GB2304128A - Blockage-resistant gutters and drains - Google Patents
Blockage-resistant gutters and drains Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2304128A GB2304128A GB9516216A GB9516216A GB2304128A GB 2304128 A GB2304128 A GB 2304128A GB 9516216 A GB9516216 A GB 9516216A GB 9516216 A GB9516216 A GB 9516216A GB 2304128 A GB2304128 A GB 2304128A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- gutter
- drain
- blockage
- resistant
- cylindrical brush
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 abstract description 6
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000233866 Fungi Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 206010022000 influenza Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 1
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
- E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights
- E04D13/04—Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the like
- E04D13/076—Devices or arrangements for removing snow, ice or debris from gutters or for preventing accumulation thereof
- E04D13/0767—Strainers at connection between gutter and down pipe
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B3/00—Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier
- A46B3/18—Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier the bristles being fixed on or between belts or wires
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
- E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights
- E04D13/04—Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the like
- E04D13/076—Devices or arrangements for removing snow, ice or debris from gutters or for preventing accumulation thereof
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
- E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights
- E04D13/04—Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the like
- E04D13/08—Down pipes; Special clamping means therefor
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Cleaning In General (AREA)
Abstract
Blockage of gutters and downpipes by solid objects such as leaves is prevented by positioning a cylindrical brush (6) having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter (1) or drain (2) lengthwise in the gutter or drain.
Description
BLOCRAGE-RESIsTANT GUTTERS AND DRAINS
The present invention relates to the use of cylindrical brushes in a novel method of preventing blockage of gutters and drains, and to blockage-resistant gutters and drains obtained thereby.
A commonplace domestic problem is the blockage of waste pipes by solid material. This is a particular problem for outside gutters and drains, especially in the autumn when fallen leaves frequently block gutters and downpipes.
Gutters are also prone to blockage by nesting birds.
It is known to provide wire mesh coverings over gutters and/or guttering downpipes to keep out leaves and other large solid objects and thereby prevent blockage. However, these wire mesh guards are relatively expensive, unsightly, and are easily dislodged unless they are permanently fixed in place by screws or the like.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and visually unobtrusive method of preventing blockage of gutters and/or drains. It is a further object of the present invention to provide blockageresistant gutters or drains obtainable by the method of the invention. Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel use of cylindrical brushes to prevent such blockage.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of preventing blockage of a gutter or a drain, the method comprising inserting a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter or drain lengthwise in the gutter or drain.
The present invention also provides a blockage-resistant gutter or drain comprising: a gutter or drain having an inner diameter; and a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter or drain and positioned lengthwise in the gutter or drain.
The present invention further provides the use of a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter for the preparation of a blockage-resistant gutter or drain by insertion of the cylindrical brush lengthwise in a gutter or drain having an internal diameter similar to the outside diameter of the cylindrical brush.
It will be understood that the reference to diameters in the present specification does not limit the invention to purely cylindrical brushes and gutters, but encompasses elongate brushes and gutters having substantially matching, but noncircular, substantially uniform cross-sections.
Likewise, it will be understood that the present invention can be applied to prevent blockage not only of external gutters and/or downpipes, but of any other kind of drain, including gas outlets and flues.
Preferably, the cylindrical brush is a twisted wire brush.
That is to say, the brush comprises a twisted wire core, with bristles (filaments) of brush material gripped between the twisted wires. Preferably, the bristles of the cylindrical brush are formed from a plastics material such as polypropylene monofilaments to resist corrosion or decay in use.
The twisted wire cylindrical brushes are readily available in lengths up to 5 metres and diameters from 15 millimetres up to 300 millimetres. Individual lengths of these brushes can, of course, be joined together to make up any desired length.
The cylindrical brush can normally just be laid in the gutter, and/or pushed into the drain that it is desired to make blockage-resistant. However, it may be desirable to secure the cylindrical brush in gutter where the gutter is exposed to high winds. The cylindrical brushes can be secured in the gutters by any conventional means, such as brackets or wire ties.
The cylindrical brushes effectively prevent ingress of large solid objects (including birds) into the gutter or drain, while having sufficiently high liquid permeability to permit the gutter or drain to function effectively while the cylindrical brush is inserted therein. The cylindrical brush also has a high surface area, which supports bacteria and fungi that assist in breaking down small solid particles that can pass through the brush. By appropriate choice of bristle density on the brush, the maximum size of solid particles that would be allowed to enter the gutter or drain can be selected. The brushes can easily be removed for cleaning, or replaced.
The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a detailed view of part of an exterior gutter and downpipe incorporating the present invention.
Referring to the drawing, a gutter 1 and associated downpipe 2 are provided in conventional fashion on the side of a building 3 having a pitched roof 4. Leaves falling on the pitched roof 4 tend to fall into the gutter 1 and eventually block it. The present invention provides a cylindrical twisted-wire brush 6 laid lengthwise in the gutter 1 and having sufficiently densely packed bristles to prevent ingress of most leaves, whilst still allowing water to flow lengthwise along the gutter at a sufficient rate for drainage purposes. The downpipe 2 also has a second cylindrical brush 7 inserted lengthwise therein to prevent blockage of the downpipe. It will be appreciated that a satisfactory effect can be achieved solely by having a short length of cylindrical brush inserted at the top of the downpipe. There is no need to have the cylindrical brush extending all the way down the downpipe.
