Abstract:
A rain gutter cleaning system. The rain gutter cleaning system includes a gutter cleaning chute device having a chute framework defining an opening therein, a chute body attached to the chute framework, and an attachment mechanism for suspending the chute framework and its attached chute body. The chute framework is suspendable by a rod to a ladder or by a hook to the rain gutter. The rain gutter cleaning system can further include a gutter scraper, with a gutter scrapper blade, a handle, and a bracket arm detachably connecting the blade to the handle. The rain gutter cleaning system can further include a straining gutter scooper with straining apertures therein to permit wet debris to be scooped from rain gutters.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/525,648, filed Dec. 1, 2003, which is entitled “GUTTER SCRAPER CLEANING SYSTEM”, U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/531,330, filed Dec. 22, 2003, which is entitled “CLEAN-GUTTER SCOOP”, and U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/554,384, filed Mar. 19, 2004, entitled “CLEAN GUTTER DEBRIS REMOVAL SYSTEM.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The invention relates to the field of rain gutter cleaning devices and systems, and more particularly to a rain gutter cleaning system that provides a chute system for collecting waste removed from rain gutters, and optionally scrapers and scoops that are adapted to remove wet and/or compacted debris from rain gutters.  
         [0003]     Present methods of cleaning rain gutters involve somehow removing debris from the rain gutters and then somehow transporting the removed debris off of the roof. Many do-it-yourselfers and contractors use scrapers and scoopers to clean debris out of rain gutters. For example, the company Working Products Incorporated, of Portland, Oreg., under the Gutter Getter® brand, offers a variety of tools for scraping and scooping debris from rain gutters. The Gutter Getter® brand of gutter scooper is a relatively long scooper with a curved bottom that is suitable for light general gutter cleaning in dry conditions. One shortcoming of the Gutter Getter® scooper is that it traps water. When water, wet debris and/or mud are present, they are trapped in the Gutter Getter® scoop&#39;s body which makes cleaning unnecessarily difficult and very messy. Another problem with the Gutter Getter® is that it is manufactured in only one size. It is designed to flex to different gutter sizes and is too thin to clean heavy or wet debris efficiently. Gutters vary in size and this factor can also prevent the Gutter Getter® from passing under various gutter brackets on shallow gutters or on gutters with low brackets. In either case, using the Gutter Getter® is difficult because the working direction must be reversed at every bracket and it is time-consuming and difficult to recapture debris from around each bracket.  
         [0004]     The company Working Products Incorporated also offers a Gutter Grabber® brand of rain gutter scraper that includes extendable handles and single, generic sized arrow-shaped plastic scraping head attachment, which is designed to “pull” debris toward the user in order to reduce the number of times necessary to climb up and down a ladder once a section of gutter is cleaned. This Gutter Grabber® tool will not get all debris if the debris is soupy or compacted. Moreover, the inventor has found that it is more efficient to push and then occasionally pull the debris to the next section of gutter where the ladder will be located. The most efficient method is then to remove the loosened debris with the hands wherever possible, reaching an arms length in each direction, and then pushing the remaining debris no more than 8 to 10 feet.  
         [0005]     As noted above, another problem with conventional gutter cleaning tools is that gutter brackets often obstruct the pulling of the debris, so it is quite time consuming to work the debris past the brackets. In the time required to work the debris around the brackets, perhaps three times the length of gutter can be cleaned by just pushing the debris and moving the ladder every eight or ten feet.  
         [0006]     However the debris is removed from the rain gutters, once removed, the debris is typically either deposited directly on the roof, on a drop cloth on the roof, a trash receptacle placed on the roof, or the debris will simply be thrown to the ground below. In circumstances where the debris is placed on the roof shingles or tiles, this debris must be later removed from the roof, which requires additional steps which slows down the progress of the cleaning job. In cases with the debris is thrown to the ground, this debris must be cleaned up later, which also creates additional work. Particularly in the case of soggy, muddy debris, completely cleaning the debris can be troublesome and time-consuming.  
         [0007]     Most of existing gutter cleaning products are designed to be used from the ground or a ladder and target the do-it-yourself homeowner, not professionals.  
