Abstract:
A Deicing Device is provided for placing ice melting material into a rain gutter. The device is mounted on a handle and permits the placement of ice melting material from ground level without the need for a ladder. The Deicing Device has a front side which is placed over the rain gutter and the edge of the roof. On the rear side the actuating mechanism is located on the front side with a valve assembly and a spout. A valve plate which slides in a valve guide release deicing material from the hopper through the spout. A rope actuates the movement of the slide plate against the force of a spring. A support member is affixed to the hopper. A spring member is forced downwardly which forces a drive member, which is attached to the slide plate, toward the front side releasing deicing material in the hopper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to an apparatus for dispersing deicing materials and more specifically to an apparatus for dispensing of deicing materials into rain gutters on a building.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    In a colder climate where, at least for a part of the year, temperatures drop below freezing, the problem of ice in the rain gutters on a building, becomes a problem. Water in liquid form enters the gutters installed along the edge fo the roof and freezes into solid ice. Heat from within the building causes melting of snow and ice on the roof and the dripping from the roof then cannot be carried away by the rain gutters which are blocked by ice. It is also to be anticipated that the ambient temperature will rise just slightly over the freezing point and rain will fall but the ice which has previously frozen solid in the rain gutters does not melt sufficiently fast so that the gutters are available to carry away the melting snow and ice from the roof.  
           [0005]    Various dispensing devices for granular material have been known. One example of such a device is shown in the Henderson patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,800. The device taught in the Henderson Patent is intended for the measured dispersing of granulated material for agricultural purposes such as an insecticide. The Henderson patent, which is apparently most desirable for its intended purposes, would not be suitable for de-icing and would, in any event, be too complicated and expensive for the deicing of rain gutters.  
           [0006]    Deicing material is commercially available. Rock salt is a granular material for melting ice of long standing use. In more recent times, granular material purporting to have the ability to melt ice more rapidly than rock salt have also become commercially available.  
           [0007]    It is apparent that someone desirous of melting ice in rain gutters could, by using a ladder, put ice melting material on the ice in the rain gutter. This, however, is time consuming and dangerous and many people are not physically capable of performing such a task.  
           [0008]    Therefore, an apparatus which would permit the deicing of gutters and permit a person of limited strength to do so while standing on the ground, would be of great value.  
         OBJECTS  
         [0009]    The objects of the invention are as follows:  
           [0010]    To provide an apparatus to place deicing material on a rain gutter while standing on the ground.  
           [0011]    To provide an apparatus for placing deicing material in a rain gutter that is simple to operate.  
           [0012]    To provide an apparatus for deicing rain gutters which is easy to operate.  
           [0013]    To provide an apparatus for deicing rain gutters which is durable and inexpensive to construct.  
           [0014]    Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood after consideration of the drawings, ensuing description and claims.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    A deicing device is provided for placing ice melting material into a rain gutter. The deicing device has a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side as well as an upper end and a lower end. The deicer device also has a hopper including a container, a valve assembly and a spout. The valve assembly is located between the spout and the container and the valve assembly and the spout are located at the lower end. The container and the spout each have an opening which openings are aligned with one another while the valve assembly includes means for opening and closing the openings in the container and the spout. A means is further provided for actuating the valve assembly and the deicing device is mounted on a handle. A bracket is mounted on the handle which bracket has two legs and a cross member. Each of the legs generally has the shape of an inverted U and the two legs being connected together by the cross member at the rear side. The two legs extend to the front side. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing the Deicing Device in use with a person on the ground holding the device at the edge of the roof to dispense ice melting material into a rain gutter.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the Deicing Device showing the mechanism for directing release of the deicing material.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the Deicing Device showing the mechanism for releasing the deicing material.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the roof brackets showing a portion of the pole and the bracket member which secures the roof bracket to the roof.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the value assembly and the base plate of the hopper and the spout. 
