I. BACKGROUND
A rain gutter, eavestrough, eaves-shoot or surface water collection channel is a component of a water discharge system for a building. It is necessary to prevent water dripping or flowing oft roofs in an uncontrolled manner for several reasons: to prevent it damaging the walls, drenching persons standing below or entering the building, and to direct the water to a suitable disposal site where it will not damage the—foundations of the building. In the case of a flat roof, removal of water is essential to prevent water ingress and to prevent a build-up of excessive weight, Gutters prevent water ingress into the fabric of the building by channeling the rainwater away from the exterior of the walls and their foundations. Water running down the walk causes dampness in the affected rooms and provides a favorable environment for growth of mold, and wet rot in timber.
A rain gutter may be a 1) Roof integral trough along the lower edge of the roof slope which is fashioned from the roof covering and flashing materials; 2) Discrete trough of metal, or other material that is suspended beyond the roof edge and below the projected slope of the roof; or 3) Wall integral structure beneath the roof edge, traditionally constructed of masonry, fashioned as the crowning element of a wall.
A roof must be designed with a suitable fall to allow the rainwater to discharge. The water drains into a gutter that is fed into a downpipe. A flat roof should have a watertight surface with a minimum finished fall of 1 in 80. They can drain internally or to an eaves gutter, which has a minimum 1 in 360 fall towards the downpipe. The pitch of a pitched roof is determined by the construction material of the covering. For slate this will be at 25%, for machine made tiles it will be 35%. Water falls towards a parapet gutter, a valley gutter, or an eaves gutter. When two pitched roofs meet at an angle, they also form a pitched valley gutter: the join is sealed with valley flashing. Parapet gutters and valley gutters discharge into internal rainwater pipes or directly into external down pipes at the end of the run.
Water collected by a rain gutter is fed, usually via a downpipe (also called a leader or conductor), from the roof edge to the base of the building where it is either discharged or collected. The down pipe can terminate in a shoe and discharge directly onto the surface, but using modern construction techniques would be connected through an inspection chamber to a drain that led to a surface water drain or soakaway. Alternatively it would connect via a gulley (u-bend) with 50 mm water seal to a combined drain. Water from rain gutters may be harvested in a rain barrel or a cistern. Rain gutters can be equipped with gutter screens, micro mesh screens, louvers, or solid hoods to allow water from the roof to flow through, while reducing passage of roof debris into the gutter. Clogged gutters can also cause water ingress into the building as the water backs up. Clogged gutters can also lead to stagnant water build up which in some climates allows mosquitoes to breed.
II. SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key factors or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A gutter outlet is provided with one punch, in order to place the downspout.
The present teachings eliminate the need for additional seals and caulk.
The present teaching helps avoid standing water in the gutters, and provides a more efficient and faster installation of gutters.
Still other benefits and advantages of the present subject matter will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The disclosure may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, aspects of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of the gutter punch die;
FIG. 2 shows a side view of the gutter punch die;
FIG. 3 shows a second side view of the gutter punch die;
FIG. 4 shows a top view of the gutter with the hole;
FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the gutter in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 shows a bottom side view of the gutter in FIG. 4.
IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating aspects of the disclosure only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components.
The present teaching describes a method of creating a gutter hole 32.
FIGS. 1-6 show the gutter punch die tool 10, which creates the hole 32 with one punch. The die tool 10 is configured such that the punch creates downward flanges 34, 36, 38, 40 as shown in FIGS. 4-6. The gutter punch die tool 10 has a base 21 (having a bottom side 42), two inwardly angled side walls 16, 18, wherein the first side wall 16 and the second side wall 18 are attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base 21. The gutter punch die tool 10 also has a front wall 20 and a back wall 22, wherein the front wall 20 and the back wall 22 are attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 and angle inwardly and downwardly from the base 21, such that the attachment points of the side walls 16, 18 and the front wall 20 and back wall 22 are substantially at 90 degree angles with respect to one another. Also attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 are first angled guide 11 and second angled guide 15, wherein the first angled guide 11 is attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 between the front wall 20 and the first side wall 16, wherein the second angled guide 15 is attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 between the front wall 20 and the second side wall 18. Also attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 are third angled guide 13 and fourth angled guide 17, wherein the third angled guide 13 is attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 between the back wall 22 and the first side wall 16, wherein the fourth angled guide 17 is attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 between the back wall 22 and the second side wall 18. The first side wall 16 and first angled guide 11 are attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 such that a first gap B is between them. The first side wall 16 and third angled guide 13 are attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 such that a second gap D is between them. The second side wall 18 and second angled guide 15 are attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 such that a third gap A is between them. The second side wall 18 and fourth angled guide 17 are attached to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 such that a fourth gap C is between them. The side walls 16, 18 are angled inwardly at approximately a 45 degree angle, and the front wall 20 and the back wall 22 are also angled inwardly at approximately a 45 degree angle.
