Remotely Installable and Removable Gutter Strainer

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gutter strainer designed for remote installation and removal. Specifically, the invention relates to a rain gutter strainer that enables users to utilize an extended pole to install the strainer over a downspout outlet and remove it from the gutter, without the need for direct access.

Traditionally, gutter cleaning and maintenance involve the use of ladders and rooftop access, which poses significant safety risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, hundreds of people die annually from ladder-related injuries, and over 500,000 individuals are treated for such injuries each year, as reported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Property owners and gutter cleaning service providers face numerous challenges, including the risk of ladder-related injuries, high service costs, and potential insurance and liability concerns. To address these issues, various gutter cleaning tools and devices have been developed. Some of them enable users to remain on the ground while removing debris from overhead gutters. Additionally, various passive maintenance accessories have been designed to reduce maintenance frequency or simplify the task, including: gutter guards, which cover gutters to block debris; gutter strainers, which cover downspout outlets; and downspout leaf filters, which are installed at ground level to cover drain pipes and prevent leaves from clogging underground drain pipes.

However, each of these solutions has inherent limitations. Apart from being costly, gutter guards, which are filters designed to cover gutters, can significantly impede the flow of rainwater into the gutter, thereby reducing drainage efficiency. During heavy rain, this obstruction can cause rainwater to overflow along the outer edge of the gutter filter, transforming the house's organized drainage system into a partially organized and partially unorganized system.

Furthermore, while gutter guards effectively block leaves, they reduce water flow speed, which diminishes the system's ability to flush away small debris such as dirt and loosened granules from roof shingles. Over time, this accumulated debris can create a fertile environment for the growth of weeds and moss underneath the gutter guards. Additionally, gutter guards require regular cleaning to prevent their small perforations from becoming clogged, thereby introducing additional maintenance burdens that still require the use of ladders.

Gutter strainers, which act as filters covering the downspout outlet, are more cost-effective. However, currently available gutter strainers must be manually and precisely placed into the downspout outlet, often requiring partial insertion to prevent displacement. When these strainers become clogged, users must climb ladders to manually remove, clean, and reinstall them, negating the convenience and safety benefits.

Downspout leaf filters, installed at ground level, provide convenient maintenance access but only prevent leaves and debris from entering underground drain pipes. They fail to address debris entering the downspout from its top outlet at the gutter-downspout junction, leaving the downspout susceptible to clogging.

Consequently, existing solutions for preventing clogs in gutters, downspouts, and drain pipes either require direct access via ladders for regular maintenance or fail to prevent clogs effectively. Additionally, while some remote gutter cleaning tools exist, they can be used to clean gutters. But they do not prevent leaves and debris from entering downspouts and causing blockages. Therefore, there remains a significant demand for an improved solution that allows users to remotely install, clean, and remove gutter strainers without climbing ladders or accessing rooftops.

The present invention addresses this need by providing a gutter strainer that can be installed and removed for cleaning remotely from ground level using an extended pole. Unlike existing solutions, the present invention eliminates the need for ladders, thereby significantly reducing the risk of ladder-related injuries while offering a cost-effective, safe, and convenient maintenance solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gutter strainer that enables users to remotely install and remove the strainer over a downspout outlet using an extension pole, thereby eliminating the need for direct physical access. The gutter strainer comprises a strainer-body, a downspout-outlet-locator positioned beneath the strainer-body, and a strainer-handle located on top of the strainer-body.

The strainer-body primarily functions as a filter to prevent large debris, such as leaves, from entering the downspout and causing blockages. A hook-receiver, integrated into the strainer-handle, allows users to utilize an extension pole with a hook to position the gutter strainer over the downspout outlet, facilitating both installation and removal during routine cleaning. The downspout-outlet-locator assists in aligning the strainer-body with the downspout outlet, even when the downspout outlet is not visible from the ground. During installation, if there is any misalignment between the strainer-body and the downspout outlet, the downspout-outlet-locator provides feedback and guides the user to reposition the gutter strainer to the approximate location of the downspout outlet. Under the influence of gravity, the downspout-outlet-locator self-aligns and slips into the downspout outlet, thereby centering the strainer-body above it. Once positioned, the downspout-outlet-locator remains seated within the downspout outlet, securing the gutter strainer in place and preventing displacement caused by water flow within the gutter.

