Multifunction surface engaging apparatus that is particularly suited in removing snow and ice

A multifunction apparatus for engaging a surface is particularly suited for removal of snow and ice from the windshields and hoods of vehicles. The apparatus includes a support frame having two pulleys and a handle for manipulating the apparatus. An endless belt is entrained on the pulleys for movement along a continuous path. A bi-directional electrical motor is mounted on the frame and has forward and reverse modes for driving the endless belt along the continuous path. A plurality of surface engaging device assemblies having a first end connected to the endless belt and a second end extending outward from the endless belt provide for the multifunction operational modes. More specifically, each surface engaging device assembly includes first and second heads such as a scraper for removing ice and a brush for removing snow. A trip mechanism carried on the support frame cooperates with the electric motor to switch the location of the heads at the outer periphery of the endless belt to selectively cause the first head to engage the surface or alternatively the second head to engage the surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates generally to surface engaging apparatus and
 more particularly to surface engaging apparatus for brushing, scraping,
 scrubbing, wiping, cleaning, engaging and the like.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Removal of snow and ice from vehicles with conventional ice scrapers and
 brushes is a particularly arduous task that is often accomplished under
 cold uncomfortable conditions. Scraping ice requires one to exert a
 downward force on a scraper while sliding the scraper across the
 windshield. Brushing snow requires one to reciprocate a brush back and
 forth to remove the snow from the hood and windshield. Due to the size of
 vehicles and reach of typical persons, there are often places that cannot
 be reached or that are difficult to reach while applying the force and
 motion necessary for removing snow and ice. Moreover, the manual
 manipulation of conventional scrapers and brushes often results in snow
 and ice ending up on the person's clothing, which provides a disincentive
 for removing snow and ice from large areas and hard to reach areas. These
 factors often result in a less than satisfactory removal of snow and ice
 from vehicles which presents a potential operational hazard.
 In other related applications, motorized surface engaging apparatus for
 scrubbing, sweeping, cleaning and engaging are generally known such as
 those shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,495,632, 5,221,229,
 5,309,597, 5,809,602. These patents generally disclose that a surface
 engaging head mounted on a carrier can be motorized to reduce manual labor
 necessary for engaging a surface. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,632,
 different cleaning heads can be interchangeably attached to the end of the
 motorized apparatus. However, changing heads takes time and often tools to
 change the heads. Moreover, idle heads can often be misplaced or lost when
 not attached to the motorized apparatus.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 According to one of the aspects of the present invention, the present
 invention provides a multifunction motorized apparatus for engaging a
 surface that has particular application to removal of snow and ice from
 vehicles but may also be used in other surface engaging applications. The
 apparatus includes a support frame having two pulleys mounted thereon and
 a handle for manipulating the apparatus. An endless conveyor is entrained
 on the pulleys for movement along a continuous path. A motor is supported
 by the frame and is drivingly connected to the endless belt for driving
 the endless belt along the continuous path. A plurality of surface
 engaging device assemblies have an inner end connected to the endless belt
 and an outer end extending outward from the endless belt for engaging a
 surface such as a windshield of a vehicle for example. Each surface
 engaging device assembly includes a movable body having first and second
 surface engaging heads which can be alternatively located at the outer end
 for engaging the surface. It is an advantage that each head provides a
 different operating mode for the surface engaging apparatus. For example,
 one head can be a brush while the other head may be a scraper such that
 the scraper heads are located at the outer end for scraping ice and the
 brush heads are located at the outer end for brushing snow.
 According to one of the aspects of the present invention, a multifunction
 apparatus for engaging a surface comprises a support frame having two
 pulleys and a handle for manipulating the apparatus. An endless belt is
 entrained on the pulleys for movement along a continuous path. A
 bi-directional electrical motor supported by the support frame has reverse
 and forward modes for driving the endless belt along the continuous path.
 A plurality of surface engaging device assemblies have an inner end
 connected to the endless belt and an outer end extending outward from the
 endless belt for engaging the surface. Each surface engaging device
 assembly includes first and second surface engaging heads. A trip
 mechanism carried on the support frame cooperates with the electric motor.
 The trip mechanism includes a movable body having first and second contact
 surfaces for engaging the movable body in the forward and reverse modes to
 selectively locate the first and second heads at the outer end for
 engaging a surface.
 According to yet one other aspect of the present invention, a surface
 engaging device assembly for use with a surface engaging apparatus that
 includes a movable carrier comprises a movable body having first and
 second surfacing engaging heads for engaging a surface. The movable body
 includes a pivot axis. The surface engaging device assembly further
 includes a mounting bracket that is connectable to the movable carrier.
