GB2384168A - Electrically heated ice scraper - Google Patents

Electrically heated ice scraper Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2384168A
GB2384168A GB0201222A GB0201222A GB2384168A GB 2384168 A GB2384168 A GB 2384168A GB 0201222 A GB0201222 A GB 0201222A GB 0201222 A GB0201222 A GB 0201222A GB 2384168 A GB2384168 A GB 2384168A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
ice
electrical heating
heating filament
ice scraper
scraper according
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB0201222A
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GB2384168B (en
GB0201222D0 (en
Inventor
Sarbjit Singh Lalli
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Priority to GB0201222A priority Critical patent/GB2384168B/en
Publication of GB0201222D0 publication Critical patent/GB0201222D0/en
Publication of GB2384168A publication Critical patent/GB2384168A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2384168B publication Critical patent/GB2384168B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S3/00—Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles
    • B60S3/04—Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles for exteriors of land vehicles
    • B60S3/045—Other hand-held cleaning arrangements, e.g. with sponges, brushes, scrapers or the like
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L1/00—Cleaning windows
    • A47L1/16—Devices for defrosting window-panes

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)

Abstract

An electrically heated ice scraper for example for vehicle windscreens, comprises a handle 2 and a scraper blade 4. Also provided is an electrically heated radiant filament 6 which is opposed to the iced up surface in use to at least partially melt the ice before the scraper blade is used. Preferably the filament 6 is backed by a reflector element 10 to improve its efficiency. The filament may be powered via batteries 12, which may be rechargeable, or the device may also have means for plugging it onto a vehicle cigarette lighter socket.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
TITLE Ice Scrapers DESCRIPTION Technical field The present invention relates to ice scrapers, and in particular to electrically powered ice scrapers for removing ice from surfaces.
Background art Ice scrapers are well known tools for removing ice from surfaces such as frozen vehicle windscreens and the like. Conventional ice scrapers normally have an elongate handle portion and a scraper blade. They are often integrally moulded from plastics material.
Clearing a frozen windscreen with a conventional ice scraper is often quite difficult and in certain weather conditions can become impossible. It then becomes necessary to use chemical de-icers which can damage the paintwork of the vehicle.
One solution is proposed in United States Patent No. 5,189, 756 which discloses an ice scraper that is capable of heating the ice to make it easier to remove. A pump draws air from the atmosphere into the handle portion of the ice scraper where it is passed over an array of electrical heating coils. The heated air is then blown through a number of holes along the surface of the scraper blade onto the ice. In this way the ice is partially melted by convection making it easier to remove with the scraper blade.
A rechargeable battery can be used to power the electrical heating coils and the pump. Alternatively, the vehicle's battery can be used by means of an electrical cord that plugs into the lighter socket.
The main disadvantage with this ice scraper is that the air drawn into the handle portion from the atmosphere is normally extremely cold and this means that the array
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
of electrical heating coils needs to provide a significant amount of heat if the air is to be heated to a temperature where it can start to partially melt the ice. This requires a considerable amount of electrical power and the battery therefore has to be replaced or recharged on a fairly regular basis. There is also the danger that if the ice scraper is used for long periods of time it will drain the vehicle's battery.
The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved ice scraper that is capable of heating the ice to make it easier to remove but in a more efficient manner.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides an ice scraper for removing ice from a surface, the ice scraper comprising a handle portion, a scraper blade for contacting the ice on the surface, and an electrical heating filament for providing radiant heat in a direction towards the ice on the surface to partially melt the ice.
Because the ice scraper uses radiant heat instead of convective heat it is more efficient then the ice scraper proposed in United States Patent No. 5,189, 756. This is because the electrical heating filament requires less electrical power.
Once the ice on the surface has been partially melted it can be easily removed using the scraper blade. It is not necessary to melt the ice completely. The electrical heating filament is preferably provided adjacent the scraper blade so the radiant heat provided by the electrical heating filament is directed towards the same patch of ice contacted by the scraper blade.
The electrical heating filament will provide radiant heat in all directions and not all of the radiant heat is therefore directed towards the ice on the surface. To further improve the efficiency of the ice scraper the electrical heating filament is preferably partially surrounded by an arcuate reflective shield. The reflective shield ensures that more of the radiant heat provided by the electrical heating filament is directed towards
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
the ice on the surface. The electrical heating filament is preferably positioned at the focus line of the arcuate reflective shield.
The electrical heating filament is preferably powered by a battery. The handle portion is preferably hollow and the battery is preferably received within the handle portion.
