Snow rake

Abstract

A snow rake, which includes an elongate handle. Disposed near one end of the handle is a blade. In one embodiment, extending from the blade is a partially coiled low friction or lubricious sheath. In a second embodiment, the blade is pivotably attached to the handle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to snow rakes. In particular, the present invention pertains to a snow rake including a low friction lubricious sheath or a pivotably mounted blade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Ice dams occur when water from melting snow freezes near the edge of a roof, such as a gutter line, and traps other melt water behind it. This water can run back up under the shingles and rot the wood sheathing and leak into the house. Snow melt can be caused by ambient weather conditions or from heat escaping from the house. One way of preventing ice damming is removing snow from the roof before the snow melts. To avoid the risks associated with climbing onto the roof, snow rakes have been developed which can be manipulated by a user on the ground.

[0003] Conventional snow rakes include an elongate handle and a blade disposed at the distal end of the handle. A user standing on the ground can lift the handle such that the blade is disposed several feet above the edge of a pitched roof. The blade is disposed transversely to the pitch or fall line of the roof. Then, the handle is pulled proximally toward the user. This drags the blade down the roof. As the blade is dragged down the roof, snow is scraped from the roof and falls downward. Depending upon the depth of the snow, several passes will be necessary to skim off successive layers of snow. After successive layers of snow have been skimmed off from a particular portion of the roof, until the roof is exposed, then the user can move the rake to another portion of the roof.

[0004] As several layers of snow must generally be skimmed off before an area of a roof is cleared or exposed, clearing a roof with a conventional snow rake can be a time consuming chore. It would thus be desirable to have a tool which can more efficiently be used to clear snow from a roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention pertains to a snow rake for removing snow from a roof. The snow rake includes an elongate handle and a blade disposed at the distal end thereof. The blade extends transversely to the handle. An opening extends through the blade. A bottom portion of the blade is preferably sharpened to create a frost edge. Extending distally from the blade is a partially coiled, low friction lubricious sheath.

[0006] A user standing on the ground glides the blade several feet above the edge of a pitched roof. The blade is then drawn downward, slicing through the snow, until it reaches the surface of the roof. As the blade is drawn through the snow, most of the snow passes through the opening, remaining in place on the roof. The lubricious sheath, however, is uncoiled beneath snow as the blade is dragged downward. Once the sheath is disposed between the roof surface and the snow, the relatively high frictional interface between the snow and the roof is replaced by a low friction interface between the snow and the sheath. The snow then readily slides downward off the roof.

[0007] In a second embodiment of the invention, a snow rake comprises a handle pivotably attached to a snow-removing blade. The blade is slide up the roof in a closed position. When the snow rake is then drawn back down the roof, the blade pivots to an open position, allowing the user to pull snow down the roof. Rollers or skis may be attached to the edge of the blade to permit the blade to more easily slide down the roof.

[0008] An embodiment of the invention pertains to a means for packaging the invention for easy and compact storage. The handle may comprise several sections that may be retained together using two end caps connected by an elastic cord. This elastic cord may also be used to retain the frame or blade against the handle sections. A clip may be attached by a cord to one of the end caps for this purpose as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snow rake in accordance with the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2a is a side view of a stay in accordance with the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2b is a side view of an end of the stay connected to the snow rake;

[0012] FIG. 2c is a side view of the opposite end of the stay connected to the snow rake;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a portion of a snow rake;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a blade of a snow rake illustrating several wheel configurations;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the snow rake;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a detail view of the blade of the snow rake;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a side view of the handle of the snow rake;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a side view of a tubular coupling for coupling the handle to the snow rake;

[0019] FIG. 9 is an end view of the tubular coupling;

[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a snow rake in accordance with the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a snow rake in accordance with the present invention; and

[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a snow rake in packaging in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings, in which like elements in different drawings are numbered in like fashion. The drawings which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In some cases, the drawings may be highly diagrammatic in nature. Examples of constructions, materials, dimensions, and manufacturing processes are provided for various elements. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the examples provided have suitable alternatives which may be utilized.

