The present disclosure relates generally to outdoor power tools, such as snow blower power tools.
Power tools are generally utilized to make working conditions easier. For example, snow blowers eliminate the need for shoveling snow. Instead of manually lifting snow from a surface (e.g., a driveway or sidewalk) to move the snow therefrom, the operator can push or walk a snow blower through the snow. The snow blower lifts the snow and discharges it a distance from the underlying surface. Typically, this involves moving snow from a rotating auger to a downstream chute that can direct the moving snow away from the snow blower. In this regard, snow blowers make snow removal easier than previous manual operations.
However, while snow blowers can greatly reduce the amount of human effort to clear an area of snow, existing appliances still maintain certain drawbacks during use. For instance, battery-powered snow blowers may have limited runtime and may require one or more batteries to be changed and recharged during a snow blowing operation. It may be inconvenient or difficult for a user to obtain a new battery, open a battery compartment of the snow blower and swap the battery during a snow blowing operation, particularly when fully vested in cold-weather protective gear and if spare batteries require being stored in a dry, climate-controlled environment.
Accordingly, snow blowers, features, or methods of operation are desired in the art. In particular, systems or methods that enhance ease of use and convenience for a user, such as by providing extra battery storage, would be advantageous.
Aspects and advantages of the invention in accordance with the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology.
In accordance with one embodiment, a snow blower is provided. A snow blower includes snow blower having a frame defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the outlet opening being circumferentially bounded about a chute axis; a rotatable auger mounted to the frame rearward from the inlet opening and below the outlet opening to motivate snow to the outlet opening; one or more wheels mounted to the frame apart from the rotatable auger to support the snow blower; a chute body extending from the frame along the chute axis above the outlet opening; and a compartment coupled to the frame. A power source for the snow blower is disposed within the compartment.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the technology.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode of making and using the present systems and methods, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, each example is provided by way of explanation, rather than limitation of, the technology. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present technology without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed technology. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention.
As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “coupled,” “fixed,” “attached to,” and the like refer to both direct coupling, fixing, or attaching, as well as indirect coupling, fixing, or attaching through one or more intermediate components or features, unless otherwise specified herein. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising.” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of features is not necessarily limited only to those features but may include other features not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive-or and not to an exclusive-or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
Terms of approximation, such as “about,” “generally,” “approximately,” or “substantially,” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction. For example, “generally vertical” includes directions within ten degrees of vertical in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems are described below with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims.
In general, a snow blower includes an auger, an auger housing, and a compartment configured to store a power source for the snow blower. The compartment may be disposed in the auger housing. The snow blower may have various additional features, e.g., a foot pedal to open and close a cover of the compartment. The compartment may further include on-board storage for replacement parts and/or tools for the snow blower. The snow blower may include one or more attachments mounted to a mounting frame, such as auxiliary battery storage and/or a spreader attachment. The one or more attachments may be electrically coupled to the snow blower power source. The snow blower may improve the lighting and traction of a path cleared by the snow blower by providing one or more path lights and/or by providing a scraper bar to further clear snow from the path after the auger clears the snow.
Referring now to the drawings,
The snow blower 100 is supported by one or more walking elements, e.g., wheels 114. Generally, one or more wheels 114 define a wheel axis Aw (e.g., parallel to the lateral direction L) about which the wheels 114 rotate. In optional embodiments, the wheels 114 are provided as a pair of driven wheels that can be driven or rotated by a discrete wheel motor 104b (e.g., separate from element motor 104a). As illustrated, the wheel motor 104b may be supported on the frame 102 apart from the element motor 104a. Although the driven wheels 114 may be motivated or rotated by wheel motor 104b, an operator or user may selectively push the snow blower 100 (e.g., manually).
It is noted that although the illustrated snow blower 100 is shown as a single-stage snow blower, the present disclosure is not limited to the same and may be applicable to any suitable snow blowing power tool, such as a dual-stage (e.g., impeller) snow blower, self-propelled snow blower, manually propelled or push snow blower, etc.
In some embodiments, a controller 150 may be provided in operative communication with one or more components of snow blower 100 (e.g., motors 104a, 104b, sensors 152a, 152b, 152c, etc.). The controller 150 may include a memory and one or more microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of snow blower 100. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In some embodiments, the processor executes non-transitory programming instructions stored in memory. For certain embodiments, the instructions include a software package configured to operate snow blower 100 or execute an operation routine. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 150 may be constructed without using a microprocessor (e.g., using a combination of discrete analog or digital logic circuitry; such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.
Controller 150 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout snow blower 100. Input/output (“I/O”) signals may be routed between controller 150 and various operational components of snow blower 100. One or more components of snow blower 100 may be in operative communication (e.g., electric communication) with controller 150 via one or more conductive signal lines or shared communication busses.
