Snow removal device

Abstract

A scraping device for removing material from an elevated surface such as snow on the roof of a vehicle, the device comprising a blade member, a first connecting member having a distal end and a proximal end, a support member having one pivotably connected adjacent the proximal end of the connecting member with a linking element being connected to the proximal end thereof, the linking end extending downwardly with respect to the first connecting member and a control member pivotably connected to the connecting member intermediate of the distal and proximal ends thereof. The device has the blade placed on the vehicle roof and subsequently the control member is operated to position the blade and pull the blade towards the side of the vehicle thus removing snow therefrom.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scraping device for removing material from an elevated surface and more particularly, relates to a device for removing snow and ice from the roof of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The accumulation of snow and/or ice on the roof of vehicles such as vans, trucks, semi-trailers and the like represent a substantial problem. In snowy climates, the snow and ice will accumulate on the roof while the vehicle is stopped and/or parked.

If the snow is not removed from the roof, a slab of snow or ice may fly off the vehicle and strike one or more vehicles following behind. As the vehicle picks up speed, the air currents will generally cause the snow or ice to fall. If the snow blows off the roof, this can cause loss of visibility to vehicles following the truck or van. Furthermore, if the slab of ice or snow is large enough, it can cause an accident due to impact on a following vehicle. This can lead to substantial damage such as breakage of the windshield and result in one or more accidents. For this reason, some jurisdictions now require that all ice or snow be removed from the vehicle under the penalty of fines.

Proposals for accelerating the removal of the snow and ice. Typically, this must be done manually by the operator of the vehicle climbing on the roof and manually shoveling the same. As will be appreciated, this represents a substantial safety issue for the operator.

There have been proposals in the art for static structures for removing the snow and ice. Generally, these static structures consist of a pair of vertical supports with a horizontal member extending therebetween. The driver passes under the horizontal member which is theoretically designed to remove the snow and ice.

However, such devices are only practical wherein a large number of vehicles are present so as to justify the expense thereof. They do not provide a solution for a single vehicle which can be in a location wherein such a structure is not available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a scraping device wherein the roof of a truck or van may be accessed from the ground for removal of snow (or other objects) therefrom.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scraping device for removing material from a surface raised above the ground, the scraper comprising a blade, a first connecting member having a distal end and a proximal end, a support member having one end pivotably connected adjacent the proximal end of the first connecting member, a linking element having first and second ends, a first end thereof being connected to the proximal end of the first connecting member, the linking element extending downwardly with respect to the first connecting member and a control member pivotably connected to the connecting member intermediate of the distal and proximal ends thereof.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for removing snow from a vehicle roof comprising the steps of supplying a snow removal device comprising a blade, a first connecting member having a distal end and a proximal end, a support member having one end pivotably connected adjacent the proximal end of the first connecting member, a linking element having first and second ends, a first end thereof being connected to the proximal end of the first connecting member, the linking element extending downwardly with respect to the first connecting member, and a control member pivotably connected to the connecting member intermediate of the distal and proximal ends thereof, placing a free end of the support member on a substrate adjacent the vehicle, pushing on the control member to raise the blade and subsequently placing the blade in a desired position, pulling the control member to allow the blade to lower to a top surface of the vehicle roof and pulling further on the control member to cause the blade to move towards the vehicle side and thereby remove snow from the vehicle roof.

As used herein, the term “vehicle” can refer to any suitable type of vehicle such as the cab of a tractor trailer unit, the trailer unit, van, truck, etc. Moreover it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to vehicles, but the device of the present invention can also be utilized to remove any suitable type of debris from an elevated surface.

Furthermore, as used herein, the term “distal” is used to designate the end furthest removed from the user of the device while the proximal end is the end closest to the user.

The scraping device, as aforementioned, can be used for removing material from different surfaces. As utilized herein, the term “snow” is employed as this would be the most comment use of the device. Naturally, the snow could include pieces of ice and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a vehicle showing operation of the snow removal device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blade portion of the snow removal device;

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c illustrate operation of the snow removal device to remove snow from a vehicle roof; and

FIG. 4 illustrates removal of snow from a trailer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1a vehicle generally designated by reference numeral 10 and which has a vehicle roof 12.

The snow removal device of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 14 and includes a blade 16; a connecting member generally designated by reference numeral 18; a support member generally designated by reference numeral 20; and a control member generally designated by reference numeral 22. As may be seen, snow 16 is present on vehicle roof 12.