[0024] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of a snow rake 10 in accordance with the present invention. Snow rake 10 includes an elongate handle 12. Disposed near one end of handle 12 is a blade 14. Blade 14 can have a generally rectangular opening 15 therethrough. Extending from blade 14 is a partially coiled lubricious sheet 16.

[0025] Handle 12 has a distal end 18. Handle 12 is preferably 10 to 20 feet long, or longer as is necessary to reach the roof of a structure. Handle 12 may be made from a single, elongate rod, a telescoping rod, or a rod which comes in several segments which can be connected together to create a handle 12 of sufficient length.

[0026] Blade 14 preferably includes a tubular coupling 20 through which handle 12 can extend. Blade 14 also includes a bottom portion 26 or sheet attaching member. It can be appreciated, by reference to subsequent figures that blade 14 has a rectangular configuration extending transversely to handle 12. Top portion 24 and bottom portion 26 define the top and bottom of an opening extending through blade 14. Bottom portion 26 includes a proximal edge 28. A leading portion 33 of sheet 16 can be disposed under bottom portion 26 and fastened thereto by screw or other fastener. Blade 14 is preferably made from a light metal, such as aluminum or plastic.

[0027] Sheet 16 is preferably biased into a partially coiled configuration including at least one curved portion 34 disposed between a leading edge 33 and a distal edge 36 of sheet 16. Sheet 16 is preferably formed such that it is internally biased to recoil if straightened. Lubricious sheet 16 preferably comprises a material which is durable, light weight, and provides a surface having a relatively low coefficient of friction. Examples of materials which may be suitable in some applications include: polyolefin, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyamide, and polyimide. Examples of polyolefins which may be suitable in some applications include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). In a preferred embodiment, sheet 16 has a thickness between about 0.020 inches and 0.080 inches.

[0028] In FIG. 1, sheet 16 of snow rake 10 is disposed in an uncoiled position A. Sheet 16 may also assume a substantially coiled position B (See FIG. 2). For example, blade 14 may be drawn downward, slicing through a layer of snow disposed on a roof. As blade 14 is drawn through the snow, sheet 16 will be uncoiled beneath a substantial portion of the snow as blade 14 is dragged downward. Once sheet 16 is disposed between the roof surface and the snow, the relatively high frictional interface between the snow and the roof is replaced by a low friction interface between the snow and sheet 16. The snow then readily slides downward off the roof.

[0029] In an embodiment, sheet 16 is biased to assume position B when there are no outside forces (e.g., the weight of the snow) acting on it. Alternately, stays 40 may be releasably or permanently connected to blade 14 and proximate a distal edge 36 of sheet 16 to maintain sheet 16 in the uncoiled, or at least partially uncoiled position A. Stays 40 might be used, for example, when the weight of the snow encountered by rake 10 is insufficient to move sheet 16 from the coiled position B to the uncoiled position A.

[0030] FIG. 2a is a side view of stay 40. Stay 40 may be formed from a metal such as steel, aluminum or a polymer. It should be sufficiently rigid to resist the bias of sheet 16 to move from uncoiled position A to coiled position B. Each end of stays 40 may be bent to form an angle 46. At one end of stay 40 may be releasably inserted into an opening 42 in blade 14 as shown in FIG. 2b. Angle 46 at the opposite end of stay 40 may be releasably inserted into an opening 44 in sheet 16 as shown in FIG. 2c.

