Abstract:
A snow-shovel apparatus and method that allows a person to easily remove compacted snow from underneath a vehicle which is stuck and possibly hungup in the snow. Generally, a two bladed shovel-like design wherein the horizontally opposed blades open up from a folded position next to the handle for use. The shovel with blades retracted is pushed through compacted snow underneath the vehicle, is positioned by the user at the beginning of the shovel stroke where the blades are forced open by telescoping the handle, and snow is withdrawn from underneath the vehicle by the exertion of pulling forces along the handle, drawing the blades and captured snow towards the user. The handle is compressed and the blades retracted when not in use. The under vehicle snow-shovel is especially useful to the traveler as an aid in freeing vehicles that are hung up and stuck in the snow.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates in general to a snow removal apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, and in particular to a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of compacted snow from underneath a vehicle which is stuck and possibly hungup in the snow.  
         [0002]     Often times during the winter in snowy climates the depth of the snow is sufficient to prevent enough traction between a vehicles tires and the ground or road surface. For example, a snowstorm that delivers 18″ of snow is enough to prevent a passenger vehicle from driving on non-plowed roads. Even a storm that delivers only 6″ of snow, if combined with blowing and drifting, can make roads impassable for many passenger vehicles. Driving on such unplowed roads can cause a vehicle to begin to plow snow with the undercarriage of the vehicle if the snow is deeper than the vehicles ground clearance. Plowing snow causes the snow to compact, and when the snow which the vehicle is plowing with its undercarriage becomes compact and dense enough, the vehicle&#39;s under carriage will begin to ride up on the compacted snow, unweighting the tires and causing a loss of traction, thereby causing the vehicle to become hung-up and stuck in the compacted snow. This is especially true when there is considerable blowing and drifting of snow taking place, because snow drifts are already partially compacted by the wind.  
         [0003]     For this reason, roads and streets are plowed, moving snow from the center of the road to the shoulders of the road resulting in a road surface that allows a passenger vehicle to pass. Plowing roads, thereby moving all of the snow to the sides of the road creating snow banks can create its own set of problems because plowing compacts snow, increasing its density and cohesiveness, thereby creating snowbanks that are much harder and more compacted than freshly fallen snow. On the occasion that roads become icy and slippery during the winter, vehicles may lose control and drive off the road becoming hung-up and stuck in these snowbanks.  
         [0004]     There is also the matter that plows naturally throw up a snowbank across every driveway that they pass on the street or roadway, oftentimes plowing them in and plugging them up. Waiting for such driveways to be plowed or blown out is not always an available option and the choice is then to shovel the driveway open or try and drive through the snowbank. Attempting to drive through a snowbank often leads to a vehicle becoming hungup and stuck in the snowbank.  
         [0005]     There is also the matter of vehicles parked on the side of the road or street during a snowstorm which will oftentimes get plowed in. As the plow comes along early in the morning passing the parked vehicles, snow pushed by the plow forms a snow bank around the parked vehicles, as well as being thrown underneath the vehicles due to the high initial velocity of the snow coming off of the plows blade. There is again a choice of shoveling first or just trying to drive out. The driving out choice often leads to a vehicle becoming hung-up and stuck in a snowbank.  
         [0006]     Once a vehicle has become hung up and stuck in the snow, it must either be towed out, pushed out, or shoveled out. Having a vehicle towed out of a snow bank is the most costly option and a tow truck may not be available. Having a vehicle pushed out of a snowbank requires somebody else to help push, and oftentimes, shoveling will still be required. If there is no tow truck available and if there is no one else to help push, then to get the vehicle unstuck, the snow beneath the vehicle must be removed by shoveling. Removing this snow serves two purposes, it decreases the drag between the vehicle and the ground and, by removing the compacted snow which the vehicle frame has ridden up on, returns the vehicle&#39;s weight to the vehicle&#39;s tires, greatly improving traction between the drive wheels and ground. When the force provided by the driving wheels exceeds the drag on the vehicle, the vehicle will become unstuck.  
         [0007]     Compacted snow beneath a stuck vehicle must ordinarily be removed by pulling it out from underneath the vehicle for several reasons. The first reason is that when a vehicle has become hungup, whether by driving through very deep snow, such as a compacted snow drift or a plowed in driveway, or by sliding off of the road into a compacted snowbank, it is not possible, from one side of the vehicle, to push the compacted snow underneath the vehicle out the other side. The second reason snow must be pulled from underneath a vehicle stuck in the snow is that the undercarriage of the vehicle is close to the ground (often ten inches or less), and snow cannot be lifted out from underneath it.  
