Abstract:
A hand tool adapted to mechanically remove materials such as ice, frost, and/or snow from surfaces such as automobile window glass comprises a longitudinally-extending handle having a front end and a rear end, a scraper disposed adjacent the front end of the handle, a rear grip disposed adjacent the rear end of the handle, and a front grip disposed adjacent the front end of the handle. The rear grip is adapted to facilitate a user applying force to the scraper in a direction generally parallel to the length of the handle to move the scraper along a surface to be scraped, and the front grip is adapted to facilitate a user applying force to the scraper in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of the handle to urge the scraper against the surface to be scraped.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This nonprovisional U.S. national application, filed under 35 U.S.C. §111(a), claims, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1), the benefit of the filing date of provisional U.S. national application No. 60/298,672 filed under 35 U.S.C. §111(b) on Jun. 15, 2001 as attorney docket no. 1046.001PROV, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
           [0002]    This application also claims, under 35 U.S.C. §120, the benefit of the filing date of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/150,906 filed under 35 U.S.C. §171( b ) on Nov. 15, 2001 as attorney docket no. 1046.006D, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates to articles commonly referred to as ice scrapers, i.e., hand tools used to mechanically remove materials such as ice, frost, and/or snow from surfaces such as automobile window glass.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    In accordance with the present invention, an ice scraper includes a longitudinally-extending member, referred to herein as a “handle,” having a scraper adjacent one end thereof (the “front end”) and a grip (the “rear grip”) adjacent the other end thereof (the “rear end”). The scraper is adapted to mechanically remove materials such as ice, frost, and/or snow from surfaces such as automobile window glass when placed in contact with such materials or surfaces and moved parallel to the surface. Thus, as used herein, an “ice scraper” is a complete hand tool, whereas a “scraper” is the portion of such a tool that contacts the ice, frost, and/or snow to remove it from such surfaces. As used herein, a “grip” is a structure provided in order to be grasped by a user&#39;s hand, and the “handle” is the longitudinally extending structure that transmits to the scraper force that is applied to the rear grip. The rear grip is provided to facilitate a user applying force to the scraper in a direction generally parallel to the length of the handle to move the scraper along the surface to be scraped. An ice scraper in accordance with the present invention also includes a grip adjacent the front end of the handle (the “front grip”). The front grip is provided to facilitate a user applying force to the scraper in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of the handle to urge the scraper against the surface to be scraped. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a top, front perspective view of a first embodiment of an ice scraper according to the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the ice scraper of the first embodiment;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a top, rear perspective view of the ice scraper the first embodiment;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the ice scraper the first embodiment;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  show several ways of gripping the ice scraper the first embodiment;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b , and  6   c  show several ways of using the ice scraper the first embodiment;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of an ice scraper according to the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the ice scraper of the second embodiment; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 is a top, front perspective view of a third embodiment of an ice scraper according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , of which FIG. 1 is a top, front perspective view, FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, FIG. 3 is a top, rear perspective view, and FIG. 4 is a bottom, rear perspective view. The ice scraper of FIGS.  1 - 4  includes three components that are assembled to form the scraper as shown: a handle component  100 , a scraper component  160 , and a front grip component  130 . Components  100 ,  130 , and  160  are preferably made of molded plastic.  
         [0016]    Scraper component  160  includes three different structures for removing ice, frost, and/or snow from a surface: blade  164 , front teeth  166 , and bottom teeth  170 . Blade  164  is a generally straight structure adapted to conform to a flat or moderately curved surface such as an automobile windshield and to wipe snow, sleet, or dislodged frost or ice from the surface in the manner of a squeegee. Front teeth  166 , which are mounted just about the scraping surface of blade  164 , terminate in points and aid in shearing of the ice by creating areas of high force concentration. Bottom teeth  170  have shapes similar to saw teeth and are mounted in a staggered fashion. Bottom teeth  170  can be used in a front and back motion to rip thick ice. Bottom teeth  170  can also be used in a hammer motion to crack through thick ice. Scraper component  160  is preferably made of polycarbonate, which is strong and also permits scraper component  160  to be somewhat deformable, although other materials can be used. The reasons why deformability is desirable will be discussed later.  
