EP1883738B1

EP1883738B1 - A self- cleaning gutter

Info

Publication number: EP1883738B1
Application number: EP05735001A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giancarlo Picarazzi
Original assignee: Picarazzi Giancarlo
Current assignee: Picarazzi Giancarlo
Priority date: 2005-03-24
Filing date: 2005-03-24
Publication date: 2010-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-24
Also published as: ATE478997T1; EP1883738A1; DE602005023220D1; WO2006100699A1

Abstract

A self-cleaning gutter that allows, with great ease, the removal of solid material deposited within itself without recourse to specialists provided with suitable expensive means, is disclosed.

Description

Brief Description of the Invention

The object of the present invention comprises a self-cleaning gutter that allows, with great ease, the removal of solid material deposited within itself, whether leaves, soil, sand, bird excrement, without recourse to ladders, raised working platforms, scaffolding or even the necessity to climb on the roof. More particularly, the gutter of the present invention is structured in such a way that it may be rotated in respect to one of its longitudinal axis to an angle such to enable the easy removal of solid materials deposited within itself.

Description of the state of the art

Manufacturers' gutters are placed perimetric under the eaves of roofs and function by the use of a slight inclination with which they are mounted to channel the rainwater towards the drainpipes that provide a drain to the ground. The solid materials that gather in the gutter, depending on their nature and quantity, modify the functionality in that they cause obstructions which, by not allowing the water to drain to the ground, can also cause damage to a certain extent, such as infiltration of damp to the inside of the building. To ensure the functionality of the gutters it is therefore necessary to resort to cleaning them, which is necessarily made more frequent, e.g. in areas with a high density of trees.
The operations of cleaning the gutters are nearly precluded for non-specialists due to the necessity of appropriate apparatus and safety protection which, even if used correctly, do not eliminate all risks of falling and the consequential physical damages, sometimes very serious, which can result.
In the current state of the art there are perforated panels or gratings or similar, generally of rigid plastic, which are fixed above the gutter as covers of same and have the objective of holding back solid materials of a certain dimension so allowing the flow of rain water into the gutter below through the holes or slots made therein.
The disadvantage of said perforated or slotted panels is shown in the fact that the finer solid materials, such as soil, sand, bird excrement and tiny leaves, pass equally, together with the water, through the holes or slots and deposit themselves in the gutter so making it heavier and even finally obstructing it, and even therefore causing, in time, the above mentioned damage. With the use of said panels, however, the necessity remains to clean the gutters below and the covering gratings themselves with the same above mentioned problems of cost and risk.
In United States Patent n° 6,493,994 is described a self cleaning gutter wherein a tradition gutter assembly is supplied with a water permeable screen which allows the water to percolate while retaining the debris. The structure of the screen is formed by elements each other connected by three series of hinges resulting in a costly manufacture and maintenance and also presenting problems during operation because debris of a certain size may get stuck in the mesh of the three screens or in the hinges so preventing the correct use of the gutter.

