Gutter Cleaning Device

Abstract

A gutter cleaning device is provided. The gutter cleaning device includes a U-shaped scoop with a flat bottom designed to align flush with the floor of a gutter. This scoop includes tiered sidewalls and an open front end, facilitating the removal of debris from a gutter. A handle extends from a rear wall of the scoop and is disposed at a height that enables the handle to rest atop a gutter hanger when in use. The first tier of the scoop is taller than the subsequent tiers, aiding in efficient debris containment and removal. The rear wall extends beyond the sidewalls, forming a hand guard that protects users from injury. A short nose of the scoop is sized to fit under gutter hangers, enhancing accessibility and ease of use.

Claims

1. A gutter cleaning device, comprising: a U-shaped scoop having a flat bottom, a pair of opposing sidewalls extending upwards from the flat bottom, a rear wall, and an open front end forming an interior volume sized to collect debris from a gutter; wherein the rear wall is perpendicular to the opposing sidewalls and perpendicular to the flat bottom; wherein the rear wall extends beyond an upper perimeter of the pair of sidewalls to form a hand guard; a handle extending from the rear wall, wherein the handle is disposed at a distance from the flat bottom and configured to rest on a gutter hanger when the flat bottom is resting on the floor of a gutter; wherein each sidewall of the pair of sidewalls are tiered with a first tier having a greater height than a second and third tier; wherein the second tier transitions between the first and the third tier; wherein a nose of the scoop, formed by the third tier and the open front end, is shorter than the remaining part of the scoop, facilitating insertion under gutter hangers.

2. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the flat bottom is configured to align flush with the floor of a gutter.

3. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the handle is covered with a plastic material to protect a hand of a user from cold and injury.

4. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein a width of the scoop is between 2 to 4 inches, allowing the device to be inserted and removed from the gutter without obstruction by an overhang of a roof.

5. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the corners of the nose are rounded and configured to avoid damage to the gutter and to facilitate insertion of the gutter cleaning device under the gutter hanger.

6. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls and the rear wall are made of stainless steel, wherein the steel is configured to provide durability and resistance to weathering.

7. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the scoop is formed into three sections, a first section that corresponds to the first tier, a second section that corresponds to the second tier, and a third section that corresponds to the third tier, wherein the first section includes a length that is the same or greater than the second and third sections combined.

8. The gutter cleaning device of claim 7, wherein an upper edge of each sidewall at the second tier extends between the first and third tiers at a 45 degree angle.

9. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein an upper edge of the rear wall protrudes upwards past an upper edge of each of the sidewalls, wherein the upper end is opposite the flat bottom.

10. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the handle is disposed entirely above an upper edge of the first tier of each sidewall.

11. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the handle is disposed entirely above an upper edge of the second tier of each sidewall.

12. The gutter cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the handle is disposed above an upper edge of the third tier of each sidewall.

13. The gutter cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the interior volume of the first section is greater than the interior volume of both the second and third sections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the gutter cleaning device.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the gutter cleaning device in resting in a gutter.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows an alternate perspective view of an embodiment of the gutter cleaning device in resting in a gutter.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the gutter cleaning device in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the system. For the purpose of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the embodiment discussed will be used for cleaning debris from a gutter attached to a roof, wherein the roof partially overhangs above the gutter. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments.

[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiment(s) of the invention. References to one embodiment, at least one embodiment, an embodiment, one example, an example, for example, and so on indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase in an embodiment, first embodiment, second embodiment, or third embodiment does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the gutter cleaning device. In the illustrated embodiment, the gutter cleaning device 1000 comprises a U-shaped scoop 1100 having a flat bottom 1120 and a pair of opposing sidewalls 1130 extending upwards from the flat bottom 1120, forming an interior volume. The sidewalls 1130 are connected by a rear wall 1140 extending perpendicularly therefrom. The rear wall 1140 is perpendicular to the bottom 1120 and opposes an open front end 1150 of the scoop 1100.