The present invention significantly simplifies the process of remotely positioning, installing, and removing a gutter strainer. It offers a cost-effective and convenient maintenance solution to keep downspouts clear of debris, greatly reducing the risks associated with ladder-related injuries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the gutter strainer in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gutter strainer of FIG. 1, illustrating the gutter strainer in a disassembled configuration.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the gutter strainer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the gutter strainer of FIG. 1 in a disassembled configuration.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the manner in which the gutter strainer is controlled by an extension pole for installation and removal.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the gutter strainer being remotely installed onto the downspout outlet.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 1, illustrating how the downspout-outlet-locator slips into the downspout outlet and guides the gutter strainer into position.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the configuration of the gutter strainer when fully installed.

FIG. 11 is side view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the configuration of the gutter strainer when fully installed.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 1, illustrating a configuration where one of the two wings of the gutter strainer has been trimmed.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the gutter strainer of the present invention, illustrating a different configuration of the downspout-outlet-locator.

FIG. 14 is a section view of the gutter strainer of FIG. 13 in a disassembled configuration.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the gutter strainer of the present invention, illustrating a different configuration of the downspout-outlet-locator.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the gutter strainer shown in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments only. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive. As used in this specification and the accompanying claims, terms in the singular forms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” include their plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents; it is limited only by the claims.

The specific details provided herein are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without incorporating all of these specific details. For clarity, technical material known in the relevant technical fields has not been described in detail, so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention.

Referring now to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a gutter strainer 1000 is disclosed. The gutter strainer 1000 comprises a strainer-body 100, a strainer-handle 200 attached to the top of the strainer-body 100, and a downspout-outlet-locator 300 positioned beneath the strainer-body 100.

With reference to FIG. 2, the strainer-body 100 includes a strainer-basket 11, which is pyramid-shaped, positioned in the middle, and two wings at its bottom, referred to as the left wing 13 and the right wing 14. The strainer-basket 11 functions as a filter for the downspout, featuring numerous perforations 12 that allow the passage of water and small debris while blocking leaves and larger particles, thereby preventing clogging of the downspout. Two circular holes are positioned on opposite sides of the upper portion of the strainer-basket 11, serving as strainer-handle-receivers 15 and 16.

In further detail, the strainer-handle 200 includes a hook-receiver 20, which is ring-shaped, located at its top. At its lower portion, the strainer-handle 200 features two strainer-handle-arms 21 and 22, each equipped with a corresponding handle-pivot: handle-pivot 23 on strainer-handle-arm 21, and handle-pivot 24 on strainer-handle-arm 22. These handle-pivots 23 and 24 can be inserted into the strainer-handle-receivers 15 and 16 of the strainer-basket 11, thereby forming a pivot joint between the strainer-body 100 and the strainer-handle 200. Additionally, the strainer-basket 11 includes an elevated handle-stopper 17 positioned behind the strainer-handle-receiver 16 to prevent the strainer-handle 200 from rotating backward beyond the vertical position.

In more detail, referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, two rectangular holes are positioned on opposite sides of the lower portion of the strainer-body 100, left and right, serving as downspout-outlet-locator-receivers 18 and 19 of the strainer-body 100. Correspondingly, at the upper portion of the downspout-outlet-locator 300, there are two downspout-outlet-locator-arms 25 and 26. At the ends of the downspout-outlet-locator-arms 25 and 26, each arm includes a locator-arm-end 27 and 28, which has a rectangular cross-section. These locator-arm-ends 27 and 28 can be inserted into the downspout-outlet-locator-receivers 18 and 19 of the strainer-body 100, forming a fixed, non-rotatable connection between the strainer-body 100 and the downspout-outlet-locator 300. Beneath the parallel downspout-outlet-locator-arms 25 and 26, two sloped arms 29 and 30 converge to form a wedge-shaped bottom of the downspout-outlet-locator 300.

