FIELD

[0001] The invention concerns a gutter installation. In one particular but non-exclusive aspect the invention concerns a gutter installation wherein a box gutter is covered with gutter mesh. In a further aspect the invention concerns a gutter mesh fastener for securing gutter mesh in position across a box gutter.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A rain gutter is a water collection channel which forms part of the water discharge system of a building. There are various reasons to prevent the uncontrolled flow of water from the roof of a building. Those reasons include preventing moisture damage to the walls of a building, directing water to a desirable site where it can be disposed of without causing damage to the foundations of the building and to deter persons entering or exiting a building being drenched by water flowing down the roof.

[0003] It is well known that leaves and other debris tend to accumulate inside a gutter. Such accumulation is undesirable as it will impede the flow of water inside the gutter and could lead to water pushing into the roof of the building causing damage to the interior of the building. Another problem with the accumulation of leaves and other flammable debris inside a gutter is that such matter could pose a fire hazard which may be set alight by burning embers emanating from a bushfire.

[0004] To prevent water damage resulting from clogged gutters it is necessary to clean gutters on a regular basis. As an alternative to regular cleaning, it is possible to deter the accumulation of leaves and other debris within a gutter. This can be achieved by installing a gutter guard across the openside of a gutter. One example of a typical gutter guard includes a permeable mesh which prevents leaves and other debris from entering the gutter while simultaneously allowing water flowing from the roof to pass into the gutter to be fed away to a desirable discharge site.

[0005] Industrial buildings often employ so-called box gutters. One reason a box gutter is referred to as such is because of its “boxy” shape. The main reason for the name, however, is that box gutters are “boxed in” or enclosed so that they are normally not visible when the outside of a building is viewed from ground level. Due to the nature of the installation of a box gutter it is problematic to fit a mesh gutter in position with the result that box gutters of industrial buildings typically do not have gutter guards and as a result require regular cleaning with the associated cost.

OBJECT

[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide an alternative gutter installation wherein a box gutter is covered with a gutter mesh and to provide an alternative gutter mesh fastener to facilitate fastening of gutter mesh across a box gutter. Another object is to provide an alternative gutter installation wherein gutter mesh covers an external or eaves gutter.

SUMMARY

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed herein a gutter installation secured at an edge of a roof of a building including: a gutter having a gutter channel to receive water flowing from the roof; gutter mesh to cover at least a portion of the gutter channel; and a gutter mesh fastener operatively adapted to secure the gutter mesh to the edge of the roof, the gutter mesh fastener including (i) a fastener body mounted to a top surface of the roof and secured at the edge of the roof, and (ii) a plurality of fastener teeth outwardly extending from the fastener body, the fastener teeth operatively adapted to pass through mesh openings of the gutter mesh to secure the gutter mesh to the roof.

[0008] Preferably the fastener body incudes a planar surface operatively adapted to abut an upper surface of the roof.

[0009] Preferably the fastener teeth are laterally spaced apart along the fastener body.

[0010] Preferably each fastener tooth extends longitudinally outwardly from the fastener body to a distal tooth end.

[0011] Preferably each fastener tooth tapers inwardly from the fastener body to its respective distal tooth end.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment the gutter mesh fastener includes a ridge fastener body secured to the fastener body and angled relative fastener body.

[0013] Preferably the gutter mesh fastener is secured to the roof with a mechanical fastener. [0014] Preferably each fastener tooth has an arrowhead shape at their respective distal tooth ends.

[0015] Preferably the gutter incudes first and second opposing, laterally spaced apart co extensive gutter walls which define the gutter channel, the first wall being located proximate the edge of the roof and the second wall being laterally spaced apart from the edge of the roof.

[0016] Preferably the second wall of the gutter is secured to a wall of the building.

[0017] Preferably the wall is a parapet wall.

[0018] Preferably the gutter installation includes a support formation operatively adapted to secure a portion of the gutter mesh proximate the second wall of the gutter.

[0019] Preferably the support formation includes an elongate support member secured to the wall.

[0020] Preferably the support formation includes an elongate support mesh fastener operatively adapted to secure the gutter mesh to the support member.

[0021] Preferably the support mesh fastener includes (i) a support spine adapted to be secured to the support member, and (ii) a plurality of support teeth outwardly extending from the support spine, the support teeth operatively adapted to pass through mesh openings of the gutter mesh to secure the gutter mesh to the support member.

[0022] Preferably the support spine is secured to the support member.

[0023] Preferably the support spine is secured to the support member with a mechanical fastener.

