Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a multipurpose ice scraper for removing ice and snow from a surface such as a windshield and for de-icing locks and surfaces. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The use of ice scrapers such as heated blade ice scrapers is known in the prior art. Examples of heated blade ice scrapers are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,593, U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,646, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,294, which are incorporated by reference. Although ice scrapers for removing ice from an automobile windshield are known in the art, there is a need for a hand held multipurpose ice scraper, which can remove ice and snow from a surface and from a lock, such as a door lock. There is a need for a multipurpose ice scraper which can remove ice and snow from the surface of the lock as well as inside the lock. In addition, there is a need for a hand held multipurpose ice scraper capable of receiving removable containers of de-icer and dispensing de-icer to a lock and a surface such as a windshield. Additionally, there is need for heating blade of the multipurpose ice scraper and any containers within the multipurpose ice scraper, wherein heating of the containers causes heating of the handle. 
   Therefore, there is a longstanding need for a new and improved multipurpose ice scraper capable of removing ice from a surface such as a windshield and from a lock such as a door lock. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, an ice scraper comprises an elongated, hollow body portion, having a first end and a second end, and capable of receiving a lock de-icer container within the hollow body portion at the first end, wherein the lock de-icer container includes means for dispensing de-icer; and a blade member having an outer periphery and a forward edge, with a scraper blade formed in said forward edge for scraping ice from a surface, said blade member mounted to said hollow body portion at the second end. 
   In an alternative embodiment, an ice scraper comprises: a lock de-icer container containing de-icer; an elongated, hollow body portion having a first end and a second end, and capable of receiving the lock de-icer container within the hollow body portion at the first end, wherein the lock de-icer container includes means for dispensing de-icer; and a blade member having an outer periphery and a forward edge, with a scraper blade formed in said forward edge for scraping ice from a surface, said blade member mounted to said hollow body portion at a second end. 
   The ice scraper may further comprise a temperature controller; a switch; and a heating unit including a power source activated by the switch, and abutting the lock de-icer container, wherein the heating unit is regulated by the temperature controller. The ice scraper may have a rechargeable power source or a battery. The ice scraper may further comprise a transformer mounted in the hollow body portion; and at least one wire embedded in the blade member and scraper blade, wherein the transformer is operatively connected to said at least one wire, and said at least one wire being operable to generate heat upon energizing thereof by the switch and transformer for melting ice in contact with the blade member. The lock de-icer may contain a de-icing aerosol or de-icing liquid. The hollow body portion of the ice scraper may be tubular. 
   In an alternative embodiment, an ice scraper comprises a de-icer container containing a de-icer; an elongated, hollow body portion receiving the de-icer container therewithin, said body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the de-icer container is received at the first end, wherein the de-icer container includes means for dispensing de-icer; a blade member having an outer periphery and a forward edge, with a scraper blade formed in said forward edge for scraping ice from a surface, said blade member mounted to said body portion at the second end; and a cap member engaged to said first end. 
   The cap member may be disengaged from the first end to remove said de-icer container from within said hollow body portion. Threads may circumscribe the first end of said hollow body portion, and the cap member is a threaded cap member, which is threadably engaged to said threads circumscribing the first end of said body portion. 
   In an alternative embodiment, an ice scraper comprises a de-icer container containing a valve for dispensing de-icer; a valve depresser having grippers; an elongated, hollow body portion receiving the de-icer container therewithin, said body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein: the de-icer container is received at the first end, and the first end has apertures for receiving the grippers of the valve depresser; a blade member having an outer periphery and a forward edge, with a scraper blade formed in said forward edge for scraping ice from a surface, said blade member mounted to said body portion at the second end; and a cap member engaged to said first end. The cap member may have a cap aperture, and the valve depresser may engage the valve of the de-icer container to dispense the de-icer through the cap aperture. 
