Patent Publication Number: US-10329770-B2

Title: Downspout cleaning device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/713,728, entitled “Downspout Cleaning Device,” filed on May 15, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,017,945, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to device for cleaning a downspout of a building, and more particularly, to clean the downspout with a user of the device positioned below an opening of the downspout, which is positioned within a gutter. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cleaning clogged downspouts of a building or home is often a treacherous and difficult task. The one who is to do the cleaning typically must climb a ladder to be positioned above a gutter of the building or must climb a ladder and be positioned on the roof of the building so as to access the downspout opening positioned within the gutter. In addition, on occasions the cleaner may need to carry or haul a pressurized hose up to the gutter or roof level so as to position the nozzle of the hose to access the downspout opening in the gutter, which adds to the difficulty of the task. 
     In the instance where the a pressurized hose is used, the cleaner aims the pressurized hose at the opening in a downward direction at the downspout. Should the water pressure be sufficient, the debris can then be dislodged and pushed down the downspout and out of a bottom opening positioned in the downspout. This can be particularly difficult if the debris is trapped or solidified in a portion of the downspout which extends under the eaves of the building. 
     In other circumstances, the cleaner may use the handle portion of a rake or broom to attempt to dislodge the debris in the downspout by pushing the handle into the opening of the downspout. This approach is also difficult, particularly if the debris is located in the downspout which extends under an eave of the building. The handles are typically stiff and will not bend to accommodate the curved contour of the downspout that extends under the eaves. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus for removing debris which includes an elongated hollow structure, wherein: at least a portion of the elongated structure extends in a curved configuration; and the elongated hollow structure comprises a sidewall which defines an opening which extends within and along the elongated structure and defines a first and second apertures spaced apart from one another and in communication with the opening wherein the first and second apertures face in the same direction. The apparatus further includes an elongated insert member which includes: a width dimension smaller than a width dimension of the opening which extends within and along the elongated structure; a rod; and a ram component constructed of a flexible conduit connected to the rod, wherein the rod has a stiffer construction than the ram component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of the apparatus for removing debris; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial broken away and enlarged cross section as seen along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a is a partial broken away fragmentary up right sectional view of a curved portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of an elongate insert member with a first embodiment of a ram component; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of an elongate insert member with a second embodiment of a ram component; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective partial broken away view of the apparatus in operation for removing debris, which was lodged within a downspout. 
     
    
    
     Before any independent features and embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     In referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus for removing debris  10  is shown. Apparatus  10  includes elongated hollow structure or housing  12 . At least a portion  14  of elongated hollow structure  12  extends in a curved configuration. In this embodiment, the curved configuration is a portion of the elongate hollow structure  12 , wherein in other examples the curved configuration of the at least a portion  14  could include a substantial portion or the entire elongated hollow structure  12  being in a curved configuration. The curved configuration permits a user to be positioned below a gutter and have elongated hollow structure  12  extend into the gutter to align with a downspout opening, as seen in  FIG. 6 , which will be discussed in more detail below. 
     Elongated hollow structure  12  has a sidewall  16  which defines an opening  18 , as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which extends within and along elongated hollow structure  12 . Sidewall  16  further defines a first aperture  20  defined at a first end  22  of elongated hollow structure  12  in communication with opening  18  and second aperture  24  is defined at a second end  26  of elongated hollow structure  12 , as seen in  FIGS. 1-2 . First and second apertures  20  and  24  are spaced apart from one another at opposite first and second ends  22  and  26 , respectively, of elongated hollow structure  12 . 
     In this example, elongated hollow structure  12  is formed from tube  28 . Tube  28  forms and defines opening  18  having a width W, as a diameter, as seen in  FIG. 2 . Tube  28  is constructed from a selected material from a wide variety of materials such as plastic, steel or aluminum. The material should provide tube  28  sufficient integrity to allow the user to grip near first end  22  and be able to easily control the direction in which tube  28  is to extend so as to direct tube  28  to align with a downspout opening. In this example, a first portion  30  of elongated hollow structure  12 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , extends linearly. The at least a portion or second portion  14 , of elongate hollow structure  12 , which is in a curved configuration, in this example, extends from first portion  30 . 
