Abstract:
This present invention is a double-bladed manual snow removing device having a front and a back blade hinged together. The blades can be opened at an acute angle or can be closed contiguously to each other. A handle, attached to the back blade, can swivel in a vertical plane. There are three ways the present device can be used to remove snow: pushing, pulling or lifting. When pushing, the front blade member pushes snow at the acute angle out of the path while the back blade member, which is the trailing blade, scrapes at any remaining snow which, when dislodged, is pushed forward by the back blade member. When pulling, it is the front blade member which is the trailing blade. With the blades closed contiguously to each other and the handle locked to the back blade, the device function as a conventional snow shovel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/992,363 filed May 13, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made a part hereof. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to manual devices for removing snow and slush from sidewalks and driveways. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. In winter, homeowners are required to clear their sidewalks and driveways of snow. Snow accumulated on the sidewalk and driveway is usually in two layers, an upper layer that is not compacted and a lower layer that is compacted and adheres to the sidewalk or driveway. Unfortunately, most people take ‘clearing’ to be shovelling which invariably leads to lifting. Lifting can lead to a lot of health problems as this is usually done with the conventional snow shovel, which has a shaft fixed to a blade. That is the main disadvantage of conventional snow shovels. True, some people use the conventional snow shovel to push snow out of the way, but the snow just accumulates in front of the shovel and at some point has to be lifted away. The device described in this specification has two blades—a front and a back blade—hinged together with the shaft, to which the grip is fixed, rotatably connected to the back blade. This device gives the user three options to remove snow, two of which do not require lifting. It can be configured as a plough for pushing snow, a hoe for pulling snow and a shovel for lifting snow. There is no prior art in manual devices for removing snow and slush from sidewalks and driveways, having two blades—a front and a back blade—hinged together and with the shaft, to which the grip is fixed, rotatably connected to the back blade and which can be configured as a plough or a hoe or a shovel. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The main objective of the present invention is to help users clear sidewalks and driveways of snow by pushing it to a side to the path to be cleared, at an acute angle. 
         [0007]    Another objective of the present invention is that in moving to and from the starting point of the path to be cleared, snow is pushed to the same side of the path at the same acute angle. 
         [0008]    Another objective of the present invention is that, when snow cannot be cleared from the sidewalks and driveways by pushing it, it can be then cleared by pulling it. 
         [0009]    Another objective of the present invention is to allow it to be used as a conventional shovel. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Referring to the attached drawings which form part of this original disclosure: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1   a  is a Perspective view of the components that comprise the preferred embodiment of the double-bladed manual snow removing device,  FIG. 1   b  is a Back view of the preferred embodiment of the double-bladed manual snow removing device; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a Perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the double-bladed manual snow removing device as it is used as a conventional snow shovel; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3   a  is a Perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the front blade member of the double-bladed manual snow removing device,  FIG. 3   b  is a Perspective view of a second embodiment of the front blade member of the double-bladed manual snow removing device,  FIG. 3   c  is a Perspective view of a third embodiment of the front blade member of the double-bladed manual snow removing device,  FIG. 3   d  is a Perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the front blade member of the double-bladed manual snow removing device,  FIG. 3   e  is a Perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the back blade member of the double-bladed manual snow removing device,  FIG. 3   f  is a Perspective view of a second embodiment of the back blade member of the double-bladed manual snow removing device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4   a  is an Enlarged view of the preferred embodiment of the connector member,  FIG. 4   b  is an Enlarged view of the preferred embodiment of the connector member with front and back blade members opened up to an acute angle to each other,  FIG. 4   c  is an Enlarged view of a second embodiment of the connector member,  FIG. 4   d  is an Enlarged view of a second embodiment of the connector member with front and back blade members opened up to an acute angle to each other; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a Perspective view of the handle member of the double-bladed manual snow removing device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1   a,  therein is shown in usage mode, a Perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the double-bladed manual snow removing device  10 , comprising of a front blade member  20  concave in shape, a back blade member  40  rectangular in shape, a connector member  60  and a handle member  90 . Referring to  FIG. 1   b,  therein is shown in usage mode, a Back view of the preferred embodiment of the double-bladed manual snow removing device  10 , comprising of a front blade member  20  concave in shape, a back blade member  40  rectangular in shape, a connector member  60  and a handle member  90 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown the preferred embodiment of double-bladed manual snow removing device  10 , comprising of a front blade member  20  concave in shape, a back blade member  40  rectangular in shape, a connector member  60  contained within the front and back blade members and a handle member  90 , folded up to be used as a conventional snow shovel. It is in this configuration the double-bladed manual snow removing device  10  can be stored. