Air assisted tools

Abstract

An air-assisted tool includes a handle, a tool head (such as a rake or shovel, and a blower assembly. The tool is used to quickly and easily move debris (such as grass, rocks, leaves, snow, branches, dirt, etc.) by lifting and dislodging the debris from a surface in the traditional manner. The blower assembly produces an airflow that is directed towards the tool head and is used to propel the debris, thus reducing the labor necessary to move the debris. The blower assembly includes a motor coupled to a blower and a manifold in fluid communication with the blower. The manifold is preferably disposed proximate the tool head. The motor and blower may be disposed on the handle or as a separate unit such as a backpack or hand-held or wheelable unit. The tool may include an air-biasing device to adjust the direction of the airflow across the tool head.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tool comprising: 
 a handle having a tool head disposed proximate a first end of said handle;    an airflow source; and    a manifold in fluid communication with said airflow source and disposed proximate said tool head, said manifold having at least one aperture adapted to direct said airflow in a predetermined direction relative to said tool head.    
     
     
         2 . The tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said airflow source includes a motor powered by a power source and a blower, coupled to said motor, said blower generating said airflow.  
     
     
         3 . The tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said tool further includes a user adjustable air-biasing device, said user adjustable air-biasing device allowing a user to adjust said direction of at least a portion of said airflow relative to said tool head.  
     
     
         4 . The tool as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said user adjustable air-biasing device includes an airflow lever.  
     
     
         5 . The tool as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said user adjustable air-biasing device includes at least one rotatable aperture.  
     
     
         6 . The tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said blower is disposed proximate said first end of said handle.  
     
     
         7 . The tool as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said motor is disposed proximate said first end of said handle.  
     
     
         8 . The tool as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said motor is disposed proximate a second end of said handle.  
     
     
         9 . The tool as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said handle contains a drive mechanism coupling said motor to said blower.  
     
     
         10 . The tool as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said motor is a separate unit from said tool wherein said motor is coupled to said blower with a flexible shaft.  
     
     
         11 . The tool as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said motor is disposed on a backpack.  
     
     
         12 . The tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said motor and said blower are separate units from said tool wherein said blower is in fluid communication with said manifold through a flexible tube.  
     
     
         13 . The tool as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said motor and said blower are disposed on a backpack.  
     
     
         14 . The tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said tool head includes a rake having a plurality of tines.  
     
     
         15 . The tool as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said manifold is disposed within said rake.  
     
     
         16 . The tool as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said manifold further includes at least a portion of said tines and wherein at least one of said tines includes said at least one aperture adapted to direct said airflow relative to said rake.  
     
     
         17 . The tool as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said manifold further includes a user adjustable air-biasing device, said user adjustable air-biasing device allowing a user to adjust said direction of at least a portion of said airflow relative to said rake.  
     
     
         18 . The tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said tool head includes a shovel.  
     
     
         19 . The tool as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said manifold is disposed within said shovel and wherein said shovel includes said at least one aperture adapted to direct said airflow relative to said shovel.  
     
     
         20 . The tool as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said manifold further includes a user adjustable air-biasing device, said user adjustable air-biasing device allowing a user to adjust said direction of at least a portion of said airflow relative to said shovel.  
     
     
         21 . A rake comprising: 
 a handle having a first and a second end;    a plurality of tines disposed from said first end of said handle;    a blower, coupled with a motor, said blower generating an airflow; and    a manifold in fluid communication with said blower and disposed proximate said plurality of tines, said manifold having at least one aperture adapted to direct said airflow in a predetermined direction relative to said rake.    
     
     
         22 . The rake as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said rake further includes a user adjustable air-biasing device, said user adjustable air-biasing device allowing a user to adjust said direction of at least a portion of said airflow relative to said rake.  
     
     
         23 . The rake as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said user adjustable air-biasing device includes an airflow lever.  
     
     
         24 . The rake as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said user adjustable air-biasing device includes at least one rotatably aperture.  
     
     
         25 . The rake as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said manifold is disposed within said plurality of tines and wherein at least one of said tines includes said at least one aperture adapted to direct said airflow.  
     
     
         26 . The rake as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said manifold further includes a user adjustable air-biasing device, said user adjustable air-biasing device allowing a user to adjust said direction of at least a portion of said airflow relative to said rake.  
     
     
         27 . The rake as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said blower is disposed proximate said first end of said handle.  
     
     
         28 . The rake as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said motor is disposed proximate said first end of said handle.  
     
     
         29 . The rake as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said motor is disposed proximate a second end of said handle and said handle contains a drive mechanism coupling said motor to said blower.  
     
     
         30 . The rake as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said motor is a separate unit from said rake wherein said motor is coupled to said blower with a flexible shaft.  
     
     
         31 . The rake as claimed in  claim 30  wherein said motor is disposed on a backpack.  
     
     
         32 . The rake as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said motor and said blower are a separate unit from said rake wherein said blower is in fluid communication with said manifold through a flexible tube.  
     
     
         33 . The rake as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said motor and said blower are disposed on a backpack.  
     
     
         34 . A shovel comprising: 
 a handle having a first and a second end;    a shovel head disposed proximate said first end of said handle;    a blower, coupled to a motor, said blower generating an airflow; and    a manifold in fluid communication with said blower and disposed proximate said shovel head, said manifold having at least one aperture adapted to direct said airflow in a predetermined direction relative to said shovel.    
     
     
         35 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said shovel further includes a user adjustable air-biasing device, said user adjustable air-biasing device allowing a user to adjust said direction of at least a portion of said airflow relative to said shovel.  
     
     
         36 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said user adjustable air-biasing device includes an airflow lever.  
     
     
         37 . The rake as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said user adjustable air-biasing device includes at least one rotatably aperture.  
     
     
         38 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said manifold is disposed within said shovel head, wherein said shovel head includes said at least one aperture adapted to direct said airflow.  
     
     
         39 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 38  wherein said manifold further includes a user adjustable air-biasing device, said user adjustable air-biasing device allowing a user to adjust said direction of at least a portion of said airflow relative to said shovel head.  
     
     
         40 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said blower is disposed proximate said first end of said handle.  
     
     
         41 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said motor is disposed proximate said first end of said handle.  
     
     
         42 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said motor is disposed proximate a second end of said handle and said handle contains a drive mechanism coupling said motor to said blower.  
     
     
         43 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 40  wherein said motor is a separate unit from said shovel wherein said motor is coupled to said blower with a flexible shaft.  
     
     
         44 . The shovel as  claim 43  wherein said motor is disposed on a backpack.  
     
     
         45 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said motor and said blower are seperate units from said shovel, wherein said blower is in fluid communication with said manifold through a flexible tube.  
     
     
         46 . The shovel as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said motor and said blower are disposed on a backpack.