In optional embodiments, one or more operational sensors 152a, 152b, 152c are provided on snow appliance 100 in operative (e.g., wired or wireless) communication with controller 150. Generally, such operational sensors 152a, 152b, 152c are configured to detect one or more operational conditions of the snow blower 100 and transmit signals corresponding to the same (e.g., to controller 150). Such operational conditions may be related to performance of the snow blower 100. As an example, a motor sensor 152a may be provided (e.g., at controller 150) to detect a motor loading signal received from the auger motor 104a according to an operational load (e.g., voltage draw) on the auger motor 104a. Such motor loading signals and sensors 152a, 152b, 152c for the same are generally understood. As an additional or alternative, example, a speed sensor 152b may be mounted on frame 102 and configured to detect a velocity of the snow blower 100. The detected velocity may generally correspond to forward movement of the snow blower 100. For instance, speed sensor 152b may detect velocity based on a rotational speed of one or more wheels 114. To that end, and as would be understood the speed sensor 152b may include a rotational sensor (e.g., Hall effect sensor, inductive sensor, eddy-current sensor, photodiode array, etc.) be configured to detect rotational movement at the wheels 114 (or an axle thereof).
Separate from or in additional to performance of snow blower 100, operational conditions may relate to the environment (e.g., ambient area or geographic location) that the snow blower 100 is located in. As an example, a temperature sensor 152c may be provided to detect an ambient air temperature. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor 152c may be mounted to the frame 102 (e.g., apart from the motor(s) thereof). As would be understood, the temperature may include a thermistor, thermocouple, or any other suitable electric temperature sensing element.
Optionally, as shown in
The auger housing 108 generally houses the auger 106 (e.g., such that the auger 106 is housed below the top wall 108a and rearward from the front opening). Moreover, auger housing 108 can be in communication (e.g., fluid communication) with a chute 116. Moreover, the auger housing 108 can be connected with the chute 116 mechanically, electrically, or both. The chute 116 can extend, for example, above the auger housing 108. The chute 116 can direct discharged snow in a desired direction. In an embodiment, the chute 116 can rotate about a (e.g., vertical) chute axis A. The chute 116 can include a moveable interface 118 configured to rotate the discharge direction about a horizontal axis. In this regard, the direction and height of discharged snow can be controlled. In certain instances, the direction of at least one of the chute 116 and moveable interface 118 can be controlled by the operator at the handle assembly 110. For instance, a chute lever 126 may be provided on the handle assembly 110 to selectively rotate the chute 116. Additionally or alternatively, a movable flap lever may be provided on the chute 116 to selectively rotate the movable interface 118.
In certain embodiments, handle assembly 110 include a top handle 110c (e.g., as an unbroken unitary piece or having left and right portions to receive a user's left and right hands, respectively). One or more inputs for controlling snow blower 100 may be provided on or proximal to top handle 110c. Although top handle 110c is shown as a single-piece construction handle having left and right portions to receive a user's left and right hands, respectively. In other instances, the handle assembly 110 can include a multi-piece construction (e.g., having multiple discrete handles to receive a user's hands). The top handle 110c can be coupled to one or more additional portions, which extend from the frame 102 to the first and second handles 110a and 110b (e.g., to support the top handle 110c or permit selective height adjustments or storage configurations of the handle assembly 110).
The auger housing 108 generally houses the auger 106. As shown, auger housing 108 may include multiple walls, which house or at least partially enclose auger 106. For instance, auger housing 108 may include a top wall 108a vertically bounding or disposed above auger 106 (e.g., such that the auger 106 is housed below the top wall 108a), a pair of side walls 108b laterally bounding auger 106, and a rear wall 108c transversely bounding or disposed rearward from auger 106. Generally, auger housing 108 defines two or more openings to permit snow therethrough. For instance, auger housing 108 may define an inlet opening 160 (e.g., at a front portion of auger housing 108) to permit snow to the rotatable auger 106. The inlet opening 160 may be defined in front of the rotatable auger 106, such as by a pair of side walls 108b and top wall 108a. When assembled, auger 106 may be mounted to frame 102 and disposed rearward from the inlet opening 160. Separately from or in addition to inlet opening 160, auger housing 108 may define an outlet opening 162 to permit snow to flow from rotatable auger 106 (e.g., as motivated by the same) and out of auger housing 108 through outlet opening 162. In some embodiments, outlet opening 162 is defined through top wall 108a. In turn, rotatable auger 106 may be mounted to frame 102 below outlet opening 162 to motivate snow therethrough.
Auger housing 108 can be in communication (e.g., fluid communication) with a chute or chute body 116. Moreover, the auger housing 108 can be connected with the chute 116 mechanically, electrically, or both. The chute 116 can extend, for example, above the auger housing 108. Optionally, chute 116 can include or be provided as a solid, nonpermeable body extending along a chute axis AC (e.g., generally vertical axis), upward or downstream from outlet opening 162.
