Rain Gutter Rotation System (RGRS)

Abstract

Using two new integral component types, RGRS provides an effective way from the ground to rotate and clean rain gutters. The Rotating Bracket attaches to the fascia board and maintains the normally upright gutter. A self-closing hinge in the rotating bracket provides retention yet allows the gutter to be rotated forward 180 degrees for cleaning. The Collector Box located directly under the gutter floor is secured to the fascia board and connects to a standard downspout. The collector box captures water from a drain hole in the gutter floor and directs it into the downspout. There is no connection between the gutter and collector box. Using a third non-integral component, comprised of an actuation rod / cleaning brush tool attached to an extendable telescopic pole, an operator at ground level can rotate, manually clean (if gravity can not dislodge wet contents present) and upright the gutter.

Description

BACKGROUNDProvisional patent No. 61 / 237,262 was filed for this invention with the USPTO on 8-26-09 followed by the original non-provisional utility patent filing on 8-20-10.The solution presented and described provides a method and apparatus that permits rapidly cleaning rain gutters from the ground by rotating them instead of the dirty, time consuming and dangerous task of moving and climbing a ladder multiple times along the entire gutter length to reach and manually remove the debris that perennially clogs them.Prototype components described in the provisional patent were fabricated and used to convert a number of fixed gutters to the rotatable type and have worked well and in accordance with the design intent.Prior Art Pertaining to Rotating Rain GuttersPrior art requires clips, snaps, hooks, cords or continuous coil springs to maintain the gutter upright. The rotating gutter as implemented with RGRS uses few parts, and is efficient, reliable and easy to use.U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The rotating gutter system is a simple and effective ground based way to rotate and dump rain gutters that are found on millions of homes and buildings. To do this, two new component types, the rotating bracket and the collector box were designed and developed. By integrating these into a fixed gutter system the gutter can be made to rotate. A third component, not integrated into the gutter system itself, is an actuation rod-cleaning brush tool that is threaded onto to the end of an extendable telescopic pole. It is used to rotate the gutter and, when required, dislodge contents from the gutter.

In operation the upright gutter empties water through a drain hole in its floor into a collector box, which is made of flashing material and has the general shape of a small, very shallow shoebox without the lid. The open top allows rainwater from the gutter drain to freely enter the box and immediately flow out of a short circular pipe stub (drop) emanating from the box floor. The drop is connected to the top of a standard downspout that directs the rainwater down and away from the building. A porous mesh screen is installed over the gutter drain hole to prevent debris from entering the collector box and downspout.

Problems solved by technology

The coil spring exerts continuous increasing closing force as the gutter rotates forward making an extended stay in the inverted cleaning position difficult to maintain.

The complex pivot mechanisms and long connecting rod across all brackets add cost to the system as well.

The downspout mechanism is fairly complex requiring matching curved sections on the rotatable gutter and the fixed downspout top.

These hidden mechanisms are complex and costly.

Higher complexity introduces more potential points of failure.

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