Ice Dam Hammer

Abstract

An article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer is made from one or more handle segments, the one or more handle segments having a turning elbow between a top segment of the handle and one or more lower segments, a grip about one or more lower segments for holding the adjustable ice dam hammer, and an ice breaking head coupled the top segment of the handle. The ice breaking head includes a main breaking head having a point on a first side and a pair of hammer points coupled to a second side of the main breaking head.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture for providing a snow and ice removal aid, and more specifically, to an article of manufacture providing an adjustable ice dam hammer.

BACKGROUND

Packed snow and ice dams form on roofs following a snowfall. The snow can melt and refreeze, especially about the eves of the building, which may lead to water damage and breaks in the roofing and building material. Removal of these ice dams can be dangerous if a worker is required to use a ladder to get close to the ice and packed snow to break it into pieces that may be removed from the roof. Depending upon the height of the building having the ice dams, the user may have difficulty safely reaching the roof at a required depth while remaining a safe distance from the edge of the roof.

Therefore, a need exists for an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer. The present invention attempts to address the limitations and deficiencies in prior solutions according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other problems are solved by providing an article of manufacture for an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, the present invention is an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer. The an adjustable ice dam hammer is made from one or more handle segments, the one or more handle segments having a turning elbow between a top segment of the handle and one or more lower segments, a grip about one or more lower segments for holding the adjustable ice dam hammer, and an ice breaking head coupled the top segment of the handle. The ice breaking head includes a main breaking head having a point on a first side and a pair of hammer points coupled to a second side of the main breaking head.

In another aspect of the present invention, the one or more lower segments of the handle are telescoping to adjust its length.

In another aspect of the present invention, each adjacent lower segments of the handle has a bent clip having an insertion ball on one end of the clip and a connection hole through both of the adjacent lower segments of the handle. The insertion ball passes through and engages the connection holes to hold the adjacent lower segments of the handle in place.

In another aspect of the present invention, the main breaking head includes a triangular shaped ice breaking head and a tiered base coupled to a wide part of the triangular shaped ice breaking head, the pair of hammer points being coupled to an underside of the tiered base.

In another aspect of the present invention, the ice breaking head is made of aluminum.

In another aspect of the present invention, the grip comprises a temperature insensitive material around a portion of the one or more lower segments of the handle.

In another aspect of the present invention, the temperature insensitive material comprises rubber, leather, or synthetic material that will not transfer the cold temperature of the aluminum handle segments

In another aspect of the present invention, the one or more handle segments are made from a material comprising aluminum, wood, steel, carbon fiber, and similar materials that provide a rigid segment

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an ice breaking head of an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of connections between segments of the handle that are part of an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of an ice breaking head of an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture for providing a snow and ice removal aid, and more specifically, to an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, the following terminology will be used. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” specify the presence of stated features, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps or components. It also should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions and acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality and acts involved.

The terms “worker” and “user” refer to an entity, e.g., a human, using an adjustable ice dam hammer associated with the invention. The term user herein refers to one or more users.

The term “invention” or “present invention” refers to the invention being applied for via the patent application with the title “Ice Dam Hammer.” Invention may be used interchangeably with hammer.

In general, the present disclosure relates to an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer. To better understand the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention. The ice dam hammer 100 may be used by a worker, user, or homeowner to break up ice dams that form about the edges of a building's roof while standing on the ground outside of the building.

The ice dam hammer 100 comprises one or more handle segments 101a-d that include a turning elbow 102 between the top segment of the handle 101e and the remaining segments 101a-d that extend downward to the user. The lower end segment 101a may include one or more grips 105a-b to provide the user with a comfortable holding point while using the ice dam hammer 100. The handle segments 101a-e may be a 1½″ aluminum tube having a thickness of 1/16″ that typically extends a length of 5 feet. The segments 101a-e may connect and detach from each other using an attachment mechanism shown in detail in reference for FIG. 4. Telescoping handle segments and other adjustable length rods may also be used to make the handle 101a-e. The turning elbow 102 may also be integrated into one or more of the segments 101a-e in some embodiments.

The grips 105a-b are temperature insensitive material such as rubber, leather, or synthetic material that will not transfer the cold temperature of the aluminum handle segments to the user holding the grips 105a-b. The handle segments 101a-e may be made of other materials including wood, steel, carbon fiber, and similar materials that provide a rigid segment that may be coupled together and function in colder temperatures below freezing.

An ice breaking head 104 is coupled to an upper end of the handle segments 101a-e and may be used to break-up ice formations, packed snow, and other frozen ice on a roof. The ice breaking head 104 typically has a weight of at least 4 pounds in order to readily break through ice and packed snow. Additional details of the ice breaking head 104 are described below in reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an article of manufacture providing an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention. The ice dam hammer 101 is shown with the ice breaking head 104 attached to the upper end of the last handle segment 101n. The ice breaking head 104 extends downward from the handle segment 101n and has a pair of coated hammer points 302a-b as shown below in FIG. 3. The ice breaking head 104 is shown having a triangular shape providing three points at its vertexes.

