Abstract:
A snow brush assembly is formed of a brush handle ergonomically designed, angled at each end thereof. These angles allow the user to stand clear of the vehicle and direct snow away from the person, keeping the person dry and clean. A brush head is attached at one end of the brush handle and includes a brush holder with a brush that can be positioned at various angles relative to the brush handle. A protective cover is selectively installed over the brush and is provided with squeegee. An ice scraper is removably attached to another end of the brush handle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 61/549,529, filed Oct. 20, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to automotive accessories and, more particularly, to an automotive snow brush with a multi-position locking brush head, extension handle and ice scraper. A protective sleeve is provided on the brush head with an integral squeegee. 
     B. Description of the Prior Art 
     A conventional straight, fixed snow brush/scraper requires the operator to lean on cold, wet vehicles to clear snow or balance precariously on door jambs while clearing roof snow. The standard straight extension brush often requires operators to clear snow with arms extended overhead, a strenuous and awkward task that increases the risk of upper back, neck, arm and shoulder strain. Both of these conventional snow brushes utilize a smaller working surface, thereby increasing time required to clear snow from vehicles. Storage of the straight extension brushes can be difficult in smaller vehicles, with some brushes, unextended, measuring up to 48 inches in length. 
     Conventional snow brushes often come with brushes on one end and a scraper on the other end. However, as liquids melt, a squeegee could be helpful for clearing off the vehicle. In these situations, the user needs to use a separate squeegee with these conventional snow brushes. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved snow brush that overcomes the issues encountered with conventional snow brushes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a snow brush assembly includes a brush handle, a brush head attached to one end of the brush handle, a brush holder with a brush attached to the brush head. The brush handle includes two ends connected to a central portion thereof by a corresponding elbow. The brush head is attached to one end, and an optional ice scraper is removably attached to the second end. The ends are disposed at an angle of between 5 and 30 and preferably between 7 and 15 degrees to the central portion. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a snow brush assembly comprises an extension tube; a handle tube fitting at least partially inside and extendable from the extension tube; a brush head attached to a first end of the handle tube; a brush holder attached to the brush head, the brush holder being pivotable relative to the brush head. At least one brush attached to the brush holder. An ice scraper is removably attached to a first end of the extension tube. A protective cover is attached to the brush holder. The protective cover is provided with a squeegee blade. The extension tube has an extension tube bend proximate to the ice scraper; the handle tube has a handle tube bend at the first end thereof; and the extension tube bend and the handle tube bend is from about 5 to about 30 degrees, usually about 7 to about 15 degrees. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a snow brush constructed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the snow brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the snow brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the snow brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a scraper end perspective view of the snow brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a close-up perspective view of the brush end of the snow brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a scraper end of the snow brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a mid-section of the snow brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the head of the snow brush of  FIG. 1 , with the squeegee removed; 
         FIG. 10A  shows a person using a standard snow brush on an SUV-type vehicle; 
         FIG. 10B  shows a person using the snow brush of  FIGS. 1-9  on an SUV-type vehicle; 
         FIG. 11A  shows a person using a standard snow brush on a van-type vehicle; and 
         FIG. 11B  shows a person using the snow brush of  FIGS. 1-9  on a van-type vehicle; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 9 , a snow brush assembly  10  includes a brush head  12  attached to a handle tube  14 . The handle tube  14  slides telescopically into an end of an extension tube  16 . The extension tube is connected to a scrapper  18  at the opposite end. 
     A button housing  20  is mounted on the extension tube  16  and includes a button  22 . Preferably, a plurality of length adjustment holes  30  are provided along the handle tube  14 . The button  22  in the button housing  20  selectively engages one of the adjustment holes thereby allowing user to adjust the length of the snow brush assembly  10 . To change the length, a user can depress the button  22  and slide the handle tube  14  so that the button  22  engages a different length adjustment hole  30 . 
     The scraper  18  can be removable attached on the other end  16 ″ of the extension tube  16 . The scraper  18  can be used as a hand held scraper when removed from the extension tube  16 , or can be used with the snow brush assembly  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the extension tube  16  can have an elbow  58  proximate to the scraper  18 . The elbow  58  is arranged to form an angle from about 5 to about 30 degrees, and preferably from about 7 to about 15 degrees between a main portion  16 ′ of the extension tube  16  and extension end  16 ″. Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the handle tube  14  can have an elbow  60  between main handle portion  14 ′ and end  14 ′. This elbow  60  can define an angle from about 5 to about 30 degrees, and preferably from about 7 to about 15 degrees therebetween. 
     The tube handle  14  and extension tube  16  together define a brush handle having a straight middle segment formed of portions  14 ′,  16 ′ and ends  14 ″,  16 ″ positioned at a respective angle from the straight segment by respective elbows  58 ,  60 . 
     As best viewed from  FIGS. 5, 6 and 9 , the brush head  12  can be formed from two halves  12   a ,  12   b  and can support a brush holder  34  along one edge thereof. The brush holder  34  can hold one or more rows of brushes  32 , for example, two rows of brushes  32 . 
     When a user desires to use the snow brush assembly  10  as a squeegee, or for storing the snow brush assembly  10  and protect the brushes  32 , the user can attach a protective cover  24  over the brushes. The protective cover  24  can attach either to the brush holder  34  of to the brush head  12  by various mechanisms. The protective cover  24  can extend over and around the brushes  32 . A squeegee blade  26  can fit along the bottom edge of the protective cover  24 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 5 , the brush holder  34  is formed with two longitudinal ribs  34 A,  34 B and the protective cover  24  has two matching grooves  35 A,  35 B. These interconnecting elements allow the protective cover to be slipped over the brushes  32  of brush holder  34  and be seated solidly thereon. As a result, when the squeegee blade  26  can be used effectively without fear of having the cover fall off. Holes  72  in the cover can be used to pass a plastic or metal wire through the protective cover to insure that the cover is not removed while the brush assembly is displayed in a store. 
