Flexible wing apparatus and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a wing apparatus for snow removal to remove snow and ice debris from an ice rink area delimited by boards without damaging the boards. The wing apparatus includes a first end configured for attaching the wing to the snow removal machine; a second end having at least one bearing roller for rolling on the boards; and a portion there between for receiving and directing the snow and ice debris towards the snow removal machine. Several mechanisms are disclosed to adapt the wing to be flexible to different operating ranges from the boards without damaging the boards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wing apparatus suitable for cooperation with a snow removal machine operating to remove snow from an ice rink area delimited by boards without damaging the boards, the wing apparatus comprising:
 (a) a first end configured for attaching the wing to the snow removal machine;   (b) a second end having at least one bearing roller for rolling on the boards; and   (c) a portion there between for receiving and directing the snow towards the snow removal machine;   thereby preventing damage to the boards in the event that the wing apparatus contacts the boards by operation of the at least one bearing roller to protect the boards of the ice rink against friction of the wing, while enabling the snow removal machine to remove snow.   
     
     
         2 . The wing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (a) a mechanism provided in the portion of the wing apparatus between the first end and the second end, thereby delimiting:
 (i) a stationary wing portion between the first end and the mechanism; and 
 (ii) a movable wing portion between the mechanism and the second end, the movable wing portion movable relative to the stationary wing portion by action of the mechanism. 
   
     
     
         3 . The wing apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , whereby the mechanism operates on the movable wing portion so as to bias the movable wing portion against the board such that the bearing roller maintains contact with the boards over a predetermined range of motion of the snow removal machine relative to the boards. 
     
     
         4 . The wing apparatus as recited in  claim 2  wherein the mechanism includes:
 (a) a hinge linking the stationary wing portion to the movable wing portion; and 
 (b) a tension spring biasing the hinge in an open position; 
 thereby biasing the bearing roller towards the boards over a predetermined range of angle between the movable wing portion and the stationary wing portion. 
 
     
     
         5 . The wing apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the hinge further comprises a removable pin, thereby enabling the movable wing portion to be releasably attached to the stationary wing portion when the pin is inserted into the hinge, and the movable wing portion to be detached from the stationary wing portion when the pin is removed from the hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The wing apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the hinge and tension spring are provided by a living hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The wing apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a supporting roller, roller support, flange, scraping blade, bottom support plate, bottom support bracket, guide plate, access hole, reinforcing angle, support plate, spring hook, spring slide, wheel, wheel support, and rear reinforcing angle. 
     
     
         8 . The wing apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the mechanism includes:
 (a) a sliding engagement between the movable wing portion and the sliding wing portion such that the movable wing portion can slide relative to the stationary wing portion;   (b) a compression spring biasing the sliding engagement in an extended position;   thereby biasing the bearing roller towards the boards over a predetermined range of distance between the movable wing portion and the stationary wing portion.   
     
     
         9 . The wing apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the mechanism includes a stop block to dictate the maximum opening of the hinge, leaving the retraction mobility free of a forward angle. 
     
     
         10 . The wing apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein, when the wing is in a forward angle position, the entire snow removal machine and wing combination is J-shaped, which facilitates the removal of snow or other materials without spilling out towards the end of the snow removal machine. 
     
     
         11 . A wing apparatus suitable for cooperation with a surface material removal machine operating to remove surface material from an area delimited by boards without damaging the boards, the wing apparatus comprising:
 (a) a first end configured for attaching the wing to the removal machine;   (b) a second end having at least one bearing roller for rolling on the boards; and   (c) a portion there between for receiving and directing the matter towards the removal machine;   thereby preventing damage to the boards in the event that the wing apparatus contacts the boards by operation of the at least one bearing roller while enabling the removal machine to remove the material.   
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a snow removal machine to remove snow from an ice rink area delimited by boards without damaging the boards, the method including the steps of:
 (a) providing a wing apparatus comprising:
 (i) a first end configured for attaching the wing to the snow removal machine; 
 (ii) a second end having at least one bearing roller for rolling on the boards; and 
 (iii) a portion there between for receiving and directing the snow and ice debris towards the snow removal machine; 
   (b) if the snow removal machine is below a predetermined distance from the boards, operating the snow removal machine so that the bearing roller rolls on the boards; and   (c) if the snow removal machine is above the predetermined distance from the boards, operating the snow removal machine so that the bearing roller does not roll on the boards.   thereby preventing damage to the boards in the event that the wing apparatus contacts the boards by operation of the at least one bearing roller to protect the boards of the ice rink against friction of the wing, while enabling the snow removal machine to remove snow.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
 (a) providing a mechanism in the portion of the wing apparatus between the first end and the second end, thereby delimiting:
 (i) a stationary wing portion between the first end and the mechanism; and 
 (ii) a movable wing portion between the mechanism and the second end, the movable wing portion movable relative to the stationary wing portion by action of the mechanism. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising the step of biasing the movable wing portion against the board such that the bearing roller maintains contact with the boards over a predetermined range of motion of the snow removal machine relative to the boards. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13  further including the steps of:
 (a) providing a hinge linking the stationary wing portion to the movable wing portion; and 
 (b) providing a tension spring biasing the hinge in an open position; 
 thereby biasing the bearing roller towards the boards over a predetermined range of angle between the movable wing portion and the stationary wing portion. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising the step of providing a removable pin in the hinge, thereby enabling the movable wing portion to be releasably attached to the stationary wing portion when the pin is inserted into the hinge, and the movable wing portion to be detached from the stationary wing portion when the pin is removed from the hinge. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising the step of providing both the hinge and tension spring by using a living hinge. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising the step of providing at least one of a supporting roller, roller support, flange, scraping blade, bottom support plate, bottom support bracket, guide plate, access hole, reinforcing angle, support plate, spring hook, spring slide, wheel, wheel support, and rear reinforcing angle. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a sliding engagement in the mechanism between the movable wing portion and the sliding wing portion such that the movable wing portion can slide relative to the stationary wing portion;   (b) providing a compression spring in the mechanism biasing the sliding engagement in an extended position;   thereby biasing the bearing roller towards the boards over a predetermined range of distance between the movable wing portion and the stationary wing portion.   
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a surface material removal machine to remove surface material from an area delimited by boards without damaging the boards, the method including the steps of:
 (a) providing a wing apparatus comprising:
 (i) a first end configured for attaching the wing to the surface material removal machine; 
 (ii) a second end having at least one bearing roller for rolling on the boards; and 
 (iii) a portion there between for receiving and directing the surface material towards the surface material removal machine; 
   (b) if the surface material removal machine is below a predetermined distance from the boards, operating the surface materials removal machine so that the bearing roller rolls on the boards; and   (c) if the surface material removal machine is above the predetermined distance from the boards, operating the surface material removal machine so that the bearing roller does not roll on the boards.   thereby preventing damage to the boards in the event that the wing apparatus contacts the boards by operation of the at least one bearing roller to protect the boards of the ice rink against friction of the wing, while enabling the surface materials removal machine to remove surface materials.