Pivotable Gutter

Abstract

Pivotable gutter having brackets spaced apart comprising mounting members ( 20 ) and carrying member ( 22 ). The gutter being lockable ( 30, 36 ) in a first position. The gutter has open ends sections ( 112, 114 ) that is sealable via sealing means ( 141 ) or a lining ( 178 ) with other gutter sections when the gutter sections are in the first position.

1 . A gutter system including:
 a longitudinal gutter;   at least two support brackets spaced apart along said longitudinal gutter for supporting the gutter below a roof edge, whereby each of said at least two support brackets includes a mounting member adapted to be fixedly mounted to a surface below the roof edge, and a pivotable member having said gutter attached thereto, said pivotable member being pivotably moveable between a first position wherein said gutter is positioned to receive liquid, to a second position wherein said gutter is easily accessible from a position therebelow.   
   
   
       2 . A gutter system according to  claim 1  wherein said mounting member includes two perpendicular edges, a side edge for mounting to said surface and a top edge adapted to extend outwards from said surface over said gutter. 
   
   
       3 . A gutter system according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein said pivotable member includes two perpendicular edges, a bottom edge which extends outwards from said surface and beneath said gutter and a side edge to which said gutter is attached. 
   
   
       4 . A gutter system according to  claim 3  wherein the bottom edge of the pivotable member is pivotably connected to the side edge of the mounting member whilst the side edge of the pivotable member is lockable to the top edge of the mounting member. 
   
   
       5 . A gutter system according to  claim 4  wherein said lock is in the form of a latch. 
   
   
       6 . A gutter system according to any one of the above claims wherein said pivotable member first position constitutes said pivotable member being locked to said mounting member whilst said pivotable member second position constitutes said pivotable member being unlocked from said mounting member and in a fully pivoted position. 
   
   
       7 . A gutter system according to any one of the above claims wherein movement of said pivotable member from said first position to said second position involves a rotation of approximately 90 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . A gutter system according to any one of the above claims wherein said gutter includes at least one open portion adapted to permit the exit of liquid from said gutter. 
   
   
       9 . A gutter system according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one open portion of the gutter is located at an end thereof. 
   
   
       10 . A gutter system according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one open portion may be located at any point along said gutter. 
   
   
       11 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 8 - 10  wherein said gutter system includes at least one downpipe including at least one inlet of a sufficient size to allow liquid from one or more gutter open portions to be received therein. 
   
   
       12 . A gutter system according to  claim 11  wherein said downpipe inlet is located a pre-determined distance below said at least one gutter open portion thereby allowing liquid from said gutter to be received therein. 
   
   
       13 . A gutter system according to any one of the above claims wherein said pre-determined distance between the at least one gutter open portion and the downpipe inlet is sufficient to allow for said pivotable member to be rotated to said second position. 
   
   
       14 . A gutter system according to any one of the above claims wherein said pivotable member is in said second position, said at least one gutter open portion remains above the corresponding downpipe inlet so that liquid may continue to be received therein. 
   
   
       15 . A gutter system according to any one of the above claims wherein said at least one downpipe includes a straining means for preventing foreign particles from entering said downpipe. 
   
   
       16 . A gutter system according to any one of the above claims wherein each of said brackets of said gutter system are affiliated with one another in such a way that when a pivotable member of one bracket is unlocked from a corresponding mounting member, the pivotable members of the remaining brackets are also unlocked from each of their corresponding mounting members. 
   
   
       17 . A gutter system of the type adapted to be mounted beneath a longitudinal roof edge, said gutter system including:
 a plurality of brackets mounted at spaced apart longitudinal intervals below said roof edge whereby each of said brackets includes a mounting member and a gutter carrying member pivotably connected thereto and pivotably moveable between a first and a second position;   a longitudinal gutter including two opposed open ends, said gutter adapted to be carried within the gutter carrying members of each of said spaced apart brackets such that when the gutter carrying members are in said first position, the gutter is adapted to receive liquid from thereabove, and when the gutter carrying members are in the second position, the gutter is pivoted for easier access thereto; and   at least one downpipe located a pre-determined distance below said gutter open ends for receiving liquid therefrom, said pre-determined distance being sufficient to allow for pivot of the gutter carrying member into said second position.   
   
   
       18 . A gutter system including:
 at least a first gutter section;   at least a second gutter section, said second gutter section being moveable between a first position wherein at least one water receiving surface of said first and second gutter sections are axially aligned, and a second position whereby said water receiving surfaces are misaligned such that said second gutter section is more easily accessible from a position therebelow.   
   
   
       19 . A gutter system according to  claim 18  wherein said first gutter section is adapted to be fixedly mounted to a surface below a roof edge and said second gutter section is pivotably mounted to said surface. 
   
   
       20 . A gutter system according to  claim 18  or  19  wherein said gutter system includes a sealing means adapted to seal the gap between the first and second gutter sections to thereby integrate the respective water receiving surfaces when the second gutter section is in the first position. 
   
   
       21 . A gutter system according to  claim 20  wherein said first gutter section includes at least one means of transporting water away from the gutter system. 
   
   
       22 . A gutter system according to any one of  claim 21  wherein said water transporting means is in the form of a downpipe. 
   
   
       23 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 18 - 22  wherein said gutter system includes at least two spaced apart brackets, each of said brackets including a mounting member, and a gutter carrying member pivotably connected thereto, said gutter carrying members adapted to support said second gutter section. 
   
   
       24 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 18 - 23  wherein said sealing means is in the form of a sealing material lining at least the inner side of the gutter carrying member. 
   
   
       25 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 18 - 23  wherein said sealing means is in the form of a sealing material lining the inner side of the mounting member and the gutter carrying member. 
   
   
       26 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 18 - 25  wherein a bracket is mounted adjacent each end of the second gutter such that when the second gutter section is in said first position, the sealing material lining the inner side of the bracket provides a seal at the junction between respective first and second gutter sections. 
   
   
       27 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 18 - 26  wherein said mounting member includes two perpendicular edges, a side edge for mounting to said surface and a top edge which extends over said gutter, said top edge including a recess for allowing space for said roof edge. 
   
   
       28 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 18 - 27  wherein said pivotable member is contoured to the cross-sectional shape of the gutter. 
   
   
       29 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 18 - 28  wherein said second gutter section is lockable in said first position. 
   
   
       30 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 18 - 29  wherein said lock is in the form of a latch. 
   
   
       31 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 18 - 30  wherein movement of said pivotable member from said first position to said second position involves a rotation of approximately 90 degrees. 
   
   
       32 . A gutter system including:
 at least a first gutter section;   at least a second gutter section, said second gutter section being pivotably moveable between a first position wherein at least one water receiving surface of said first and second gutter sections are axially aligned, and a second position whereby said water receiving surfaces are misaligned such that said second gutter section is more easily accessible from a position therebelow, said first gutter section including a sealing means adapted to seal the gap between the first and second gutter sections when said second gutter section is in said first position.   
   
   
       33 . A gutter system according to  claim 32  wherein said sealing means is a sealing material lining the inner surface of an end of the first gutter, said sealing material extending longitudinally beyond the end so that when the second gutter section is in said first position, the sealing material seals the gap between the first and second gutter sections to thereby form a single water receiving surface. 
   
   
       34 . A gutter system according to  claim 32  or  claim 33  wherein said second gutter section is lockable in said first position. 
   
   
       35 . A gutter system according to  claim 34  wherein said lock is in the form of a latch. 
   
   
       36 . A gutter system according to any one of  claims 32 - 35  wherein movement of said pivotable member from said first position to said second position involves a rotation of approximately 90 degrees.