Hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow

Abstract

A hand-maneuvered snow plow includes a wedge-shaped blade including a pair of blade panels disposed at an angle relative to each other to define the wedge-shape. The blade has at least one centrally disposed hinge at a junction of the blade panels. In one embodiment, at least another hinge is disposed at an intermediate portion of each of the blade panels, respectively, enabling the snow plow to be folded to a storage position. A heating element is secured to a bottom edge of the blade, and a handle with a control unit for the heating element is attached to a rear side of the blade. The snow clearing plow provides an efficient and easy to maneuver tool for clearing snow from roadways, while being foldable into a compact storage configuration. When fully extended, the snow clearing plow may clear a path that is wide enough for a mid-size sedan or larger in a single pass.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow comprising: 
 a wedge-shaped blade having at least one hinge;    a heating element secured to a bottom edge of said blade; and    a handle attached to a rear side of said blade.    
     
     
         2 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 1 , wherein said blade comprises at least three hinges.  
     
     
         3 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 2 , wherein one of said three hinges is disposed at an apex of said blade such that said blade is pivotable between an open use position and a closed storage position.  
     
     
         4 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 3 , further comprising a locking mechanism disposed in adjacent cooperation with said one of said three hinges, said locking mechanism selectively locking said blade in said use position.  
     
     
         5 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 3 , wherein said blade comprises a pair of blade panels disposed at an angle relative to each other to thereby define the wedge-shape, and wherein others of the three hinges are disposed at intermediate portions of said blade panels, respectively.  
     
     
         6 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle comprises a hinge at a central portion thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle is removable.  
     
     
         8 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 1 , further comprising a source of heat communicating with said heating element.  
     
     
         9 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 8 , wherein said source of heat is electricity, and wherein said heating element is a resistance heating element.  
     
     
         10 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 8 , wherein said source of heat is a chemical composition, and wherein said heating element is a carrier substrate for said chemical composition.  
     
     
         11 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 8 , further comprising a controller attached to said handle and communicating with said source of heat, said controller controlling an application of heat to said heating element.  
     
     
         12 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 1 , wherein said blade is formed of a metal alloy.  
     
     
         13 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 1 , wherein said blade is formed of metal.  
     
     
         14 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 13 , wherein said blade is formed of aluminum.  
     
     
         15 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 1 , wherein said blade spans a width of at least 10 feet.  
     
     
         16 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 15 , wherein said blade spans a width of 10-15 feet.  
     
     
         17 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 15 , wherein said blade spans a width of 10-12 feet.  
     
     
         18 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow comprising: 
 a wedge-shaped blade having at least one hinge such that said blade is pivotable at its center;    a handle attached to a rear side of said blade;    a heating element secured to a bottom edge of said blade; and    means for heating said heating element.    
     
     
         19 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 18 , wherein said heating means comprises electricity, and wherein said heating element is a resistance heating element.  
     
     
         20 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 18 , wherein said heating means is a chemical composition, and wherein said heating element is a carrier substrate for said chemical composition.  
     
     
         21 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow according to  claim 18 , further comprising a controller attached to said handle and communicating with said heating means, said controller controlling an application of heat to said heating element.  
     
     
         22 . A hand-maneuvered snow clearing plow comprising: 
 a wedge-shaped blade including a pair of blade panels disposed at an angle relative to each other defining the wedge-shape, the blade having at least one centrally disposed hinge at a junction of said blade panels and at least another hinge disposed at an intermediate portion of each of said blade panels, respectively    a heating element secured to a bottom edge of said blade; and    a handle attached to a rear side of said blade, wherein said blade spans a width of at least 10 feet.