This application relates to the general field of gutter systems, and more particularly, to a gutter system that dramatically reduces debris build up.
Present open gutter systems clog easily and quickly, developing blockages that cannot be detected or cleaned from the ground. Gutter cover systems are usually essentially filters which also clog, defeating their intended function. They further do not prevent the build up of organic material inside, but they do make access to the gutter interior very difficult for cleaning or any other purpose, if needed.
There have been numerous attempts to deal with the perennial problem of gutter debris and gutter clogging. Most of the attempts involve some kind of filtration technique. Such techniques do not remove the problems; they merely relocate them. Filters of all types exist for gutter channels as well as specifically for downspouts.
Cleaning devices are also abundant on the market. Everything from self-propelled robots which require standing on a ladder to operate, to inverted hose nozzles which purport to operate from the ground, but afford no way to view the operation, to rope-operated tongs which operate equally blindly, have been proposed and/or marketed with severe limitations in practical effectiveness.
Several US patents show ways of preventing clogs (U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,816 to Naddy and U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,618 to Jones), detecting clogs (U.S. Pat. No. 7,401,571 to Creed), and cleaning clogs (U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,028 to Pinion and U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,369 to Carson).
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a gutter system that will enable observation of gutter debris build up, observation of proper flow, and easy cleaning, all from the ground.
It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a gutter system that will dramatically reduce debris build up.
In accordance with the objectives of the present disclosure, a gutter system for reducing debris buildup is achieved. A waterfall gutter system is provided comprising at least one J-shaped rain gutter configured to be attached to edges of a roof, wherein the attachment and support is exclusively at the underside of the gutter, and a funnel is independently attachable at its lower end to a top end of a downspout wherein there is a vertical gap between the top of the funnel and an end of the gutter wherein water can be seen to flow or not flow from the end of the gutter into the top of the funnel from a position of a person standing at ground level.
Also, in accordance with the objectives of the present disclosure, the funnel of the waterfall gutter system has a front panel, a back panel, and two side panels. The front panel forms a door comprising a panel having a c-shape viewed from a top edge wherein the top edge forms a vertical portion of the c-shape and horizontal portions of the c-shape are parallel to the side panels of the funnel. A hinge attaches the door to the funnel at a bottom edge of the door. A metal strip is embedded in the horizontal portions which in concert with magnets embedded in the side panels hold the door in a closed position. A flange with a push/pull opening is located on an outer surface of the door.
Also in accordance with the objectives of the present disclosure, a method for clearing debris from a gutter system is achieved. A waterfall gutter system is provided comprising at least one J-shaped rain gutter configured to be attached to edges of a roof, wherein the attachment and support is exclusively at the underside of the gutter, and a funnel is independently attachable at its lower end to the top end of a downspout wherein there is a vertical gap between the top of the funnel and an end of the gutter and wherein the funnel has a front panel, a back panel, and two side panels. The front panel forms a door comprising a panel having a c-shape viewed from a top edge wherein the top edge forms a vertical portion of the c-shape and horizontal portions of the c-shape are parallel to the side panels of the funnel. A hinge attaches the door to the funnel at a bottom edge of the door. A metal strip embedded in the horizontal portions in concert with magnets embedded in the side panels hold the door in a closed position. A flange having a push/pull opening is located on an outer surface of the door. Pushing the flange causes the magnets to release and the door to swing inward on its hinge to a first open position wherein the first open position of the door blocks the opening of the funnel to the downspout. Thereafter, debris is pushed out of the rain gutter using a telescoping pole with a dual cleaning pad near its distal end wherein the debris slides along the door and drops to the ground. Thereafter, pulling on the flange causes the door to return to its closed position wherein the magnets keep the door in the closed position. With the door in the closed position, pulling the flange causes the magnets to release and the door to swing outward on the hinge to a second open position exposing the opening of the funnel. Thereafter, debris is pulled out of the funnel opening using a hook on the distal end of the pole.
Also in accordance with the objectives of the present disclosure, a waterfall gutter system is achieved. The waterfall gutter system comprises at least one J-shaped rain gutter configured to be attached to edges of a roof wherein the support and attachment is exclusively from the underside of the gutter and a funnel is independently attachable at its lower end to a top end of a downspout.
Also in accordance with the objectives of the present disclosure, a cleaning pole for removing debris from a gutter system is achieved. The pole comprises a pulling and pushing hook on a distal end and a dual-cleaning pad near the distal end for wiping out debris from a rain gutter.
