Patent Publication Number: US-2017356148-A1

Title: Snow removal device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     
         
         The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/350,090, filed Jun. 14, 2016 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       
    
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of removal devices and more specifically relates to a snow removal device structured and arranged to effectively get rid of snow without having to use a shovel to remove the unwanted snow. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Snow pertains to frozen crystalline water throughout its life cycle, starting when it precipitates from clouds and accumulates on surfaces, then metamorphoses in place, and ultimately melts, slides or sublimates away. Snowstorms organize and develop by feeding on sources of atmospheric moisture and cold air. Snowflakes nucleate around particles in the atmosphere by attracting super-cooled water droplets, which freeze in hexagonal-shaped crystals. Snowflakes take on a variety of shapes, basic among these are platelets, needles, columns and rime. As snow accumulates into a snowpack, it may blow into drifts. Over time, accumulated snow metamorphoses, by sintering, sublimation and freeze-thaw. Where the climate is cold enough for year-to-year accumulation, a glacier may form. Otherwise, snow typically melts seasonally, causing runoff into streams and rivers and recharging groundwater. 
     According to a study done several years ago at Nationwide Children&#39;s Hospital in Ohio, an average of 11,500 snow-shoveling-related injuries and medical emergencies occur annually in the United States. More than half of the incidents reported involve soft-tissue injuries, lacerations and bone fractures. Cardiac-related injuries account for less than 10 percent of the total cases, but between 1990 and 2006, they consist of more than half of the hospitalizations and more than 1,600 deaths. The researchers determined that men are twice as likely as women to experience symptoms and people over the age of 55 are 4 times more likely than younger patients to have heart-related problems while shoveling snow. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in snow removal cover devices art. Among these are found in: U.S. Publication and Patent Number 2003/0026946 U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,094; 2011/0197479; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,493. This prior art is representative of snow removal cover devices. 
     Ideally, a snow removal device should be user-friendly and safe in-use and, yet should operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a snow removal device structured and arranged to effectively get rid of snow without having to use a shovel to remove the unwanted snow and to avoid the above-mentioned problems 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known removal device art, the present invention provides a snow removal device. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a for a snow removal device structured and arranged to effectively get rid of snow without having to use a shovel to remove the unwanted snow. 
     A snow removal device is disclosed herein comprising: a platform and two handle members. The platform includes a flat top layer, a middle layer, flat bottom layer, and four side edges. The flat top layer is formed from a rubberized material. The middle layer is formed from a plastic material. The flat bottom layer is formed from a rubberized material. The platform is adapted to be folded. The two handle members are spaced and attached to one of the four side members, such that said platform is adapted to be placed upon an outdoor surface via said two handle members, allowed to accumulate snow and ice thereon, and then removed from said outdoor surface via the two handle members while displacing said snow and ice to another location. 
     A snow removal apparatus is also disclosed herein comprising: a plurality of snow removal devices. Each of the plurality of snow removal devices are adapted to releasably attach to an adjacent said snow removal device platform to thereby form a variable sized snow removal apparatus. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a Snow Removal Device. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, Snow Removal Device, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating a snow removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating two handle members of the snow removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of snow removal devices he adapted to releasably attach to an adjacent snow removal device platform to thereby form a variable sized snow removal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the plurality of snow removal devices in an assembled condition with a user lifting two handle members to remove unwanted snow from a driveway according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to removal devices and more specifically relates to a snow removal device structured and arranged to effectively get rid of snow without having to use a shovel to remove the unwanted snow. 
     Generally speaking, the snow removal device is designed to make life easier and safer when living in places where snow and ice are an issue. It consists of a series of tiles that are placed on the sidewalk and walkways prior to snow fall. Each tile is approximately 24″×24″. The mats are made from a durable, but light-weight plastic with a rubberized bottom that keeps mats in place. The textured rubber top works to prevent slips and falls. One side has two loop handles, making it easier for users to arrange them. A handle extender will be an accessory offered to elderly users. The tiles are magnetic and can be joined together to make longer pieces, allowing larger surface areas to be covered. When the snow passes, the user simply lifts up the tiles and dumps off the snow. The tiles can be dried, folded and stored away neatly until the next use. 
     The unique features of this product provide the following benefits for consumers everywhere.
         Provide a safe and effective way to eliminate snow and ice from driveways and sidewalks.   Prevent back injuries and heart attacks   Eliminate expenses related to snow removal   Eliminate mess and stress       

     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , showing perspective views illustrating snow removal device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Snow removal device  100  is disclosed herein comprising: platform  110  and two handle members  170 . Platform  110  includes flat top layer  120 , middle layer  130 , flat bottom layer  140 ; and four side edges  150 . Flat top layer  120  is formed from a rubberized material. Middle layer  130  is formed from plastic material. Flat bottom layer  140  is formed from rubberized material. Platform  110  is adapted to be folded. 
     Platform  110  further includes two parallel and spaced fold lines  112  adapted to allow platform  110  to be folded into three rectangular sections forming two outer rectangular sections  114  and one middle rectangular section  116  in between two outer rectangular sections  114 . Platform  110  is formed having a width of 24 inches and a length of 24 inches. Flat top layer  120  includes raised textured surface  124  thereon adapted to provide a non-slip surface thereto. Four side edges  150  include magnetic strips  154  thereon adapted to releasably attach to an adjacent snow removal device platform  110  having similar magnetic side edges. 
     Two handle members  170  are spaced and attached to one of four side members  150 , such that platform  110  is adapted to be placed upon outdoor surface  310  via said two handle members  170 , allowed to accumulate snow and ice thereon, and then removed from outdoor surface  310  via two handle members  170  while displacing the snow and ice to another location. Two handle members  170  are attached to edges of respective two outer rectangular sections  114 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 , showing perspective views illustrating snow removal apparatus  300  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Snow removal apparatus  300  is also disclosed herein comprising: a plurality of snow removal devices  100  as shown in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 . Each of plurality of snow removal devices  100  are adapted to releasably attach to an adjacent snow removal device platform  110  to thereby form a variable sized snow removal apparatus  300  as shown in an assembled condition  320 . 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.