Snow removal device

Abstract

There is disclosed a manual snow removal device that uses only a small fraction of the energy required for shoveling snow by eliminating the need to toss snow way up into the air thereby preventing heart attacks and death wherein the collected snow never leaves the ground which comprises a snow mover and a snow receiver wherein the snow mover includes a handle manipulated by one hand and having attached on the lower end a push plate and a laterally attached dig plate and used to move snow into the snow receiver wherein the snow receiver includes a container that is of a box like configuration having a collar assembly rotatably attached to the front end wherein the lower portion of the collar is a snow blade wherein the collar may be latched into a front position thereby placing the blade in a down position such that the receiver may be pulled into the snow by the cord with one hand thereby collecting snow wherein the collar may then be latched into a back position thereby lifting the blade up to create a sled-like front end configuration of the receiver such that the receiver may be easily pulled across the snow to a dump area and dumped by tilting the receiver with the snow mover wherein the user is always standing erect during the whole procedure with no bending down or tossing snow required.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to manual snow removal devices, more particularly to the common snow shovel. Annually, shoveling snow, because it is so strenuous, causes many deaths because of heart attacks and also many cases of back injury and other injury. This device uses only a fraction of the energy and force required for shoveling snow and consequently will save many lives and prevent many injuries. Also, because this device is so easy to use, almost anyone can use it, even children. Furthermore, this device can be sold at a price that almost anyone can afford.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Basically, this invention involves a manual snow removal device which comprises a snow mover and a snow receiver wherein the snow mover includes a handle that has attached on the lower end a push plate wherein extending out laterally from the bottom edge of the push plate is a dig plate wherein the snow mover is manipulated with one hand to chop down into the snow and move same into the snow receiver. The snow receiver includes the container, collar assembly, latch means, cord, cord guides, cord clamps and a handle. The container is of a box-like construction having a flat bottom side and an open front end. The collar assembly has a bottom flat snow blade that is joined to right and left sides wherein said sides are joined at the top by a connecting bar, said connecting bar having a latch attached on top. The back edge of the snow blade portion of the collar assembly is rotatably connected to the container bottom side front edge by a hinge wherein the latch actuator lever may be engaged by the snow mover to rotatably move and latch the connecting bar to the snow receiver front position which lowers the snow blade such that the snow receiver may be pulled by the cord into snow to collect same wherein the latch actuator lever may be engaged by the snow mover to rotatably move and latch the connecting bar to the snow receiver back position which lifts the front of the snow blade up, creating a sled-like configuration in the snow receiver front end such that the snow receiver may be easily pulled by the cord over snow and other obstacles to a dump area to dump the collected snow. A handle is attached on the snow receiver top side near the back side wherein said handle can be engaged by the snow mover to tilt the snow receiver over onto the open front end, thereby dumping the snow wherein during this whole collection and dumping procedure, the user is always standing erect with no tossing of the snow required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing the snow mover and snow receiver with the collar assembly in the front position and the snow blade in the down position, which is the position for collecting snow. The snow shield is shown in phantom lines for unobstructed view of the latch. See FIG. 8 for a better view of the snow shield.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the snow receiver with the collar assembly in the back position and the snow blade in the up position which renders the snow receiver in a sled-like configuration for easy pulling the receiver across the ground to the snow dump area. The snow shield is shown in phantom lines for unobstructed view of the front position hook receiver and front stop means. See FIG. 8 for a better view of the snow shield.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the snow receiver showing the angle of the snow blade in the down position relative to the receiver bottom side.

FIG. 4 shows one method of collecting snow by pulling the snow receiver into the snow.

FIG. 5 shows another method of collecting snow by using the snow mover to move snow into the snow receiver.

FIG. 6A shows how the snow mover blade assembly is used to move the latch actuator lever forward, placing the collar assembly in the front position and the snow blade in the down position in order to collect snow.

FIG. 6B shows how the snow mover blade assembly is used to move the latch actuator lever backwards, placing the collar assembly in the back position and the snow blade in the up position in order to easily pull the receiver to the dump area.

FIG. 6C shows the snow mover blade assembly being inserted into the handle so that the receiver may be inverted to dump the snow.

FIG. 6D shows the snow receiver pulled into the inverted position so that the collected snow will fall to the ground.

FIG. 6E shows the snow receiver being lifted up by the handle, leaving the collected snow on the ground. It is noteworthy that in all the operations shown in FIGS. 6A through 6E, the user stands erect never having to bend down or perform the strenuous task of tossing snow way up into the air.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway partial view showing how the snow mover blade assembly is inserted into the handle slot to place the receiver into the inverted position.

FIG. 8 is a diassembled perspective view showing how the collar assembly and the container fit together. Also shows a clearer view of the snow shield.

FIG. 9 is a disassembled perspective view of the latch showing how the parts fit together.

FIG. 10A is a cutaway side view of the latch showing the component positions when the collar assembly is latched into the front or back position.

FIG. 10B is a cutaway side view of the latch showing the component positions when the collar assembly is being unlatched from the front position and being moved to the back position. Also shown is the front position hook receiver. The spring tangs are not shown for increased clarity.

FIG. 10C is a cutaway side view of the latch showing the component positions when the collar assembly is being unlatched from the back position and being moved to the front position. Also shown is the back position hook receiver. The spring tangs are not shown for increased clarity.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cord clamp.

FIG. 12A is an operational view showing how the dig plate of the snow mover initially digs into the snow.

FIG. 12B shows how, as the arm movement continues, the push plate in combination with the dig plate moves snow towards the snow receiver.

FIG. 12C shows the final part of the arm movement wherein the dig plate is now generally parallel to the ground and the snow mover handle is straight up, allowing snow to be moved on into the snow receiver without the handle hitting the front edge of the receiver top side. Note that the changing oreintation of the handle and blade assembly, as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C, occurs naturally during this arm movement with no special effort required of the user.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are top and side views respectively of the snow receiver handle.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are top and side views respectively of the cord guide.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are top and side views respectively of the front position hook receiver.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are top and side views respectively of the back position hook receiver.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are top and side views respectively of the front stop means.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are top and side views respectively of the back stop means.

FIG. 19 shows a side view of the lower portion of the item mover as defined in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,278 B1. Note that the bottom of the handle is squared off and that nuts protrude out from the back side of the handle.

FIG. 20 shows a side view of the lower portion of the snow mover—as defined in this patent. Note that the bottom of the handle is not squared off but is beveled upwards and away from the push plate. Also note that there are no nuts or screw heads protruding out from the back of the handle. This modification to the original item mover allows the resulting snow mover to more smoothly and with less restriction push snow further into the snow receiver.

FIG. 21 is a back side view of the lower portion of the snow mover handle showing the bevel on the bottom of the handle and the two recessed screw holes.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a more economical but less efficient energy wise, alternative form of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is termed a snow removal device and functions to manually collect and move snow from one location to another. Simply stated, it replaces the common snow shovel but at the same time requires much less energy and is much safer to use from the standpoint that it is far less likely to cause death from a heart attack or cause back or muscle injury. Shoveling snow is probably the most strenuous activity that many people ever experience, requiring the use of almost every muscle in the body. When shoveling snow, first you have to bend way over to push the shovel underneath the snow and then lift that snow up from that bent over position, the worst back position to lift a weight, all of which is very condusive to back injury. Then to toss the snow, the shovel must be suddenly and very swiftly lifted up in order for that snow to gain sufficient velocity to leave the shovel, requiring a tremendous surge of force and energy. Annually, this results in a substantial number of deaths from heart attacks and also numerous cases of back and muscle injury.

What makes shoveling snow so strenuous is having to overcome the opposing force of gravity, first in lifting the snow from the ground, or driveway or whatever, and then in tossing the snow way up into the air. One of the major advantages of this invention that greatly reduces the required energy is that during the whole removal process, the collected snow essentially never leaves the ground, thereby almost eliminating the negative effects of gravity. The need to bend way down to lift a shovel full of snow up from the ground or to toss snow way up into the air is no longer required. Another energy saving aspect of this device is that during almost all of the snow removal process, the user is standing erect, saving the energy required to move the body up and down. The inventor has calculated that this invention will require less than one twelveth of the power in ft. lbs. per second of that required for tossing a given amount of snow. What this means is that using this invention instead of a snow shovel will save a lot of lives and a lot of grief.

To shovel crusted over or frozen snow has always been a daunting task or even impossible, because for one thing, the shovel is so wide that forcing the it underneath the frozen snow is extremely difficult. Then to have to break it loose from the adjacent snow when lifting just adds to the difficulty. As will be discussed later, this invention is far superior, requiring much less energy than a snow shovel, in performing this task because of the capability of the snow mover to chop down on top of the snow, breaking it up so it can be moved on into the snow receiver in small but quick increments rather than to have push a shovel underneath and lift a whole shovelfull all at once.

