Scraper for gutters

A tool for removing paint from sheet metal gutters having a central ogee portion connected to two straight, vertical portions. The scraper includes a flat blade having an edge whose contour matches very closely the shape of the gutter. In particular, it approximates the exterior configuration of the gutter on a transverse cross-sectional view. The contour, however, has a slightly greater height than that displayed by the gutter; this allows the horizontal extensions of the blade to pass over the upper and lower edges of the gutter to effectuate contact with the gutter's vertical face. Cleaning the upper and lower horizontal surfaces of the gutter then merely requires shifting the blade downward to clean the former and upward for the latter. An extended handle on the blade allows its use by a workman located at some distance from the gutter. To further facilitate its use at a distance from the gutter, the handle may pivot relative to the blade.

BACKGROUND 
Repainting eaves or gutters for buildings frequently entails removing the 
generally loose fragments of the prior coating. Typically, the preparation 
requires scraping flakes of paint from the metal underneath. 
As a further hindrance, the eaves generally lie beyond an arm's reach of a 
person standing on the ground. Thus, a ladder or scaffold must be resorted 
to, which adds to the cost of the operation. 
SUMMARY 
Sheet metal eaves, or gutters, in most cases, display a standard transverse 
cross section. A blade having an active edge portion nearly congruent with 
the gutter's shape effectuates an acceptable scraping. The standard shape 
includes an ogee curve position connected, at either end, to a straight, 
vertical section. Horizontal surfaces then connect to the vertical 
portions. The horizontal portion of the eave may also receive adequate 
cleaning by providing two horizontal scraping portions on the blade. The 
distance between these two horizontal blade portions slightly exceeds the 
separation of the eaves' horizontal surfaces. Moving the blade upward 
scrapes the lower horizontal surface of the eaves. Shifting it downward 
allows it to act on the gutter's upper horizontal portion. The range of 
movement thus allowed enables the blade portion to reach and act 
vertically upon substantially all of the eaves. 
A slight canting of the tool may help assure contact with the eave over its 
entire vertical portions. This allows simultaneous cleaning of the eaves' 
entire vertical surface. Similar considerations pertain to the scraping 
performed on other portions of the eaves' surface. 
The scraper includes a substantially flat and rigid plate. The active edge 
of the plate displays a contour having a first straight vertical position. 
An intermediate ogee-curve portion connects to the first vertical portion. 
A second vertical straight edge portion forms a continuation of the other 
end of the ogee-curve portion. The contour of the blade displays 
substantial congruence with the external configuration of a gutter. 
Optionally, a handle, secured at a convenient location on the blade, allows 
for the facile manipulation of the tool. If desired, a thumb screw or wing 
nut and bolt couples the scraping blade and handle and enables an angular 
adjustment of the latter with respect to the former.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The scraper shown in the figures dislodges paint and the like from a 
metallic base surface such as aluminum or galvanized iron. Weathered 
exterior paint seldom requires extensive effort to remove the paint flakes 
from the underlying surface. A rigid, flat sheet metal blade 10, with 
sharp edges, can dislodge the flaking paint at an acceptable rate. 
Most metal gutters follow a standard cross sectional pattern. This 
configuration includes an ogee curve; a flat flange at the top; and a flat 
floor terminating in a horizontal attaching flange at the rear. 
The active scraper displays a generally corresponding contour edge. This 
contour includes a horizontal straight run 10a, an ogee-curved portion 
10b, and a horizontal straight floor 10c with vertical straight edges 
between the ogee curve and the horizontal runs 10a and 10b. 
The respective matching parts of the eave and the scraper do not need 
absolute congruency. Canting the blade 10 about a horizontal or vertical 
axis may achieve suitable contact of the scraper edge and eave surface, as 
shown in FIG. 3. 
The screw 12 attaches the handle 14 to the blade 10. It also permits 
adjusting the relative angle between the two components. Readjusting the 
angle of the handle 14 may permit the most efficient removal of the paint. 
Normally, the trough lies with its edge 10c on the horizontal. However, if 
the eave happens to list from that position, the handle 14 can hold the 
blade 10 at an angle of attack that accommodates the misalignment. 
Additional versatility results from spacing the eaves' edge 20 a small 
distance X from the edge 16 of the scraper. Allowing this extra space may 
permit full access to the surfaces 20, 17, and 16. Moving the blade 10 
upward, as shown in solid llines in FIG. 3, causes the horizontal blade 
portion 10c to contact the gutter's bottom surface. Similarly, a downward 
motion of the blade 10 brings its upper straight edge 20 into contact with 
the top 16 of the eaves. A similar advantage may result between the other 
surfaces of the blade 10 and the eaves.