Apparatus for relocating ice and snow from a surface

Abstract

An apparatus for relocating accumulated ice or snow from an exterior surface includes a flexible mat and a tether attached to a first lifting side of the mat via a plurality of attachment members. The mat has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface has a greater surface roughness than the bottom surface. The tether extends longitudinally along a length of the first lifting side of the mat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for relocating accumulated ice or snow from an exterior surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a flexible mat having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface having a greater surface roughness than the bottom surface; and   a tether attached to a first lifting side of the mat via a plurality of attachment members, wherein the tether extends longitudinally along a length of the first lifting side of the mat.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of attachment members are longitudinally spaced from one another along the length of the first lifting side, the tether having a looped portion defined between adjacent attachment members of the plurality of attachment members, the looped portion being configured to be grasped by a hand to apply an upwardly-oriented force on the first lifting side of the mat. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the mat is fabricated from a first material, and the bottom surface of the mat is fabricated from a second material, different than the first material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the bottom surface of the mat is fabricated from at least one of PTFE, PFA or FEP. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the top surface of the mat is configured to abate ice formation thereon, and the bottom surface of the mat is configured to reduce adherence to exterior surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of attachment members are strands of tape each wrapped about discrete portions of the tether. 
     
     
         7 . A method of relocating ice or snow accumulation from an exterior surface, the method comprising:
 positioning a flexible mat on an exterior surface, such that a smooth, bottom surface of the mat is in contact with the exterior surface, and a rough, top surface of the mat is exposed;   applying an upward force to a first lateral side of the mat to shift accumulated ice or snow from the first lifting side toward a second lateral side of the mat; and   replacing the first lateral side of the mat on the exterior surface.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising grasping a tether that is attached to the first lateral side of the mat, wherein the upward force is applied to the tether. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein grasping the tether includes inserting a hand into a looped portion of the tether, the looped portion defined between a pair of adjacent attachment members that secure the tether to the first lateral side of the mat. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of attachment members are strands of tape each wrapped about discrete portions of the tether. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the top surface of the mat is fabricated from a first material, and the bottom surface of the mat is fabricated from a second material, different than the first material. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the bottom surface of the mat is fabricated from at least one of PTFE, PFA or FEP. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the top surface of the mat is configured to abate ice formation thereon, and the bottom surface of the mat is configured to reduce adherence to exterior surfaces.