Gutter cleaner

EP4437197B8Active Publication Date: 2025-09-17TARWIS PALVELUT OY
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2022839866
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2021-12-21
Filing Date
2022-12-16
Publication Date
2025-09-17
Estimated Expiration
2042-12-16

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing gutter cleaners with fixed, unmovable parts often get stuck and break, leading to structural damage and reduced durability, making them unsafe and inefficient.

Method used

A hand-held gutter cleaner with unlockable, bendy strips and a flexible brush part, allowing for effective cleaning by adapting to movements and minimizing the risk of getting stuck or breaking.

Benefits of technology

The bendy strips and flexible brush design enhance cleaning efficiency while preventing damage to the cleaner and gutter structure, ensuring longevity and environmental friendliness.

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Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to cleaning devices and cleaning methods of buildings.Background

[0002] Gutters of different kind of buildings gather especially leaves, sticks and branches and they need to be periodically cleaned. One possibility is to climb up to a ceiling, but it is dangerous and difficult. Therefore, gutters are often cleaned with cleaners having long handles so that a user may try to clean the gutter e.g. from ground level. In figure 1 is presented a prior art gutter cleaner, which has a cleaner part 90 with fixed cleaners 92 and a fixed brush part 94. The cleaner part 90 is attachable to a handle 96. Main problem of the prior art cutter cleaner is that it gets often stuck and breaks due to fixed unmovable cleaners 92 made from plastics. The brush part 94 is also fixed unmovable to the cleaner part 94, which may cause breakings. The fixed unmovable parts 92, 94 not only cause breakings of themselves or of the cleaner part 94, but they may also break gutter structure.

[0003] Document FR 2 573 114 A1 shows another prior art gutter cleaner.Summary

[0004] The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.

[0005] In accordance with the invention, there is provided a new gutter cleaner, which cleans effectively and is long-lasting. This is achieved by a hand held gutter cleaner comprising a handle for hold by the user and being operational for back and forth movements, characterized in that the gutter cleaner comprises a cleaner part, the cleaner part comprising two longitudinal bendy strips, wherein each strip is unlockable attached to the cleaner part, wherein length of the two longitudinal bendy strips being 10 cm - 35 cm and wherein the two longitudinal bendy strips comprise two-directionally curved shapes.

[0006] A number of exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described in accompanied dependent claims.

[0007] Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0008] The invention is based on a gutter cleaner comprising a cleaner part having at least one longitudinal bendy strip, which is unlockable attached to the cleaner part.

[0009] Benefit of the invention is that the longitudinal bendy strip cleans effectively and adapts to the movements thus preventing from getting stuck and from breakings. It is thus long-lasting and environment friendly and it also protects the gutter structure.Brief description of the figures

[0010] Exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention and their advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 presents a prior art gutter cleaner. Figure 2 presents an exemplary gutter cleaner according to the present invention. Figure 3 presents an exemplary gutter cleaner according to the present invention, wherein longitudinal bendy strips can be reversed to different positions. Description of exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments

[0011] In figure 2 is presented an exemplary gutter cleaner according to the present invention. The gutter cleaner comprises a handle 100, which can be extendable from e.g. from 1 meter up to e.g. 5 meter. The gutter cleaner comprises a cleaner part 102, which can be fixed or attached to said handle 100. The cleaner part 102 comprises at least one longitudinal bendy strip 104, which is unlockable attached to the cleaner part 102. Bendy means that the strip 104 is bendy and sustainable in working movements. Length of the longitudinal bendy strip 104 can be 10 cm - 40 cm. Preferably, length of the longitudinal bendy strip 104 is 20 cm - 30 cm. Width of the strip 104 can be e.g. from 3 cm to 12 cm. Preferably, width of the strip 104 is 5 cm - 10 cm. Thickness of the strip can be e.g. 3 mm - 20 mm. Preferably, thickness of the strip 104 is 5 mm - 15 mm. The unlockable attachment 108 of the longitudinal bendy strip 104 to the cleaner part 102 can be made e.g. by a bolt attachment. The unlockable attachment 108 can be also made e.g. by a means of a spring attachment, pivot, pin and / or a friction washer. The cleaner part 102 can also comprise a brush part 106. In a preferred embodiment the brush part 106 is unlockable attached 111 e.g. by a bolt attachment and / or by other similar means as the strip 104.

[0012] According to the invention, the longitudinal bendy strips 104 comprise curved shapes 110a, which are two directionally curved shapes 110b, which increases functional cleaning effect of the longitudinal bendy strip 104. Because the strip 104 is bendy and unlockable attached to the cleaning part 102, it is free to move according to the cleaning movements, and the risk to get stuck or to break is minimized. Material of the at least one longitudinal bendy strip 104 is preferably some hard material, e.g. plastic or aluminum, plastic coated aluminum and / or plastic parts and / or aluminum parts. Also e.g. rubber or fibreglass can be used.

[0013] As presented in figures 2 and 3, in a preferred embodiment the cleaner part 102 comprises two longitudinal bendy strips 104 as a pair which is unlockable attached to the cleaner part 102. This increases the cleaning effectivity. The functionality of the unlocked longitudinal bendy strips 104 achieves good moving and cleaning characteristics in different kind of parts of the gutter. For example, the strip 104 moves below hidden hooks or below fixings of ladders. In a pair of strips 104 can be arranged even three directional curved shapes 110b to make the functional shapes more effective for the cleaning. There can be also more than two strips 104 attached to the cleaner part 102.

[0014] In figure 3 is presented an exemplary gutter cleaner according to the present invention, wherein longitudinal bendy strips 104 can be independently reversed to different positions. This is useful to do in situations, where it is good to make sure that the first strip (upper in fig.3) is not in front of the second strip (lower in fig.3) or vice versa.

[0015] In the method according to the present invention is used e.g. back and forth movements of the at least one unlocked longitudinal bendy strip 104 and / or the brush part 106 with the handle hold by the user. Because of the functional shaping of the strip 104, it moves smoothly and cleans effectively. Dimensions of the strip 104 and / or the brush part 106 can be selected according to the gutter dimensions to be cleaned.

[0016] The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the scope and / or the applicability of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hand held gutter cleaner comprising a handle (100) for hold by the user and being operational for back and forth movements, wherein the gutter cleaner comprises a cleaner part (102), characterized in that the cleaner part (102) comprises two longitudinal bendy strips (104) as a pair, wherein each strip (104) is unlockable attached to the cleaner part (102), wherein the length of the two longitudinal bendy strips (104) is 10 cm - 35 cm and wherein the two longitudinal bendy strips (104) comprise two-directionally curved shapes (110b).

2. The hand held gutter cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the cleaner part (102) is attachable to said handle (100).

3. The hand held gutter cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the handle (100) is extendable.

4. The hand held gutter cleaner according to claim 1, wherein material of the at least one longitudinal bendy strip (104) is at least one of plastic and aluminum.

5. The hand held gutter cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the cleaner part (102) comprises an unlockable attached brush part (106).

6. The hand held gutter cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the at least one longitudinal bendy strip (104) is independently reversable to different positions.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Apparatus for cleaning the gutters of detached houses

    FR2573114A1

  • Systems and methods for robotic gutter cleaning

    US20080098553A1

  • Gutter Cleaning Device

    US20170191272A1

  • Power gutter cleaners

    US3751749A

  • Air vibrated dust brush

    US4468835A