Combination tool for use with ice or snow

Abstract

A combination tool for use with ice and snow is provided to perform a plurality of different functions with as device. The combination tool includes a shovel that can also serve as a traction pad that grips a tire that has lost traction in the snow. The shovel has a scoop near its forward end that has an apex of an arcuate profile configured to align a tire with lugs on a vehicle. The shovel may be reinforced with a plurality of strengthening ribs or gussets to support the weight of snow during shoveling actions and support the weight of vehicles when used as a traction pad. The shovel may be formed as a monolithic uniform unibody member. A brush may be provided to enable the combination tool to have a first configuration with the brush and shovel nested together and a second configuration where they are connected end-to-end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination tool for use with ice or snow, the combination tool comprising:
 a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal direction therebetween, a first side and a second side defining a transverse direction therebetween, and a top and a bottom defining a vertical direction therebetween;   a shovel having a scoop and a shovel handle, wherein the scoop is associated with the first end and the shovel handle is associated with the second end;   a brush including a brush handle;   wherein the brush and shovel are selectively connectable in a first configuration and a different second configuration; and   a plurality of teeth extending from a first surface of the scoop, wherein the plurality of teeth are oriented to enable traction for an object moving over the first surface.   
     
     
         2 . The combination tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of teeth extending from adjacent a second surface of the scoop adapted to engage a ground surface while the object moves over the first surface.   
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the second surface is a concave surface defining an arcuate profile when viewed in cross section, and a portion of the brush has a complementary arcuate profile relative to the concave surface for nesting therewith. 
     
     
         4 . The combination tool of  claim 1 , wherein the brush has a first length and the shovel has a second length, wherein a ratio of the first length to the second length is in range from about 0.8:1 to about 1.5:1. 
     
     
         5 . The combination tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of sidewalls on the scoop tapering from a first width to a narrower second width, wherein a portion of the brush nests between the pair of sidewalls.   
     
     
         6 . The combination tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an extension piece on the brush that is shaped complementary to a cavity defined in the shovel handle so as to allow the cavity to receive the extension piece.   
     
     
         7 . The combination tool of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an accessory tool having a width smaller than the cavity and disposed within the cavity.   
     
     
         8 . The combination tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first scraper on the shovel defining the first end of the combination tool.   
     
     
         9 . A combination tool for use with ice or snow comprising:
 a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal direction therebetween, a first side and a second side defining a transverse direction therebetween, and a top and a bottom defining a vertical direction therebetween;   a scoop including a convex first surface and an opposing concave second surface;   a plurality of first teeth extending from the convex first surface of the scoop; and   a plurality of second teeth extending from adjacent the concave second surface of the scoop adapted to engage a ground surface while the object moves over the convex first surface.   
     
     
         10 . The combination tool of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a pair of opposing sidewalls on the scoop that taper from a first width near the first end to a narrower second width offset towards the second end from the first end.   
     
     
         11 . The combination tool of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of second teeth extend from the pair of opposing sidewalls on the scoop. 
     
     
         12 . The combination tool of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a snow shovel having a handle associated with the second end, and the snow shovel is sized and strengthened to support the weight of snow and ice during a shoveling motion; and   a cavity defined by the handle and formed near the second end.   
     
     
         13 . A combination tool for use with ice or snow comprising:
 a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal direction therebetween, a first side and a second side defining a transverse direction therebetween, and a top and a bottom defining a vertical direction therebetween;   a snow shovel having a handle associated with the second end, and the snow shovel is sized and strengthened to support the weight of snow and ice during a shoveling motion; and   a cavity defined by the handle and formed near the second end.   
     
     
         14 . The combination tool of  claim 13 , wherein a cavity length is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the handle and is about half of a length of the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The combination tool of  claim 14 , wherein the cavity length is about four inches. 
     
     
         16 . The combination tool of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an inner surface defining a portion of the cavity including a first dimension approximating a width of an accessory to be inserted into the cavity.   
     
     
         17 . The combination tool of  claim 16 , wherein the inner surface is an inner end wall having a diameter that defines a width of the cavity sized to be one of (i) equal to and (ii) larger than a width of a four-way tire iron adapted to provide additional leverage to unscrew or tighten lug nuts when changing a tire. 
     
     
         18 . The combination tool of  claim 16 , wherein the inner surface is an inner end wall having a diameter that defines a width of the cavity sized to be one of (i) equal to and (ii) larger than a width of a flashlight. 
     
     
         19 . The combination tool of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a snow brush including a connecting member sized to mate with the cavity to connect the snow brush and the handle in a longitudinally aligned manner such that a head of the snow brush is offset opposite from the snow shovel.   
     
     
         20 . The combination tool of  claim 13 , wherein the cavity does not extend a full length of the handle.