US20020069560A1

US20020069560A1 - Snow melting device

Info

Publication number: US20020069560A1
Application number: US09/732,226
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-17
Filing date: 2000-12-07
Publication date: 2002-06-13
Also published as: CA2327015A1; CA2327015C

Abstract

A hand-propelled self-contained movable electrical snow-melting device which has a frame on which is mounted an enclosure formed by a bottom heat-conductive plate and an upper cover. An electrical heater is positioned within the enclosure and a portable electrical power supply is supported by the device and is connected to the heater.

Description

CROSSREFERENCE

The Applicant hereby invokes the benefits of 35 U.S.C. 119(e)(1) with respect to the invention disclosed by the Applicant in pending provisional application sn. 60/172,463 filed Dec. 17, 1999.[0001]

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to electrically-heated snow melting. In particular, it relates to a self-contained, hand-propelled, electrically-heated snow melting device which is sufficiently compact so as to be used by a single individual to melt down the snow on a driveway.

The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,926 (1992) to Monson. This patent does show a hand-propelled electrically-powered snow melting device.. However, the device described therein has an engine mounted on its frame. The engine drives a generator also mounted on the frame. The device is heavy, cumbersome and difficult for an individual to move.. Another example of a prior art electrically powered snow and ice melting device is Schmitt U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,926 (1999) which requires a blower mounted on the frame, has an open bottom, has complex circuitry, and needs to be always connected to an exterior electrical source. This device as described would be inefficient for melting snow in a driveway.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a self-contained electrical snow-melting device. Mounted on its frame is an enclosure comprising a bottom heat-conductive plate and an upper cover. The frame is supported by runners or wheels or a combination thereof so that it can be readily moved. An electrical heater is positioned within the enclosure. A portable electrical power supply is supported by the device and is connected to the heater. The device melts the snow when propelled along a snow covered pathway...

In a preferred form of this invention, the device has a handle connected to a wheeled frame. Mounted on the frame is an enclosure formed by a spherical metal dome, preferably aluminum, seated on a flat copper plate. Within the enclosure is a heating coil adjacent the copper plate. A portable power supply such as a battery or group of batteries is connected to the heating coil. The frame has two front wheels, two rear wheels, and two horizontal bars connecting the two sets of wheels. The power source is a rechargeable battery which can be housed either inside the dome or on the handle. The attachment of the dome to the frame can be made so as to be readily opened for servicing of coil, copper plate, and battery. The copper plate may extend over the outside of the dome. Provisions can be made to open the device for servicing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of this invention. [0006]
FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 with the dome removed for illustrative purposes.. [0007]
FIG. 3 is a horizontal section along line A-A of FIG. 1.[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, the device is mounted on a frame having a pair of front [0009] tired wheels 12 and 22 in a housing and a pair of rear tired wheels 13 and 23 in a housing. The front and rear wheels are connected together by horizontal bars 12 a and 22 a.
Supported on the bars is a [0010] copper plate 19. Fitting over copper plate 19 is an aluminum dome 11 forming an enclosure Within the enclosure and adjacent the copper plate 19 is an electrical heating coil 18.
The device has a handle having a [0011] grip 14, and a pair of outwardly curved arms 16 and 17 terminating in the center of the housing for the rear wheels 13 and 23. Rechargeable battery 15 has its wires 30 and 31 extending through the arms 16 and 17 to the heating coil 18. When the battery 15 is actuated, the heating coil heats the copper plate 19 so as to melt the snow below. The aluminum dome 11 protects the heating coil and inner surface of the copper plate.
The aluminum is preferably {fraction (1/32)}″ to {fraction (1/16)}″ thick. The dome is preferably spherically shaped and about 18″ to 24″ high and approximately 2 ½ to 3 feet in diameter.[0012]

Claims

I claim:

1. An electrical snow-melting device comprising a frame supporting an enclosure comprising a bottom heat-conductive plate and an upper cover; an electrical heating means being positioned within said enclosure; said device including a portable electrical power supply means for actuating said heating means.

2. Claim 1 wherein said frame is mounted on a member of a support group consisting of a support set of at least one wheel, a support set of at least one runner and a support set of at least one wheel and at least one runner.

3. Claim 1 wherein said bottom plate is made of copper.

4. Claim 1 wherein said upper cover is made of aluminum

5. Claim 4 wherein said cover is spherically shaped

6. Claim 1 wherein said heating means is an electrical coil.

7. Claim 1 wherein said power means is a battery means

8. Claim 7 wherein said battery means is rechargeable.

9. Claim 1 wherein said frame is connected to a handle

10. Claim 1 wherein said frame is mounted on a first support set comprising at least one front wheel and a second support set comprising at least one rear wheel; at least one horizontal bar connecting said two sets.

11. Claim 10 wherein said frame is connected to a handle which has a hand grip for moving said device and a pair of outwardly curved arms terminating in the central area of said second set.

12. Claim 11 wherein a battery means is mounted on said handle and has wires extending from said battery means through said arms to said heating means.

13. Claim 12 wherein said battery means is rechargeable

14. A hand-propelled self-contained electrical snow-melting device comprising a frame mounted on a first support set comprising at least one front wheel and a second support set comprising at least one rear wheel; said frame having at least one horizontal bar connecting said sets; said frame supporting an enclosure comprising a bottom heat-conductive plate and an upper cover; an electrical heating means being positioned within said enclosure; said device including a completely portable electrical power supply means for actuating said heating means.

15. Claim 14 wherein said said frame is connected to a handle which has a hand grip for moving said device and a pair of outwardly curved arms terminating in the central area of said second set.

16. Claim 15 wherein said power supply means is a battery means mounted on said handle; said battery means having wires extending through said arms to said heating means

17. Claim 14 wherein said bottom heat-conductive plate is made of copper and said upper cover is made of aluminum.

18. Claim 17, wherein said upper cover is spherically shaped.

19. Claim 16, wherein said battery means is rechargeable.