Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F10/00—Sunshades, e.g. Florentine blinds or jalousies; Outside screens; Awnings or baldachins
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights
  • E04D13/04—Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the like
  • E04D13/064—Gutters
  • E04D13/0643—Gutter corners
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights
  • E04D13/04—Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the like
  • E04D13/064—Gutters
  • E04D13/0645—Connections between gutter and down pipe

Definitions

• patio covers or similar outdoor constructions.
• Such patio covers could also be referred to as roof arrangements for a terrace.
• Such patio covers might be provided with stationary, movable, removable, ... elements to shield or partially shield against one or more elements such as the sun, rain, wind, ... .
• Such elements might for example be cover elements or roof elements, made of metal, glass, fabric, ... .
• a know drainage system for a patio cover is for example known from GB2291901A.
• a separate drainage system which comprises gutters which are mounted to some of the horizontal structural profiles and which feed rainwater to a vertical drain tube next to a vertical structural profile.
• Such a solution has the drawback that these additional elements lead to an increase in material use, weight, mounting elements and time needed for mounting the patio cover. Further this also reduces the height for allowing people to walk under into and out of the patio cover. Further, in order to shield the drainage system from view, further cover elements are needed, which further these problems.
• the drainage system is shielded by large covers from a viewpoint outside the patio cover, when inside the patio cover, the drainage system remains visible. Further also the vertical drain remains a visible element, which is prone to damage, hinders the unobstructed placement of doors, windows, louvres, etc. and reduces the aesthetic qualities of the patio cover.
• a further know drainage system for a patio cover is shown in FR2947845.
• This drainage system makes use of longitudinal structural patio profiles which comprise a longitudinal gutter. This offers the advantage that the drainage system can be mounted more efficiently, and this reduces the additional weight, mounting means, material use associated with the drainage system.
• As the gutter is integrated into the structural profile, and preferably from the same material, such as for example aluminium, as the structural profile, visually there will be separate elements identifiable associated with the gutter from any viewpoint within or outside the patio cover, thereby providing an improved aesthetic quality of the patio cover.
• the drainage system of FR2947845 suffers from some drawbacks, especially at the corners. As for example shown in Figure 5 of FR2947845, there is provided a structural corner connection of two longitudinal structural profiles of the patio cover.
• a drainage system for a patio cover in which the drainage system comprises:
• first inlet of the corner drain is mounted into the first gutter and the second inlet of the corner drain is mounted into the second gutter, and wherein the first inlet of the corner drain and the second inlet of the corner drain, each comprise a raised mounting chamber configured to be filled with a filler for sealing and attaching the respective inlet to the respective gutter, and wherein the raised mounting chamber comprises at least one channel in which the height of the raised mounting chamber is reduced, such that the resistance to the flow of water into the respective inlet is reduced.
• connection means such as screws or bolts
• this also reduces the risk for leakage and increases the efficiency of mounting the corner drain as no holes need to be provided and aligned during mounting, and there is no need for inserting and screwing such mounting means into these holes, which can be cumbersome and time consuming, especially when operating in a tight space such as a gutter.
• the channel improves the flow of water through the inlet of the corner drain and reduces the risk of accumulation of dirt and debris in upstream of the raised mounting chamber.
• the corner drain is configured to define an L-shaped drainage channel between and the first inlet and the second inlet for a flow of water through these inlets.
• the channel comprises a V shape or substantially V shape cross section
• the height of the raised mounting chamber is at least two times the wall thickness of the respective inlet, preferably at least three times, preferably at least five times;
• the height of the raised mounting chamber is at least 2mm, preferably at least 3mm, preferably at least 5mm;
• the width of the channel along a chamber longitudinal axis at the bottom of the channel, with respect to the width of the raised mounting chamber along this chamber longitudinal axis, is in the range of 20% or less, preferably 10% or less, preferably 5% or less.
• the wall thickness corresponds the thickness of the material of the respective inlet, such as for example the thickness of the plastic, transparent plastic, polymer, transparent polymer, ... .
• a drainage system wherein the filler comprises or consists of one or more of the following: a sealant; a curable sealant; an adhesive sealant; silicone; polyurethane.
• a drainage system wherein the material of:
• first, second and/or third longitudinal structural patio profile comprises and/or consists of one or more of the following: metal; aluminium,
• the corner drain comprises and/or consists of: plastic; transparent plastic;
• Polystyrene or PS Polystyrene or PS; metal; aluminium.