Another advantage of this device is that it is so easy to use that house wives, single mothers, elderly people and even children can use it, greatly expanding the potential pool of buyers and users. As opposed to this, only a very strong person, usually a man, can wield a snow shovel. Using this device, it would not be unusual for a husband to come home tired from work to find that his wife, or children, had already cleared the driveway of snow, saving him the trouble.

Compared to a snow shovel, another advantage of this device is that it can be used in a leisurely fashion at a pace desired by the user. There is no such thing as leisurely shoveling snow because the minimum effort to toss snow is actually very great. If you leisurely and slowly try to toss snow, the snow will not leave the shovel. It requires a sudden burst of tremendous energy.

One of the factors in shoveling snow that causes heart attacks is the innate need people have is that once you start a job is to stay busy until that job is finished - and shoveling snow is so strenuous and so fast that people will keep shoveling and shoveling until they have a heart attack. This device will satisfy that innate need to stay busy but with a lot less effort and a greatly reduced possibility of a heart attack or other injury.

Still another advantage of this invention is that it can be produced and retailed at a price that almost anyone can afford.

Additional advantages of this device will be disclosed in following paragraphs of this specification.

At this point, it should be stated that this snow removal device was preceeded by another invention by this inventor titled “Item Collection Device”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,278 B1 that has some similarity to this device. The Item Collection Device was designed to collect debris and non-debris items such as pine cones, pop cans, leaf piles, apples, golf balls, etc., but not snow. The present device, while designed to collect snow, may also be used to collect debris and non-debris items and therefore use of this invention is in no way restricted to just collecting snow.

The two main elements of this invention is the snow receiver (6) and the snow mover (1), (FIGS. 1 and 2). The snow receiver (6) includes several components including the container (7) and the collar assembly (37) (FIG. 8) and other components that will be discussed later. The container (7) is a box-like structure having an open front end (13) for receiving the input snow. Attached by a hinge means to the front portion of the container bottom side (11) is the collar assembly (37) which generally surrounds the container open front end (13) when the collar assembly (37) is in the front position, as shown in FIG. 1. The lower portion of the collar assembly (37) is the snow blade (38) which functions to cut into the snow when the snow receiver (6) is pulled into the snow which occurs when the collar assembly (37) is in the front position as shown in FIG. 1. When the collar assembly (37) is placed into the back position (FIGS. 2 and 6B), the snow blade (38) is in the up position, giving the front end of the snow receiver (6) a sled-like configuration such that the snow filled snow receiver (6) can be easily pulled over the snow or over other obstacles to the dumping area. The collar assembly (37) can be placed into the front or the back postions by using the snow mover push plate (3) to push or pull on the latch actuator lever (56), with the user standing erect, as shown in FIGS. 6 A and 6B.

In operation, the user of this invention can collect snow in one of two ways, or a combination thereof, either by pulling the snow receiver (6) into the snow by the cord (27) (FIG. 4) or by moving snow into the receiver (6) with one hand using the snow mover (1) (FIG. 5) which, in either case, is not very strenuous. And the user can perform both operations while standing erect. Another aspect of moving snow in using the snow mover (1), which is very light, is that the mover (1) chops down on the top of the snow and moves snow in in small light increments (FIGS. 12A, B and C) rather than lifting a whole shovelful up from the bottom of the snow pile all at one time. However, these increments add up quickly as this operation can be performed very rapidly. In the working model of this invention, the snow mover (1) weighed only 12 ounces.

A typical snow removal operation begins with the collar assembly (37) in the front position wherein this device can be pulled into the snow (FIG. 4) or snow moved into the receiver (6) using the snow mover (FIG. 5). Experience with the working model of this invention, using sawdust as a reasonable facsimile of snow, has shown that the first step is to pull the receiver (6) into the sawdust until no more sawdust can be introduced in this fashion, and then to move more sawdust in using the snow mover (1). The snow mover (1) can then pack more sawdust in by pushing the mover (1) further on inside the receiver (6) and then more sawdust can be moved in until the receiver (6) is filled.

When the filled snow receiver (6) is ready to be dumped, the collar assembly (37) is then placed into the back position, lifting the snow blade (38) into the up position (FIG. 6B), by placing the snow mover dig plate (3) into the latch actuator lever (56) front hook (60) (see FIGS. 6B and 10B) and pushing the snow mover (1) towards the rear. This initially unlatches the collar assembly (37) from the front position, and continued pushing and movement will latch the collar assembly (37) into the back position (FIGS. 2 and 6B). This action establishes a sled-like configuration at the front end of the snow receiver (6) such that the receiver (6) can be easily pulled by the cord (27) over the snow or other obstacles to the dump area.

The collar assembly (37) is now placed into the front position (FIG. 1), lowering the snow blade (38) into the down position (FIG. 6A), by placing the snow mover dig plate (3) into the latch actuator lever back hook (61) (see FIGS. 6A and 10C) and pulling the snow mover (1) towards the front. This initially unlatches the collar assembly (37) from the back position, and continued pulling and movement will latch the collar assembly (37) into the front position (FIGS. 1 and 6A), which opens up the open front end of the snow receiver (6) so that the snow can be dumped out.

The handle (15) is located on the back portion of the receiver (6) top side (10) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6C. Now the edge of the snow mover push plate (2) is inserted into slot (19) of handle (15), as shown in FIGS. 7 and 6C, such that the top surface of the snow mover dig plate (3) engages the bottom surface of the handle hand grip (16).

Then the snow mover handle (4) is pulled up and over (FIGS. 6C and 6D), flipping the snow receiver over such that the receiver open front end (13) is flat agains't the ground, dumping the snow. The user then by hand lifts the snow receiver (6) up by the handle (15), leaving the dumped snow on the ground (FIG. 6E).

The user then lays or drops the snow receiver (6) back onto the ground and places the collar assembly (37) into the back position, as previously explained, creating a sled-like configuration of the snow receiver (6) and the snow receiver (6) is pulled back to the snow area by the cord (27). The user then places the collar assembly (37) into the front position, as previously explained, and the snow receiver (6) is now ready to collect more snow.

Note that during this whole process of snow removal, the snow was always on the ground, or in the snow receiver (6) which is on the ground, letting mother earth support the weight of the snow. No tossing snow way up into the air. No bending way over to lift up a shovel full of snow from the ground. Also, the user was always standing erect, never wasting energy moving his or her body up and down. Whereas the collar assembly is moved several times to the front or to the back position during the snow removal process, it should be noted that either of these operations can be done in an instant.

The item mover previously described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,278 B1 is very similar to the snow mover (1) described in the patent. It just so happens that the item mover described in the previous patent is also ideal for chopping into and moving snow but was improved in this patent with two modifications for more efficient snow removal. In FIG. 19, a side view of the lower portion of the previous item mover is shown. Note that the bottom end of the handle is squared off and also that nuts protrude out on the back side of the handle. In FIG. 20 is a side lower view of the snow mover (1). Note in this figure that in the bottom end of the handle (4) is a bevel (109) that bevels upwards and away from the back of the push plate (2) and also that no nuts protrude out beyond the back of the handle (4). FIG. 21 is a back view of the lower portion of handle (4) showing the bevel and the two screw holes (33) and a recesses (110) around each hole (33) that prevents the nuts, or screw heads as the case may be, from protruding out beyond the back of the handle. The reason for these two modifications is that the snow mover (1) is also used to push snow further on into the receiver (6) by inserting it further on into the snow receiver (6). When this is done, the handle (4) approaches being parallel to the snow receiver (6) bottom side (11) and the bottom end and back of the handle (4) will engage said side (11). By beveling the handle (4) bottom end and eliminating any protruding nuts allows the snow mover bottom portion to be lower, pushing more snow back on into the snow receiver (6) and also provides for a smoother, less resistive, inward movement. The push plate (2) is termed the “striking means” and the dig plate (3) is termed the “lifting means” in the previous patent. Other than the two above mentioned modifications, the snow mover (1) is identical to the item mover described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,278 B1. In this patent, the dig plate (3) was so termed because on the initial part of stroke this plate dug into the snow (FIG. 12A) and the push plate (2) so termed because on the final part of the stroke (FIG. 12C) it pushes the snow on into the snow receiver (6).

