US3893248A

US3893248A - Snow removal apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3893248A
Application number: US500564A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lee Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-08-26
Filing date: 1974-08-26
Publication date: 1975-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-08

Abstract

Apparatus for clearing snow from driveways and the like includes a plate-like snow plow that is towed longitudinally along a surface by a towing vehicle moving perpendicularly thereto. An elongate tow rope couples the towing vehicle to the snow plow and is flexed around a pulley located above the outward end of the surface. A chain for operatively locating the pulley has one end staked to the ground off one side of the surface. The pulley may be coupled to any desired link of the chain and thereby adjusted in position transversely of the surface to permit a series of longitudinal passes of the scraper along the surface.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Young 1 SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS Lee Young, 7425 College, Kansas City, Mo. 64132 [22] Filed: Aug. 26, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 500,564

[76] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 37/41; 172/265; 172/351;

37/115; 37/53; 172/361 [51] Int. Cl. E0lh 5/06; 1302f 3/56 [58] Field of Search 172/23, 24, 25, 26, 26.5,

[451 July 8,1975

1,801,652 Alby 37/125 X 1 57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for clearing snow from driveways and the like includes a plate-like snow plow that is towed longitudinally along a surface by a towing vehicle moving perpendicularly thereto. An elongate tow rope couples the towing vehicle to the snow plow and is flexed around a pulley located above the outward end of the surface. A chain for operatively locating the pulley has one end staked to the ground off one side of the surface. The pulley may be coupled to any desired link of the chain and thereby adjusted in position transversely of the surface to permit a series of longitudinal passes of the scraper along the surface.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to snow removal apparatus and more specifically to apparatus that is particularly useful in plowing snow from driveways and like surfaces.

Existing snow removal equipment is generally not well suited for use in clearing snow from driveways, sidewalks, and other relatively small areas. The major problem in the past has been the provision of apparatus that quickly and effectively removes snow with a minimum amount of labor and yet is not excessively expensive. The various types of vehicular type snow plows that are presently available are so costly as to be impractical for the average individual to purchase or rent for use in clearing small surfaces. Although blower type implements have been developed for use in small snow removal operations, these implements are provided with their own power sources and are therefore also of prohibitive expense to most individuals, particularly in view of the rather limited need for snow removal equipment in many geographical areas. Less expensive equipment that is not self powered is also deficient from a practical standpoint because its use typically requires a substantial amount of time and labor. Consequently, most individuals continue to shovel snow in a conventional manner.

As a result of the foregoing drawbacks in existing snow removal equipment there remains a need to eliminate, in a practical manner, the time and hard work required to shovel snow in a conventional manner. It is the primary goal of the present invention to meet that need.

More specifically, it is an important object of this invention to provide a rugged, economically constructed apparatus for removing snow from driveways and similar surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described that is adapted to clear snow from driveways and the like rapidly and with a minimum amount of labor. It is a particular feature of the invention that the snow removal apparatus may be quickly and easily set up and disassembled.

In conjunction with the preceding objects, it is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus of the character described that is powered by an automobile or other readily available vehicle. It is a further significant feature of the invention that the snow removal apparatus is constructed to permit the towing vehicle to operate entirely in the street, where the space limitations of the surface to be cleared do not impair the maneuverability of the vehicle.

Other and further objects of this invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating snow removal apparatus embodying the present invention in operating position to clear snow from a driveway; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view from the left side of FIG. 1 showing the plate-like snow plow and its coupling to the tow rope.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and initially to FIG. 1, the snow removal apparatus is illustrated in operating position to clear snow from a driveway 10 which has a street 11 perpendicular thereto. The apparatus includes a snow plow in the form of a substantially upright, plate-like scraper 12 that is pulled longitudinally along driveway 10 by a towing vehicle 13 traveling in the street. Scraper 12 comprises a trapezoidal plate having parallel top and bottom edges and sides edges that angle inwardly from bottom to top. This particular configuration provides a wide bottom edge for plowing and a low center of gravity which helps to stabilize the scraper as it is pulled along the driveway. Scraper 12 is preferably constructed of plywood or a similar inexpensive and relatively lightweight material that possesses adequate strength. A thin metal strip 14 is suitably attached to the forward face of scraper 12 at the bottom edge thereof to provide a hard surface for the edge of the scraper.

