Patent Publication Number: US-9428914-B2

Title: Gutter cleaning device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to cleaning devices and more particularly pertains to a new cleaning device to remove debris from a gutter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a first pipe coupled to a fluid source. The first pipe is structured to have an inverted J-shape such that the first pipe positionable within a gutter. A valve is coupled to the first pipe. The valve selectively allows or restricts a flow of the fluid through the first pipe. A second pipe is coupled to the first pipe. The second pipe is structured to have an L-shape such that the second pipe directs the flow of the fluid into the gutter. A plurality of spray heads is interchangeably coupled to the second pipe. Each of the spray heads increases a pressure of the flow of the fluid into the gutter so the fluid clears the gutter of debris. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gutter cleaning assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new cleaning device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the gutter cleaning assembly  10  generally comprises a first pipe  12 . The first pipe  12  has a first end  14  and a second end  16 . The first pipe  12  has a first bend  18  positioned proximate a center  20  of the first pipe  12 . Additionally, the first pipe  12  has a second bend  22  positioned between the first bend  18  and the second end  16  of the first pipe  12  such that the first pipe  12  has an inverted J-shape. 
     Thus, the first pipe  12  is positionable to direct the second end  16  into a gutter  24 . The gutter  24  may be a roof gutter or the like. The first end  14  of the first pipe  12  is fluidly coupled to a fluid source  26 . The fluid source  26  may be a water hose or the like. 
     An outer surface  28  of the first pipe  12  is threaded proximate the second end  16  of the first pipe  12 . A first coupler  30  is coupled to the second end  16  of the first pipe  12 . The first coupler  30  engages the fluid source  26  so the first pipe  12  is fluidly coupled to the fluid source  26 . 
     A valve  32  is coupled to the first pipe  12 . The valve  32  is positioned within the first pipe  12 . Additionally, the valve  32  is positioned proximate the first end  14  of the first pipe  12 . The valve  32  alternately allows and restricts a flow of a fluid  34  through the first pipe  12 . A handle  36  is coupled to the valve  32 . The handle  36  is positioned proximate the outer surface  28  of the first pipe  12  such that said handle  36  is accessible. The handle  36  is manipulated to position the valve  32  between an open position and a closed position. 
     A second pipe  38  is provided. The second pipe  38  has a primary end  40  and a secondary end  42 . A second coupler  44  is coupled to the primary end  40 . The second coupler  44  threadably engages the second end  16  of the first pipe  12 . Thus, the second pipe  38  is fluidly coupled to the first pipe  12 . An outermost surface  46  of the second pipe  38  is threaded proximate the secondary end  42 . 
     The second pipe  38  has a primary bend  48 . The primary bend  48  is positioned closer to the primary end  40  than the secondary end  42  such that the second pipe  38  has an L-shape. Thus, the second pipe  38  directs the flow of the fluid  34  into the gutter  24  at a selected direction with respect to the gutter  24 . The second pipe  38  swivels relative to the first pipe  12 . 
     A plurality of spray heads  50  is provided. The spray heads  50  each has a coupled end  52  and a free end  54 . The coupled end  52  of a selected one of the spray heads  50  threadably engages the secondary end  42  of the second pipe  38 . Thus, the selected one of the spray heads  50  is fluidly coupled to the secondary end  42  of the second pipe  38  such that the fluid  34  flows into the selected spray head  50 . 
     The free end  54  of the each of the spray heads  50  is open. Thus, the flow of the fluid  34  is directed outwardly from the free end of each of the spray heads  50 . The spray head  50  increases a pressure of the flow of the fluid  34  into the gutter  24 . The fluid  34  clears the gutter  24  of debris. The debris may be organic material or the like that collects in the gutter  24  over time. 
     The plurality of spray heads  50  include a full shower spray head  56 , a half shower spray head  58 , a minimum pressure spray head  60 , a medial pressure spray head  62 , a full pressure spray head  64  and a fan spray head  66 . The respective free end  54  of the each of the full shower spray head  56  and half shower spray head  58  lie on a plane that is angular with respect to the respective coupled end  52  of the full shower spray head  56  and the half shower spray head  58 . The free end  54  of the full shower spray head  56  and the half shower spray head  58  may lie at angle between 15° and 25° with respect the coupled end  52  of the full shower spray head  56  and half shower spray head  58 . The free end  54  of each of the full shower spray head  56  and half shower spray head  58  each has a plurality of fluid apertures  68  extending therethrough. 
     The free end  54  of the full shower spray head  56  has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the coupled end  52  of the full shower spray head  56 . The free end  54  of the half shower spray head  58  is bisected such that said free end  54  of the half shower head  58  has a semi-circular shape. The free end  54  of the fan spray head  66  is flattened. The fan spray head  66  generates a wide distribution of the fluid. 
     The respective free end  54  of each of the minimum pressure spray head  60 , the medial pressure spray head  62  and the full pressure spray head  64  has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the respected coupled end  52  of the minimum pressure spray head  60 , the medial pressure spray head  62  and the full pressure spray head  64 . The free end  54  of the full pressure spray  64  head has a diameter that is less than a diameter of each of the respected free end  54  of each of the medial pressure spray head  62  and minimum pressure spray head  60 . The full pressure spray head  64  generates a maximum pressure of the flow of the fluid  34 . The free end  54  of the medial pressure spray head  62  has a diameter that is between the diameter of the respective free end  54  of the full pressure spray head  64  and the minimum pressure spray head  60 . The medial pressure spray head  62  generates a medium pressure of the flow of the fluid  34 . The free end  54  of the minimum pressure spray head  60  has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the respective free end  54  of the full pressure spray head  64  and medial pressure spray head  62 . The minimum pressure spray head  60  generates a minimum pressure of the flow of the fluid  34 . 
     An extension pole  69  is provided. A sleeve  70  is provided. A pair of brackets  72  is coupled to the sleeve  70 . Each of the brackets  72  engages the first pipe  12  between the first bend  18  and the first end  14  of the first pipe  12 . Thus, the sleeve  70  is retained on the first pipe  12 . The extension pole  69  threadably engages the sleeve  70 . The extension pole  69  allows the first pipe  12 , the second pipe  38  and the selected spray head  50  to be positioned into a gutter  24  that is elevated to an unaccessible height. 
     In an alternative embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the first pipe  12  may have a third bend  74  positioned between the second bend  22  and the second end  16  of the first pipe  12  to define a medial section  76  of the first pipe  12 . The third bend  74  directs the second end  16  forwardly away from the medial section  76  of the first pipe  12 . The third bend  74  on the first pipe  12  replaces the second pipe  38 . 
     In use, the assembly  10  is positioned in the gutter  24  so the selected spray head  50  directs the flow of the fluid  34  longitudinally along the gutter  24 . The fluid  34  sprayed outwardly from the free end  54  of selected spray head  50  urges the debris along a length of the gutter  24 . The debris is subsequently removed from the gutter  24  to promote unrestricted performance of the gutter  24 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.