Snow Removal Device and Methods for Using and Constructing Same

Abstract

A snow removal device and methods for removing snow from overhead areas. The device has an arcuate blade with a shaft extending throughout the longitudinal axis of the blade and coupled to the blade at one or more points. Wheels are coupled to either end of the shaft, rotating freely as the blade and shaft remain in a fixed position. A coupler attaches to the shaft and a positioner connects the blade to the coupler such that when the coupler is taut, the blade is maintained in a fixed position and when the coupler is slack, the blade is free to move within a predetermined range. The device is placed on a roof and rolled to the peak while the coupler is slack. The device is pulled downwardly causing the positioner to become taut and maintain the blade in a fixed position optimal for snow gathering and removal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the U.S. provisional patent application entitled “Snow Removal Device”, having Ser. No. 62/007,023, filed Jun. 3, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a device and methods for removing snow. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a device and methods for removing snow from overhead areas such as a roof.

An ice dam is an ice build-up on roofs that causes water damage to the building. Ice dams on roofs form when accumulated snow on a pitched roof melts and the water flows down the roof under a top level of snow to the bottom of the roof and refreezes. Ice then accumulates at the bottom edge of the roof around the eaves, forming icicles from dripping water, but of more concern forming ice dams. The ice dams prevent the flow of water from later melting snow off the roof. The water accumulates above the ice dam, eventually seeping into the building, potentially damaging the roof and/or insulation, as well as the building's internal structures.

The simplest and least expensive means of preventing the formation of ice dams is to remove the snow completely from the roof before the freeze-thaw cycle begins. Generally, this requires standing on a ladder and attempting to pull the snow down with the same shovel used to remove snow from sidewalks and driveways. However, this is ineffective because the peak of the roof cannot be reached. Some stand on the roof and shovel as if standing on the ground, a dangerous practice. Others use something called a roof rake. None offers a complete and safe method for preventing ice dams by removing snow from the roof.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, in one aspect of the present invention, a snow removal device for removing snow from overhead areas is provided. The snow removal device includes: a blade having a longitudinal axis; a shaft extending through the longitudinal axis of the blade, the shaft coupled to the blade, and the shaft having a pair of shaft ends; two wheels, each of the two wheels coupling to each of the pair of shaft ends; a coupler attached to the shaft; and a positioner having a pair of positioner ends, a first of the pair of positioner ends connecting to a front side of the blade, a second of the pair of positioner ends connecting to the coupler, the positioner configured for maintaining the blade in position during snow removal.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for removing snow from overhead areas is provided. The method includes the steps of: placing a snow removal device on a lower edge of a roof, the snow removal device having a blade, the blade having front and rear sides, a shaft passing through the blade and coupled to the blade, a plurality of wheels at ends of the shaft, a coupler coupled to the shaft, a handle coupled to the coupler, and a positioner coupled between the coupler and the blade; rolling the snow removal device to the peak of the roof via movement of the handle; adjusting a position of the blade via movement of the handle to position the front side of the blade to contact the snow; and pulling the snow removal device via the handle from the peak of the roof to the lower edge of the roof to allow the snow to fall from the roof, the positioner maintaining the blade in position during the pulling.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for constructing a snow removal device for removing snow from overhead areas is provided. The method includes: inserting a shaft into an arcuate blade, the blade having a longitudinal axis, the shaft extending through the longitudinal axis of the blade, the shaft having a pair of shaft ends; coupling the shaft to the blade at one or more points; coupling each of a pair of wheels to each of the pair of shaft ends; attaching a coupler to an approximate midpoint of the shaft; and connecting a positioner having a pair of positioner ends, a first of the pair of positioner ends coupled to a front side of the blade, a second of the pair of positioner ends coupled to the coupler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snow removal device in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the snow removal device positioned for deployment in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the bottom of a snow removal device in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the snow removal device in position at the peak of a roof prior to snow removal; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the snow removal device removing snow from the roof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology may be used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower” and “upper” and “top” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Where a term is provided in the singular, the inventors also contemplate aspects of the disclosure described by the plural of that term. As used in this specification and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, e.g., “a blade” may include a plurality of blades. Thus, for example, a reference to “a method” includes one or more methods, and/or steps of the type described herein and/or which will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present disclosure, the preferred methods, constructs and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Where there are discrepancies in terms and definitions used in references that are incorporated by reference, the terms used in this application shall have the definitions given herein.

Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for snow removal. In one aspect of the disclosure, apparatus and methods for removing snow from overhead areas such as a roof are provided.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a snow removal device configured for removing snow from overhead areas such as a roof, especially a pitched roof, is provided.

The snow removal device includes an arcuate blade with a shaft extending throughout the longitudinal axis of the blade and coupled to the blade at one or more points. Wheels are coupled to either end of the shaft, rotating freely and independent of the blade. A coupler attaches to the shaft and allows the blade (which is also coupled to the shaft at one or more points) to be positioned via movement of the coupler or a handle attached thereto. A positioner connects the working edge of the blade (i.e., the edge located at the bottommost end of the blade during use) to the coupler, such that when the positioner is taut, the working edge of the blade is preventing from rotating beyond a maximum distance position (i.e., the working edge of blade 102 is located at its maximum distance from the coupler 112), and when the positioner is slack, the blade is free to rotate between the maximum distance from the coupler and a position in which the working edge is in contact with the coupler.

More specifically, FIG. 1 depicts snow removal device 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the depicted embodiment of the present disclosure, snow removal device 100 includes blade 102, shaft 104, a plurality of wheels 106, handle 108, positioner 110, coupler 112, hinge 118, and fasteners 150.

In the depicted embodiment, blade 102 is arcuate, concave on the front side 101 (i.e., the side facing the user during use), and convex on the rear side 103 (i.e., the side facing away from the user during use). In the depicted embodiment, the radius of the side walls 120 is approximately seven (7) inches, however, alternate radii may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, in the depicted embodiment, the height of the blade is approximately 14 inches and the width is approximately 15 inches, however alternate dimensions may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof. For example, the height may be twenty (20) or twenty four (24) inches as non-limiting examples. Also, alternate blade configurations may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof including, without limitation, semi-ovate and flat. Shaft 104 extends throughout the full longitudinal axis of blade 102 and through the side walls 120 of blade 120 in the approximate center of side walls 120. Shaft 104 is coupled at one or more points to blade 102 to allow the blade to be positioned via coupler 112 (and its connection to shaft 104) or a handle 108 attached to coupler 112.

In the depicted embodiment, the shaft 104 has a pair of threaded ends. Wheels 106 include wheel apertures at their centers that surround the perimeter of shaft 104 such that wheels 106 rotate around shaft 104. Wheels are held to either end of shaft 104 via use of threaded fasteners 150 or the like attached to either end of shaft 104, wherein the threaded fasteners have a larger diameter than the diameter of the wheel apertures. Such an attachment allows wheels 106 to rotate independent from shaft 104. That is, wheels 106 may be rotated while shaft 104 and its coupled blade 102 remain in a fixed position. However, alternate methods of coupling wheels 106 to shaft 104 may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

In some embodiments of the present invention, spacers are utilized to offset wheels 106 from the exterior edges of side walls 120, however, such spacers are not required to implement the present invention. In the depicted embodiment, wheels 106 have approximately the same radius as the curvature of blade 102; however, alternate dimensions may be substituted.

In the depicted embodiment, coupler 112 attaches to the shaft 104 at the approximate midpoint of the shaft 104, however, alternate locations may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

Positioner 110 has a pair of ends, a first end connecting to front side 101 of blade 102 proximal to a working edge of the blade and a second end connecting to the coupler 112. In the depicted embodiment, the positioner 110 is designed to allow the blade to freely rotate to a position in which the rear side 103 thereof glides along the snow when the device is moved from a lower edge of a roof to an upper edge of a roof. Then, when the blade is placed in snow removal position as further discussed herein, the positioner retains the blade 102 from overextending beyond its maximum distance position when the snow exerts pressure on the front side 101 of the blade 102 during removal of the snow.

In the depicted embodiment, positioner 110 is in the form of a chain. However, it is understood by those of ordinary skill that this form is not a limitation, and that the positioner can be any device capable of limiting the movement of blade 102 including, without limitation, a cord, an accordion hinge, and a hinged rod.

In the depicted embodiment, the blade 102 has a working edge having a plurality of serrations 114 configured for breaking ice and compacted snow masses, however, alternate types of edges may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

The front side 101 of the blade 102 has a plurality of ribs 116 that extend perpendicular to the shaft 104 and are configured for breaking ice and compacted snow masses. The ribs have an outer edge 152 that is substantially coplanar with the outer edges of blade 102, and an inner edge 154 that follows the curvature of the front side 101 of blade 102. The ribs also provide stability to blade 102 and its attached shaft 104; however, they are not required to implement the present invention.

