Abstract:
An ice melting device comprising a body section comprising at least one blower and a heater. The blower heater comprises at least one heating coil and at least one shield forming a thermal shield for the heater. There is at least one nozzle for directing air produced by the blower, wherein the heater is positioned downstream of the blower so that fluid flow produced by the blower passes the heater and is heated by the heater and is then passed through the nozzle so that the hot air melts ice on a surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an ice melting device comprising a blower and a heater. The ice melting device can be in the form of a portable ice melting device which can be carried by hand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    At least one embodiment of the invention relates to an ice melting device comprising a body section and at least one blower and/or a heater. The blower heater comprises at least one heating coil and at least one shield forming a thermal shield for the heater. There is at least one nozzle for directing air produced by the blower, wherein the heater is positioned downstream of the blower so that fluid/air flow produced by the blower passes the heater and is heated by the heater and is then passed through the nozzle so that the heated air melts ice on a surface. 
         [0003]    Because the device utilizes blown air, particularly heated blown air, it allows a user to clear an area without the use of salts, or sand which may alter the user&#39;s environment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose at least one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
           [0005]    In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a snow melting device; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows an end view of the snow melting device; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of another embodiment of a snow melting device; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows an end view of the spacer of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a two part body based upon the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the device showing the three sections of the body, and showing the nozzle which is capable of being separated from the body as well. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Referring in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a side view of a snow melting device  10 , which comprises a body comprising a first section  20  and a second section  30 . This snow melting device is configured as an electrical snow melting device however other snow melting devices can be gas powered as well as shown in  FIG. 3 . First section  20  includes a first handle  26  and a second handle  27 . 
         [0013]    In this view, the housing can be a single piece or include at least two detachable pieces such as first section or housing  20  and second section or housing  30 . Positioned between first section and second section is a coupling element  25  which is configured to allow the two sections to be coupled together. This allows the housing to be opened and therefore allows additional components to be positioned inside or easy access for purposes of repair. 
         [0014]    In addition there is another housing  35 , which is detachable from second section or housing  30 . This housing  35  is coupled to second housing  30  via a coupling element  37  which is configured to couple third housing  35  to second housing  30  and allow the device to be opened so that additional components such as a heating element or coil  90  can be positioned inside. This third housing can also be in the form of a separately self contained housing for heating element  90 . A button or switch  39  is positioned on housing  35  which is configured to allow the user to selectively turn heating element  90  on. 
         [0015]    This electrical embodiment includes a transformer or power supply  50  which is coupled to an outlet or cable  65  which is configured to receive power from a power source such as an extension cord or similar power providing device. For example, in at least one embodiment, the device can include a self contained cable, while in another embodiment, the device can include an outlet configured to receive a cable such as an extension cord to receive power from that extension cord. 
         [0016]    In addition, there is an electric motor  60  which is in electrical communication with transformer  50  and which receives power from transformer  50 . Transformer  50  is configured so that it transforms AC incoming power which is usually at 120V (volts) 60 hz (hertz) from a standard power source into regulated DC power which powers the electric motor  60 . Electric motor  60  can be controlled by an on/off switch  28  such that it can be turned on and off. In addition, electric motor  60  can also include at least two settings which are controlled by a slide switch  29 . Slide switch  29  allows the device to be controlled or set in at least two different settings such as a high setting or a low setting, wherein the high setting results in a larger amount of air or fluid being pushed or driven by fan  70 . 
         [0017]    Disposed inside of the body or housing such as housing  30  is a fan  70  which is powered by the electric motor  60 . Motor  60  creates a relatively high powered blowing effect by turning fan  70 . Disposed downstream of fan  70  is a heater coil  90  which is disposed inside third housing  35  and which is covered by a shield  93  such as shown in  FIG. 2 . Shield can extend over housing  35  as well as along any desired length of nozzle  91 . 
         [0018]    Heater coil  90  is an electric coil configured to heat up the air flowing past coil  90  and down nozzle  91 , such that the air leaving nozzle  91  is of a sufficient temperature to suitably melt ice or snow once it is in contact with this heated air. Heater coil  90  can extend along any desired length of nozzle  91  suitable to create enough desired heat for fluid such as air passing this heated coil to melt ice or snow. This process of passing air across a heated coil or surface to create heated air results in heating through convection. 