     Further in this example, second portion  14  extends from first portion  30 , in the curved configuration and extends through approximately one hundred and eighty degrees (180°). This amount of curvature permits the user to more easily position second aperture  24  of elongated hollow structure  12  over a gutter downspout opening, which will be discussed in more detail below. First aperture  20  is positioned at first end  22  of first portion  30  and second aperture  24  is positioned at second end  26  of second portion  14  positioning first and second apertures  20  and  24  at opposite ends of elongated hollow structure  12 , which will provide openings from which elongate insert member  34 , as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , to travel in and out of during operation of apparatus  10 , as will be described in more detail below and seen in  FIG. 6 . 
     Elongated insert member  34  is positioned within elongate hollow structure  12 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , and has a smaller width dimension W 1  than width dimension W of opening  18  and width dimension W 2  of first aperture  20  and width dimension W 3  of second aperture  24 , as seen in  FIGS. 2-5 . With the width dimension W 1  of elongated insert member  34  being smaller than the width dimensions of opening  18  and first and second apertures  20  and  24 , elongated insert member  34  can move freely within and out of elongated hollow structure  12 . Elongated insert member  34  has a length L, as seen in  FIG. 4 , which exceeds a length of the elongated hollow structure  12 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . As will be appreciated in the operation of apparatus  10  below, elongate insert member  34  will be moved by the user to exit second aperture  24  of elongate hollow structure  12  to impact debris that creates blockage within in a downspout extending from a gutter. 
     Elongate insert member  34  can be constructed in a number of ways, such that it is permitted to freely move into and out of elongate hollow structure  12 . In the examples of elongate insert member  34  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , rod  36  forms a portion of insert member  34  that extends out of first aperture  20  of elongate hollow structure  12 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . Rod  36  can be constructed from a wide selection of materials such as plastic, steel, aluminum and fiberglass or the like. Rod  36  needs to have sufficient integrity to transmit the force applied by a hand of the user using a pushing force onto rod  36 , and rod  36 , in turn, transmits that force along to the remainder of elongate insert member  34 , moving elongate insert member  34  outwardly from elongate hollow structure  12  from second aperture  24 . Thus, if in other embodiments where some curved configuration is within a portion of elongate hollow structure  12  in which rod  36  travels, rod  36  will be constructed of a material such that rod  36  will sufficiently bend and transmit suitable force to a remainder of insert member  34 . 
     In a first embodiment of elongate insert member  34 , as seen in  FIG. 4 , elongate insert member  34  includes rod  36  which has end  38  connected to ram component  40 . In this example, ram component  40  is unitarily constructed of the same material. Ram component  40  can be selected to be constructed from a wide variety of materials, such as, rubber, vinyl, polyurethane, spring metal and flexible conduit. The construction of ram component  40  can include at least a portion constructed of one of a hollow and solid structure. Ram component  40  could also be at least partially constructed of a metal spring. In the embodiment, ram component  40  is constructed of a metal spring. 
     Ram component  40  is constructed of a material more flexible than the material from which rod  36  is constructed. Rod  36  will be of a stiffer construction, in this embodiment, since, rod  36  will be transmitting force to ram component  40  and rod  36  will be configured lengthwise to travel within first portion  30  of elongated structure  12  which is substantially linear, which will not require rod  36  to bend. In contrast, ram component  40  will be constructed of a material that is more flexible, in this embodiment, than that of rod  36  and will be able to travel through second portion  14  having a curved configuration and not be hung up in traveling through the second portion  14 . Thus, the composition of ram component  40  will provide the flexibility needed for ram component  40  to travel through a curved configuration of elongate hollow structure  12  but will also provide toughness for confronting and pushing debris located in a downspout. 