         [0017]    Handle component  100  includes a longitudinally-extending handle  106  and a strut  108 . The front end of handle  106  is secured to scraper component  160  by being snapped into fastener  168  molded into scraper component  160 . In the embodiment shown, the rear portion of handle  106  includes rear grip  102 , the configuration of which is similar to a hand saw grip or a pistol grip. An aperture  104  in handle  106  enables a user&#39;s hand to surround and grasp rear grip  102 . Although rear grip  102  is formed integrally with handle  106  in the embodiment shown, it might be made as a separate component in other embodiments. Handle component  100  is preferably made from polyethylene, although other materials can be used. A user may grasp rear grip  102  in order to apply force to the scraper component  160  in a direction that is generally along the length of handle  106  and generally to the right in the view shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0018]    Front grip component  130  includes a front grip  132  and front grip supports  134 . Pins  138  near the bottom of front grip supports  134  snap into openings in flanges  162  of scraper component  160  to secure front grip component  130  to scraper component  160 . A user may grasp front grip  132  in order to apply force to the scraper component  160  in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the length of handle  106  and generally downward in the view shown in FIG. 2. Strut  108  is secured at one end to handle  106 , and at its other end to scraper component  160  by being snapped into fastener  140  molded into front grip component  130 . Strut  108  stabilizes front grip component  130  against rotation around pins  138  when force is applied to front grip  132 . Strut  108  also may be used as a grip. Front grip component  130  also includes a deflector  136  which functions like a snowplow to help keep snow and ice debris moving away from a cleared area by prevent such debris from passing over the top of scraper component  160  as the ice scraper is moved. Front grip component  130  is preferably made from polyethylene, although other materials can be used.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  show several ways of gripping the ice scraper of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5 a , one of a user&#39;s hands grasps rear grip  102  and applies a force F R  directed generally along the length of handle  106  to move the ice scraper across a surface to be cleared of ice, frost, and/or snow, and the user&#39;s other hand grasps front grip  132  and applies a force F F  directed generally perpendicular to the length of handle  106  to urge scraper component  160  of the ice scraper against the surface. This method allows the greatest force to be applied to scraper component  160 ; however, to clear some hard-to-reach spots it may not be possible to grasp and apply downward force to front grip  132 . As shown in FIG. 5 b , in such situations, the user&#39;s hand may grasp strut  108  and apply a force F S  directed generally perpendicular to the length of handle  106  to urge scraper component  160  of the ice scraper against the surface.  
         [0020]    The ice scraper of FIGS.  1 - 4  includes surface texture on rear grip  102 , front grip  132 , and strut  108 . In addition to being ornamental, such texture can aid in a user keeping a strong grasp of the ice scraper during use.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b , and  6   c  show several ways of using the ice scraper the first embodiment. In FIG. 6 a , the ice scraper is held at a relatively low angle, nearly parallel to the surface to be cleared, so that bottom teeth  170  contact a thick or tough layer of ice, and moved forward and back in a sawing motion. In FIG. 6 b , the ice scraper is held at a steeper “angle of attack,” so that front teeth  166  contact a brittle ice or crusty snow ice, and the surface is cleared by forward motion of the ice scraper. In FIG. 6 c , the ice scraper is held at an intermediate “angle of attack,” so that blade  164  contacts normal ice, frost, or snow, and the surface is cleared by forward motion of the ice scraper.  
         [0022]    When scraping using a generally straight blade such as blade  164 , it desirable for the blade to contact the surface to be cleared along its entire length. For instance, only a narrow swath is cleared on each stroke when a straight, rigid blade is used to scrape frost from a curved windshield. In order to avoid such problems, scraper component  160  is preferably somewhat flexible so that it can deform sufficiently under the forces applied to the ice scraper to conform to the curvature of surfaces to be scraped.  
         [0023]    In the ice scraper of FIGS.  1 - 4 , downward force is applied to scraper component  160  at its ends by front grip supports  134  through pins  138 . Therefore, scraper component  160  is preferably made with a slightly bowed shape. The direction of curvature desired for scraper component  160  is shown by line  180  in FIG. 4; the central area  174  of blade  164  is bowed in the upward direction in the view of FIG. 4. With such a curvature, when the ice scraper is brought against a flat surface, the central area  174  of blade  164  will contact the surface first. Force applied to front grip  132  is coupled to scraper component  160  at its ends, bringing the ends of blade  164  into contact with the surface as scraper component  160  deforms, while central area  174  remains in contact with the surface. The same process occurs when the ice scraper of FIGS.  1 - 4  is used on a convex surface such as an automobile windshield, except the deformation is greater. Flexing of ice scraper component  160  around a longitudinal axis is facilitated by the corrugated shape of the upper surface of scraper component  160  shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Flexing of scraper component  160  also maintains front teeth  166  and bottom teeth  170  in contact with a surface to be cleared.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view and FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of an ice scraper according to the present invention. The embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 includes handle  700  with a saw grip type rear grip  702  and a front grip  704  mounted directly to or fabricated as a part of handle  700 . Handle  700  is mounted to the rear side of blade  710  midway between the lateral edges  712  thereof. The lower, scraping edge of blade  710  is curved in the opposite direction from that of front grip component  130 . The upper portion of blade  710  functions as a deflector to help keep snow and ice debris moving away from the cleared area. When the ice scraper of FIGS. 7 and 8 is brought against a flat surface, the ends of blade  710  will contact the surface first. Force applied to front grip  704  is coupled to scraper blade  710  in the middle, bringing it into contact with the surface as scraper blade  710  deforms, while the blade ends remain in contact with the surface. Flexing of blade  710  around a longitudinal axis is facilitated by the notches in its upper edge.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a top, front perspective view of a third embodiment of an ice scraper according to the present invention. In the ice scraper of FIG. 9, a handle  900 , rear grip  902 , front grip  904 , and deflector may be molded as a single piece. Scraper  906 , which may be like scraper component  160  of FIGS.  1 - 4 , is secured adjacent the front of handle  900 .  
         [0026]    The ice scraper of the present invention is suited to a person&#39;s normal positions and motions. Ergonomic features of the design, including a front grip and a saw-style rear grip, aid in the generation of scraping force from a person&#39;s natural positions and movements.  
         [0027]    Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments.  
         [0028]    Other embodiments of the present invention may include a larger handle with greater reach, and a telescoping or folding handle, which allow a user to scrape over a longer distance, such as for larger trucks and SUVs. It will be further understood that various other changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.