With continued reference to FIGS. 1-6, the angled guides 11, 13, 15, 17 all have a first end and a second end (shown but not referenced). A first connecting plate 19 has a first end and a second end (shown but not referenced), wherein the first end of the first connecting plate 19 is connected to the second end of the first angled guide 11 and the second end of the first connecting plate 19 is connected to the second end of the second angled guide 15. The first connecting plate 19 and the first angled guide 11 form an angle of approximately 135 degrees and the first connecting plate 19 and the second angled guide 15 form an angle of approximately 135 degrees. A second connecting plate 21 has a first end and a second end (shown but not referenced), wherein the first end of the second connecting plate 21 is connected to the second end of the third angled guide 13 and the second end of the second connecting plate 21 is connected to the second end of the fourth angled guide 17. The second connecting plate 21 and the third angled guide 13 form an angle of approximately 135 degrees and the second connecting plate 21 and the fourth angled guide 17 form an angle of approximately 135 degrees.
With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-6, the front wall 20, the first angled guide 11, the second angled guide 15, and the first connecting plate 19 form a first cavity 24. The back wall 22, the third angled guide 13, the fourth angled guide 17, and the second connecting plate 21 form a second cavity 26. The first connecting plate 19 and the second connecting plate 21 are substantially parallel to one another and connected to first connecting plate 19 and the second connecting plate 21 is a gutter punch 14. The gutter punch 14 is connected approximately in the center of each of the connecting plates 19, 21, and is substantially perpendicular to the connecting plates 19, 21. The gutter punch 14 is connected to the bottom side 42 of the base 21 and extends downwardly away from the bottom side 42 of the base 21, tapering to a point 44. The gutter punch die tool 10 also has a handle 12 connected to the top 46 of the base 21. It is to be understood that all of the angles described above are just one aspect of the present teachings. The angles of the side walls 16, 18 and the front and back walls 20, 22 can range from approximately 15 degrees to approximately 60 degrees. The angles of the angled guides can range from approximately 90 degrees to approximately 165 degrees.
With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-6, the gutter punch die tool 10 is used to punch a hole 32 in a gutter 30. The hole 32 punched in the gutter 30 floor pushes the metal from the gutter 30 downwardly, creating four flanges 34, 36, 38, 40. The downspout (not shown) can then be attached directly to the four downwardly facing flanges 34, 36, 38, 40, eliminating the need for an outlet wring or caulk.
With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-6, the downwardly punched flanges 34, 36, 38, 40 also eliminate upward protrusions in the floor of the gutter 30. With the present teaching, the entire floor of the gutter 30 will remain smooth all the way to the downspout, with nothing to prevent free flow of the water. Although the FIGURES show four flanges 34, 36, 38, 40, it is to be understood that the number of flanges is not critical, and any number of flanges can be used, as long as chosen using sound engineering judgment.
With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-6, the downspout can easily be attached to the downwardly facing flanges 34, 36, 38, 40. The process using the gutter punch die tool 10 also allows for the hole 32 to be punched without cutting or marking the location first. The handle 12 can be held by hand and struck with a hammer, or another mechanical device can be attached to the handle to push the gutter punch die tool 10 through the gutter 30. In one aspect of the present invention, no mechanical or electrical tools are used to push the gutter punch die tool 10. The point 44 of the gutter punch 14 is pushed through the gutter 30 and the remaining parts of the gutter punch die tool 10 push out the flanges 34, 36, 38, 40.
Numerous aspects have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and devices may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the present teaching. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Having thus described the disclosure, it is now claimed:
Patent Application
20240051008
