CA2568191A1 - Ice removal apparatus - Google Patents

Ice removal apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2568191A1
CA2568191A1 CA 2568191 CA2568191A CA2568191A1 CA 2568191 A1 CA2568191 A1 CA 2568191A1 CA 2568191 CA2568191 CA 2568191 CA 2568191 A CA2568191 A CA 2568191A CA 2568191 A1 CA2568191 A1 CA 2568191A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
ice
scoop
breaker
ice breaker
snow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2568191
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert M. Binder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2568191 priority Critical patent/CA2568191A1/en
Publication of CA2568191A1 publication Critical patent/CA2568191A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01HSTREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H5/00Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice
    • E01H5/02Hand implements
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01HSTREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H5/00Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice
    • E01H5/12Apparatus or implements specially adapted for breaking, disintegrating, or loosening layers of ice or hard snow with or without clearing or removing ; Roughening ice or hard snow by means of tools

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning Of Streets, Tracks, Or Beaches (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus, is described that can be used to perform a snow shoveling operation as well as ice removal. At least one ice breaker included on the apparatus can be used to break up ice. A scoop included on the apparatus can be used to shovel snow as well as to scoop up and remove broken or loosened ice.

Description

ICE REMOVAL APPARATUS
TEC'.HN1CA.L FIELU
t4oo1l This invention relates to an apparatus for snow and ice removal.
BACKGROUND
100021 Shoveling snow to keep sidewalks and driveways clear is a recurring task that keeps people busy for several months of the year in many parts of the world.
In regions where temperatures rise during the day, causing some of the snow to melt, and then quickly drop during the night. treacherous ice can form. Water that pooled during the day from melting snow can refreeze into difficult to remove ice. Additionally, snow that is packed down, for example on a busy sidewalk, can also turn into hard ice that can be difficult to rernove wit.h a conventional snow shovel. Ice picks can be used to break up the ice and a shovel or snowblower can then be used to clear the broken ice out of the way. SUMMARY

[00+031 This invention relates to an apparatus configured for snow and ice rernoval. In general, in one aspec;t, the inveEjtian features an ice removal apparatus including a scoop and at least oneic.e breaE,er. The scoop is configured to scoop up snow and ice. The at least one ice breaker is connected to the scoop.
100041 Implementations of the invention can include at least one or more of the following features. The apparatus can further include a handle including a hand grip on airst end and a connected to the scoop on a second end. The at least one ice breaker can protrude from a leading edge of the scoop, or in alternatively or additionally from a side edge of the scocrp. The apparatus can further include a pivotable connection. The at least one ice break-er is connected by the pivotable connection to the scoop and can be positioned in an extended position to perform ice breaking and can be pivoted to a retracted position to perform snow and ice shoveling. In one example, the pivotable connection is a hinge. The at least one ice breaker can include at least one tooth protruding from an edge of the scoop. The tooth can include at least one serrated edge. The at least one ice breaker can be a substantially rectangular protrusion. The substantially rectangular protrus:ioncatt include a serrated leading edge.

1""I Implementations of the invention can realize one or more of the following advantages. A user of the ice removal apparatus can perform multiple tasks with the single tool.
The tool en.n be used to simply shovel snow. However, if the user must also break or loosen ice, the ice breaker included on the apparatus can be eniployed to accomplish this task. Once the task of breaking and/or loowning the ice is completed, the user can then use the scoop included on the apparatus to clear away the iee. Because only one tool is required, the user can easily toggle betu-een performing the two related but different tasks. The user avoids having to carry more than tine tool to a,job site and have one tool lay idle, with the risk of misplacinl, the idle tool, while ps;.rfomiing a~k with the other. The tool can conveniently be stowed in the trunk of a vehicle or on the wall of a shed or garage, and takes up less space than having to store or transport more than one toot.
[0006} 1'he details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention wil1 be apparent from the descriptYon and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF IJRAWINGS
[0007] FI~'z. I shours an ice removal apparatus.
104081 FIG 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a scoop of the ice removal apparatus ofI~Ia I, t(ttHl91 FIG 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a scoop of the ice removal apparatus of FICi. 1 100101 FICx 4 shows an alletnative embodiment of a scoop of the ice removal apparatus of FICi. 1.
100111 FICt 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a scoop of the ice rei-noval apparatus ofFIG. I.
100121 FIG 6 shows an alternat.ive embodiment of a scoop of the ice removal apparatus of FIG. I.10013] PICL 7A shows a cross-sectional view of the scoop shown in FIG 5 along line ~~
with the ice breaker in an extended position.
(00141 FIG 78 shows a cross-sectional view of the scoop shown in FIG 5 along line A-A
with the ice breaker in a retracted positian.
[0{Iv5j Like reference symbals in the various drawings indicate lilte elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIOIV 100161 An ice removal apparatus is provided that includes a scoop configured to scoop up snow and ice wW at least one ice breaker. The scoop can be configured in asirnitar shape and size to a conventional head of a s}wvel, snow shovel or spade. However, unlike a ctmventional shovel or space, an ice breaker is connected to the scoop.
100171 Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the ice removal apparatus 100 is shown.
3I'he ice removal apparatus 100 includes a scoop 102 and an arrangement of ice brealcers 104.

