Patent ID: 8037624

Claim:
A method of clearing an accumulation of matter from a surface using a first apparatus, the first apparatus including a collecting section, a casting section, and a shifting section, the shifting section being at least one of a diverting section, a sweeping section, and an air blowing section, the diverting section including an auxiliary blade oriented at an angle about an axis transverse to a direction of travel, the sweeping section including a rotatable broom with bristles, the air blowing section configured to blow air in a predetermined direction, the collecting section including a blade and in matter communication with the casting section, the method including the steps of: collecting matter by moving the blade in proximity with a surface; casting matter channeled from the collecting section away from a surface; and shifting matter laterally of the apparatus; wherein the step of shifting matter laterally of the apparatus is at least one of: diverting matter laterally of the apparatus by moving the auxiliary blade in greater proximity with a surface; rotating the broom so that the bristles strike matter on a surface; and directing air towards matter so as to move matter in the predetermined direction.