         [0019]    For example, in at least one embodiment, the air leaving the nozzle could be above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or above 150 degrees Fahrenheit, or above 180 degrees Fahrenheit or even higher than that temperature. In at least one embodiment, heater coil  90  is configured as a stationary heater coil which is configured to be permanently or at least semi-permanently mounted inside of the body or third housing  35 . Alternatively, third housing  35  could be configured as an intermediate adapter/add on which could be added onto a blower device via coupling  37  and which allows an additional heating coil to be added to a blower. There could also be an additional coupling element  39  which is used to couple to nozzle  91  as well. The entire device extends along a longitudinal axis  99  which extends along a length of the body as well as along a length of nozzle  91  as well. 
         [0020]    As shown by the dashed dotted lines, the heating coil  90  extends along this longitudinal axis a sufficient distance to heat the air to a sufficient temperature to melt the snow and ice in a sufficient period of time suitable for a user. Consequently, the shield  93  can also extend along a sufficient distance along nozzle  91  to keep a user from being burned by contact with nozzle  91  or with housing  35 . 
         [0021]    Nozzle  91  is configured to be coupled to housing  35  via coupling element  39 , which can form an adapter to receive nozzle  91 . Nozzle  91  is configured to extend along longitudinal axis  99 . Nozzle  91  in first section  92  is configured to be covered by shield  93 . Shield  93  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2 . Second section  94  of nozzle  91  is an extending section while section  96  is a narrowing section. Thus, air enters the air intake region  21  and is then sent down the longitudinal axis  99  via blower fan  70  past heating coil  90 . As described above, blower fan  90  is driven by blower motor  60  which receives power from transformer  50 . As the air or fluid passes heater coil  90 , it heats the air or fluid up so that a high temperature air is then sent along axis  99  or parallel to axis  99  and out narrowed nozzle section  96 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2  there is a shield  93  which includes an outer shell  93   a  as well as spacers  95  and an inner core  97 . Spacers  95  space the shield  95  from the inner core. The limited contact between the outer shell  93   a  and the inner nozzle  97  reduces the amount of conduction between the inner nozzle  97  and the outer shell  93   a  so that the air spacing of these components. Shield  93  can be made from any suitable material such as metal, plastic, ceramic, or any other suitable insulating material. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the gas powered device  100 . This gas powered device includes a first housing  120  and a second housing  130 . First housing  120  and second housing  130  can be formed as one piece. There is also a third housing  135  as well. First housing  120  includes a handle  141 , and an air intake  123 . With this design, disposed inside of housing  120  is a gas tank  121 , a motor  140 . Motor  140  is configured to drive fan  150  so that motor  140  drives fluid such as air through the body, and along the longitudinal axis  199 . 
         [0024]    The design of  FIG. 3  is also selectively covered by a shield  93  or  93 ′. Shield  93 ′ is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 . Shield  93 ′ is similar to the shield  93  of  FIG. 2  however the spacing is narrower. In this view the spacers  95 ′ are shorter and the inner nozzle  97 ′ is wider. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , motor  140  includes an electric motor  142  that includes a rotor  143  that is turned to generate electricity as well as fan  150 . Essentially, electric motor  142  serves as an electrical generator driven by motor  140 . Electric motor  142  includes an outlet  144  which allows a cable or line  146  to extend into heater coil  190  to provide power to heater coil  190  (See  FIG. 5 ). Alternatively heater coil  190  which is housed inside of housing  135  can include a separate outlet  197  as well. Furthermore, housing  135  can also include adapters or coupling elements  137  and  139  which are configured to couple housing  135  to housing  130  or to nozzle  91  as well. This adapter and separate housing allows the device to be fitted as an after market part for an existing blower. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the device showing the three sections of the body, and showing the nozzle which is capable of being separated from the body as well. In this view, the third housing  35  is shown as separate from the other housings  20 ,  30  and separate from nozzle  91  as well. This configuration allows for the use of the third housing  35  along with coupling elements  37  and  39  to be used as an after market part to be coupled to an existing leaf blower. 
         [0027]    Ultimately, the design allows for the creation of a portable heating system which is configured to melt ice, as well as snow. This device also allows for a system which includes an adapter which allows for allowing a heating element to be added to a blower such as a leaf blower to heat and melt ice and snow. This device allows for a portable system for clearing ice and snow in an environmentally friendly manner, whereby a user can avoid the use of salts and sand on ice or snow and instead rely on heated air to melt the snow away. The use of chemicals can cause the degradation of nearby plants, cement, pavement etc, as well as prove to be harmful to nearby animals, especially humans. 
         [0028]    Accordingly, while at least one embodiment of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.