   In an alternative embodiment, an ice scraper comprises a window de-icer container containing a valve for dispensing de-icer; a lock de-icer container containing a valve for dispensing de-icer; a first valve depresser having first grippers; a second valve depresser having second grippers; an elongated, hollow body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein: the hollow body portion receives the lock de-icer container therewithin at the first end, the hollow body portion receives the window de-icer container therewithin at the second end, wherein: the first end has first apertures for receiving the first grippers of the first valve depresser; and the second end has second apertures for receiving the second grippers of the second valve depresser; a blade member having an outer periphery and a forward edge, with a scraper blade formed in said forward edge for scraping ice from a surface, said blade member mounted to said body portion at the second end; and a cap member engaged to said first end. The ice scraper may have a cap member having a cap aperture, and the first valve depresser engages the valve of the lock de-icer container to dispense the de-icer through the cap aperture by actuating the first grippers. The blade member may have a blade conduit, and the second valve depresser engages the second valve of the window de-icer container to dispense the de-icer through the blade conduit by actuating the second grippers. 
   In an alternative embodiment, an ice scraper comprises a lock de-icer container containing de-icer, a window de-icer container containing de-icer; an elongated, hollow body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein: the hollow body portion receives the lock de-icer container therewithin at the first end, the hollow body portion receives the window de-icer container therewithin at the second end, wherein: the lock de-icer container includes means for dispensing de-icer and the second end has second apertures for receiving the second grippers of the second valve depresser; a cap member engaged to said first end; and a blade member having an outer periphery and a forward edge, with a scraper blade formed in said forward edge for scraping ice from a surface, said blade member mounted to said hollow body portion at a second end and having means for dispensing the de-icer through the blade member. 
   The ice scraper may further comprise a first temperature controller; a second temperature controller; a switch; a power source; a first heating unit energized by the power source when activated by the switch, and abutting the lock de-icer container; a second heating unit energized by the power source when activated by the switch, and abutting the window de-icer container. The power source may be rechargeable or may be a battery. 
   The ice scraper may further comprise a transformer mounted in the hollow body portion; and at least one wire embedded in the blade member and scraper blade, wherein the transformer is operatively connected to said at least one wire, and said at least one wire being operable to generate heat upon energizing thereof by the switch and transformer for melting ice in contact with the blade member. The at least one wire in the blade member may operatively connect to the transformer by interconnecting a male connector to a female connector. The blade member may have passageways therethrough to channel de-icer from the window de-icer container. 
   The ice scraper may further comprise wires embedded on either side of the passageways. The blade member may be removable. The blade member may be secured to the elongated hollow body portion by press fit. The blade member may be further secured to the elongated hollow body portion by a securing clamp. Threads may circumscribe the second end of said hollow body portion and the blade member has threads circumscribed thereon, which is threadably engaged to the threads circumscribing the second end of the body portion. The blade member may further secure to the elongated hollow body by a securing clamp. 
   These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following Figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1A  is one exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1B  is another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6A  is another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 6B–6C  show an exemplary embodiment of male connectors, female connectors and a clamp connecting wires of a blade member with wires of a hollow body member according to some of the embodiments of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 6D-1  through  6 D- 3  show another exemplary embodiment of male connectors, female connectors and a clamp connecting wires of a blade member with wires of a hollow body portion according to some of the embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1A  shows one exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention. The ice scraper includes a blade member  2  having a scraper blade. The blade member  2  is mounted (connected) to an elongated hollow body portion  4 . The elongated hollow body portion  4  is preferably tubular. The elongated hollow body portion  4  has a first end  6  and a second end  7 . The elongated hollow body portion  4  contains a lock de-icer container  8  in the first end  6 . The lock de-icer container  8  contains a de-icer such as a de-icing liquid, de-icing aerosol or the like. A cap member  10  includes an elongated valve  12  containing a stop  14 . The cap member  10  is connected to the elongated hollow body portion  4 . The elongated valve  12  of the cap member  10  dispenses a de-icer when force is applied to the stop  14 . The de-icer is preferably applied to a lock such as a door lock to unfreeze a frozen lock. 
