Snow and Ice Melter with Enhancements

Abstract

A snow and ice melter having a body adapted to support a heating unit to heat air, and a flow director having a louver. The flow director is pivotally connected to the heating unit and is generally adapted to direct a flow of the air.

1 . A snow and ice melter comprising: 
 a body adapted to support a heating unit to heat air, the heating unit being generally provided along a first axis longitudinally through a central portion of the heating unit, and    a flow director removably connected to the heating unit and having a louver,    wherein the flow director is provided along a second axis longitudinally through a central portion of the flow director, and the first axis and the second axis intersect to define an obtuse angle toward the body and the flow director is pivotally connected to the heating unit and is generally adapted to direct a flow of the air generally toward a surface to be heated.    
   
   
       2 . The snow and ice melter of  claim 1  further comprising a fan operatively connected to the heating unit and a heat shield secured to the body.  
   
   
       3 . The snow and ice melter of  claim 2  wherein the louver is movably mounted on the flow director.  
   
   
       4 . The snow and ice melter of  claim 3  wherein the flow director is movably mounted on heating unit.  
   
   
       5 . The snow and ice melter of  claim 1  further comprising a handle operatively connected to the body, wherein the handle includes a brace to span the width of the handle.  
   
   
       6 . The snow and ice melter of  claim 5  wherein the body of the snow and ice melter is generally tilted generally downwardly such that a rear portion of the melter is relatively raised above a front portion of the melter.  
   
   
       7 . The snow and ice melter of  claim 6  further comprising wheels operatively connected to the body, wherein the body defines an acute angle with a generally level surface on which the wheels rest.  
   
   
       8 . The snow and ice melter of  claim 1  further comprising a wind shield positioned generally outwardly of the body and including openings adapted to accept an axel for a pair of wheels.  
   
   
       9 . The snow and ice melter of  claim 7  wherein the flow director is movably mounted on heating unit.  
   
   
       10 . The snow and ice melter of  claim 7  wherein the louver is movably mounted on the flow director.  
   
   
       11 . A method of melting snow or ice comprising: 
 providing a snow and ice melter having a body adapted to support a heating unit to heat air, the heating unit being generally provided along a first axis longitudinally through a central portion of the heating unit and    providing a flow director removably connected to the heating unit and having a louver,    wherein the flow director is provided along a second axis longitudinally through a central portion of the flow director, and the first axis and the second axis intersect to define an obtuse angle toward the body and the flow director is pivotally connected to the heating unit and is generally adapted to direct a flow of the air generally toward the ice to be melted.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising providing a fan operatively connected to the heating unit and a heat shield secured to the body.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the louver is movably mounted on the flow director.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the flow director is movably mounted on heating unit.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising providing a handle, wherein the handle includes a brace to span the width of the handle.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the body of the snow and ice melter is generally tilted generally downwardly.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising providing wheels operatively connected to the body, wherein the body defines an acute angle with a generally level surface on which the wheels rest.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising providing a wind shield positioned generally outwardly of the body and including openings adapted to accept an axel for a pair of wheels.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the flow director is movably mounted on heating unit.  
   
   
       20 . A snow and ice melter comprising: 
 a body adapted to support a heating unit to heat air, the heating unit being generally provided along a first axis longitudinally through a central portion of the heating unit, and    a flow director removably connected to the heating unit and having a louver; and    a fan operatively connected to the heating unit; and    a heat shield secured to the body; and    a handle operatively connected to the body, wherein the handle includes a brace to span the width of the handle; and    wheels operatively connected to the body, wherein the body defines an acute angle with a generally level surface on which the wheels rest; and    a wind shield positioned generally outwardly of the body and including openings adapted to accept an axel for a pair of wheels,    wherein the flow director is provided along a second axis longitudinally through a central portion of the flow director, and the first axis and the second axis intersect to define an obtuse angle toward the body and the flow director is pivotally connected to the heating unit and is generally adapted to direct a flow of the air generally toward a surface to be heated.