Abstract:
A snow, slush, and water removal device comprising a blade with top and bottom working edges. The blade can be straight, curved, or V-shaped when viewed from above or from the side. The bottom edge of the blade is comprised of a flexible material. The reverse side of the blade contains attachment points and bracing for the main long handle pole, the main handle being connected at the first end to the reverse side of the blade. The novel combination of features provides superior results both in terms of less energy required, and faster and safer removal of snow, slush, water, or other matter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/326,745, filed on Apr. 22, 2010, and entitled “Snow Clearing Pusher/Puller Device,” the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to snow and water removal devices, and, more particularly, to a more efficient device for pushing and/or pulling snow, slush, solids, viscous liquids, or water with one or two hands. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In many parts of the world, snow removal is performed throughout a significant percentage of the year. Although electric- and gas-powered snow removal devices are commonly used in cold climate areas, there continues to be a demand for human-powered devices, especially in areas where mechanical snow removal devices are either not affordable or are unable to effectively remove snow. Often, there are periods of constant light “snow drizzle,” between major snow events, which although too slight for aggressive snow removal by motorized equipment, still present a slip and fall hazard. Therefore a need exists to quickly and efficiently remove small quantities of continual wet or dry snow throughout such periods. Further, indoor and outdoor ice skating requires the quick removal of wet ice, resurfacer machine shavings, and slush. 
         [0006]    Human-powered snow removal is expensive, both in terms of time, effort, and medical costs. Traditional snow removal devices typically require extensive manual labor, including lifting the equivalent of hundreds of pounds and typically require the use of two hands. This labor can be difficult for the elderly or those with back or joint injuries, as well as for those with a multitude of other physical ailments. In addition to aggravating pre-existing medical conditions, every year there are many reported instances of people suffering medical afflictions such as heart attacks due to the stress imposed by snow removal. 
         [0007]    In terms of time, snow removal can require a significant investment of time, particularly in regions that receive multiple, heavy snowfalls throughout the season. Snow removal with traditional removal devices can also require substantial time when the area to be cleared is rough or uneven, since these devices can catch or become stuck on these types of surfaces. Indeed, slush often cannot effectively be removed with traditional shovels as they do not lift this viscous material, they are too narrow to be of any use, and do not conform to the surfaces to be cleared. 
         [0008]    Because of the inherent slip and fall risk posed by traditional methods of removing slush and water from ice rinks, there is a need for a tool which can remove ice slush, snow, and water by an operator standing outside of the rink and not on the ice sheet itself using a pulling, squeegee action. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, there is a continuing need for a snow removal device that, using new features and resulting greater efficiency, reduces the time and effort needed to clear moderate amounts of snow. There is also a continued need for a snow removal device that quickly and easily removes snow from rough or uneven surfaces. There is similarly a continued need for a snow and slush removal device that will help commercial property owners reduce the tracking of slush into their buildings causing economic and liability concerns. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a device for snow and/or slush removal. 
         [0011]    It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a snow and/or slush removal device that greatly reduces the time required to clear snow. 
         [0012]    It is yet another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a snow and/or slush removal device that greatly reduces the amount of effort required to clear snow. 
         [0013]    It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a snow and/or slush removal device that eliminates the need to lift snow during removal. 
         [0014]    It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a snow and/or slush removal device that easily removes snow and/or slush from rough or uneven surfaces without catching or stopping in mid-push. 
         [0015]    It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a snow and/or slush removal device that can be safely operated with only one hand and arm. 
         [0016]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter. 
         [0017]    In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a snow removal device, the device comprising: (i) a generally V-shaped blade comprising a top panel and a bottom panel, the top panel and the bottom panel each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, where the inner surface of the top panel and the inner surface of the bottom panel are separated from one another by a first angle of less than 180 degrees; and (ii) a first extension panel attached to and roughly parallel to the bottom panel, the second extension panel extending downward beyond a bottom edge of the bottom panel. In a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a second extension panel extending from a top edge of the top panel toward the outer surface of the top panel at a second angle, where the second angle is less than 180 degrees. The blade can further comprise handle attachment means such as, for example, a generally V-shaped brace which has a top brace panel attached to the outer surface of the blade&#39;s top panel, a bottom brace panel attached to the outer surface of the blade&#39;s bottom panel, and a pole receptacle. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the first angle is approximately 135 degrees, and the second angle is approximately 125 degrees, although these are merely examples and not in any way limiting the possible angles of the device. 