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 3   a , therein is shown a Perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the front blade member  20 , concave in shape and having an upper edge  21  and a lower edge  22  parallel to each other and a frontal face  23  and a back face  24  and two ends  25  and  26  perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  21  and  22 . At the end  26  are the knuckle members  27   a  and  27   b  by which the front blade member  20  is hinged to the back blade member  40 . At the end  25  is a hole  28 , substantially equidistant from the upper edge  21  and the lower edge  22 . Substantially equidistant and parallel to the upper and lower edges  21  and  22  is a slot  29 . Referring to  FIG. 3   b , therein is shown a Perspective view of a second embodiment of the front blade member  20 , concave in shape and having an upper edge  21  and a lower edge  22  parallel to each other and a frontal face  23  and a back face  24  and two ends  25  and  26  perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  21  and  22 . At the end  26  are the knuckle members  27   a  and  27   b  by which the front blade member  20  is hinged to the back blade member  40 . At the end  25  is a hole  28 , substantially equidistant from the upper edge  21  and the lower edge  22 . Referring to  FIG. 3   c , therein is shown a Perspective view of a third embodiment of the front blade member  20 , rectangular in shape and having an upper edge  21  and a lower edge  22  parallel to each other and a frontal face  23  and a back face  24  and two ends  25  and  26  perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  21  and  22 . At the end  26  are the knuckle members  27   a  and  27   b  by which the front blade member  20  is hinged to the back blade member  40 . At the end  25  is a hole  28 , substantially equidistant from the upper edge  21  and the lower edge  22 . Referring to  FIG. 3   d , therein is shown a Perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the front blade member  20 , rectangular in shape and having an upper edge  21  and a lower edge  22  parallel to each other and a frontal face  23  and a back face  24  and two ends  25  and  26  perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  21  and  22 . At the end  26  are the knuckle members  27   a  and  27   b  by which the front blade member  20  is hinged to the back blade member  40 . At the end  25  is a hole  28 , substantially equidistant from the upper edge  21  and the lower edge  22 . Substantially equidistant and parallel to the upper and lower edges  21  and  22  is a slot  29 . Referring to  FIG. 3   e , therein is shown a Perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the back blade member  40  whose height is substantially the same as the front blade member  20 . The back blade member  40  is rectangular in shape and has an upper edge  41  and a lower edge  42  parallel to each other and a frontal face  43  and a back face  44  and two ends  45  and  46  perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  41  and  42 . Thru the back face  44  is a threaded hole  47  aligned with the hole  28  in the front blade member  20 . A thumbscrew  48 , secured in the threaded hole  47  and whose head can slide thru the hole  28 , secures the front blade member  20  and the back blade member  40  substantially parallel to each other. At the end  46  is the knuckle member  27   c  which together with the knuckle members  27   a  and  27   b  hinge the front blade member  20  to the back blade member  40 . The front blade member  20  is hinged to back blade member  40  with the upper edge  41  of the back blade member  40  aligned with the upper edge of the  21  of the front blade member  20  and the lower edge  42  of the back blade member  40  aligned with the lower edge  22  of the front blade member  20 .  49  and  50  are two bookend members centrally located in the back face  44 , the spacing between them accommodating an end of the handle member  90 . The bolt  51  passing thru both bookend members  49  and  50  and thru the handle member  90  allows the handle member  90  to rotate from the upper edge  41  to the lower edge  42 . Positioned above the bolt member  51  and within bookend members  49  and  50  is a threaded hole  52  into which is inserted a wing nut  53 . Referring to  FIG. 3   f , therein is shown a Perspective view of a second embodiment of the back blade member  40  whose height is substantially the same as the front blade member  20 . The back blade member is concave in shape and has an upper edge  41  and a lower edge  42  parallel to each other and a frontal face  43  and a back face  44  and two ends  45  and  46  perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  41  and  42 . Thru the back face  44  is a threaded hole  47  aligned with the hole  28  in the front blade member  20 . A thumbscrew  48 , secured in the threaded hole  47  and whose head can slide thru the hole  28 , secures the front blade member  20  and the back blade member  40  substantially parallel to each other. At the end  46  is the knuckle member  27   c  which together with the knuckle members  27   a  and  27   b  hinge the front blade member  20  to the back blade member  40 . The front blade member  20  is hinged to back blade member  40  with the upper edge  41  of the back blade member  40  aligned with the upper edge of the  21  of the front blade member  20  and the lower edge  42  of the back blade member  40  aligned with the lower edge  22  of the front blade member  20 .  