 The movable body is pivotably connected to the mounting bracket. The
 movable body is pivotable between a first position in which the first head
 projects outward from the bracket for engaging a surface and a second
 position in which the second head projects outward from the bracket for
 engaging a surface.
 These and other aims, objectives, and features of the invention will become
 more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in
 conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative
 constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in
 the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be
 understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to
 the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to
 cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling
 within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
 claims.
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring to FIG. 1, a multifunction surface engaging apparatus is
 illustrated in the form of a combination ice scraper and brushing
 apparatus 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
 invention. A support frame 12 with a handle 14 connected thereto provides
 structure for manipulating the apparatus 10. The handle 14 may be
 pivotably connected to the rest of the frame 12 at an area indicated at 15
 so that the handle 14 may pivot 180.degree. and be locked in at either a
 right hand position or a left hand position to allow the apparatus 10 to
 be more easily used by both right handed and left handed individuals. The
 frame 12 generally includes first and second parallel sides 16, 17 and a
 motor housing 19 connected to the handle 14.
 A pair of spaced apart pulleys 18, 20 are mounted on the frame 12 and have
 entrained thereon an endless belt 22 for movement along a continuous path.
 The pulleys 18, 20 are provided by a pair of wheels 24, 26 mounted for
 rotation with respect to the frame 12 by axles 28, 30, but may also
 alternatively be provided by fixed low friction rods, or other appropriate
 pulley mechanism. The axles 28, 30 extend transversely between the frame
 sides 16, 17. The tension in the belt 22 may be controlled by adjusting a
 tension adjusting device 32 which adjusts the spacing between the first
 and second wheels 24, 26 by moving the axle 30 of the second wheel 26. It
 is an advantage of controlling the tension that a tighter tension may be
 used for engaging more planar surfaces and a looser tension may be used
 for engaging slightly curved surfaces.
 A motor 34 mounted in the motor housing 19 is drivingly connected to the
 endless belt 22 or other carrier for driving the endless belt 22 between
 the pulleys 18, 20 along the continuous path. The motor 34 has a rotary
 output on a drive shaft 36 that is transferred to the first wheel 24
 through a pair of meshing gears 38, 40 which are affixed to the drive
 shaft 36, and first wheel 24, respectively. The motor 34 is preferably
 electrically powered by a rechargeable battery 42 that may be mounted in
 the handle 14, or a external power supply through an electrical input 44,
 such as a adapter and cord connecting the input 44 to the cigarette
 lighter output of a car for example, but may also be pneumatically powered
 for example if the application allows. The motor 34 is actuated by a
 trigger 46 located in a convenient location on the handle 14. Depending
 upon the application, it will be appreciated that there are other ways of
 drivingly connecting the endless belt 22 and the motor 34, such as
 mounting the motor 34 on one of the frame sides and connecting it directly
 to one of the axles 28, 30 or to a separate drive wheel between the two
 frame sides 16, 17.
 In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus 10 includes a
 plurality of surface engaging device assemblies 48 that include two
 different surface engaging heads 50, 52 for two different operating modes
 and surface engaging functions. In the present embodiment, pairs of heads
 50, 52 are fixed with one another in pivotable bodies 54 that are
 pivotably connected to respective mounting brackets 56. Each bracket 56
 connects one end 58 of the engaging device assembly 48 to the belt 22 via
 rivets 59 or other connector. One of the heads 50 is located at a second
 outer end 60 of the engaging device assembly 48 for engaging a surface
 while the other head 52 is disposed between the ends 58, 60 so as not to
 engage the surface. Each pivotable body 54 is pivotably connected to the
 bracket 56 by a pin 62. The pin 62 is slidably disposed in a slot 64
 formed in the bracket 56 such that the pivotable bodies 54 can be moved
 towards or away from the belt 22. A spring 65 or other resilient means
 such as a rubber piece urges each pivotable body 54 against the belt 22
 relatively tightly. The spring 65 may be disposed in the slot 64 to apply
 force directly on the pin 62 to bias the pin 62 towards the end of the
 slot 64 which is closest to the belt 22.
 As seen by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, the pivotable body 54 can be partially
 rotated between a first position wherein the first head 50 is located at
 the outer end 60 as shown in FIG. 3, and a second position wherein the
 second head 52 is located at the outer end 60. In the present embodiment,
 the first head 50 is a relatively flexible brush 66 for removing snow
 while the second head 52 is a relatively rigid scraper 68 for scraping
 ice. The scraper 68 includes a relatively rigid support portion having
 first and second seating surfaces 70, 72 that alternatively seat against
 the belt 22 under the action of the spring 65 to hold the single body in
 either the first or second engaging position during use. Some of the
 scrapers 68 may include teeth 74 for engaging the surface while other
 scrapers 68 may include a straight edge (not shown) for engaging the
 surface. It will be appreciated that other such surface engaging heads may
 be also used such as cleaning, scrubbing, wiping, buffing, or other
 appropriate surface engaging head as appropriate for the surface engaging
 application.
