WO2012156798A1

WO2012156798A1 - Snow removing umbrella including an electric device for removing snow and ice from the surface of a vehicle.

Info

Publication number: WO2012156798A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/000935
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luigi QUATTROMANI
Original assignee: Quattromani Luigi
Priority date: 2011-05-16
Filing date: 2012-05-14
Publication date: 2012-11-22
Also published as: ITCZ20110009A1

Abstract

Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces comprising: a housing (1) provided with a handle (11) and comprising an electric motor (12) for the rotational drive of a fan (31) for drawing an incoming air flow through an inlet/outlet opening (13) comprised in the housing (1) and for blowing a discharge air flow through the inlet/outlet opening (13); a flexible hose (2) for transporting the air flow removable connectable to the inlet/outlet opening (13); tools (3, 4, 5, 6) removable connectable to the hose (2).

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE:

SNOW REMOVING UMBRELLA INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC DEVICE FOR REMOVING SNOW AND ICE FROM THE SURFACE OF A VEHICLE . The present invention refers to a manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces, such as glass, windows and frame.

It is well known that, during the winter, especially in very cold Countries, the snow is very frequent and causes a lot of problems like covering the cars and the vehicles. To have the possibility to use cars, it's necessary to remove the snow from cars glasses, windows and frame. This is usually done manually by using household scoops.

Different manual devices are being used for removing snow and ice. Some of these devices comprise telescopic handles having at one end a brush for removing the snow. Some other devices comprise lips having a telescopic handle having at one end a scraper for removing ice from the glasses of the vehicle.

These manual devices are very practical and low cost but they have the problem of low effectiveness related to the manual control.

The known solutions to solve this problem concern devices controlled by electric motors mechanically connected to rotating brushes of the type of brushes used in the car washing stations.

Even if these solutions solve the problem described above, they are affected by the problem that, due to the huge weight and big dimensions, they are not so easy to control and to use for people which needs to use .the car early in the morning.

Aim of the present invention is to provide a manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces having a light weight and small dimensions, being easy to be used and low cost.

According to the present invention a manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces is realized, as defined in the claim 1. For a better understanding of the present invention a preferred embodiment is described, by way of non limitative example, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- figure 1 is a cross section of a manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice, according to the invention;

- figure 2 is a frontal view of the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice, according to the invention;

- figure 3 is a perspective view of the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice, according to the invention;

- figure 4 is a perspective view of a pallet tool provided with a rotating roller brush comprised in the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice, according to the invention;

- figure 5 is a cross section of the pallet tool provided with a rotating roller brush, according to the invention;

- figure 6 is a schematic view of the pallet tool with the rotating roller brush in use, according to the invention;

- figure 7 is a first perspective view of a brush scraper tool comprised in the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice, according to the invention;

- figure 8 is a perspective inside view of the brush scraper tool, according to the invention;

- figure 9 is a second perspective view of the brush scraper tool, according to the invention;

- figure 10 is a schematic view, of a suction-blower scraper tool comprised in the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice, according to the invention;

- figure 11 is a schematic view of brush polishing tool comprised in the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice, according to the invention.

Referring to those figures, and, in particular, to figure 1, a manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces is provided, according to the invention. The manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice comprises a housing 1 having a handle 11 and comprising an electric motor 12 able to transmit a rotational movement to a fan for drawing an incoming air flow through an inlet/ outlet opening 13 of the housing 1 and for blowing a discharge air flow through the inlet/ outlet opening 13.

According to an aspect of the invention, the inlet/ outlet opening 13 is positioned on the side 15 of the housing 1 , as shown in figure 1.

According to another aspect of the invention, the inlet/ outlet opening 13 acting as air flow feeding or blowing channel is realized in the lower part of the housing 1.

The housing 1 is substantially wedge-shaped with a restricted downward section and is, preferably, made of plastic material.

Advantageously according to the invention, control buttons are arranged on the handle 1 1 located in the upper part of the housing 1.

According to an aspect of the invention, the handle 11 is a hook shaped flexible plastic material.

Advantageously, as shown in figure 2, both the housing 1 and the handle 11 have size and shape similar to a common anti-rain umbrella weighing about two kilograms, so being able to be worn comfortably attached to the arm of a person who leaves home and can be stored in a umbrella stand when the person comes back home.

Advantageously, the electric motor 12 is located inside the housing 1 in a configuration of minimum space occupation and maximum efficiency.

According to an aspect of the invention, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces works with rechargeable batteries and can be recharged or powered via the connection to a. car cigarette lighter or to household power outlet in the house or in the garage.

According to another aspect of the invention, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces comprises a led signaling the level of the battery charge for about 20 minutes.

According to another aspect of the invention, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces comprises an air flow inverter allowing the electric device dual function as a blower and as a drawer. According to another aspect of the invention, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces comprises an air flow regulator for adjusting the outlet speed of the air flow.

Advantageously according to the invention, the handle 11 is a hollow flexible hose 14 acting as a suction channel.

According to an aspect of the invention, a bag for the sucked material collection can be connected to the flexible hose 14.