     In referring to  FIG. 5 , elongate insert member  34  is shown, wherein insert member  34  comprises rod  36  as was discussed above with respect to  FIG. 4 . Insert member  34  in  FIG. 5 , includes second embodiment of ram component  40 ′. Second embodiment for ram component  40 ′ includes two different components, ram link  42  and ram  44 . A first end  46  of ram link  42  is connected to end  38  of rod  36 . A second end  48  of ram link  42  is connected to first end  50  of ram  44 . In this example, both ram link  42  and ram  44  are constructed of material more flexible than rod  36 . One or both of ram link  42  and ram  44  is constructed of one of rubber, vinyl, polyurethane, spring metal and flexible conduit. The construction of ram component  40 ′ can include at least a portion constructed of one of a hollow and solid structure. Ram component  40 ′ could also be at least partially constructed of a metal spring. In this second embodiment of ram component  40 ′ ram link  42  is constructed of a rubber hollow construction and ram  44  is constructed of a metal spring. Again, rod  36  in this example, is not traveling within second portion  14  with the curved configuration, however, ram link  42  and ram  44  both travel through the second portion  14  with the curved configuration. As a result, more flexibility is needed for ram link  42  and ram  44  than is needed for rod  36 . 
     In referring to  FIG. 6 , a method for removing debris is shown. The method includes the step of positioning at least a portion of, of at least a portion  14  of elongated hollow structure  12  having a curved configuration to extend over gutter  52  of building  54 . The elongated hollow structure  12  comprises a sidewall  16 , as described above, which defines opening  18  which extends within and along the elongated hollow structure  12 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Sidewall  16  defines a first aperture  20  and a second aperture  24  spaced apart from one another and in communication with opening  18 , as likewise seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     Another step in this method includes grasping rod  36  positioned extending out of first aperture  20  and an end  38  of rod  36  is connected, in this embodiment, to a ram component  40 ′ within the elongated hollow structure  12 , as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . A width dimension W 1  and W 6  and W 5  of each of rod  36 , and ram link  42  and ram  44  of ram component  40 ′, respectively, is smaller than a width dimension W, W 2  and W 3  of the opening  18  and each of the first and second apertures  20  and  24 , respectively. This is similarly true for width dimensions W 4  of ram component  40  being smaller in dimension than opening  18  and first and second apertures  20  and  24 , respectively. The lengths L of rod  36  and ram component  40 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , and the length L′ of rod  36  and ram component  40 ′ I n  FIG. 5  are longer than the elongated hollow structure  12 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method also includes the step of moving a portion of rod  36  into the elongated hollow structure  12  through first aperture  20  and into the elongated hollow structure  12 . Rod  36 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , is in position where it has not yet been moved into elongated hollow structure  12  through aperture  20  and ram component  40  is only extending a short distance from second aperture  24  outside of elongated hollow structure  12 . With moving a portion of rod  36  into elongated hollow structure  12 , in referring to  FIG. 6 , ram component  40 ′ extends from second aperture  24  clearing debris that was lodged in downspout  56 . This action can be repeated with pulling back on rod  36  and retracting portions of ram component  40 ′ back into elongated hollow structure  12  and then again moving a portion of rod  36  back into elongate hollow structure  12 . 
     The method further includes the step of positioning second aperture  24  over an opening  58  of down spout  56  defined in bottom portion  60  of the gutter  52  wherein the elongated hollow structure  12  includes, in this example, a first portion  30  which extends substantially in a linear direction and the at least a portion  14  of the elongated hollow structure  12  which extends in the curved configuration. The step of moving rod  36  includes sliding rod  36  within first portion  30 . 
     The step of sliding rod  36  within first portion  30  also includes sliding ram component  40 ′, comprising a ram link  42  connected to a ram  44 , within opening  18  of the elongated hollow structure  12 . This step further includes the step of moving at least a portion of the ram  44  out of and away from second aperture  24  and into downspout  56 . Ram component  40  is similarly employed in such fashion as ram component  40 ′, wherein either embodiment is moved to impact the debris. 
     As discussed above, the method can be repeated in order to break loose debris from within downspout  56 . The method includes the step of pulling or retracting rod  36  away from the elongated hollow structure  12  to extract at least a portion of the rod  36  out of the elongated hollow structure  12  and moving ram component  40 ′ into the elongated hollow structure  12  in a direction of and through the second aperture  24 . With ram component  40 ′ retracted, the user can then again move a portion of rod  36  back into the elongated hollow structure  12  causing ram component  40 ′ again to move away from elongated hollow structure  12  to impact debris.