Snow thrower

Abstract

A snow thrower, as provided herein, may include a body frame, a handle, a collar, and a chute. The body frame may define a body inlet and a body outlet. The handle may be attached to the body frame. The chute may be attached to the body frame to direct snow therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snow thrower comprising:
 a body frame defining a body inlet and a body outlet;   a handle attached to the body frame;   a collar attached to the body frame about the body outlet; and   a chute attached to the body frame in selective rotatable engagement with the collar to direct snow from the body frame.   
     
     
         2 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the chute comprises a base flange extending radially toward the collar, and wherein the collar comprises a resilient release tab selectively engaged with the base flange. 
     
     
         3 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chute actuator assembly comprising a hand grip attached to the handle in mechanical communication with the collar, wherein the collar is selectively rotatable about a chute axis according to a relative position of the hand grip.   
     
     
         4 . The snow thrower of  claim 3 , wherein the chute actuator assembly further comprises
 an actuator pulley in mechanical communication between the hand grip and the collar,   an intermediate gear mounted to the actuator pulley, and   a grip gear mounted to the hand grip, the grip gear being enmeshed in mechanical communication with the intermediate gear.   
     
     
         5 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an auger rotatably mounted to the body frame to rotate about an auger axis beneath the body outlet;   a variable speed motor mounted to the body frame to motivate the auger about the auger axis; and   a linear displacement switch attached to the handle in operable communication with the variable speed motor, wherein the linear displacement switch is configured to direct rotation speed at the variable speed motor according to a linear position of the linear displacement switch.   
     
     
         6 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , further comprising a lighting assembly mounted to the body frame above the body inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises an upper segment and a lower segment attached to the upper segment at a segment collar, and wherein a segment collar defines a lateral handle axis about which the upper segment is rotatable relative to the lower segment. 
     
     
         8 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an auger rotatably mounted to the body frame to rotate about an auger axis beneath the body outlet;   a motor mounted to the body frame to motivate the auger about the auger axis;   a plurality of batteries attached to the body frame in electrical communication with the motor to supply power thereto; and   a controller in operable communication with the motor and the plurality of batteries, the controller being configured to selectively direct a voltage to the motor from a single battery of the plurality of batteries.   
     
     
         9 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the body frame comprises a battery compartment defining a battery cavity to receive a battery therein, wherein the battery compartment comprises an inner rim and an outer rim extending about at least a portion of the battery cavity, and wherein a recessed groove is defined between the inner rim and the outer rim radially outward from the battery cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The snow thrower of  claim 9 , further comprising a compartment lid attached to the body frame and movable between an open position permitting access to the battery cavity and a closed position restricting access to the battery cavity, the compartment lid comprising an inner lip spaced apart from the recessed groove in the open position and received within the recessed groove in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . A snow thrower comprising:
 a body frame defining a body inlet and a body outlet;   a handle attached to the body frame;   a chute attached to the body frame to direct snow therefrom;   a battery compartment defining a battery cavity to receive a battery therein, the battery compartment comprising an inner rim and an outer rim extending about at least a portion of the battery cavity, a recessed groove being defined between the inner rim and the outer rim radially outward from the battery cavity; and   a compartment lid attached to the body frame and movable between an open position permitting access to the battery cavity and a closed position restricting access to the battery cavity, the compartment lid comprising an inner lip spaced apart from the recessed groove in the open position and received within the recessed groove in the closed position.   
     
     
         12 . The snow thrower of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a collar attached to the body frame about the body outlet, wherein the chute comprises a base flange extending radially toward the collar, and wherein the collar comprises a resilient release tab selectively engaged with the base flange.   
     
     
         13 . The snow thrower of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a chute actuator assembly comprising a hand grip attached to the handle in mechanical communication with the chute, wherein the chute is selectively rotatable about a chute axis according to a relative position of the hand grip.   
     
     
         14 . The snow thrower of  claim 13 , wherein the chute actuator assembly further comprises
 an actuator pulley in mechanical communication between the hand grip and the collar,   an intermediate gear mounted to the actuator pulley, and   a grip gear mounted to the hand grip, the grip gear being enmeshed in mechanical communication with the intermediate gear.   
     
     
         15 . The snow thrower of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an auger rotatably mounted to the body frame to rotate about an auger axis beneath the body outlet;   a variable speed motor mounted to the body frame to motivate the auger about the auger axis; and   a linear displacement switch attached to the handle in operable communication with the variable speed motor, wherein the linear displacement switch is configured to direct rotation speed at the variable speed motor according to a linear position of the linear displacement switch.   
     
     
         16 . The snow thrower of  claim 11 , further comprising a lighting assembly mounted to the body frame above the body inlet. 
     
     
         17 . The snow thrower of  claim 11 , wherein the handle comprises an upper segment and a lower segment attached to the upper segment at a segment collar, and wherein a segment collar defines a lateral handle axis about which the upper segment is rotatable relative to the lower segment. 
     
     
         18 . The snow thrower of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an auger rotatably mounted to the body frame to rotate about an auger axis beneath the body outlet;   a motor mounted to the body frame to motivate the auger about the auger axis;   a plurality of batteries attached to the body frame in electrical communication with the motor to supply power thereto; and   a controller in operable communication with the motor and the plurality of batteries, the controller being configured to selectively direct a voltage to the motor from a single battery of the plurality of batteries.