Moreover, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces comprises an extendable flexible hose 2 for air flow transporting removable connectable to the inlet/ outlet opening 13.

According to an aspect of the invention, the flexible hose 2 has a length equal to approximately 1.80 meters.

According to another aspect of the invention, the flexible hose 2 has a length changeable by means of extensions.

Advantageously according to the invention, the flexible hose 2 is removable connected to the inlet/ outlet opening 13 by interlocking means, such as male- female grafts 21 provided with a spring button 22, which is better shown in figure 5. Moreover, a joint connection 24, such as a telescopic rigid tube, is coupled to the flexible hose 2 acting as handle and grip for tools comprised in the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice. More in particular, male-female grafts 23 having a spring button 22 are provided at the end of the joint connection 24 to connect the tools to the hose 2.

According to an aspect of the invention, the flexible hose 2 is removable connected to the inlet/outlet opening 13 by interlocking. means, such as screws or similar means.

Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice, according to the invention. It is evident that the housing 1 is equipped with a compartment 16 able to contain the hose 2 and provided with a door 16a which is shaped so as to allow the opening of the same, the passage of the hose 2 when connected to the device and the closure of the door 16a itself. The figure 3 shows also the arrangement of tools 3 and 4 which are removable connectable to the hose 2 and comprised in the body of the device. Also tools 5 and 6, not evident in this figure, are removable connectable to the hose 2, but not necessarily stored in the body of the device. According to an aspect of the invention, the tools 3-6 can be connected to the hose 2 by interlocking means, such as screws or similar means.

The tool 3, shown in details in figure 4, comprises a tubular element 35 removable connectable to the hose 2. The tubular element 35 comprises a rotary fan 31 receiving a rotational movement from the electric motor 12 and able to draw an incoming air flow through the inlet/ outlet opening 13 and to blow a discharge air flow through the inlet/ outlet opening 13. The fan 31 has shovels designed for intercepting the air flow blown through the hose 2 and to trigger the rotation of the fan 31 itself. The tubular element 35 is laterally coupled with a "C" shaped conveyor-diverter pallet 33 acting as a snow shoveling pallet and comprising a roller brush 32 coaxial to the fan 31 and having the same rotation shaft of the fan 31, so that the rotation of the fan 31 results in rotation of the roller brush 32, so as to collect the shoveled snow by a bottom portion of the conveyor-diverter pallet 33 and to expel it from an upper portion of the conveyor-diverter pallet 33. The upper portion of the conveyor-diverter pallet 33 comprises a swelling forming an expulsion chimney 34.

The figure 5 shows a cross section of the tool 3 connected to the hose 2 via the joint connection 24.

In use, the action of the electric motor 12 and of the fan 31 let the generated air flow being channeled in the expulsion chimney 34, through passages 36 preformed in the bottom portion of the pallet 33, .and, at the end, the air flow is ejected from the chimney 34. In fact the air flow and the roller brush 32 help to expel the collected snow from the pallet 33.

According to an aspect of the invention, the roller brush 32 is equipped with shovels or bristles made of plastic material, or alternatively rubber, or alternatively resin, or the like.

According to another aspect of the invention, the snow is channeled toward a chimney, in the upper portion of the pallet 33, realized by means of a directional hose having an anti-clogging profile. Advantageously, the conveyor-diverter pallet 33 comprises, in the bottom portion, anti-scratch means 37, preferably made of rubber, and means 38 allowing the inclination and the sliding of the pallet 33. during the. use, as shown in figure 6.

According to an aspect of the invention, the inclination and sliding means 38 are wheels made of plastic material.

The tool 4, shown in details in figures 7-9, comprises a brush 41 equipped with a removable scraper 42, a perforated hose 43 and at least two rows of bristles 44 spaced between them for the passage of an air flow coming from the perforated hose 43. More in details, the tool 4 comprises a tubular graft 46 configured to be connected to the hose 2 transporting the air flow. The perforated hose 43 is integral with the tubular graft 46 and longitudinally traverses the brush 41. In use, the air produced by the electric motor 12 arrives directly inside the brush 41 passing through the rows of bristles 44. According to an aspect of the invention, the portion of the perforated hose 43 coupled with the brush 41 comprises holes formed along predetermined lines and at predetermined angles.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the air comprised in the brush 41 and used to shovel the snow can pass and go out through the bristles. In fact, the air vortex below the brush 41 and the movement of the bristles 44 contribute optimally to remove the snow.

Moreover, the tool 4 comprises one tipper brush 45 coupled with the hose 43 and configurable in open position, as shown in figure 7, or in closed position, as shown in figure 9. In particular, the tipper, brush 45 can assume a position at an angle comprise between 0 and 90 degrees. The tipper brush 45, configured in the open position, is adapted to have the function of brush and blower, due to the fact that the free end of the hose 43 is open. In the closed position, the tipper brush 45 is adapted to close the free end of the hose 43 and is coupled to the rows of bristles 44, ensuring that the air can be released, as a direct flow, from the holes of the hose 43 instead that from the hose.