The battery is preferably rechargeable. Alternatively, if the ice scraper is to be used to remove ice from a vehicle windscreen then the electrical heating filament can be powered directly from the vehicle's battery. In this case the ice scraper can include an electrical cord with a plug for insertion into the lighter socket of the vehicle.
The ice scraper preferably includes a switch for selectively controlling the electrical heating filament to operate. The switch can also be used to selectively control the electrical power supplied to the electrical heating filament and thereby control the intensity of radiant heat provided by the electrical heating filament. For example the switch can have the following select positions: off (where the electrical heating filament does not provide any radiant heat); level 1 (where the electrical heating filament provides radiant heat at a low intensity) and level 2 (where the electrical heating filament provides radiant heat at a high intensity).
The ice scraper preferably has a first indicator light such as an LED which is controlled to light when the electrical heating filament is providing radiant heat. The first indicator light therefore informs the user that the ice scraper is operational and that the necessary care should be taken.
Once electrical power is first supplied to the electrical heating filament it takes a certain amount of time for the radiant heat to reach the required intensity. The ice scraper therefore preferably has as a second indicator light such as an LED which is controlled to light when the radiant heat provided by the electrical heating filament is above a predetermined intensity. The second indicator light therefore infonns the user when the ice scraper is ready for use.
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
The ice scraper can also have a third indicator light such as an LED which is controlled to light if the electrical power supplied to the electrical heating filament is below a predetermined value. The third indicator light therefore informs the user if the battery needs to be replaced or recharged. This may also be apparent if the second indicator light fails to light because the radiant heat provided by the electrical heating filament does not reach the required intensity.
Drawings Figure 1 is a top view of an ice scraper in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 2 is an internal view of the ice scraper of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 is a detailed cross-sectional side view of the ice scraper of Figure 1.
The present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. An ice scraper 1 is shown having an elongate handle portion 2 and a wedge-shaped scraper blade 4. The scraper blade 4 can be integral with the handle portion 2 or detachable so that it can be replaced if necessary. The handle portion 2 is ergonomically shaped so that it can be easily and comfortably held by the user.
The ice scraper 1 has an electrical heating filament 6 mounted in an arcuate recess 8 on the under face of the handle portion 2 adjacent the scraper blade 4. The electrical heating filament 6 is formed of any suitable resistive material and can be a linear wire or a coil. The surface of the arcuate recess 8 is coated in a reflective material to form an arcuate reflective shield 10. The electrical heating filament 6 is positioned at the focus line of the arcuate reflective shield 10. The purpose of the reflective shield 10 is discussed in more detail below.
Electrical power is supplied to the electrical heating filament 6 by a pair of batteries 12 connected in series. The batteries 12 are received within the handle portion 2 and can be replaced by unscrewing a cap (not shown) on the end of the handle portion. When electrical power is supplied to the electrical heating filament 6 is heats up and gives off radiant heat. The intensity of the radiant heat is determined by the amount of electrical power supplied.
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
A switch 14 is mounted on the upper face of the handle portion 2 and can be operated to control the amount of electrical power supplied to the electrical heating filament 6 from the batteries 12. The switch 14 has three select positions: off (where no electrical power is supplied to the electrical heating filament), level 1 (where a low amount of electrical power is supplied to the electrical heating filament) and level 2 (where a high amount of electrical power is supplied to the electrical heating filament). If the ice to be removed is not too thick then the electrical heating filament only needs to provide radiant heat at a low intensity and low intensity level 1 can be used. However, if the ice to be removed is thick then the electrical heating filament needs to provide radiant heat at a high intensity and level 2 can be used.
An LED 16 is mounted on the upper face of the handle portion 2 and is controlled to light when electrical power is supplied to the electrical heating filament 6 from the batteries 12.
The operation of the ice scraper to remove ice (I) from a surface (S) will now be explained in more detail. The ice scraper 1 is first turned on by moving to switch 14 to the level 1 or level 2 select position. Electrical power is then supplied to the electrical heating filament 6 from the pair of batteries 12 and the electrical heating filament heats up and starts to provide radiant heat (rays 18). The LED 16 lights to inform the user that the ice scraper 1 is operational.
Radiant heat is provided by the electrical heating filament 6 in all directions.
However, any radiant heat that is not directed away from the handle portion 2 of the ice scraper 1 is effectively wasted and does not help to partially melt the ice (I). The arcuate reflective shield 10 therefore reflects any incident radiant heat back towards the surface (S) as shown by the rays 18.
To remove the ice (I) from the surface (S) the user positions the ice scraper 1 such that the radiant heat provided by the electrical heating filament is directed towards the
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
ice (1). The radiant heat partially melts the ice (I) allowing it to be easily removed from the surface (S) with the scraper blade 4 in the usual way.