A pair of

spaced handles

15 and 16 having hand grips are mounted to the top of scraper l2. Handles l5 and 16 each have a pair of spaced, vertical lower ends which are secured against the respective opposite sides of the scraper. A pair of

screws

17 and 18 fasten the lower ends of handle 15 to the top portion of scraper 12, while another pair of

screws

19 and 20 are utilized to similarly fasten handle 16 to the scraper a suitable distance to the side of handle 15. Each

handle

15 and 16 includes a curved grip portion that extends integrally above the lower ends and is open in the middle to provide a comfortable hand grip.

A pair of eye bolts or hooks 21 and 22 having threaded shanks extend from the front surface of scraper 12 at laterally spaced positions equidistant from the vertical axis of the scraper and below the center of gravity thereof. As particularly shown in FIG. 2, a pair of spaced nuts 21a and 21b are threaded onto the hook 21 and into engagement with the respective opposite sides of scraper 12 to secure hook 21 in position. Hook 22 is similarly fastened to scraper 12 by means of a pair of threaded nuts (not shown). The links at the opposite ends of a flexible chain 23 are inserted over the respective hooks 21 and 22 to couple the chain with scraper 12. Chain 23 is in turn connected with a flexible tow rope 24 by means of an S-shaped coupling 25 having curved hook portions at its opposite ends. One of the hook portions is attached to a loop 240 formed at one end of rope 24, while the other hook portion of coupling 25 is hooked to an intermediate link of chain 23. Since it is desirable to angle scraper 12 with respect to its direction of motion along driveway l0, coupling 25 is normally hooked to chain 23 at a link offset from the center thereof in order to achieve the desired an gling of the scraper.

Tow rope 24 is of a length greater than the length of driveway 10 and is of sufficient strength to tow scraper 10 along the driveway. Rope 24 is flexed around a substantially free, horizontally disposed pulley 26, and the outward end 24b of the rope is suitably coupled to vehicle 13. The towing vehicle may conveniently be an automobile, a small truck, or any other available vehicle,

and rope 24 may be secured to any desired portion thereof such as to a hitch 13a or to the vehicle frame.

Pulley 26 is coupled to the free portion of a flexible chain 27. The pulley housing is provided with an apertured lug 260 which projects sidewardly therefrom. An S-shaped double hook coupling 28 has the curved hook portion at one end inserted in the lug aperture, while the oppositely disposed curved hook of coupling 28 is hooked in a selected link of chain 27. A link at or near the opposite end of chain 27 is received by the vertical leg 29a of an L-shaped steel stake 29. The vertical stake leg 29a is firmly driven into the ground near street 11 and slightly to the side of driveway l opposite vehicle 13. The horizontal upper leg 29b of the stake prevents the connection of the chain link to stake 29 from inadvertently slipping and also facilitates the removal of the stake from the ground. it is significant to note that the removable nature of the double hooked coupling 28 permits pulley 26 to be readily coupled to different links of chain 27 in order to locate the pulley at various positions across the width of the driveway. The flexible chain 27 has a length equal to at least half the width of the driveway so that by alternatively locating the stake 29 on one side of the driveway and then the opposite side, the entire width can be covered by chain 27.

To operate the scraping apparatus, stake 29 is driven into the ground and a link near one end of chain 27 is attached thereto. S-shaped coupling 28 is hooked to the pulley lug 26a and to an appropriate link along the length of chain 27, depending upon the desired starting point across the width of driveway l0. Rope 24 is passed around pulley 26 and its opposite ends 24a, 24b are attached to S-shaped coupling 25 and towing vehicle 13, respectively. The opposite ends of chain 23 are secured to hooks 21 and 22, and the other hook of coupling 25 is attached to an intermediate link of chain 23, preferably a link offset from the center of the chain in order to orient the scraper at a slight angle. It is noted that fastener 25 is readily shiftable between various chain links to vary the angle of scraper 12 as desired.

Scraper 12 is initially positioned at the inward end of driveway l0 and held substantially upright by an operator. As vehicle 13 is driven slowly forwardly along the street, chain 27 remains tightly drawn to properly locate pulley 26, which cooperates with rope 24 to translate the movement of the vehicle into substantially perpendicular movement of the scraper in a straight longitudinal path along the edge of the driveway. The towing of scraper along the driveway plows snow to one side due to the slight angle at which the scraper is oriented by means of its offset coupling to tow rope 24. The curved handles 15 and 16 permit the operator to easily guide the scraper and press the same downwardly with the required amount of force. Since the operator may find it convenient to hold scraper 12 at a slightly rearwardly tilted position, it is noted that such tilting is easily achieved and is actually facilitated by the coupling of tow rope 24 at a low position on the scraper.

