Convertible snowblower and lawn rake

Claim 2

A combination lawn rake and snowblower including a forward elongated transverse driven auger assembly journaled for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis and provided with axially spaced opposite end right and left hand convolute auger blades, a forwardly opening generally semi-cylindrical transverse shield assembly in which the rear peripheral portions of said auger assembly are embracingly received, the inner surface portions of said shield being spaced outwardly from the outer peripheral portions of said blades, means operative to adjust the distance between said shield and the axis of rotation of said auger assembly, said shield including a central opening toward which said blades are adapted to convey material, said auger assembly including circumferentially and longitudinally spaced resilient raking tines removably supported therefrom and extending generally radially outwardly beyond the outer peripheral portions of said blades.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said shield includes opposite side walls, means journaling the opposite ends of said auger assembly from said side walls and for fore-and-aft shifting of said auger shaft relative to said shield, said raking tines being removably supported from said auger assembly.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said central opening in said shield opens generally horizontally rearwardly through the latter and said blower includes a driven forwardly facing axial inlet and radial discharge rotary blower member disposed rearwardly of said opening and journaled for rotation about a horizontal axis extending through said opening.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein said means journaling the opposite ends of said auger assembly from said side walls include upstanding mounting straps having one pair of corresponding ends thereof pivotally supported from said side walls for oscillation about aligned horizontal transverse axes, means releasably securing the other pair of corresponding ends of said mounting straps to said side walls in similar angularly displaced positions, and coacting means on the opposite ends of said auger assembly and on said straps at points spaced therealong from said axes journaling said ends of said auger assembly from said straps.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2 wherein said auger assembly includes a central shaft portion from which said blades are supported, said central shaft portion and said tines including coacting releasably engageable male and female portions supporting said tines from said shaft portion for rotation therewith.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 wherein said shield includes opposite side walls, means journaling the opposite ends of said auger assembly from said side walls and for fore-and-aft shifting of said auger shaft relative to said shield, said central opening in said sHield opening generally horizontally rearwardly through the latter and said blower includes a driven forwardly facing axial inlet and a radial discharge rotary blower member disposed rearwardly of said opening and journaled for rotation about a horizontal axis extending through said opening.

Claim 8

For use with a snowblower of the type including a driven forward elongated transverse and generally horizontally disposed rotary snow auger assembly journaled for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis and including convolute auger blades and a forwardly opening generally horizontal transversely extending semi-cylindrical shield assembly from which said snow auger assembly is journaled with said shield assembly closely embracing the rear portion of the circular paths through which said blades swing, a conversion kit for converting said snowblower into a lawn raking assembly, said kit including mounting means for supporting said auger assembly from said shield assembly for fore-and-aft generally horizontal shifting of said axis relative to said shield assembly, whereby the spacing between the rear portions of said circular paths and said shield assembly may be increased, drive means for driving said auger assembly and including means for maintaining its driving relationship in both the fore-and-aft positions of said axis and a plurality of elongated resilient raking fingers including means for removable securement to circumferentially and longitudinally spaced portions of said auger assembly with said fingers extending generally radially of the axis of rotation of said auger assembly and projecting at least slightly outwardly beyond said paths.

Claim 9

For use with a snowblower of the type including a driven forward elongated transverse and generally horizontally disposed rotary snow auger assembly journaled for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis and including convolute auger blades and a forwardly opening generally horizontal transversely extending semi-cylindrical shield assembly from which said snow auger assembly is journaled with said shield assembly closely embracing the rear portion of the circular paths through which said blades swing, a conversion kit for converting said snowblower into a lawn raking assembly, said kit including mounting means for supporting said auger assembly from said shield assembly for fore-and-aft generally horizontal shifting of said axis relative to said shield assembly, whereby the spacing between the rear portions of said circular paths and said shield assembly may be increased, drive means for driving said auger assembly and including means for maintaining its driving relationship in both the fore-and-aft positions of said axis and a plurality of elongated resilient raking fingers including means for removable securement to circumferentially and longitudinally spaced portions of said auger assembly with said fingers extending generally radially of the axis of rotation of said auger assembly and projecting at least slightly outwardly beyond said paths.