[0024] In a further aspect there is disclosed a gutter mesh fastener operatively adapted to secure gutter mesh to an edge of a roof, the gutter mesh fastener including (i) a fastener body operatively adapted to be mounted to a top surface of the roof and secured at the edge of the roof, and (ii) a plurality of fastener teeth outwardly extending from the fastener body, the fastener teeth operatively adapted to pass through mesh openings of the gutter mesh to secure the gutter mesh to the roof.

[0025] Preferably the fastener body incudes a planar surface operatively adapted to abut a surface of the roof.

[0026] Preferably the fastener teeth are laterally spaced apart along the fastener body. [0027] Preferably each fastener tooth extends longitudinally outwardly from the fastener body to a distal tooth end.

[0028] Preferably each fastener tooth tapers inwardly from the fastener body to its respective distal tooth end.

[0029] Preferably the gutter mesh fastener includes a ridge fastener body secured to the fastener body and angled relative to fastener body.

[0030] Preferably each fastener tooth has an arrowhead shape at their respective distal tooth ends.

[0031] According to a further aspect there is disclosed a support mesh fastener including (i) a support spine operatively associated with gutter mesh to be secured in position, and (ii) a plurality of support teeth outwardly extending from the support spine, the support teeth operatively adapted to grip the gutter mesh to secure the gutter mesh in position, wherein the support teeth are arranged in two opposing rows located on opposite sides of the support spine.

[0032] According to yet further aspect there is disclosed a support mesh fastener including (i) a support spine operatively associated with gutter mesh to be secured in position, and (ii) a plurality of support teeth outwardly extending from the support spine, the support teeth operatively adapted to grip the gutter mesh to secure the gutter mesh in position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompany drawings, wherein:

[0034] Figure 1 is a top view of a portion of an embodiment gutter installation;

[0035] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of portion 2 marked in Figure 1;

[0036] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of portion 3 marked in Figure 1 showing a first embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0037] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view at the line IV-IV in Figure 1;

[0038] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view at the line V-V in Figure 1;

[0039] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the gutter installation of Figure 1; [0040] Figure 7 is an enlarged view of portion 7 marked in Figure 6;

[0041] Figure 8 is a further perspective view of the gutter installation of Figure 1;

[0042] Figure 9 is an enlarged view of portion 9 marked in Figure 8 showing a first embodiment support mesh fastener;

[0043] Figure 10 is a side view of the gutter installation of Figure 1;

[0044] Figure 11 is an enlarged view of portion 11 marked in Figure 10;

[0045] Figure 12 is an enlarged view of portion 12 marked in Figure 10;

[0046] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a second embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0047] Figure 14 is a perspective view of a third embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0048] Figure 15 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0049] Figure 16 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0050] Figure 17 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0051] Figure 18 is a perspective view of a portion of a second embodiment gutter installation;

[0052] Figure 19 is an enlarged view of portion 19 marked in Figure 18 showing a seventh embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0053] Figure 20 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0054] Figure 21 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0055] Figure 22 is a perspective view of a tenth embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0056] Figure 23 is a perspective view of an eleventh embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0057] Figure 24 is a perspective view of a twelfth embodiment gutter mesh fastener;

[0058] Figure 25 is a perspective view of a third embodiment gutter installation; and [0059] Figure 26 is a side view of a fourth embodiment gutter installation. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0060] Figures 1 to 12 show an embodiment gutter installation, generally indicated with the reference numeral 50, secured at an edge 52 of a roof 54 of a building 56. The gutter installation 50 includes a gutter 58, shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment the gutter 58 is of the type referred to as a box gutter as it is enclosed behind a wall 55 to be hidden from view. The gutter 58 defines a gutter channel 60 to receive water flowing from the roof 54 and to feed such water away from the building 56. It will of course be appreciated that the below described installation is not limited to box gutter installations and could be employed for various different gutters such as external or eaves gutters.

[0061] The gutter installation 50 includes a strip of gutter mesh 62 which covers the gutter channel 60. The gutter mesh 62 serves to prevent leaves and other debris from entering the gutter 58 while simultaneously allowing water flowing from the roof 54 to pass into the gutter 58 to be fed away from the building to a desirable discharge site.

