WO2008134845A1

WO2008134845A1 - Eavestrough mounting assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2008134845A1
Application number: PCT/CA2007/000796
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stéphane Brochu
Original assignee: Brochu Stephane
Priority date: 2007-05-07
Filing date: 2007-05-07
Publication date: 2008-11-13

Abstract

A mounting assembly for mounting an eavestrough, the mounting assembly having a rear section with an inverted U-shaped configuration fitting over a rear wall of the eavestrough, a front section having a hook portion to engage the front of the eavestrough, and a plurality of transverse sections interconnecting the rear and front sections.

Description

EAVESTROUGH MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to eavestroughs and more particularly, relates to an eavestrough support structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of eavestrough or gutters is well known and such eavestrough or gutters are widely utilized. An eavestrough is designed to receive overflow water from the roof of a building such as a residential house. The eavestroughs are disposed along the lower edge of the roof and are typically attached to an upper portion or facia board of an exterior walled building. A common attachment means used for many years has been a nail/ferrule and this attachment has been considered to be one of the strongest supports for eavestroughs. However, such an attachment generally requires more labour and can be problematic in that the gutter can become dented.

Other attachment means are also known such as the so-called "hidden" hangers. The hidden hanger is attached to a facia board by fasteners such as screws. The hidden hanger minimizes the amount of labour to hang the gutter though it is typically not as strong as the nail/ferrule type of attachment.

A typical hidden hanger is shown in United States Patent 6,726,155 to Zimmerman wherein there is provided an elongated body portion which spans the top of the gutter between the front and rear walls. The hanger includes a hook shape portion designed to engage the recess typically formed at the top of the front wall of K type gutters and with a U-shaped portion designed to fit over the top of the rear wall of the gutter. The device includes a guided channel for a fastener which is screwed into the facia board. This arrangement provides a relatively simple way for hanging a gutter; however, the strength of the attachment could be problematic, especially in areas where a weight is applied to the gutter such as snow in winter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hanger structure for an eavestrough.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting assembly for mounting an eavestrough wherein the eavestrough has a rear wall, a front wall, and a bottom wall, the front wall having an inwardly extending portion located at a top edge thereof, the inwardly extending portion defining a recess, the mounting assembly comprising an elongated rear section having an inverted U-shaped configuration designed to fit over the rear wall of the eavestrough, an elongated front section having a horizontal portion and a hook portion, the hook portion being designed to engage the eavestrough within the recess, and a plurality of transverse sections interconnecting the rear and front sections.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in combination, an eavestrough and a mounting assembly, the eavestrough comprising an eavestrough rear wall, an eavestrough front wall, and an eavestrough bottom wall, the eavestrough rear wall, the eavestrough front wall and the eavestrough bottom wall defining an eavestrough having an open top, the eavestrough front wall having an internally extending section defining a recess at an upper end thereof, the mounting assembly comprising an elongated rear section having an inverted U-shaped configuration, the inverted U-shaped configuration fitting over a top of the eavestrough rear wall, an elongated front section having a horizontal portion and a hook portion, the hook portion engaging within the recess formed at an upper end of the eavestrough front wall, and a plurality of transverse sections interconnecting the elongated rear sections and elongated front section.

The mounting assembly of the present invention has, as aforementioned, an elongated rear section which is designed to fit over a gutter rear wall. The elongated rear section has an inverted U-shaped configuration and preferably, in a front wall thereof, there is provided one or more dimples to indicate where the mounting assembly is to be secured to the facia of a building. In this regard, the securing can be done by a mechanical fastener such as a nail or a screw; preferably a screw member is employed.

The front section is adapted to fit within a recess formed at the top of the front wall of the gutter as is conventional in K type gutters. The exact configuration of the recess can vary and accordingly, the configuration of the hook portion of the front section can be varied to fit within the recess and engage and support the gutter. A hook shaped section is shown in United States Patent No. 6,786,008, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Extending between the front and rear sections are a plurality of transverse sections. The transverse sections may be secured to the front and rear section by any suitable mechanical means such as rivets or the like.

