Aluminium Gutter Mounting Bracket With Rock-and-Lock Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gutter systems are difficult and inconvenient to install due to the complexity of attaching brackets to building walls.
Innovation Solution
A gutter system featuring an elongate drainage channel with T-shaped lock pieces and mounting parts that facilitate easy attachment to brackets using a 'rock and lock' mechanism, along with a connector design that ensures watertight sealing and easy connection of gutter pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional gutter systems use traditional bracket attachment methods, then the guttering can be attached to the wall, but the installation process becomes difficult and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting part is divided into distinct functional elements: a body portion that attaches to the gutter, extending parts that protrude outward, and lock pieces that engage with slots in the bracket. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall attachment process while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock pieces are positioned within recesses in the mounting part body, creating a nested structure. When the extending parts engage with the bracket, the lock pieces slide into the slots and can be secured within the body recesses. This nesting allows the mounting part to transition from a compact storage state to an expanded engaged state, simplifying installation while ensuring secure attachment.
2Reliability
If the gutter piece uses a simple mounting design, then the structure remains simple, but the connection security and watertight sealing are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting part features an asymmetric design with extending parts of different lengths and orientations, and lock pieces positioned at specific asymmetric locations. This asymmetry ensures that the mounting part can only be installed in the correct orientation, providing inherent security against improper installation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock pieces are pre-positioned within recesses in the mounting part body, ready to engage with the slots in the bracket. The extending parts are pre-configured to align with the bracket features. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the mounting part is attached, the secure connection is achieved automatically without requiring additional adjustment or complex assembly steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A guttering kit or assembly comprising at least one gutter piece and at least one mounting bracket for mounting the gutter piece to a surface, wherein the gutter piece comprises an elongate drainage channel and one or more mounting parts, each of the one or more mounting parts comprising an extending part that extends from, and away from, an external side wall portion of the drainage channel at least to a pair of lock pieces that extend from, and away from, the extending piece and away from each other; and the mounting bracket comprises a mounting member for mounting to the surface, and a pair of opposing slots, each of the opposing slots being formed by a respective slot forming member, each slot forming member comprising a spacing portion that extends obliquely or perpendicularly away from the mounting member to an end portion that extends obliquely or perpendicularly from the spacing portion so as to form the slot between the end portion and the mounting member; and wherein respective slots of the pair of opposing slots of the mounting bracket accommodate or are configured to receive respective lock pieces of the pair of lock pieces to mount the gutter piece to the mounting bracket.