GB2335677A

GB2335677A - Box gutter for conservatory roof

Info

Publication number: GB2335677A
Application number: GB9907044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Arthur Rodgers
Original assignee: CDW Products Ltd
Current assignee: CDW Products Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-27
Filing date: 1999-03-26
Publication date: 1999-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-26
Also published as: GB9907044D0; GB9806496D0; GB2335677B

Abstract

A box gutter (2) comprises first and second upstanding walls (6,4) connected by a base (8). A cantilever arm (16) is attached to the first wall (6) which in turn supports an eaves beam (30). The eaves beam is adapted to support roofing members (not shown). The second upstanding wall (4) is securable to an adjacent supporting structure, for example a wall (W), such that the roof load carried by the eaves beam is borne by the wall (W).

Description

1 Title:- Box Gutter for Conservatory Roof 2335677 This invention relates

to roofs incorporating rainwater gutters and more particularly to conservatory roofs incorporating box gutters. Box gutters are generally required where a pitched roof slopes downwardly to meet an external wall of an adjacent building and which serves as an end wall for the conservatory itself. The box gutter is attached to the external wall and supports the eaves end of that section of the roof which slopes towards the wall. In a known conservatory roof structure a ring beam for supporting rafters also incorporates a gutter (herein a "ring beam gutter) which runs continuously under the eaves of the roof. Where the roof slopes towards the wall of an adjacent building A 'box gutter' is constructed by fixing an L shaped member to an adjacent wall to provide structural support for the ring beam gutter.

There are a number of disadvantages with a roof structure in which a ring beam gutter is supported by a 'box' or other structural member to the adjacent wall. In some applications, it is desirable that the capacity of the gutter adjacent to the wall is greater than the capacity of the conventional ring beam gutter to reduce the risk of the supporting wall being flooded. It may not be possible or desirable, for example, to install sufficient down-pipes at suitably spaced positions along the wall due to the location of drains or to the position of existing doors and windows in the wall, or for some other reason. Some walls are also formed with structural features such as recesses or breasts and fabricating ring beam box gutter structures to conform to such features may be a time consuming operation. Moreover the known method of supporting box gutters and the adjacent roof by heavy brackets results in an unsightly appearance. The box gutter of the present invention may readily connected to a conventional ring beam gutter by means of mating adapters.

2 The present invention facilitates the construction of a conservatory roof, dispenses with unsightly fixings for roof support and improves drainage capacity from the roof section failing to the box gutter and facilitates fitting the gutter to recesses or breast work on a wall.

In one aspect, the invention consists of rigid box gutter member for supporting a roof structure, having first and second upstanding walls and a base extending between the said walls, means provided on the first wall to carry an eaves beam supporting roof rafters, the second wall being securable to a fixed supporting structure whereby the roof load carried by the eaves beam is transmitted to the said fixed supporting structure. Preferably, the means for carrying the eaves beam comprises a cantilever arm extending from the first wall. Preferably, the first wall is provided with retaining means for retaining the eaves beam in position on the cantilever arm. More preferably the cantilever arm is mounted on the box gutter by complimentary inter-engaging formations provided respectively on the meeting sides of the box gutter and the cantilever armIn a further aspect, this invention consists in conservatory roof having a pitched roof section which falls towards an adjacent structure, a gutter member being provided having a first wall and a second wall a base extending between the walls, the first wall being provided with a projecting arm; an eaves beam being carried on the said arm and supporting a plurality of rafters; the second wall of the gutter member directly secured to an adjacent supporting structure by fixing means passing through the second wall.

3 In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross section through a box gutter having an eaves beam mounted thereon; Figure 2(i) to (iv) are isometric views of vahous left and right handed adapters for connecting a box gutter section to a pvc-U gutter section. Figure 2(v) shows isometric views of ieft and right handed box gutter end closures.

Referring to Figure 1, the box gutter 2 is a structural aluminium alloy extrusion having an outer wall 4 an inner wall 6 and a base 8 extending between the two walls. The corner portion between wall 6 and base 8 is reinforced by a web 10 having formed therein a channel 12 of C shaped cross section which opens into a recess 14 formed along the lower end portion of the wall 6. The cantilever arm 16 has an upstanding leg 18 formed with a outwardly projecting web 20 terminating in a bead 22 which is located in the complimentarily shaped channel 12 by sliding fit.

