Ice scraper

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with ice scrapers having a tubular shaft and a blade made of spring sheet steel. The use of spring steel provides an ice scraper blade that is strong, thin and flexible, which makes it easier to lift frozen snow and ice off of sidewalks and driveways. The blade is preferably rectangular although other shapes such as trapezoidal and semi-circular may be used. The shaft comprises a compressible rubber bulb as a handle to absorb the compressible shock forces as the ice scraper is being used. An alternate embodiment of the present invention includes a deflector mounted above the blade similar to a snow scoop that directs pieces of snow and ice forward as they are lifted of the sidewalk or driveway.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of scrapers, more particularly, ice scrapers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In winter climates, snow often accumulates on sidewalks and driveways. If not cleared shortly after a snowfall, the snow will often become compacted and, through temperature cycling throughout the day or through melting and freezing again overnight, turn into a layer of ice. Such ice buildup is difficult to remove from the sidewalk or driveway. [0003] Convention ice scrapers are, typically, heavy and inflexible steel blades which are used to chop away layers of ice or to scrape along the sidewalk or driveway and lift the ice up. As the blade of such scrapers are relatively thick, it often requires great effort to remove ice with this style of tool. [0004] This is even more apparent during the late-winter / early-spring months when daytime temperatures rise above freezing and allow the layers of frozen snow and ice on sidewalks or dri...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The spring steel blade is quite thin compared to the blade of conventional ice scrapers. This aspect of the blade allows it to be more readily inserted between the sidewalk or driveway and the layer of ice with less force as required with conventional scrapers. Furthermore, the blade will curl as forces applied to the scraper to remove a layer of ice. The curling of the blade gives rise to spring tension in the blade as it tries to straighten out. The effect of the spring tension helps to lift or “pop” ice from the sidewalk or driveway thereby reducing the effort required to remove the layer of ice.

[0008] Another advantage of the spring steel blade is that the blade is self-sharpening as it is continually scraped along the concrete or asphalt surface of the sidewalk or driveway.

Problems solved by technology

Such ice buildup is difficult to remove from the sidewalk or driveway.

As the blade of such scrapers are relatively thick, it often requires great effort to remove ice with this style of tool.

Freezing rain conditions during this period of time contribute to this problem even further.

Conventional ice scrapers typically have too blunt of an edge to effectively lift layers of frozen snow and ice from sidewalks or driveways.

Images