Abstract:
A gutter cleaner dispensing system which delivers an eco-friendly mixture of enzymes and bacteria to a gutter system. The mixture is spread through the gutter system, populating and multiplying while producing large quantities of digestive enzymes. These organic compounds break down scum and debris resulting in a clean and self-maintaining gutter system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional 60/988,446 filed on Nov. 16, 2007 incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a gutter cleaner dispensing system designed to clean and maintain gutters by delivering an ecologically friendly blend of enzymes and bacteria to the gutter system. 
         [0003]    Conventional gutter cleaning methods involve the use of power-washers, sweeping tools, and other manual means to remove sticks, leaves and other debris from a gutter. These methods are laborious, time intensive, and require repeated and often dangerous efforts to maintain a clean gutter system. The present invention seeks to remedy these shortcomings by facilitating the introduction of a self-sustaining blend of enzymes and bacteria into a gutter system which clean, clear, and maintain the system without the need for repeated manual removal of debris. 
         [0004]    The blend of enzymes and bacteria will typically contain a number of species, which have been selected and combined to degrade the organic elements of interest, for example, leaves, mildew and twigs. These organisms work in concert, each strain possessing the enzyme systems necessary to degrade specific components of the waste, yielding breakdown intermediates that are further degraded by other species in the blend. In this manner, complex compounds can be systematically reduced to simple and ultimately non-harmful compounds such as water and carbon dioxide. Examples of potentially useful classes of enzymes include, but are not limited to, cellulases and lignases. 
         [0005]    By adding rain water to the blend, a living system of biologically active enzymes, activators and accelerators is created. The microbes populate the entire system, multiply, and produce large quantities of digestive enzymes on a continuing basis. The results are clean gutters without any harm to the environment or laborious efforts to continually maintain the gutters system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed toward a gutter cleaner dispensing system which delivers an eco-friendly blend of bacteria and enzymes to a gutter system. This blend is then spread through the gutter system, populating and multiplying while producing large quantities of digestive enzymes on a continuing basis. These organic compounds break down scum and debris, leaving the gutter clean and protected against future debris buildup while eliminating the labor intensive work which normally accompanies maintaining a gutter system. 
         [0007]    In a preferred embodiment, the gutter cleaner dispensing system utilizes a refillable container designed to attach inside a gutter at a location which is subject to the flow of runoff water. The container features slit-like openings allowing runoff water to enter, activate, and spread the enzyme blend throughout the gutter system. Once populated throughout the system, the enzymes and bacteria continually work to break down debris, providing for long lasting periods of clean gutters. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention will be explained in more detail in connection with the drawings in which presently preferred embodiments are shown. 
           [0009]    In the drawings: 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1A-1H  show a first embodiment of the present invention in the form of a dissolvable tablet, grooved bar, pinecone, shell, sea urchin, coral, fish, and spiked star respectively. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of a second embodiment of the present invention featuring a cartridge used to deliver the gutter cleaning enzyme blend. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a launching device used to delivery the cartridge, shown in  FIG. 2A , to a desired gutter. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3A-3C  show a third embodiment of the present invention in which the enzyme blend is contained in an open-slit bobber which is secured to the gutter. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4A-4E  are views of a fourth embodiment of the present invention in which the enzyme blend is placed inside an open-slit tank filter which is secured to the gutter system. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5A-5B  show a fifth embodiment of the present invention in which an adhesive tape is placed in the gutter and the enzyme blend is distributed over the exposed side of the tape, retaining it in the gutter. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 6A-6B  show a sixth embodiment of the present invention in which a reusable spherical capsule delivers the enzyme blend to the gutter by throwing the capsule into the gutter, or alternatively, by manually securing to the gutter. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 7A-7C  show a seventh embodiment of the present invention in which the enzyme blend is contained in a cleaning pad which is applied to the gutter through the use of a conventional handled tool. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a gutter down spout with a neutralizing element positioned therein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not considered limiting. Words such as “front”, “back”, “top” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. This terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. Additionally, the terms “a” and “one” are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted. 
         [0020]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawing figures where like numerals represent like elements throughout. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , a first preferred embodiment of the invention features a dissolvable tablet  12  comprising a body  20  featuring ridges or grooves  14  formed from an enzyme blend  10 . When placed into a gutter system (not shown), the ridges or grooves  14  act to increase the surface area exposed to runoff water as well as encourage the pooling of water on the top surface of the tablet  12 . These features promote the dissolution of the tablet  12  into the runoff stream, facilitating the spread of the enzyme blend  10  throughout the gutter system. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1B-1H  show alternate forms of the first embodiment of the present invention in the shape of a grooved bar  16 , pinecone  18 , shell  22 , sea urchin  24 , coral  26 , fish  28 , and spiked star  30  respectively. In addition to providing an aesthetically pleasing design, each shape offers functional benefits which aid in the delivery of the enzyme blend  10  throughout the gutter system. Specifically, the irregular shape of the bodies  20 , which include multiple projecting surfaces  22 , provides an increased resistance to being carried out of position in the gutter when subject to fast-moving runoff water. Further, the projecting surfaces  22  provide the increased surface area and pooling promotion benefits described above in reference to  FIG. 1A . 