Description of the Invention

The self-cleaning gutter of the present invention possesses characteristics that make it decisively advantageous in comparison to gutters of note. More particularly, the gutter of this invention is structured in a way that it can be easily and manually rotated in respect to one of its longitudinal axis, through a degree of arc such to facilitate the complete removal of solid materials deposited in it. Once removal is effected, the gutter is rotated in the opposite direction through the same degree of arc and brought back into its original working position. In all, the gutter of this invention has a modest investment cost and ensures extremely easy maintenance and cleaning operations which do not require the use of specialized persons and can be effected by the occupants of the building themselves. By the use of the gutter of this invention the risks of operators falling from ladders or roofs are practically eliminated, as well as the cleaning interventions by specialized companies and the relative costs. It is also possible to effect more frequently, and in particular at more appropriate times, the cleaning thereof, with an extremely limited operational cost. The maintenance of said gutters is furthermore made extremely easy, and therefore carried out more promptly with regard to repairs, painting and waterproofing. The ease with which the aforementioned operations are effected allows them to be carried out with certain regularity and, therefore, it follows that the risk of corrosion due to stagnant water is reduced, the life of the gutter is prolonged and, without stagnant water the development of mosquitoes is avoided.
A further objective of the invention is characterized by the fact that said gutter can be easily applied to existing gutters so giving them the above mentioned advantages. More particularly, according to the Invention, said self cleaning gutter is made to rotate manually by means of an apparatus comprising poles or chains, around one of its longitudinal axis, to a degree of arc such as to facilitate its cleaning. The gutter, of suitable material such as, for example, galvanized sheet iron or copper or similar, has a "U" profile with two longitudinal, horizontal bands (with respect to the ground) placed at both ends of the "U"; two longitudinal, horizontal rails are fixed to the wall, in the blocks or in the wood of the building. On the rail nearest the wall is placed a band of the "U" gutter, while the other band is fixed to the other outside rail with one or more hinges of suitable length, which allow the rotation of the gutter around said external rail. By means of an appropriate lever integrated with the "U" gutter and by means of an appropriate pole, equipped with a hook ring, it is possible to cause the gutter to rotate in such a way as to empty it of materials contained within it, and to then return it to its original position. In the position rotated to 180° the gutter abuts against at least two rests anchored in the external rail: the abutment of the gutter and the rests facilitates the release of the materials contained in the gutter, the latter being securely retained. The operator can furthermore, in the case of persistent dirt, cause the repetitive abutment of the gutter against the rests to achieve a more complete cleaning. In the position rotated to 180° the gutter can also be washed with a hose from below. In the case of quite long and heavy gutters two or more integrated levers can be installed on the gutter in such a way that several operators can work contemporaneously. In the case of very long gutters, e.g. longer than 10m, it is advisable that the rotation is effected by means of a cog, incorporated in the gutter, and hinged on the axis of rotation of same, and a chain operated manually from below. Since the water must pass from the gutter to the fixed drainpipe the connection with the rotating gutter is effected with a flexible pipe. Alternatively, a tract of rigid, vertical pipe, incorporated in the gutter, can rotate with the gutter itself where it meets in normal position of water discharge, above a funnel incorporated in the drainpipe. The above-mentioned gutter can be used both for buildings under construction and for buildings with remaking of pre-existing gutter systems. In another embodiment of the present invention, a fixed gutter with a "U" profile, in galvanized sheet iron or copper or similar, that carries internally a second gutter of similar material or preferably of rigid plastic material, of slightly smaller dimensions to the fixed gutter. One or more suitable hinges connect the two gutters in such a way that the internal gutter can rotate with respect to the fixed gutter with the help of analogous systems to those indicated for the above-mentioned embodiment.
In the case of the second rotating gutter being realized in rigid plastic material, given the limited weight of the latter, it is possible to effect the rotation with one lever incorporated in said rotating gutter, by means of an actuating pole, without recourse to more energetic means such as, for example, a winch. Said second rotating gutter can be solid wall or lattice. The embodiment of solid wall is however, preferable, but in the case where the second rotating gutter is latticed, it is not necessary to equip it with rests against which it can be made to abut during rotation, because the solid materials, essentially leaves and twigs, easily release themselves alone. The connection between the fixed gutter and the drainpipe is obviously rigid.
The length of the second rotating gutter is generally 3 metres. For longer lengths, more gutters are installed in the fixed gutter, one in series with the other slightly separated at the ends. This embodiment of self cleaning gutter, as a double gutter, is adapted to be used both for buildings under construction and for buildings under reconstruction and also to be realized by hinging the second rotating gutter according to the invention on a gutter already in use.
In a further embodiment of the self cleaning gutter of the present invention, a flat lattice equipped with a lever in rigid plastic material is connected, by means of hinges, to the gutter and is operated manually by means of a pole, analogous with the preceding embodiments. The lattice rotated by means of the pole on the lever is easily cleaned of material accumulated therein as has been described above.
For a greater understanding of the object of the Invention, refer to the attached drawings that in no way limit the scope thereof.
In said drawings equal reference numbers indicate the elements of the object of the Invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective, axonometric view of an embodiment of the gutter according to the Invention.
Fig. 2 shows a perspective, axonometric view of the gutter of Fig. 1, when rotated to 180°.
Fig. 3 shows schematically a rotation apparatus, alternative to Fig. 1, representing a winch applied to the axis of rotation of the gutter.
Fig. 4 shows schematically an alternative arrangement for connecting the rotating gutter to the drainpipe.
Fig. 5 shows a perspective, axonometric view of a further embodiment of the gutter according to the invention. The embodiment is shown with a second rotating, solid wall gutter.
Fig. 6 shows a perspective axonometric view of only the second, rotating, lattice wall gutter, useable in place of the solid wall gutter of Fig. 5.