As scraper 12 is towed along the driveway, chain 27 remains tightly drawn due to the force exerted on pulley 26 by the advancing vehicle 13. Chain 27 thereby assures that pulley 26 is retained in the correct operative position above the outward end of driveway l0 and directly in alignment with the desired path of scraper 12. In actual practice, it may sometimes be necessary to secure the tow rope end 24b to vehicle 13 at a height considerably different from that at which the opposite end 240 is coupled to chain 23. Therefore, it is significant that chain 27 permits pulley 26 to be freely drawn either upwardly or downwardly as the vehicle ad- 5 vances.

After the first longitudinal pass of scraper 12 along the entire length of driveway 10 has been completed, coupling 28 is moved outwardly to a different link of chain 27. The appropriate link is chosen such that pulley 26 will be located at a position transversely of the driveway wherein the second pass of the scraper will normally be adjacent to the previously completed pass. Vehicle 13 is then backed near the outer end of the driveway, and scraper 12 is returned to the inward end of driveway l0 and located properly to make a second longitudinal pass parallel to and beside the first pass. Again, chain 27 retains pulley 26 in the proper position directly ahead of the scraper. The procedure is thereafter repeated the required number of times until driveway 10 has been completely cleared of snow.

It should be understood that the towing vehicle travels entirely in the street and that the space limitations of the driveway or other surface do not impair the operation of the apparatus. it is also pointed out that the towing vehicle need not be steered with a high degree of accuracy since the pulley is located directly in line with the desired path of the scraper to assure that the scraper will be towed theretoward with only a minimum amount of guidance by the operator.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for use with a towing vehicle to remove snow from a surface, said apparatus comprising:

a scraper adapted to be towed in a longitudinal path along said surface by said vehicle to plow snow from said surface, said scraper including handle means adapted for manual grasping to enable same to be held and guided;

a horizontally disposed pulley freely elevated in proximity to one end of said surface, said pulley being located rearwardly of said vehicle and ahead of said scraper in alignment with the longitudinal path to be traversed by said scraper;

an elongate guy member having one end adapted to be anchored at a location offset to one side of said surface and a freely disposed portion coupled to said pulley in a manner permitting substantially free vertical movement of the latter; and

a flexible tow line of a greater length than the length of said surface and having opposite ends, one of said ends being coupled to said scraper and the other of said ends being adapted for coupling to said vehicle with the tow line being flexed around said pulley,

whereby said scraper may be towed by said vehicle along a longitudinal path in a direction toward said pulley and substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of said vehicle with said guy member operatively retaining said pulley in alignment with said longitudinal path.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including coupling means for connecting said scraper to said one tow line end at an angle with respect thereto, said coupling means thereby angling said scraper with respect to the direction of travel of same along said longitudinal path.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said scraper comprises a substantially upright plate member having a bottom edge and a top edge of lesser dimension than said bottom edge.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a coupling member having opposite ends attached to said scraper at horizontally spaced locations thereon, and a connector for removably connecting said one tow line end to said coupling member at selected locations along the length thereof, whereby the angle of said plate member with respect to the direction of travel of same along said longitudinal path may be adjustably varied.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim I, including means for removably coupling said pulley to said guy member at selected locations along the length thereof to permit adjustable positioning of said pulley transversely across said surface.

t :l: t s: t

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a towing vehicle to remove snow from a surface, said apparatus comprising: a scraper adapted to be towed in a longitudinal path along said surface by said vehicle to plow snow from said surface, said scraper including handle means adapted for manual grasping to enable same to be held and guided; a horizontally disposed pulley freely elevated in proximity to one end of said surface, said pulley being located rearwardly of said vehicle and ahead of said scraper in alignment with the longitudinal path to be traversed by said scraper; an elongate guy member having one end adapted to be anchored at a location offset to one side of said surface and a freely disposed portion coupled to said pulley in a manner permitting substantially free vertical movement of the latter; and a flexible tow line of a greater length than the length of said surface and having opposite ends, one of said ends being coupled to said scraper and the other of said ends being adapted for coupling to said vehicle with the tow line being flexed around said pulley, whereby said scraper may be towed by said vehicle along a longitudinal path in a direction toward said pulley and substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of said vehicle with said guy member operatively retaining said pulley in alignment with said longitudinal path.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for removably coupling said pulley to said guy member at selected locations along the length thereof to permit adjustable positioning of said pulley transversely across said surface.