PRESSURE SPRAY WASHER FOR CLEANING GUTTERS

Abstract

A pressure spray washer for cleaning gutters has a body having a curved outer surface. The body has an internal channel opening at one end of said body, and a plurality of orifices extending through the body so as to have one end opening to the internal channel and an opposite end opening at an exterior surface of the body. The body has a connector at one end of the internal channel, which is adapted to connect with a source of a pressurized fluid.

Claims

1. A pressure spray washer for cleaning gutters, the pressure spray washer comprising: a body having a curved outer surface, said body having an internal channel opening at one end of said body, said body having a plurality of orifices extending through said body so as to have one end opening to the internal channel and an opposite end opening at an exterior surface of said body, said body having a connector at one end of the internal channel, the connector adapted to connect with a source of a pressurized fluid.

2. The pressure spray washer of claim 1, said body having a planar surface at the exterior surface thereof, the plurality of orifices opening at or adjacent to the planar surface.

3. The pressure spray washer of claim 2, the planar surface comprising a first planar surface of one side of said body and a second planar surface at an opposite side of said body.

4. The pressure spray washer of claim 3, each of the first and second planar surfaces having an indented area therein, said plurality of orifices opening at the indented area.

5. The pressure spray washer of claim 4, the indented area formed generally centrally of the planar surface, the indented area having a round tapered wall extending toward the planar surface.

6. The pressure spray washer of claim 1, said body having a truncated ellipsoidal configuration, the curved outer surface comprising a first curved surface formed at a bottom of said body and a second curved surface formed at the top of said body.

7. The pressure spray washer of claim 1, said plurality of orifices comprising three orifices opening at opposite sides of said body.

8. The pressure spray washer of claim 7, each of the three orifices extending at an angle from the internal channel toward the exterior surface.

9. The pressure spray washer of claim 8, one orifice of the three orifices at one side of said body radiating outwardly at an opposed fixed compound angle with respect to a corresponding orifice of the three orifices at an opposite side of said body.

10. The pressure spray washer of claim 7, each of the orifices extending from a periphery of an imaginary circle in the center of the internal channel toward a periphery of an imaginary circle at the exterior surface of said body.

11. The pressure spray washer of claim 10, the imaginary circle at the center of the internal channel having a diameter greater than a diameter of the imaginary circle at the exterior surface of said body.

12. The pressure spray washer of claim 11, one of the orifices extending from a point 60° offset from vertical on the imaginary circle in the center of the internal channel to a point offset by 30° from vertical on an imaginary circle at the exterior surface of said body.

13. The pressure spray washer of claim 12, each of the orifices being equally circumferentially spaced around the imaginary circle from each other.

14. The pressure spray washer of claim 13, each of the imaginary circles having a center on a common axis.

15. The pressure spray washer of claim 1, said body having a dimple formed on an exterior surface thereof, the dimple being indicative of an orientation of the body.

16. The pressure spray washer of claim 1, said internal channel having a quick-connect coupling or other commercially-available coupling therein, the coupling being adapted to connect with a source of pressurized fluid.

17. The pressure spray washer of claim 16, said internal channel being internally threaded.

18. The pressure spray washer of claim 1, further comprising: a curved lance connected to the connector of said body, said curved lance adapted to direct the pressurized fluid toward the internal channel.

19. The pressure spray washer of claim 17, said lance having a curvilinear shape, said lance having a connector at an end opposite said body that is adapted to connect with a conduit for the pressurized fluid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the pressure spray washer in accordance with teachings of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the body of the pressure washer of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view from an opposite side of the body of the pressure spray washer of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the pressure spray washer of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the body of the pressure spray washer of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 6 is an opposite cross-sectional view of the body of the pressure spray washer of the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 7 is an illustration of the orientation of orifices associated with the body of the pressure spray washer of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of the orientation of the orifices that are formed in the body of the pressure spray washer of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the operation of the pressure spray washer of the present invention in conjunction with a gutter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] Referring to FIG. 1, there shown the pressure spray washer 10 in accordance with teachings of the present invention. The pressure spray washer 10 is intended for use in the cleaning of leaves and debris from the interior of gutters. The pressure spray washer 10 includes a body 12 that is connected to a lance 14. Lance 14 has a connector 16 at an end opposite the body 12. The connector 16 is adapted to connect with a hose or conduit of pressurized fluid, such as air or water. Connector 16 can be a commercially available connector or it can be in the nature of a connector used in a design patent application to the present Applicant identified in U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/839,143 filed on May 19, 2022. The body 12 has a connector 18 at the end of an internal channel. Connector 18 is adapted to connect with a end of the lance 14 such that the pressurized fluid can be delivered into the interior of the body 12. The body 12 has a plurality of orifices 20 that are adapted to direct the pressurized fluid outwardly thereof and into the gutter.

[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates the body 12 of the present invention. As can be seen, the body 12 includes the connector 18 at an upper surface thereof. Connector 18 can be in the nature of a quick-connect coupling or can be internally threaded (as shown in FIG. 2). The body 12 has a first curved outer surface 22 located at the bottom thereof and a second curved surface 24 located at the top thereof. Body 12 has a truncated ellipsoidal configuration. A dimple 26 is formed in the second curved surface 24 at the top of the body 12 generally adjacent to the connector 18. Dimple 26 provides an indication to a user of the proper orientation of the body 12 with respect to the lance 14. This allows the user to properly direct the fluid pressure, as required, into the gutter.

