GUTTER SYSTEM, COVER UNIT AND SECURING ELEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a gutter system (1) comprising at least one frame unit (10), at least one cover unit (20) and at least one securing element (30), wherein the frame unit (10) comprises at least one receiving area (12) for arranging the cover unit (20), and wherein the securing element (30) is adapted to engage in the cover unit (20) and to releasably engage in the receiving area (12) so the cover unit (20) can interlock in the receiving area (12) of the frame unit (10). The invention also relates to a cover unit (20) and a securing element (30).

Claims

1. A gutter system (1) comprising at least one frame unit (10), at least one cover unit (20) and at least one securing element (30), wherein the frame unit (10) comprises at least one receiving area (12) for arranging the cover unit (20), and wherein the securing element (30) is designed to engage in the cover unit (20) and to releasably engage in the receiving area (12), such that the cover unit (20) can interlock in the receiving area (12) of the frame unit (10).

2. The gutter system (1) of claim 1, the securing element (30) is elastically or plastically deformable, such that the engagement of the securing element (30) in the at least one receiving area (12) can be released.

3. The gutter system (1) of claim 1, the at least one receiving area (12) of the frame unit (10) is designed as an undercut.

4. The gutter system (1) of claim 1, the securing element (30) has a release area (32) for engagement by means of a lever element in order to apply a release force to the securing element (30) for elastic or plastic deformation of said securing element (30).

5. The gutter system (1) of claim 1, the securing element (30) has a locking lever (34), wherein the locking lever (34) is supported against the cover unit (20) and applies a locking force, such that the securing element (30) engages non-positively or positively in the receiving area (12).

6. The gutter system (1) of claim 1, the cover unit (20) has at least one receiving opening (22) for receiving and guiding the at least one securing element (30).

7. The gutter system (1) of claim 6, the at least one receiving opening (22) has at least one bearing element (26) and the securing element (30) has at least one correspondingly designed bearing groove (36) for receiving and guiding the securing element (30).

8. The gutter system (1) of claim 7, the bearing element (26) has a loss-preventing unit (26.1) at a longitudinal end in the direction of a central area of the gutter system (1), such that the securing element (30) and the cover unit (20) can be connected non-positively or positively to provide a captive connection.

9. The gutter system (1) of claim 7, the at least one bearing element (26) is of nose-shaped design.

10. The gutter system (1) of claim 6, the at least one receiving opening (22) has a support surface (24) for supporting the locking lever (34), such that a locking force can be exerted by the locking lever (34) on the securing element (30).

11. The gutter system (1) of claim 10, the support surface (24) is designed at least in sections with a rounding, such that a release force to be applied to overcome the locking force of the locking lever (34) can be reduced at least in sections along the support surface (24).

12. The gutter system (1) of claim 5, the locking lever (34) has at least one latch nose (34.1) for engagement in or behind the loss-preventing unit (26.1).

13. The gutter system (1) of claim 1, the at least one securing element (30) is designed in one piece or the at least one cover unit (20) is designed in one piece.

14. A cover unit (20) for use for a gutter system (1) of claim 1, wherein the cover unit (20) has at least one receiving opening (22) for receiving and guiding at least one securing element (30).

15. A securing element (30) for use with a gutter system (1) of claim 1.

Description

[0036] In particular schematically:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a gutter system comprising a frame unit, a cover unit and a securing element;

[0038] FIG. 2a shows a top view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 2b shows a perspective view of a frame unit and the cover unit according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIGS. 3a-b show cross-sectional views of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, in particular to illustrate the functionality of the securing element; and

[0041] FIG. 4 shows another cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a gutter system 1 comprising a cover unit 20 and a securing element 30.

[0043] The frame unit 10 is designed with a receiving area 12 for bearing and receiving the cover unit 20. The receiving area 12 is at least partially designed as an undercut or in an undercut manner.

[0044] The cover unit 20 includes a receiving opening 22 for bearing and receiving the securing element 30. Essentially, the receiving opening may increase in size, at least in sections, from top to bottom, along the orientation of the cover unit 20 in conventional use. This allows debris or dirt, which may enter the receiving opening 22 from above, to fall through the lid or grate unit.

[0045] The receiving opening 22 is further designed with a support surface 24 in a central area of the cover unit 20 or the gutter system 1. The support surface 24 extends substantially in a vertical direction and has a radius or rounding at least at its lower end.

[0046] The frame unit 20 further comprises at least one bearing element 26. In FIG. 1, the bearing element 26 extends longitudinally and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the gutter system 1. The bearing element 26 may in particular be designed slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal.

[0047] The bearing element 26 may comprise a loss-preventing unit 26.1 at one end, in particular in the direction of the central area of the gutter system 1. The loss-preventing unit 26.1 may be designed as a bead or bulge along the bearing element 26. This allows the provision of a non-positive and/or positive connection of the cover unit 20 to the securing element 30. It ensures captive interlocking.

