Field of the invention

The invention relates to cleaning devices and cleaning methods of buildings.

Background

Gutters of different kind of buildings gather especially leaves, sticks and branches and they need to be periodically cleaned. One possibility is to climb up to a ceiling, but it is dangerous and difficult. Therefore, gutters are often cleaned with cleaners having long handles so that a user may try to clean the gutter e.g. from ground level.

In figure 1 is presented a prior art gutter cleaner, which has a cleaner part 90 with fixed cleaners 92 and a fixed brush part 94. The cleaner part 90 is attachable to a handle 96. Main problem of the prior art cutter cleaner is that it gets often stuck and breaks due to fixed unmovable cleaners 92 made from plastics. The brush part 94 is also fixed unmovable to the cleaner part 94, which may cause breakings. The fixed unmovable parts 92, 94 not only cause breakings of themselves or of the cleaner part 94, but they may also break gutter structure.

Summary

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a new gutter cleaner, which cleans effectively and is long-lasting. This is achieved by a gutter cleaner comprising a handle and a cleaner part, the cleaner part comprising at least one longitudinal bendy strip, which is unlockable attached to the cleaner part, and length of the at least one longitudinal bendy strip is 10 cm - 35 cm.

A number of exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described in accompanied dependent claims.

Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The invention is based on a gutter cleaner comprising a cleaner part having at least one longitudinal bendy strip, which is unlockable attached to the cleaner part.

Benefit of the invention is that the longitudinal bendy strip cleans effectively and adapts to the movements thus preventing from getting stuck and from breakings. It is thus long-lasting and environment friendly and it also protects the gutter structure.

Brief description of the figures

Exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention and their advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 presents a prior art gutter cleaner.

Figure 2 presents an exemplary gutter cleaner according to the present invention.

Figure 3 presents an exemplary gutter cleaner according to the present invention, wherein longitudinal bendy strips can be reversed to different positions. Description of exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments

In figure 2 is presented an exemplary gutter cleaner according to the present invention. The gutter cleaner comprises a handle 100, which can be extendable from e.g. from 1 meter up to e.g. 5 meter. The gutter cleaner comprises a cleaner part 102, which can be fixed or attached to said handle 100. The cleaner part 102 comprises at least one longitudinal bendy strip 104, which is unlockable attached to the cleaner part 102. Bendy means that the strip 104 is bendy and sustainable in working movements. Length of the longitudinal bendy strip 104 can be 10 cm - 40 cm. Preferably, length of the longitudinal bendy strip 104 is 20 cm - 30 cm. Width of the strip 104 can be e.g. from 3 cm to 12 cm. Preferably, width of the strip 104 is 5 cm - 10 cm. Thickness of the strip can be e.g. 3 mm - 20 mm. Preferably, thickness of the strip 104 is 5 mm - 15 mm. The unlockable attachment 108 of the longitudinal bendy strip 104 to the cleaner part 102 can be made e.g. by a bolt attachment. The unlockable attachment 108 can be also made e.g. by a means of a spring attachment, pivot, pin and/or a friction washer. The cleaner part 102 can also comprise a brush part 106. In a preferred embodiment the brush part 106 is unlockable attached 111 e.g. by a bolt attachment and/or by other similar means as the strip 104.

In a preferred embodiment the at least one longitudinal bendy strip 104 comprises curved 110a shapes. In another preferred embodiment the curved shapes can be two directionally curved shapes 110b, which increases functional cleaning effect of the longitudinal bendy strip 104. Because the strip 104 is bendy and unlockable attached to the cleaning part 102, it is free to move according to the cleaning movements, and the risk to get stuck or to break is minimized. Material of the at least one longitudinal bendy strip 104 is preferably some hard material, e.g. plastic or aluminum, plastic coated aluminum and/or plastic parts and/or aluminum parts. Also e.g. rubber or fibreglass can be used.

As presented in figures 2 and 3, in a preferred embodiment the cleaner part 102 comprises two longitudinal bendy strips 104 as a pair which is unlockable attached to the cleaner part 102. This increases the cleaning effectivity. The functionality of the unlocked longitudinal bendy strips 104 achieves good moving and cleaning characteristics in different kind of parts of the gutter. For example, the strip 104 moves below hidden hooks or below fixings of ladders. In a pair of strips 104 can be arranged even three directional curved shapes 110b to make the functional shapes more effective for the cleaning. There can be also more than two strips 104 attached to the cleaner part 102.

In figure 3 is presented an exemplary gutter cleaner according to the present invention, wherein longitudinal bendy strips 104 can be independently reversed to different positions. This is useful to do in situations, where it is good to make sure that the first strip (upper in fig.3) is not in front of the second strip (lower in fig.3) or vice versa.

In the method according to the present invention is used e.g. back and forth movements of the at least one unlocked longitudinal bendy strip 104 and/or the brush part 106 with the handle hold by the user. Because of the functional shaping of the strip 104, it moves smoothly and cleans effectively. Dimensions of the strip 104 and/or the brush part 106 can be selected according to the gutter dimensions to be cleaned.

The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the scope and/or the applicability of the appended claims.