Rise and Fall Gutter Bracket with Threaded Anchor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rise and fall gutter brackets for masonry walls face issues such as loose connections, damage to mortar, thermal bridging, difficulty in installation, and structural damage due to drilling and hammering, along with challenges in maintaining a straight line and parallel alignment, which are not adequately addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A rise and fall gutter bracket with a threaded end for secure anchoring to a wall anchor, allowing for lateral and vertical adjustment of the bracket structure without damaging the mortar, and featuring a lateral member that does not extend through the cavity, reducing thermal bridging and facilitating easy installation and repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the lateral member is hammered into the mortar through drilling, then the bracket can be installed, but the top course of bricks becomes loose and mortar is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
A wall anchor serves as an intermediary component between the lateral member and the masonry wall. The wall anchor is first installed into the wall using drilling and expansion, then the lateral member is threaded onto the wall anchor. This mediator allows secure attachment without direct hammering of the lateral member into the mortar, preventing brick loosening and mortar damage.
2Reliability
If the lateral member extends through the cavity wall, then anchoring is achieved, but thermal bridging causes heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral member is extracted from the cavity wall configuration and repositioned to attach only to the structural wall surface. By using a wall anchor that expands within the wall substrate rather than requiring the lateral member to extend through the cavity, the thermal bridge is eliminated while maintaining secure anchoring through the expanded anchor mechanism.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the bracket structure is fixed to the lateral member, then support is provided, but lateral repositioning for alignment is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the bracket structure and lateral member is made adjustable rather than fixed. The bracket structure can be laterally repositioned along the lateral member to achieve proper alignment, then secured in the desired position. This dynamic connection allows both initial adjustment and final stability.
4Ease of operation
If the opening in mortar is oversized or misshapen, then the lateral member can be inserted, but the connection is weak and vulnerable to water and frost damage
Solution Approach 1:
The wall anchor acts as a mediator that creates a reliable connection independent of mortar opening quality. The anchor expands within the wall substrate to form a secure mechanical interlock, while the lateral member threads onto the anchor. This eliminates dependence on precise mortar openings, providing both easy insertion and strong, weather-resistant connection.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
A rise and fall gutter bracket (100) comprising: a lateral member (110) comprising a threaded end (112) for connecting to a wall anchor (4) embedded in a structural wall (1); and a bracket structure (130) for receiving a gutter (5), the bracket structure (130) connected to the lateral member (110).