[0062] The gutter installation 50 includes a plurality of embodiment gutter mesh fasteners 64 operatively adapted to secure the gutter mesh 62 to the edge 52 of the roof 54. Referring to Figures 4 and 12, each gutter mesh fastener 64 includes a fastener body 66, operatively adapted to be mounted to a top surface of the roof and secured at the edge of the roof 54, and a plurality of fastener teeth 68 which outwardly extend from the fastener body 66. The fastener teeth 68 are operatively adapted to grip or pass through mesh openings 70 of the gutter mesh 62 to secure the gutter mesh 62 to the roof 54. As shown in Figure 7 the fastener body 66 incudes a planar surface 72 operatively adapted to abut a flat upper surface 74 of the roof 54. It is pointed out that the roof 54 is provided in the form of roofing / walling metal having a plurality of ridges 76 spaced apart by flat sections 78. The gutter mesh fasteners 64 are secured in position to the flat sections 78. An upwardly bent portion 80 of gutter mesh 62 covers an opening 82 at the end of the ridge 76 in Figure 4.

[0063] Figure 4 shows that fastener teeth 68 of each gutter mesh fastener 64 are laterally spaced apart along the length of its respective fastener body 66. Each fastener tooth 68 further extends longitudinally outwardly from the fastener body 66 to a distal tooth end 84. As shown, each fastener tooth 68 tapers inwardly from the fastener body 66 to its respective distal tooth end 84. The gutter mesh fasteners 64 are each respectively secured to the roof 54 with a single mechanical fastener 86, here in the form of a roofing bolt. [0064] The gutter 58 incudes first and second opposing, laterally spaced apart co-extensive gutter walls 88, 90 which define the gutter channel 60. The first gutter wall 88 is located proximate the edge 52 of the roof 54 and the second gutter wall 90 being laterally spaced apart from the edge 52 of the roof 54. The second gutter wall 90 of the gutter 58 is secured to the wall 55, here a parapet wall, of the building 56.

[0065] The gutter installation 50 includes a support formation 92 operatively adapted to secure a portion of the gutter mesh 62 proximate the second gutter wall 90 of the gutter 58. In this embodiment the support formation 92 includes an elongate support member 94 secured to the wall 55. The support member 94 is an angle iron which is mounted to the wall 55 with a plurality of mechanical fasteners, here bolts 95. The support formation 92 includes an elongate support mesh fastener 96 operatively adapted to secure the gutter mesh 62 to the support member 94.

[0066] The support mesh fastener 96 includes a support spine 98 adapted to be secured to the support member 94. The support mesh fastener 96 further includes a plurality of serrated support teeth 100 outwardly extending from the support spine 98. The support teeth 100 are arranged in two opposing teeth rows 101, 103 which are located on opposite sides of the support spine 98. The support teeth 100 are operatively adapted to grip the gutter mesh 70 or to pass through at least some of the openings 70 of the gutter mesh 62 to secure the gutter mesh 62 to the support member 94. The support spine 98 is secured to the support member 94 with mechanical fasteners 102, provided in the form of bolts.

[0067] The gutter mesh fastener 64 is produced by providing a non-illustrated strip of metal whereafter the shape of the fastener teeth 68 is punched from the strip of metal and the fastener teeth 68 are bent into an appropriate form.

[0068] Figures 13 and 14 show a second and third embodiment gutter mesh fastener 104, 106. The gutter mesh fasteners 104, 106 operate in a manner similar to the gutter mesh fastener 64 with the difference that the gutter mesh fastener 104 includes 6 fastener teeth 68 while the gutter mesh fastener 106 includes 12 fastener teeth 68. It will be appreciated that the gutter mesh fasteners 104, 106 can have any number of fastener teeth 68 and are not limited to 6 or 12 fastener teeth and also need not be evenly spaced apart. The fastener body 66 of each gutter mesh fastener 104, 106 includes a fastener hole 108 through which a mechanical fastener can pass. It will be appreciated that the fastener bodies 66 need not include fastener holes 108 and that the holes can be created during installation when a fastener is forced to pass through a fastener body 66. [0069] Figures 15, 16 and 17 show fourth, fifth and sixth embodiment gutter mesh fasteners 110, 112, 114 which are produced by providing a strip of non-illustrated metal whereafter the shape of the fastener teeth 68 is punched out from the strip of metal and bent into the desired form.