For gutter strainers currently available on the market, the use of ladders for installation and removal is typically required because part of the strainer must be inserted into the downspout outlet to prevent displacement by water flow. To provide a ladder-free solution and enable a gutter strainer to be remotely controlled using an extension pole, three key challenges must be addressed. The first challenge is how to remotely position the gutter strainer in the overhead gutter and retrieve it for cleaning when needed. The second challenge involves accurately locating the downspout outlet remotely, even when it is not visible from ground level. The third challenge is how to securely install the gutter strainer onto the downspout outlet to prevent displacement by water flow, while ensuring that the process is reversible for removal and repeatable for regular maintenance.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, these figures illustrate how the gutter strainer 1000 is controlled by an extension pole 31 equipped with a pole hook 35 for remote installation and removal. To install the gutter strainer 1000, the first step involves using the extension pole 31 to position the gutter strainer 1000 above the junction of the gutter 32 and downspout 33. Even if the downspout outlet 34 within the gutter 32 is not visible from ground level, users can estimate its position based on the visible junction of the gutter 32 and downspout 33, which serves as a reference point.

The second step is to slowly lower the gutter strainer 1000, as shown in FIG. 9. If the tip of the wedge-shaped bottom of the downspout-outlet-locator 300 does not enter the opening of the downspout outlet 34, it will come into contact with the floor of the gutter 32, causing the gutter strainer 1000 to stop descending. At this point, the user can lift the gutter strainer 1000, adjust its position, and lower it again. When the projection of the tip of the downspout-outlet-locator 300 enters the opening of the downspout outlet 34, even if it is not perfectly aligned with the center of the downspout outlet 34, the installation process will proceed correctly. As the gutter strainer 1000 is lowered further, one of the sloped arms 29 will come into contact with the edge of the downspout outlet 34. The gutter strainer 1000 will continue to descend, and the edge of the downspout outlet 34 will guide the sloped arm 29, causing the gutter strainer 1000 to shift toward the center of the downspout outlet 34. This process continues until the entire downspout-outlet-locator 300 is securely positioned inside the downspout outlet 34. FIGS. 8, 10 and 11 illustrate the configuration where the gutter strainer 1000 is properly installed.

In further detail, and still referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the width of the downspout-outlet-locator 300 is slightly smaller than that of the downspout outlet 34. This design not only allows the downspout-outlet-locator 300 to easily slip into the downspout outlet 34 but also ensures that when water flow impacts the gutter strainer 1000, pushing it leftward or rightward along the gutter line, the inner walls of the downspout outlet 34 hold the downspout-outlet-locator-arms 25 and 26, limiting lateral movement of the gutter strainer 1000. The restricted range of movement is defined by the small gaps between the downspout-outlet-locator 300 and the inner walls of the downspout outlet 34. Additionally, the range of movement is further constrained by the small gaps between the bottom of the strain-body 100 and the walls of the gutter 32. Since the bottom of the strainer-basket 11 is significantly larger than the opening of the downspout outlet 34, the downspout outlet 34 remains fully covered by the strainer-basket 11, even when it moves within the restricted range defined by these gaps. Furthermore, the floor of the gutter 32 supports the left wing 13 and right wing 14, preventing the gutter strainer 1000 from tumbling. The pyramid shape of the strainer-basket 11, combined with the large wings 13 and 14, further enhances the overall stability of the gutter strainer 1000.

In more detail, still referring to FIG. 11, a side view of the properly installed gutter strainer 1000 is illustrated. As introduced in section [0035], the strainer-basket 11 features a handle-stopper 17 positioned behind a strainer-handle-receiver 16, preventing the strainer-handle 200 from rotating backward beyond the vertical position. This design allows the strainer-handle 200 to rotate forward and rest on the edge of the gutter 32 while preventing it from leaning back toward the roof. Rotating the strainer-handle 200 forward lowers the center of gravity of the gutter strainer 1000, thereby increasing its stability. Additionally, when the strainer-handle 200 is rotated downward, the hook-receiver 20 extends beyond the edge of the gutter 32, making it more visible to users standing on the ground. This design also facilitates the process of hooking the ring-shaped hook-receiver 20 with a pole hook 35 when attempting to remove the gutter strainer 1000.

It worth noting that the positions of downspouts can vary depending on how they connect to different gutters, and not all gutter configurations provide sufficient space to accommodate both wings 13 and 14 of the gutter strainer 1000. When a downspout outlet 34 is positioned close to a dead end of a gutter, the dead end may lack enough space to fit an entire wing of the gutter strainer 1000. In such cases, it may be necessary to cut off a portion of the wing or remove it entirely. FIG. 12 illustrates an example where wing 14 has been cut off.

