Patent Application
20140215864
A snow rake with telescoping pole is provided. The rake includes a blade for contacting snow and moving it with a pulling force by the user. The pole has a plurality of segments selectively axially movable relative to one another forming a telescoping arrangement.
Snow rakes for use in removing snow from a roof or the like are known in the art. They typically comprise a blade connected to a pole. There may also be braces connected to and extending between the blade and the pole to help the blade resist bending under load. The poles are typically of a multi-segment type that requires assembly by connecting the segments together to obtain a desired pole length for use of the rake. While effective, such pole segments are typically aluminum for weight and price considerations, and will have thin walls that are easily permanently deformed rendering them non-usable. Even a minor distance drop onto a hard surface can deform a pole segment. Means to secure the segments together are needed. One form is a so called snap pin. A snap pin includes a pin mounted on a flexible arm usually secured in the interior of a first pole segment with the pin extending through a hole in the first pole segment. The pin arrangement acts as a detent. A second pole segment has a portion that slides over the first pole segment and a hole in it is aligned with the pin which then protrudes therethrough releasably locking the segments together. While effective in locking, this can be difficult to accomplish while wearing gloves in cold weather. It is similarly difficult to decouple the pole segments. Another problem with this type of multi segment type of pole is that the length of the assembly is fixed at certain increments of length. However, such a construction positively prevents relative longitudinal and rotational movement between pole segments.
Some snow rakes have a telescoping pole assembly attached to the blade. The pole segments, though, are selectively fixed relative to one another by friction as with a split collet and threaded tapered locking ring. This is true of both axial position and rotational position. The surface area of frictional contact is fixed by the shape of the two engaging surfaces, round and smooth. To increase the frictional force, increased compression is needed which then requires either increased tube wall thickness and/or increasing surface roughness of either or both of the engaging surfaces. Typically these are not very effective devices because of the difficulty in obtaining enough friction to prevent relative movement between pole segments, either longitudinally or rotationally. Experience with a split collet type friction device indicates these are not typically effective and difficult to use, particularly when wearing gloves and when the axial force to be applied to pull a load is large.
There is thus a need for an improved snow rake with a telescoping pole.
A snow rake with a blade and telescoping pole is provided. The rake is configured for pulling snow from a surface such as a roof. The rake includes a blade having a first surface portion for normally engaging material to be moved toward a user with a pulling force applied by the user. A telescoping pole is connected to the blade and has a plurality of segments including a first segment and a second segment. The first and second segments are selectively movable axially relative to one another. One of the pole segments is attached to the blade adjacent a proximal end portion of the pole and projects from the blade generally away from the first surface portion with a distal end portion of the pole being remote from the blade. At least one of the pole segments has an exterior surface portion received inside another of the pole segments. The pole segments are keyed with a rib and groove arrangement to positively resist relative rotation therebetween when secured against relative axial movement. Means is associated with the pole segments and operable to prevent axial separation of the pole segments. A lock device is mounted to a pole segment adjacent an open end thereof. It is configured to receive another pole segment therein and is operable to selectively secure adjacent pole segments against relative axial movement at any of a plurality of axial positions between the pole segments.
Like numbers are used throughout this application represent like or similar parts and/or construction.
Referring to
The blade 2 can be of any suitable shape and, as shown, has a concave surface 16 from which the pole 3 extends. The surface 16 is positioned for normally engaging material such as snow when the blade 2 is moved in a direction that the surface 16 is facing. As shown, the blade 2 has a compound concave curvature with one curvature being along its length and one curvature being along its height. The blade 2 can be provided with reinforcing ribs 18 that extend in a direction generally from a scraping lower edge 19 toward a top edge 20. The ribs 18 are preferably formed as integral parts of the blade 2. The blade 2 is also provided with means for attaching the pole 3 thereto. As shown, a socket member 22 projects from the surface 16 of the blade 2 and is sized and shaped to receive a proximal (relative to the blade 2) end portion 24 of the pole segment 6D therein. The blade 2 can be removably attached to the pole 6 as with a bolt and nut extending through holes in the pole segment 6D and the socket member 22 or with means such as a snap locking detent allowing push together securement. Such securement secures the blade 2 to the pole segment 6D in a manner to fix it against both axial and rotational relative movement. In a preferred embodiment, the blade 2 is of a molded construction using a graphite containing polymer. A replaceable wear strip (not shown) can be provided at the lower edge 19 if desired.