The user standing on the ground can raise the ice breaking head 104 on an opposing end of the ice dam hammer 100 from the grips 105a-b above a lower edge of a roof. By extending the ice dam hammer 100 above and over the edge of the roof, the user can swing the handle segment 101a having the grips 105a-b to cause the ice breaking head 104 to crash downward into ice and packed snow on the roof. By repeated strikes from the ice breaking head 104, the ice and packed snow may be broken into pieces. The user also may use the ice breaking head 104 to drag the pieces of ice and packed snow broken and freed from their initial locations over the edge of the roof and down to the ground.

FIG. 3 illustrates an ice breaking head of an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention. The head 104 is shown having a main triangular ice breaking head 104 made of aluminum and weighing 4 lbs. The ice breaking head 104 has a length of 12″ along each side of the triangle in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3. The ice breaking head 104 has a depth of 2/½″ and supports a pair of coated hammer points 302a-b. The coated hammer points 302a-b have a diameter of 2″ in the preferred embodiment. The coated hammer points 302a-b are coated with rubber or similar anti-slip synthetic material to prevent or minimize any impact upon the roof surface below the ice and packed snow.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of connections between segments of the handle that are part of an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention. A connection between each pair of handle segments 101a-e shown to include a retention clip 401 that engages a connection hole 402a-b in each of the handle segment pairs 101a-b. The retention clip 401 comprises a bent clip 411 having an insertion ball 412 on an outside edge off the bent clip 411. The insertion ball 412 is sized to securely fit into the connection holes 402a-b when the holes are aligned. The insertion ball 412 passes through both connection holes 402 a-b when a first handle segment 101a accepts the second handle segment 101b inside the hollow tube making up the handle segments. With the insertion ball 412 in place within both connection holes 402a-b, the two handle segments 101a-b are prevented from rotating and moving laterally with respect to each other.

The bent clip is located within the inner second handle segment 101b with each side of the bent clip 401 in contact with the inner sides of the hollow tube. The bent clip 401 generates an outward force to push the attached insertion ball 412 outward and holds the insertion ball 412 in place. A user may push downward on the insertion ball 412 to push the insertion ball out of the connection holes 402a-b in order to allow the two handle segments 101a-b to be disconnected.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of an ice breaking head of an article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer according to the present invention. Another embodiment of the hammer head 501 is shown attached to a handle segment 502. The hammer head 501 is shaped as a single triangle that is coupled to a base 503 using one or more screws. The hammer head 501 is made from aluminum in a preferred embodiment and weighs about 4 lbs. The base 502 is shown as a tiered set of base members 504a-b that may include a pair of hammer points 505a-b coupled to a back side of the base members 504a-b.

The hammer head 501 may be coated with a durable material to protect both the hammer head 501 and the roof under the ice and snow. The durable materials may comprise a protective layer of material similar to a spray-on coating used to coat the inside of a pickup truck bed, for example a Rhino Liner™. Other similar materials may be used.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the present application, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the invention. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in this application. In other words, any of the features mentioned in this application may be included to this new invention in any combination or combinations to allow the functionality required for the desired operations.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture for providing an adjustable ice dam hammer, the adjustable ice dam hammer comprises:

one or more handle segments, the one or more handle segments having a turning elbow between a top segment of the handle and one or more lower segments; a grip about one or more lower segments for holding the adjustable ice dam hammer; and an ice breaking head coupled the top segment of the handle, the ice breaking head comprises: a main breaking head having a point on a first side; and a pair of hammer points coupled to a second side of the main breaking head.

2. The adjustable ice dam hammer according to claim 1, wherein the one or more lower segments of the handle are telescoping to adjust its length.

3. The adjustable ice dam hammer according to claim 2, wherein each adjacent lower segments of the handle comprises:

a bent clip having an insertion ball on one end of the clip; and

a connection hole through both of the adjacent lower segments of the handle, the insertion ball passes through and engages the connection holes to hold the adjacent lower segments of the handle in place.

4. The adjustable ice dam hammer according to claim 1, wherein the main breaking head comprises

a triangular shaped ice breaking head; and

a tiered base coupled to a wide part of the triangular shaped ice breaking head, the pair of hammer points being coupled to an underside of the tiered base.

5. The adjustable ice dam hammer according to claim 4, wherein the ice breaking head is made of aluminum.

6. The adjustable ice dam hammer according to claim 1, wherein the grip comprises a temperature insensitive material around a portion of the one or more lower segments of the handle.

7. The adjustable ice dam hammer according to claim 6, wherein the temperature insensitive material comprises rubber, leather, or synthetic material that will not transfer the cold temperature of the aluminum handle segments.

8. The adjustable ice dam hammer according to claim 6, wherein the one or more handle segments are made from a material comprising aluminum, wood, steel, carbon fiber, and similar materials that provide a rigid segment.