A snow mover that is capable of moving any hardness snow that is within the capability of a snow shovel would be very light, somewhere within the range of 12 ounces and this mover (1) is the one that would be marketed with this invention. But for snow that is frozen solid, which a shovel can't move, a separate special snow mover could be marketed having heavier dig and push plates (3,2), for example made of ⅛ or ¼ inch thick hard steel with a sharpened dig plate edge, and possibly not as wide as the plates of the standard snow mover. The general shape, however, is the same as the standard snow mover. This special mover could be lifted high above the head with one arm and swung down in a long arc and hit with a terrific force that should break up almost any hardness snow. And this activity would not require a great amount of energy since only one arm is used. However, the standard light snow mover will out perform a snow shovel in soft or crusted over snow. As written, this patent should cover either type mover since the only difference is size.

Referencing FIGS. 1 and 2, the snow receiver (6) includes the container (7), rear handle (15), collar assembly (37), hinge means (22) that rotatably connects the container (7) to the collar assembly (37), latching means which includes the latch (48), front position hook receiver (86), front stop means (100), back position hook receiver (93), back stop means (104), cord (27), cord guides (43) and cord clamps (29).

Whereas the container (7) is shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 8 and in other figures, with perpendicularly joined sides, creating a box like configuration, it is possible to have a satifactorily functioning container configuration where, for example, the sides are not perpendicularly joined. Indeed, the top, left and right sides could be of a semicircular design as was the working model of this invention. However, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, the container (7) would be configured as shown, although most likely in the actual manufactured versions, the side joints would be rounded instead of at sharp right angles as shown, because rounded joints provide more structural strength.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention and referencing FIG. 8, the container (7) is generally a box like structure having a right side (8), left side (9), top side (10), bottom side (11), back side (12) and the open front end (13) where all sides join any adjacent side in a generally perpendicular fashion. All sides are generally flat wherein the top side (10) and bottom side (11) are generally parallel and the right side (8) and left side (9) are also generally parallel. Attached to or made onto the front edge of the bottom side (11) is a half hinge (23), which is similar to half of a standard cabinet hinge with the pin removed, having alternating rounded protrusions (24) and recesses (25). The rounded protrusions (24) contain hinge pin holes (112), said holes (112) being centered on the rounded portion of the protrusions (24).

At, or near, the hinge pin hole (112) on the right side (8) and left side (9), inclined side edges (14) proceed upwards and forward and terminates at the upper front edge (135) of the right side (8) and the left side (9). The purpose of the resulting configuration, i.e., eliminating that portion of the right and left sides, is to allow space such that the collar assembly snow blade (38) may freely move into the up position which occurs when the collar assembly (37) is placed into the back position, as shown in FIG. 2. The snow shield (132) extends upwards from the front top edge of the top side (10). The purpose of the snow shield (132) is to prevent snow from entering the mechanism of the latch (48), which could interfere with the operation of the latch (48). This is particularly possible when the snow receiver (6) is flipped over onto the open front side (13) to dump snow. The snow shield (132) should extend upwards no further than is necessary to shield that portion of the latch (48) mechanism contained within the latch frame (49) but not so high as to prevent the snow mover dig plate (3) easy access to the latch actuator lever (56). The front surface of the snow shield (132) and the upper front edges (135) are in the same plane, said plane being generally parallel to the plane established by the back side (12). It is also true that when the collar assembly (37) is rotatably attached to the container (6) that the snow blade front edge (42) and the lower portion of the collar assembly (37) are in said plane, providing a stable upright configuration when the receiver (6) is flipped over onto the open front end to dump snow.

As shown in FIG.8, the collar assembly (37) includes the snow blade (38), and the right side (39) which joins and extends upwards from the snow blade (38) right edge and the left side (40) which joins and extends upwards from the snow blade (38) left edge and the connecting bar (41) which joins the top surface of the right side (39) and extends to and joins the top surface of the left side (40). The snow blade (38) is flat and the blade front edge (42) is in a straight line. Attached to or made onto the back edge of the of the snow blade (38) is another half hinge (23) which is similar to half of a standard cabinet hinge with the pin removed, having alternating rounded protrusions (24) containing hinge pin holes (112) and recesses (25). When the collar assembly (37) is rotatably joined to the container (7) by merging the two half hinges (23) and inserting the hinge pin (26) through the hinge pin holes (112), the half hinges (23) are so arranged that the longitudinal axis of the hinge pin (26) is generally perpindicular the container right side (8) and left side (9). As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6A and 6B, as the collar assembly (37) is rotated over the hinge pin (26), the collar assembly right side (39), left side (40) and connecting bar (41) move on the outside of the container (7) and the snow blade (38) moves up or down in front of the container open front end (13).

The snow blade front edge (42) is generally sharp to facilitate cutting through the snow as is the lower front edges of the collar assembly right side (39) and left side (40). The straight line established by the blade front edge (42) is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hinge pin (26). Note in FIG. 1 that in the front position, the collar assembly (37) is configured such that the connecting bar (41) is sufficiently spaced back from the container top side (10) front edge and snow shield to allow the attachment of the front position hook receiver (86) and the front stop means (100).

As shown in FIG. 4, when the snow receiver (6) is placed on a flat horizontal surface and the snow blade (38) is in the down position, the snow blade front edge (42) exists below that part of the container bottom side (11) that contains half hinge (23) because of the angle C slope of the snow blade (38). This situation results in that part of the bottom side (11) being higher above the flat surface than the blade front edge (42), leaving only the blade front edge (42) and the container back side bottom edge (111) in contact with the flat surface. This ensures that as the snow receiver (6) is pulled into the snow, the blade front edge (42) will make a clean sweep of the snow. Aiding in effecting a clean sweep is that as the receiver (6) is pulled into the snow, the snow blade (38) offers an inclined surface to the snow wherein the incomming snow will apply a downward force to the blade front edge (42), providing an even cleaner sweep.

The function of the latch means is to latch the collar assembly (37) into the front position (FIG. 1), which places the snow blade (38) into the down position, or to latch the collar assembly (37) into the back position (FIG. 2), which places the snow blade (38) into the up position. There are many different latch designs that could accomplish this function, but the following describes the latch means design utilized in the preferred embodiment of this invention.

The latch means includes the latch (48), front position hook receiver (86), front stop means (100), back position hook receiver (93) and the back stop means (104).

Referencing FIG. 9, the latch (48) includes the frame (49), actuator lever (56), back latch lever (68), front latch lever (78) two coiled torsion springs (107) and the shaft (55).

Referencing FIGS. 9 and 10A, B and C, the frame (49) is U shaped, having a bottom side (50), wherein the right side (53) joins the right edge of bottom side (53) and extends upwards in a generally perpendicular fashion wherein the left side (54) joins the left edge of bottom side (53) and extends upwards in a generally perpendicular fashion wherein both the right side (53) and left side (54) extend upwards sufficiently high to offer side protection to the lower portion of the latch (48) mechanism. Formed through both right side (53) and left side (54) is shaft hole (36), said holes to receive shaft (55) wherein said holes (36) are oppositly disposed and so positioned that the longitudinal axis of the shaft (55) is generally perpendicular to the right side (53) and left side (54).

Referencing FIGS. 9 and 10A, B and C, the top portion of the actuator lever (56) is the horizontal top plate (58). Joined to a central portion of the bottom of the top plate (58) is arm (59) which extends downward in a fashion generally perpendicular to the top plate (58) and joins the base plate (62) in a generally perpendicular fashion. The top plate front portion (65) extends out in a forward direction further than the front surface of arm (59) such that the front portion (65) and the arm (59), in combination, form the actuator front hook (60). The top plate back portion (66) extends out in a rearwards direction further than the back surface of arm (59) such that the back portion (66) and the arm (59), in combination, form the actuator back hook (61). On either side of the base plate (62), bearing flanges (67) extend downward from a central portion of the base plate (62) wherein in the lower portion of the flanges (67) shaft holes (36) are formed in, said shaft holes (36), being oppositely disposed, to receive shaft (55) when the latch (48) is assembled, wherein the two bearing flanges (67) are joined to the base plate (62) in an oreintation to allow rotation of the actuator lever (56) over the shaft (55) when the actuator lever arm (59) is moved to the front or back. The outside width of the base plate (62) and bearing flanges (67) are so dimensioned to fit within and adjacent to the frame right side (53) and left side (54). The inside distance between the flanges (67) is sufficient to cradle, or include between, both the back latch lever (68) and the front latch lever (78).

Referencing FIGS. 9 and 10A, B and C, the back latch lever (68) includes the rotation stop (72) member wherein the rotation stop (72) begins at the rotation stop bottom surface (73) and extends upwards to join the flat portion (70) wherein the flat portion (70) proceeds horizontally and rearwardly to join the inclined portion (74) wherein the inclined portion (74) proceeds upwards and rearwardly from the flat portion (70) to join the engagement portion (75), wherein the engagement portion (75) proceeds downwardly from the inclined portion (74) and terminates in the engagement portion bottom surface (76), wherein the inclined portion (74) and the engagement portion (75) in combination form the back position hook (77).

