Abstract:
The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and method of use thereof for cleaning a gutter, drain, or roof using a vacuum system, and more particularly, to a system with a semicircular bend hydraulically designed to prevent clogs by having a substantially constant section and lower friction coefficients and able to be disassembled during operation to manually remove clogs in the bend. The apparatus is also further designed to be of simple commercial constituents able to be used with an existing shop vacuum. The cleaning apparatus has a single, semicircular bend of constant radius and size to limit clogging.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning a gutter, drain, or roof using a vacuum system, and more particularly, to a system with a semicircular bend hydraulically designed to prevent clogs by having a substantially constant section and lower friction coefficients and able to be disassembled during operation to manually remove clogs in the bend. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Houses are generally equipped with gutters and drains to collect and dispose of rain water and protect against the formation of humidity at the eaves of the roof. Gutters are generally cup-shaped rails placed along the bottom edge of roofs. After moving down the roof, rain water is directed by gravity across the rails to floor drains and sewers. A roof not only collects rain water but protects against pollen, wind, leaves, and sunshine. In the process, it is vulnerable to varied environmental conditions. Loose environmental debris may be transported by rain or wind and end up in gutters clogging the drainage and water evacuation system. Some types of debris, such as leaves, twigs, and branches, can accumulate in the rails and gutters and prevent the evacuation of water through the normal collection system. Debris can also form clogs that resist water flow in pipes. 
         [0003]    Periodic maintenance is required to keep gutter and drain systems in working conditions. A plurality of systems in the prior art are designed to collect debris using a vacuum system, but these systems present important disadvantages. U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,098 discloses a system equipped with a U-shaped head having two bends and a nozzle designed to collect wet leaves or other debris. This invention, as with the other inventions disclosed in the prior art, does not address numerous fundamental limitations. First, loose material able to clog a gutter or a drain has already shown a propensity to resist removal and may be lodged in place by pressure or drying. The use of nozzles, bends, and other flow restrictions may seriously limit the effectiveness of these devices. Debris is often lumped, oversized, or viscous and is likely, even if collected, to clog the collection device during removal. Second, the loose material removal operation, unless performed by a service provider, may be required only infrequently, so the apparatus must be easily adaptable, require a low financial investment, and be invulnerable to long-term storage. Finally, some users may already have access to industrial shop-type vacuums able to clean both wet and dry surfaces. These users may require an apparatus able to adapt to existing technology in order to offer a further convenience of use. 
         [0004]    What is required is a cost-effective apparatus an apparatus able to be placed on an existing shop vacuum and specifically designed to prevent excessive clogging by removing obstacles and limit sectional variations in the path of the movement of the collected debris. In addition, the apparatus must be able to be manually unclogged during the collection of debris. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and method of use thereof for cleaning a gutter, drain, or roof using a vacuum system, and more particularly, to a system with a semicircular bend hydraulically designed to prevent clogs by having a substantially constant section and lower friction coefficients and able to be disassembled during operation to manually remove clogs in the bend. The apparatus is also further designed to be of simple commercial constituents able to be used with an existing shop vacuum. The cleaning apparatus has a single, semicircular bend of constant radius and size to limit clogging. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the collection system in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the assembled first connector, the second connector, and the fluidic bend in accordance to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the disassembled first connector, the second connector, and the fluidic bend in accordance to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram illustrating the method of use of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The present disclosure relates to a gutter and roof cleaning apparatus  1  shown in a preferred embodiment in  FIG. 1 . The cleaning apparatus comprises a vacuum system  5  and a collection system comprising a flexible hose  2  having a first end  3  and a second end  4 . The first end  3  is operatively connected to the vacuum system  5 . It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while a possible embodiment where a vacuum system is shown in dashed lines corresponding to a shop vacuum used in industrial environments, any possible system able to create suction in a connected flexible hose associated with dry and humid debris removal is contemplated, including but not limited to wall vacuums, drums with hand activated or electrical pumps, vacuum pumps, or the like. It is also understood that while no specific type of connection is shown on  FIG. 1 , the first end  3  is connected to the vacuum system  5  using regular types of connectors generally associated with vacuum system technology. 
         [0012]    The cleaning apparatus  1  further comprises a first connector  6  having a first connecting end  7  and a second connecting end  8 . The first connecting end  7  is operatively connected to the second end  4  of the flexible hose  2 .  FIG. 2  shows another embodiment where the first connector  6  is longer and may be associated with a fixed prolongation  9  also having a top end  11  and a bottom end  10  forming a single element of two joined elements. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while no part of the collection system, such as the prolongation  9 , is illustrated with a flexible or rotatable junction point, this disclosure is applicable to any possible arrangement of fixed or flexible tubing used in this art. It is also understood that while typical piping with filets  100  and  101  is shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , as a preferred embodiment, the different fixed or flexible tubing elements may be attached using a variety of temporary fixation means generally used in this art or any permanent fixations such as welding or gluing. The cleaning apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  can also be used without a holder  51  if the user climbs on a ladder (not shown) or accesses the gutter by another means such as opening a window and extending the cleaning apparatus  1  to the desired cleaning location.  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment where the first connector  6  is fixed to the flexible hose by the use of a threaded connector. The threaded connector may be permanently fixed to the second end as is commonly made in the field of fixation apparatus for a flexible hose. 