[0031] FIG. 3 depicts a partially exploded perspective view of a blade and sheet portion of a snow rake. A spacer 15 may be attached to bottom portion 26, over leading portion 33 of sheet 16. Spacer 15 generally extends over the width of bottom portion 26 and comprises plastic or another durable, non-abrasive material that is suitable. Spacer 15 may have holes 17 aligned with holes in sheet 16 and blade 14 for fastening the three pieces together using screws, rivets or other suitable fasteners. Longitudinally aligned risers 19 may be interspersed between holes 17 to lift metal or abrasive components away from the roof. Risers 19 may have a curved outer surface to facilitate travel over the roof. Alternatively, a single curved riser 19 may extend over the entire surface of spacer 15, with holes 17 countersunk therein. In another contemplated alternative, fasteners may be integrally manufactured with spacer 15, thereby eliminating metal fasteners and permitting blade 14 and sheet 16 to snap together with spacer 15.

[0032] FIG. 4 depicts a blade 14 having several different configurations of wheels attached thereto. While any combination of wheels may be used, embodiments are contemplated having only one wheel configuration. For example, blade 14 may have wheels to ease its travel down the roof. Wheels 21 may be two or more wide wheels 21 installed in bottom portion 26 of blade 14. Alternatively, blade 14 may have a plurality of narrow wheels 23 imbedded into blade 14. Of course, wheels 21 or wheels 23 may be installed on a leading or trailing edge of blade 14, rather than in the middle, as depicted. In another contemplated alternative, a pair of larger, narrow wheels 25 may be installed on the sides of blade 14.

[0033] It can be appreciated that sheet 16 defines a gliding surface 35. When snow rake 10 is being utilized to clear snow from a roof, gliding surface 35 may be utilized to assist in positioning snow rake 10. For example, the distal end of snow rake 10 may be lifted to a location proximate the lowest portion of the roof. Snow rake 10 may then be lowered until gliding surface 35 of sheet 16 contacts the roof or a layer of snow overlaying the roof. It may be appreciated that resting gliding surface 35 on the roof will significantly reduce the force required from the person using the roof rake. The distal end of snow rake 10 may be advanced to a higher location of the roof by pushing distally on handle 12 and allowing gliding surface 35 to slide along the roof or a layer of snow overlaying the roof.

[0034] Leading portion 33 of sheet 16 can be rotationally fixed relative to blade 14. FIG. 5 is a side view of snow rake 10 showing sheet 16 connected by fasteners 32, such as a screw, underneath bottom portion 26 of blade 14. As can be seen in FIG. 5, leading portion 33 of sheet 16 can be biased to curve upward.

[0035] In FIG. 5 tubular coupling 20 can be seen connected to top portion 24 of blade 16. This connection can be made by welding or other connection or fastening techniques. Handle 12 is shown disposed in and releasably connected to tubular coupling 20 by detent 48. Detent 48 is biased into position by a spring 50.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a detail of the connection of sheet 16 to blade 14. Fastener 32 is shown as a threaded fastener. Numerous other connections or fastening techniques could be used to secure sheet 16 to blade 14.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a side view of handle 12. Detent 48 is outwardly biased by spring 52. Handle 12 can have a reduced diameter portion 53 where it is inserted into tubular coupling 20. Proximate the end of handle 12 near blade 14, handle 12 can have an ergonomic bend 55.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a side view detail of tubular coupling 20. Tubular coupling 20 can have an opening 54 for receipt of detent 48. Coupling 20 can also have a detent guide 56 to facilitate alignment of detent 48 in tubular coupling 20.