7lze sc:oop 102 includes two side edges 112, 114 and a leading edge 110. In this ernbodiment, the ice breakers 104 are positioned along the leading edge 11 0 of the scoop and are configured as substantially triangular shaped teeth. The ice breakers 104 can be used to break up ice, for exatnpte, by direoing the ice breakers I04 at a patch of ice and applying a downward force.

Applying the downward force in sharp, quick, jabbing motion can be effective to break up ice.
The scoop 102 can then be used to scoop up the broken ice and any surrounding snow, and remove same from an area, for exarnple, a sidew=alk, path or driveway. [{}018]
In this embodiment, the ice removal apparatus 100 further includes a handle and a hand grip 108. In operation, a user holds onto the ice removal apparatus by the hwid grip 109 and optionally the handle 1(}6. As described above. when using the ice removal apparatus 100 to break up ice, the user can direct the ice breakers 104 toward the ice and apply a downward force sufficient to break up the ice. The pointed configuration of the ice breakers 104 facilitates breaking the ice. Preferably the ice breakers 104 are formed from a tiard, durable rnaterisl, such as a metal, that can witbstand the fomes involved in breaking the ice. The edges of the ice breakers 104 can be substantially shaip and optionally serrated to further facilitate ice breakage.
[00191 In other embodiments, the ice breakers 104 can be positioned substantially toward one side of the leading edge 110 rather than centered'. or can be positioned on one or both of the side edges 112, 114. For example, neferring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the scoop 202 is showm. In this embodrrnent, the ice breakers 204 are positioned along a side edge 214 of the scoop 202. Alternatively, the ice breakers 204 can be pasitionedalong the other side edge 212.

Positioning the ice brealcers 204 along a side edge 212 or 214 can permit the scoop 202 to operate more easily when performing a scooping functiott, as compared to the ice breaking function, in that the ice breakers204 are positioned out of the way of the leading edge 210 and do not hinder a scooping or shoveling motion. [00201 The configuration of ice breakers 104, and 204 shown in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. I and 2 is exemplary. Other configurations can be used.
Referring to FIG. 3, and altern.ative embodiment of the scoop 302 is shown. The ice breaker 304 is configured as a single, enlarged tooth protruding from the leading edge 30t's of the scoop 302. The leading edge 304 of the ice breaker 304 can be sharpened to provide a cutting action when forced against ice.
Alternativel}r, the side edges 310, 312 of the ice breaker 304 can be sharpened as well.
[0021} Referring to FIG. 4, an altemative embodiment of the scoop 402 is shown, wherein the ice breaker 404 is positioned along a side edge 406 of the scoop 402. As described above, providing the ice breaker 404 along a side edge 406 can facilitate using the scoop 402 for a scooping or shoveling operation, as the ice brealcer 404 is out of the way of the leading edge 408 that perforrn.s most of the scooping in a shoveling operation.
[0022] Referring now to FIG, 5, an altemative embodiment of a scoop 502 is shown. In this ernlacxliment, an ice breaker 504 is positioned along a leading edge 506 of the scoop 502.
'I'he ice breaker 504 is configured as a single toatli including at least one serrated edge. In the embodiment shown, the serrated edge is the leading, edge 50$ of the ice breaker 504.
Alternatively or additionally, one or both of the side edges 510 and 512 of the ice breaker 504 can be serrated.
[(1{}231 Referring to FIG. t, an alternative embodiment of a scoop 602 is shown. In this embodiment, the ice breaker 604 is positioned along a side edge 606 of the scoop 602. The ice breaker 604 is conYigured as a single tooth and includes a serrated leading edge 608.
Alterraativeiy or additionally, the side edges 61 {l and 612 of the ice breaker 604 can be serrated.
[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the ice breaker can be pivotally attached to the scoop, such that the ice breaker can pivot between an extended and a retracted position. In an extended position, the ice breaker protrudes from the scoop and can be used to break ice. In a retracted position, the ice breaker is folded out of the way of the scoop, so as not to interfere with tlte scooping or shoveling operatictn,Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a cross-sectional view of the scoop 502 shown in FIG. 5 is show-ii taken along line A-A. In this embodiment of the scoop 502, the ice breaker 504 is pivotally attached to the leading edge of the scoop 502, for example, wing a hinge 514 or other connection allowing a pivoting motion between the ice breaker 504 and scoop 502. The ice breaker 504 can pivot about the hinge 514 in the direction of arrow 516 to switch between an extended position slwwn in FIG. 7A and a retracted position shown in FIG.
7B. In FIG. 7A, the ice breaker 504 is locked into an extended position and can be used to break up ice. In FIG. 7B, The ice breaker 504 has been pivoted into the retracted position and is tucked underneath the scoop .502 and out of the way of the leading edge 506 of the scoop 502.