Advantageously, according to this embodiment of the invention, the operation of brushing or blowing air can pulverize the snow by a certain distance from the device. According to an aspect of the invention, the tools 3 and 4 are positioned on the housing 1 and interlocked with it by means of magnets. In details, recesses or seats are provided on the housing 1 for engaging and locking the tools 3 and 4. According to another aspect of the invention, the tools 3 and 4 are independent from the body of the device.

Figure 10 shows a third embodiment of the tools of the device. In particular, a tool 5 associated with the device is an oblong shaped element functioning as a suction-blower and as a scraper depending on the air flow direction able to be inverted by the electric motor 12. In details, the tool 5 comprises a tubular graft 51, for the connection to the connecting hose 2 via the joint connection 24, and a hollow body 52 comprising a suction nozzle 52a, preferably in plastic, having an ovalized output. On a bottom portion, the hollow body 52 is provided with a comb scraper 53 for removing ice and with a cleaning element 54, such as a felt or a rubber roller or a microfiber, to clean the surfaces to be treated by the device. In fact, the device according to the invention can be used, in the suction function, as well as snow and ice removing, to clean the interior of the vehicle from dust and crumbs. In this case, the handle 1 of the device can be used as a directional discharge means or can be coupled to a collection bag.

Advantageously, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice can be hung, during the use, on the mirror of a car or to a door or to a possible carrier, or act as a support of the user arm.

Advantageously, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice can also be used at home to remove snow from window sills,, balconies and terraces.

Advantageously, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice can also be used to remove any crumbs from the car, in particular through the suction nozzle, or to clean the upholstery of the car, in particular through the an accessory like a brush. In those cases, the handle of the device can be used as a discharge element, or a collection bag can be applied.

Advantageously, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice can also be used to remove any crumbs from not accessible places at home. According to another aspect of the invention, a tool 6, shown in figure 11, can be applied to the manually driven electric device. The tool 6 is a rotating brush able to polish a car, comprising, a pad rotating disk 61,. covered with felts 62 on which products can be applied, able to polish the bodywork of the vehicle, like the pallet 33. The disc 61 is provided, in the upper portion, with a graft 63 to be connected to the hose 2 which transport the air and let the disk 61 rotating. Advantageously, according to the invention, inserting the tools in lightweight telescopic shafts, such as those used at home to clean the upper part of the furniture, the manually driven electric device can be used to remove snow and ice even from trucks, buses, trains and possibly aircraft, using an electric motor of appropriate power mounted on a trolley or by an operator on a rack cabinet.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the tool 4 can be applied to a tube wheel comprising water and can be used for cleaning the bodywork of the vehicle. In particular, the perforated hose of the tool 4 is used to let the water flow present between the bristles goes out.

The manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice according to the invention allows to remove snow and ice in a very efficient way.

Another advantage of the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice according to the invention consists in the fact that the device is very light and small and easy to manipulate.

Another advantage consists in the possibility to easily adapt the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice according to the invention to different types of vehicles and to houses..

At the end, the manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice according to the invention makes the operation of removing snow and ice and of cleaning quicker and low cost.

It should be clear that other modifications and embodiments carried out to the described device can be done falling within the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces characterized in comprising:

- a housing (1) provided with a handle (1 1) and comprising an electric motor (12) for the rotational drive of a fan (31) for drawing an incoming air flow through an inlet/ outlet opening (13) comprised in the housing (1) and for blowing a discharge air flow through the inlet/ outlet opening (13);

- a flexible hose (2) for transporting the air flow removable connectable to the inlet/ outlet opening (13);

- tools (3, 4, 5j 6) removable connectable to the hose (2).

2. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool (3) comprises a C- shaped conveyor-diverter pallet (33) and a tubular element (35) comprising the rotary fan (31) and a rotating roller brush (32) coaxial to the fan (31), the air flow being received by the fan (31) and being channeled inside the pallet (33) toward an expulsion chimney (34).

3. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to claim 2, characterized in that the conveyor-diverter pallet (33) is configured to collect the snow on the bottom and to eject the snow from the expulsion chimney (34) by means of the rotating roller brush (32) and of the air flow.

4. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to claim 2, characterized in that anti-scratch means (37) and means (38) for the inclination and the sliding of the conveyor-diverter pallet (33) are located on the bottom of the pallet (33). _Λ

5. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool (4) comprises a brush (41) comprising a removable scraper (42), a perforated hose (43), at least two rows of bristles (44) spaced between them for the passage of air flow coming from the perforated hose (43), and at least one tipper brush (45) configurable in open position and in closed position.

6. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to claim 5, characterized in that the tipper brush (45) configured in the closed position is able to close the free end of the perforated hose (43) and is coupled to the rows of bristles (44).

7. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to claim 5, characterized in that the tipper brush (45) configured in the open position is able to function as a brush and as a blower.

8. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to previous claims, characterized in that the tools (3, 4) are interlocked to the housing (1) by means of magnets.

9. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to previous claims, characterized in that the tools (3, 4) are disconnected from the body of the device.

10. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool (5) is an oblong shaped element acting as a suction-blower and as scraper, depending on the air flow direction able to be inverted by the electric motor (12).

11. Manually driven electric device for removing snow and ice from vehicles surfaces according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool (6) is a brush polishing machine.