[0039] FIG. 9 is an end view of tubular coupling 20. When handle 12 is connected to coupling 20, detent 48 can be deflected inward and slid into detent guide 56 until detent 48 is biased into opening 54. This will releasably secure to your handle 12 to blade 14.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a snow removal rake 10 according to the invention. Handle 12 is pivotably attached to a blade 14 having a relatively large surface area and which may have a curved surface. Reinforcing arms 58 may also be pivotably attached to the blade and slideably attached to handle 12. This attachment between reinforcing arms 58 and handle 12 may comprising a bar connecting reinforcing arms 58 that is disposed in an elongate slot having two opposing openings. This configuration permits blade 14 to move between a closed position, in which there is a minimum distance between blade 14 and handle 12, and an open position, in which there is a maximum distance between blade 14 and handle 12. When the blade is in the open position, it may be substantially perpendicular to the handle or there may be an acute angle between the handle and the blade. The blade is disposed to be in the closed position when the blade end of the snow rake is pushed up a roof. When the snow rake is drawn down the roof, the blade digs into the snow, moving to the open position. The pivoting ends of handle 12 and reinforcing arms 58 may be arranged in a triangular pattern on the blade. This permits the blade and the handle to be connected through an inherently stable tetrahedral joint. In this position, as the snow rake is drawn down the roof, snow is pushed down the roof as well. Blade 14 is made of a rigid material such as metal or plastic with reinforcing ribs. In addition, blade 14 may have a lubricious surface to aid in pushing the blade up the roof and into the snow. Working edge 60 of blade may be sharpened to help the blade more easily cut through the snow. Means for keeping the blade off the roof and easing the movement of the blade downward on the roof may be attached to edge 60. These means may be rollers 62 or skis (shown and further discussed in FIG. 11).

[0041] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a snow rake 10 according to the invention. The embodiment of FIG. 11 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 10 except for the differences discussed herein below. Handle 12 and reinforcing arms 58 are fixedly attached to a foot portion 62 of blade 14. Reinforcing arms are also fixedly attached to handle 12. A pivotable portion 64 of blade is attached to base portion 62 through hinge 66. This permits the snow rake to operate in substantially the same fashion as the embodiment of FIG. 10, where the blade slides up the roof in the closed position, and opens to push the snow down the roof when the snow rake is drawn down the roof. Attached to edge 60 of blade are one or more skis 68. Skis 68 may be pivotably attached to edge 60 or they may be fixed. Skis 68 are configured so that when blade 14 is in the open position, the skis are substantially parallel to handle 12, allowing the blade to be drawn down a roof without edge 60 catching on the roof.

[0042] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a snow rake packaged according to the invention. It can well be appreciated that a smaller, more rigid package is easier to transport and store. If a snow rake has a handle 12 which comprises more than one segment, these segments 72 can be securely retained together using two caps 70 disposed on opposite ends of segments 72 connected by a cord 74. These caps may be hollow for receiving the ends of the handle segments or may consist of a number of fingers, each finger being received by a hollow end of a handle segment. These caps may retain handle segments 72 in a bundled configuration or in a flat configuration, as depicted in the figure. Cord 74 may be elastic to more easily retain handle segments 72. This cord may extend substantially directly between the first cap and the second cap or may retain the blade or blade and frame in a closed or rolled up position against handle segments 72. In the alternative, a second cord 76 may be attached at one end to a cap 70 and to the other to a clip 78. The blade 14 or blade and frame portion may be retained against handle segments 72 by cord 76 and clip 78. Clip 78 is configured to clip onto one or more handle segments 72. In this manner a snow rake can be reduced to a smaller, more manageable package for transporting or storing.

[0043] Numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is, in many respects, only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size and ordering of steps without exceeding the scope of the invention. The invention's scope is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A snow removal device comprising;

an elongate handle having a distal end and a proximal end;

a flexible sheet having a leading edge and a leading portion proximate the leading edge;

the leading portion of the flexible sheet being connected to the elongate handle proximate the distal end thereof;

the flexible sheet having an at least partially uncoiled position defining a gliding surface;

the flexible sheet being bias toward a coiled position; and

at least one stay to hold the flexible sheeting in the at least partially uncoiled position.

2. The snow removal device of claim 1, further comprising a blade, wherein the blade has a sheet attaching member, the blade being connected to the handle.

3. The snow removal device of claim 2, wherein the sheet is attached under the sheet attaching member.

4. The snow removal device of claim 3, further comprising means to keep the sheet and the sheet attaching member spaced off a surface.