         [0018]    A second aspect of the present invention further provides a snow removal device comprising: (i) a generally curved blade comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, a top edge and a bottom edge; (ii) a first extension panel extending from the top edge toward the outer surface of the blade at an angle less than 180 degrees; and (ii) a second extension panel attached to the bottom edge which extends downward beyond the bottom edge of the blade. In a preferred embodiment, the second extension panel is composed of a resilient material such as rubber. 
         [0019]    A third aspect of the present invention further provides a snow removal device comprising: (i) a generally V-shaped blade comprising a left panel and a right panel each comprising a front surface and a reverse surface, where the reverse surface of the left panel and the reverse surface of the right panel are separated from one another by a first angle of less than 180 degrees; (ii) a first extension panel extending from a top edge of the left and right panels toward the reverse surface of the panels at an angle less than 180 degrees; and (iii) a second extension panel attached to, and extending downward beyond, a bottom edge of the left and right panels. According to a preferred embodiment, the left and right panels each comprise a top section and a bottom section which together form a second V shape, and the top section and the bottom section of the right panel together form a third V shape, where the apex of the second and third V shapes is offset by 90 degrees from the apex of the generally V-shaped blade. In a preferred embodiment, the fist angle is approximately 90 degrees. 
         [0020]    A fourth aspect of the present invention further provides a snow removal device comprising: (a) a main blade with top and bottom working edges, the bottom edge of the blade comprising a straight, curved, curved inverted V, or cupped V surface, the bottom edge having a flexible material; (b) the reverse side of the blade contains attachment points and bracing for the main handle pole; (c) the pole comprises a first end and a second end, the main handle being connected at the first end to the reverse side of the blade; and (d) a rear handle or tube plug provided at the second end of the main handle. 
         [0021]    A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a snow and or slush removal device wherein the bottom edge of the blade is constructed of replaceable rubber or other flexible material with a suitable modulus to remove or scrape snow from surfaces either wet or dry when the edge is placed against the ground and the device is pushed or pulled. 
         [0022]    A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a snow and or slush removal device wherein the bottom edge of the blade is near vertical. 
         [0023]    A seventh aspect of the present invention provides a snow and/or slush removal device wherein the main blade is formed to create stiffness. In one embodiment the main blade is in a V-shaped configuration when viewed from the side, although other shapes which create stiffness or a flat shape with reinforcing are also claimed. A curved or straight shape could also be used. The width of the blade can vary depending on the needs of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the blade ranges from about 1 foot long to about 5 feet long, depending on the application. 
         [0024]    A eighth aspect of the present invention provides a snow and/or slush removal device wherein the main blade is formed straight as depicted in  FIG. 1 , or in the shape of a “V,” or snow-plow shaped pointing forward when viewed from above as depicted in  FIG. 4A , depending on the application. 
         [0025]    A ninth aspect of the present invention provides a snow and/or slush removal device wherein the main handle is generally straight. In another embodiment, the rear handle comprises a tube plug or a T- or D-shaped grip. The rear handle can further comprise a slightly bent grip to facilitate operation of the snow removal device. 
         [0026]    A tenth aspect of the present invention provides a snow and/or slush removal device wherein the main handle is sufficiently long enough to place the operator at a distance away from the blade such that a smaller downward vector component and a greater horizontal component is produced, thereby reducing friction with the ground and converting more energy into pushing snow. This, in combination with a vertical or almost vertical angle of the edge in combination with a flexible material contacting the ground, facilitates removal of snow from gravel or stone walkways, as well as other uneven surfaces, without catching, destroying, upsetting, or moving the stone surface. 