         [0008]     A conventional snow shovel is the best tool for removal of snow around a stuck vehicle, which can be used to scoop and throw the snow. However, using the same snow shovel to try and remove the compacted snow from beneath the vehicle is very difficult to do because conventional shovels are designed to push, lift and throw snow, and they do not work well for trying to draw compacted snow out from underneath a hung-up vehicle. Many conventional snow shovels are not designed to penetrate compacted snow even when it is not found under a vehicle, and may be difficult if not impossible to use to remove compacted snow from underneath a vehicle hungup and stuck in the snow.  
         [0009]     Numerous patents have been developed to aid in personal snow removal. Some prior art allows snow to be pushed across the ground for removal. Some prior art allows snow to be scooped up and thrown for removal. Some prior art allows snow to be pulled with a snow-blade, generally for removal from upper surfaces of a vehicle or the pitched roofs of buildings. None of the prior art is designed for penetration of compacted snow under a vehicle. None of the prior art is designed for the efficient removal of compacted snow from under a vehicle.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,890 issued Jun. 17, 2003 to Gilmore et al. is a modified roof snow rake with a spring loaded and collapsible shovel head to assist in gliding over the snow as the shovel head is pushed up a pitched roof to a desired location to begin pulling snow off of the roof. This snow removal apparatus is designed to remove snow from an elevated surface and is not designed to penetrate compacted snow or for use under a vehicle.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,078 issued Sep. 14, 1999 to Whitehead et al. is a standard snow shovel which makes use of a telescoping handle to make for more compact storage for carrying in a vehicle. The telescoping handle does not contribute to additional shoveling functions other than to provide a standard length handle when shoveling and a compact handle length for storage. This shovel is designed for throwing snow.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,929 issued Oct. 27, 1998 to Tisbo et al. is a combination snow shovel which makes use of a special curved blade to allow use for pushing or lifting and throwing snow. This shovel is not designed to pull compacted snow out from under a vehicle.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,768 issued Feb. 19, 1991 to Ewen is a combination shovel and utility device for use with a vehicle, and can be used as a shovel, a large ice scraper a mat or an emergency sled. The flattened shovel blade is not conducive to carrying any sizeable amount of snow out from under a vehicle and the design itself is bulky and inefficient. A typical combination tool which is marginal for specific uses. This tool is not designed to pull compacted snow out from under a vehicle.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,819 issued Jul. 18, 1989 to Moorefield is a vehicle snow rake with a rigid plastic or rubber blade. This tool is designed for pulling snow off of a vehicle. This snow rake is not designed to penetrate compacted snow and it is not designed for use under a vehicle.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,943 issued Nov. 5, 1985 to Mirto is a vehicle snow rake with a telescoping and collapsing handle. This tool is designed for pulling snow off of a vehicle. This snow rake is not designed to penetrate compacted snow and it is not designed for use under a vehicle.  
         [0016]     Most travelers in snow country will carry a standard snow shovel or even a square point or round point shovel in case they get stuck in the snow. These shovels are not designed to deal with compacted snow underneath a vehicle. A snow-shovel&#39;s scoop is generally too big to fit under most vehicles and with lightweight plastic construction, most are not strong enough to penetrate compacted snow. Even when the scoop is strong enough to penetrate compacted snow, most will not fit entirely underneath a vehicle with average ground clearance, and once its scoop has been pushed as far under the edge of a vehicle as it will fit, under an area of compacted snow, the scoop end must be slightly tilted up and pulled backwards with the hope that there is enough drag created on the compacted snow overlaying the shovel scoop that it will stay on the scoop as the scoop is withdrawn from underneath the edge of the vehicle. Snow has an extremely low coefficient of friction, even more so when it is colder outside and icy, and most often will slide off of the snow shovel blade as it is being withdrawn from underneath the vehicle, especially since there is a tendency for the snow to be scraped off of the shovel blade by the lower edge of the car frame if the shovel is lifted at all before it is entirely clear of the underside of the vehicle. Such shovels are useful mainly to shovel out around a vehicle which is stuck in the snow.  
