GB2175975A

GB2175975A - Gutter cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2175975A
Application number: GB08510624A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elsie May Grounds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-04-26
Filing date: 1985-04-26
Publication date: 1986-12-10
Also published as: GB8510624D0

Abstract

A device for clearing channels, particularly gutters, is described which may be used by an operator from below the level of the channel. The device comprises a perforated clearing portion 3 and a handle 6, the handle 6 having a swan- or crook-like neck 5. The handle 6 and clearing portion 3 may be detachable from each other and the handle 6 itself may also be able to be dismantled. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Channel clearing device This invention relates to a channel clearing device.

More particularly it relates two a device suitable for domestic use which enables gutters or other channels to be cleared simply.

It is generally considered desirablefora householderto clear out his gutters at least once a year so asto remove undesired dirt and debris and allow rain waterto run away easily. In orderto achieve this, the householder either has to clear these out himself, or pay an artisan of one form or another to do it for him. Many people adopt the former course of action.

The problem forthe householder in clearing gutters himself is that it can be highly hazardous. He will generally have to work off a ladder and up until now there has not existed any alternative to the householder having to use one hand to clear outthe debris whilst holding ontotheladderwiththeother.

The problem with this operation is that unless the ladder is very long and the guttering sufficiently strong to withstand the weight of a ladder and body being leant against it, which generally it is not, the ladder has to be leant againstthe wall. In this position, the householder is usually 'unsighted', having to workfrom belowthegutterlevel.Apartfromthe discomfort and danger inherant in this the human arm is often insufficiently versatile to enable ready access along all of a length of guttering.

I have now devised a simple device which makes the gutter clearing operation much easier. With my device, which in its broadest aspect consists essentially of a scoop attached to a long bent handle, gutters can more readily be cleared from below with safety. In the case of bungalows, the use of a handle of suitable length maywell obviateanyneedfora ladder, the gutters being able to be reached from the ground.

Accordingly, I provide a channel clearing device which comprises a) a clearing portion in the form of a vessel having a cross-section enabling itto befitted into and moved within the channel e.g. gutter it is desired to clear, and b) a handle portion connectedthereto,the handle being shaped so as to be able to be held and operated from below the channel it is desired to clearwhilststill permitting controlled clearing movement ofthe clearing vessel within the channel or gutter.

The clearing portion will most usually be circular in cross-section, to enable itto fit readily either into half-round gutters or into the bases of gutters of the ogee type, thoug h a vessel of square or rectangular cross-section to enable a snug fit into similarly shaped gutters is clearly within the scope ofthis specification. The vessel will be open at one end to allow the entry of debris and the like it is desired to clear and will desirably be perforated at the other, for ease of cleaning orfordrainagethrough ofwater should such be present in the gutterwhilst it is being cleared of debris.

The handle portion may have a variety of shapes, a swan-or crook-like neck with a gripping portion included being one desirable possiblity. The handle portion may be attached to the vessel portion at the end remote from any gripping portion either using a resilient clip r claw connectableto or integrally formed with the neck portion thereof, or else may be bolted to the vessel with appropriate mountings.

The handle portion and vessel may be made of any of a variety of appropriate materials, durability and lightness combined with adequate strength being desirable properties of whatever material is selected.

Typically the device will be formed of a plastic material though a gripforthe handle formed ofwood or other suitable material may be provided.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawingswhich are bywayofexample only and in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device of the invention assembled; Figure2 shows an exploded view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows in profile the way in which a device of the invention might be used in a domestic gutter.

In Figures 1 and 2, a cylindrical scoop 1 approximately 6 cm in diameter comprises a clearing portion.

The scoop is open at one end 2 and perforated at the other end 3 to allow passage ofwatertherethrough.

The scoop is held by a claw-like fastening 4to the neck 5 of a swan-neck-shaped handle portion 6. The neck portion may be circular or polygonal in cross-section.

Atthe end ofthe handle portion remote from the claw grip 4 is a gripping portion 7. This may be integ rally formed with the neck portion or may be detachable using, for example, a screw-threaded ferrule (not shown). Such an attachmentwould also be useful in the event that extenders were to be used to increase the length ofthe handle. The gripping portion may be formed of similar material to the neck portion or may be made of other sympathetic material, e.g. wood.

In operation, the device is used to clear a gutter above the level of the operator as shown in Figure 3.

The device is slipped over the edge of a gutter 8 under the eaves of a roof of a house 9 and is then moved along so that macro-sized debris and congealed dirt are gathered by the scoop 1. Any water may pass through the scoop via perforations in the end 3. The said perforations are also useful when it comes to emptying and cleaning the device, which will at intervals be desirable.

The device may be sold assembled or in the form of a kit. Such a kit, comprising a scoop 1, a neck portion 6 and a gripping portion 7, together with appropriate assembly instructions if necessary, may readily be assembled by an operator on site.

