Apparatus and method for cleaning gutters

Abstract

The apparatus of this invention includes a long rod and a short rod, each of desired length, and each with a rake on one end and a hoe on the other end. Both rakes are of the same novel construction with three tines uniquely arranged to enable a workman mounted on a ladder to pull leaves in a conventional gutter toward himself and beneath spikes holding the gutter to a roof. The method of this invention enables a workman to draw leaves toward himself from both sides of the ladder without having to move the ladder.

1 . Apparatus for cleaning gutters, said apparatus comprising a rod, a rake attached to one end of the rod, and a hoe attached to the other end of the rod.  
   
   
       2 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the rod is telescopic.  
   
   
       3 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said apparatus for cleaning gutters includes a scoop.  
   
   
       4 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said rod is a long rod for cleaning long gutters and wherein said apparatus also includes a short rod for cleaning short gutters and portions of long gutters.  
   
   
       5 . The invention of  claim 4  wherein a rake is attached to one end of the short rod and a hoe is attached to the other end of the short rod.  
   
   
       6 . The invention of  claim 3  wherein the gutter is supported by spikes and wherein the scoop includes a bottom wall, a rear wall and side walls dimensioned to fit within the gutter and beneath the spikes.  
   
   
       7 . The invention of  claim 4  wherein a rake is attached to one end of the short rod and a hoe is attached to the other end of the short rod.  
   
   
       8 . The invention of  claim 7  wherein the width of the rake and the width of the hoe correspond to the width of the gutter with which the apparatus is to be used.  
   
   
       9 . A rod and a rake for cleaning a gutter of the type that is attached to a roof with a plurality of spikes, said gutter having a bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the spikes being spaced along the gutter and extending through the upper portions of the side walls, said rake comprising a shaft extending axially from one end of the rod, a center tooth and two side teeth, the center tooth extending in axial alignment from the shaft and the two side teeth extending from the shaft in diverging relation to the center tooth, each of the teeth terminating in a downturned end portion, the downturned end portions of the side teeth being spaced from each other a distance to provide the rake a width in conformity with the width of the gutter, and the downturned end portions of the teeth being of a length sufficient to rake pine straw and other debris along a gutter and beneath spikes during manipulation of the rod and rake to clean the gutter.  
   
   
       10 . The invention of  claim 9  wherein each downturned end portion terminates in a lip.  
   
   
       11 . A method for a workman to clean a gutter of debris, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a ladder of sufficient length for the workman to stand on the ladder with his waist at the gutter when the ladder is positioned on the ground beneath the gutter and leaning against the gutter at a desired angle;    b) providing a rod with a rake secured to one end of the rod, and    c) the workman grasping the rod and rake and positioning himself on the ladder to face the gutter with the waist portion of his body at the same height as the gutter and the workman then manipulating the rod and rake to drag debris in the gutter on one side of the ladder within reach of the workman, and the workman then manipulating the rod and rake to drag debris in the gutter on the other side of the ladder within reach of the workman.    
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 11  wherein the workman's manipulation of the rod and rake to drag debris in the gutter on both sides of the ladder within reach of the workman includes the following steps: 
 a) the rod is rotated to turn the teeth of the rake up to a glide position before pushing the rake away from the ladder to a desired position in the gutter to begin dragging in debris on one side of the ladder;    b) the rod is rotated to turn the teeth of the rake down to a raking position before pulling the rake toward the ladder to drag in debris on said one side of the ladder;    c) the rod is rotated to turn the teeth of the rake up to a glide position before pushing the rake away from the ladder to a desired position in the gutter to begin dragging in debris on the other side of the ladder; and    d) the rod is rotated to turn the teeth of the rake down to a raking position before pulling the rake toward the ladder to drag in debris on said other side of the ladder.