         [0017]     Smaller square point and especially round point shovels are very good at penetrating compacted snow under a vehicle but they are poor at pulling very much snow out since they are designed for lifting loads and not dragging them. Snow tends to constantly slide off the blade of such shovels as it is pulled from under the vehicle leaving most of any small shovel full still under the vehicle.  
         [0018]     What is needed then, is a snow removal apparatus and method which is simple and easy to use, and which allows someone who&#39;s vehicle is stuck in the snow to easily penetrate the compacted snow underneath the vehicle and then be able to capture and draw out and remove a substantial load of snow with each shovel stroke, to consistently control how much snow is removed with each pass of the shovel, to quickly and efficiently remove the compacted snow from underneath the vehicle allowing the vehicle to become unstuck, and to fold down into a compact unit for storing when not in use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which allows a driver to quickly and efficiently remove compacted snow from underneath a vehicle which is hungup and stuck in the snow, in a timely and cost effective manner.  
         [0020]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which provides for the removal of snow without lifting.  
         [0021]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which provides for the removal of snow by the method of pulling, and not pushing.  
         [0022]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which provides a small, hardened, blade edge surface area for easy penetration of compacted snow under a vehicle.  
         [0023]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which provides for a reasonably large and rigid shovel surface area for the consistent removal of a substantial load of snow with each shovel stroke.  
         [0024]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, whose effective shovel surface area can be easily adjusted if necessary by the user at any time while shoveling.  
         [0025]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which is portable.  
         [0026]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which is inexpensive compared to prior art.  
         [0027]     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which can be quickly closed to a compact size and stored out of the way when not in use.  
         [0028]     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are realized in one embodiment of a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, comprising  
         [0029]     Generally, a two bladed shovel-like design wherein the horizontally opposed blades open up from a folded position next to the handle for use.  
         [0030]     The horizontally opposed folding shovel blades allow for the efficient penetration of compacted snow and the removal thereof. A telescoping handle mechanism controls the angle and thereby the resistance of the shovel blades allowing for semi-automatic folding and unfolding of the blades when penetrating and then removing compacted snow from under a vehicle. Folding shovel blades and a telescoping handle present an extremely compact unit for storing when not in use.  
         [0031]     The method of the present invention includes the steps of, providing a snow-shovel apparatus for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, pushing the shovel with blades retracted through compacted snow underneath the vehicle, stopping at a desired starting position for a shovel stroke, telescoping the handle open and thereby forcing the blades partially open to the snow capture position, exerting rearward longitudinal forces along the shaft by pulling on the handgrip thereby causing the blades to dig into the snow and expand to their fully open or drag/plow position, continuing to pull on the shaft thereby drawing the blades and captured snow towards the user, withdrawing a captured load of snow from underneath the vehicle, compressing the handle thereby allowing the shovel blades to retract back down against the handle tube, repeating the previous steps until enough snow has been removed that the vehicle is unstuck, and storing the snow-shovel apparatus, in this compressed configuration, in the vehicle for future use.  
         [0032]     Other objects and features of the invention will become clear upon a reading of the Detailed Description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]     The present invention may be understood from the description of the embodiment which follows and from the accompanying drawings. The drawings are hereby expressly made a part of the specification.  
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a lengthwise overhead view of the under vehicle snow shovel with the handle in the extended position and with the blades extended fully open to the snow capture position.  
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is an end view of the shovel depicted in  FIG. 1 , looking from the handle end towards the blade end.  
         [0036]      FIG. 3A  is a detail view of the main component sections of the shovel depicted in  FIG. 1 , with sections of the handle cut away.  
         [0037]      FIG. 3B  is a lengthwise side view of the shovel depicted in  FIG. 3A , with the same sections of the handle cut away.  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a detail view of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a lengthwise overhead view of the shovel with the handle in the compressed position and with the blades folded closed in the snow penetration position, and which is also the storage position.  
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a lengthwise overhead view of the shovel with the handle extended causing the blades to open to the initial snow capture position.  
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a lengthwise overhead view of the shovel with the handle extended and with the blades extended fully open to the drag/plow position.  
         [0042]      FIG. 8  is an end view of the shovel depicted in  FIG. 5 , looking from the blade or front end towards the handle or rear end, with a view of the small cross section which allows for maximum snow penetration.  
