GB2304128A - Blockage-resistant gutters and drains - Google Patents

Abstract

Blockage of gutters and downpipes by solid objects such as leaves is prevented by positioning a cylindrical brush (6) having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter (1) or drain (2) lengthwise in the gutter or drain.

Description

BLOCRAGE-RESIsTANT GUTTERS AND DRAINS The present invention relates to the use of cylindrical brushes in a novel method of preventing blockage of gutters and drains, and to blockage-resistant gutters and drains obtained thereby.

A commonplace domestic problem is the blockage of waste pipes by solid material. This is a particular problem for outside gutters and drains, especially in the autumn when fallen leaves frequently block gutters and downpipes.

Gutters are also prone to blockage by nesting birds.

It is known to provide wire mesh coverings over gutters and/or guttering downpipes to keep out leaves and other large solid objects and thereby prevent blockage. However, these wire mesh guards are relatively expensive, unsightly, and are easily dislodged unless they are permanently fixed in place by screws or the like.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and visually unobtrusive method of preventing blockage of gutters and/or drains. It is a further object of the present invention to provide blockageresistant gutters or drains obtainable by the method of the invention. Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel use of cylindrical brushes to prevent such blockage.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of preventing blockage of a gutter or a drain, the method comprising inserting a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter or drain lengthwise in the gutter or drain.

The present invention also provides a blockage-resistant gutter or drain comprising: a gutter or drain having an inner diameter; and a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter or drain and positioned lengthwise in the gutter or drain.

The present invention further provides the use of a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter for the preparation of a blockage-resistant gutter or drain by insertion of the cylindrical brush lengthwise in a gutter or drain having an internal diameter similar to the outside diameter of the cylindrical brush.

It will be understood that the reference to diameters in the present specification does not limit the invention to purely cylindrical brushes and gutters, but encompasses elongate brushes and gutters having substantially matching, but noncircular, substantially uniform cross-sections.

Likewise, it will be understood that the present invention can be applied to prevent blockage not only of external gutters and/or downpipes, but of any other kind of drain, including gas outlets and flues.

Preferably, the cylindrical brush is a twisted wire brush.

That is to say, the brush comprises a twisted wire core, with bristles (filaments) of brush material gripped between the twisted wires. Preferably, the bristles of the cylindrical brush are formed from a plastics material such as polypropylene monofilaments to resist corrosion or decay in use.

The twisted wire cylindrical brushes are readily available in lengths up to 5 metres and diameters from 15 millimetres up to 300 millimetres. Individual lengths of these brushes can, of course, be joined together to make up any desired length.

The cylindrical brush can normally just be laid in the gutter, and/or pushed into the drain that it is desired to make blockage-resistant. However, it may be desirable to secure the cylindrical brush in gutter where the gutter is exposed to high winds. The cylindrical brushes can be secured in the gutters by any conventional means, such as brackets or wire ties.

The cylindrical brushes effectively prevent ingress of large solid objects (including birds) into the gutter or drain, while having sufficiently high liquid permeability to permit the gutter or drain to function effectively while the cylindrical brush is inserted therein. The cylindrical brush also has a high surface area, which supports bacteria and fungi that assist in breaking down small solid particles that can pass through the brush. By appropriate choice of bristle density on the brush, the maximum size of solid particles that would be allowed to enter the gutter or drain can be selected. The brushes can easily be removed for cleaning, or replaced.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a detailed view of part of an exterior gutter and downpipe incorporating the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, a gutter 1 and associated downpipe 2 are provided in conventional fashion on the side of a building 3 having a pitched roof 4. Leaves falling on the pitched roof 4 tend to fall into the gutter 1 and eventually block it. The present invention provides a cylindrical twisted-wire brush 6 laid lengthwise in the gutter 1 and having sufficiently densely packed bristles to prevent ingress of most leaves, whilst still allowing water to flow lengthwise along the gutter at a sufficient rate for drainage purposes. The downpipe 2 also has a second cylindrical brush 7 inserted lengthwise therein to prevent blockage of the downpipe. It will be appreciated that a satisfactory effect can be achieved solely by having a short length of cylindrical brush inserted at the top of the downpipe. There is no need to have the cylindrical brush extending all the way down the downpipe.

The twisted wire brushes 6 and 7 are very inexpensive, easy to install, and are commercially available in a wide range of diameters to match all conventional gutter and downpipe diameters. Should one or other of the cylindrical brushes 6, 7 become clogged with small solid particles, then it can very easily be removed for cleaning, or for replacement by a similar brush. It is not usually necessary to use special means to secure the cylindrical brush 6 in the gutter 1.

The above specific embodiment has been described by way of example only. Many other embodiments falling within the scope of the present invention has defined by the accompanying claims will be apparent to the skilled reader.

Claims (7)

1. A method of preventing blockage of a gutter or a drain comprising inserting a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter or drain lengthwise in the gutter or drain.

2. A blockage-resistant gutter or drain comprising: a gutter or drain having an internal diameter; and a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter similar to the internal diameter of the gutter or drain positioned lengthwise in the gutter or drain.

3. Use of a cylindrical brush having an outside diameter for the manufacture of a blockage-resistant gutter or drain by inserting the cylindrical brush lengthwise in the gutter or drain, the internal diameter of the gutter or drain being similar to said outside diameter.

4. A method, blockage-resistant gutter or drain, or use according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the cylindrical brush is a twisted wire core brush.

5. A method, a blockage-resistant gutter or drain, or a use according to any preceding claim, wherein the cylindrical brush has bristles formed from plastics monofilaments.

6. A method, a blockage-resistant gutter or drain, or a use according to any preceding claim, wherein securing means are provided to secure the cylindrical brush in the gutter or drain.

7. A method, a blockage-resistant gutter or drain, or a use substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.