Claims (14)

  1. CLAIMS 1. An ice scraper for removing ice from a surface, the ice scraper comprising: a handle portion; a scraper blade for contacting the ice on the surface; and an electrical heating filament for providing radiant heat in a direction towards the ice on the surface to partially melt the ice.
  2. 2. An ice scraper according to claim 1, wherein the electrical heating filament is provided adjacent the scraper blade.
  3. 3. An ice scraper according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an arcuate reflective shield at least partially surrounding the electrical heating filament for reflecting incident radiant heat in a direction towards the ice on the surface.
  4. 4. An ice scraper according to claim 3, wherein the electrical heating filament is positioned at the focus line of the arcuate reflective shield.
  5. 5. An ice scraper according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrical heating filament is powered by a battery.
  6. 6. An ice scraper according to claim 5, wherein the handle portion is hollow and the battery is received within the handle portion.
  7. 7. An ice scraper according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the battery is rechargeable.
  8. 8. An ice scraper according to claim 5, wherein the battery is a vehicle battery and the ice scraper further comprises an electrical cable with a plug for insertion into the lighter socket of a vehicle.
  9. 9. An ice scraper according to any preceding claim, further comprising a switch for selectively controlling the electrical heating filament to operate.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 8>
  10. 10. An ice scraper according to claim 9, wherein the switch selectively controls the power supplied to the electrical heating filament.
  11. 11. An ice scraper according to any preceding claim, further comprising a first indicator light which is controlled to light when the electrical heating filament is providing radiant heat.
  12. 12. An ice scraper according to any preceding claim, further comprising a second indicator light which is controlled to light when the radiant heat provided by the electrical heating filament is above a predetermined intensity.
  13. 13. An ice scraper according to any preceding claim, further comprising a third indicator light which is controlled to light if the power supplied to the electrical heating filament is below a predetermined value.
  14. 14. An ice scraper substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.
GB0201222A 2002-01-19 2002-01-19 Ice scrapers Expired - Fee Related GB2384168B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0201222A GB2384168B (en) 2002-01-19 2002-01-19 Ice scrapers

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0201222A GB2384168B (en) 2002-01-19 2002-01-19 Ice scrapers

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0201222D0 GB0201222D0 (en) 2002-03-06
GB2384168A true GB2384168A (en) 2003-07-23
GB2384168B GB2384168B (en) 2005-04-06

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Family Applications (1)

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GB0201222A Expired - Fee Related GB2384168B (en) 2002-01-19 2002-01-19 Ice scrapers

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112498733A (en) * 2021-02-07 2021-03-16 中国空气动力研究与发展中心低速空气动力研究所 Deicing device for icing wind tunnel test

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3711679A (en) * 1971-02-11 1973-01-16 Sterling Prod Co Inc Windshield de-icer
FR2315895A1 (en) * 1975-07-02 1977-01-28 Gontard Georges Scraper tool removing ice from windows - has V-section bar containing heating element and blade mounted on tubular handle
FR2591881A1 (en) * 1985-12-23 1987-06-26 Ferrari Francis Electrical scraper/defroster
US5357646A (en) * 1993-06-07 1994-10-25 Kim David H J Heated ice scraper
NL1002403C1 (en) * 1996-02-21 1996-05-01 Jan Van Baaren Ice and snow scraper for vehicle windscreen
DE4444386A1 (en) * 1994-11-28 1996-05-30 Volker David Ice scraper for windshield of car
US5973294A (en) * 1998-08-17 1999-10-26 Schatt; Michael Heated windshield scraper device
DE20013229U1 (en) * 2000-08-01 2001-01-18 Sauer Burkhard Ice scraper with electrically heated defrost roller

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3711679A (en) * 1971-02-11 1973-01-16 Sterling Prod Co Inc Windshield de-icer
FR2315895A1 (en) * 1975-07-02 1977-01-28 Gontard Georges Scraper tool removing ice from windows - has V-section bar containing heating element and blade mounted on tubular handle
FR2591881A1 (en) * 1985-12-23 1987-06-26 Ferrari Francis Electrical scraper/defroster
US5357646A (en) * 1993-06-07 1994-10-25 Kim David H J Heated ice scraper
DE4444386A1 (en) * 1994-11-28 1996-05-30 Volker David Ice scraper for windshield of car
NL1002403C1 (en) * 1996-02-21 1996-05-01 Jan Van Baaren Ice and snow scraper for vehicle windscreen
US5973294A (en) * 1998-08-17 1999-10-26 Schatt; Michael Heated windshield scraper device
DE20013229U1 (en) * 2000-08-01 2001-01-18 Sauer Burkhard Ice scraper with electrically heated defrost roller

Non-Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
WPI abstract accession no.1977-D0197Y [15] & FR 2315895 A1 *
WPI abstract accession no.1987-223208 [37] & FR 2591881 A1 *
WPI abstract accession no.1996-260700 [27] & DE 4444386 A1 *
WPI abstract accession no.1996-307990 [31] & NL 1002403 C1 *
WPI abstract accession no.2001-139613 [15] & DE 20013229 U1 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112498733A (en) * 2021-02-07 2021-03-16 中国空气动力研究与发展中心低速空气动力研究所 Deicing device for icing wind tunnel test
CN112498733B (en) * 2021-02-07 2021-04-16 中国空气动力研究与发展中心低速空气动力研究所 Deicing device for icing wind tunnel test

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2384168B (en) 2005-04-06
GB0201222D0 (en) 2002-03-06

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20080119