[0020] Each sidewall 1130 comprises a same configuration and is tiered, having a first tier 1210, a second tier 1220, and a third tier 1320. The first tier 1210 comprises a greater height than the second and third tier 1220, 1230. An uppermost edge of the second tier 1220 slopes downward from the first tier 1210 to the third tier 1230, such that the third tier 1230 comprises a height less than a height of the first and second tiers 1210, 1220. An uppermost edge of the first and third tier 1210, 1230 each lie on parallel planes, whereas the uppermost edge of the second tier 1220 lies on a plane that intersects the parallel planes of the first and third tier 1210, 1230. In the illustrated embodiment, a length of the first tier 1210 is greater than a length of the second and third tiers 1220, 1230, wherein the length is measured between the rear wall 1140 and open front end 1150 of the scoop 1100. In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop 1100 is made of stainless steel, providing durability and resistance to weathering. In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop 1100 is a monolithic structure.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop is formed into three sections, a first section that corresponds to the first tier, a second section that corresponds to the second tier, and a third section that corresponds to the third tier, wherein the first section includes a length that is the same or greater than the second and third sections combined. An upper edge of each sidewall at the second tier extends between the first and third tiers at a 45 degree angle. In the shown embodiment, the interior volume of the first section is greater than the interior volume of both the second and third sections.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown perspective views of an embodiment of the gutter cleaning device in resting in a gutter. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear wall 1140 extends beyond the upper perimeter of the sidewalls 1130 to form a hand guard 1200. The hand guard is adapted to protect the user's hands from sharp edges of the gutter or debris, enhancing safety during operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the hand guard extends between 0.5-2 inches beyond the uppermost edge of the first tier.

[0023] A handle 1300 extends from the rear wall 1140 and is configured to rest on a gutter hanger 2000 when the flat bottom 1120 is resting on the floor of a gutter 3000. In some embodiments, the handle 1300 is covered with a plastic material to protect a hand of a user from cold and injury. In alternate embodiments a non-slip grip surface is disposed around the handle, wherein the grip surface is made of rubber or a rubber-like material to enhance grip stability and comfort in wet conditions. In other embodiments, the handle is telescopic (as seen in FIG. 2) to adjust the length of the handle, thereby accommodating different gutter heights and user preferences, the telescoping mechanism being lockable at various lengths. The handle is configured to rest on the gutter hanger 2000 when the gutter cleaning device 1000 is resting within the gutter such that the flat bottom is flush with a floor of the gutter.

[0024] In some embodiments, the handle is disposed entirely above an upper edge of the first tier of each sidewall, wherein other embodiments the handle is disposed entirely above an upper edge of the second tier of each sidewall. In some embodiments, the handle is disposed above an upper edge of the third tier of each sidewall.

[0025] A nose 1400 of the scoop 1100, formed by the third tier 1230 and the open front end 1150, is shorter than the remaining part of the scoop, facilitating insertion under gutter hangers. In the shown embodiment, the corners 1410 of the nose are rounded to avoid damage to the gutter and facilitate movement under gutter hangers. As referenced herein, the gutter hangers are disposed every 24 to 36 inches from each other. In the shown embodiments, the gutter is 4 inches deep, and the gutter hangers are used to attach the gutter to the fascia board of the house, wherein the hangers sits within the upper portion of the gutter so as to not interfere with the collection of water and debris within the gutter.

[0026] In some embodiments, the nose includes a serrated edge (as seen in FIG. 3) along the open front end to assist in breaking up compacted debris within the gutter, thereby facilitating easier cleaning. In the illustrated embodiment, a width of the scoop is between 2 to 4 inches, allowing the device to be inserted and removed from the gutter without obstruction by an overhang of a roof.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the gutter cleaning device in use. In use, the gutter cleaning device 1000 is positioned so that the flat bottom of the scoop is parallel to the gutter floor. The user slides the device 1000 along the gutter 3000, allowing debris to accumulate in the scoop 1100. As the device moves forward, the tiered sidewalls help contain the debris, preventing spillage. Once the cleaning is complete, the debris can be disposed of from the scoop without the user needing to touch it directly.

[0028] The first tier 1210 is adapted to provide a substantial barrier against debris spillage during use. The second tier 1220 is shorter, sloping downward towards the third tier 1230, which is the shortest, facilitating easy access under gutter hangers. The primary configuration of the gutter cleaning device 1000 allows for the flat bottom of the scoop to sit flush with the gutter floor, with the handle resting on the gutter hanger. This positioning ensures stability and ease of movement along the gutter as debris is collected. The corners of the scoop's nose, which is formed by the third tier and the open front end, are rounded to prevent damage to the gutter and to enhance maneuverability under gutter hangers.

[0029] It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0030] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.