Patent ID: 8141302

Claim:
A dumping assembly for a gutter comprising: at least one bracket assembly configured to receive and retain the gutter and to be mounted to a building, wherein the bracket assembly includes a first, stationary bracket that is supported on the building and a second bracket that supports the gutter and that is pivotally connected to the first bracket; an actuator assembly that operably engages the second bracket so as to drive the second bracket to pivot from a first, upright position to an over-center position such that the gutter thereafter falls to a dumped position under gravitational force, wherein the actuator assembly comprises an electric motor assembly that drives the second bracket to move relative to the first, stationary bracket and which is at least partially mounted within the gutter; and an extensible element that extends as the second bracket pivots away from the first bracket to limit a falling rate of the gutter after the gutter reaches the over-center position and that retracts upon movement of the gutter to an upright position.