         [0013]    The cleaning apparatus further comprises a fluidic bend  12  having a first fluidic end  13  and a second fluidic end  14 , wherein the first fluidic end  13  is operatively connected to second connecting end  8 . In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the first fluidic bend is made of a semicircular pipe having a 180 degree bend. The best mode contemplates the use of a single, semicircular bend  12  since it minimizes reduction of pressure in the bend and enables the cleaning apparatus to maintain the most suction at the collection end  22 . While a single fluidic bend is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , it is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the location of the gutter  16  as is sometimes protected by covers or rims and may dictate the use of a bend of irregular shape to reach the removal area. In the preferred embodiment, the pipe is of regular cylindrical geometry.  FIG. 4  illustrates a situation where the inside portion of the first fluidic end  13  has threads to allow for the removal of the semicircular bend  12  during operation for cleaning and unclogging of the collection system  1 . It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while a threaded section is shown, any connection system that may be disassembled quickly and confines the loose debris to be collected from the gutter  16  or roof  15  may be used. 
         [0014]    This semicircular geometry is designed to limit the reduction of pressure in the fluidic bend  12  to maintain the largest amount of suction at the collection end  22 . Finally, a second connector  18  having a third connecting end  19  and a collecting end  22  is used when applicable. The second connector  18  has a third connecting end  19  operatively connected to the second fluidic end  14 . In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a threaded section is used to connect the second connector  18  to the second fluidic end  14 . It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while threaded connection is shown, any system capable of effecting a vacuum connection, such as a clip-on, tabbed connector, or other such devices, may be used. 
         [0015]    The vacuum system collects a volume of debris from a gutter  16  or a roof  15  to be stored in the vacuum system  5  after the debris has traveled through the collection system by suction. The collecting system is of a substantially constant section along its entire length to facilitate the transportation of the volume of debris from the gutter  16  or the roof  15  to the vacuum system. 
         [0016]    A portable apparatus is designed to be placed in the gutter  16  or on the roof  15  or any other location such as a drain (not shown) where loose debris can be collected by the vacuum system by suction through the collection system. The disclosed apparatus contemplates the formation of clogs in the connectors  6 ,  18  or the fluidic bend  12  of the collection system and provides for the disassembly of the system to provide the user access to any clog formed during the course of operation. Access to the fluidic bend is such that a user may simply remove either the first or second connector  6 ,  18  manually at the connection points either by unscrewing the threaded connectors  6 ,  18  or by using any other method of disassembly contemplated by this disclosure. 
         [0017]    While an embodiment is shown, it is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that a plurality of alternate embodiments is contemplated. The collection system may include rotational points, junctions, connections, or any other types of commonly used vacuum-based devices and accessories in order to obtain the disclosed advantages. In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the second connector  18  is smaller in length than the first connector  6 . It is understood that the reverse situation is also contemplated as long as it is convenient for the gutters  16  to be cleaned and unclogged. 
         [0018]    What is further disclosed is a method for cleaning a gutter and roof using a cleaning apparatus having an improved bend access for unclogging, the apparatus comprising a vacuum system  5 , and a collection system further comprising a flexible hose  2  having a first end  3  and a second end  4 , where the first end  3  is operatively connected to the vacuum system  5 , a first connector  6  having a first connecting end  7  and a second connecting end  8 , where the first connecting end  7  is operatively connected to the second end  4  of the flexible hose  2 , a fluidic bend  12  having a first fluidic end  13  and a second fluidic end  14 , where the first fluidic end  13  is operatively connected to second connecting end  8 , and a second connector  18  having a third connecting end  19  and a collecting end  22 , wherein the third connecting end  19  is operatively connected to the second fluidic end  14 , and the second connecting end  18  is easily removable for manual unclogging of the fluidic bend  12  during operation. 
         [0019]    The method comprises the steps of using the cleaning apparatus by placing the collecting end in a gutter  16  or on a rooftop  15  to be cleaned  201 , suctioning a volume of debris and water from the gutter  16  or the rooftop  15  into the vacuum system  5  until a clog is formed in the fluidic bend  202 , disassembling the second connector  18  from the second fluidic end  14  to provide access to the clog  203 , using any small object or a finger to push the clog formed in the fluidic bend further into the vacuum system while the vacuum system remains in operation  204 , assembling the second connector  18  to the fluidic bend, and resuming use of the cleaning apparatus. 
         [0020]    It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while the removal of the second connector is disclosed, what is contemplated is an apparatus and method designed to unclog the fluidic bend  12  of a clog located in the collection system located close to the fluidic bend  12 . It is contemplated that the fluidic bend may be removed from the first connector  6  if the clog is located in the section of the fluidic bend closer to the second end where access is better obtained by removing the fluidic end  12  from the first connector  6 . 
         [0021]    Persons of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that although the teachings of the disclosure have been illustrated in connection with certain embodiments and method, there is no intent to limit the invention to such embodiments and method. On the contrary, the intention of this application is to cover all modifications and embodiments falling fairly within the scope of the teachings of the disclosure.