Self-cleaning gutter

Abstract

This is a gutter, downspout and mounting system arranged such that the gutter is supported in hinge-like fashion and can, without climbing, easily be flipped more or less upside down thus dumping its leaves and other debris to the ground and exposing its insides for further cleaning from the ground with a water hose and suitable nozzle. An easy way is also provided for moving the downspout out of the way before the gutter is inverted. Attempts by others to prevent debris from entering gutters tend to also obstruct the rain water from entering, particularly where trees are present, and their designs make the always dangerous cleaning process even more difficult. This invention solves the problem.

1 . A gutter system with mounts that allow the gutter to be rotated to a position where gravity makes its contents basically dump out and the inside of the gutter become exposed for easy cleaning with a water hose and nozzle while standing on the ground or on a suitable platform. 
     
     
         2 .  Claim 1  having hinges, cords or similar means, located at suitable intervals along its length, to support the gutter weight yet allow the gutter to flip upside down while its length remains horizontal. 
     
     
         3 .  Claim 1  including an associated downspout to catch water falling from the gutter and a mounting system with provisions to support the downspout but easily shift the downspout or its upper portion away from the gutter path and its falling contents as needed, usually without climbing. 
     
     
         4 .  Claim 2  wherein there is a horizontal rod running parallel to the length of the gutter, the rotation of which provides the mechanical power to operate the mechanism which lifts, lowers, fastens or unfastens the gutter. 
     
     
         5 .  Claim 4  wherein the said mechanism fastens or unfastens the gutter. 
     
     
         6 .  Claim 5  wherein the said mechanism is similar to the implementation described as items 5 through 14 herein. 
     
     
         7 .  Claim 2  wherein the mounted but free-to-rotate gutter is lowered, raised and secured by a winch or similar mechanism. 
     
     
         8 .  Claim 6  wherein one end of a cord is wound around and fastened to the said  claim 6  rod or an attachment thereto and the other end of the cord is fastened to the free/outside edge of the gutter, making the rod able to lift, lower or secure the gutter, determined by the direction of rotation of the rod or non-rotation thereof. 
     
     
         9 .  Claim 6  in which the  claim 6  rod includes a threaded portion passing through a fixed position nut thus causing the rod to move in its lengthwise direction as it is rotated. This is to prevent the cord from overlapping itself as it winds onto the rod and to make the intersect point of cord with rod be near a rod support, thus causing less mechanical stress inside the rod. 
     
     
         10 .  Claim 3  in which the upper end of the downspout, or an attachment thereto, has cross sectional area that increases with height to act as a funnel for catching water that exits the gutter. 
     
     
         11 .  Claim 3  in which the downspout ( 14 ) is affixed to the building by one or more hinge pairs, the pins of which are oriented such that, the upper end of the downspout is easily rotated to a suitable position away from the gutter during gutter cleaning and returned to normal afterward by someone on the ground, moving it with direct contact or rope. 
     
     
         12 .  Claim 11  in which the moveable part of the downspout is held just beneath the gutter and remains approximately vertical by using two or more of the said hinge pairs, one hinge of each pair fastened to the building and the other fastened directly or indirectly to the downspout. 
     
     
         13 .  Claim 1  in which water from the gutter is carried into a fixed location downspout by a pipe fastened by hinge to the gutter and partially “swallowed” into the downspout as the gutter rotates downward. (Based on paragraph 028.)