ROOFTOP OR SLANTED SURFACE SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE

DISPOSITIF DE DENEIGEMENT DE TOITURE OU DE SURFACE EN PENTE

English Abstract

A snow removal apparatus that can be used to remove snow from a pitched roof while the operator is on the roof. There can also be a helper on the ground. The apparatus includes two vertical snow--cutting cords, a horizontal cutting blade, and a sheet of plastic attached to the trailing edge of the cutting board. When in use, the operator pulls the horizontal cutting blade through the snow cutting loose a square section which then slides down the plastic to the ground as the apparatus moves up the roof line. When there is insufficient slope to the roof, the helper on the ground will pull on the downslope cords, causing the horizontal cutting blade to turn up to a vertical position, and pull the snow over the edge of the roof.

French Abstract

Dispositif de déneigement de toiture en pente avec une personne sur la toiture qui le manipule. Une autre personne peut également se trouver au sol. Le dispositif comprend deux câbles qui fendent la neige, une lame de coupe horizontale et une feuille de plastique fixée à la bordure arrière de la plaque. Pour l'utiliser, l'opérateur tire la lame de coupe qui découpe une section carrée de neige. Il laisse glisser la feuille de plastique au sol à mesure que le dispositif remonte la pente de la toiture. Si la pente de la toiture est insuffisante, l'assistant qui se trouve au sol tire sur les câbles ascendants pour faire lever la lame de coupe horizontale et pousser la neige par-dessus la bordure de la toiture.

Claims

8
Claims
Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed
are defined as follows:
1 A manually operable tool for removing snow from roofs or slanted surfaces
comprising:
i) a thin board type mainframe having two ends, a leading edge, a trailing
edge a
top and a bottom.
ii) a length of plastic sheeting fastened to said trailing edge of said
mainframe by
a snap-together section.
iii) two lengths of a cord attached to said mainframe by inserting cords
through
holes drilled near each said end of said mainframe.
iv)one wheel or one skid, on one end of one axle, is attached to each said end
of
said mainframe.
2 The tool as defined in claim 1, in which said mainframe is a board-shaped
cutting
blade.
3 The tool as defined in claim 1 or 2, in which both said ends are cut square,
and
perpendicular to said leading edge.
4 The tool as defined in claim 1, in which the top and bottom of said leading
and trailing
edges are chamfered.
The tool as defined in claim 1 or 3, in which holes have been drilled at the
two ends to
allow the attachment of the two axles for said wheels or said skids.
6 The tool as defined in claims 1 or 2, in which said top of said mainframe at
said trailing
edge of said mainframe has a notched area running the full length of said
mainframe.
7 The tool as defined in claim 6, in which said notched area creates a ledge
that has
pegs that project above the ledge.
8 The tool as defined in claims 1, 6 or 7, in which a perforated strip is a
strip the same
size and shape as the notched area, and drilled to the same size and pattern
as the
pegs on the ledge, and completely fills the notched area when pressed in
place.
9 The tool as defined in claim 8, in which said perforated strip is removable
and
reusable.
The tool as defined in claims 8, or 9, in which said snap-together section
consists of
said notched area, the said perforated strip, the ledge and the pegs.
11 The tool as defined in claims 1 or 2, in which the top and the leading edge
of said
mainframe has a beveled area to generate a downward force while being pulled
forward.

Description

CA 02327438 2004-10-06
Description
Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device
Technical field
This invention relates to a manually operable tool for removing snow from a
roof
or sloped surface.
Background
I have found these patents have some similarities.
Canadian patent number 1042257
Issued 781114
Snow remover
Mittelstadt, Robert A. U.S.A.
Application number 268,109
Filed 761217
Application for Canadian Patent
2038348
John Cooley, U.S.A.
Canadian Patent Number 5083388
John Cooley, U.S.A.
Jan 28,1992
These two patents have long unwieldy handles attached for pushing the device
up the
roof. To operate them from the ground, you would have to have a very long
handle to
reach the roof of an average building. Standing on ladders is unsafe, as snow
coming
off the roof can knock you off the ladder.
If you were on the roof, the end of the handle would be hard to control when
the cutting
device was close to you.
The second device seems to require pushing or pulling a roller for plastic
through the
snow, at the end of a long pole.