Proceeding downward on either side of the flat portion (70) and oppositely disposed are the two bearing flanges (69) wherein in the lower portions thereof shaft holes (36) are formed in, said shaft holes (36) to receive shaft (55) when the latch (48) is assembled, wherein the bearing flanges (69) are sufficiently spaced apart to cradle, or include, a coiled torsion spring (107).

Referencing FIGS. 9 and 10A, B and C, the front latch lever (78) includes the rotation stop (83) member wherein the rotation stop (83) begins at the rotation stop bottom surface (84) and extends upwards to join the flat portion (80) wherein the flat portion (80) proceeds horizontally and forewardly to join the engagement portion (81), wherein the engagement portion (81) proceeds downwardly from the flat portion (80) and terminates in the engagement bottom surface (82), wherein the flat portion (80) and the engagement portion (81) in combination form the front position hook (85). Proceeding downward on either side of the flat portion (80) and oppositely disposed are the two bearing flanges (79) wherein in the lower portions thereof shaft holes (36) are formed in, said shaft holes (36) to receive shaft (55) when the latch (48) is assembled, wherein the bearing flanges (79) are sufficiently spaced apart to cradle, or include in between, a coiled torsion spring (107).

Referencing FIGS. 9 and 10A, B and C, the configuration of the assembled latch (48) is hereby described wherein the lower portion of the actuator lever (56), said lower portion being the base plate (62) and the two bearing flanges (67), resides between and is adjacent to the frame right side (53) and the frame left side (54) wherein the back latch lever (68) and the front latch lever (78) are placed side by side and reside below the base plate (62) and between the actuator lever right bearing flang (67) and left bearing flange (67) wherein the back latch lever back position hook (77) extends out rearwards of the bottom side back edge (52) and the front latch lever front position hook (85) extends out forward of the frame bottom side front edge (51) wherein a coiled torsion spring (107) resides between the two bearing flanges (69) shaft holes (36) of the back latch lever (68) wherein the center longitudinal hole of said spring (107) is in alignment with the two holes (36) wherein one tang (108) engages the frame bottom side (50) and the other tang (108) engages the underside of back latch lever flat portion (70) in an oreintation that urges the back position hook (77) to the down position wherein a coiled torsion spring (107) resides between the two bearing flanges (79) of the front latch lever (78) shaft holes (36) of the front latch lever (78) wherein the center longitudinal hole of said spring (107) is in alignment with the two holes (36) wherein one tang (108) engages the frame bottom side (50) and the other tang (108) engages the bottom side of the front latch lever flat portion (80) in an oreintation that urges the front position hook (85) to the down position wherein the shaft (55) is engaged through all shaft holes (36) of the frame (49), actuator lever (56), back latch lever (68) and the front latch lever (78) and also through the center longitudinal holes of the two coiled torsion springs (107).

In FIGS. 10A, B and C, in keeping with the same oreintation shown in FIG. 9, to the right is towards the back of this device, to the left is towards the front, things shown nearest the viewer is on the right side of the latch and things shown furtherest away are on the left side. FIG. 10A is a cut away side view of the latch (48) wherein the frame right side (53) and the actuator lever right bearing flange are cut away for increased clarity. FIG. 10A shows the mechanical configuration that would exist when the collar assembly (37) is latched into the front position or the back position wherein no force is being applied to the latch actuator lever (56). The respective coiled torsion springs (107) of the back latch lever (68) and the front latch lever (78) have forced the back portion of the flat portion (70) of back latch lever (68) to engage the frame bottom side back top edge (52) and also forced the front portion of the flat portion (80) of the front latch lever (78) to engage the frame bottom side front top edge (51). This forces the back position hook (77) of the back latch lever (68) in the down position and also forces the front position hook (85) of the front latch lever (78) in the down position The actuator lever base plate (62) is in close proximity to, or in slight contact with, the respective latch levers (68 and 78) but is applying no force to either, however this relative positioning of the two latch levers (68 and 78) and the actuator base plate (62) retain the actuator lever (56) in a straight up, or neuttral, position allowing a minimum of unnecessary front or back movement, or wobble, of the actuator lever (56). The latch (48) is shown attached to the collar assembly connecting bar (41) in a cut away view.

In FIG. 10B, the latch (48) is shown being unlatched from the front position hook receiver (86) wherein the snow remover dig plate (3) engages the actuator lever front hook (60) and pushed rearwards by the user, rotating the actuator lever (56) over shaft (55) causing the back bottom edge (64) of the actuator lever base plate (62) to engage the front latch lever flat portion (84) to the rear of shaft (55), lifting the front position hook (85) sufficiently high up enough to allow disengagement of the hook (85) from the engagement surface (91) of the front position hook receiver (86) wherein further rotation of the actuator lever (56) is prevented by the engagement of the bottom surface (82) of the rotation stop (83) to the frame bottom side (50) wherein continued force applied to the actuator lever (56) by the snow mover (1) rotates the collar assembly (37) over hinge shaft (26) to move the collar assembly (37) to the back position whereupon the bottom surface (76) of the back position hook (77)—{see FIG. 10C for back position hook receiver (93) view}—will engage the top surface (96) of the back position hook receiver (93) at a position on said top surface (89) near the front edge (99) wherein the downward component of the collar assembly continued arc movement will lift the back position hook (77) upwards relative to the frame bottom side (50) until the until said hook bottom surface (76) passes over the drop point (97) of said hook receiver (93) whereupon the coiled torsion spring (107) will force the back position hook (77) down to engage the engagement surface (98) said hook receiver (93) thereby lattching the collar assembly (37) in the back position wherein further backward movement of the collar assembly (37) is prevented by engagement of the back edge of the collar assembly connecting bar (41) with the back stop means (104).

In FIG. 10C, the latch (48) is shown being unlatched from the back position hook receiver (93) wherein the snow remover dig plate (3) engages the actuator lever front hook (61) and is pulled forward by the user, rotating the actuator lever (56) over shaft (55) causing the front bottom edge (63) of the actuator lever base plate (62) to engage the back latch lever flat portion (70) forward of shaft (55), lifting the back position hook (77) sufficiently high up enough to allow disengagement of the hook (77) from the engagement surface (98) of the back position hook receiver (93) wherein further rotation of the actuator lever (56) is prevented by the engagement of the bottom surface (73) of the rotation stop (72) to the frame bottom side (50) wherein continued force applied to the actuator lever (56) by the snow mover (1) rotates the collar assembly (37) over hinge shaft (26) to move the collar assembly (37) to the front position whereupon the bottom surface (82) of the front position hook (85)—{see FIG. 10B for front position hook receiver (86) view}—will engage the top surface (89) of the front position hook receiver (86) at a position on said top surface (89) near the back edge (92) wherein the downward component of the collar assembly continued arc movement will lift the front position hook (85) upwards relative to the frame bottom side (50) until the until said hook bottom surface (82) passes over the drop point (90) of said front position hook receiver (86) whereupon the coiled torsion spring (107) will force the front position hook (85) down to engage the engagement surface (91) of said hook receiver (86) thereby latching the collar assembly (37) in the front position wherein further forward movement of the collar assembly (37) is prevented by engagement of the front edge of the collar assembly connecting bar (41) with the front stop means (100).

The geometry of this device, as defined here, has to do with the magnitude of the angle C which is the downward angle of snow blade (38) relative to the container bottom side (11) when the collar assembly (37) is in the front position (FIG. 3), the magnitude of the angle A which is the upward angle of snow blade (38) relative to the container bottom side (11) when the collar assembly (37) is in the back position (FIG. 6B), the front to back length of the snow blade (38), the overall length, width and height of the snow receiver (6) the front to back placement of the collar assembly hinge means (22) and any other variable parameter that would affect the performance and cost of this device. Obviously, there is a substantial range of possible parameter values that could be used that would still result in a device that functioned satisfactorily. For example, in the working model of this device, the angle A is 32 degrees and the angle C is 6 degrees and with these particular angles, the working model functioned very satifactorially. However, these figures were chosen by the inventor as functionally capable and is not to say, for example, that an angle A of 45 degrees and an angle C of 10 degrees would perform just as well, or even better. It would require a significant amount of empirical testing in actual snow to determine an optimum set of parameter values which, in reality, may not really exist since the size and strength of all potential users varies so greatly such that the finally determined values would have be a trade off. However, the angle C should be of a high enough value to assure (see FIG. 4) that the snow blade front edge (42) and the bottom side back edge (111) are the only two parts of the snow receiver (6) touching the surface under most snow removal conditions. At the same time, however it must be kept in mind that greater the angle C is, the greater is the incline of the snow blade (38), which will require increased energy to move the snow back on into the snow receiver (6). This being said, the working model of this device with the chosen geometric values has been sufficiently tested to prove that this device is a very satisfactorily functioning invention.