         [0008]     There accordingly remains a need for gutter cleaning system that is adapted to clean rain gutters of wet, soupy and/or compacted debris in a fast, efficient, and clean operation, particularly for high volume operators.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is front view of a first exemplary embodiment of a gutter scraper that can be used with the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is front view of a second exemplary embodiment of a gutter scraper that can be used with the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a gutter scraper of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of handle extenders for the gutter scrapers of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a straining gutter scooper that can be used with the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an exemplary drawstring collection sack of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a gutter cleaning chute device that can be used with the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a detail side view showing how the gutter cleaning chute device of  FIG. 7  is engaged to a ladder.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the gutter cleaning chute device that can be used with the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention, without the chute shown.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the gutter cleaning chute device of  FIG. 9 , without the chute shown.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of the gutter cleaning chute device of  FIG. 9  hung on a gutter and with its chute partially shown attached thereto.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a gutter cleaning chute device of the invention, without the chute shown. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     Turning first the  FIG. 1 , there is shown a  FIG. 1 , there is shown a front view of a first exemplary embodiment of a gutter scraper  10  that can be used with the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention. The gutter scrapper  10  has a generally rectangular blade  12  having a width “W” and a height “H”. The width can vary is width from about 2.5 to 10 centimeters (about 1 to 4 inches) wide by about 5 to 7.5 centimeters (about 2 to 3 inches) high. The blade  12  can be formed of a high strength material, such as steel, aluminum or high strength plastic, and should be sufficiently thick to so as not to bend, distort or break during use. It has been found that ⅛″ thick steel functions adequately. The blade  12  is attached to a bracket arm  14  to a handle  16 , as is shown in  FIG. 3 . The blade  12  is preferably mounted at an offset angle β degrees from the handle  16 , which offset angle β is preferably about 45 to 75 degrees, and even more preferably about 60 degrees offset relative to the axis of the handle  16 . The bracket arm  14  can, for example, comprise a bar about 1 centimeter (about ⅜″) thick of a desired length, for example about 25 centimeters (about 10 inches functions well) which is attached to the scrapper. However, other thickness and lengths will function. In use, the scrapper acts like, a chisel to get under mud and debris and break it loose from the gutter bottom. In use, it can be pushed more or less horizontally.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is front view of a second exemplary embodiment of a gutter scraper  20  that can be used with the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention. The gutter scraper  20  has a generally trapezoidal shaped blade portion  22  with a narrow bottom edge  24  that has angled sides  26  that join to a wider top  28 . The blade  22  is fixed on a bracket arm  14  and attached to a handle  16 , as is shown with reference to  FIG. 3 .  
         [0024]     The blades  12  and  22  are preferably adapted to clip or snap on the bracket arm  14  so that depending on the job requirements, different blades can be used.  
         [0025]     The gutter scrapes  10  and  20  are designed to work with all kinds of debris, gutter shapes, and nature of debris within, e.g., woody twigs and leaves, compacted mud and mud that is soupy. The gutter scraper system is ideally suited for commercial gutter cleaning as the system tools will stand up to heavy day in and day out use, are adaptable all situations, and are useable from the roof as well as from ladders. The bracket can comprise other materials and sizes too. In use, the gutter scrappers  10  and  20  act like a “chisel” to get under mud and debris and break it loose from the gutter bottom and break up and clear loose debris in very narrow gutters and in wider gutters where the debris is compacted and/or composed of debris made up largely of twigs and or sticks. It is pushed more or less horizontally.  
         [0026]     In order to further clean the gutters, cleaning rags in various sizes can be wrapped around and/or pushed by the blades to completely wipe down the inside of the gutters, e.g., 6″×8″, 8″×12″, and 18′×24″ cotton cloth rags as well as other sizes can be used. Other materials can be used.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of handle extenders  30 A and  30 B for the gutter scrapers of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The handle extenders can screw onto the handle  16  (not shown) or can have a quick release mechanism (e.g. spring loaded pins  32  that snap into alignment holes  34 ) to permit the handle extenders  30 A and/or  30 B to be quickly attached and detached as required to increase or decrease the working length of the scrapper.  
