This invention relates to hand tools and implements for clearing ice from eaves, soffits, and roofs, and is more particularly concerned with a tool and technique for safely cutting icicles that may form along the roof of a home or other structure.
During winter, snow that falls on a building roof can melt and run down the edge of the roof, where it re-freezes, forming icicles. These icicles can pose a safety concern for persons or property directly below the eaves of the roof. In addition as the icicles grow they can become quite heavy, and their weight can actually damage the roof or rain gutters. Accordingly, there has been a concern for removing icicles before a dangerous or damaging event occurs. It is common for a homeowner or building maintenance person to try to knock down the icicles with a pole. In some cases persons have used an axe to chop at the ice when the icicle is particularly large. Where the icicle is above the first floor of the building, the can involve chopping at the icicle while standing on a ladder, which is an unsafe practice. However, there has not been a tool devised for attacking icicles, and for removing them in a safe manner.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide tool for safe, effective removal of icicles, and which avoids the drawbacks of the prior art.
It is another object to provide a de-icicling tool that is of simple, sturdy construction.
It is a further object to provide a de-icicling tool that can be used for any of a variety of sizes of icicles, and which can be used for safely removing icicles that are well above the head of the person.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an icicle removing tool has an elongated handle or pole, and an icicle removing head mounted onto the distal end of the handle member. The icicle removing head has a generally flat blade member having a front and a rear, and top and bottom sides. The blade member is secured, e.g., by welding, onto a mounting sleeve, and this can have a threaded socket for receiving the distal end of the handle. There is a series of triangular teeth formed along the front of the blade member, with each tooth having a point (which can be rounded, i.e., blunt) and beveled edges which meet at the associated point. There can also be one or more generally triangular notches formed along the rear of the head, with each notch having a pair of beveled edges. There can also be circular or oval cutouts or apertures, the aperture(s) having an inwardly directed beveled edge. The front teeth cut into the ice and can be used for chopping the icicle in the forward direction. The rear notches can be used for breaking off icicles on the withdrawal stroke or back stroke. The hole can be used for removing smaller icicles. The head can be placed over the smaller icicles, allowing the icicle to penetrate into the aperture or hole, and then the tool is pushed or pulled to break the icicle off. These round apertures may have a diameter of three to five centimeters.
Preferably the mounting means in the sleeve employs a threaded socket adapted to accept a male thread of a standard broom handle. A set screw in the socket locks the handle member in place.
The blade and socket can be formed of a durable steel, and can be attached to a number of suitable types of handle. An adjustable length handle would permit the user to reach icicles formed above the building's second story.
The above and many other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art from the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment, which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying Drawing.
With reference to the Drawing,
The head 14 is of steel construction, and is strong and durable. Plastic or aluminum could also be used, but in that case a suitable plastic composition or aluminum alloy should be selected to have sufficient rigidity and strength, with being unduly brittle.
As shown in more detail in
Partway back from the front 20 there are one or more round holes or apertures 30, each being about 1½ to 2 inches in diameter, i.e., about 3 cm to 5 cm, and each having an inwardly directed beveled edge 32. In this embodiment there are three of these apertures 30, but in other embodiments there could be more, or perhaps just one or two. These apertures serve to relieve some of the weight of the steel plate blade 16, and also provide the user with an optional means for removing some of the smaller icicles.
At the rear or the head 14 there are generally triangular or V-shaped notches 34 formed on the blade 16, and in this embodiment there are two notches, one on each side of the handle fitting 18. These notches 34 each have a pair of beveled edges 36. The notches provide a means for removing icicles by catching and then pulling against the icicle.
The tubular handle fitting 18 is attached to the blade 16, preferably by welding. In this embodiment, the tube is slitted and fitted over the blade 16, and then weld beads are formed along the join, on both sides and on the top and bottom. A threaded socket 38 is formed at the proximal end of the fitting 18, and is provided with female or internal threads adapted to match the standard threads of a paint pole or push broom handle. This permits the head 14 to be used on any common pole, in addition to an extensible pole such as the handle 12 shown in
In a possible alternative embodiment, the head 14 may be arranged at an angle to the shaft of the handle 12. This may be accomplished by affixing the fitting 18 at an angle, e.g., 60° or 90°, relative to the blade 16, rather than in the same plane. There may be an auxiliary socket for this purpose, or the handle 12 may have a tip that is angled relative to the shaft.
While the invention has been described in detail with respect to one preferred embodiment, it should be recognized that there are many alternative embodiments that would become apparent to persons of skill in the art. Many modifications and variations are possible which would not depart from the scope and spirit of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20080184564 A1 | Aug 2008 | US |