Viewing the latch (48) in FIG. 10A, it is seen that back latch lever (68) includes an inclined portion (74) that is omitted in the front latch lever (78), which results in the back position hook (77) being positioned higher up and further away from the latch frame (49) than the front position hook (85). This back latch lever design allows the collar assembly (37) to be rotated further back (FIG. 6B), providing a greater angle A if desired. In this situation, the collar assembly connecting bar (41) will be very near, or even contacting, the container top side (10). By having the back position hook (77) raised and out of the way allows the connecting bar (41) to come closer, or even engaging, the container top side (10), thereby providing a greater angle A. It should be noted here that the shape of the various components in this patent is based in large part on the shape of their counterpart components used in the working model as it was a successful performer. It is very possible that another design of this device having different geometric parameters could result in a front latch lever and a back latch lever being of identical design which offers the advantage of commonality of components.

The front position hook receiver (86) and the back position hook receiver (93) appear in the drawings to be identical. However, because of the particular design geometry that might exist in the manufactured versions of this device, it is very possible that the angle of attack of the latch (48) when approaching the front position is different from that when approaching the back position. This could result in contour of the top surface of one being different from the other in order to provide smooth engagement of the front (78) or back (68) latch lever over their respective hook receivers. Also, the lengths of the two receivers (86, 93) could be different. Since these two components could end up being different is the reason they were given different part numbers. In the drawings, the top surfaces are shown as a straight flat surface and should be considered as a generic contour wherein the remainder of the basic design is common to both components.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 10B, 15A and B, the basic design of the front position hook receiver (86), which is attached to the front portion of the container top side (10), includes a flat horizontal base (87) from which the flange (88) extends upwards in a vertical fashion from the center portion of the base (87)and terminates at the top surface (89). The slanted engagement surface (91) begins at the drop point (90) which is located on the front end of the top surface (89) and continues downward and to the rear, terminating at the bottom surface of the base (87). The back edge (92),which begins at a point on the top surface (89) that is a sufficient distance from the drop point (90) to assure that the engagement of the front latch lever hook (85) is onto the top surface (89), extends downward in a vertical fashion and terminates at the base (87) wherein the contour of the top surface is determined by the geometry of thid device.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 10C, 16A and B, the basic design of the back position hook receiver (93), which is attached to a rearwards portion of the container top side (10), includes a flat horizontal base (94) from which the flange (95) extends upwards in a vertical fashion from the center portion of the base (94)and terminates at the top surface (96). The slanted engagement surface (98) begins at the drop point (97) which is located on the rear end of the top surface (96) and continues downward and to the front, terminating at the bottom surface of the base (94). The front edge (99), which begins at a point on the top surface (96) that is a sufficient distance from the drop point (97) to assure that the engagement of the back latch lever hook (77) is onto the top surface (96), extends downward in a vertical fashion and terminates at the base (94) wherein the contour of the top surface is determined by the geometry of this device.

The front and back stop means function to prevent further rotational movement of the collar assembly (37) once said assembly is moved to the front position or back position. Of course, the geometry in the design of this device could be such that the container top side (10) could act as a stop means, thereby eliminating the need for additional components for this function. However, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, seperate components will be utilized for this function, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 17A and B and 18A and B, as this allows more freedom and flexibility in the geometry of the design of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front stop means (100) is attached to the front portion of the container top side (10) and engages the front edge of the collar assembly connecting bar (41) after the front latch lever front position hook (85) is engaged over the front position hook receiver (86) and, as shown in FIG. 2, the back stop means (104) is attached further back on the container top side (10) and engages the back edge of the collar assembly connecting bar (41) after the back latch lever back position hook (77) is engaged over the back position hook receiver (93).

The front stop means (100), as shown in FIGS. 17A and B, includes the flat horizontal base (101), which is attached to the container top side (10), and the lateral portion (102) which extends upwards and towards the front from the base (101) at an angle E . The lateral portion (102) engages the front edge of the collar assembly connecting bar (41) when stopping further front movement of said collar assembly (37). Angle E is such that the surface of the lateral portion (102) is perpendicular to the angle of attack of the connecting bar (41) at the point of engagement, thereby preventing any up or down skewing force being applied to the collar assembly (37). The angle of attack of the collar assembly connecting bar (41) is determined by the geometry of the device design.

The back stop means (104), as shown in FIGS. 18A and B, includes the flat horizontal base (105), which is attached to the container top side (10), and the lateral portion (106) which extends upwards and to the rear from the base (105) at an angle F The lateral portion (106) engages the back edge of the collar assembly connecting bar (41) when stopping further back movement of said collar assembly (37). Angle F is such that the surface of the lateral portion (106) is perpendicular to the angle of attack of the connecting bar (41) at the point of engagement, thereby preventing any up or down skewing force being applied to the collar assembly (37). The angle of attack of the collar assembly connecting bar (41) is determined by the geometry of the device design. It possible that angles E and F will be different.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 13A and B, the handle (15) is attached to rear portion of the container top side (10) very near the container back side (12) (FIG. 4) and centered between the container right side (8) and left side (9). Assume the handle hand grip (16) is in a horizontal plane. The handle (15), includes the hand grip (16) and on either end of said grip (16), posts (17) extends downward in generally perpendicular fashion, terminating at bases (18), said bases (18) extending outwardly from their respective posts (17) in a direction away from hand grip (16) and terminating. The two bases (18), having screw holes (33), are attached to the container top side (10). The hand grip (16) has a front edge (20) and a back edge (21) wherein the back edge (21) is parallel to the plane established by the container back side (12). A slot (19) begins at the center of the back edge (21) and proceeds towards the front edge (20) in a fashion perpiendicular to the back edge (21) and terminates prior to reaching the front edge (20). Referencing FIG. 7, the slot (19) width is sufficient to receive the edge of the snow mover push plate (2) when said plate (2) is inserted into said slot (19), resulting in the dig plate (3) being moved underneath the hand grip (16) wherein the distance from the slot (19) to either post (17) is sufficient to receive the dig plate (2) (see FIG. 7). The handle (15) is also of a size and shape that can be easily grasped by the hand and used to lift the snow receiver (6) up and about.

The reasons the handle (15) is attached near the container back side (12) are that when the snow mover (1) is used to flip the snow receiver (6) over onto the open front end (13) to dump the snow (see FIG. 6D), this location provides free space for the snow mover dig plate (3) to rotate and not engage the container top side (12) and also in this position, the handle (15) higher up for easier access by the user to lift the snow receiver (6) up to dump the snow as shown in FIG. 6E.

As seen in FIG. 1, the cord (27) is a loop and either end is attached to the container (6) by cord clamps (29) on the lower portion of the right side (8) and the left side (9) in a location near and to the rear of the collar assembly hinge pin hole (112), said clamp (29) locations being oppositely disposed. The reason the cord (27) is attached on the lower portion of the container (6) is that if the cord (27) was attached higher up near the container top side (10), and the snow receiver (6) was pulled into snow, it would lift the container back side (12) up and flip it over. Referencing FIG.4, the reason the cord (27) is not attached closer to the open front end (13), say like on the lower sides of the collar assembly (37), is that in a closer location, the cord (27) would come into contact with the snow as the snow receiver (6) is being pulled into the snow because the cord is inclined upwards towards the user's hand, presenting a sled-like configuration, wherein such a configuration would tend to lift the snow blade (38) upwards, preventing a clean sweep. By attaching the cord (27) more to the rear, the cord has inclined to a higher position at the open front end (13) and is above the incomming snow.

However, by attaching the cord (27) some distance back from the open front end (13) presented a control problem such as when the cord (27) is pulled sideways to turn the snow receiver (6), the cord (27) tends to flip over onto the container top side (10), getting entangled behind the latch (48), or flipping under the receiver (6), resulting in lost time and aggrevation in trying to flip the cord (27) back into position. Furthermore, direction control of the snow receiver (6) in general is not as good as would be if the cord (27) was attached nearer the open front end (13). This problem was solved by attaching cord guides (43) (see FIGS. 1 and 4) on the right and left sides (39,40) of the collar assembly (37), in an oppositely disposed fashion, near the open front end (13) with the cord (27) threaded between the collar assembly sides and the guides (43). This retained the cord (27) near the open front end (13) thus prevented the cord (27) from flipping backwards over the top side (10) or under the bottom side (11), and also provided better cord control in general because the cord guides (43) effectively provided cord control from near the open front end (13).

