Snow removal device

Abstract

A scraping device for removing material from an elevated surface such as snow on the roof of a vehicle, the device comprising a blade member, a first connecting member having a distal end and a proximal end, a support member having one pivotably connected adjacent the proximal end of the connecting member with a linking element being connected to the proximal end thereof, the linking end extending downwardly with respect to the first connecting member and a control member pivotably connected to the connecting member intermediate of the distal and proximal ends thereof. The device has the blade placed on the vehicle roof and subsequently the control member is operated to position the blade and pull the blade towards the side of the vehicle thus removing snow therefrom.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a scraping device for removing material from an elevated surface and more particularly, relates to a device for removing snow and ice from the roof of a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The accumulation of snow and / or ice on the roof of vehicles such as vans, trucks, semi-trailers and the like represent a substantial problem. In snowy climates, the snow and ice will accumulate on the roof while the vehicle is stopped and / or parked. [0003] If the snow is not removed from the roof, a slab of snow or ice may fly off the vehicle and strike one or more vehicles following behind. As the vehicle picks up speed, the air currents will generally cause the snow or ice to fall. If the snow blows off the roof, this can cause loss of visibility to vehicles following the truck or van. Furthermore, if the slab of ice or snow is large enough, it can cause an accident due to impact on a following vehicle. This can lead to subst...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for removing snow from a vehicle roof comprising the steps of supplying a snow removal device comprising a blade, a first connecting member having a distal end and a proximal end, a support member having one end pivotably connected adjacent the proximal end of the first connecting member, a linking element having first and second ends, a first end thereof being connected to the proximal end of the first connecting member, the linking element extending downwardly with respect to the first connecting member, and a control member pivotably connected to the connecting member intermediate of the distal and proximal ends thereof, placing a free end of the support member on a substrate adjacent the vehicle, pushing on the control member to raise the blade and subsequently placing the blade in a desired position, pulling the control member to allow the blade to lower to a top surface of the vehicle roof and pulling further on the control member to cause the blade to move towards the vehicle side and thereby remove snow from the vehicle roof.

Problems solved by technology

The accumulation of snow and / or ice on the roof of vehicles such as vans, trucks, semi-trailers and the like represent a substantial problem.

If the snow is not removed from the roof, a slab of snow or ice may fly off the vehicle and strike one or more vehicles following behind.

As the vehicle picks up speed, the air currents will generally cause the snow or ice to fall.

If the snow blows off the roof, this can cause loss of visibility to vehicles following the truck or van.

Furthermore, if the slab of ice or snow is large enough, it can cause an accident due to impact on a following vehicle.

This can lead to substantial damage such as breakage of the windshield and result in one or more accidents.

As will be appreciated, this represents a substantial safety issue for the operator.

However, such devices are only practical wherein a large number of vehicles are present so as to justify the expense thereof.

They do not provide a solution for a single vehicle which can be in a location wherein such a structure is not available.

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