In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this description, there is shown:
The present disclosure describes a gutter system that will enable observation of gutter debris build up, observation of proper flow, and easy cleaning, all from the ground. The waterfall gutter system of the present disclosure has the elements to revolutionize conventional gutter systems by making major changes in the way rainwater is handled, eliminating the most common and cumbersome problems relating to debris build up. The simplicity of the design is its hallmark. The key elements are:
The gutter system will minimize any opportunity for clogging in the first place by creating a more open water path than previous designs. Water does not need to change flow direction at the traditional 90 degree angle in the design of the present disclosure; rather, it can flow freely off the gutter end in a natural arc. This action alone will have an immense impact on reducing blockages at the most common spot: the downspout. The falling water will dislocate and dislodge any accumulating debris in the funnel portion far better than conventional designs by virtue of its much greater inertial impact. Related to this, freedom from the traditional wall at the very end of the gutter channel will enhance flow throughout the whole channel length and facilitate constant debris removal. The half-round gutter channel design will further enhance water and debris flow by eliminating conventional “K” gutter angled sides/bottoms as catching surfaces.
The gutter system of the present disclosure will enable one to know the precise condition of debris build up, from the ground. An optional infused see-through vein along the bottom of the entire gutter channel will show if debris is building and where it is. Optional see-through funnel sides will allow visual inspection of the downspout collection area, the part most likely to clog, readily from the ground. In operation, the waterfall itself will be a constant and excellent visual confirmation of the conditions in the gutter. Optional see-through panels on the downspout elbows will enable further observation of debris, if any.
The waterfall gutter system of the disclosure will enable a person to realistically, easily, safely and quickly clean or clear any part of a gutter system from the ground. Since the system is supported from the bottom, there are no obstructions along the top side of the gutters, which is integral to the clearing process. For removing debris in the gutter channels, the funnel door is pushed inward using the cleaning pole's hook to prevent the downspout from catching debris and to create a sloping downward debris chute. The dual-pad section of the cleaning pole is then dropped into the gutter at any desired point and pushed along sideways until debris is ejected off the end of the channel. For removing debris caught in the funnel itself, the hook of the cleaning pole is used to pull the funnel door open, at which point the hook can be used to pull any stagnant debris out. The door itself contains self-wiping stripping to assure any debris along the seal can be removed with just a few push-pull motions, if it collects.
The waterfall gutter system of the disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to drawing
Water 15 exiting the gutter pours freely over the gutter end 16 into a rectangular funnel 20. The funnel is located preferably about 4 inches below the gutter end 16, for example, thus proper operation can be seen from the ground. That is, because of the vertical gap between the top of the funnel and the end of the gutter, the stream of water 15 can be seen exiting the gutter and entering the funnel. The funnel 20 feeds into the downspout 30. The downspout will have a curve or elbow joint 32 at the top toward the house as in a conventional gutter system.
The funnel can be located 0 to 12 inches below the gutter end 16. It might be preferable in some cases for the funnel to be touching the gutter end. The funnel water collector will be mounted independently with substantial support. Multiple mounting options will be available in the final product, but the most common will be a simple flat plate 40, as shown for example in
Preferably, the downspout 30 should be made of round tubular heavy gauge PVC and should have a diameter of at least 3.5 inches. The large diameter and tubular shape of the downspout will greatly decrease the likelihood of blockage.
Referring now to
The swinging door panel 22 is held in the normal closed position of
Both sides of the funnel are optionally see-through. Four specific window options are to be offered for cost and architectural reasons: 1) No windows (as shown in
Cleaning the gutter is simply a matter of opening the swing panel on the funnel inwardly to cover the downspout and create a downward chute (
A second (lower cost) waterfall gutter system is proposed which will not have the transparent viewing features.
The first bend 32 in the tubular downspout 30 going down should be the most extreme, but soft enough in curvature to allow passage of debris and twigs, estimated at about 75 degrees, for example. In the unlikely event of debris getting caught, this assures the only place it could happen is next to the funnel where it could be most easily reached and cleaned out. Optionally, a pair of opposed small clear windows 33, 34 (seen in
Cleaning the gutter begins with inserting the hook 61 on the pole 64 into the opening 51 in the funnel door flange 23 and pushing. This opens the funnel door inwardly, positioning it over the funnel opening and creating a chute, as shown in
If it is necessary to clean out the funnel, the hook 61 on the pole 64 is inserted into the opening 51 in the funnel door flange 23, and the door is pulled to open the funnel door outwardly, as shown in
The swinging funnel door is an option. If there are few trees, the expected smaller volume of debris may pass readily through the system, and it might not be necessary to block the funnel opening during cleaning of the gutter. Removing the swinging funnel door would reduce the cost of the gutter system.
Although the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been illustrated, and that form has been described in detail, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20170247887 A1 | Aug 2017 | US |