         [0043]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the shovel depicted in  FIG. 5 , looking from the handle or rear end towards the blade or front end, showing no exposed blade surface area for snow capture.  
         [0044]      FIG. 10  is an end view of the shovel depicted in  FIG. 6 , looking from the handle or rear end towards the blade or front end, showing a partially exposed blade area for snow capture.  
         [0045]      FIG. 11  is an end view of the shovel depicted in  FIG. 7 , looking from the handle or front end towards the blade or rear end, showing a fully exposed blade area for maximum snow capture.  
         [0046]      FIG. 12  is a lengthwise overhead view of the shovel with the blades hyper extended by the compression of the handle to the release position, which allows the blades to swing free and fold back rearward to the snow penetration or storage position.  
         [0047]      FIG. 13  is a lengthwise overhead view of the shovel with the blades folding back rearward towards the snow penetration or storage position.  
         [0048]      FIG. 14  is a lengthwise overhead view of the shovel with the blades folded closed rearward in the snow penetration position, which is the same as in  FIG. 5 , and which is also the storage position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0049]     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the various drawings to depict like or similar elements of the claimed snow-shovel apparatus. For the purpose of presenting a brief and clear discussion of the snow-shovel apparatus, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for the removal of compacted snow from underneath a vehicle hungup and stuck in a snowbank. This is for representative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting in any manner.  
         [0050]     Individual shovel parts have been labeled in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 A,  3 B and  4  for clarity.  
         [0051]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the preferred embodiment  10  of the snow-shovel apparatus, is seen from a lengthwise overhead view, and from an end view looking from the handle or rear end towards the blade or front end, both showing the handle in the fully extended position with the blades extended open to the snow capture position.  
         [0052]      FIGS. 3A, 3B  and  4  provide greater detail of the snow shovel apparatus  10  with its primary assemblies: the shovel head assembly  30 , and the telescoping handle assembly  12  which provides support for and actuation of the shovel head assembly  30 .  
         [0053]     The shovel head assembly  30  is comprised of two shovel blades  40 , two blade control arms  42 , two control arm Y joints  54 , two blade control arm slots  50 , two slot seals  52 , two pressed roll pins  48 , two pin enclosures  38 , two blade hinge assemblies  34 , two bolt and nut assemblies  36 , and one shovel head hinge plate  56 .  
         [0054]     The telescoping handle assembly  12  is comprised of an inner shaft  16 , an outer shaft  14 , a slide pin  46 , two slide pin slots  44 , a hinge plate retaining bolt  32 , an outer shaft lock pin hole  22 , two inner shaft lock pin holes  24  as can be seen in  FIG. 3B , a handle lock pin  26  as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a handle lock pin chain  28  also seen in  FIG. 1 , a handgrip bracket  18 , and a handgrip  20 .  
         [0055]     In the preferred embodiment of the snow-shovel apparatus  10 , the outer shaft  14  is a hollow tube having a closed end and an open end into which the inner shaft  16  is inserted. The inner shaft&#39;s  16  outside diameter is equal to the outer shaft&#39;s  14  inside diameter, which sizing allows the inner shaft  16  to slide within the outer shaft  14  without excessive friction or play, and may be made to a size from ¾ inch to 1½ inches, more or less, to any size that fits comfortably in a user&#39;s hand. The inner shaft  16  extends into and runs almost the full length of the outer shaft  14  when in the compressed position. The outer shaft  14  and the inner shaft  16  can be made of aluminum, stainless steel or carbon steel, depending on the size of shovel, although aluminium is preferred for its weight savings.  
         [0056]     The telescoping motion of the inner shaft  16  out from the outer shaft  14  is the mechanism by which the shovel head assembly  30  is actuated. A pair of slide pin slots  44  are cut into two opposing sides of the outer shaft  14 . The inner shaft slide pin  46  inserts through and is attached to the inserted end of the inner shaft  16 , then extending outwards through the slide pin slots  44  in the outer shaft  14 , as can be clearly seen in  FIG. 3B , then connecting to the shovel blade control arms  42 . This allows any movement of the inner shaft  16  in relation to the outer shaft  14  to be relayed to the shovel blades  40  by their attachment to the shovel blade control arms  42 . The purpose of the slide pin slots  44  is to assist the control arms  42 , in controlling direction and movement of the shovel blades  40 . The slide pin slots  44 , need no lubrication to allow the slide pin  46 , to travel properly along the slots  44 , other than a small shot of spray lubricant once a year. The purpose of the slide pin  46  is to slide in and assist the slide pin slots  44 , in limiting the movements and determining the direction of the shovel blades  40 , by means of the shovel blade control arms  42 . The slide pin  46  is made of stainless steel or steel. The shovel blade control arms  42  have a Y configuration, as can be seen in  FIG. 3B , with Y joint  54  allowing the control arms  42  to attach to the slide pin  46  by extending around each side of the outer shaft  14 .  