• a drainage system wherein: the longitudinal axis of the first longitudinal structural patio profile is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the second longitudinal structural patio profile; the longitudinal axis of the first longitudinal structural patio profile is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the upright structural patio profile; the longitudinal axis of the second longitudinal structural patio profile is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the upright structural patio profile; the longitudinal axis of the first longitudinal structural patio profile diverges 10° or less from a horizontal plane; the longitudinal axis of the second longitudinal structural patio profile diverges 10° or less from a horizontal plane; and/or the longitudinal axis of the upright structural patio profile diverges 10° or less from a vertical direction.
• a patio cover comprising a drainage system according to the first aspect, wherein the patio cover comprises: one, two, three or four of said structural corner connections; and one, two, three or four of said corner drains, respectively mounted in one of said structural corner connections.
• a patio cover wherein at least one, preferably two or three, of said corner drains are configured not to allow a flow of water into the upright structural patio profile of the structural corner connection to which it is mounted.
• a fourth aspect there is provided a method for assembling the drainage system according to the first aspect, or the patio cover according to the second aspect, or the kit of parts according to the third aspect, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• Figure 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of a drainage system for a patio cover
• Figure 2 shows a top view of an embodiment of a corner drain, similar to the one used in the embodiment of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows a partial side view along the arrow III shown in Figure 1 of an embodiment of an inlet with a raised mounting chamber when mounted into a gutter;
• Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a drainage system, similar as the embodiment of Figure 1.
• FIG. 1 shows a top view of a corner of a patio cover 1.
• the patio cover typically comprises four such corners and seen from above has a rectangular or substantially rectangular circumference.
• the embodiment of the drainage system 10 comprises a corner drain 100 and a structural corner connection 200.
• the embodiment of the corner drain 100 comprises an L shape or substantially comprises an L shape.
• the embodiment of the corner drain 100 shown comprises an L shaped floor 102, which is bordered by two upright L shaped edges or upright walls 104, 106.
• the embodiment of the corner drain 100 defines an L-shaped drainage channel between an a first inlet 110 and a second inlet 120 for a flow of water through these inlets 110, 120.
• the corner drain 100 comprises a first inlet 110 and a second inlet 120.
• Such alternative shapes might for example be any suitable a circular segment, curved segment, polygonal segment , ... shape and/or any combination thereof defining a suitable channel between the first inlet 110 and the second inlet 120 of the corner drain 100.
• the embodiment of the structural corner connection 200 shown in Figure 1 shows a corner connection 200 of a first longitudinal structural patio profile 210 comprising a first longitudinal gutter 212 and a second longitudinal structural patio profile 220 comprising a second longitudinal gutter 222 at an upright structural patio profile 230.
• the patio cover 1 comprises four of said structural corner connections 200.
• the patio cover 1 comprises four horizontal or substantially horizontal structural longitudinal profiles supported at or near the corners by upright structural profiles. It is clear that alternative embodiments are possible with any suitable number of structural profiles, one, two, three, four or more; and or where some of the longitudinal profiles are mounted to other elements than an upright profile, such as for example a wall or any other suitable structure.
• the patio cover 1 comprises a rectangular or substantially rectangular circumference when viewed from above.
• the patio cover 1 comprises four of said corner drains 100 respectively mounted in one of said four structural corner connections 200.
• the corner drain 100 comprises a drain hole 108 configured to allow a flow of water into the upright structural patio profile 230 of the structural corner connection 200 to which it is mounted.
• drain holes or alternative drain openings 108 could present at a plurality of upright structural profiles 230, according to a preferred embodiment, at least one, preferably three, of said corner drains 100 are configured not to allow a flow of water into the upright structural patio profile 230 of the structural corner connection 200 to which it is mounted.
• the second inlet 120 of the corner drain 100 is mounted into the second gutter 222.
• the first inlet 110 of the corner drain 100 comprises a raised mounting chamber 112 and the second inlet 100 of the corner drain 100 comprises a raised mounting chamber 122.
• these raised mounting chambers 112, 122 are configured to be filled with a filler for sealing and attaching the respective inlet 110, 120 to the respective gutter 212, 222.
• these raised mounting chambers 122 are formed by means of a local raising of the floor 102 and the upright walls 104 of the inlets 110, 120 of the corner drain 100, thereby creating a hollow chamber between the gutter 212, 222 and these inlets 110, 120 when the corner drain 100 is mounted to the structural corner connection 200.