5. The snow removal device of claim 3, further comprising a non-abrasive spacer under the sheet.

6. The snow removal device of claim 2, further comprising wheels rotationally attached to the blade.

7. The snow removal device of claim 2, further comprising a detent, the detent connecting the handle to the blade.

8. The snow removal device of claim 1, wherein the leading edge of the sheet is curved upward.

9. The snow removal device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a thermoplastic material.

10. The snow removal device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a polyolefin.

11. The snow removal device of claim 1, wherein the leading portion of the flexible sheet is rotationally fixed relative to the elongate handle.

12. A snow removal device comprising;

an elongate handle having a distal end and a proximal end;

a flexible sheet having a leading edge and a leading portion proximate the leading edge;

the leading portion of the flexible sheet being fixed to the elongate handle proximate the distal end thereof;

the flexible sheet defining a gliding surface; and

a blade disposed between the elongate handle and, the flexible sheet, the blade having a sheet attachment member wherein the sheet is attached under the sheet attachment member.

13. The snow removal device of claim 12, wherein the leading portion of the flexible sheet is rotationally fixed relative to the elongate handle.

14. A snow removal device comprising:

an elongate handle having a distal end and a proximal end;

two reinforcing arms having distal and proximal ends connected to the handle proximal the distal end; and

a blade pivotably connected to the distal end of the handle and the distal ends of the reinforcing arms.

15. The snow removal device of claim 14, wherein the blade is connected the handle through a pivoting joint disposed at the distal end of the handle.

16. The snow removal device of claim 15, wherein the reinforcing arms are connected to the blade through pivoting joints located at the distal ends of the reinforcing arms, and wherein the reinforcing arms are slideably connected to the blade.

17. The snow removal device of claim 14, wherein the elongate handle and the reinforcing arms are connected to the blade through a foot portion pivotably connected to the blade by a hinge.

18. The snow removal device of claim 17, wherein the handle is fixedly attached to the foot portion and wherein the reinforcing arms are fixedly attached to the foot portion and the handle.

19. The snow removal device of claim 14, wherein the distal end of the handle and the distal ends of the reinforcing arm are arranged in a triangular pattern.

20. The snow removal device of claim 14, wherein the blade is concave towards the handle.

21. The snow removal device of claim 14, wherein the blade is rigid and lubricious.

22. The snow removal device of claim 14, wherein the blade has a working edge and wherein the snow removal device further comprises means to keep the working edge spaced off a surface.

23. The snow removal device of claim 22, wherein the means to keep the working edge spaced off a surface are selected from the group consisting of rollers and skis.

24. A snow removal kit, comprising:

a snow removal device comprising a variable length handle selected from the group consisting of a telescoping handle and a handle having two or more detachable elongate segments, and a snow removal blade; and

a retention device comprising a first end cap, a second end cap, and a first cord connecting the first end cap to the second end cap.

25. The kit of claim 24, wherein the first cord is elastic.

26. The kit of claim 24, wherein the first end cap and the second end cap have a chamber configured to receive one or more ends of the variable length handle.

27. The kit of claim 24, wherein the variable length handle has two or more hollow ends and the first end cap and the second end cap each have one or more fingers adapted to enter one of the two or more hollow ends.

28. The kit of claim 24, wherein the variable length handle comprises two or more detachable elongate segments and wherein the caps are configured to retain the two or more detachable elongate segments in a bundle.

29. The kit of claim 24, wherein the variable length handle comprises two or more detachable elongate segments and wherein the caps are configured to retain the two or more detachable elongate segments in a flat array.

30. The kit of claim 24, wherein the retention device further comprises a second cord having a first end attached to one of the end caps and a second end attached to a clip, the clip configured to removable attach to the variable length handle.

31. The kit of claim 30, wherein the snow removal blade is retained against the variable length handle by the second cord.

32. The kit of claim 24, wherein the snow removal blade is retained against the variable length handle by the first cord.