     FIG. 1B  shows another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention. The ice scraper includes a blade member  2  having a scraper blade. The blade member  2  is mounted (connected) to an elongated hollow body portion  4 . The elongated hollow body portion  4  is preferably tubular. The elongated hollow body portion  4  has a first end  6  having an opening  5  and a second end  7 . The elongated hollow body portion  4  is capable of receiving a lock de-icer container  8   b  through opening  5  in the first end  6 . The lock de-icer container  8   b  is capable of being removed. For example, once the lock de-icer container  8   b  is empty, the lock de-icer container  8   b  can be removed and another lock de-icer container  8   b  can be substituted therefore. The lock de-icer container  8   b  includes a cap  10   a  having a stop (not shown) and a valve  12   a.    
     FIG. 2  shows another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention. The ice scraper includes a blade member  2  having a scraper blade. The blade member  2  is mounted (connected) to an elongated hollow body portion  4 . The elongated hollow body portion  4  is preferably tubular. The elongated hollow body portion  4  has a first end  6  and a second end  7 . The elongated hollow body portion  4  is capable of receiving a lock de-icer container  8  through the first end  6 . The lock de-icer container  8  can be unremovable or removable through the first end  6 . For example, once the de-icer container  8  is empty, the de-icer container  8  can be removed and another de-icer container  8  can be substituted therefore. Alternatively, if the de-icer container  8  is not removable, a user can purchase a new multipurpose ice scraper having the de-icer container  8 . 
   The first end  6  of the elongated hollow body portion  4  has apertures  15  for receiving depresser  16 . The depresser  16  has grippers  18 , which protrude through apertures  15 . The cap member  10   b  is connected to the elongated hollow body portion  4  at the first end  6 . The cap member  10   b  has a convergent section  20  and a cap aperture  21 . The cap member  10   b  dispenses a de-icer through the convergent section  20  and out the cap aperture  21  when force is applied to the valve depresser  16  by way of grippers  18 . 
     FIG. 3  shows another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention. The ice scraper includes a blade member  2   a  having a scraper blade. The blade member  2   a  is mounted (connected) to an elongated hollow body portion  4 . The elongated hollow body portion  4  is preferably tubular. The elongated hollow body portion  4  has a first end  6  and a second end  7 . The elongated hollow body portion  4  is capable of receiving a lock de-icer container  8  through the first end  6 . The lock de-icer container  8  can be unremovable or removable through the first end  6 . For example, once the de-icer container  8  is empty, the de-icer container  8  can be removed and another de-icer container  8  can be substituted therefore. Alternatively, if the de-icer container  8  is not removable, a user can purchase a new multipurpose ice scraper having the de-icer container  8 . 
   The first end  6  of the elongated hollow body portion  4  has apertures  15  for receiving depresser  16 . The depresser  16  has grippers  18 , which protrude through apertures  15 . The cap member  10   b  is connected to the elongated hollow body portion  4  at the first end  6 . The cap member  10   b  has a convergent section  20  (not shown) and a cap aperture  21 . The cap member  10   b  dispenses a de-icer through the convergent section  20  (not shown) and out the cap aperture  21  when force is applied to the valve depresser  16  by way of grippers  18 . 
   The elongated hollow body portion  4  is also capable of receiving a window de-icer container  24  through the second end  7 . The window de-icer container  24  can be unremovable or removable through the second end  7 . Preferably, the window de-icer container  24  can be removed through the second end  7  as shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, once the window de-icer container  24  is empty, the window de-icer container  24  can be removed and another window de-icer container  24  can be substituted therefore. Alternatively, if the window de-icer container  24  is not removable (not shown), a user can purchase a new multipurpose ice scraper having the window de-icer container  24  and the lock de-icer container  8 . 
   The second end  7  of the elongated hollow body portion  4  has apertures  19  for receiving a second depresser  16 . The depresser  16  has grippers  18 , which protrude through apertures  19 . The blade member  2   a  is connected to the elongated hollow body portion  4  at the second end  7 . The blade member  2   a  has a passageway or blade conduit  28 . The blade member  2   a  dispenses a de-icer through the conduit  28  when force is applied to the valve depresser  16  at the second end  7  by way of grippers  18 . 
