Scrubber adapted for cleaning a side surface of a rain gutter

A scrubber for rain gutters with a scrubbing pad having a profile complementary to the profile of the outside side face of the gutter. The scrubbing pad is formed of a open cell natural or synthetic sponge and is attached to a substantially flat backing plate and makes substantially 100% surface contact with the outside side face of the rain gutter. The scrubbing pad overlaps a flange at the top of the outside side face of the gutter and overlaps a bottom of the rain gutter at the bottom of the outside side face. The scrubber is guided by the scrubbing pad along the rain gutter in a straight line by the overlapping portions of the scrubbing pad as the scrubber is moved back and forth along the rain gutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a scrubber for washing the exposed side surface of a rain gutter.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Rain gutters are typically installed along the eave line of a structure to facilitate the collection and transport of rainwater from the roof of the structure to the ground. Over time, the exterior of a gutter collects dirt which becomes a food source for mildew, mold and algae, colonies of which are particularly likely to form on the shady side of a building. Sugar pollens and roof material runoff also stain gutters and can take on the appearance of what is called “tiger strips” on the gutters. One of the most dreaded home care projects is washing the outside of gutters because they are hard to reach without using a ladder which is dangerous and frequently difficult to place because of obstacles such as bushes and the like.

Until the present invention, the best way to clean the side surface of a rain gutter has been with a soft brush on a pole, such as sold for cleaning the sides of RVs or windows. The brush is dipped into a cleaning solution and an area of the gutter is scrubbed and then rinsed with clear water. One problem with RV type brushes, however, is that the bristles do not make full contact with the contoured surface of the gutter and/or apply unequal pressure to the contour surface resulting in uneven cleaning.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a scrubber that effectuates an effective scrubbing action along the entire side face of a rain gutter with substantially 100% even surface contact. It is another object to provide a scrubber that is mounted on a double swivel joint such that it can be operated from the ground and apply substantially constant pressure to the side face. Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In accordance with the invention a scrubber is provided for making substantially 100% surface contact with the outside side face of a rain gutter for effectively removing dirt, stains and debris safely from the ground. The scrubber includes a backing plate with a removable scrubbing pad and a handle which is connected with a double swivel joint assembly to the flat backing plate. The scrubbing pad has a bottom surface complementary to the ogee-curve portion of the side face of the rain gutter, complementary to an upwardly extending portion of the rain gutter and overlapping a portion of a flat flange at the top and complementary to a downwardly extending portion of the rain gutter and overlapping a portion of the flat floor of the gutter. The scrubbing pad is formed of an open cell sponge which does not stick to the rain gutter and is aggressive enough to remove the dirt, stains and debris when used with an effective cleaning solution.

The invention summarized above comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the subjoined claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference character, a scrubber10is provided for use in scrubbing an outside side face12of a rain gutter14. As best seen inFIG. 2, the outside side face12has a ogee-curve portion16, an upwardly extending portion18terminating in a substantially flat flange20and a downwardly extending portion22connecting to a flat bottom24. Scrubber10may be provided in different sizes. For example, a G5 model may be provided to fit standard 5 inch aluminum “K” style gutters commonly found on most homes and a G6 model may be provided to fit 6 inch oversized gutters such are found on larger homes, churches, etc. Flat bottom24on the smaller gutters is approximately 3⅜ inches wide and on larger gutters is approximately 3⅞ inches wide.

Scrubber10includes a substantially flat backing plate26with a double swivel joint assembly28attached to a top surface30. As shown inFIG. 1, double swivel joint assembly28has a vertical swivel joint32and a horizontal swivel joint34. Vertical swivel joint32allows rotation of backing plate26from side to side and horizontal swivel joint34allows rotation of a backing plate26up and down. Double swivel joint assembly28may be provided with threads (not shown) to fit the threads (not shown) on a standard threaded pole36. In other instances, double swivel joint assembly28may be adapted to be friction fitted to pole36. Horizontal swivel joint34and/or vertical swivel joint32may be restricted from moving freely for holding the pivot in a selected position. With other commercially available double swivel joint assemblies28no special provision is made for restricting either of swivel joints32,34.