Referencing FIG. 14A and B, the cord guide (43) includes the bar (46), two posts (45) and two bases (44), said bases (44) having screw holes (33) wherein if the bar is in a horizontal plane, the posts (45) extend downward from either end of the bar (46) in a generally perpendicular fashion and terminate at bases (44) wherein said bases (44) extend outwardly and away from the bar (46) in a generally perpendicular fashion from the posts (45) and terminate. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the cord guides (43) are attached to the collar assembly sides (39, 40) in an oreintation wherein the front edge of bar (46) are near to and equidistant from the front edge of the open front end (13). The length of the posts (45) is sufficient to provide enough space between the bar (46) and its respective collar assembly side to allow free up and down movement of the cord (27). The length of the bar (46) and location of cord guide (43) on the collar asembly (37) are, in combination, sufficient to allow the snow receiver (6) to be pulled forward in most usage circumstances without the cord (27) ever engaging either post (45).

As seen in FIG. 1, the cord (27) is one piece and has one or more knots (28) which act as hand grasps to pull the snow receiver (6). Also, the loop (133) on the outer end of the cord (27)can be used as a hand grasp.

The cord clamp (29), as shown in in FIG. (11) includes a rounded portion (31) and two bases (30). Extending out from either end of the rounded portion (31) are the bases (30), said bases having a screw hole (133). The rounded portion (31) is clamped over the cord. (27). The cord clamps (29) are attached oppositely disposed to the container right and left sides (8, 9) using screws (32), washers (34) and nuts (35). It is important that the two cord line segments, from the hand grasp to the two cord clamps (43), be equal in order for snow receiver (6) to point in the same direction as the pulling force. This adjustment is easily accomplished by loosening the cord clamp screws (32) such that the cord (27) may be slipped one way or the other under the clamps (29) until cord segment equality exists, then the clamp screws are tightend for a secure attachment.

A Simpler Alternative Device

A simpler but less energy efficient alternative device is shown in FIG.22. The advantage of this device is that is cheaper to manufacture because it has no rotatable collar assembly or latch means. The snow blade (127) is permanently fixed in place in a sloped down position to collect snow. In other words, this device has no capability to place the open front end (128) into a sled-like configuration. The disadvantage of this, and it is major, is that when the snow receiver (120) is snow filled, the user must lift and hold the open front end (128) up from the ground by the cord (27) with one hand as the snow receiver (120) is being pulled to the dump area or any place else, else the snow blade (127) would dig into the ground, greatly impeding any forward movement. Having to hold the front end up and pull at the same time is very tiring to the arm and also requires a lot of energy. However, there may be a market for this alternative device as some people may be willing to perform this extra task in order to save money, and that is the reason this alternative device is included in this patent.

This alternative device utilizes the same snow mover (1), handle (15), cord (27), cord clamps (29) and cord guides (43) as the preferred embodiment of this device.

The two main elements of the alternative form of this invention are the snow mover (1) and the snow receiver (120), as shown in FIG. 22. The snow receiver (120) includes the container (121), cord (27), handle (15), cord guides (43) and the cord clamps (29).

As shown in FIG. 22, the container (121) is a box like structure having a right side (122), left side (123), top side (124), back side (126), bottom side (125), snow blade (127) and open front end (128). The snow blade (127) joins the bottom side (125) at junction J and extends forward with a downward slope, terminating at the snow blade front edge (129) wherein the angle magnitude of said slope is sufficient to assure that the blade front edge (129) and the back side bottom edge (131) are the only parts engaging a flat horizontal surface when the container (12) is placed on said surface. All sides join adjacent sides in a generally perpendicular fashion except at junction J where the bottom side (125) joins the snow blade (127). The front edges of the right side (122), left side (123), top side (124) and the snow blade front edge (129) all lie in the same plane, said plane being generally parallel to the plane of the back side (126).

The handle (15) is attached to the container top side (124) near the back edge of the top side (124) and centered between the right side (122) and left side (123) wherein the back edge (21) is parallel to the plane established by the container back side (126).

As seen in FIG.22, the cord (27) is a loop having one or more knots (28) and either end is attached to the container (121) by cord clamps (29). The cord clamps (29) are attached on the lower portion of the right side (122) and the left side (123) in a location near junction J, said clamps (29) locations being oppositely disposed.

As shown in FIG. 22, the cord guides (43) are attached near the front edges of the right and left sides (122, 123) in an oreintation wherein the front edges of both cord guide bars (46) are equidistant from the front edges of said right and left sides (122 and 123) wherein the cord guides are oppositly disposed wherein the cord (27) is threaded through said cord guides (43).

In the snow collection operation, the user can collect snow in one of two ways, or a combination thereof, either by pulling the snow receiver (120) into the snow by the cord (27) or by moving snow into the receiver (120) with one hand using the snow mover (1). However, the user must lift up the front end of the snow receiver (120) to pull it to the dump area, or back.

The procedure to dump the snow is the same as used for the preferred embodiment of this invention. The snow mover push plate (2) is engaged into the handle slot (19) to flip the snow receiver over onto the open front end (128), dumping the snow.

This alternative device, while designed to collect snow, may also be used to collect debris and non-debris items and therefore use of this invention is in no way restricted to just collecting snow.

Claims

1. A snow removal device comprising:

(a) a snow mover that is identical to the item mover previously described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,278 B1 except for two modifications described in this patent wherein if the handle is in a vertical position with the lower end of the handle attached to the push plate wherein the push plate is termed a striking means in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,278 B1 wherein in this patent one modification is that the bottom of the handle is beveled upwards and outwards away from the push plate said bevel terminating on the handle back side, wherein a second modification is that the two screw holes on the back side of the handle are recessed to prevent the attaching screw heads or nuts from protruding out beyond the surface of the handle back side;

(b) a container that is of generally a box like structure having a right side, left side, top side, bottom side, back side and an open front end wherein the bottom side is flat wherein when said container is placed on a flat horizontal surface, the back side would be generally perpendicular to that horizontal surface wherein attached to the front edge of the bottom side is a half hinge which is similar to half of a standard cabinet hinge with the pin removed, said half hinge having alternating rounded protrusions and recesses wherein the rounded protrusions contain hinge pin holes, said holes being centered on the rounded portion of the protrusions wherein said protrusions in this half hinge would be received by recesses in the half hinge attached to the rear of the collar assembly snow blade wherein at, or near, the hinge pin hole in the container right side and left side, said sides proceed in an incline upwards and forward and terminate at the upper front edge of the right side and the left side thereby providing space in the right and left sides such that the collar assembly snow blade may freely rotatably move into the up position wherein the container right side and left side upper front edges proceed upwards and terminate at the front edge of the top side wherein said upper front edges and the front edge of the top side are in a plane that is generally parallel to the plane of the back side wherein the snow shield extends upwards from the front edge of the top side in same plane as the upper front edges but extends no further up than is necessary to shield that portion of the latch mechanism contained within the latch frame from snow when the snow receiver is dumped wherein the snow receiver includes the container, collar assembly, latch means, handle, cord, cord clamps and cord guides in an assembled state;

(c) a collar assembly that includes a snow blade, right side, left side, connecting bar and a half hinge wherein, assuming the snow blade is resting in a horizontal plane, the right side extends upwards from the snow blade right edge and the left side extends upwards from the snow blade left edge and the connecting bar joins the top end of the right side and extends to and joins the top end of the left side wherein the latch portion of the latch means is attached to the top surface of the connecting bar wherein the snow blade is flat and the blade front edge is in a straight line wherein attached to the back edge of the of the snow blade is the collar assembly half hinge, said half hinge having alternating rounded protrusions and recesses wherein the rounded protrusions contain hinge pin holes, said holes being centered on the rounded portion of the protrusions wherein the collar assembly is rotatably joined to the container by merging the two half hinges and inserting the hinge pin through the hinge pin holes thereby creating a complete hinge wherein the hinge is so placed that the longitudinal axis of the hinge pin is generally perpendicular the container right side and left side wherein when the collar assembly is rotatably moved over the hinge pin, the collar assembly right side, left side and connecting bar move on the outside of the container and the snow blade moves up or down in front of the container open front end wherein the snow blade front edge and the lower front edges of the collar assembly right side and left sides are generally sharp to facilitate cutting through the snow when the snow receiver is pulled into the snow wherein the straight line established by the snow blade front edge is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hinge pin wherein the collar assembly is configured such that when the collar assembly is rotatably moved to and latched into a front position by the latch means, said position attained by rotatably moving the connecting bar in a general direction towards the container open front end, the connecting bar is sufficiently spaced back from the container top side front edge and snow shield to allow the attachment of the front position hook receiver and the front stop means, both of which are attached near the container top side front edge wherein when the snow receiver is placed on a flat horizontal surface and the collar assembly is rotatably moved into the front position, the snow blade is also rotatably moved down to a blade down position placing the snow blade at a slope angle C relative to the plane of the container bottom side such that the snow blade front edge exists below that part of the container bottom side that contains the half hinge, resulting in that part of the bottom side being higher above the flat surface than the blade front edge, leaving only the blade front edge and the container back side bottom edge in contact with the flat surface, wherein when the collar assembly is rotatably moved to and latched into a back position by the latch means, said position attained by rotatably moving the connecting bar in a general direction towards the container back side, the snow blade is also rotatably moved up to a blade up position placing the snow blade at an angle A relative to the plane of the container bottom side wherein the snow blade front edge exists higher than that part of the container bottom side that contains the half hinge, whereby a sled-like configuration is formed at the front end of the snow receiver;