[0056] The body 12 includes a first planar surface 28 formed on an exterior surface 30 of the body 12. An indented area 32 is formed generally centrally of the planar surface 28. Indented area 32 also includes a planar surface 34. A generally round or tapered wall 36 extends from indented area 32 to the planar surface 28. As can be seen, orifices 38, 40 and 42 open at the indented area 34. The planar surface 28, along with the indented area 32, facilitates the ability of the body 12 to move within the gutter without hanging up on surfaces, such as gutter hangers. The location of the orifices 38, 40 and 42 on the indented area 32 further minimizes direct contact of the orifices with interior surfaces of the gutter.

[0057] Fundamentally, the pressurized fluid is introduced into the interior 44 of the body 12. The orifices 38, 40 and 42 will emit a strong spray of the pressurized fluid into the gutter. Importantly, the orifices 38, 40 and 42 will have a unique configuration and orientation.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows the body 12 and, in particular, the indented area 32 as having the round wall 36 extending from they indented area 32 to the planar surface 28. The dimple 26 is illustrated as being a round surface generally adjacent to the connector 18 at the top of the body 12.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows the bottom of the body 12. It can be seen that the bottom surface 22 is curved and, in particular, semi-spherical. Similarly, the upper curved surface 24 is semispherical.

[0060] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the body 12. In particular, it can be seen that the orifices 38, 40 and 42 extend at an angle from the internal chamber 52. The connector 18 is positioned at the top of the internal chamber 52. As such, pressurized fluid will flow into the internal chamber 52 and outwardly through the orifices 38, 40 and 42. The opposite side of body 12 will have a similar configuration of orifices (as will be described hereinafter). In particular, an orifice at one side of the body radiates outwardly at an opposed fixed compound angle relative to a corresponding orifice at the opposite side of the body.

[0061] FIG. 6 is another cross-sectional view of the body 12. In FIG. 6, the configuration of the orifices 38, 40 and 42 is particularly illustrated. Orifices 38, 40 and 42 will extend into the internal channel 52. Orifices 38, 40 and 42 will open to the indented area 32 of the planar surface 28. Similarly, at the opposite side of the body 12 are orifices 60, 62 and 64. Orifice 60 will correspond with orifice 38. Orifice 66 will correspond with orifice 40. Orifice 64 will correspond orifice 42. As such, it can be seen how the orifices at one side of the body radiate outwardly at an opposed fixed compound angle with respect to a corresponding orifice at the opposite side of the body. Orifices 60, 62 and 64 have one end opening to the internal channel 52 and an opposite end opening to the indented area 68 at the opposite side of the body.

[0062] FIG. 7 illustrates the spray pattern associated with the orifices of the body 12. The configuration of the orifices creates a very unique spray pattern that facilitates the ability for the pressure spray washer to effectively clean debris from the interior of gutters without damaging siding and roofing materials. This arrangement further facilitates control of the pressure washer. In particular, it can be seen that spray 70 is configured so as to pass from the internal channel 52 outwardly of the body 12 through the channels 38 and 60 at opposite sides of the body. Spray 72 is configured so as to pass outwardly of the body 12 through orifices 40 and 66. Spray 74 is emitted from the body 12 through orifices 64 and 42.

[0063] FIG. 8 illustrates the particular configuration of the orifices. As can be seen in FIG. 8, each of the orifices described herein previously extends from a periphery of an imaginary circle 80 at the center of the internal channel 52 toward an imaginary circle 82 at the exterior surface of the body and, in particular, at the indented area of the body. It can be seen that the imaginary circle 80 at the center of the internal channel 52 has a diameter greater than a diameter of the imaginary circle 82 at the exterior surface of the body. One of the orifices 84 extends from a point 60° offset from vertical on the imaginary circle 80 to a point offset approximately 30° offset from vertical on the imaginary circle 82. FIG. 8 shows that each of the orifices 84, 86 and 88 are equally circumferentially spaced around the imaginary circles 80 and 82 with respect to each other. Each of the imaginary circles 80 and 82 has a center on a common axis. The lines showing orifices 84, 86 and 88 are simply indicators showing the path of formation of the orifices in the body 12. Ultimately, this path will also be in the direction of spray emitted from the body 12.

[0064] FIG. 9 shows the pressure spray washer 10 of the present invention as located within a gutter 90. Gutter 90 is affixed to the wall 92 and, presumably, has hangers that support the opposite side 94 of the gutter in a proper position. Lance 14 is curved and configured so as to extend over the lip 96 of gutter 90 such that the body 12 is located within the interior 98 of the gutter 90. Arrows 100, 102, 104, 106, 108 and 110 illustrate the pattern in which pressurized fluid is released by the body 12 into the interior 98 of the gutter 90.

[0065] The pressure spray washer 10 of the present invention was developed after building and testing many prototypes. This design is a lightweight and streamlined attachment. There are two opposing sets of three stationary jets that efficiently rotate debris out of the gutter and away from the roof. The pressure spray washer of the present invention has no moving parts. In order to rotate debris away from the roof on both sides of the nozzle, a novel orifice configuration having opposed, fixed compound angles is provided. This configuration requires that the orifices be drilled with reverse angles on opposite sides. It was found that the truncated ellipsoid configuration of the body of the present invention was most effective to avoid ensnarement on the gutter hangers and any other surfaces within the gutter. The assembled product includes the body 12 with its associated jets and a commercially-available curved steel lance and quick-connect plug adapter. This allows an extension pole or pressure washer gun to be connected thereto. This configuration rotates debris over the front of the gutter and away from the roof while producing no recoil on a long telescoping pole.

[0066] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made is the scope of the present invention without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.