         [0057]     The shovel blade end of each shovel blade control arm  42  inserts through a control arm slot  50  which is a narrow slot cut longitudinally down the center of each shovel blade  40  for approximately 90 percent of its length. The purpose of this slot is to accept the shovel blade control arm  42 , and provide guidance for the control arm  42 , while the shovel is in operation. The shovel blade end of each control arm  42  passes through the shovel blade  40  and out the back side of the shovel blade  40  where the roll pin  48  is pressed through its end perpendicular to the control arm slot  50 , which can be clearly seen in  FIGS. 3B and 4 , and which is also enclosed by the pin enclosure  38  which is attached to the back side of the shovel blade  40  and covers and encompasses the entire control arm slot  50  and the end of the shovel blade control arm  42  and its pressed roll pin  48 .  
         [0058]     The shovel blades  40  are designed to provide the backing and support for dragging the snow from beneath the vehicle with their concave working surface being mounted facing rearward. The pin enclosures  38  keep the control arms  42 , secure to the back of the shovel blades  40  which face forward when in the extended or snow capture position. The pin enclosures  38  are three sided enclosures creating enclosed runners within which the blade end of the control arm  42  and pressed roll pin  48  are housed. The fourth side is open, and it is this side that is secured to the back of the shovel blade  40 . The pin enclosures  38 , cover the control arm slot  50  cut in the shovel blade  40  as viewed from the top of the shovel blade  40 , as seen in  FIG. 3B , or the surface opposite the snow surface. The pin enclosures  38  are made of aluminum or stainless steel. The pin enclosures  38  may be coated on the inside with Teflon or urethane to allow the control arms  42  and pressed roll pins  48 , to slide properly in the pin enclosures  38 . The control arm  42  is therefore securely attached to the shovel blade  40 , while allowing and controlling a range of motion of the shovel blades  40 , to include being entirely retracted and lying against the outer shaft  14 , to being extended out to nearly ninety degrees.  
         [0059]     The control arm  42  determines the direction and movement limitations of the shovel blade  40 . The control arm  42  determines direction of shovel blade  40  movement by a combination of the push or pull action the user is applying to the handle assembly  12  of the snow shovel apparatus  10 , the status of the handle lock pin  26 , and the slide pin  46  location in the slide pin slots  44 . General shovel blade  40  movements are limited and controlled by the control arms  42 . The control arm  42  limits shovel blade  40  movement by limiting the arc that the shovel blade  40  can swing about its point of rotation  34 , which is the hinge assembly  34 . The control arm  42  can be made of aluminum, stainless steel or carbon steel, depending on the size of the snow shovel apparatus  10 . Generally, larger shovels will require stronger steels to ensure adequate strength and durability. The secure attachment of the pin enclosure  38  to the back side of the shovel blade  40  also acts to strengthen the shovel blade  40  around the control arm slot  50 .  
         [0060]     To prevent snow and ice from entering the control arm slots  50  during use and clogging up the pin enclosures  38  and thereby preventing the free movement of the shovel blades  40 , in concert with the telescoping of the handle assembly  12  and the movement of the blade control arms  42  back and forth within the shovel blade control arm slot  50 , slot seals  52  are provided, as can be seen in  FIG. 4 . The left shovel blade  40  in  FIG. 4  depicts an external over lapping slot seal  52 , which can be bonded to the face of the shovel blade  40  and is covering the control arm slot  50 . The right shovel blade  40  in  FIG. 4  depicts an internal over lapping slot seal  52 , which can be bonded to the back side of the shovel blade  40  within the pin enclosure  38  and covers the control arm slot  50 . The slot seal  52  can be made of rubber or any other appropriate cold weather material, and is a double overlapping seal that surrounds the blade control arm  42  as it moves back and forth in the control arm slot  50  to prevent the intrusion of foreign material into the pin enclosures  38 .  
