Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A snow scoop comprising a frame which includes a curved portion that can be rocked on an underlying surface, a pair of mounting arms extending forwardly from said curved portion, an open ended bucket pivotally connected between said mounting arms on a pivotal axis which lies behind the bucket''s center of gravity, whereby rocking of said frame on the curved portion thereof causes said bucket to pivot between a loading position in which snow can be scooped up by said bucket and a dumping position in which snow will be dumped from said bucket, a pair of handles vertically pivotally attached to said frame and pivotable between a rear position and a frontal position, and cooperating latch means attached to said handles and said bucket for latching said bucket in its loading position when said handles are in their rear position and for unlatching said bucket for movement to its dumping position when said handles are moved to their frontal position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A snow scoop comprising a frame which includes a curved portion that can be rocked on an underlying surface, a pair of mounting arms extending forwardly from said curved portion, an open ended bucket pivotally connected between said mounting arms on a pivotal axis which lies behind the bucket''s center of gravity, whereby rocking of said frame on the curved portion thereof causes said bucket to pivot between a loading position in which snow can be scooped up by said bucket and a dumping position in which snow will be dumped from said bucket, a pair of handles vertically pivotally attached to said frame and pivotable between a rear position and a frontal position, and cooperating latch means attached to said handles and said bucket for latching said bucket in its loading position when said handles are in their rear position and for unlatching said bucket for movement to its dumping position when said handles are moved to their frontal position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The snow scoop of claim 1 and further comprising a convex dish attached to the bottom of said bucket to serve as a low friction support therefore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The snow scoop of claim 1 and further comprising an expansion spring connected between said bucket and said frame for limiting the movement of said bucket toward its dumping position to cause said bucket to oscillate about its dumping position to help shake loose the snow therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The snow scoop of claim 1 wherein said frame includes a pair of upstanding tubular side members, and wherein said handles include vertical portions which are pivotally contained within the interior of said side members and are pivotable about the axis of said side members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The snow scoop of claim 4 wherein said latch means includes a pair of latch pins projecting transversely from the vertical portions of said handles and a pair of latch arms attached to the back of said bucket and positioned to abut against said latch pins when said bucket is in its loading position and said handles are in their rear position to latch said bucket in its loading position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The snow scoop of claim 5 wherein said frame includes a cross brace attached to the tops of said side members and extending therebetween, and a stop member attached to each latch pin and extending downwardly therefrom to abut against said cross brace when said handles are in their rear position and frontal position to limit the rotation of said handles toward their rear position and frontal positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The snow scoop of claim 4 wherein said side members are curved at a 90* angle and extend forwardly to form said mounting arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The snow scoop of claim 7 and further comprising upwardly curved runners attached to the bottom of said mounting arms, the curved portion of said runners underlying the curved portion of said side members.