Combination snow shovel and ice scraper

Abstract

The present invention describes a snow related removal device adapted for dual functionality. The device is designed to combine two distinct cold weather related tools into a single functioning snow shovel that can be easily converted from a tool that functions to remove snow from a surface to a tool that can chop and/or scrape ice.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to tools useful for removing cold weather related elements, and more particularly to a single device adapted for removal of snow and scraping and / or chopping ice from a surface.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The ability to maintain surfaces, passages, and pathways free from snow is paramount to areas of the country that experience cold weather related elements, such as snow fall. A typical device used for removing snow is a snow shovel. Snow shovels allow a user to manually move snow from one surface to another surface, thereby removing excess snow built up on a surface from preventing passage to and from an area. Numerous shovels are known for such purposes.[0003]For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,757 discloses a snow shoveling device described as including a handle mounted to an intermediate portion of a base of a mobile frame such that the handle can undergo pivotal movement between selected vertical angles relative to the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention describes a device for use in cold weather reacted sceneries. The device is adapted to provide a single tool which can be used for dual purposes, independently as a snow shoveling tool and as an ice scraper or chopper tool. In an illustrative embodiment, the combination cold weather related tool for removing snow and scraping and chopping ice from a surface comprising: an elongated shaft having a first end and an opposing second end; a handgrip attached along said first end of said elongated shaft; a snow removal blade arranged opposite said handgrip and attached to said shaft at or near said second end of said elongated shaft; said snow removal blade having a first surface for engaging snow and a second surface adapted for removably nesting an ice scraper assembly to said snow removal blade; and an ice scraper assembly, said ice scraper assembly comprising at least one ice scraper blade adapted for scraping ice, chopping ice, or combinations thereof, whereby said combination cold weather related tool for removing snow and scraping and chopping ice from a surface being traversable between a snow shoveling mode and an ice scraping and chopping mode to form two independently functioning tools. The snow shovel and ice scraper / chopper is designed to easily and quickly traverse or covert from the snow shoveling tool to the ice scraping and chopping tool. As such, each tool can accomplish its purposed functions, i.e. remove snow or scrape / chop ice, independently of the other mode.

Problems solved by technology

The ice layer must be removed as well, and often forms a much greater danger to travelers than the snow.

Unlike snow that is visible to the traveler, a layer of ice on a surface can cause an unwary individual to slip and fall, causing injury.

However, such attempts are generally not successful since snow shovel blades are typically made of a light weight material that cannot penetrate the ice layer.

In certain situations or where the snow shovel is made of a strong material, the user may bang the snow shovel blade against the ice with sufficient force that the shovel blade cracks, thereby destroying the snow shovel.

Utilizing both a snow shovel and an ice pick can be time consuming, requiring the user to switch off when encountering snow and ice.

Such extra time can be significant, particularly if the user is performing such tasks in very frigid weather where extended exposure to such temperatures can create increased risk of frost bite and other snow / cold weather-related dangers.

Additionally, extra costs must be incurred to purchase two separate devices, and the user must dedicate limited space to each independent device.

Moreover, the ice scraper appears to be continuously exposed, even when removal of snow is required.

This arrangement can be awkward in use.

In addition, exposing the ice cutting surfaces on a continuous manner can be problematic to the user.

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