Blade 16, as may be best seen in FIG. 2, has a top wall 26, a bottom wall 28, a pair of side walls 30, 32 and a back wall 34. The blade thus takes the form of a container having an open front. Naturally, other designs could be utilized such as elimination of either the top or bottom wall with appropriately designed side walls.

Connecting member 18 can be divided in three portions—a central portion 38, a distal portion 40, and a linking portion 42. Conveniently, connecting member 18 is formed as a singular piece of tubular material with suitable bends therein.

Thus, as may be seen from the drawings, and when central portion may be designated as being in a horizontal position, distal portion 40 is angled slightly downwardly. Linkage portion 42, on the other hand, is angled sharply downwardly at near 90° in the illustrated embodiment. Linkage portion 42 could be provided as a separate element if so desired.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, distal portion 40 of connecting member 18 extends through a bore in blade 16. A pair of reinforcing members 44 and 46 are secured to back wall 34 of blade 16 and to connecting member 18.

Support member 20 has a free end 54 designed to abut a substrate such as the surface on which the truck or the vehicle 18 is placed. At its other end, support member 20 is pivotably connected at point 20 to linkage portion 42. Support member 20 may be adjustable in length to account for different size vehicles and to this end, a telescoping arrangement 21 could conveniently be utilized.

Control member 22, at its distal end, has a pivot connection 58 to central portion 38 of connecting member 18. At its proximal end, control member 22 has a suitable handle 60.

In operation and as best illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3c, support member 20 has its free end 54 placed on the substrate and the user 64 pushes upwardly on control member 22 as indicated by arrow 66. This causes a rotation of connecting member 18 around pivot connection 52 as indicated by arrow 68 and the subsequent lifting of blade 16 as indicated by arrow 70.

Subsequently, when the blade 16 is in the desired position, control member 22 is pulled as indicated by arrow 72. This causes a rotation about pivot connection 52 as indicated by arrow 74 and the lowering of blade 16 to the vehicle roof 12 as shown by arrow 76.

Continuing the pulling action, as indicated by arrow 78, causes further pivoting about pivot connection 52 as indicated by arrow 80 and movement of blade 16 along the vehicle roof 12 as indicated by arrows 82 and thus removal of snow 24.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting member 18 may be utilized by itself to remove snow from a relatively low vehicle surface. A mirror 84 may be provided on either the connecting member (or one of the pivot joints) to enable the operator to see the vehicle roof.

The device of the present invention may be formed of any suitable material. Naturally, it is desired that the material be lightweight to permit easy manipulation while of a sufficient strength to accomplish the tasks required. Thus, the device could conveniently be formed of a tubular metallic material such as aluminum or alternatively, of a plastic material.

It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A scraping device for removing material from a surface raised above the ground, the scraper comprising:

a blade;

a first connecting member having a distal end and a proximal end;

a support member having one end pivotably connected adjacent said proximal end of said first connecting member;

a linking element having first and second ends, a first end thereof being connected to said proximal end of said first connecting member:

said linking element extending downwardly with respect to said first connecting member; and

a control member pivotably connected to said connecting member intermediate of said distal and proximal ends thereof.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said support member is adjustable in length.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said support member has a telescoping arrangement.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said blade has a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a rear wall to form a pocket.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said control member has a handle at a proximal end thereof.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said support member is pivotably connected to said linking element of said first connecting member.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said blade further includes a bottom wall.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said first connecting member, said support member, and said control member are formed of a metallic tubular material.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said linking element forms a portion of said first connecting member.

10. A method for removing snow from a vehicle roof comprising the steps of:

supplying a snow removal device comprising a blade, a first connecting member having a distal end and a proximal end, a support member having one end pivotably connected adjacent said proximal end of said first connecting member, a linking element having first and second ends, a first end thereof being connected to said proximal end of said first connecting member, said linking element extending downwardly with respect to said first connecting member, and a control member pivotably connected to said connecting member intermediate of said distal and proximal ends thereof;

placing a free end of said support member on a substrate adjacent said vehicle;

pushing on said control member to raise said blade and subsequently placing said blade in a desired position;

pulling said control member to allow said blade to lower to a top surface of said vehicle roof; and

pulling further on said control member to cause the blade to move towards the vehicle side and thereby remove snow from said vehicle roof.