(d) a latch means that functions to latch the collar assembly into either the front position or back position wherein the latch portion of the latch means is attached to the top surface of the collar assembly connecting bar wherein the latch is configured to allow the user to engage the latch portion with the snow mover dig plate and/or push plate to move and latch the collar assembly into either the front position or back position wherein during these operations the user may remain standing erect;

(e) a handle that is attached to rear portion of the container top side near the container back side and centered between the container right side and left side wherein the handle includes the hand grip and on either end of said grip, and assuming the handle hand grip is in a horizontal plane, posts extends downward in generally perpendicular fashion, terminating at bases, said bases extending outwardly from their respective posts in a direction away from hand grip and terminating wherein the two bases, having screw holes, are attached to the container top side wherein the hand grip has a front edge and a back edge wherein the back edge is parallel to the plane established by the container back side wherein a slot begins at the center of the back edge and proceeds towards the front edge in a fashion perpendicular to the back edge and terminates prior to reaching the front edge wherein the slot width is sufficient to receive the edge of the snow mover push plate when said plate is inserted into said slot, resulting in the dig plate being moved underneath the hand grip wherein the distance from the slot to either post is sufficient to receive the dig plate wherein the handle is also of a size and shape that can be easily grasped by the hand and used to lift the snow receiver up and about;

(f) a cord that is in the form of a loop wherein either cord end is threaded through a cord guide and is attached to the container by cord clamps, said clamps attached to the lower portion of the container right side and the left side in a location near and to the rear of the container hinge pin holes, said clamp locations being oppositely disposed wherein opposite sides of the cord loop are knotted together by one or more knots wherein said knot(s) may act as hand grasps;

(g) two cord clamps wherein either includes a rounded portion and two bases wherein extending out from either end of the rounded portion are the bases, said bases each having a screw hole wherein the bases are attached to the container with screws wherein the rounded portion is engaged over the cord, clamping the cord ends in place; and

(h) two cord guides wherein each includes a bar, two posts and two bases, said bases having screw holes wherein if the bar is in a horizontal plane, the posts extend downward from either end of the bar in a generally perpendicular fashion and terminate at bases wherein said bases extend outwardly and away from the bar in a generally perpendicular fashion from the posts and terminate wherein the cord guides are attached to either collar assembly sides in an orientation wherein the front edge of bar is near to and equidistant from the front edge of the collar assembly right side and left side wherein the length of the posts is sufficient to provide enough space between the bar and its respective collar assembly side to allow free up and down movement of the cord wherein the length of the bar and location of cord guide on the collar assembly are, in combination, sufficient to allow the snow receiver to be pulled forward in most usage circumstances without the cord ever engaging either post wherein when the cord is pulled up the cord will engage the cord guide top posts and lift the front of the container up.

2. The latch means of claim 1 comprising:

(a) a latch having a frame that is U shaped, said frame having a bottom side, right side and a left side wherein if the bottom side is placed on a flat horizontal surface then the right side joins the right edge of the bottom side and extends upwards in a generally perpendicular fashion wherein the left side joins the left edge of the bottom side and extends upwards in a generally perpendicular fashion wherein both the right side and left side extend upwards sufficiently high to offer side protection to the lower portion of the latch mechanism wherein the right side and left side are oppositely disposed wherein formed through both the right side and left side is a shaft hole, said holes to receive a shaft wherein said holes are oppositely disposed and so positioned that the longitudinal axis of the shaft, when installed, is generally perpendicular to the frame right side and left side wherein the latch, when assembled onto the snow receiver, is attached to the top surface of the collar assembly connecting bar by attaching frame bottom side to said top surface wherein when attached, the planes established by the frame right and left sides are generally parallel to the planes established by the container right and left sides wherein the latch means also includes an actuator lever wherein, if the latch frame bottom side is on a horizontal surface, the top portion of the actuator lever is a horizontal top plate wherein joined to a central portion of the bottom of the top plate is an arm which extends downward in a fashion generally perpendicular to the top plate wherein said arm joins a base plate in a generally perpendicular fashion wherein the top plate front portion extends out in a forward direction further than the front surface of the arm such that the front portion and the arm, in combination, form the actuator front hook wherein a forward direction is generally towards the snow receiver front end wherein the top plate back portion extends out in a rearwards direction further than the back surface of the arm such that the back portion and the arm, in combination, form the actuator back hook wherein on either side of the base plate bearing flanges extend downward from a central portion of the base plate wherein in the lower portion of the flanges, shaft holes are formed in, said shaft holes being oppositely disposed, said shaft holes to receive the shaft when the latch is assembled, wherein the two bearing flanges are joined to the base plate in an orientation to allow rotational movement of the actuator lever over the shaft when the actuator lever arm is moved to the front or back wherein the outside width of the base plate and bearing flanges are dimensioned to fit within and adjacent to the frame right side and left side wherein the inside distance between the flanges is sufficient to cradle, or include between, both the back latch lever and the front latch lever wherein the back latch lever includes, among other portions, the rotation stop portion wherein the rotation stop portion begins at the rotation stop bottom surface and extends upwards to join the flat portion wherein the flat portion proceeds horizontally and rearwardly to join the inclined portion wherein the inclined portion proceeds upwards and rearwardly from the flat portion to join the engagement portion wherein the engagement portion proceeds downwardly from the inclined portion and terminates in the engagement portion bottom surface, wherein the inclined portion and the engagement portion, in combination, form the back position hook wherein proceeding downward on either side of the flat portion and oppositely disposed are two bearing flanges wherein in the lower portions thereof shaft holes are formed in, said shaft holes to receive the shaft when the latch is assembled, wherein the bearing flanges are sufficiently spaced apart to cradle, or include, a coiled torsion spring wherein the front latch lever includes, among other portions, the rotation stop portion wherein the rotation stop portion begins at the rotation stop bottom surface and extends upwards to join the flat portion wherein the flat portion proceeds horizontally and forewardly to join the engagement portion wherein the engagement portion proceeds downwardly from the flat portion and terminates in the engagement bottom surface wherein the flat portion and the engagement portion, in combination, form the front position hook wherein proceeding downward on either side of the flat portion and oppositely disposed are the two bearing flanges wherein in the lower portions thereof shaft holes are formed in, said shaft holes to receive the shaft when the latch is assembled, wherein the bearing flanges are sufficiently spaced apart to cradle, or include in between, a coiled torsion spring wherein the configuration of the assembled latch is hereby described wherein the lower portion of the actuator lever, said lower portion being the base plate and the two base plate bearing flanges, resides between and is adjacent to the frame right and left sides wherein the back latch lever and the front latch lever are placed side by side and reside below the base plate and between the actuator lever right bearing flange and left bearing flange wherein the back latch lever back position hook extends out rearwards of the frame bottom side back edge and the front latch lever front position hook extends out forward of the frame bottom side front edge wherein a coiled torsion spring resides between the two bearing flanges shaft holes of the back latch lever wherein the center longitudinal hole of said spring is in alignment with the two holes wherein one tang engages the frame bottom side and the other tang engages the underside of back latch lever flat portion in an orientation that urges the back position hook to the down position wherein a coiled torsion spring resides between the two bearing flange shaft holes of the front latch lever wherein the center longitudinal hole of said spring is in alignment with the two holes wherein one tang engages the frame bottom side and the other tang engages the bottom side of the front latch lever flat portion in an orientation that urges the front position hook to the down position wherein the shaft is engaged through all shaft holes of the frame, actuator lever, back latch lever and the front latch lever and also through the center longitudinal holes of the two coiled torsion springs wherein the mechanical configuration of the latch that exists when the collar assembly is latched into the front position or the back position wherein no force is being applied to the latch actuator lever wherein the respective coiled torsion springs of the back latch lever and the front latch lever have forced the back portion of the flat portion of back latch lever to engage the frame bottom side back top edge and also forced the front portion of the flat portion of the front latch lever to engage the frame bottom side front top edge wherein this forces the back position hook of the back latch lever into the down position and also forces the front position hook of the front latch lever into the down position wherein the actuator lever base plate is in close proximity to, or in slight contact with, the respective latch levers but said base plate is applying no force to either wherein this relative positioning of the two latch levers and the actuator base plate retain the actuator lever in a straight up, or neutral, position allowing a minimum of unnecessary front or back movement, or wobble, of the actuator lever, wherein the mechanical configuration of the latch when being unlatched from the front position hook receiver wherein the snow mover engages the actuator lever front hook and pushed rearwards by the user, rotating the actuator lever over shaft causing the back bottom edge of the actuator lever base plate to engage the front latch lever flat portion to the rear of shaft, lifting the front position hook sufficiently high up enough to allow disengagement of the hook from the engagement surface of the front position hook receiver wherein further rotation of the actuator lever is prevented by the engagement of the bottom surface of the rotation stop to the frame bottom side wherein continued force applied to the actuator lever by the snow mover rotates the collar assembly over the hinge shaft to move the collar assembly to the back position whereupon of the back position hook will engage over the engagement surface of the back position hook receiver wherein further backward movement of the collar assembly is prevented by engagement of the back edge of the collar assembly connecting bar with the back stop means thereby latching the collar assembly into the back position, wherein the mechanical configuration of the latch when being unlatched from the back position hook receiver wherein the snow mover engages the actuator lever back hook and is pulled forward by the user, rotating the actuator lever over the shaft causing the front bottom edge of the actuator lever base plate to engage the back latch lever flat portion forward of the shaft, lifting the back position hook sufficiently high up enough to allow disengagement of the hook from the engagement surface of the back position hook receiver wherein further rotation of the actuator lever is prevented by the engagement of the bottom surface of the rotation stop to the frame bottom side wherein continued force applied to the actuator lever by the snow mover rotates the collar assembly over the hinge shaft to move the collar assembly to the front position whereupon of the front position hook will engage over the engagement surface of the front position hook receiver wherein further forward movement of the collar assembly is prevented by engagement of the front edge of the collar assembly connecting bar with the front stop means thereby latching the collar assembly into the front position;

