Rainwater gutter

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rainwater gutter for mounting on a building to collect rainwater from the roof. It is shaped similar to a letter S. The rainwater flows from the roof covering onto the top section of the S shaped curved element, where, due to the contour of the gutter and surface tension will flow down from the upper curved section into the cylindrical section via the opening formed by the bottom section of the S returning to terminate as an open end close to the top section. The small opening also emits daylight thus reducing the possibility of vegetation growing in the gutter. This will reduce expensive and dangerous maintenance of eave gutters. Because the water gathered from the eave of the roof is cleaner it would reduce filtration costs for rainwater harvesting. The gutter can be formed in plastic, aluminium, copper or zinc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rainwater gutter for the removal of rainwater from a roof that will due to the shape and design allows rainwater in but omits debris from entering the rainwater gutter. 
     
     
         2 . A rainwater gutter as in  claim 1  for cleaner rainwater to reduce costs for filtration when used for rainwater harvesting. 
     
     
         3 . A gutter adapted to be mounted on a building, for use in collecting rainwater, comprising:
 a curved element having a generally S-shaped cross-section and including   an upper part that curves outwardly from the building, and   a lower part that forms a substantially cylindrical channel having an opening adjacent the top thereof and generally extending the length of the channel; and   wherein, when mounted on the building for use in collecting rainwater, the rainwater is directed to flow over the upper part of the gutter, through the opening, and into the channel.   
     
     
         4 . The gutter of  claim 3 , wherein the rainwater is directed to flow over the upper part of the gutter by surface tension. 
     
     
         5 . The gutter of  claim 3 , wherein the opening adjacent the top of the channel and generally extending the length of the channel is a size that generally allows the rainwater to enter the channel, while preventing debris from entering the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The gutter of  claim 5 , wherein the opening adjacent the top of the channel is a size that reduces light entering the channel, to reduce growth of vegetation in the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The gutter of  claim 3 , wherein the gutter is mountable proximate a roof of the building, using one or more brackets that are mountable to a fascia of the building and that position the upper part of the gutter close to an edge of the roof, for use in collecting rainwater. 
     
     
         8 . The gutter of  claim 7 , wherein at least two or more of the brackets are of different depths to accommodate different roof overhangs between the fascia of the building and the edge of the roof. 
     
     
         9 . The gutter of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more brackets includes a top end, and wherein the gutter includes at its top a folded section forming a point, which receives the top end of the bracket to support the upper part of the gutter. 
     
     
         10 . The gutter of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more brackets includes an outer portion, and wherein the gutter includes a slot on its external surface generally extending the length of the external surface, which receives the outer portion of the bracket to support the lower part of the gutter. 
     
     
         11 . The gutter of  claim 3 , further comprising a jointing section that enables two or more gutter segments to be attached within the jointing section to form a continuous channel. 
     
     
         12 . The gutter of  claim 11 , wherein the jointing section includes one or more rubber gaskets that form a seal with the gutter segments attached within the jointing section. 
     
     
         13 . The gutter of  claim 3  further comprising an outlet section that enables two or more gutter segments to be attached within the outlet section, and wherein the outlet section includes a downpipe outlet for connection to a downpipe. 
     
     
         14 . The gutter of  claim 13  wherein the outlet section includes one or more rubber gaskets that form a seal with the gutter segments attached within the outlet section. 
     
     
         15 . The gutter of  claim 13 , wherein the outlet section is one of an internal corner or external corner. 
     
     
         16 . The gutter of  claim 3 , wherein the gutter is self-cleaning including whereupon the rainwater being directed to flow through the opening and into the channel, it flows first down an internal back portion of the channel and then an internal front portion of the channel, to wash any residue within the channel. 
     
     
         17 . The gutter of  claim 3 , wherein the channel accommodates a jetting machine for use in cleaning the channel. 
     
     
         18 . The gutter of  claim 17 , wherein the downpipe outlet accommodates a jetting machine for use in cleaning the channel. 
     
     
         19 . The gutter of  claim 3 , wherein the gutter is generally made of one or more of a plastic material, an aluminum material, a copper material, or a zinc material.