Coupler 112 allows a handle such as handle 108 to be permanently or removably attached to its distal end. Handle 108 assists a user with manipulating snow removal device 100 by allowing, inter alia, the user to be located at a greater distance from and/or at an angle relative to the snow being removed.

In one embodiment, handle 108 rotatably attaches to the coupler 112 via a hinge 118, such as a ball hinge as a non-limiting example. Hinge 118 allows handle 108 to rotate, at the option of the user, between a first position in which the handle is parallel to coupler 112 to a second position in which the longitudinal axis of handle 108 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of coupler 112. However, greater or lesser ranges of motions may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

In FIG. 2, the snow removal device 100 is shown in cross-section. Shaft 104 couples to wheels 106 through the center of the wheels, allowing wheel rotation. Shaft 104 couples to blade 102 through the approximate center of the arcuate side walls 120 and ribs 116 of blade, and shaft 104 is coupled to blade 102 at one or more points along shaft 104. FIG. 3 shows the snow removal device 100 when the positioner 110 is in one of a variety of slack positions. In this position, the coupler 112 is located in closer proximity to the working edge 158 of blade 102 as compared to its maximum distance position. However, the design and/or length of positioner 110 allows the rear side 103 of the blade 102 to move up and down across the snow as, for example, the snow removal device is pushed to the peak of a roof prior to snow removal and as the wheels rotate around the shaft 104.

FIG. 4 depicts the snow removal device 100 from the bottom. In the depicted embodiment, the rear side 103 of the blade 102 is smooth and convex, however, alternate surfaces may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof. The front, working edge 158 of the blade 102 has serrations 114 for chipping at snow and ice. The positioner 110 allows the working edge 158 to extend toward and away from the coupler 112 as the coupler 112 moves between its taut and slack positions.

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a method of removing snow 122 from roof 120 using an exemplary embodiment of the snow removal device 100. Snow removal device 100 is placed onto roof 120 via manipulation of handle 108 or by manually placing the wheeled portion of device 100 on the lower edge of roof 120. In this initial position, positioner 110 is typically slack due to the pressure exerted on the rear side 103 of the blade by the snow 122 on the roof 120. The user may manipulate handle 108 to exert pressure on coupler 112 and thereby roll the wheeled portion of device 100 from the lower edge of roof 120 to an upper edge thereof. During this movement, the smooth bottom of the convex rear side 103 of the blade 102 easily slides over the snow 122 as the wheels 106 rotate.

When the wheeled portion of device 100 nears the upper edge of roof 120, the user manipulates the handle, thereby manipulating coupler 112 to rotate the position of the blade 102 from one in which the rear side 103 of the blade is lying on the snow to one in which the working edge 158 of the blade engages the surface of the roof or a position as near to it as possible depending upon the depth of the snow, etc. In one such method, the angle of the rear side of blade 102 relative to the roof 120 may be in the range of forty-five (45) to ninety (90) degrees, however, alternate angles may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof. After the blade is rotated to the desired position by the user via handle 108 and positioner 112, the snow removal device 100 is pulled downwardly along the roof 120, the front side 101 of blade 102 pushing the snow 122 downwardly off the edge of the roof thereby removing snow from the roof. During this process, if not already completely taut, positioner 110 extends to a substantially taut position to retain blade 102 at an optimal snow removal angle relative to coupler 112 as the wheels 106 rotate around the shaft 104 by preventing over-rotation of the blade 102 due to the weight of the snow being removed. The step of extending the positioner 110 of the device 100 from slack to taut includes exerting pressure on the handle 108 thereby causing the coupler 112 to pull the device 100 downwardly along the roof while the snow being removed exerts pressure on the working edge of the blade, thereby causing the blade to rotate in a counterclockwise manner until the positioner is fully taut. Once the positioner is taut, the blade 102 begins to pull the snow 122 downwardly along the roof 120.

Although the depicted embodiment shows a non-adjustable positioner, alternate embodiments are envisioned in which the length of the positioner may be adjusted as desired by the user, thereby adjusting the position of the blade 102 relative to coupler 112 during snow removal.

