The object of the invention in question is a device for removing snow particularly from flat roofs.

In the Finnish patent claim 840095 a snow removal device is described which is well suited to the removal of snow from the flat surfaces of a sloping roof. The device com¬ prises a flat shovel or plane-like body part, in which there is a flat cutting element for cutting out a strip of snow of the width of the device near to the roof sur¬ face. The body part has fastening devices for the pulling elements, such as for a shaft or rope by means of which the device is let down from the roof ridge to the eaves and pulled back up the slope to the ridge. A strip of snow is cut loose during the upward drawing stage where- upon the cut away snow layer, usually on a slippery cut surface, receives sufficient sliding momentum for the strip to fall of the roof.

In one especially advantageous mode of realisation of the known device in question the cutting out element is fitt¬ ed with an extended sliding surface to accelerate the falling speed of the cut free strip of snow. The use of the device on shallowly sloping roofs is very advantage¬ ous if the sliding surface extends over the whole length of the slope to be cleaned.

The operation of the device in question however requires at least a certain degree of slope to the roof surface to attain the dropping operation, so that the device is un¬ suitable for a flat roof.

The problem of clearing snow off flat roofs can be solved here by the device according to the invention which is

founded upon an ordinary type of flat bottomed pushed snow shovel, built with characteristic features according to the accompanying patent claims. The device has been made suitable for removal of snow from flat roofs and very shallowly sloping roofs.

The invention is explained with the aid of the accompany¬ ing drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention for re¬ moving snow as an axiometric side view and

Fig. 2 shows a varation of the snow removing device ac¬ cording to the invention.

The main part of the device for removing snow is formed of a construction simillar to an ordinary snow clearing shovel which includes a flat base part 1, base part sides 2 rising vertically from the side edges of the base part and a pushing bar 4 fastened to the side edges or alter¬ natively to the base part. According to the invention such a snow shovel construction is changed so that to the base part 1 on the edge opposite to the pushing bar 4 a sliding surface element 5 is fastened composed of a flex¬ ible material such as plastic sheet, essentially being the width of the base part, and that to the transverse edge of the body part 3 on the push bar 4 side a hatch element 6 is arranged which is hinged to advantage from its upper edge so as to open in the direction of the sliding surface element 5, but for which opening in the opposite direction is prevented.

In removing snow from the roof with the device in quest¬ ion the person performing the snow clearance takes the device to the roof eave and draws it with pulling bar 4 along the roof so that the device sinks into the snow

layer to a desired depth. Then the hatch element 6 opens and the snow strip which has been cut free by cutting edge 7 travels through the device in accordance with the pulling distance of the device. As the device proceeds along the roof the sliding surface element 5 slides under the cut off snow strip behind the device. After the snow worker has managed to cut loose a suitable strip length for example half the roof length, the device is pushed ahead of him/her in the return direction. At this stage the hatch device closes due to the resistance effect of the snow strip the device thus acting as a snow shovel with which the snow strip on the sliding surface device 5 can be pushed with relative ease to the roof eaves and dropped down.

The versatility of the device is increased in a special mode of application in which the sliding surface element 5 is detachably fixed to the front edge of the base part 1 whence the device can be used as an ordinary snow shovel. Even in that case the hatch 6 incorporated in the device encreases the use of the snow shovel so that espe¬ cially when thick layers are being removed the snow sho¬ vel can be pulled back a distance equivalent to the length of the snow shovel, so that when hatch 6 opens the shovel is filled.

A variation of the invention is shown in Fig. 2. The de¬ vice here shown is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but the corresponding push and pull bar part of the device has been replaced with a height-adjustable steering skid 9 and with the eye 10 for a pulling rope or corresponding drawing element. The drawing shaft 6 is fastened to the device to advantage with an easily removable fastening, whereupon the device can be transformed into the mode of Fig. 1 with a simple procedure and back again by exchang¬ ing bars 8 and 4. With this variation the area of opera-

tions can be further expanded as the realisation in Fig. 2 is also suitable for use on sloping roofs.

In particular if a longer draw or push bar is fixed to draw shaft 8 the device can be used from the roof ridge position without necessity for the user to walk on the roof itself and possibly damaging the roofing material. In this form of realisation the device is especially sui¬ table for removal of snow from slightly sloping roofs on which the snow strip cut free possibly needs a starting momentum to ensure its sliding off the roof.