         [0028]     The gutter scrapers  12  or  22  are attached to the handle extender(s) in the most effective combination for pushing and/or pulling gutter debris that is out of reach to the next ladder position. The system can also be used to gather gutter debris from a standing position on the roof so as to be removed from the gutter once all the debris has been gathered in one location. Clean rags that suit the gutter dimensions can be pushed after the debris through the partly cleaned gutter in order to 1) gather the remaining debris and 2) stop the back flow. The various size gutter scrapers are selected so that they are just slightly smaller than various size gutters, thus allowing for efficient pulling or pushing of all debris. The gutter scrapers are thus well accommodated to deal with a wide variety of different kids of gutter debris, no matter how full the gutters are, and regardless of whether the debris is a soupy mud, compacted mud, leafy material, heavily laden with twigs and or any combination thereof.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a straining gutter scooper  40  that can be used with the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention. The straining gutter scooper  40  has holes  42  formed in its sides  44 . A grip handle  46  is provided. The straining gutter scooper is open at its front  48  and has a bottom wall  50 . The straining gutter scooper  40  can be used by itself, or with extension handles, such as described above. The straining gutter scooper  40  can be provided in a variety of sizes and dimensions, e.g., length of about 25 to 41 centimeters (about 10 to 16 inches), width of about 5 to 10 centimeters (about 2 to 4 inches), and height of about 4 to 11 centimeters (about 1.5 to about 4.5 inches) and with about 4-10 holes  42  per side  44 , which holes can be sized from about 0.6 to about 2 centimeters (about 0.25 to 0.75 inches) or with slots formed therein. The straining gutter scooper  40  is preferably formed of a sturdy plastic or metal alloy. The holes  42  in the sides  44  of the scoop allow water to flow out during use for efficient debris removal. When moved through the inside of a rain gutter, the straining gutter scooper  40  traps debris and allows mud/water to pass through the side holes  42  in the scoop. The water and mud remain in the gutter so as to make gutter cleaning more efficient, less labor intensive, time consuming and less messy. The straining gutter scooper  40  preferably is provided in various sizes so that the straining gutter scooper  40  with a width matching the gutter being cleaned will pass under the rain gutter brackets in one smooth forward motion.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an exemplary drawstring debris collection sack  60  of the invention. The drawstring debris collection sack  60  has a planar body portion  62  which is made of a lightweight yet strong material (e.g. canvas, nylon, etc.) and is used for accumulating and removing gutter debris. The planar body portion  62  has a plurality of gussets  64  formed therein through which a draw cord  66  is threaded. Stiffener insert pocket  68  are formed on at least two sides  70  and  72  of the planar body portion  62 , and are adapted to received stiffening members  74 , such as PVC pipe inserts. The insert pocket  68  are closed at one end permitting stiffening members  74  removal after the debris collection sack has been filled. The operator will move the filled drawstring debris collection sack  60  by grabbing the stiffening members  74  inside the insert pockets  68  and push and/or slide it across the roof to the next portion of gutter requiring cleaning. Once the sack has been filled, the stiffening members  74  are slid out of the insert pockets  68  and the drawstring debris collection sack  60  is closed. This is accomplished by gathering the corners and middle of the sack sides together using the drawstring cord  66 . The drawstring debris collection sack  60  can then be lowered or dropped from roof with no splatter or debris mess and allows for easy removal once on the ground. In lieu of providing utilizing a drawstring debris collection sack with a drawstring and stiffening rods, a sheet of material can be used and folded up burrito style after being filled with debris, then thrown to the ground.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a gutter cleaning chute device  80  the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention that is adapted to attach to a ladder  82  with side rails  84  and rungs  86 . The gutter cleaning chute device  80  has a chute body  88  formed of a fabric and/or plastic material. The chute  88  is attached to a chute mouth frame  90  leaving open a top  92  of the chute to receive debris. The chute may be attached with clips  94  or other devices. The chute body  88  has a bottom opening  96  for permitting debris collected in the chute body to be emptied, e.g., into a trash receptacle  100 . The chute mouth frame  90  has a ladder attachment device comprising an rod extension  102  that is sized to engage with the ladder, e.g., by be slide into a cavity of a ladder&#39;s rung  86 . The frame  90  can be made of rod  102  and additional framework members  98 ,  108  and  11 , can comprises a plastic or metal rim. One or more anti-turning protrusions  104  and  106  extend from the framework member  108  of the chute mouth frame  90 , and these prevent the chute mouth frame  90  from twisting and drooping down too much. In order to prevent debris in the chute body  88  from falling out of the bottom opening  94 , a pair of rods  110 A and  110 B can be slide into the open cavities of ladder rails  86 B and  86 C to hold the bottom opening  94  closed. When a user wishes to empty debris from the chute body  88 , the upper rod  110 A (and possible the lower rod  110 B too) will be slide out of the ladder rails  86 B and  86 C, thereby opening the bottom opening  94 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a detail side view showing how the exemplary gutter cleaning chute device  80  of  FIG. 7  is engaged to the ladder  82 . As can be seen, the rod extension  102  slides into a cavity  110  of the ladder rung  86  and carries the weight of gutter cleaning chute device  80  and debris collected therein. The anti-turning protrusions  104  and  106  extend from the framework member  108  of the chute mouth frame  90 , and ride against a back surface  120  and front surface  122 , respectively, of the ladder&#39;s side rails  84 . These anti-turning protrusions  104  and  106  thus prevent the chute mouth frame  90  from twisting downwardly, and thus act to securely support the gutter cleaning chute device  80  and debris collected therein.  