Whereas the chute 116 directs snow away from the auger 108 in an upward direction, the snow blower 100 may further include a scraper assembly 190 (
Turning now to
As illustrated in
In one aspect of the present invention, the snow blower 100 may include a foot pedal 176 coupled to the battery compartment cover 168 and configured to open the cover 168, i.e., move the cover 168 from the closed position to the open position. The foot pedal 176 may be a lever having a resting position and an active position in which a force presses downward on the pedal 176, e.g., by a user stepping on the pedal 176. The foot pedal 176 may be coupled to the cover 168 by a cable system such as a cable pulley, as shown in
The battery compartment 112 may further include on-board storage for the snow blower 100 within the volume 166. The on-board storage may include an on-board storage area 178 configured to store items as desired by a user. For instance, the storage area 178 may include one or more structural features configured to hold specific essential replacement parts and/or tools for the snow blower 100. The structural features may include but are not limited to tabs 180 and/or slots 182 as shown in
In one aspect of the invention, the snow blower 100 may include a mounting assembly 200 coupled to the housing 108 and/or handle assembly 110. The mounting assembly 200 may be configured to receive one or more attachments to be coupled to the snow blower 100. The mounting assembly 200 may include a mounting frame 202 coupled to the handle assembly 110 and/or the housing 108, e.g., by fasteners or any suitable coupling. For instance, the mounting frame 202 may extend between the first and second handles 110a and 110b. Additionally or alternatively, the mounting assembly 200 may include one or more coupling features disposed at a rear side of the auger housing 108 between the first and second handles 110a, 110b and configured to mate with an attachment.
The attachment coupled with the mounting assembly 200 may be a container 210 having an interior volume 212. The container 210 may include one or more coupling features 214 configured to be coupled with the mounting frame 202 and/or other complementary features of the mounting assembly 200 to hold the container 210 in place relative to the auger housing 108. The container 210 may be configured as an auxiliary storage container for the snow blower 100.
In one aspect, the container 210 may be a battery extended storage accessory 220 configured to house one or more additional batteries 170 for the snow blower 100. The battery extended storage accessory 220 may optionally include one or more battery storage wells 222 each configured to hold a battery 170 therein. The battery extended storage accessory 220 may provide a user with easy, convenient access to additional batteries when the user needs to replace one or more batteries of the snow blower 100. Optionally, the battery extended storage accessory 220 may include electrical contacts (not shown) to be electrically coupled with the extra batteries stored in the wells 222. Further, the battery extended storage accessory may include an electrical coupling 224, e.g., a plug, to electrically couple with the snow blower 100 to extend battery life of the snow blower 100 to provide extended runtime.
In one aspect, as illustrated in
As shown in
Additionally or alternatively, as illustrated in
Further aspects of the invention are provided by one or more of the following embodiments:
A snow blower comprising: a frame defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the outlet opening being circumferentially bounded about a chute axis; a rotatable auger mounted to the frame rearward from the inlet opening and below the outlet opening to motivate snow to the outlet opening; one or more wheels mounted to the frame apart from the rotatable auger to support the snow blower; a chute body extending from the frame along the chute axis above the outlet opening; and a compartment coupled to the frame. A power source for the snow blower is disposed within the compartment.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, further comprising a mounting assembly coupled to the frame, and an attachment supported by the mounting assembly.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the attachment is a spreader having a container configured to store a material therein and comprises an outlet through which the material is configured to be dispersed.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the spreader is electrically coupled to the power source.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the spreader comprises a spreader battery.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the attachment comprises a storage container configured to store one or more additional power sources for the snow blower.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the storage container is electrically coupled to the snow blower power source such that the one or more additional power sources may provide electrical power to the snow blower.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries, wherein the compartment comprises a receiving well for each battery, the compartment further comprising at least one on-board storage area.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the at least one on-board storage area comprises one or more slots and/or tabs to receive one or more replacement parts and/or tools within the on-board storage area.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the one or more slots and/or tabs comprises at least one slot configured to receive a scrench, wrench, screwdriver, or other hand tool.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the compartment comprises a cover having an open position and a closed position, the snow blower further comprising a foot pedal coupled to the frame and the cover, the foot pedal having a resting position, wherein when the foot pedal is in the resting position, the cover is configured to be in the closed position, and when the foot pedal is moved away from the resting position, the cover is configured to be opened into the open position.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the cover and the foot pedal are coupled by a cable connection, a linkage connection, and/or an electronic connection coupled with a motor powered to move the cover between the closed position and the open position.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, further comprising at least one light unit provided at a rear side of the frame relative to the inlet opening, wherein the at least one light unit is configured to illuminate a path cleared by the snow blower.
The snow blower of any one or more of the embodiments, further comprising a scraper disposed rearward from the rotatable auger and configured to scrape a path cleared by the snow blower.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/462,055 filed on Apr. 26, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63462055 | Apr 2023 | US |