In one embodiment of the method, the step of placing a snow removal device 100 onto the roof 120 is preceded by the step of attaching the handle 108 to the coupler 112 or the hinge 118 associated with the coupler. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, once attached, the method of placing a snow removal device 100 onto the roof 120 may also include rotating the handle 108 relative to the coupler 112 via hinge 118 throughout an angle of zero to one hundred eighty degrees relative to the coupler. That is, hinge 118 allows a user located on the ground to utilize handle 108 to manipulate coupler 112 as described herein at a variety of angles to be selected by the user to best accommodate the height of the roof and height of the user. However, alternate angle ranges may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

Referring to the device 100 as depicted in FIG. 1, a method for constructing a snow removal device for removing snow from overhead areas such as a roof, comprising the steps of inserting shaft 104 having a pair of ends into an arcuate blade 102 throughout the longitudinal axis of the blade, coupling the blade to the shaft at one or more points, coupling a pair of wheels 106 to either end of the shaft 104, attaching coupler 112 to the shaft 104 at the approximate longitudinal midpoint of the shaft and connecting a first end of positioner 110 to the working edge of blade 102 and a second end to the coupler 112. In embodiments of the present invention in which the blade 102 includes ribs, shaft 104 is also inserted therethrough.

In the depicted embodiment, when inserting the shaft 104 through the full longitudinal axis of the blade 102, the shaft extends through the center of the arcuate blade 102. However, alternate shaft locations may be substituted without departing from the scope hereof.

After attaching the coupler 112 to the shaft 104, the handle 108 is attached to the coupler 112 via a hinge 118, the latter allowing the user to adjust the position of the handle relative to the coupler 112 during use.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A snow removal device for removing snow from overhead areas comprising:

a blade having a longitudinal axis;

a shaft extending through the longitudinal axis of the blade, the shaft coupled to the blade, and the shaft having a pair of shaft ends;

two wheels, each of the two wheels coupling to each of the pair of shaft ends;

a coupler attached to the shaft; and

a positioner having a pair of positioner ends, a first of the pair of positioner ends connecting to a front side of the blade, a second of the pair of positioner ends connecting to the coupler, the positioner configured for maintaining the blade in position during snow removal.

2. The snow removal device according to claim 1, wherein the blade is arcuate.

3. The snow removal device according to claim 2, wherein the blade has a concave front side.

4. The snow removal device according to claim 1, wherein the blade has arcuate side walls having a center and the shaft extends through the full longitudinal axis of the blade and the center of the arcuate side walls.

5. The snow removal device according to claim 1, wherein the blade has a working edge having a plurality of serrations.

6. The snow removal device according to claim 1, wherein the coupler attaches to an approximate midpoint of the shaft.

7. The snow removal device according to claim 1, wherein the curvature of the blade and wheels have approximately the same radius.

8. The snow removal device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a handle, the handle attaching to the coupler.

9. The snow removal device according to claim 8 wherein the handle is removably attached to the coupler via a hinge.

10. The snow removal device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of ribs located on a front side of the blade perpendicular to the shaft.

11. The snow removal device according to claim 1, wherein the positioner is adjustable.

12. A method for removing snow from overhead areas comprising the steps of:

placing a snow removal device on a lower edge of a roof, the snow removal device having a blade, the blade having front and rear sides, a shaft passing through the blade and coupled to the blade, a plurality of wheels at ends of the shaft, a coupler coupled to the shaft, a handle coupled to the coupler, and a positioner coupled between the coupler and the blade;

rolling the snow removal device to the peak of the roof via movement of the handle;

adjusting a position of the blade via movement of the handle to position the front side of the blade to contact the snow; and

pulling the snow removal device via the handle from the peak of the roof to the lower edge of the roof to allow the snow to fall from the roof, the positioner maintaining the blade in position during the pulling.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the group consisting of the steps of rolling, pushing, and combinations thereof include rotating the handle relative to the coupler.

14. A method for constructing a snow removal device for removing snow from overhead areas comprising the steps of:

inserting a shaft into an arcuate blade, the blade having a longitudinal axis, the shaft extending through the longitudinal axis of the blade, the shaft having a pair of shaft ends;

coupling the shaft to the blade at one or more points;

coupling each of a pair of wheels to each of the pair of shaft ends;

attaching a coupler to an approximate midpoint of the shaft; and

connecting a positioner having a pair of positioner ends, a first of the pair of positioner ends coupled to a front side of the blade, a second of the pair of positioner ends coupled to the coupler.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the blade has arcuate side walls having a center and the shaft extends through a longitudinal axis of the blade through the center of the arcuate side walls.

16. The method according to claim 13 further comprising:

attaching a handle to the coupler via a hinge.