The upper end portion of wall 6 is provided with a channel 24 for engagement with a complimentary formation 24' on ring beam 30 which is fixed to and supported by cantilever arm 16. The ring beam 30 runs continuously beneath the roof eaves and is more fully described in our co-pending patent application No. of even date herewith.

Various adapters as illustrated in Figures 2(i) -(iv) are provided to connect box gutter 2 to pvc-U gutters fitted beneath eaves sections where a box gutter is not required.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2(iv) (a) a straight adapter in the form of a vacuum formed plastics moulding has a first tray-like section 26 which is dimensioned and shaped to fit the internal contour of the box gutter 2; a partition wall 32 and a second tray-like section 28 projecting outwardly from wall 32, the section 28 having 4 a male profile adapted to mate with a female gutter channel (not shown) to which the box gutter is to be connected. A series of such adapters having left hand right hand and angled bends may be provided as illustrated in Figures 2(i)-(iii) and a blanking adapter shown in Figure 2(v) may be provided to close off an end of the box gutter 2 where required.

The outer wall 4 of the box gutter 2 is slightly higher than the wall 6 to facilitate the introduction of fixings through the upper edge portion of the outer wall 6 a v shaped groove 34 being provided along the interior side to help locate the bit of a power tool when making holes to receive fixings which secure the gutter to the external wall W of an adjacent structure which abuts the flat external side of the gutter wall 4.

The new box gutter facilitates the construction of the roof where a box gutter is required. The new method of constructing the roof comprises first fixing the box gutter 2 to the wall of an adjacent building by fixings passing through holes made along the V groove 34, which fixings are concealed from view from ground level. The required adapters may then be fitted to the box gutter and connected to the eaves gutter system. The cantilever arm 16 is slid into engagement with the gutter 2 and ring beam 30 located thereon by means of the inter-engaging formations 24 and 24' The base of ring beam 30 is fixed to the cantilever arm by self tapping screws 36. A rafters not shown may then be located on each of the ring beam swivels 30' at the required angle and are fixed and glazed, the lower edge of the giazing panels being arranged to overhang the box gutter 2. A cladding panel 38 may be clipped by clips 40 provided on the exterior of the base of the channel and on the underside of the cantilever arm.

Claims

Claims.

1. A rigid box gutter member for supporting a roof structure, having first and second upstanding walls and a base extending between the said walls, means provided on the first wall to carry an eaves beam supporting roof rafters, the second wall being securable to a fixed supporting structure whereby the roof load carried by the eaves beam is transmitted to the said fixed supporting structure.

2. A box gutter as claimed in Claim 1 in which the means for carrying the eaves beam comprises a cantilever arm extending from the first wall

3. A box gutter as claimed in Claim 2 in which the first wall is provided with retaining means for retaining the eaves beam in position on the cantilever arm.

4. A box gutter as claimed in Claims 2 or 3 in which the cantilever arm is mounted on the box gutter by complimentary inter-engaging formations provided respectively on the meeting sides of the box gutter and the cantilever arm.

5. A box gutter as claimed in Claim 4 in which an end portion of the cantilever arm is formed with an upstanding leg to abut the adjacent edge portion of the box gutter, the leg carrying a projecting formation engageable by sliding action in a complimentary channel formation provided in the edge portion of the box gutter 6. A box gutter as claimed in Claim 5 in which the channel formation is formed in a relatively thickened lower edge portion of the box gutter.

6

7. A box gutter as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the walls of the box gutter provided with formations for retaining an end closure member or for retaining an adapter for connecting the box gutter to a conventional gutter.

8. A box gutter as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the said second wail is adapted to be attached to an adjacent supporting wall.

9. A box gutter as claimed in Claim 8 in which the second wall is higher than the first wall to facilitate the introduction of fixing means for securing the box gutter to an adjacent supporting wall.

10. A box gutter as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the base is provided with formations adapted to retain a cladding member to the underside of the gutter.

11. A box gutter as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the cantilever arm is provided with formations adapted to retain a cladding element to the underside of the arm.