While various details of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that other embodiments are possible. For example, although this embodiment illustrates the strainer-body 100 as being integrally formed, the invention is not limited to this configuration. The strainer-body 100 may alternatively be modularly constructed, with components such as the wings 13 and 14 and the bottom portion integrally formed as a single piece, and the strainer-basket 11 assembled as a separate part. Furthermore, the strainer-basket 11 itself may be constructed from multiple walls assembled together. The shape of the strainer-body 100 may vary, and its structure can be made from different materials. For example, the strainer-basket 11 may be cylindrical, cone-shaped, circular cone-shaped, or polyhedral pyramid-shaped, and the perforations 12 may have varying shapes. The gutter strainer 1000 can be constructed from weather-resistant plastics, rust-resistant metals, or a combination thereof, or other suitable materials, and may be integrally formed to ensure structural integrity. The shape of the basket-handle 200, as well as the wings 13 and 14, may also vary. Specifically, for different types of gutters, the design of the bottom of the strainer-basket 11 and wings 13 and 14 may differ. For example, in applications for K-style gutters with a flat floor, the bottom of the strainer-basket 11 and wings 13 and 14 are flat. In contrast, for applications in half-round gutters, the bottom of the strainer-basket 11 and wings 13 and 14 may be configured to match the half-round shape. Additionally, the shape and configuration of the downspout-outlet-locator 300 may vary. The number and shape of the downspout-outlet-locator-arms and sloped arms may differ. The sloped arms may converge to form a wedge-shaped bottom along the gutter line, as shown in FIG. 1, or alternatively, they may form a cone-shaped or pyramid-shaped bottom, depending on specific requirements.

Referring now to an alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the primary difference between the gutter strainer 2000 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 lies in the configuration of the downspout-outlet-locator 600. Instead of the single-piece design in the previous embodiment, this alternative embodiment features a downspout-outlet-locator 600 consisting of two identical pieces. This configuration results in two pairs of downspout-outlet-locator-arms 55 and 56, 55-1 and 56-1, along with two pairs of sloped arms 59 and 60, 59-1 and 60-1. At the ends of these downspout-outlet-locator-arms 55 and 56, 55-1 and 56-1, each arm includes a locator-arm-end 57 and 58, 57-1 and 58-1, with a rectangular cross-section. Correspondingly, two pairs of rectangular holes are positioned on opposite sides of the lower portion of the strainer-basket 41, serving as two pairs of downspout-outlet-locator-receivers 48 and 49, 48-1 and 49-1. These pairs of locator-arm-ends 57 and 58, 57-1 and 58-1, can be inserted into the downspout-outlet-locator-receivers 48 and 49, 48-1 and 49-1, forming a fixed, non-rotatable connection between the strainer-body 400 and the downspout-outlet-locator 600. Beneath the parallel downspout-outlet-locator-arms 55 and 56, 55-1 and 56-1, two pairs of sloped arms 59 and 60, 59-1 and 60-1 converge to form two wedge-shaped bottoms of the downspout-outlet-locator 600.

This design offers both advantages and challenges. On the one hand, the use of four downspout-outlet-locator-arms to engage the inner walls of the downspout-outlet 34 enhances the stability of the gutter strainer 2000 along two axes: left-to-right (along the gutter line) and forward-to-backward (perpendicular to the gutter line). On the other hand, this configuration makes remote installation less convenient. Because the edges of the downspout outlet 34 may become stuck in the gap between the two pieces of the downspout-outlet-locator 600, creating potential difficulties during the insertion process.

Referring to another alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, this design differs from the previous two embodiments in the configuration of the downspout-outlet-locator. The downspout-outlet-locator 900 of the gutter strainer 3000 features four parallel downspout-outlet-locator-arms, 85 and 86, 85-1 and 86-1, and four sloped arms 89 and 90, 89-1 and 90-1, which form a pyramid-shaped bottom. Correspondingly, the strainer-basket 700 includes four downspout-outlet-locator-receivers configured to connect with the locator-arm-ends of the downspout-outlet-locator-arms 85 and 86, 85-1 and 86-1. All other parts of this embodiment remain the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. This design provides greater stability compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and is easier to install remotely than the embodiment shown in FIG. 13.

While the preceding paragraphs detail three exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that other embodiments are within the scope of this disclosure.