Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Hand bars and hand barrows – Ball retriever
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-07-03
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 2167)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Hand bars and hand barrows
Ball retriever
C294S103100, C015S236040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254153
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cleaning tools, and in particular to gutter cleaning devices.
Gutters are used on buildings to direct the flow of rainwater from the roof. The use of gutters prevents rainwater from falling uncontrolled to the ground. Gutters tend to become clogged with debris such as leaves, pine needles, twigs, roofing material and other things. An accumulation of this debris makes it difficult for water to flow through the gutter and may result in permanent damming and overflow.
Over time many tools have been developed which have been used to facilitate the cleaning of gutters. Common tools require the user to either clean the gutter from the roof itself or climb up a ladder to reach the gutter. Many of these tools require the user to reach into the gutter with a short hand tool, which can be an unpleasant experience on a hot day. While there have been many gutter cleaning tools developed, it can easily be seen that there is still a need for a gutter cleaning device which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A unique cleaning device has been invented which overcomes many of the deficiencies noted above, particularly since it is handy and manually operable from a distance, as for instance from the ground for use on an elevated point. The present invention, while having general application as a tool for grasping and moving material, has found particular application as a gutter cleaning device. In such an embodiment, the invention comprises a pole having a near end and a far end. An implement, or tool tip, adapted to be received within a gutter channel is carried on an implement mount extending from the pole. A mechanism is provided which is operable to move the implement relative to a press member, with which the implement interacts to grasp material in the gutter between the press member and the implement when the mechanism is operated to move the implement toward the press member.
In a presently preferred embodiment, the implement mount includes a base or head fixed adjacent the far end of the pole, and an elongated slidable member movably mounted on the head. The implement is fixedly mounted on the elongated member, and moves with it under action of the moving mechanism. The press member is fixedly mounted to the head.
A line, such as a cable, cord, rope, wire or the like, extends along the pole, such as inside the pole, from the near or ground end to the head. The line turns at a pivot on the head to a first attachment point on the mount. A pulling force on the line away from the near end causes the mount, and the implement carried thereon, to move relative to the head.
A first channel is formed in the head within which the elongated member is received for movement therein. A second channel formed in the head receives the line therein. The second channel includes the pivot in the form of a bend defining a shoulder about which the line snakes.
The pole is preferably extensible, and comprises a first pole part within which a second pole part is received for movement into and out of the first pole part. The line is connected to the second pole part at a second attachment point. In the foregoing embodiment, a resilient member biases the implement away from the press member.
Thus, when the second pole part is moved out of the first pole part, the line is drawn with it pulling the implement toward the press member against the bias of the resilient member, to grasp material therebetween. The resilient member moves the implement away from the press member when the second pole part is moved into the first pole part, which releases the grasped material.
In this embodiment, the implement and press member most preferably take the form of rakes that extend generally perpendicularly from the elongated member in the case of the implement, and from the head in the case of the press member. The rakes are mountable in a plurality of positions forming a plurality of angles relative to an axis defined by the pole, which accommodates placing the rakes into the gutter from differing positions on the ground. A guide for positioning the tool on the gutter edge is also advantageously provided.
A releasable locking element which fixes the first and second pole parts together is also advantageously provided. An eccentric carried on the second pole part which engages the first pole part and frictionally locks the two parts in place when the second pole part is rotated can be used.
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Baniak Pine & Gannon
Kramer Dean J.
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