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Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device
Patent CA1042257 fig 4 shows a device being pulled over the roof from one side
to the
other.
The use of the ropes or cords in this fashion will result in the roof at the
peak
being cut by the downward force of the ropes. The ropes must be thrown over
the roof,
making control and placement difficult.
It is common in devices for removing snow from roofs that shovels are the
preferred mediums. There are normally at least two persons on the roof at the
same
time. On larger roofs, there could be upwards of ten or more. Each shovel full
of snow
must be picked up and carried to the edge of the roof and thrown over,
increasing the
risk of slipping off the roof and seriously hurting the person. This damages
the roof by
walking on it, and by cutting, scraping, and gouging, with the shovels. There
is also the
possibility of a heart attack in older persons. It takes about two hours to
clear an
average size roof.
Summarv
I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome or diminished by:
Limiting the number of persons on the roof to one.
Limiting the walking distance on the roof.
Putting wheels or skids on the mainframe, preventing it from digging in,
gouging, or
scraping the roofs' surface.
Attaching a plastic sheet to the mainframe with the snap-together section to
protect the
roof and gutters from the sliding snow and to facilitate the removal of snow
without
lifting, or going near the edge, thereby greatly reducing the risk of a heart
attack or
slipping off the roof.Reducing the time to approximately fifteen minutes, for
an average
size roof.
The length of cords from mainframe to the ground to retain control, is the
limiting

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Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device
factor for two person operations. Usually three stories high are no problem.
There is no limit to the height of the building for one-person operation.
The Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device is operated from the top of
the
roof where it can be controlled and maneuvered around obstacles on the roof by
the
cords, without dragging the cords against the roofing material.
On the Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device, there is an area'/z' x
36" to
pull through the snow. There are no long handles to work around, and no
special
cutters attached to the head of the device. It is simple to use, light in
weight,
inexpensive to produce, and compact for shipping and storing.
Brief description of drawings
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is a top view of the embodiment. Scale 1" = 4.5"
Figure 2 is left elevation of the embodiment. Full Scale
Figure 3 is left elevation x-ray view of the embodiment. Full Scale
Figure 4 is SW isometric view of another embodiment. Scale 1" = 4.5"
Figure 5 is SW isometric view of the axle. Full Scale
Figure 6 is left elevation of the wheel. Full Scale
Figure 7 is front elevation of the wheel with the axle installed. Full Scale
Figure 8 is the layout of the sash type control cord. Not to scale
Figure 9 is SW isometric view of the assembled unit. Scale 1" = 4.5"
Figure 10 is elevation showing placement of cords when pulling the unit up a
roof.
Figure 11 is isometric view showing how cords are held to slice a section of
snow.

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Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device
Detailed description
The tool illustrated comprises a'N" x 6" x 36" board type mainframe Fig 1.
Starting 3" in from each end Fig 1(10), there is a 3/8" in 1 sloped center
section
Figs 1&3(5), from 3/8 " down on leading edge (4), to 1" behind leading edge at
top of
the mainframe. The purpose of this sloped center section (5), is to generate a
downward force on the mainframe as it is pulled under the snow.
The top leading edge has a 1/8 " chamfer Figs 1,2&3(12a) for 3" at each end of
the mainframe. The bottom leading edge has a 1/8 " chamfer Figs 2&3(12b) for
the full
length of the mainframe. The bottom trailing edge has a 1/8 " chamfer Figs
2&3(12c) for
the full length of the mainframe.
The left and right ends are cut square and perpendicular to the leading edge.
The 1/4 " diameter holes Figs 1,2&3(3), to hold the axles for the wheels, are
drilled one in each end of the mainframe, vertically centered, 1" behind the
leading
edge and parallel to the top, and perpendicular to the end, to a depth of 1-
'/2 ".
The 1/4 " diameter by 2" long axle Fig 5(15) is inserted through the 1/4 " hub
Fig
6(14) of the'/2 " wide by 3" diameter wheel (13), as in Fig 7, then inserted
and glued in
the hole Figs 1,2&3 (3), leaving sufficient clearance to allow the wheel to
tum freely.
One wheel on one axle is installed on each end of the mainframe Fig 9.
The 3/16 " diameter holes Figs 1(1)(1 a) for the 1/8 " diameter control cords
Fig
8, are drilled horizontally 3'/ " deep, vertically centered on the leading
edge Figs
1&3(4), 2" in from each end, and perpendicular to the leading edge.
The 1" diameter holes Figs 1 &3(2) for the control cord exit, are drilled
vertically
through the mainframe, centered 4" behind the leading edge and 2" in from each
end,
intersecting holes Figs 1&3(1)(1a).
The two 50 foot control cords are tied together at one end Fig 8(27). Measure
from eave to peak, then add 5 feet. Tie a knot in each cord at this distance
from the end

