Patent Publication Number: US-2007113370-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for removing snow from a surface using a heated air current

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
      This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/710,129, filed on Aug. 22, 2005, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates generally to apparatus and methods of removing snow from a surface and specifically to apparatus and methods of removing snow from a surface through the use of a heated air current.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      During the winter months, snow removal is a problem that plagues the people of certain geographic areas. Frequently, snow removal from surfaces, such as sidewalks and/or driveways, involves hours of back-breaking labor using a snow shovel. Alternatively, people use snow blowers to remove the snow. Existing snow blowers are designed much like a lawn mower in that a rotating blade is used to initially break up the snow, which is then drawn into the machine itself and blown in a desired direction. Despite the ease with which large amounts of snow may be removed with existing snow blowers, these larges machines are cumbersome and often difficult to remove snow from smaller spaces that cannot accommodate such snow blowers. Furthermore it simply is not feasible to use existing snow blowers to remove snow from a vehicle (or other delicate surfaces) or surfaces that may not be at ground level and/or at an incline (such as a roofs).  
      Additionally, it is often inconvenient and/or inefficient to use existing snow blowers to remove small amounts of snow from sidewalks and/or driveways. In fact, many existing snow blowers fail to remove a thin bottom layer of snow from surface, creating a dangerous situation in the event of freezing conditions. Moreover, existing snow blowers are expensive and not owned due to their large size. These problems are especially prevalent in urban communities where storage space is limited, walking traffic is high and city ordinances mandate prompt removal of snow from sidewalks and other publicly accessible spaces. Therefore, there remains a need to provide a snow removal device that is easy to use and maneuver.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The aforementioned and other deficiencies are remedied by the present invention which uses a current of heated air to remove snow from surfaces.  
      In a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus for removing snow from a surface is disclosed. The apparatus has a hollow tubular member having an elongate cavity, a proximal end, and a distal end. The apparatus further has means for forcing air into the proximal end of the hollow tubular member, through the elongate cavity, and out of the distal end. Also part of the apparatus is a means for heating the air flowed through the tubular member.  
      In a second aspect of the invention a method of removing snow from a surface is disclosed. The method has the steps of providing an apparatus having a hollow tubular member having an elongate cavity, a proximal end, and a distal end. The method also discloses means for forcing air into the proximal end of the hollow tubular member, through the elongate cavity and out of the distal end. Also disclosed is a heating element for heating the air flowed through the hollow tubular member. The method involves the step of activating the apparatus so that cold air is drawn into the apparatus. The cold air is heated by the heating element and forced out of the proximal end of the hollow tubular member as warm air. The method also involves pointing the proximal end of the hollow tubular member at a surface having snow thereon.  
      In a third aspect of the invention an apparatus for removing snow from a surface is disclosed. The apparatus has a housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, a rear portion and a front portion. The apparatus also has a heating element operatively connected to means for supplying energy. The apparatus also has a fan operatively connected to a motor and a handle connected to the top portion and a second handle connected to the rear portion.  
      These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1   a  shows a side view of a snow removal device.  
       FIG. 1   b  shows an isometric view of a snow removal device.  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the motor, heating element and fan.  
       FIG. 3  shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the snow removal device.  
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of the interior of a discharge member in an alternative embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  show one embodiment of portable snow removal device  10 . Device  10  has a housing  24  comprising front, rear, top, bottom and side walls. Within housing  10  there is heating element  22 , motor  23 , and fan  25 , shown in  FIG. 2 . These items are electrically connected to each other and are supplied energy via an energy supply unit, such as electrical cord  16 , that is used in this particular embodiment.  
      Housing  24  is generally circular in shape, although any shape can be used, including, but not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, pentagonal, octagonal, trapezoidal or any shape capable housing the electrically connected elements. Housing  24  can be made of any material that can withstand the heat generated by the electrical components, such as plastic, wood, rubber, metal or any other suitable material or a combination of such materials. Housing  24  may have a planar surface, such as the planar bottom surface shown in  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  3 , that enables it to be rested upon flat surface when not in use.  
      Discharge hole  15  is present in at least one of the walls of housing  24  so that discharge member  12  can be fixedly or removably connected to device  10 . Discharge member  12  has at least two open ends so that air may enter and exit. Discharge member  12  may be set in a position predetermined by the manufacturer or by the user. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  discharge member  12  is tubular in shape, having an elongate cavity and preferably has a length between 6 inches and 4 feet, and more preferably between 1 and 3 feet. Discharge member  12  may be made of a flexible material, or have flexible portions that enables it to be bent or adjusted in order to permit a user to direct heated air into difficult to reach areas. Discharge member  12  may also be made of a durable plastic such as polypropylene and can be constructed via injection molding. The interior of discharge member  12  may also be designed so as to facilitate the flow of air.  
      At least one air hole  17  is present in housing  24  so that air can enter and cool off heating element  22  when the device is in use. Air hole  17  permits a constant flow of air to enter the device and is assisted by the operation of fan  25 . More than one air hole  17  can be employed in the operation of device  10 .  