The blade 2 can also be braced to limit flexure during use. As seen in
The telescoping pole 3 has a plurality of segments 6 (denoted as 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D for distinction) associated with one another in a manner permitting selective relative longitudinal movement. That is, one segment 6 is movably received within the interior of another segment 6. The segment 6A is preferably formed of a reinforced polymeric material such as with fiberglass filler and is in the form of a hollow tube. The distal end portion 29 (relative to the blade 2) can be provided with a handle 31 secured thereto and preferably closing the distal end portion 29. The handle 31 can be provided with an opening 32 or other means to facilitate hanging the rake 1 for storage. Preferably, the segment 6A has a through passage (
Means is provided for limiting relative axial movement between the pole segments 6A-D and relative rotation between the pole segments 6A-D. For relative axial movement, the means keeps the segments from separating and fixes the segments at a selected length of pole 3. For convenience, the details of pole 3 will be described using segments 6A and 6B, but it is to be understood that this description applies to the segments 6C and 6D as well. As seen in
The pole 3 also includes motion limiting means 59 to positively limit axial movement and separation of one pole segment 6 relative to an immediately adjacent pole segment 6; for example, pole segments 6A and 6B, which for convenience are used in the following description, as best seen in
The means 59 also includes a stop member 70 secured to the pole segment 6A. Preferably, the securement of the stop member 70 to a respective pole segment 6 is effective to require at least about 80 pounds of axially directed force to separate it from the respective pole segment 6. The stop member 70 includes an interior shoulder 75 facing the shoulder 61 and is operable to selectively engage with the shoulder 61 and positively stop extension and separation of the pole segments 6A, B to retain them in telescoping relationship. As shown, the stop member 70 has a sleeve portion 76 received over and engaging the proximal end 30 of the pole segment 6A. The stop member 70 is secured to the pole segment 6A as with a detent 71 extending through an opening 72 through the sidewall 74 of the pole segment 6A forming a snap lock arrangement to positively secure the stop member 70 to the pole segment 6A. This configuration prevents both axial separation of and relative rotation between the means 59 and its respective pole segment. The interior surface 43A can serve as a bearing surface for movement of the inner positioned pole segment 6B within the pole segment 6A riding on the surface 67 of the stop member 60 and also on the outer surface of the flange 48.
The means 59 also includes locking means, designated generally as 80, that is operable to fix adjacent pole segments at a selected extended or retracted position. In a preferred embodiment, the means 80 can also be configured to key adjacent pole segments 6 to one another to prevent relative rotation therebetween. As best seen in
The clamping force, when applied via the lever 82, effects resistance to relative axial movement between the pole segments 6A, 6B. In a preferred embodiment, when clamped in position, the clamping force and resulting friction are sufficient to provide a resistance of less than the pole segment separation force discussed above and preferably at least about 50 pounds of axial pulling force to effect relative longitudinal movement between the pole segments 6A, 6B.
The pole segments 6 are keyed together to positively resist relative rotation between adjacent sections 6 at least when they are locked against relative axial movement. This allows for potential better control of the blade 2 during use to move snow or the like. In the illustrated structure, longitudinally extending ribs and grooves are provided and form a spline connection between adjacent pole segments. This will be described using again pole segments 6A and 6B as an example, but the description applies to the other pole segments 6. The exterior surface 42B of pole segment 6B is provided with a plurality of generally longitudinally extending alternating ribs 102 and grooves 103 (
In use, a rake 1 can be shipped with the blade 2 not assembled to the pole 3. After assembly, the user can easily adjust the length of pole 3 and lock the segments 6 at the desired length using the locking means 80 as described above. The blade 2 can then be positioned on a surface such as a snow covered roof, and with a pulling motion move the blade and material to be moved toward the user.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