         [0033]     In use, the gutter cleaning chute device  80  can be placed at any height by changing the ladder step or steps used. It is easiest when the chute mouth frame  90  is placed just under the gutter. Depending on the situation, the chute mouth frame  90  can be placed at or in the ladder step where the stabilizer is attached. This will automatically hold it horizontally. If the chute mouth frame  90  needs be located at or in a ladder step where no stabilizer is present, a supporting bracket attachment is used. The supporting bracket slides into the bag/tube bracket on one end and runs diagonally to the next lower ladder step where the other end slides into the hole in the next lower ladder step, which will support the bag/tube bracket horizontally.  
         [0034]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the gutter cleaning chute device  130  that is adapted to be mountable directly to a rain gutter rather than to the ladder, and forms part of the rain gutter cleaning system of the invention. The chute body portion is shown removed for clarity of presentation. The gutter cleaning chute device  130  has a rim portion  132  with perimeter walls  134 A-D and a gutter suspension portion  136  extending behind the perimeter wall  134 A. Chute engagements  138  are also provided on the perimeter walls  134 . The rim portion  132  defines an opening  140  therein.  
         [0035]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the gutter cleaning chute device  130  of  FIG. 9 , without the chute shown. The chute engagements  138  are in the form of rails with outwardly extending portion  142 , and are attached to the perimeter walls  134 . The gutter suspension portion  136  is attached to perimeter wall  134 A, and preferably has a space  144  for the chute engagement  138  and for receiving chute material, as is shown in  FIG. 11 . The gutter suspension portion  136  has a hook  146  that is used to support the gutter cleaning chute device  130  from a rain gutter  160 , as is shown in  FIG. 11 . A back plate  150  may be included and extend downwardly from the perimeter wall  134 A to add further support when used on a gutter.  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of the gutter cleaning chute device of  FIG. 9  hung with its hook  146  hooked on a rain gutter  160  and with its chute  162  shown attached thereto to the rim portion  132 , by passing the chute material  162  upwardly through the opening  140  of the rim portion  132 , and folding the perimeter  164  of the chute material downwardly over the perimeter walls  134 A-C and over the chute engagements  138 . A retention device, such as an elastic cord  170  can be used to press the chute material  164  into the chute engagements  138  and securely connect the chute  162  to the rim portion  132 . The elastic cord  170  can be removed if desired to detach the chute  162  from the rim portion  132 . Other devices to clamp the chute material in place can be used, such as clips, retention bars, etc. (not shown.)  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a gutter cleaning chute device  180  of the invention, without the chute shown. This gutter cleaning chute device  180  can be identical to the gutter cleaning chute device  130  of  FIGS. 9-11 , except that is has chute engagements  182  in the form of cupped disks, to which the chute is attached by separate elastic bands (not shown.)  
         [0038]     The chutes  88  and  162  used with the embodiments of the gutter cleaning chute devices  80 ,  130  and  180  can preferably vary in length and diameter, depending upon the requirements, but can, for example be about 2.4 to 6.1 meters (8 to 20 feet) long and about 46 to 61 centimeters (18 to 24 inches) in diameter and made of lightweight plastic polyethylene material. Used in conjunction with the gutter scrapers  10  and  20  and gutter scooper  40 , the gutter cleaning chute device can be filled with about 9 to 14 kilogram or more (20 to 30 lbs or more) of gutter debris before being either emptied or thrown away. The gutter cleaning system of the invention thus provides a highly efficient system for gathering up gutter debris to be removed from a roof with no splatter or mess to clean up on ground. The bottom of the chute can be secured in any number of ways, e.g., including folding the bottom up and clipping it shut, wrapping the bottom of the tube around a lower ladder leg or otherwise hooking it to the ladder, tying it in knot, etc. By undoing the bottom of the chute, the debris can be emptied into a trash receptacle. Another way to use the gutter cleaning chute device is by inserting the bottom few feet of the chute into the open top of the rim framework  90  or rim portions  132 ,  180  and holding the bottom of the chute in placed, such as with a clip. Once the chute is filled with debris, the gutter cleaning chute device  80 ,  130 ,  180  can be removed from the ladder step or rain gutter and it can be tossed to the ground where it can be emptied or disposed of and the process repeated with no splatter or debris mess.  
         [0039]     Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Also, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.