The entire mounting assembly is formed of a suitable sheet material (e.g. a metallic or plastic material) and due to the interconnection of the various components, provides a substantial reinforcing of the gutter structure particularly when a load is applied to the gutter. While any suitable sheet material may be utilized, aluminum is a typical sheet material suitable for the purpose.

The mounting assembly can come in various lengths. Thus, a plurality of mounting assemblies may be utilized for any particular eavestrough. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gutter and mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the gutter and mounting assembly; and

Figure 3 is an expanded sectional view of the gutter and mounting assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated an eavestrough generally designated by reference numeral 10 and a mounting assembly generally designated by reference numeral 12.

Eavestrough 10 is of the K type and includes an eavestrough rear wall 16, an eavestrough front wall 18 and an eavestrough bottom wall 20. Walls 16, 18 and 20 define the cavity into which water from a roof R flows. At the upper extremity of eavestrough front wall 18, there is provided an inwardly extending top wall 22 and a downwardly extending diagonal flange 24. Together top wall 22, the upper portion of eavestrough front wall 18 and flange 24 define a recess 26. Naturally, it is understood that other arrangements of a top wall and flange may be utilized to define a suitable recess.

Mounting assembly 12, as may be best seen in Figures 1 and 3, has a rear section generally designated by reference numeral 28. Rear section 28 includes a rear wall 30 and a front wall 32 which are connected by means of bight 34 to define a generally U-shaped configuration. In this respect, rear wall 30 fits between facia F and eavestrough rear wall 16 while front wall 32 fits interiorly of the eavestrough 10. Extending outwardly from the lower end of front wall 32 is a horizontal wall 36.

Mounting assembly 12 also includes a front section generally designated by reference numeral 40. Front section 40 has a horizontal wall 42, a vertical wall 44 and a flange 46. Vertical wall 44 and flange 46 define a hook like member which engages within recess 26.

A plurality of transverse members 50 interconnect horizontal wall 42 of first section 40 and horizontal wall 36 of rear section 28. The connection may conveniently be made by means of rivets 54.

Front wall 32 of rear section 28 is provided with a horizontal line of dimples 58 to assist in the starting of fastening members such as screws 60 which secure the assembly and eavestrough rear wall 16 to facia F.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A mounting assembly for mounting an eavestrough wherein the eavestrough has a rear wall, a front wall, and a bottom wall, said front wall having an inwardly extending portion located at a top edge thereof, said inwardly extending portion defining a recess, said mounting assembly comprising: an elongated rear section having an inverted U-shaped configuration designed to fit over said rear wall of said eavestrough; an elongated front section having a horizontal portion and a hook portion, said hook portion being designed to engage said eavestrough within said recess; and a plurality of transverse sections interconnecting said rear and front sections.

2. The mounting assembly of Claim 1 wherein said rear section, said front section and said transverse sections are formed of a sheet material.

3. The mounting assembly of Claim 2 wherein said sheet material is selected from a metallic and plastic sheet material.

4. The mounting assembly of Claim 3 wherein said transverse sections are secured to said front and rear sections by rivets.

5. The mounting assembly of Claim 1 wherein said rear section has a rear section front wall designed to fit interiorly of said eavestrough rear wall and a rear section rear wall designed to fit rearwardly of said rear wall of said eavestrough, said rear section front wall having dimples formed therein to aid in receiving a fastening member.

6. The mounting assembly of Claim 1 wherein said hook portion comprises a vertical wall extending upwardly from said horizontal portion and a horizontal wall extending inwardly from said vertical wall.

7. In combination, an eavestrough and a mounting assembly, said eavestrough comprising an eavestrough rear wall, an eavestrough front wall, and an eavestrough bottom wall, said eavestrough rear wall, said eavestrough front wall and said eavestrough bottom wall defining an eavestrough having an open top, said eavestrough front wall having an internally extending section defining a recess at an upper end thereof; said mounting assembly comprising an elongated rear section having an inverted U-shaped configuration, said inverted U-shaped configuration fitting over a top of said eavestrough rear wall; an elongated front section having a horizontal portion and a hook portion, said hook portion engaging within said recess formed at an upper end of said eavestrough front wall; and a plurality of transverse sections interconnecting said elongated rear sections and elongated front section.