     
    
       [0021]    [0021]                                                   DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS            NUMERAL   DESCRIPTION                    11   Handle       13   Hopper       15   Brackets       17   Rope       19   Deicing Material       21   Container       22   Lower End (Container)       23   Upper End (Deicing Device)       25   Lower End (Deicing Device)       27   Right Side (Deicing Device)       29   Left Side (Deicing Device)       31   Front Side (Deicing Device)       33   Rear Side (Deicing Device)       35   Cap       37   Spout       39   Upper Section (Spout)       41   Lower Section (Spout)       43   Valve Assembly       44   Upper End (Valve Assembly)       45   Base Plate       47   Opening (Base Plate)       49   Slide Plate       51   Opening (Slide Plate)       53   Journal (Slide Plate)       55   Valve Guide       57   Opening (valve Guide)       59   Support Member       61   Front Edge (Support Plate)       63   Rear Edge (Support Plate)       65   Support Extension       67   End (Support Extension)       69   Flange       71   Threaded Opening       75   Spring Member       77   Spring Journal       79   Pulley Arm       81   Front End (Spring Member)       83   Rear End (Spring Member)       85   Spring       87   Point       89   Pulley Arm       91   Upper End (Pulley Arm)       92   Lower End (Pulley Arm)       93   Pulley       95   Drive Member       97   Rear End (Drive Member)       99   Front End (Drive Member)       101   Slot       105   Bracket Member       107   Clamp       109   Guide Pulley       111   Right Leg       113   Left Leg       115   Cross Member       117   Two Ends (Cross Member)       118   Rod       119   Protective Cap       121   Pull Member       123   Lower or Free End                    
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a building is shown having a rain gutter and a rain pipe for removing water from the roof. A person, who is standing at the ground level, is holding the Deicing Device at the edge of the roof with the Deicing Device resting on the edge of the roof.  
         [0023]    The device is held by a handle  11  which is elongated. A hopper  13  is mounted on the handle  11  and a pair of brackets  15  rest on the roof to hold the Deicing Device securely over the rain gutter when being operated. A rope  17 , whenvpulled actuates the release of the deicing material  19  from the hopper  13 , as will be explained in detail hereinafter.  
         [0024]    It should be understood that the Deicing Device works easily on a one story structure. With a handle  11  of strong but light construction, preferably one that is sectionalized, the Deicing Device can be utilized on a two-story building. Only a handfull of deicing material  19  is required every two or three feet to melt hard ice in the rain gutters.  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the construction of the Deicing Device is shown. A hopper  13  includes a container  21  to hold the deicing material  19 . The container  21  has a lower end  22 . The Deicing Device has an upper end  23  and a lower end  25 . The Deicing Device also has a right side  27  and a left side  29  consistent with the left side and right side of a person holding the Deicing Device on the edge of the roof. The Deicing Device further has a front side  31  which is placed on the roof and a rear side  33 , opposite from the front side  31  These same designations pertain to the various components of the Deicing Device.  
         [0026]    The hopper  13  includes a cap  25  at the upper end  23  which may be screwed into the hopper  13  or may be force fitted. At the lower end  25  of the hopper  13  is a spout  37  which has an upper section  39  and a lower section  41 . The lower section  41  has a reduced diameter to cause the deicing material  19  to be directed into the rain gutter.  
         [0027]    Between the spout  37  and the container  21  is a slide valve assembly  43  which controls the release of deicing material  19  from the container  21 . The valve assembly  53  has an upper end  44  which is secured to the lower end  22  of the container  21 . In FIG. 5, the valve assembly  43  is shown in an exploded view which clarifies the operation of the slide valve assembly  43 . As seen in FIG. 5, and as has been previously discussed, the spout  37  is located beneath the valve assembly  43 . The container  21  includes a base plate  45  located directly above the valve assembly  43  which is mounted directly beneath the base plate  45 . The base plate  45  has an opening  47  through it which is preferably circular. A slide plate  49 , which is part of the slide valve assembly  43 , also has an opening  51  through it which is preferably circular. The slide plate  49  also has an opening  51  through it which is preferably circular. The opening  51  in the slide plate  49  and the opening  47  in the base plate  45  are not aligned with one another when the slide valve assembly  47  is in its inactive position.  
         [0028]    The rear side  33  of the slide plate  49  has a journal  53  affixed to it. It should be noted that the slide plate  49  extends out toward the rear side  33  where the journal  53  is located. The slide plate  49  extends beyond the valve guide  55  and beyond the base plate  45  The slide plate  49  is situated in a valve guide  55 . The valve guide  55  also has an opening  57  through it which is aligned with the opening  47  in the base plate  45  but not with the slide plate  49 .  
         [0029]    Returning to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. a support member  59 , which is a flat plate having a front edge  61 , is affixed to the rear side  33  of the container  21  at the front edge  61 . The support member  59  is aligned longitudinally with the container  21 . The front edge  61  of the support member  59  extends along the central part of the rear side  33  of the container  21 . The support member  59  also has a rear edge  63 , which extends substantially beyond the front edge  61  due to a support extension  65  extending below the level of the spout  37  toward the lower end  25 . At the end  67  of the support extension  65 , a flange  69  is located which extends toward the rear side  33 , away from the hopper  13  for a short distance. At the lower end  67  of the support extension  65  there is a threaded opening  71  into which the handle  11  is threaded.  