• the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 is configured so that it can be filled with a filler when mounted, for example via one or more suitable openings, also referred to as filler openings 126 for inserting filler into the raised mounting chamber 112, 122.
• suitable openings also referred to as filler openings 126 for inserting filler into the raised mounting chamber 112, 122.
• the raised mounting chambers 112, 122 comprises a V shaped channel 114, 124 in which the height of the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 is reduced.
• this channel 114, 124 comprising a V cross sectional shape, is configured to reduce the resistance to the flow of water through the respective inlet 110, 120.
• alternative embodiments are possible, in which for example two or more channels 114, 124 are provided in the raised mounting chamber 112, 122, or in which the channels comprise any other suitable cross sectional shape such as for example a U shape, a circle segment shape, a rectangular shape, a segment of a polygon shape, ... .
• the cross-sectional shape of the channel is configured such that the channel 114, 124 of the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 is wider at its top than at its bottom. This allows for an increased level of sealing by maximizing the contact area of the filler with the gutter while allowing an increased level of flow and a reduced risk of accumulation of dirt or debris at the height of the raised mounting chamber 112, 122.
• the channel 114, 124 comprises a longitudinal channel axis aligned or substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the respective structural profile 210, 220. Also, this is advantageously supporting a reduction in the resistance to the flow of water, and reducing the risk for accumulation of dirt.
• Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment, similar to the embodiment of Figure 1 to Figure 3. Similar elements have been provided with similar references and function in a similar way as described herein.
• the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 extends across a floor 102 between two upright walls 104, 106 of the respective inlet 110, 120 along a chamber longitudinal axis which is transvers to the longitudinal axis of the respective longitudinal structural patio profile 210, 220, or in other words to the direction of the flow of the water.
• the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 extends across the floor 102 between two the upright walls 104, 106 of the respective inlet 110, 120 along a chamber longitudinal axis which is not transvers to the longitudinal axis of the respective longitudinal structural patio profile 210, 220, but at an angle of 45°. This further reduces resistance to the flow and the risk for accumulation of dirt by the raised mounting chamber 112, 122.
• the orientation of this angle is such that it guides the flow in a desired direction. According to this embodiment, it is in the direction of the outer upright wall 104 of the corner drain 100 in which an opening 106 towards the upright structural longitudinal profile 230 is provided.
• the height of the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 is at least two times the wall thickness of the respective inlet 110, 120, preferably at least three times, preferably at least five times.
• the mounting chamber provides for a suitable and sufficiently large space for reliably and efficiently inserting suitable fillers such as for example a suitable silicone or polyurethane filler as generally known to a person skilled in the art.
• suitable fillers typically comprise a high viscosity and/or require sufficient space for expansion during curing.
• the wall thickness of the floor of the corner drain 100, and more specifically the floor of the inlets 110, 120 is preferably kept as low as possible for reducing the risk of obstructing the flow or accumulation of dirt, while still allowing for a suitable level of strength, rigidity and robustness.
• the wall thickness is for example only 1mm or 2mm.
• the height of the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 is thus larger than this wall thickness, or in other words the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 extends upwards with respect to the lowest level of the floor 102 of the respective inlet 110, 120.
• This height can for example be defined as the height difference, in the mounted state, between the lowest level of the floor of the respective inlet 110, 120 with respect to the highest point of the raised mounting chamber 112, 122.
• the height of the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 is at least 2mm, preferably at least 3mm, preferably at least 5mm.
• the width of the channel 114, 124 at the bottom of the channel 114, 124 is kept low so as to increase area in which the filler is available for sealing and adherence of the inlet 110, 120 of the corner drain 100 to the respective gutter 212, 222.
• the width of this gutter 212, 222 is 2cm or more, for example 3cm or more, 5cm or more, ....
• the width of the channel 114, 124 at its bottom in Figure 1 to 3 is typical only 1mm or 2 mm, and in Figure 4 is for example 1 cm or less, for example 0,5cm or less.
• the width of the channel 114, 124 along a chamber longitudinal axis at the bottom of the channel 114, 124, with respect to the width of the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 along this chamber longitudinal axis is in the range of 20% or less, preferably 10% or less, preferably 5% or less.
• the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 comprises one channel 114, 124, however it is clear that alternative embodiments are possible in which the raised mounting chamber 112, 122 comprises any suitable plurality of channels 114, 124, such as for example two, three, four or more.
• the filler consists of a suitable curable adhesive sealant, such as a suitable silicone adhesive sealant as generally known to a man skilled in the art.