(b) a front position hook receiver wherein the basic design of the front position hook receiver, which is attached to the front portion of the container top side, includes a flat horizontal base from which the flange extends upwards in a vertical fashion from the center portion of the base and terminates at the top surface wherein the slanted engagement surface begins at the drop point which is located on the front end of the top surface and continues downward and to the rear, terminating at the bottom surface of the base wherein the back edge, which begins at a point on the top surface that is a sufficient distance from the drop point to assure that the engagement of the latch front latch lever hook is onto the top surface, extends downward in a vertical fashion and terminates at the base wherein the contour of the top surface is determined by the geometry of a particular device design;

(c) a front stop means includes the flat horizontal base which is attached to the container top side and the lateral portion which extends upwards and towards the front from the base at an angle E wherein the lateral portion engages the front edge of the collar assembly connecting bar when stopping further front movement of said collar assembly wherein Angle E is such that the surface of the lateral portion is perpendicular to the angle of attack of the connecting bar at the point of engagement, thereby preventing any up or down skewing force being applied to the collar assembly wherein the angle of attack of the collar assembly connecting bar is determined by the geometry of a particular device design;

(d) a back position hook receiver which is attached to a rearwards portion of the container top side, includes a flat horizontal base from which the flange extends upwards in a vertical fashion from the center portion of the base and terminates at the top surface wherein the slanted engagement surface begins at the drop point which is located on the rear end of the top surface and continues downward and to the front, terminating at the bottom surface of the base wherein the front edge, which begins at a point on the top surface that is a sufficient distance from the drop point to assure that the engagement of the back latch lever hook is onto the top surface, extends downward in a vertical fashion and terminates at the base wherein the contour of the top surface is determined by the geometry of a particular device design; and

(e) a back stop means, which is attached to a rearwards portion of the container top side, includes the flat horizontal base and the lateral portion which extends upwards and to the rear from the base at an angle F wherein the lateral portion engages the back edge of the collar assembly connecting bar when stopping further back movement of said collar assembly wherein Angle F is such that the surface of the lateral portion is perpendicular to the angle of attack of the connecting bar at the point of engagement, thereby preventing any up or down skewing force being applied to the collar assembly wherein the angle of attack of the collar assembly connecting bar is determined by the geometry of a particular device design.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein an angle A of about 32 degrees and an angle C of about 6 degrees renders a device that functions satisfactorily wherein either angle may vary within a substantial angle range and still render a device that functions satisfactorily.

4. a snow removal device comprising:

(a) a snow mover that is identical to the item mover previously described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,278 B1 except for two modifications described in this patent wherein if the handle is in a vertical position with the lower end of the handle attached to the push plate wherein the push plate is termed a striking means in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,278 B1 wherein in this patent one modification is that the bottom of the handle is beveled upwards and outwards away from the push plate said bevel terminating on the handle back side, wherein a second modification is that the two screw holes on the back side of the handle are recessed to prevent the attaching screw heads or nuts from protruding out beyond the surface of the handle back side;

(b) a container that is generally a box like structure having a right side, left side, top side, back side, bottom side, snow blade and open front end wherein the snow blade joins the bottom side at junction J and extends forward with a downward slope, terminating at the snow blade front edge wherein the angle magnitude of said slope is sufficient to assure that the blade front edge and the back side bottom edge are the only parts engaging a flat horizontal surface when the container is placed on said surface wherein all sides join adjacent sides in a generally perpendicular fashion except at junction J where the bottom side joins the snow blade wherein the front edges of the right side, left side, top side and the snow blade front edge all lie in the same plane, said plane being generally parallel to the plane of the back side wherein the snow receiver includes the container, cord, handle, cord guides and the cord clamps;

(c) a cord which is a loop having one or more knots wherein either end is attached to the container by cord clamps attached to the lower portion of the container right side and the left side in a location near and to the rear of the junction J, said clamp locations being oppositely disposed wherein the knot(s) may be used as hand grasps;

(d) two cord clamps wherein either includes a rounded portion and two bases wherein extending out from either end of the rounded portion are the bases, said bases each having a screw hole wherein the bases are attached to the container with screws wherein the rounded portion is engaged over the cord, clamping the cord ends in place;

(e) two cord guides wherein either includes a bar, two posts and two bases, said bases having screw holes wherein if the bar is in a horizontal plane, the posts extend downward from either end of the bar in a generally perpendicular fashion and terminate at bases wherein said bases extend outwardly and away from the bar in a generally perpendicular fashion from the posts and terminate wherein the cord guides are attached near the open front end to the right side and left side in an orientation wherein the front edge of bar is near to and equidistant from the front edge of the container open front end wherein the length of the posts is sufficient to provide enough space between the bar and its respective container side to allow free up and down movement of the cord wherein the length of the bar and location of cord guide on the container right and left sides are, in combination, sufficient to allow the snow receiver to be pulled forward in most usage circumstances without the cord ever engaging either post wherein when the cord is pulled up the cord will engage the cord guide top posts and lift the front of the container up; and

(f) a handle that is attached to rear portion of the container top side very near the container back side and centered between the container right side and left side and, assuming the handle hand grip is in a horizontal plane, the handle includes the hand grip and on either end of said grip, posts extends downward in generally perpendicular fashion, terminating at bases, said bases extending outwardly from their respective posts in a direction away from hand grip and terminating wherein the two bases, having screw holes, are attached to the container top side wherein the hand grip has a front edge and a back edge wherein the back edge is parallel to the plane established by the container back side wherein a slot begins at the center of the back edge and proceeds towards the front edge in a fashion perpendicular to the back edge and terminates prior to reaching the front edge wherein the slot width is sufficient to receive the edge of the snow mover push plate when said plate is inserted into said slot, resulting in the dig plate being moved underneath the hand grip wherein the distance from the slot to either post is sufficient to receive the dig plate wherein the handle is also of a size and shape that can be easily grasped by the hand and used to lift the snow receiver up and about.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the downward angle of the snow blade relative to the bottom side is an angle of about 6 degrees which renders a device that functions satisfactorily wherein said angle may vary within a substantial angle range and still render a device that functions satisfactorily.