         [0027]    An eleventh aspect of the present invention provides a snow removal device wherein the blade is secured by quick removable pins clips to facilitate disassembly and easy off season storage or transportation. 
         [0028]    A twelfth aspect of the present invention provides a snow and or slush removal device wherein the top edge of the blade is constructed so when the blade is inverted 180 degrees so that the edge contacts the ground, the weight of the snow during the pulling operation will press the edge and the blade down into and under the snow thus allowing it to scoop and or scrape snow as the blade is pulled by the handle. The operator will be able to pull the snow by standing erect, thereby reducing the opportunity to injure a back. The effort of pulling the snow is considerably less than pushing the equivalent amount of snow since there is less downward force vector. 
         [0029]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a snow removal device with a top edge formed rearward to scrape the surface as the blade is pulled towards the operator. 
         [0030]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a snow removal device wherein the handle is braced equally on both sides by beams which prevent the bending of the pole and keep the blade perpendicular to the pole. These braces can be easily detached from the blade by two removable pins. 
         [0031]    It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a snow removal device wherein the angle of the blade against the ground is variable to accommodate the height of the person using the pusher puller varies as well as the user&#39;s preferred grip. Using the metal edge, varying the angle will create different degrees of scraping the surface with either the tool&#39;s own weight or by adding downward force by pulling on the handle. 
         [0032]    It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a snow removal device utilizing a combination of both the longer handle in combination with a flexible material attached to the bottom edge in order to clear snow and/or slush with less required energy to overcome friction between the blade and the ground. This facilitates removal of snow from gravel or stone walkways, as well as other uneven surfaces, without catching, destroying, upsetting, or moving the stone surface. 
         [0033]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a snow removal device wherein the angle of the lower portion of the blade to the pole is adapted to facilitate scraping but will not allow the blade to bind when confronting cracks or uneven sections of surface such as sidewalk expansion joints. In one embodiment, the material of the lower edge of the bottom of the blade is flexible to enable the clearing of partially melted snow, mud, or other viscous liquid to clear sidewalks of this hazard. 
         [0034]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a snow removal device which is adapted to removing snow from roofs without causing undue damage to shingles due to the flexible edge material which is set at a non aggressive near vertical angle of attack, the low angle of attack of the handle, and the long handle which keeps operators away from the edge of the roof, which is a key safety feature of this device. 
         [0035]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a snow removal device which is adapted to remove snow from roofs by incorporating a lower blade which is angled slightly forward and which, when pulled back against the snow in the direction of the operator, will climb up onto new snow. This “ratcheting” eliminates the need to manually lift the blade to reposition it on top of the remaining snow. When the handle is then pushed, the forward angle of the lower blade causes it to dig down into the snow to push it off the roof. The flexible edge also serves to minimize damage to shingled or rubber-coated roofs and scratching of surface finish of coated metal roofs, and does not catch on existing ice dams. 
         [0036]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a snow removal device which is adapted to remove snow from low shed roofs through pulling action without causing undue damage to shingles due to the flexible material on the edge. However, if ice is present on the roof, the hard metal edge of the snow removal device could be used, adding yet another aspect of versatility. 