• a suitable curable adhesive sealant such as a suitable silicone adhesive sealant as generally known to a man skilled in the art.
• such filler is advantageous with respect to other mounting means as it does not require any holes to be created into the gutter and after curing it retains some level of flexibility such that a reliable sealing and adherence can be retained even when subjected to changes in the structural corner connection 200 for example as a result of thermal expansion.
• the filler comprises or consists of one or more of the following: a sealant; a curable sealant; an adhesive sealant; silicone; polyurethane; ... .
• the first, second and/or third longitudinal structural patio profile 210, 220, 230 of the structural corner connection 200 are made of a suitable light weight metal, such as for example aluminium.
• a suitable light weight metal such as for example aluminium.
• these structural profiles comprises and/or consists of one or more of the following: metal; aluminium; plastic; or any other suitable light material for exterior exposure to elements and suitable for load carrying, such as for example roof elements such as lamellas, canvas, louvres, ... and/or external load resistance, such as for example against load from snow, rain, wind, ... .
• the corner drain 100 is manufactured from a transparent plastic, as this allows for a more reliable and robust mounting of the corner drain 100, as during application of the filler, it can be checked that the raised mounting chamber is sufficiently, preferably completely or substantially completely, filled with filler.
• the corner drain 100 comprises and/or consists of: plastic; transparent plastic; a polymer; a transparent polymer; Polyvinyl chloride or PVC; Polyoxymethylene or POM; Acrylonitril-butadieen-styreen or ABS; Polystyrene or PS; metal; aluminium; ... .
• the longitudinal axis 210L of the first longitudinal structural patio profile 210 is transverse to the longitudinal axis 220L of the second longitudinal structural patio profile 210. It is further clear that the longitudinal axis 210L of the first longitudinal structural patio profile 210 is transverse to the longitudinal axis 230L of the upright structural patio profile 230. Further it is clear that the longitudinal axis 220L of the second longitudinal structural patio profile 210 is transverse to the longitudinal axis 230L of the upright structural patio profile 230.
• first longitudinal structural patio profile 210 diverges 10° or less from a horizontal plane
• longitudinal axis 220L of the second longitudinal structural patio profile 220 diverges 10° or less from a horizontal plane
• longitudinal axis 230L of the upright structural patio profile 230 diverges 10° or less from a vertical direction.
• the first and second longitudinal structural patio profile 210, 220 are horizontal or substantially horizontal
• the upright structural patio profile 230 is vertical or substantially vertical.
• the corner drain 100 comprises a drain hole or opening 108 configured to allow a flow of water into the upright structural patio profile 230 of the structural corner connection 200.
• a drain hole or opening 108 configured to allow a flow of water into the upright structural patio profile 230 of the structural corner connection 200.
• an opening in the floor of the corner drain 100 at a location above the upright structural profile 230.
• an opening in an upright wall of the corner drain 100 at a location which gives access to the structural profile 230.
• Still further alternative embodiments are possible for such holes or openings 108.
• these holes or openings 108 are provided with a removable cover, such as for example a part of the wall which is already provided with a reduced contour, or in which a flexible element is arranged that can be pierced or opened, etc. to allow for flexibility with respect to the use of the corner drain.
• a removable cover such as for example a part of the wall which is already provided with a reduced contour, or in which a flexible element is arranged that can be pierced or opened, etc. to allow for flexibility with respect to the use of the corner drain.
• the drainage system 10 could be provided as a kit of parts for use as a drainage system 10.
• a kit of parts comprising at least one corner drain 100; and at least one corner connection 200.
• the drainage system 10 is especially advantageous when mounted into a pre-assembled or already assembled structural corner connection 200.
• this allows for an efficient method for assembling the drainage system 100, or the patio cover 100, or the kit of parts as described herein.
• the corner connection 200 can be assembled and then the corner drain 100 can be mounted by placing it into said corner connection 200, applying filler into the raised mounting chamber 122 and letting the filler cure thereby adhering the corner drain 200 to the corner connection 200. It is clear that this advantageous method allows for a simple and efficient completion of the drainage system with a minimal number of steps and parts.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Building Environments (AREA)

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• 2022
  • 2022-12-02 IT IT102022000024930A patent/IT202200024930A1/it unknown
• 2023
  • 2023-11-30 EP EP23817091.4A patent/EP4627165A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-11-30 WO PCT/EP2023/083657 patent/WO2024115627A1/en not_active Ceased

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