In the above mentioned Figures is clearly indicated: the gutter (1) with "U" profile with lateral bands (2) and (3); the lever (4) equipped with a hook ring (5) to cause the rotation of the gutter; the hinges (6) connected between band (3) and rail (8); the rails (7) and (8) respectively nearer to and further from the building; the rests (9); the support clamps fixed to the building (10) and (11) respectively relevant to the rails (7) and (8); the support (12), incorporated with the rail (8) of the rest (9); the cog (13) with relative chains (14) operable from below; the flexible connection (15) between the gutter (1) and the drainpipe (16); the connection arrangement between gutter (1) and drainpipe (16) by means of a length of pipe (17) incorporated with and rotatable with the gutter (1), and the drainpipe (16) equipped with suitable funnel (18); in the embodiment of double gutter, into the fixed gutter (19), new or pre-existing, is inserted the solid wall (20) or lattice wall (21) rotating gutter; the operating pole (22) equipped with a suitable hook (23).
In the case of an embodiment with the second, rotating lattice gutter (21) in plastic material, and in the case of an embodiment relative to the flat lattice in rigid plastic material, covering the gutter, since only light materials such as leaves and twigs will be caught, the rests (9) are not necessary, but a rotation of at least 180° will be sufficient, with the consequential falling away of the solid materials, release thereof facilitated by up and down movements caused by the operator by means of the pole (22).

Claims

A self cleaning gutter comprising a gutter (1) in suitable material equipped with two horizontal, longitudinal bands (2),(3): suitable hinges (6) and suitable means of rotation for the gutter (1), characterized in that the horizontal bands (2),(3) are supported, respectively, by two continuous horizontal support rails (7), (8) suitable to be anchored to the building through relative clamps (10),(11), that the hinges (6) connect the horizontal band (3) with the support rail (8), which is the furthest from the building and incorporates rests (9) by means of suitable bars of support (12), a suitable connection system between the gutter (1) and a drainpipe (16) being also present.
The self cleaning gutter according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it is of a material chosen between galvanized sheet iron, copper and rigid plastic.
The self cleaning gutter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the connection system between rotating gutter (1) and drainpipe (16) comprises a flexible pipe (15) and the rotation means of the gutter (1) comprises one or more levers (4) equipped with hook rings (5) operable by one or more poles (22) equipped with hooks (23).
The self cleaning gutter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the connection system between rotating gutter (1) and drainpipe (16) comprises a flexible pipe (15) and the rotation means of the gutter (1) comprises a cog (13) with relative chain (14).
The self cleaning gutter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the connection system between rotating gutter (1) and drainpipe (16) comprises a tract of pipe (17) incorporated in the gutter (1) and configured to be connected with a funnel (18) incorporated with the drainpipe (16) and the rotation means of the gutter (1) comprises one or more levers (4), incorporated with the gutter (1), equipped with the hook rings (5), operable by means of one or more poles (22) equipped with hooks (23).
The self cleaning gutter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the connection system between rotating gutter (1) and drainpipe (16) comprises a tract of pipe (17) incorporated with the gutter (1) and configured to be connected with a funnel (18) incorporated with the drainpipe (16) and the rotation means comprises a cog (13) with relative chain (14).
A self cleaning gutter comprising a fixed gutter (19) in suitable material, a rotating gutter (20), (21) connected to the fixed gutter (19) by means of suitable hinges (6) and rotating means for the rotating gutter (20), (21) comprising a lever (4) equipped with a hook ring (5) operable by means of a pole (22) equipped with a hook (23), said fixed gutter (19) being equipped with two horizontal, longitudinal bands (2), (3) and being configured to be incorporated with a drainpipe (16), characterized in that the suitable material of the fixed gutter (19) is chosen between galvanized sheet iron and copper, that the horizontal bands (2), (3) are supported, respectively, by two continuous horizontal support rails (7), (8) suitable to be anchored to the building through relative clamps (10),(11), that rests (9) are incorporated with the support rail (8), which is the furthest from the building, by means of suitable bars of support (12), that the rotating gutter (20), (21) is made of material chosen from galvanized sheet iron, copper or rigid plastic material.
The self cleaning gutter according to claim 7, characterized, by the fact that the rotating gutter (20), (21) is chosen from a solid wall gutter (20) and a lattice wall gutter (21).
The self cleaning gutter according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the rotating gutter (20), (21) is of rigid plastic material.
The self cleaning gutter according to one of the claims 7 to 9, wherein the fixed gutter (19) is a pre-existing gutter fixed to the building.