         [0030]    A spring member  75  is also mounted on the support member  59  at the rear edge  63  of the support member  59  just above the support extension  65 . The spring member  75  has a front end  81  and a rear end  83 . The spring member  75  is situate at an angle to the hopper  13  and the support extension  65  with its rear end  83  located toward the upper end  23 . The front end  81  of the spring member  75  is mounted on the support member  59 .  
         [0031]    A spring  85  extends from a point  87  adjacent to but spaced from the rear end  83  of the spring member  73  to the support member  59 . The spring  85  is secured to the support member  59  at the upper end  23  and the rear edge  63  of the support member  75   59 . The spring  85  also holds the front end  81  of the spring member  75  toward the upper end  23  of the Deicing Device when the spring  85  is relaxed.  
         [0032]    The pulley arm  89  is mounted to pivot at its upper end  91 . The lower end  92  of the pulley arm  89 , as previously discussed, has a pulley  93  mounted on it. The pulley arm  89  extends from the spring member  75  with a generally vertical orientation.  
         [0033]    As best seen in FIG. 3, a drive member  95  extends from substantially the middle of the spring member  75  to the slide plate  49 . The drive member  95  is mounted at its rear end  97  to pivot on the spring member  75  and at its front end  99  on the slide plate  49 . The drive member  95  is elongated and curved and extends downwardly from the spring member  75  and toward the slide plate  49 . The support extension  65  has a slot  101  through it which permits the drive member  95  to pass through the support extension  65 .  
         [0034]    The handle  11  is secured into the threaded opening  71  at the end  67  of the support extension  65 . Below the support extension  57 , a bracket member  105  is affixed to the handle  11  by a clamp  107 . The bracket member  105  extends away from the hopper  13  toward the rear  33  of the Deicing Device. A guide pulley  109  is located at the rear of the bracket member  105 .  
         [0035]    Secured to the bracket member  105  is the bracket  15  which has a right leg  111  and a left leg  113  as well as a cross member  115 . The cross member  115  which has two ends  117 , is secured to the right leg  111  and the left leg  113 . The cross member  115  is secured at its ends  115  to the bracket member  105 . Also, a rod  118  extends through the handle  15  and the right leg  111  and the lefty leg  113  to provide added security to the connection of th bracket  15  to the handle  11 . Both the right leg  111  and the left leg  113  of the brackets are generally shaped like an inverted-U. As seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the right leg  111  and the left leg  113  of the brackets  15  extend under and to the right side  27  and the left side  29  of the spout  37  and beyond the spout  37  to the front side  31  of the Deicing Device and then extend down toward the lower end  25  generally in a vertical direction. Protective caps  119  are preferably is located on the right leg  111  and the left leg  113  to rest on the roof to support the weight of the Deicing Device.  
         [0036]    The rope  17  which is flexible is affixed at one end to the flange  69  at the end  67  of the support extension  65 . The rope  17  is passed over the pulley  93  affixed to the spring member  93  by means of the pulley arm  89 . The rope  17  drops down and engages the guide pulley  109  located on the bracket member  105  and extends downwardly from that point for a distance determined by the height at which the Deicer Device is to be used and the height of the operator. A pull member  121  may optionally be located at the lower end  123  of the rope  17 .  
         [0037]    In operation, by means of the handle  11 , the Deicing Device is hoisted up to the edge of the roof. The right leg  111  and left leg  113  of the bracket  15  are placed on the roof to hold the weight of the Deicing Device. The spout  27  is located directly over the rain gutter. With the Deicing Device in place, the rope  17  is pulled against the force of the spring  85 . The rear end  83  of the spring member  75  drops toward the lower end  25  of the hopper  13  causing the rear end  97  of the drive member  95  to also move toward the lower end  25 . The movement of the drive member  95  forces the opposite end of the drive member  95 , which is connected to the slide plate  49 , to move toward the front of the Deicing Device. In this way, the slide plate  49 , which as previously discussed extends outwardly toward the rear of the Deicing Device, is forced toward the front side  33  of the Deicing Device. As a result, the opening  51  in the slide plate  49  aligns with the opening  47  in the base plate  45  and the opening  57  in the valve guide  55 . Deicing material  19  in the container  21  is accordingly released and flows out of the spout  37  into the roof gutter. A small amount of deicing material every two or three feet rapidly melts the ice in the roof gutter.  
         [0038]    It is to be understood that he drawings and descriptive matter are in all caes to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principle of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.