As best seen inFIG. 5, a bottom surface38of backing plate26has is fabricated with hookstrips40. Each of hookstrips40has an array of fastening elements42. Typically, the fastening elements42are hook-like or mushroom-like elements which extend from a base with the individual hooks or mushrooms having undersides spaced away from the base. Hookstrips40are typically manufactured as a separate product and attached to bottom surface38of backing plate26although they may be integrally formed with backing plate26.

A top surface44of a removable scrubbing pad46is attached to bottom surface38of the backing plate as shown inFIG. 3with hookstrips40. Additionally or alternatively, slides, clips, elastic string and other suitable attachments may be employed to releasibly secure scrubbing pad46to bottom surface38of backing plate26.

Scrubbing pad46is formed of an open cell natural or synthetic sponge rubber that keeps its shape and is not affected by cleaners or bleach. Closed cell sponge materials are not preferred because they tend to suction attach to side surface12of rain gutter14. Foamed polyurethanes such as open celled polyethers or polyesters are suitable and may be reticulated by breaking the cell walls by thermal or chemical means. The reticulated open cell construction allows for fluids to permeate the scrubbing pad to a greater degree than closed-cell materials and their lower tensile strength allows them to conform to contours more easily. With polyester and polyether open cell sponges, larger open cells create more friction/drag than smaller cells, and thus provide more aggressive scrubbing action, and too small cells may not provide an aggressive enough scrubbing action. A balance between drag and abrasiveness with open cell polyester sponges has been found when the cell count is between about 2 and 25 PPI (pores per linear inch), more preferably between about 8 and 20 PPI. In the case of open cell polyester sponges, very good result been obtained when the cell count was between about 12 and 18 PPI. In some instances, polyethers are preferred because polyether foams are more resistance to hydrolysis that polyester foams. When the open cell sponge is polyether, very good results have been obtained with a PPI of 20 plus or minus 10 PPI.

Top surface44of scrubbing pad46is attached with hookstrips40to bottom surface38of backing plate26with the hook-like or mushroom-like elements of hookstrips40which latch into the reticulated open cells of scrubbing pad46. A bottom surface48of scrubbing pad46is complementary50to the ogee-curve portion of side face16, complementary52to the upwardly extending portion and overlapping54a portion of the flat flange and complementary56to the upwardly extending portion and overlapping58a portion of the flat floor.

In use, scrubber10is attached to pole36. Pole36may be telescoping in a known manner. This adjustability allows scrubber10with pole36to reach gutters14of different heights and to be conveniently stored when not in use. Prior to starting use of scrubber10, rain gutters14may be sprayed with water and the dirt, stains and debris allowed to soak and soften. With pole36acting as a handle, a user may press scrubbing pad46wetted with a cleaning agent against outside side face12of the rain gutter with complementary overlapping flat flange portion54and complementary overlapping flat bottom portion58contacting flat flange20and flat bottom24respectively. Because scrubbing pad46is an open cell sponge it makes very conservative use of the cleaning solution because it does not absorb much of the cleaning solution.

While pressing inwardly and moving scrubber10back and forth along rain gutter14, complementary portions54,58effectively guide scrubbing pad46in a straight line along gutter14making substantially 100% cleaning contact with outside side surface12. A second scrubber10′ as shown inFIG. 2may be provided to clean flat bottom24. Second scrubber10′ may be similar to first scrubber10except that a bottom surface48′ of scrubbing pad46′ is flat, not congruent with the configuration of the side surface of the rain gutter. As will be readily apparent, only one backing plate26is needed for both scrubbers10,10′ by interchanging scrubbing pads46,46′. To extend the useful life of scrubbing pads46,46′ they should not be left standing in cleaning solution for long periods of time particularly if bleach is used as the cleaning solution. It is also advisable to rinse scrubbing pads46,46=with clean water after completing a job.