1. A channel clearing device which comprises a) a clearing portion in the form of a vessel having a cross-section enabling itto befitted into and moved within the channel it is desired to clear and b) a handle portion connected thereto, the handle being shaped so as to be able to be held and operated

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Channel clearing device This invention relates to a channel clearing device. More particularly it relates two a device suitable for domestic use which enables gutters or other channels to be cleared simply. It is generally considered desirablefora householderto clear out his gutters at least once a year so asto remove undesired dirt and debris and allow rain waterto run away easily. In orderto achieve this, the householder either has to clear these out himself, or pay an artisan of one form or another to do it for him. Many people adopt the former course of action. The problem forthe householder in clearing gutters himself is that it can be highly hazardous. He will generally have to work off a ladder and up until now there has not existed any alternative to the householder having to use one hand to clear outthe debris whilst holding ontotheladderwiththeother. The problem with this operation is that unless the ladder is very long and the guttering sufficiently strong to withstand the weight of a ladder and body being leant against it, which generally it is not, the ladder has to be leant againstthe wall. In this position, the householder is usually 'unsighted', having to workfrom belowthegutterlevel.Apartfromthe discomfort and danger inherant in this the human arm is often insufficiently versatile to enable ready access along all of a length of guttering. I have now devised a simple device which makes the gutter clearing operation much easier. With my device, which in its broadest aspect consists essentially of a scoop attached to a long bent handle, gutters can more readily be cleared from below with safety. In the case of bungalows, the use of a handle of suitable length maywell obviateanyneedfora ladder, the gutters being able to be reached from the ground. Accordingly, I provide a channel clearing device which comprises a) a clearing portion in the form of a vessel having a cross-section enabling itto befitted into and moved within the channel e.g. gutter it is desired to clear, and b) a handle portion connectedthereto,the handle being shaped so as to be able to be held and operated from below the channel it is desired to clearwhilststill permitting controlled clearing movement ofthe clearing vessel within the channel or gutter. The clearing portion will most usually be circular in cross-section, to enable itto fit readily either into half-round gutters or into the bases of gutters of the ogee type, thoug h a vessel of square or rectangular cross-section to enable a snug fit into similarly shaped gutters is clearly within the scope ofthis specification. The vessel will be open at one end to allow the entry of debris and the like it is desired to clear and will desirably be perforated at the other, for ease of cleaning orfordrainagethrough ofwater should such be present in the gutterwhilst it is being cleared of debris. The handle portion may have a variety of shapes, a swan-or crook-like neck with a gripping portion included being one desirable possiblity. The handle portion may be attached to the vessel portion at the end remote from any gripping portion either using a resilient clip r claw connectableto or integrally formed with the neck portion thereof, or else may be bolted to the vessel with appropriate mountings. The handle portion and vessel may be made of any of a variety of appropriate materials, durability and lightness combined with adequate strength being desirable properties of whatever material is selected. Typically the device will be formed of a plastic material though a gripforthe handle formed ofwood or other suitable material may be provided. The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawingswhich are bywayofexample only and in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device of the invention assembled; Figure2 shows an exploded view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows in profile the way in which a device of the invention might be used in a domestic gutter. In Figures 1 and 2, a cylindrical scoop 1 approximately 6 cm in diameter comprises a clearing portion. The scoop is open at one end 2 and perforated at the other end 3 to allow passage ofwatertherethrough. The scoop is held by a claw-like fastening 4to the neck 5 of a swan-neck-shaped handle portion 6. The neck portion may be circular or polygonal in cross-section. Atthe end ofthe handle portion remote from the claw grip 4 is a gripping portion 7. This may be integ rally formed with the neck portion or may be detachable using, for example, a screw-threaded ferrule (not shown). Such an attachmentwould also be useful in the event that extenders were to be used to increase the length ofthe handle. The gripping portion may be formed of similar material to the neck portion or may be made of other sympathetic material, e.g. wood. In operation, the device is used to clear a gutter above the level of the operator as shown in Figure 3. The device is slipped over the edge of a gutter 8 under the eaves of a roof of a house 9 and is then moved along so that macro-sized debris and congealed dirt are gathered by the scoop 1. Any water may pass through the scoop via perforations in the end 3. The said perforations are also useful when it comes to emptying and cleaning the device, which will at intervals be desirable. The device may be sold assembled or in the form of a kit. Such a kit, comprising a scoop 1, a neck portion 6 and a gripping portion 7, together with appropriate assembly instructions if necessary, may readily be assembled by an operator on site. CLAIMS

1. A channel clearing device which comprises a) a clearing portion in the form of a vessel having a cross-section enabling itto befitted into and moved within the channel it is desired to clear and b) a handle portion connected thereto, the handle being shaped so as to be able to be held and operated from belowthe channel it is desired to clear, whilst still permitting controlled clearing movementofthe clearing vessel within the channel.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the clearing-portion is circularin cross-section.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 -wherein the base of the clearing vessel is perforated.

4. Adevice as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the handle portion is detachable from the clearing portion.

5. Adevice as claimed in any ofclaims 1 to 4 wherein the handle portion comprises a gripping portion, a crook-like neck and means for attachment to the clearing portion.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the gripping portion and neck are detachable from each other.

7. A device as claimed inclaim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.

8. Adevice substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A kit comprising a clearing portion in the form of a vessel having a cross-section enabling itto be fitted into and moved within the channel itis designed to clear, and a handle portion adapted to be connected thereto,the handle portion comprising a gripping portion and a neck portion which in combination are shaped so as to be able to be held and operated from below the channel itis desired to clear, whilst still permitting controlled clearing movementofthe clearing vessel within the channel.