         [0061]     Each shovel blade  40  is attached to a hinge assembly  34  by a nut and bolt assembly  36 , which is attached on the opposite side of the hinge to the shovel head hinge plate  56 . The bolt and nut assemblies  36  that are used to connect the hinge assemblies  34 , to the shovel blades  40  are made of steel or stainless steel. The bolts have hex heads or Allen head cap screw sockets. The nuts have a nylon insert in them to prevent the nuts from loosening. This feature ensures the hinge  34 /shovel blade  40  connection remains rigid for the life of the snow-shovel apparatus  10 . The hinge assemblies  34  are attached in a horizontally opposed fashion to the shovel head hinge plate  56  causing the shovel blades  40  to have the same horizontally opposed arrangement. The shovel head hinge plate  56  can be made of steel or stainless steel. The hinge assemblies  34  are designed to not need any lubrication other than a small shot of spray lubricant once a year to function properly. The shovel head hinge plate  56  is attached to the end of the outer shaft  14  by a hinge plate retaining bolt  32 , and it is this attachment point to the end of the outer shaft  14 , and the shovel blade control arm  42  attachment to the slide pin  36 , that creates the unique actuation of the shovel head assembly  30  by telescoping the handle assembly  12 . The hinge plate retaining bolt  32  can be made from steel or stainless steel. It has outside threads that thread into an insert or plug in the closed end of the outer shaft  14 .  
         [0062]     The outer shaft lock pin hole  22  near the end of the outer shaft  14  is sized to properly accept the handle lock pin  26 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . The handle lock pin  26 , works with the outer shaft lock pin hole  22 , the outer shaft  14 , the inner shaft  16  and the inner shaft lock pin hole  24  to lock the shovel head assembly  30  in the compressed position, by preventing movement of the inner and outer shafts of the telescoping handle  12  in relation to each other and therefore also locking the shovel blade control arms  42  in a closed position. The lock pin can be made of carbon steel or stainless steel. This locking assembly also allows the shovel to be locked with the shovel blades  40 , in the open position of approximately 35 degrees, as can be seen in  FIG. 6 , to allow the shovel to function as a hook blade.  
         [0063]     The handgrip bracket  18  connects the handgrip  20 , to the inner shaft  16 . The handgrip bracket  18  can be attached to the inner shaft  16  by epoxy, screws or rivets, depending on the preferred method of construction. The handgrip bracket  18  can be made of a cold weather plastic, such as high-density polyethylene, or aluminum or steel depending on the size of the shovel. The handgrip  20  is primarily what the user will hold when pulling snow from underneath a vehicle. The handgrip  20  is a synthetic rubber cover over the grip end of the handgrip bracket  18 , and there may also be a second handgrip mounted on the rearward end of the outer shaft  14 , which may be a soft foam type grip. The purpose of the handgrip  20  is to help keep the user&#39;s hand warm by slowing the rate at which heat is drawn out of the user&#39;s hand, and to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on the handle for more efficient and consistent application of force.  
         [0064]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a lengthwise overhead view is provided of the shovel with the handle  12  in the full forward, compressed position, the slide pin  46  is fully forward to the shovel head  30  end of the slide pin slot  44  and with the blades  40  folded closed in the snow penetration position for entry into packed snow. This is also the storage position, and the handle  12  can be locked in this position for storage by use of handle lock pin  26  as can be seen in  FIG. 1  and which is inserted through the outer shaft lock pin hole  22  when it is aligned with inner shaft lock pin hole  24 , when the telescoping handle assembly  12  is compressed into the storage position as shown in  FIG. 5 . This is also the initial position of the shovel when put to use.  
         [0065]     As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , the shovel head  30  presents a very small cross sectional surface when the blades  40  are in the closed or retracted position, allowing for maximum penetration of compacted snow under a vehicle. Before use, the lock pin  26  must be removed from the lock pin hole  22  to allow for actuation of the shovel head  30  by telescoping the handle  12  after the shovel head  30  has been pushed into compacted snow. Telescoping of the handle  12  is a two handed operation on initial penetrations of compacted snow as there is no room for the blades  40  to open freely until some snow is removed. Actuation is accomplished by gripping the outer shaft  14  with one hand and pulling back on the handgrip  20  attached to the inner shaft  16  with the other hand to force the handle  12  to telescope until the blades  40  catch in the snow, after which it becomes a one handed operation.  
