Excavating – Snow or ice removing or grooming by portable device – Combined or convertible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-13
2001-02-06
Batson, Victor (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Snow or ice removing or grooming by portable device
Combined or convertible
C037S252000, C056S002000, C056S016900, C015S340200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182383
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to snow blowers and more particularly pertains to a new snow blower converter kit for allowing the dual use of a snow blower as a leaf collector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of snow blowers is known in the prior art. More specifically, snow blowers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,203; U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,142; U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,679; U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,027; U.S. Pat. Des. 307,912; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,200,519.
In these respects, the snow blower converter kit for collecting leaves according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing the dual use of a snow blower as a leaf collector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of snow blowers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new snow blower converter kit for collecting leaves construction wherein the same can be utilized for allowing the dual use of a snow blower as a leaf collector.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new snow blower converter kit for collecting leaves which has many of the advantages of the snow blowers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new snow blower converter kit for collecting leaves which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art snow blowers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention is adapted for use with a snow blower having an intermediate motor assembly including a pair of tracks mounted on opposite side faces thereof. Also bars coupled to the side faces of the intermediate motor assembly and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. As shown in
FIGS. 1 & 2
, handle grips are positioned on top ends of the handle bars. A shield includes a rear face with a semi-cylindrical configuration mounted to a front face of the intermediate motor assembly. Further, the shield is equipped with a pair of semicircular side faces. As such, an open front and an open bottom are defined, as shown in
FIG. 1. A
drive shaft is coupled to the intermediate motor assembly and extends forwardly therefrom through the shield. A control assembly is mounted between the top ends of the handle bars for selectively rotating the drive shaft at a selected speed and controlling the tracks.
FIG. 1
depicts a plurality of tines mounted on a cross bar which is rotatably positioned between the side faces of the shield. The tines are operatively coupled to the drive shaft for rotating coincidentally therewith. A first opening is formed in the front face of the intermediate motor assembly which is in communication with a second opening formed in a top face of the intermediate motor assembly. As such, material may be collected by the tines and directed from the first opening to the second opening. The present invention includes a squirrel cage having an annular ring with a periphery which has a plurality of rectangular cut outs formed therein each of which is defined by a pair of elongated side edges and a pair of short end edges. As shown in
FIG. 7
, a plurality of planar rectangular blades are each integrally coupled along a central extent thereof to one of the elongated side edges of one of the cut outs. By this coupling, outboard sharpened edges of the blades are angled outwardly. The squirrel cage includes a central sleeve connector with a radially extending set screw for allowing the square cage to be removably connected to the drive shaft in concentric relationship therewith. Ideally, the squirrel cage is positioned between the shield and the tines of the snow blower.
FIG. 3
shows a mulcher blade including an elongated planar rectangular strip. This strip is equipped with a pair of opposing elongated sharpened edges which flare outwardly in opposite directions. The mulcher blade has a central sleeve connector with a radially extending set screw for allowing the mulcher blade to be removably connected to the drive shaft in concentric relationship. In the preferred embodiment, the mulcher blade is positioned between the squirrel cage and the tines of the snow blower during use. With reference now to
FIGS. 2
,
5
and
6
, a cover is provided including a front face with a semi-cylindrical configuration and a pair of semicircular side faces. The cover further includes a horizontally oriented planar rectangular lower lip integrally coupled along a lower edge of the front face of the cover. In use, the cover serves for being removably attached to the shield for completing enclosing the tines. As shown in
FIG. 5
, the lower lip has an elongated opening formed along a length thereof. The cover further includes a hollow interior formed between a front surface and a rear surface of the front face and lower lip. As shown in
FIG. 6
, such interior remains in communication with a slot formed in the front surface of the front face of the cover and further in communication with the opening of the lower lip. By this structure, a flexible shutter is slidably mounted within the hollow interior of the cover. An upper tab of the shutter extends from the slot for allowing a user to selectively close the opening formed in the lower lip of the cover for reasons that will soon become apparent. Figure depicts a vacuum assembly including a bellowed hose. This hose has a first end removably coupled to a bore formed in a central extent of the front face of the cover. A second end of the hose is equipped with an elongated laterally extending inlet mounted thereon. An elongated linear handle is fixedly mounted on the inlet and extends upwardly therefrom for maneuvering by a user. Finally, a bag is removably mounted below the control assembly of the snow blower. A pipe is connected between an upper extent of a front face of the bag and the second opening of the snow blower. The pipe thus serves for receiving and storing the material received therefrom.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are n
LandOfFree
Snow blower converter kit for collecting leaves does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Snow blower converter kit for collecting leaves, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Snow blower converter kit for collecting leaves will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2567967