The twisted wire brushes 6 and 7 are very inexpensive, easy to install, and are commercially available in a wide range of diameters to match all conventional gutter and downpipe diameters. Should one or other of the cylindrical brushes 6, 7 become clogged with small solid particles, then it can very easily be removed for cleaning, or for replacement by a similar brush. It is not usually necessary to use special means to secure the cylindrical brush 6 in the gutter 1.
The above specific embodiment has been described by way of example only. Many other embodiments falling within the scope of the present invention has defined by the accompanying claims will be apparent to the skilled reader.
Claims (7)
1. A method of preventing blockage of a gutter or a drain comprising inserting a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter or drain lengthwise in the gutter or drain.
2. A blockage-resistant gutter or drain comprising: a gutter or drain having an internal diameter; and a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter or drain positioned lengthwise in the gutter or drain.
3. Use of a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter for the manufacture of a blockage-resistant gutter or drain by inserting the cylindrical brush lengthwise in the gutter or drain, the internal diameter of the gutter or drain being similar to said outside diameter.
4. A method, blockage-resistant gutter or drain, or use according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the cylindrical brush is a twisted wire core brush.
5. A method, a blockage-resistant gutter or drain, or a use according to any preceding claim, wherein the cylindrical brush has bristles formed from plastics monofilaments.
6. A method, a blockage-resistant gutter or drain, or a use according to any preceding claim, wherein securing means are provided to secure the cylindrical brush in the gutter or drain.
7. A method, a blockage-resistant gutter or drain, or a use substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9516216A GB2304128B (en) | 1995-08-08 | 1995-08-08 | Blockage-resistant gutters and drains |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9516216A GB2304128B (en) | 1995-08-08 | 1995-08-08 | Blockage-resistant gutters and drains |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9516216D0 GB9516216D0 (en) | 1995-10-11 |
GB2304128A true GB2304128A (en) | 1997-03-12 |
GB2304128B GB2304128B (en) | 1999-03-03 |
Family
ID=10778919
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9516216A Expired - Fee Related GB2304128B (en) | 1995-08-08 | 1995-08-08 | Blockage-resistant gutters and drains |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2304128B (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1590539A2 (en) * | 2003-01-14 | 2005-11-02 | ROTTER, Martin J. | Down spout guard made from non-woven material |
AU2007100598B4 (en) * | 2007-07-02 | 2008-07-24 | Edward George Gale | Brush Like Gutter Filter With Zones of Stiffer Bristles |
AT13022U1 (en) * | 2010-10-22 | 2013-04-15 | Egon Barteldrees | GUTTER BRUSH |
AT13125U1 (en) * | 2010-12-01 | 2013-06-15 | Barteldrees Egon | FIXABLE BARREL AND FLOOD SAFETY BRUSHES |
BE1022424B1 (en) * | 2014-07-22 | 2016-03-29 | Renson Sunprotection-Screens Nv | SCREEN DEVICE |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5107635A (en) * | 1991-03-13 | 1992-04-28 | Carpenter Scott S | Gutter system |
-
1995
- 1995-08-08 GB GB9516216A patent/GB2304128B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5107635A (en) * | 1991-03-13 | 1992-04-28 | Carpenter Scott S | Gutter system |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1590539A2 (en) * | 2003-01-14 | 2005-11-02 | ROTTER, Martin J. | Down spout guard made from non-woven material |
EP1590539A4 (en) * | 2003-01-14 | 2006-02-08 | Martin J Rotter | Down spout guard made from non-woven material |
AU2007100598B4 (en) * | 2007-07-02 | 2008-07-24 | Edward George Gale | Brush Like Gutter Filter With Zones of Stiffer Bristles |
AT13022U1 (en) * | 2010-10-22 | 2013-04-15 | Egon Barteldrees | GUTTER BRUSH |
AT13125U1 (en) * | 2010-12-01 | 2013-06-15 | Barteldrees Egon | FIXABLE BARREL AND FLOOD SAFETY BRUSHES |
BE1022424B1 (en) * | 2014-07-22 | 2016-03-29 | Renson Sunprotection-Screens Nv | SCREEN DEVICE |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB9516216D0 (en) | 1995-10-11 |
GB2304128B (en) | 1999-03-03 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US5107635A (en) | Gutter system | |
US5536406A (en) | Drain filtering device | |
US8006438B2 (en) | Non clogging screen | |
US20030046876A1 (en) | Self cleaning gutter shield | |
US5875590A (en) | Raingutter leaf guard and cleaning device | |
WO2005098161A1 (en) | Roof gutter | |
US20070175106A1 (en) | Down spout guard made from non-woven material | |
US5586837A (en) | Raingutter leaf guard and cleaning device | |
US6739800B2 (en) | Self-flushing gutter pipe | |
US4590716A (en) | Gutter system | |
US6041556A (en) | Gutter system | |
US6467995B2 (en) | Self-flushing pipe | |
US7007429B2 (en) | Vertical downspouts for gutter system | |
USRE36343E (en) | Drain filtering device | |
GB2304128A (en) | Blockage-resistant gutters and drains | |
US6115970A (en) | Gutter trap | |
US20040223807A1 (en) | Self-flushing gutter pipe | |
AU2004100712A4 (en) | Drain filter | |
US20090243287A1 (en) | Down spout clean-out adapter | |
AU605969B2 (en) | An improved gutter guard | |
AU657844B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for flushing gutters | |
AU651927B2 (en) | A water spreader device | |
AU719964B2 (en) | Drain filtering device | |
WO2000012838A1 (en) | Rain water collection system | |
AU2004202548A1 (en) | Gutter Guard |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20000808 |