      When snow removal device  10  is powered by activating switch  20 , heated air is generated through the operation of heating element  22 . The air is preferably heated to greater than 32° F. and preferably greater than 100° F. Motor  23  is also activated and moves fan  25  which moves the air through device  10 . The air flows over and/or through heating element  22 , which heats the air via forced convection. Fan  25  blows the heated air through discharge hole  15  and then through discharge member  12 . The user points the distal end of discharge member  12  towards the snow to be melted. In the event that discharge member  12  is not present, the user points discharge hole  15  towards the snow to be melted.  
      While device  10  is blowing heated air, the heated air leaving housing  24  through discharge hole  15  is replaced by cooler air entering housing  24  through air hole  17  in housing  24 . The cooler air is then heated by heating element  22  and hot air is continuously blown through discharge hole  15  via the operation of fan  25  and eventually through the distal end of discharge member  12 .  
      Heating element  22  is operatively connected to the power supply and is heated by the energy supplied. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  3 , heating element  22  is a bare coiled wire which is preferably wrapped around insulating mica boards. The wire may be made of a nickel chromium alloy. Nickel chromium is a poor conductor of electricity and has enough resistance so that it will get hot from the current flowing into. Furthermore, nickel chromium does not oxidize at high temperatures. Other suitable metals and alloys may be using in place of nickel chromium wire, such as chromel™, which is an alloy of chromium, iron, silicon and nickel.  
      To protect the electrically connected elements, shown in  FIG. 2 , from dirt and/or other debris, a mechanism for protecting these elements may be present. The mechanism for protecting these elements can be located at air hole  17 , at discharge hole  15  and/or the distal end of the discharge member  12 . The protecting mechanism can be made of any material suitable for allowing air, but not dirt or other debris, to pass through it. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, protective screens, mesh or any other suitable material or a combination of such materials. If a protecting mechanism is employed it should not entirely occlude any of the openings. It is also desirable to have a fault circuit interrupt in order to protect against electrocution.  
      The force of the air circulated and discharged by device  10  may be adjusted by the user or may be preset by the manufacturer. Adjusting the force of the air may be achieved by altering the speed of fan  25 . The force of the heated air exiting discharge hole  15  blows away the top of snow and the heated air melts away layers of ice and compacted snow.  
      Snow removal device  10  may be made to any size suitable for removing snow. Preferably it is sized so as to be easily portable by a user. It may be of such a size that shoulder strap  14  is connected to housing  24  so that the user can carry device  10  and bear the weight of the device  24  on his shoulder; alternatively device  10  may be handheld. As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , handle  18  is attached to the top of housing  24 . Handle  18  may be used for carrying device  10  and guiding it. Secondary handle  11  may also be attached to housing  24 . In  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  handle  11  is positioned on the rear wall of housing  24 . This enables easy two handed handling of device  10 . Switch  20  may be placed in a location proximate to handle  11  in order to provide easy access so that a user may activate switch  20  without releasing his or her hold on device  10 .  
      In another embodiment, device  10  may be small enough so that a user can keep it in his or her car. In yet another embodiment, device  10  may be of such a size that it is operably connected to wheels and the user pushes or pulls it. In still yet another embodiment, device  10  may be fixedly connected to an object located at or near where a user desires to remove snow; for example, if a building has a portico that generally needs snow to be removed, snow removal device  10  may be attached to or near the portico so that the user does not need to hold it when device  10  is in use. A prop mechanism may also be used so that the user does not need to support the weight of device  10  while device  10  is in use. An example of a prop is a tripod or other mechanism capable of supporting the weight of device  10 .  
      Electricity is supplied to device  10  through the use of an electrical cord  16  or a battery (not shown). An adaptor may also be used so that a user can plug the device into an automobile&#39;s 12-volt socket. Any other mechanism for powering the device may also be used, including, but not limited to, solar panels or gasoline, or other fuel derivatives. A rechargeable battery may also be used to provide energy as well as disposable batteries.  
       FIG. 3  shows an alternative embodiment of the snow blowing device  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 a  tank  26  is attached to housing  24 . Tank  26  has cap  27 , which can be removed in order to refuel device  10 . Ripcord  28  is provided so that the device may be started. By utilizing an embodiment with tank  26  the device is made more portable and permits a user to operate it when not within the vicinity of an electrical source.  
       FIG. 4  shows a diagram illustrating a discharge member  12  that may be used in an alternative embodiment. Heating element  22  may be placed within discharge member  12 . In the embodiments where this is done, discharge member  12  should not be removable. Furthermore, discharge member  12  should be made of a material that can withstand the heat from heating element  22 . In the embodiment shown, heating element  22  wraps around the interior of discharge member  12 . Air is then heated as it passes down discharge member  12  and out of the distal end. Discharge member  22  also has scraping member  29  attached to its distal end. Scraping member  29  is used for chipping away ice that may not be completely melted. It is possible to place scraping member  29  at some other location on device  10 , such as housing  24 , or at the base of handle  11  or handle  18 .  
      Although described above with reference to certain specific embodiments, the present invention is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details described herein. Rather, the present invention is directed to portable snow removal devices and various modifications may be made in details within the scope and range of equivalents of the description and without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention.