Under Vehicle Snow-Shovel

Abstract

A snow-shovel apparatus and method that allows a person to easily remove compacted snow from underneath a vehicle which is stuck and possibly hungup in the snow. Generally, a two bladed shovel-like design wherein the horizontally opposed blades open up from a folded position next to the handle for use. The shovel with blades retracted is pushed through compacted snow underneath the vehicle, is positioned by the user at the beginning of the shovel stroke where the blades are forced open by telescoping the handle, and snow is withdrawn from underneath the vehicle by the exertion of pulling forces along the handle, drawing the blades and captured snow towards the user. The handle is compressed and the blades retracted when not in use. The under vehicle snow-shovel is especially useful to the traveler as an aid in freeing vehicles that are hung up and stuck in the snow.

1 . A snow removal apparatus for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, comprising: 
 a multivariable blade means by which the blade or blades may be turned, retracted or folded to an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force;    a positioning means attached to said multivariable blade means by which said blade or blades may be positioned to an angle of lesser or greater resistance thereby allowing the blade means to penetrate compacted snow or to capture a load of compacted snow; and,    a force application handle means for the application of positive or negative direct forces longitudinally applied down the length of the handle to the blade means, for the pushing of the retracted blade means through compacted snow under a vehicle and the pulling of the extended blade means with its captured load of compacted snow out from under a vehicle.    
   
   
       2 . The snow removal apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said positioning means also provides a locking mechanism thereby allowing the blade means to be locked in an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force.  
   
   
       3 . The snow removal apparatus according to  claim 1 , including a hand grip means attached to said handle means to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on the handle means for more efficient and consistent application of force.  
   
   
       4 . The snow removal apparatus according to  claim 1 , including a sealing means attached to said positioning means to seal out snow and ice to prevent jamming of said positioning means during use.  
   
   
       5 . The snow removal apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said positioning means also provides a locking mechanism thereby allowing the blade means to be locked in an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force; and, 
 including a hand grip means attached to said handle means to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on the handle means for more efficient and consistent application of force; and,    including a sealing means attached to said positioning means to seal out snow and ice to prevent freezing and jamming of said positioning means during use.    
   
   
       6 . A method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, comprising: 
 providing a snow removal apparatus for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle;    ensuring the snow removal apparatus is in the closed or snow penetrating position;    applying a positive force longitudinally down the force application handle means to the blade means, thereby driving said blade means through the compacted snow under a vehicle;    adjusting the positioning means, thereby opening the blade means to an angle of greater resistance;    applying a negative force longitudinally down the force application handle means to the blade means, thereby pulling said blade means through the compacted snow and drawing out from under the vehicle a load of compacted snow captured by the open blade means;    resetting the positioning means and thereby the blade means back into the closed blade position;    repeating the above procedure until enough of the compacted snow under the vehicle has been removed that the drag on the vehicle due to the density of the compacted snow is no longer greater than the traction force between the vehicle tires and the ground, thereby making the vehicle unstuck; and,    closing said snow removal apparatus to its storage position.    
   
   
       7 . A snow removal apparatus for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, comprising: 
 a shovel head assembly for penetrating compacted snow under a vehicle and then capturing, plowing and drawing out a load of snow from under a vehicle, comprised of one or more shovel blades, hingedly attached to a central frame means whereby said shovel blades may swing back and forth;    a telescoping handle assembly comprised of an inner and an outer shaft, said outer shaft being attached by an attachment means to said central frame means of said shovel head assembly and said inner shaft being attached by an attachment means to said shovel blades, whereby the telescoping of said handle assembly controls the angle of said blades, allowing said blades to be positioned by the user to an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the snow thereby allowing for the pushing of said shovel head assembly with blades retracted through compacted snow under a vehicle and then pulling said shovel head assembly with blades extended with its captured load of compacted snow out from under a vehicle.    
   
   
       8 . The snow removal apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said telescoping handle assembly also provides a locking mechanism thereby allowing said blades to be locked in an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force.  
   
   
       9 . The snow removal apparatus according to  claim 7 , including a hand grip means attached to said telescoping handle assembly to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on said telescoping handle assembly for more efficient and consistent application of force.  
   
   
       10 . The snow removal apparatus according to  claim 7 , including a sealing means attached to said attachment means to said shovel blades to seal out snow and ice to prevent jamming of said attachment means to said shovel blades during use.  
   
   
       11 . The snow removal apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said telescoping handle assembly also provides a locking mechanism thereby allowing said blades to be locked in an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force; and, 
 including a hand grip means attached to said handle assembly to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on said handle assembly for more efficient and consistent application of force; and,    including a sealing means attached to said attachment means to said shovel blades to seal out snow and ice to prevent jamming of said attachment means to said shovel blades during use.    
   
   
       12 . The snow removal apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said telescoping handle assembly is comprised of an inner shaft, an outer shaft, a slide pin, two slide pin slots, a retaining bolt, an outer shaft lock pin hole, two inner shaft lock pin holes, a handle lock pin, a handle lock pin chain, a handgrip bracket, and a handgrip; 
 said inner shaft diameter sized to slide within said outer shaft without excessive friction or play, said outer shaft diameter sized to comfortable fit in a user's hand, sized lengthwise to reach at least halfway underneath a car or truck from the side, having an opening at one end in which said inner shaft slides, having said slide pin slots cut longitudinally in the top and the bottom sides of the opposite end of said outer shaft from said opening, having said retaining bolt fastened into the solid end opposite said opening, said inner shaft having said slide pin vertically pressed into and through the inside end of said inner shaft whereby said slide pin protrudes through said slide pin slots in said outer shaft, retaining said inner shaft within said outer shaft and confining the movement of said inner shaft to the length of said slide pin slots, said slide pin slots sized to allow movement for proper functioning of said shovel head assembly, said inner shaft sized lengthwise to protrude from said outer shaft a distance by which said protruding end may be easily gripped by the user, when said inner shaft is inserted as far as said slide pin and said slide pin slots will allow; and    wherein said shovel head assembly is comprised of a hinge plate, two hinge assemblies, two shovel blades, two bolt and nut assemblies, two control arm slots, two shovel blade pin enclosures, two control arms, two pressed roll pins, two control arm Y joints, and two slot seals;    said shovel head hinge plate being attached to said outer shaft by said hinge plate retaining bolt, said hinges being attached opposite one another to said shovel head hinge plate by any appropriate means, said shovel blades each having a front edge and a rear edge and a concave scoop side and a convex back side, being attached by said rear edge to the opposite side of said hinges from said hinge plate, whereby said shovel blades are attached to said shovel head assembly in a horizontally opposed fashion and can hinge ably fold down against said outer shaft with said concave scoop side facing said outer shaft, said shovel blades having said control arm slots cut down the center of each blade to allow said shovel blade control arms and said pressed roll pin to move readily up and down most of the length of the blade, with said control arms extending through said control arm slots and with said roll pin pressed into the end of said control arm and perpendicular to said control arm slot, preventing said control arm and pressed roll pin from pulling out of said control arm slot, said shovel blade pin enclosures being attached to said back side of said shovel blade and sized to entirely cover said control arm slot and provide a housing for said pressed roll pin and whereby said shovel blade is strengthened surrounding said control arm slot and whereby said control arm and said pressed roll pin being contained within said pin enclosures may control the angle and movement of said shovel blade by the exertion of positive or negative longitudinal forces, said shovel blade control arms extending down from their attachment through said control arm slots, down along said outer shaft, said control arm splitting into two arms at said control arm Y joint, said split arms diverging to opposite sides of said outer shaft and attaching to said slide pin extending through said outer shaft slide pin slots from said inner shaft, whereby movement of said inner shaft in relation to said outer shaft causes said shovel blade control arms to adjust the angle of said shovel blades, providing a mechanism to control said shovel head assembly.