49  and  50  are two bookend members centrally located in the back face  44 , the spacing between them accommodating an end of the handle member  90 . The bolt  51  passing thru both bookend members  49  and  50  and thru the handle member  90  allows the handle member  90  to rotate from the upper edge  41  to the lower edge  42 . Positioned above the bolt member  51  and within bookend members  49  and  50  is a threaded hole  52  into which is inserted a wing nut  53 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4   a , therein is shown an Enlarged view of the preferred embodiment of the connector member  60  having a first section member  61  and a second section member  62  whose heights are substantially the same and whose shapes are rectangular. The first section member  61  is longer than the second section member  62 . The first section member  61  has an upper edge  63  and a lower edge  64  parallel to each other and a frontal face  65  and a back face  66  and a first end  67  and a second end  68  both perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  63  and  64 . At the end  67  are the knuckle members  69   a  and  69   b  which hinge the first section member  61  to the knuckle member  69   c  on the frontal face  43  of the back blade member  40  proximal to its unhinged end allowing the back face  66  of the first section member  61  to be foldable into the frontal face  43  of the back blade member  40 . At the end  68  are the knuckle members  70   a  and  70   b.  The second section member  62  has an upper edge  73  and a lower edge  74  parallel to each other and a frontal face  75  and a back face  76  and a first end  77  and a second end  78  perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  73  and  74 . At the first end  77  is the knuckle member  70   c  which together with the knuckle members  70   a  and  70   b  hinge the second end  68  of the first section member  61  to the first end  77  of the second section member  62  with the upper edge  63  of the first section member  61  aligned to the upper edge  73  of the second section member  62  and the back face  66  of the first section member  61  foldable into the back face  76  of the second section member  62 . Affixed to the centre of the second section member  62  is fastener consisting of a threaded bolt  79   a  and a wing nut  79   b.  With the threaded bolt  79   a  residing in the slot  29  of the front blade member  20 , the second section member  62  is secured to the front blade member  20  by the wing nut  79   b.  Referring to  FIG. 4   b , therein is shown an Enlarged view of the preferred embodiment of the connector member  60  having the frontal face  75  of the second section member  62  secured contiguously to the back face  23  of the front blade member  20  by the threaded bolt  79   a  and the wing nut  79   b  and the first section member  61  rotated away from the back blade member  40  resulting in the front and back blade members  20  and  40  opening up at an acute angle to each other. The front blade member  20  is hinged to the back blade  40  by the knuckle members  27   a,    27   b  and  27   c  with a pin  27   d  securing them. The first section member  61  is hinged to the second section member  62  by the knuckle members  70   a,    70   b  and  70   c  with a pin  70   d  securing them. The first section member  61  is hinged to the back blade member  40  by the knuckle members  69   a,    69   b  and  69   c  with a pin  69   d  securing them, with the upper edges  63  and  73  of the first and second section members  61  and  62  being lower than the upper edges  21  and  41  of the front and back blade members  20  and  40 , and the lower edges  64  and  74  of the first and second section members  61  and  62  being higher than the lower edges  22  and  42  of the front and back blade members  20  and  40 . Referring to  FIG. 4   c , therein is shown a Perspective view of a second embodiment of the connector member  60  having a first section member  61  and a second section member  62  whose heights are substantially the same and whose shapes are rectangular. The first section member  61  is shorter than the second section member  62 . The first section member  61  has an upper edge  63  and a lower edge  64  parallel to each other and a frontal face  65  and a back face  66  and a first end  67  and a second end  68  both perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  63  and  64 . At the end  67  are the knuckle members  69   a  and  69   b  which hinge the first section member  61  to the knuckle member  69   c  on the frontal face  43  of the back blade member  40  proximal to its unhinged end allowing the back face  66  of the first section member  61  to be foldable into the frontal face  43  of the back blade member  40 . At the end  68  are the knuckle members  70   a  and  70   b.  