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
  • E04D13/0765—Cleaning tools

Definitions

• This invention relates to cleaning devices for roof gutters.
• roof gutters become fouled with leaves, slime, etc., and, usually being inaccessibly mounted well above head height, are difficult to reach and clean and tend to be neglected and become blocked.
• a cleaning device for roof gutters comprising a frame mounted at the upper (in use) end of a carrying pole, a scraper at the leading end of the frame, a gutter-engaging wheel or skid at the trailing end of the frame, and a gutter-engaging heel behind the scraper and in front of the wheel or skid.
• said scraper is raked to deliver debris laterally and the scraper, heel and/or wheel or skid is/are adjustable in position.
• the frame is pivotally mounted on the pole to allow the blade to adopt its correct position in the gutter, the mounting preferably being by means of an arm pivotally connected at or ner to the upper end of the carrying pole to.permit the device to be swung to either side of the pole for "right hand” or “left hand” operation, and to facilitate positioning of the scraper under an eave which partly overhangs the gutter.
• said carrying pole comprises a short length of tubing to be fitted at the (in use) end of an extension pole by means of a quick-release or screw coupling.
• the device may also be provided with a water jet nozzle, and/or with a mirror to allow the user to view the scraping operation.
• Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a roof-gutter cleaning device
• Figure 2 is a detail perspective view shaming the device provided with a water jet nozzle
• Figure 3 is a detail perspective view showing the device provided with a viewing mirror and a collecting bag;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the device in use
• Figures 5 and 6 show a modified form of the device
• Figure 7 shows a further modified form of the device.
• FIGS 8 and 9 are detail views of scraper blades.
• the device comprises a frame 10 mounted at the upper end of a carrying pole 11, the pole comprising a length of tubing 12 arranged to be fitted to an extension length of tubing 13 by means of a spring button catch 14 of known kind, or alternatively by a screw-in or other connection.
• the frame carries a raked scraper blade 15 at its leading end, and a wheel 16 at its trailing end.
• the frame itself is formed primarily from a shaped metal strip which provides a heel 17 behind the scraper blade, for the purpose described below.
• the scraper blade is attached to the frame by means of a wing nut and bolt 18, to be angularly adjustable about the bolt and also vertically adjustable along slot 19.
• the slot 19 is formed in an extension 20 of the frame which in effect provides a link-arm to a pivotal connection 21 at the top end of the pole 11 so that the frame is not only laterally movable at the right-hand side (as illustrated in Figure 1 ) of the pole, but can also be swung around the pivot 21 to an alternative position at the left-hand side of the pole.
• the pole may carry a water jet nozzle 22 as illustrated in Figure 2 which shows the device in a roof gutter 23. Additionally, or alternatively, the pole may carry a mirror 24 and a collecting bag 25 as shown in Figure 3.
• the user 26 elevates the pole 11 until the scraper blade 15 and the wheel 16 enter the roof gutter to occupy the positions shown in Figure 2 or 3.
• the user then propels the device along the gutter so that the scraper blade delivers the leaves and other debris laterally in, for example, a plough-like action over the outer edge of the gulley 23 and possibly to be collected in a bag 25.
• the scraper blade is prevented from biting into the gutter by the heel 17, which may have provision for adjustment by, for example, a spring-loaded ball device or skid to prevent jamming of the device, and the arrangement has proved to be extremely simple and efficient in operation.
• the water jet may be used not only to drive the leaves and other debris along the gutter, but also to loosen any caked slime, moss or the like.
• the nozzle 22 is fed through the pipe 27 which may enter the bottom end of the pole 11 and extend upwardly through the pole as a reduced-bore conduit, the water supply being controlled by a suitable valve (not shown) operated by the user.
• a suitable valve not shown operated by the user.
• the gutter may be cleaned in either direction, simply by swinging the frame around the pivot 21 to the other side of the carrying pole 11; further, the pivotal mounting of the frame enables the scraper blade and also the wheel 16 to be inserted under roof eaves which tend to overhang gutters of this kind.
• the scraper blade 15 is adjustable, in relation to the heel 17, and provision may be made for adjusting the angle and/or position and also the rake of the blade through, e.g., a rod or cable extending upwardly through or externally of the pole 11 and operable from the bottom end of the pole.
• the scraper blade is readily replaceable, which renders the device adaptable for use in cleaning a range of gutter profiles.
• the wheel as shown is carried on a U-shaped bracket 28, but a cranked single-arm bracket may be preferred in order to minimise the danger of jamming due to debris picked up by the wheel.
• the wheel 16 may be replaced by a possibly-sprung skid or skids, andthe heel 17 may be in the form of a wheel or skid(s).
• a brush may be provided behind and/or in front of the scraper blade 15, and the brush may be rotated by, for example, a drive from the wheel 16.
• the brush(es) and/or wheel may be rotated by an electrical or other power drive.
• the brush(es) may replace the scraper blade.
• the scraper blade 15 may have a serrated edge, or the blade may be provided with a squeegee-type periphery to act as a cleaner rather than as a raked scraper with its side flange 15A as illustrated.
• the blade can be ommitted.
• the device comprises a frame 30 which carries a roller 31 and a scraper plough 32.
• the frame has four rounded projections 33 which act to guide the cleaner in the gutter 34.
• a pushing arm 35 is pivotally connected to the rear of the frame and to a carrying pole 36. Because of these pivotal connections, the cleaner can be operated in either direction, with the arm and handle in the appropriate full-line or broken-line positions as indicated in Figure 6.
• the blade 40 is carried on a bolted sleeve 41 mounted on a frame extension 42 of circular section, so that the blade can be angularly adjusted in relation to its direction of operation.
• the blade 40 may have a non-circular periphery, or may be eccentrically pivoted on bolt 43; examples are shown in Figures 8 and 9.
• Those blades 44 and 45 are each formed with an arcuate row of sockets 46 to receive a possibly spring-loaded locating finger 47 which will hold the blade positively in a selected angular position.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10535261

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1983
  • 1983-12-23 EP EP19840900403 patent/EP0128951A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1983-12-23 WO PCT/GB1983/000349 patent/WO1984002553A1/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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