     The brush head  12  supports a pivot button  28  depressible from the top of the brush head  12 , for example. A spring  36  can retain the pivot button  28  in an undepressed state. The pivot button  28  can push the brush holder  34  out from a locked position so that the user can rotate the brushes  32  to any desired angle relative to the handle tube  14 . When the button is released, the brush holder moves back toward the brush head  12  and is locked in position. In some embodiments, the brush holder  34  can lock in at least two positions, a first position where the brushes  32  are parallel to or collinear with the handle tube  14  (as shown in  FIG. 1 , for example), and a second position where the brush holder  34  is perpendicular to the handle tube  14 . In another embodiment, the brush holder  34  can be positioned at other angles. Of course, stops between the first and second position can be provided within the scope of the present invention. Various mechanisms can be used to lock the brush holder  34  relative to the brush head  12 . For example, teeth  62  can be provided about a shaft connected to the brush holder  34 . These teeth  62  can engage with mating teeth  62 ′ inside the brush head  12 . 
     The brush head halves  12   a ,  12   b  can be joined together with a plurality of fasteners  38 ,  40  passing through holes in one of the halves  12   b . One or more of these fasteners  38 ,  40  can pass through holes  64  in the end of the handle tube  14 , securing the handle tube  14  to the brush head  12 . 
     At the opposite end of the snow brush assembly, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the scraper  18  can be removably attached to the extension tube  16 . Various mechanisms can be provided for removably attaching the scraper  18  with the extension tube  16 . For example, a snap button cover  42  can be accessible from the scraper  18 , where depressing the snap button cover  42  and press a snap button  44 , allowing the snap button  44  to remove its engagement of the scraper  18  to the extension tube  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , in a mid-section of the snow brush assembly  10 , the extension tube  16  can join with the handle tube  14 . Various mechanisms can be provided to allow the handle tube  14  to fit inside the extension tube  16  and lock at various lengths. One such embodiment is shown in  FIG. 8 , where the button housing  20  includes a button  22  that can be retained in an un-depressed state with a catch spring  54  and a button spring pin  56 . A catch pin  50  can be disposed adjacent to the button  22  and a catch pin yoke  52  may be provided to join the catch pin  50  to the button  22 . When the button  22  is depressed, it can release the catch pin  50  from engagement with the length adjustment hole  30  in the handle tube  14 , allowing the handle tube  14  to slide in and out of the extension tube. When the button  22  is un-depressed, the catch pin  50  can engage with one of the length adjustment holes  30  to lock the snow brush assembly  10  at a desired length. A stop ring  46  can be connected to the end of the handle tube  14  to prevent the handle tube  14  from being pulled completely out of the extension tube  16 . Fasteners, such as rivets  48  can join the stop ring  46  to the end of the handle tube  12 . 
     The brushes  32  can be made from various materials and may be from about 10 to about 16 inches long, typically about 12 inches long. The squeegee blade  26  and protective cover  24  can be the same length as or up to about one inch longer than the brushes  32 . The handle tube  14  and the extension tube  16  can be made of various materials, such as plastic, aluminum, or the like. In some embodiments, the tubes  14 ,  16  can be made of hollow aluminum tubes. In some embodiments, the handle tube  14  can have an inside diameter of about 1.125 inch, while the extension tube  16  can have an inside diameter of about 1.25 inch. Of course, other sizes of tubes  14 ,  16  can be used within the scope of the present invention. The handle tube  14  and extension can be 12-24 inches long. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the second end  16 ″ of extension tube  16  is much shorter than the main portion  16 . In an alternate embodiment, the end  16 ″ is the same length as main portion  16  or even longer. This embodiment is suitable for cleaning taller vehicles. 
     The brush head halves  12   a ,  12   b  can be made from various materials, such as metal, plastic, composite, or the like. Typically, the brush head  12  is made of a plastic material. Other elements of the present invention, such as the scraper  18 , the brush holder  34 , and protective cover  24  can be made of plastic. The plastic can be formed by conventional methods, including injection molding, for example. 
     To use the snow brush assembly  10  of the present invention, in light snow, the operator can utilize the brush in an inline or angled configuration to dust snow from the vehicle. With heavier snow, vehicles may be cleaned by depressing the brush head release button and rotating the rotating brush head to a desired angle and locking the brush head into position by releasing the button. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 10A , a person using a standard brush has a hard time cleaning the roof using a standard brush. The same task can be performed easier and faster using the present invention. The person can begin to clear show while standing back from the vehicle, and, with the brush holder at right angle, push the snow to the other side. 
     The problem with standard brushes is even more pronounced for vans and similar vehicle, even for a tall person, as demonstrated in  FIG. 11A . Moreover, a person must push off the snow in an overhead position using only his elbows and arms, thereby exposing himself to potential injury. The present invention can be used advantageously for vehicle roof clearing and for larger vehicles, by extending the extension tube to its fullest length. Alternatively, if this is insufficient, another extension tube can be used that has a second end that is longer as discussed above and shown in  FIG. 11B . This can allow the person to clean the roof of even a van without needing the overhead position, but instead enabling the person to push the snow over the roof using his or her shoulders, reduce stress to the user&#39;s upper back, neck, arms and shoulders, allowing the person to avoid injury and remain clean and dry. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.