 To switch the surface engaging device assemblies 48 between first and
 second positions, the present embodiment includes a tripper mechanism 78
 mounted on the frame 12. The tripper mechanism 78 includes a movable arm
 80 that is movable between first and second positions. The arm 80 includes
 a pair of tabs 81, 82 that provide contact surfaces for engaging a pair of
 ears 84, 85 that provide contact surfaces on the pivotable body 54 in
 order to switch the position of the heads 50, 52 of the pivotable body 54
 with respect to the belt 22. In the present embodiment, the motor 34 is
 bi-directional and each direction corresponds to one of the positions of
 the pivotable body 54. More specifically, in FIG. 3, the motor 34 is being
 operated in a forward mode indicated by arrow 86 while in FIG. 4, the
 motor 34 is being operated in a reverse mode indicated by arrow 88. When
 the motor is first operated in the forward mode (after previously being
 operated in reverse mode), each pivotable body 54 is sequentially switched
 to expose the first head as each body 54 passes the tripper mechanism 78.
 During switching, the first tab 81 engages the first ear 84 to flip the
 position of the pivotable body 54 so that the first head 50 and brushes 66
 are exposed at the end 58, as shown in FIG. 3. The pivotable body 54 will
 both linearly translate in the slot 64 and rotate during the flipping
 action. When it is desired to expose the second head 52 and scrapers 68 at
 the outer end 60, the position of the arm 80 is moved to align the second
 tabs 82 with the second ears 85 and the operating mode of the motor 34 is
 reversed to provide a reverse flipping action in reverse sequence to the
 pivotable bodies 54, thereby locating the second head 52 and scrapers 68
 at the outer end 60 as shown in FIG. 4. It is an advantage of this
 configuration that two operational modes are achieved. In the preferred
 application of removing snow and ice, the brushes 66 can be exposed to
 first remove snow, then the scrapers 68 can be exposed to scrape ice, and
 then the brushes 66 can be exposed again if desired to remove the scraped
 ice. The belt 22 accomplishes a long linear swap over the surface to
 efficiently remove snow and ice or other such debris.
 The direction of the motor 34 may be accomplished through mechanical or
 electrical feedback 90 from the tripper mechanism 78 or may be manually
 controlled through the trigger 46, or other appropriate control. The
 tripper mechanism 78 of the present embodiment includes a linearly
 translatable arm 80. With reference to FIG. 10, it will be appreciated
 that other tripper mechanisms may be used such as a tripper mechanism 78'
 that includes a rotatable arm 80' for pivoting a pair of tabs 81', 82'
 that similarly alternatively engage ears on pivotable bodies.
 Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 may include a hand guard cover 92
 that is connectable to the frame 12 for covering one of the rear and front
 open sides 93, 94 of the frame 12 between the frame sides 16, 17. The
 cover 92 includes latch springs 95 that latch on to latch posts 96 on the
 support frame 12. The cover 92 selectively covers one of the side segments
 97, 98 of the belt 22 for safety purposes and to prevent material such as
 snow and ice from being expelled onto the operator of the apparatus 10.
 The cover 92 can be latched over front open side 93 in one operational
 mode and alternatively over the rear open side 94 in the other operational
 mode if so desired. The apparatus may also include a shroud 99 that is
 mounted for rotation on the frame 12 between the belt 22 and the handle 14
 for preventing material from hitting an individual's hand that is
 operating the trigger 46. The shroud 99 can be locked into a selected
 angular place as desired to most effectively deflect debris.
 Referring to FIG. 9, a extension handle 100 may be attached to the handle
 14 to allow the apparatus 10 to reach high spots such as the top of a van
 or a hood of a semi-truck. A trigger assembly 101 may be used to engage
 the trigger 46 at linkage 110 and extend the actuating trigger 46 to a
 more convenient location.
 While a preferred embodiment is shown herein, it will be appreciated that
 the apparatus 10 and surface engaging device assemblies 48 of the present
 invention may be adapted into other tools for other applications which
 utilize more than one engaging head for engaging surfaces. Certain broader
 claims appended hereto are meant to include these broader applications.
 All of the references cited herein, including patents, patent applications
 and publications are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference.
 While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon preferred
 embodiments, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that
 variations of the preferred embodiments may be used and that it is
 intended that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
 specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
 modifications encompassed within the spirit and the scope of the invention
 as defined by the following claims.