region incorporates at least one minor longitudinal rib.

6. A guttering section according to claim 5, wherein dependent on claim 3, Swherein each side region includes a said longitudinal rib intermediate the base S•portion at its adjacent longitudinal rib.

7. A guttering section according to any preceding claim, wherein the side margins include a tail portion which provides a fixing location to secure the guttering section to an underlying structure.

8. A guttering section according to any preceding claim, wherein the terminal edge of the side margins is rolled over to form a raised lip at the outer edge of each side margin. IRN571-1.,OC:2/16iO

9. A guttering section according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of either of the bearing surfaces of the longitudinal ribs or the tail region of either of the tail portions have a dimpled surface.

A guttering section according to any preceding claim, wherein the guttering section is configured from a roll forming process.

11. A guttering section substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 23 February 2000 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for STRAMIT CORPORATION LIMITED ft fftf *e °e* IRN571-1.DOC:2/16/O0