         [0037]    It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a snow removal device wherein the angle of the top edge of the pusher/puller blade will facilitate the clearing of a few steps by allowing the operator to stand on the lower main surface of the ground and use the pulling function of the top edge of the blade to pull snow or slush downward toward the operator. This is a key safety feature of the device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0038]    The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0039]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of a snow removal device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of the shovel portion of a snow removal device; 
           [0041]      FIG. 3  is a graphic representation of an individual using one embodiment of the snow removal device to remove snow from a roof; 
           [0042]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a snow removal device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4B  is a top view of the snow removal device of  FIG. 4A ; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of handle attachment means according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0045]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in  FIG. 1  a snow removal device  10  called a combination snow pusher and snow puller. Device  10  comprises at least a handle  12 , two braces  14 , and a blade  16 . As shown more clearly in  FIG. 2 , blade  16  has at least two working surfaces, a forward working surface  20  and a rear working surface  18 . Blade  16  also has two working edges, a top working edge  22  and a bottom working edge  24 . Forward surface  20  and bottom edge  24  are for pushing snow or other matter. Top edge  22  and rear surface  18  are for pulling snow or other matter. The bottom edge  24  is optionally constructed of a flexible material and is positioned at such an angle of attack as to reduce the tendency to “catch” or stop when encountering uneven surfaces such as expansion joints or heaved sections in sidewalks. In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the top surface and bottom surface of device  10  is about 135 degrees, as is shown in  FIG. 1 , although other angles are possible. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment the angle formed between the upper edge and the reverse side of the top surface is about 125 degrees, although other angles are possible. 
         [0046]    Top edge  22  is designed to shave under the snow or other matter. As device  10  is pulled, the edge of the device has less downward vector component and thus less friction and allows the snow or matter to glide over the surface as it is being pulled. As a human safety consideration, this design clears snow without the need to lift snow. 
         [0047]    Handle  12  is made of any material suitable for a wide range of temperatures and climates, and for sustaining moderate amounts of use, pressure and stress. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, fiberglass, wood, and plastic. In one embodiment, handle  12  can be extended or lengthened, or can be coupled with a second handle using any mechanism of coupling or joining known in the art. This allows the user to reach snow- or ice-covered surfaces that are beyond the reach of the normal-length handle, such as a roof. Braces  14  are positioned to help secure the handle to the blade. In a preferred embodiment, the braces connect at one end to blade  16 , and at the other end to a clamp, such as a saddle clamp, which is clamped around the handle. This sturdy construction allows device  10  to be used to move large amounts of heavy snow or scrape ice without wear and tear.  FIG. 1  shows a clamp and pin system that can optionally be used to connect the end of handle  14  to blade  16 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  shows alternative means of attaching the handle to the blade. In this embodiment, a brace connects the handle to the reverse side of the blade. One advantage of this brace is that the handle is quickly and easily changed if it becomes damaged or worn. 
         [0049]    In another embodiment, the blade of shovel  10  is primarily “V”-shaped, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Similar to the device in  FIG. 1 , this embodiment comprises at least handle  12  and a blade  16 . The shovel further comprises two braces  28  and  30  to stably connect the handle to the blade. Further, handle  14  of device  10  is positioned at an angle that maximizes forward force while minimizing downward force, as will be discussed in detail hereinafter. In a preferred embodiment, blade  16  is V-shaped and has a bottom working edge  24  that is optionally constructed of a flexible material and is positioned at such an angle of attack as to reduce the tendency to “catch” or stop when encountering uneven surfaces such as expansion joints or heaved sections in sidewalks. A flexible working edge  24  provides several advantages, including faster use, better adjustment to surface abnormalities, and reduced shock to both the device and the operator&#39;s hand, thereby resulting in less fatigue for the user and less wear on snow removal device  10 . 
         [0050]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the blade of shovel  10  is designed such that it is adaptable to one of two or more configurations, including a first configuration where the blade is straight, and a second configuration where the blade is shaped similar to a “V” or a snowplow. The variable configurations of the shovel can be accomplished through any mechanism known in the art, including but not limited to hinges or movable parts. 
         [0051]    By virtue of its innovative design features, the combination snow pusher and snow puller device greatly reduces the time and effort required to clear moderate amounts of snow from rough and or uneven surfaces. As this design reduces friction and the chance of catching in expansion joints, the increased efficiency is converted into clearing a wider swath of snow at a greater walking speed, thus reducing the total time to clear a sidewalk of slush or snow. This is particularly useful for city sidewalks with expansion cracks, driveways, stairs, wooden decks, gravel walkways and drives, and the beds of pickup trucks, among many other places. The push and pull operation of device  10  eliminates the need to lift the snow that is being removed. This operation is significantly different from the operation of a shovel, which is normally considered as a means of scooping and lifting material. The pull feature of device  10  is especially useful when clearing stairs while standing at ground level. 
