Gutter with cleaning apparatus

Claim 2

A building drain gutter having apparatus for permitting periodic cleaning of debris accumulated therein, said gutter comprising an elongated trough including transversely spaced apart substantially upstanding wall surfaces separated by and integral with a bottom surface, each of said wall surfaces having upper extremities, a liner comprising a sheet of flexible material loosely disposed within the tough, said liner having transversely spaced apart edges, means for securing each of said edges of the liner to a respective one of said wall surfaces proximate said upper extremities for enclosing the trough so that debris accumulates on the liner rather than in the trough, an aperture formed in said trough, a conduit communicating with said aperture, and means for supplying a fluid to said conduit under pressure through said aperture into the trough for pressurizing said trough and forceably urging said liner upwardly between said edges out of the trough with the accumulated debris.

Claim 3

A building drain gutter as recited in claim 1, wherein said liner comprises a sheet of plastic film material.

Claim 4

A building drain gutter as recited in claim 2, wherein said film comprises vinyl.

Claim 5

A building drain gutter as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for supplying fluid comprises and air compressor.

Claim 6

A building drain gutter as recited in claim 4, wherein said liner comprises a sheet of plastic film material.

Claim 7

A building drain gutter as recited in claim 5, wherein said film comprises vinyl.

Claim 8

A building drain gutter as recited in claim 2, wherein said edges of said liner are secured to upper edges of said wall surfaces in substantially sealed relationship.

Claim 9

A building drain gutter as recited in claim 7, wherein said liner comprises a sheet of plastic film material.

Claim 10

A building drain gutter as recited in claim 8, wherein said film comprises vinyl.

Claim 11

A drain gutter for a building comprising an elongated open top trough having transversely spaced apart upstanding wall surfaces interconnected by a bottom surface, a liner comprising a sheet of flexible material having transversely spaced edges fastened to said upstanding wall surfaces proximate respective upper extremities and loosely disposed between said edges in the trough, said liner having a transverse dimension such that the liner while disposed in said trough conforms substantially to said bottom surface and said upstanding wall surfaces intermediate said edges, an aperture formed in said gutter intermediate said edges, conduit means communicating with said aperture, and fluid supply means for communicating with said conduit means for supplying a fluid into said aperture under pressure to pressurize the trough and to lift said liner upwardly between said edges out of the trough, said pressure being sufficient to lift said liner together with debris accumulated thereon to dislodge said debris.

Claim 12

A drain gutter for a building comprising an elongated open top trough having transversely spaced apart upstanding wall surfaces interconnected by a bottom surface, a liner comprising a sheet of flexible material having transversely spaced edges fastened to said upstanding wall surfaces proximate respective upper extremities and loosely disposed between said edges in the trough, said liner having a transverse dimension such that the liner while disposed in said trough conforms substantially to said bottom surface and said upstanding wall surfaces intermediate said edges, an aperture formed in said gutter intermediate said edges, conduit means communicating with said aperture, and fluid supply means for communicating with said conduit means for supplying a fluid into said aperture under pressure to pressurize the trough and to lift said liner upwardly between said edges out of the trough, said pressure being sufficient to lift said liner together with debris accumulated thereon to dislodge said debris.

Claim 13

A drain gutter as recited in claim 10, including at least one downspout fastened to said trough, said liner having an opening communicating with said downspout, and means for sealing said liner with said trough about said opening.

Claim 14

A drain gutter as recited in claim 10, wherein said fluid supply means comprises a compressor for supplying air under pressure.

Claim 15

A drain gutter as recited in claim 12, wherein said liner comprises a sheet of plastic film material.

Claim 16

A drain gutter as recited in claim 13, wherein said film comprises vinyl.

Claim 17

A drain gutter as recited in claim 11, wherein said fluid supply means comprises a compressor for supplying air under pressure.

Claim 18

A drain gutter as recited in claim 15, wherein said liner comprises a sheet of plastic film material.

Claim 19

A drain gutter as recited in claim 16, wherein said film comprises vinyl.

Claim 20

A drain gutter as recited in claim 16, including means for sealing said liner with said upstanding wall surfaces.

Claim 21

A drain gutter as recited in claim 18, wherein said film comprises vinyl.