Snow Removal Device and Methods for Using and Constructing Same

Abstract

A snow removal device and methods for removing snow from overhead areas. The device has an arcuate blade with a shaft extending throughout the longitudinal axis of the blade and coupled to the blade at one or more points. Wheels are coupled to either end of the shaft, rotating freely as the blade and shaft remain in a fixed position. A coupler attaches to the shaft and a positioner connects the blade to the coupler such that when the coupler is taut, the blade is maintained in a fixed position and when the coupler is slack, the blade is free to move within a predetermined range. The device is placed on a roof and rolled to the peak while the coupler is slack. The device is pulled downwardly causing the positioner to become taut and maintain the blade in a fixed position optimal for snow gathering and removal.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A snow removal device for removing snow from overhead areas comprising:
 a blade having a longitudinal axis;   a shaft extending through the longitudinal axis of the blade, the shaft coupled to the blade, and the shaft having a pair of shaft ends;   two wheels, each of the two wheels coupling to each of the pair of shaft ends;   a coupler attached to the shaft; and   a positioner having a pair of positioner ends, a first of the pair of positioner ends connecting to a front side of the blade, a second of the pair of positioner ends connecting to the coupler, the positioner configured for maintaining the blade in position during snow removal.   
     
     
         2 . The snow removal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade is arcuate. 
     
     
         3 . The snow removal device according to  claim 2 , wherein the blade has a concave front side. 
     
     
         4 . The snow removal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade has arcuate side walls having a center and the shaft extends through the full longitudinal axis of the blade and the center of the arcuate side walls. 
     
     
         5 . The snow removal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade has a working edge having a plurality of serrations. 
     
     
         6 . The snow removal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupler attaches to an approximate midpoint of the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The snow removal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the curvature of the blade and wheels have approximately the same radius. 
     
     
         8 . The snow removal device according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a handle, the handle attaching to the coupler. 
 
     
     
         9 . The snow removal device according to  claim 8  wherein the handle is removably attached to the coupler via a hinge. 
     
     
         10 . The snow removal device according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of ribs located on a front side of the blade perpendicular to the shaft. 
 
     
     
         11 . The snow removal device according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioner is adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . A method for removing snow from overhead areas comprising the steps of:
 placing a snow removal device on a lower edge of a roof, the snow removal device having a blade, the blade having front and rear sides, a shaft passing through the blade and coupled to the blade, a plurality of wheels at ends of the shaft, a coupler coupled to the shaft, a handle coupled to the coupler, and a positioner coupled between the coupler and the blade;   rolling the snow removal device to the peak of the roof via movement of the handle;   adjusting a position of the blade via movement of the handle to position the front side of the blade to contact the snow; and   pulling the snow removal device via the handle from the peak of the roof to the lower edge of the roof to allow the snow to fall from the roof, the positioner maintaining the blade in position during the pulling.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the group consisting of the steps of rolling, pushing, and combinations thereof include rotating the handle relative to the coupler. 
     
     
         14 . A method for constructing a snow removal device for removing snow from overhead areas comprising the steps of:
 inserting a shaft into an arcuate blade, the blade having a longitudinal axis, the shaft extending through the longitudinal axis of the blade, the shaft having a pair of shaft ends;   coupling the shaft to the blade at one or more points;   coupling each of a pair of wheels to each of the pair of shaft ends;   attaching a coupler to an approximate midpoint of the shaft; and   connecting a positioner having a pair of positioner ends, a first of the pair of positioner ends coupled to a front side of the blade, a second of the pair of positioner ends coupled to the coupler.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the blade has arcuate side walls having a center and the shaft extends through a longitudinal axis of the blade through the center of the arcuate side walls. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13  further comprising:
 attaching a handle to the coupler via a hinge.