         [0052]    When using ordinary shovels and snow pushers, the weight of the snow in the scoop or in front of the blade will press downwardly and cause greater friction against the surface of the ground. As the snow builds up, the shovel will eventually stop from its own friction. Greater force to continue to push proportionately increases the downward vector force of the shovel edge to the ground until it is too high to proceed any further. This adds unnecessary resistance to the effort of clearing snow, and slows down or stops the shovel by adding weight and downward force to the shovel blade as it contacts the surface. The design of device  10 , however, does not allow this to happen due to the novel angles of the blade and the construction of the blade. Friction is not greatly increased by virtue of more snow. 
         [0053]    The present invention provides a unique push/pull method of clearing snow, as shown in  FIG. 3 . According to this method, the user places blade  16  of shovel  10  into or atop the snow and pushes the shovel forward. The forward force on the shovel pushes the blade into the snow and pushes the snow forward. If the method is used to remove snow from a roof or steps, the shovel is pushed forward until the snow falls from the edge of the roof or step. The user then pulls the shovel backward, and the blade rises on top of the snow. The operator does not have to lift the blade, this being another advantage of the present invention. By rising on top of the snow, the shovel of the present invention provides a unique push/pull snow removal method whereby the user rhythmically pushes and pulls the shovel but only pushes snow. When the shovel is completely or partially pulled backward, the user again applies a forward force, which pushes the blade into the snow and pushes the snow forward. 
         [0054]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blade and shovel are arranged such that the angle of the handle maximizes the forward force of the shovel and thereby minimizes the effort expended by the user to remove snow and/or slush. For example, a typical snow shovel with a 38 inch long handle causes the operator to place the handle at an approximate 45 degree angle. If the operator pushes this typical snow shovel at a hypothetical 100 lb. push, then there is a 70 lb. horizontal push and a 70 lb. vertical push. The 70 lb. vertical pushes the blade into the ground and causes friction between the blade and the ground. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, however, the 6 foot handle creates an angle of 30 degrees between the handle and the ground, which is in sharp contrast to the 45 degrees of a typical snow shovel. At an angle of 30 degrees, a 100 lb. push by the user results in a roughly 86 lb. horizontal push and only a 501 lb. vertical push. This represents at least a 28% reduction in downward friction and at least a 22% increase in available forward pushing vector force. Added together, the present invention represents at least a total 50% increase in efficiency. The efficiency is further improved by the rubber edge of the shovel, all of which prevent the blade from catching on cracks or tearing up gravel walkways. 
         [0055]    In addition to traditional snow and slush removal, the present invention has many other uses, including but not limited to the following: clearing steps; clearing hazardous oil spills and sludge from beaches, pushing slush and water to roof drains on flooded flat roofs, grooming terrain parks at ski hills or resorts; moving slush or slurry; clearing roofs; clearing snow from vehicles (e.g., removing snow from truck beds at automotive dealerships); clearing barn stalls; moving feed or grain; moving hard foodstuffs; or smoothing concrete, dirt, and gravel, among many other uses. 
         [0056]    Another non-traditional use of the device is to remove ice slush, snow, water, and other debris from ice rinks, including both indoor and outdoor rinks. For example, the device can be modified to pull or push debris off of the ice rink surface. Once such model, called the “Radius,” has been modified to remove debris using the corner gate of traditional ice rinks. Since many ice rinks have radii of approximately 28 feet (8.5 meters) in northeastern America (and other radii in other regions or countries), the device can be modified to suitably remove debris from a circle having that radius. 
         [0057]    Because of the inherent slip and fall risk posed by traditional methods of removing slush and water from ice rinks, there is a need for a tool which can remove ice slush, snow, and water by an operator standing outside of the rink and not on the ice sheet itself using a pulling, squeegee action. 
         [0058]    Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that modifications, alterations, and additions can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.