         [0066]     As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , when the inner shaft  16  is pulled back toward the user and telescoped out from the outer shaft  14 , the slide pin  46  slides the length of the slide pin slot  44  to the rearward end of the outer shaft&#39;s  14  slide pin slot  44 , mechanically forcing the control arms  42  to open the shovel blades  40  out to the initial snow capture position, with the control arm  42  and pressed roll pin  48  still at the shovel tip end of the control arm slot  50 . Since the pressed roll pin  48  is free to move up the control arm slot  50  within the confines of the pin enclosure  38  to the inside end of the control arm slot  50 , the shovel blades  40  are free to spread wider if caught by any snow, out to an angle of approximately 65 degrees, maintaining an approximate 25 percent rearward rake, so as to prevent too much of the snow load from spilling off of the tips of the shovel blades  40  as the shovel is being withdrawn with its load of snow from under a vehicle, which position can be seen in  FIG. 7 , which is a lengthwise overhead view of the shovel with the handle extended and with the blades having been extended fully open by the resistance of hard packed snow.  FIG. 7  also depicts an optional second handgrip  20  on the rearward end of the outer shaft  14  for more efficient use when two handed operation is required.  
         [0067]      FIGS. 9, 10  and  11  are end views of the shovels depicted in  FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 , looking from the handle or rearward end towards the blade or forward end, the progression showing the deployment of the shovel blades  40  when in use.  FIG. 9  shows very little shovel blade  40  exposed to the plane of force as is expected in the snow penetration position.  FIG. 10  shows substantial shovel blade  40  exposure to the plane of force for catching or hooking the blades into compressed snow at the beginning of the withdrawal stroke.  FIG. 11  shows almost complete shovel blade  40  exposure to the plane of force, after the blades have been pulled open by the resistance of the compacted snow, for maximum capture of snow to be pulled from under a vehicle.  
         [0068]     Likewise,  FIGS. 12, 13  and  14  depict the progression of the retraction of the blades  40  after a load of snow has been retrieved and the shovel  10  is being prepared for the next penetration or for storage. With the shovel  10  in the configuration depicted in  FIG. 7 , the compression of the handle  12 , causes the slid pin  46  to move to the shovel head or forward end of the slid pin slots  44  in the handle  12 , which forces the control arms  42  to further extend the shovel blades  40  out to an angle close to 90 degrees, as can be seen in  FIG. 12 , while also causing the pressed roll pin  48  end of the control arm  42  to begin traveling away from the inside end of the control arm slot  50  in the shovel blade  40 , at which point the weight of the blades causes the pressed roll pin  48  to travel all the way to the blade tip end of the control arm slot  50  as the blades  40  fall to the retracted position next to the handle  12 , as can be seen in  FIG. 14 , with  FIG. 13  depicting the blades  40  as they are midway in falling from the position in  FIG. 12  to the position in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0069]      FIG. 14  is a lengthwise overhead view of the shovel  10  with the blades  40  folded closed next to the handle  12 , back in the snow penetration position, and ready for another shovel stroke, which position is the same as in  FIG. 5 , and which is also the storage position.  
         [0070]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7  and  12 - 14 , the preferred method for removal of compacted snow from underneath a vehicle which is hungup and stuck in the snow, includes: 
        providing a snow-shovel apparatus  10  for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle;     pushing the shovel  10  with blades  40  retracted through compacted snow underneath the vehicle;     stopping at a desired starting position for a shovel stroke;     telescoping the handle  12  open and thereby forcing the blades  40  partially open;     exerting pulling forces longitudinally along the handle  12  towards its rearward end thereby causing the blades  40  to dig into the snow and expand to their fully open position;     continuing to pull on the handle  12  thereby drawing the blades  40  and captured snow towards the user;     withdrawing a captured load of snow from underneath the vehicle;     compressing the handle  12  thereby allowing the shovel blades  40  to retract back down against the handle  12 ;     repeating the previous steps until enough snow has been removed that the vehicle is unstuck; and     storing the snow-shovel apparatus  10 , in this compressed configuration, in the vehicle for future use.        
 
         [0081]     The method and embodiment of the present invention shown and discussed are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and a wide variety of equivalent methods and embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.