100251 In another embodiment, an ice breaker that is connected to a side edge of the scoop, for example, the ice breaker 604 shown in FIG. 6, can be pivotally attached to the scoop 60:2. The ice breaker 604 can thereby be retracted out of the way of the scoop 602 when the user is not using the ice breaking function of the ice removal apparatus. i00261 In one embodiment, the scoop and at least one ice breaker are formed from a hard, durable material such as a metal or plastic. The handle and hand gripcanbeformed from any suitable rnaterial including wovd, plastic or meul, or a combination thereof In one implementation the scoop and at least one ice breaker are formed as an integral unit. For example, if formed from metal, the scoop and ice breaker can be extruded as a single unit, or if formed from plastic they can be molded or extruded as a single unit. In one implementation, the hand grip and handle are formed as an integral. unit. In yet anotheritnplernentation, the handle, scoop and at least one ice breaker are aII formed as an integral unit. In other implementations, the components are formed separately and connected together. For example, the scoop can be screwed or otherwise mechaWcally fixed to the handle. In another example, the at least one ice breaker can be fused to thes coop, for exannpl+e, by welding, adhesive or thermal bonding.
100271 A nurnber of embtxdiments of the invention have been described.
Nevertheless, it wilt be understood that v ar'sous m ditications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. ~

Claims (10)

1. An ice removal apparatus comprising:
a scoop configured to scoop up snow and ice; and at least one ice breaker, where the at least one ice breaker is connected to the scoop.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a handle including a hand grip on a first end and a connected to the scoop on a second end.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one ice breaker protrudes from a leading edge of the scoop.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one ice breaker protrudes from a side edge of the scoop.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pivotable connection, wherein the at least one ice breaker is connected by the pivotable connection to the scoop and can be positioned in an extended position to perform ice breaking and can. be pivoted to a retracted position to perform snow and ice shoveling.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pivotable connection is a hinge.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one ice breaker comprises at least one tooth protruding from an edge of the scoop.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one tooth includes at least one serrated edge.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one ice breaker comprises a substantially rectangular protrusion.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the substantially rectangular protrusion includes a serrated leading edge.
CA 2568191 2006-11-20 2006-11-20 Ice removal apparatus Abandoned CA2568191A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2568191 CA2568191A1 (en) 2006-11-20 2006-11-20 Ice removal apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2568191 CA2568191A1 (en) 2006-11-20 2006-11-20 Ice removal apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2568191A1 true CA2568191A1 (en) 2008-05-20

Family

ID=39420383

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2568191 Abandoned CA2568191A1 (en) 2006-11-20 2006-11-20 Ice removal apparatus

Country Status (1)

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CA (1) CA2568191A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110745104A (en) * 2019-10-29 2020-02-04 徐良杰 Plastics defroster
CN112942227A (en) * 2021-02-01 2021-06-11 重庆交通大学 Snow removing and shoveling tool

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110745104A (en) * 2019-10-29 2020-02-04 徐良杰 Plastics defroster
CN112942227A (en) * 2021-02-01 2021-06-11 重庆交通大学 Snow removing and shoveling tool

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