         [0023]    The bodies  20  can be made from a completely dissolvable form of the enzyme blend  10 , similar to the tablet  12  tablet described above. Alternatively, they may be formed from non-dissolving materials such as plastic, ceramic, metal, or any other suitable material. The enzyme blend  10  could then be infused, coated, or otherwise contained in or on the bodies  20  for distribution throughout the gutter system. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2A  shows a second embodiment of the present invention featuring a cartridge  32  comprising a body  33  and a plurality of bores  34  in which the enzyme blend  10  is contained. The cartridge  32  can be delivered to a gutter by means of a projectile launching device  36 , shown in  FIG. 2B . The projectile launching device  36  comprises a barrel  38  into which the cartridge  32  is inserted. An actuating handle  42  allows the user to compress a spring  40  to a multitude of positions which results in exerting varying amounts of preload on the spring  40 . These positions and associated spring preloads provide the user with the ability to launch the projectile into gutter systems of varying heights. For example, one position may be designed to reach a typical first story gutter, while another may incorporate additional spring preload so that a second story gutter may be reached. 
         [0025]    A third embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIGS. 3A-3C  comprises and open-slit bobber  44  featuring of a securing surface  46  and body  47  which houses the enzyme blend  10 . The body  47  comprises opening slits  45  which expose the enzyme blend  10  to runoff water. As shown in  FIG. 3C , the bobber  44  is attached to a gutter  50  on a cross-member  52  by means of a tether  48 , shown in  FIG. 3B . The tether  48  attaches on one end to the securing surface  46  of the bobber  44 , and on another end to the gutter cross-member  52 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4A  shows a forth embodiment of the present invention featuring an open-slit tank filter  56 . The tank filter  56  comprises a lid  58  which is removed to allow the insertion of the enzyme blend  10  into the tank  56 . The tank filter  56  features open-slits  57  which allow the runoff water to enter, activate, and disperse the enzyme blend  10  throughout the gutter system. The tank filter  56  can be attached to the gutter  50  (depicted in  FIG. 4E ) in various ways including a tether  64 , magnet  60 , or adhesive  62 . It is further envisioned that the tank filter  56  can provide a filtering function by trapping debris which flows through it, in addition to delivering the enzyme blend to the gutter. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5A  shows another embodiment of the present invention in which an adhesive material  68  is applied to the gutter  50  ( FIG. 5B ). Once the adhesive  68  is in place, a cartridge  70  containing the enzyme blend  10  is poured onto or otherwise applied to the adhesive  68 . Runoff water flowing down the gutter  50  will wash over the enzyme blend  10 , distributing it throughout the system. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 6A , an impact resistant, spherical capsule  72  features a hinge  74  for opening and accepting a cartridge  73  comprising the enzyme blend  10 , as shown in  FIG. 6C .  FIG. 6D  shows one method of introducing the capsule  72  to a gutter  50 . Specifically, the capsule  72  can be thrown, rolled, or otherwise introduced to the gutter  50  by hand without requiring the user to be in close proximity to the gutter  50 . The impact resistant nature of capsule  72  ensures that it remains reusable, as well as protects the cartridge  73  from damage as it is introduced to the gutter  50 . Alternatively, the capsule  72  is provided with an attachment surface  75  in order to utilize a tether  82  to secure itself to the gutter  50 . 
         [0029]    The open-slit bobber  44 , the tank filter  56 , and the spherical capsule  72  can be made from plastic, rubber, metal, or any other material suitable to withstand the aqueous environment, the degradation effects of the enzyme blend, and the potential for impact during the installation process or which may occur while positioned in the gutter. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 7A-7D  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention in which the enzyme blend  10  is applied to the gutter  50  by means of a conventional handled tool  84 . The handled tool  84  comprises a handle  86  featuring a clevis end  88  having engaging surfaces  89 .  FIG. 7A  shows a replaceable pad  90  shaped generally to conform with the interior profile of a gutter  50 , with attachment means  91  to secure the pad to engagement surfaces  89  of the handle  86 . To engage and disengage the pad  90  from the tool  84 , the user slides the actuation means  92  in the direction indicated in  FIG. 7C .  FIG. 7B  shows the bottom side of the pad comprising the enzyme blend  10 , which is brushed along the inside of the gutter  50  in a conventional way as shown in  FIG. 7D . 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. It is envisioned that the use of the enzyme blend along with the decomposition of organic matter, may result in runoff water with undesirable chemical and physical properties which may cause damage to the surrounding environment  102 . To remedy these potential conditions, a neutralization element  100  is placed into the downspout  98  of the gutter  50  in order to condition the runoff into a more environmentally friendly state. This neutralization element  100  can deliver detergents, mild acids, bases, or any other compound suitable for achieving the desired runoff properties. 
         [0032]    Active ingredients in the tablets may include Protease, Lipase, Amalyse, Agricycle Catalyst Enzyme (ACE), Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate, various acids (such as acetic acids), salts, Dichlobenil, although other ingredients could be used. 
         [0033]    Having thus described in detail several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes, only a few of which are exemplified in the detailed description of the invention, could be made without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. It is also to be appreciated that numerous embodiments incorporating only part of the preferred embodiment are possible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The present embodiments and optional configurations are therefore to be considered in all respects as exemplary and/or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all alternate embodiments and changes to this embodiment which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of said claims are therefore to be embraced therein.