Snow rake

Abstract

A snow rake, which includes an elongate handle. Disposed near one end of the handle is a blade. In one embodiment, extending from the blade is a partially coiled low friction or lubricious sheath. In a second embodiment, the blade is pivotably attached to the handle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A snow removal device comprising; 
 an elongate handle having a distal end and a proximal end;    a flexible sheet having a leading edge and a leading portion proximate the leading edge;    the leading portion of the flexible sheet being connected to the elongate handle proximate the distal end thereof;    the flexible sheet having an at least partially uncoiled position defining a gliding surface;    the flexible sheet being bias toward a coiled position; and    at least one stay to hold the flexible sheeting in the at least partially uncoiled position.    
     
     
         2 . The snow removal device of  claim 1 , further comprising a blade, wherein the blade has a sheet attaching member, the blade being connected to the handle.  
     
     
         3 . The snow removal device of  claim 2 , wherein the sheet is attached under the sheet attaching member.  
     
     
         4 . The snow removal device of  claim 3 , further comprising means to keep the sheet and the sheet attaching member spaced off a surface.  
     
     
         5 . The snow removal device of  claim 3 , further comprising a non-abrasive spacer under the sheet.  
     
     
         6 . The snow removal device of  claim 2 , further comprising wheels rotationally attached to the blade.  
     
     
         7 . The snow removal device of  claim 2 , further comprising a detent, the detent connecting the handle to the blade.  
     
     
         8 . The snow removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the leading edge of the sheet is curved upward.  
     
     
         9 . The snow removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet comprises a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         10 . The snow removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet comprises a polyolefin.  
     
     
         11 . The snow removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the leading portion of the flexible sheet is rotationally fixed relative to the elongate handle.  
     
     
         12 . A snow removal device comprising; 
 an elongate handle having a distal end and a proximal end;    a flexible sheet having a leading edge and a leading portion proximate the leading edge;    the leading portion of the flexible sheet being fixed to the elongate handle proximate the distal end thereof;    the flexible sheet defining a gliding surface; and    a blade disposed between the elongate handle and, the flexible sheet, the blade having a sheet attachment member wherein the sheet is attached under the sheet attachment member.    
     
     
         13 . The snow removal device of  claim 12 , wherein the leading portion of the flexible sheet is rotationally fixed relative to the elongate handle.  
     
     
         14 . A snow removal device comprising: 
 an elongate handle having a distal end and a proximal end;    two reinforcing arms having distal and proximal ends connected to the handle proximal the distal end; and    a blade pivotably connected to the distal end of the handle and the distal ends of the reinforcing arms.    
     
     
         15 . The snow removal device of  claim 14 , wherein the blade is connected the handle through a pivoting joint disposed at the distal end of the handle.  
     
     
         16 . The snow removal device of  claim 15 , wherein the reinforcing arms are connected to the blade through pivoting joints located at the distal ends of the reinforcing arms, and wherein the reinforcing arms are slideably connected to the blade.  
     
     
         17 . The snow removal device of  claim 14 , wherein the elongate handle and the reinforcing arms are connected to the blade through a foot portion pivotably connected to the blade by a hinge.  
     
     
         18 . The snow removal device of  claim 17 , wherein the handle is fixedly attached to the foot portion and wherein the reinforcing arms are fixedly attached to the foot portion and the handle.  
     
     
         19 . The snow removal device of  claim 14 , wherein the distal end of the handle and the distal ends of the reinforcing arm are arranged in a triangular pattern.  
     
     
         20 . The snow removal device of  claim 14 , wherein the blade is concave towards the handle.  
     
     
         21 . The snow removal device of  claim 14 , wherein the blade is rigid and lubricious.  
     
     
         22 . The snow removal device of  claim 14 , wherein the blade has a working edge and wherein the snow removal device further comprises means to keep the working edge spaced off a surface.  
     
     
         23 . The snow removal device of  claim 22 , wherein the means to keep the working edge spaced off a surface are selected from the group consisting of rollers and skis.  
     
     
         24 . A snow removal kit, comprising: 
 a snow removal device comprising a variable length handle selected from the group consisting of a telescoping handle and a handle having two or more detachable elongate segments, and a snow removal blade; and    a retention device comprising a first end cap, a second end cap, and a first cord connecting the first end cap to the second end cap.    
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the first cord is elastic.  
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the first end cap and the second end cap have a chamber configured to receive one or more ends of the variable length handle.  
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the variable length handle has two or more hollow ends and the first end cap and the second end cap each have one or more fingers adapted to enter one of the two or more hollow ends.  
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the variable length handle comprises two or more detachable elongate segments and wherein the caps are configured to retain the two or more detachable elongate segments in a bundle.  
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the variable length handle comprises two or more detachable elongate segments and wherein the caps are configured to retain the two or more detachable elongate segments in a flat array.  
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the retention device further comprises a second cord having a first end attached to one of the end caps and a second end attached to a clip, the clip configured to removable attach to the variable length handle.  
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 30 , wherein the snow removal blade is retained against the variable length handle by the second cord.  
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the snow removal blade is retained against the variable length handle by the first cord.