     FIG. 4  shows another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , the ice scraper includes a cap member  10  connected to the first end  6  as previously described in  FIG. 1  and a blade member  2   a  connected to the second end  7  as previously described in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the ice scraper can include a cap member  10   b  as previously described and shown in  FIG. 2 . In another alternative, the ice scraper can include an opening  5  in the first end  6  of the elongated hollow body portion  4 , which is capable of receiving a lock de-icer container  8   b  as previously shown and described in  FIG. 1B . 
   The elongated hollow body portion  4  includes heating units  40  and  42 . The heating units include a power source  32 , which may be a rechargeable battery connected to an adaptor  30 . The adapter  30  can be adapter for a cigarette lighter or can be configured to plug into a wall socket. The power source  32  could also be a non rechargeable battery. Alternatively, the heating units  40  and  42  could have separate power sources such as a battery for each heating unit  40  and  42 . The elongated hollow body portion  4  preferably has heating unit wires  38 , which may be partially embedded in the elongated hollow body portion  4  or partially mounted to the inner walls of the elongated hollow body portion  4 . The heating unit wires  38  connect the heating units  40  and  42  to a switch  36  mounted to the elongated hollow body portion  4 . Temperature controllers  41  and  43  regulate the heating units  40  and  42  to prevent the lock de-icer container  8  or  8   b  and the window de-icer container  24  from over heating. An example of a heating unit is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,766, which is incorporated by reference. An example of a heating controller could be a thermostat also shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,766, which as stated above is incorporated by reference. 
     FIG. 5  shows another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention. In addition to the structures shown and described in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the ice scraper shown in  FIG. 5  further includes wires  44  connected to transformer  46  and to switch  36 . In addition, a blade member  2   b  is substituted for the blade member  2   a  in the ice scraper shown in  FIG. 5 . The blade member  2   b  includes embedded wires  48  and blade conduits  50 . The blade conduits  50  are capable of receiving the window de-icer from the window de-icer container  24 . Wires  51  from the transformer are connected to the embedded wires  48 . The transformer  46  regulates the heat of embedded wires  48 . 
     FIG. 6A  shows another exemplary embodiment of an ice scraper of the present invention. In the ice scraper shown in  FIG. 6A , the heating units  40  and  42  are not incorporated. The power source  32  is connected to switch  36 , which is connected to transformer  46 . The transformer  46  is connected to wires  51 , which are connected to embedded wires  48 . The transformer  46  regulates the heat output to the blade member by the embedded wires. The blade member in  FIG. 6A  can be blade member  2   a  with embedded wires or blade member  2   b.    
     FIGS. 6B–6C  show an exemplary embodiment of male connectors  52 , female connectors  54  and a clamp  56  connecting wires of a blade member with wires of a hollow body member according to some of the embodiments of the present invention.  FIGS. 6B–6C  show an exemplary embodiment of a press fit connection between male connectors  52  and female connectors  54 . Although  FIGS. 6B–6C  show the male connectors as part of the blade member and female connectors as part of the elongated hollow body portion  4 , the male connectors  54  could be part of the elongated hollow body portion  4  and the female connectors could be part of the blade member. The blade member and elongated hollow body portion  4  can be further secured by clamp  56 . 
     FIGS. 6D-1  through  6 D- 3  show another exemplary embodiment of male connector  60 , female connector  62  and a clamp  56  connecting wires of a blade member with wires of the elongated hollow body portion  4  according to some of the embodiments of the present invention.  FIGS. 6D-1  through  6 D- 3  show an exemplary embodiment of a threaded connection between male connector  60  and female connector  62 . The threads are denoted by reference numeral  68 . Alternatively, the male connector  60  and female connector  62  can be press fit. Whether press fit or threaded connection is used, clamp  56  can further secure the connection between the blade member and elongated hollow body portion  4 . 
   While this invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the claims as filed and as they may be amended are intended to embrace all known or later-developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents.

Technology Category: 0