CA 02327438 2004-10-06
Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device
knot Fig 8(23&25). These become the top knots. Thread the loose ends of the
left and
right cords through the 3/16 " holes Fig 1(1 &1 a) entering at the leading
edge, Fig
1(16&18) and exiting from the 1" hole on the upper side of the mainframe Fig
1(17&19).
Pull the cords through until the top
knots touch the leading edge at (16&18), then tie another knot Fig 8(24&26) in
each
cord at Fig 1(17&19). These become the bottom knots. This fixes the placement
of the
mainframe on the control cords, and can be adjusted by moving the knots. The
bottom
lengths of the cords are for use by the ground person.
The trailing edge Figs 1,2&3(7), has a notched area Figs 1&3(11), creating
a ledge Fig 1&3(22) 1" wide by 1/4 " thick by 36 " long. This ledge (22) has
12 each 1/4"
diameter holes, drilled vertically through the ledge, centered on the ledge,
starting 1
in from each end and spaced 3" apart.
The 1" flat surface of the ledge Figs 1&3(22), has 12 each 1/4 " round by'/ "
long wood or composite pegs or dowels Figs 1,2&3(8) permanently fixed in the
12
equally spaced 114 " diameter holes. This creates 12 pegs, 1/4 " in diameter
by 1/4 "
high, rising above the horizontal surface of the ledge Fig 2(8).
The 1" wide by 1/4 " thick by 36 " long strip Fig 1,2&3(6), that has 12 each
1/4 "
diameter holes Figs 1&3(9), drilled to mate with the pegs Figs 1&3(8), when
pressed
down firmly, will fill the void of the notch Fig 3(11). This strip Fig 3(6)
has a 1/8 "
chamfer Figs 1,2&3(12d) on the top extreme trailing edge for the full 36 "
length. This
becomes the perforated strip Fig 4.
Place the 36 " end of the plastic sheet over the pegs on the ledge. Then
position
the perforated strip over the plastic sheeting, aligning the holes in the
strip with the pegs
on the ledge. Press down, snapping the perforated strip into the notched area.
This
pushes the pegs through the plastic sheeting into the holes in the perforated
strip,

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Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device
sandwiching the plastic sheeting between the strip and the ledge, affixing the
plastic
sheeting to the mainframe. This removable and reusable perforated strip allows
exchanging different lengths of plastic sheets for different sizes of roofs,
or to replace
worn or damaged plastic sheets
The sheeting Fig 9(21) is made of 6 mil plastic, clear or colored. Its
dimensions are the
width of the mainframe by approximately 5 feet longer than the eave to peak
distance. It is towed up the slanted roof surface by the peg and strip system
on the
trailing edge of the mainframe, and its' purpose is to provide a low
coefficient of friction
surface for the snow to slide down hill and off the roof. It also protects the
roof and
gutters and lets the snow go over the eave without catching the trough.
The purpose of the control cords from the leading edge of the mainframe Fig
1(16&18) and Fig 9, is for cutting the vertical sides of the slice of snow,
and for pulling
the mainframe with attached plastic sheeting up the slope. The Knot that
connects the
two cords together is used as an indicator to keep the mainframe parallel to
the eave.
The purpose of the bottom control cords exiting from the upper side of the
mainframe Fig 1(17&19) and Fig 9, is for use when the slope is insufficient to
allow the
snow to slide freely on its own. When the person on the ground pulls the
mainframe
backwards, the mainframe will stand on the trailing edge Fig 2(7). This
produces a wall
which catches the snow on the plastic sheet Fig 9(21) and pulls it downslope
and over
the edge. These bottom cords are also used for returning the mainframe to the
eave
and setting up for the next slice after each slice of snow has been removed.
These embodiments can be made from wood, aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, iron,
steel, and can be made by shaping, planing, carving, machining, pouring,
injection,
forming, molding, casting, extruding, and must be strong enough to hold their
form
under heavy snow load conditions.

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Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removaf Device
These embodiments are not limited to the stated measurements. They can be
adjusted
to fit almost any project. I have found that a 36 " mainframe works best on
houses and a
48 " mainframe is better for expansive areas.
The Rooftop or Slanted Surface Snow Removal Device is simple to use,
inexpensive to
produce, light in weight and compact, allowing for minimal shipping costs and
storage
space.

Representative Drawing