[0048] The securing element 30 in FIG. 1 is inserted in the cover or grate unit 20 and engages non-positively and/or positively with a first end in the receiving area 12 of the frame unit 10. By forming the securing element 30 with a phase along its underside at this first end, the securing element 30 can be engaged in the receiving area 12 of the frame unit 10 in a simplified manner.

[0049] The securing element 30 is provided with at least one bearing groove 36 which is designed to correspond to the bearing element 26 of the receiving opening 22 of the cover unit 20. The bearing element 26 can thus engage non-positively and/or positively in the bearing groove 36. It allows the cover unit 20 to bear and guide the securing element 30.

[0050] The securing element 30 further has a locking lever 34 at a second end, which is arranged in the central area of the gutter system 1. The locking lever 34 is elastically and/or plastically deformable. The locking lever 34 is in particular provided such that it can bear against the support surface 24 to apply a locking force to the securing element 30 to ensure latching or engagement with the receiving opening 12 of the frame unit 10.

[0051] In view of the preferably elastically deformable locking lever 34, the securing element 30 may be understood as a spring-loaded securing element 30.

[0052] The securing element 30 further has a release area 32 which is provided for engaging with, for example, a screwdriver, a lever element or the like. This allows applying a release force to the securing element 30 solely by means of an auxiliary means, the release force which, supported on the support surface 24, exceeds the locking force of the locking lever 34 to thereby release the engagement of the securing element 30 in the receiving area 12 of the frame unit 10.

[0053] FIG. 2a shows a top view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, while FIG. 2b shows a perspective view of a frame unit 10 and the cover unit 20 according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0054] In FIG. 2a, the release area 32 is designed centrally in the transverse direction of the securing member 30. The securing element 30 further may be designed such that it only partially closes the receiving opening 22.

[0055] The top surface of the securing element 30 may in particular be configured to protect the sliding connection between the bearing elements 26 and the bearing grooves 36 from contamination. The preferably at least partially downwardly funnel-shaped receiving opening 22 allows dirt and debris to fall through. Blocking of the securing element 30 is thus substantially avoided.

[0056] In FIG. 2b, a respective bearing element 26 is provided on both sides of the receiving opening 22. The bearing elements 26 are each nose-shaped and thus provide a receiving function, a guiding function and a sliding function for the securing element 30.

[0057] FIG. 2b further shows that the cover or grate unit 20 extends onto the receiving area 12 of the frame unit 10, the receiving area 12 being partially designed in an undercut manner.

[0058] FIGS. 3a-b show cross-sectional views of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, in particular to illustrate the functionality of the securing element. FIGS. 3a and 3b show in particular the attachment or interlocking of the securing element 30 to the cover unit 20 to ensure a captive connection.

[0059] The securing element 30 is inserted along the bearing grooves 36 and the bearing elements 26 into the cover unit 20 or into the receiving opening 22 of the cover unit 20. The locking lever 34 also slides along the bearing element 26 of FIG. 3a. The locking lever 34 is elastically deformable and slidable at the loss-preventing unit 26.1 of the bearing element 26 in such a way that the locking lever can snap over and the locking lever 34 slides across the loss-preventing unit 26.1 in the form of a bead or bulge of the bearing element 26.

[0060] The locking lever 34 may in particular have a latch nose 34.1 designed to engage behind and/or in the loss-preventing unit 26.1 of the bearing element 26.

[0061] This allows the securing element 30 in FIG. 3b to be latched to the cover unit 20. A captive connection or an interlocking between the cover unit 20 and the securing element 30 can be provided.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a further cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. The formation of the release area 32 of the securing element 30 in particular is shown in cross-section.

[0063] In FIG. 4, only a lever-shaped auxiliary means, such as a screwdriver, can be selectively introduced into the release area from an upper side of the securing element. In particular by supporting the auxiliary means on the frame unit 10, a leverage effect to the securing element 30 is applicable by which a release force greater than the locking force of the supporting locking lever 34 can be applied. This allows displacing the securing element 30 along the bearing grooves 36 and bearing elements 26 in the center direction of the gutter system 1 and allows releasing any engagement of the securing element 30 in the undercut receiving area 12 of the frame unit 10.

[0064] In summary, the present invention allows the provision of a gutter system 1 having a simplified and low-cost structure, while ensuring a safe or secured reception of the cover or grate unit 20 along the frame unit 10. The cover unit 20 and/or the securing element 30 can in particular be used with any frame units 10 having at least one receiving area 12. Simple detachment of the cover unit 20 is further only possible by using auxiliary means by skilled personnel, thus ensuring expedient use in everyday life as well as theft protection. Due to the design of the security element 30 having the release area 32, the release function, by which force is applied counter to the locking force of the locking lever 34, is in particular at least partially concealed inside the gutter system 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0065] 1 gutter system [0066] 10 frame unit [0067] 12 receiving area [0068] 20 cover unit [0069] 22 receiving opening [0070] 24 support surface [0071] 26 bearing element [0072] 26.1 loss-preventing unit [0073] 30 securing element [0074] 32 release area [0075] 34 locking lever [0076] 34.1 latch nose [0077] 36 bearing groove