Snow tool

• US 7,343,637 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andre Lafleur RD&D Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Andre Lafleur RD&D Incorporated
• Inventors: Lafleur, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/920,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 151/17, 151/05, 151/60, 151/11, 151/72, 152/45, 152/360.2, 151/21, 151/14, 152/01, 152/442
• US Class Current: 15/111
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/06 Hand implements with built-in electric motors A47L1/05
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/16 Devices for defrosting window-panes H05B3/84 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/04 telescopic; extensible; sectional

Abstract

A snow tool for removing snow from vehicles having a telescopic handle and a brush disposable either longitudinally or transversally. The telescopic handle has first and second members connected in a sliding relationship and providing retracted and extended states of the handle. The snow tool has a pair of arms provided with bristles and movable between a closed position where the arms extend along the handle and an open position where the arms extend transversally thereto. The snow tool is provided with a compression spring for urging the first and second members into the extended state, and first and second locking devices for locking the first and second members with respect to each other in the retracted state and in the extended state respectively. The snow tool also has third and fourth locking devices for locking the arms in the open position and in the closed position respectively.

Claims

1. A snow tool comprising:

a telescopic handle comprising first and second members connected in a sliding relationship and providing retracted and extended states of the handle;

a pair of arms, each having bristles provided along the length thereof, an end of each arm being pivotally attached to the first member;

means for moving said arms between a closed position where said arms extend along said handle and an open position where said arms extend transversally to said handle;

first locking means for locking the first and second members with respect to each other in the retracted state;

second locking means for locking the first and second members with respect to each other in the extended state;

a compression spring for urging the first and second members into the extended state;

third locking means for locking said arms in the open position; and

fourth locking means for locking said arms in the closed position;

wherein;

said first locking means comprise;

a first pair of recesses provided on both sides of a portion of the first member, distal from a rear portion of the first member;

a U-shaped element mounted on the second member and having legs capable of cooperating with said pair of recesses, said U-shaped element having a first locked position wherein said legs engage in the first pair of recesses for locking the handle in the retracted state, said U-shaped element having an unlocked position wherein said legs extend out of said recesses for allowing movement of the first member with respect to the second member; and

a resilient means operatively connected to said U-shaped element for urging said legs towards the side portions of the first member and thereby locking said U-shaped element in said first locked position when said legs are aligned with said first pair of recesses, a depression of said U-shaped element by a user unlocks said U-shaped element;

the means for moving said arms comprise;

a collar slidably mounted along said first member of the handle for a longitudinal motion relative to said first member;

a pair of struts, each having first and second extremities, the first extremities being pivotally mounted on the arms respectively, the second extremities being pivotally mounted on the collar; and

at least one torsion element cooperating with the arms for urging the arms in the open position; and

said fourth locking means comprise a first attaching element provided on the U-shaped element and a second attaching element provided on the collar and capable of cooperating in a lockable relationship with the first attaching element for locking said arms in the closed position, a depression of said U-shaped element by the user unlocks said attaching elements.

2. The snow tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least one torsion element comprises:

a pair of torsion springs respectively connected to the second extremities of the struts for urging the arms in the open position.

3. The snow tool according to claim 1, wherein said second locking means comprise:

a second pair of recesses provided on both sides of said rear portion of the first member;

a U-shaped element mounted on the second member and having legs capable of cooperating with said pair of recesses, said U-shaped element having a second locked position wherein said legs engage in the second pair of recesses for locking the handle in the extended state, said U-shaped element having an unlocked position wherein said legs extend out of said recesses for allowing movement of the first member with respect to the second member; and

a resilient means operatively connected to said U-shaped element for urging said legs towards the side portions of the first member and thereby locking said U-shaped clement in said second locked position when said legs are aligned with said second pair of recesses, a depression of said U-shaped element by a user unlocks said U-shaped element.

4. The snow tool according to claim 1, wherein said second locking means comprise a second pair of recesses provided on both sides of said rear portion of the first member, said U-shaped element further having a second locked position wherein said legs engage in the second pair of recesses for locking the handle in the extended state, said resilient means further locking said U-shaped element in said second locked position when said legs are aligned with said second pair of recesses.

5. The snow tool according to claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprise a spring.

6. The snow tool according to claim 1, wherein said third locking means comprise:

an abutting element provided on the collar;

a resilient raised stop provided on a front portion of the first member, capable of cooperating with the abutting element of the collar, said third locking means having a locked position wherein said stop engage with said abutting element for locking the arms in the open position; and

a resilient tooth provided on the collar and capable of cooperating with the resilient raised stop by which a depression thereof by a user unlocks said third locking means.

7. The snow tool according to claim 1, wherein said third locking means comprise:

an abutting element provided on the collar;

a resilient raised stop provided on a front portion of the first member, capable of cooperating with the abutting element of the collar, said third locking means having a locked position wherein said stop engage with said abutting element for locking the arms in the open position; and

a resilient tooth provided on the collar and capable of cooperating with the resilient raised stop by which a depression thereof by a user unlocks said third locking means.

8. The snow tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second members are each provided with a U-shaped longitudinal recess, said U-shaped longitudinal recess of said first member comprising an abutting wall extending therein, the snow tool comprising a guiding spring rod extending in the recesses of the first and second members and cooperating with said abutting wall for keeping said compression spring in position.

9. The snow tool according to claim 1, wherein the second member is provided with a scraper extending at a free end thereof.

10. The snow tool according to claim 1, further comprising squeegees mounted respectively on said arms, on sides opposite to said bristles.