[0070] Figures 18 and 19 show a second embodiment gutter installation 120. This embodiment differs from the gutter installation 50 in that an alternative gutter mesh fastener 122 is provided. The gutter mesh fastener 122 includes a fastener body 124 operatively adapted to be mounted to a top surface of the roof 54 and secured at the edge of the roof 54. The gutter mesh fastener 122 further includes a plurality of fastener teeth 126 outwardly extending from the fastener body 124. The fastener teeth 126 are operatively adapted to pass through mesh openings 70 of the gutter mesh 62 to secure the gutter mesh 62 to the roof 54. The gutter mesh fastener 122 includes a ridge fastener body 128 secured to the fastener body 124 and angled relative to the fastener body 124. The gutter mesh fastener 122 is secured to a ridge 76 of the roof 54 with a mechanical fastener 130 which passes through the ridge fastener body 128. The gutter mesh fastener 122 is formed by pressing the fastener teeth 126 in the manner described above. It is pointed out that the gutter mesh fastener 122 has a left-hand and right-hand embodiment located on opposite sides of the ridge 76.

[0071] Figures 20 and 21 show eighth and ninth embodiment gutter mesh fasteners 132, 134 similar to the gutter mesh fastener 122. The gutter mesh fasteners 132, 134 are left-hand and right-hand versions operatively adapted for location on opposite sides of a ridge of roof. In this embodiment the fastener teeth 126 are punched from a non-illustrated strip of metal whereafter the fastener teeth 126 are bent into the appropriate form.

[0072] Figures 22, 23 and 24 show tenth, eleventh and twelve embodiment gutter mesh fasteners 140, 142, 144 which operate in the manner of the above described gutter mesh fasteners. The gutter mesh fasteners 140, 142, 144 include fastener teeth 146 which extend outwardly from their fastener bodies 148 toward a distal tooth end 150. The fastener teeth 146 of the gutter mesh fasteners 140, 142, 144 each have arrowhead shaped distal tooth ends 150.

[0073] Figure 25 shows a third embodiment gutter installation 160. In the gutter installation 160 a wall 162 is provided which is lower in height relative to a roof 164 of a building than is the case with the first embodiment gutter installation 50 of Figure 1. It is, therefore, not necessary in the gutter installation 160 to provide a support member 94 as the support mesh fastener 96 can be secured directly on a top flat surface 166 of the wall 162. As is the case with the first embodiment gutter installation 160, serrated support teeth 100 of the support mesh fastener 96 are operatively adapted to pass through mesh openings 70 of the gutter mesh 62 to secure the gutter mesh 62 to wall 162.

[0074] The description above has focussed on box-gutter type installations. It would of course be readily appreciated that the disclosed gutter installations may also be employed for external or eaves gutters. Such a fourth embodiment gutter installation is illustrated in Figure 26 and indicated with the reference numeral 170. In the gutter installation 170 gutter mesh 62 is employed to cover an eaves gutter 172. The gutter mesh 62 is secured to a roof 174 of a building with the use of gutter mesh fasteners 64 in the manner described previously. At an opposite end the gutter mesh 64 is secured to the eaves gutter 172 with screws 176. To provide a neat finish a trim 178 is secured to an outside of the eaves gutter 172 with the use of the screws 176.

[0075] It is pointed out that the fastener teeth 68 of gutter mesh fastener 64 could be folded over and crushed with an item of hardware such as pliers to hold the mesh for alternative applications. In effect the fastener teeth 68 can be angled between 0° and 180° depending on the configuration of the structure where the gutter mesh fastener 64 is to be employed.

[0076] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

KEY

50 Gutter installation

52 Edge

54 Roof

55 Wall

56 Building

58 Gutter

60 Gutter channel

62 Gutter mesh

64 Gutter mesh fastener

66 Fastener body

68 Fastener teeth

70 Mesh openings

72 Planar surface

74 Upper surface Ridge Flat section Upwardly bent portion Opening Distal tooth end Mechanical fastener First gutter wall Second gutter wall Support formation Support member Mechanical fastener Support mesh fastener Support spine Support teeth Row of support teeth Row of support teeth Mechanical fastener

Second embodiment gutter mesh fastener Third embodiment gutter mesh fastener Fastener hole

Fourth embodiment gutter mesh fastener Fifth embodiment gutter mesh fastener Sixth embodiment gutter mesh fastener Second embodiment gutter installation Seventh embodiment gutter mesh fastener Fastener body Fastener teeth Ridge fastener body Mechanical fastener

Eighth embodiment gutter mesh fastener Ninth embodiment gutter mesh fastener Tenth embodiment gutter mesh fastener Eleventh embodiment gutter mesh fastener Twelfth embodiment gutter mesh fastener Fastener teeth Fastener body Distal tooth end Third embodiment gutter installation Wall Roof Top flat surface Fourth embodiment gutter installation Eaves gutter Roof Screws Trim