Substantially equidistant and parallel to the upper and lower edges  63  and  64  is a slot  71 . Residing in the slot  71  is a fastener  72 . The second section member  62  has an upper edge  73  and a lower edge  74  parallel to each other and a frontal face  75  and a back face  76  and a first end  77  and a second end  78  perpendicular to the upper and lower edges  73  and  74 . Knuckle member  70   c  on the frontal face  75  of the second section member  62  together with knuckle members  70   a  and  70   b  hinge the second end  68  of the first section member  61  to the frontal face  75  of the second section member  62  with the upper edge  63  of the first section member  61  aligned to the upper edge  73  of the second section member  62  such that the frontal face  65  of the first section member  61  is foldable into the frontal face  75  of the second section member  62  and when folded the first end  67  of the first section member  61  is aligned with the second end  78  of the second section member  62 . At the end  78  are the knuckle members  79   a  and  79   b  which hinge the second section member  62  to the knuckle member  79   c  to the back face  24  of the front blade member  20  proximal to its unhinged end allowing the back face  76  of the second section member  62  to be foldable into the back face  24  of the front blade member  20 . Substantially equidistant and parallel to the upper and lower edges  73  and  74  of the second section member  62  is a channel  80  opening into the first end  77 . The slot  71  and the channel  80  are aligned. With the fastener  72  out of the channel  80  the first and second section members  61  and  62  can rotate around the knuckle members  70   a,    70   b  and  70   c.  Referring to  FIG. 4   d , therein is shown an Enlarged view of the second embodiment of the connector member  60  having the first section member  61  rotated away from the second section member  62  resulting in the front and back blade members  20  and  40  opening up at an acute angle to each other. The front blade member  20  is hinged to the back blade  40  by the knuckle members  27   a,    27   b  and  27   c  with a pin  27   d  securing them. The first section member  61  is hinged to the second section member  62  by the knuckle members  70   a,    70   b  and  70   c  with a pin  70   d  securing them. The first section member  61  is hinged to the back blade member  40  by the knuckle members  69   a,    69   b  and  69   c  with a pin  69   d  securing them, with the upper edge  63  of the first section member  61  being lower than the upper edge  41  of the back blade member  40 , and the lower edge  64  of the first section member  61  being higher than the lower edge  42  of the back blade member  40 . The second section member  62  is hinged to the front blade member  20  by the knuckle members  79   a,    79   b  and  79   c  with a pin  79   d  securing them, with the upper edge  73  of the second section member  62  being lower than the upper edge  21  of the front blade member  20 , and the lower edge  74  of the second section members  62  being higher than the lower edge  22  of the front blade member  20 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown a Perspective view of the handle member  90  of the double-bladed manual snow removing device comprising of a grip member  91  and a shaft member  92 . The grip member  91 , which has an aperture  93 , is crowned by a handlebar member  94 . One end of the shaft member  92  is affixed to the grip member  91 . At the other end of the shaft member  92  is a hole  95  thru which the bolt  51  of the back blade member  40  secures the handle member  90  rotatably to the back blade member  40 . Above the hole  95  is a slot  96  thru the shaft member  92  and aligned with the wing nut  53  threaded into the back face  44  of the back blade member  40 . The wing nut  53  secures the handle member  90  to the back blade member  40  by passing thru the slot  96  and being rotated ninety degrees. 
       Method of Use 
       [0021]    This manual snow removing device is designed primarily to push not lift snow. The front and back blade members are made preferably of plastic which is corrugated so as to make them stronger and the device light. There are three ways in which snow can be removed: by pushing it, by pulling it and by lifting it. 
         [0022]    1) When the snow on the ground is below the height of the blades of the device, the blades of the device are opened at an acute angle to each other and the handle is unlocked from the back blade member so as to be rotatable. The device is then pushed forward with the back blade substantially parallel to the user&#39;s shoulders. In pushing the device forward, the user uses the handle bar of the grip member. 
         [0023]    2) When the height of the snow on the ground is above the height of the blades of the device, the blades are opened at an acute angle to each other and the handle is unlocked from the back blade member so as to be rotatable. The device is then pulled with the back blade substantially parallel to the user&#39;s shoulders and the front blade the trailing blade. In pulling the device, the user uses the aperture of the grip member. 
         [0024]    3) There may be times when the user wishes to lift the snow. This is done by locking the front and back blades contiguous to each other and locking the handle member to the back blade member. In lifting the snow, the user places one hand on the shaft member and the other hand in the aperture of the grip member. 
         [0025]    This invention has been disclosed and described in its preferred embodiment with a certain degree of peculiarity; it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred embodiment is only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.