Jan 29, 2009 7:18 pm US/Eastern
New Gadgets Make Snow Removal Easier
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Scraping, shoveling, slipping! Had enough of all the winter fun? Need a new way to tackle the season? A professor of entrepreneurship at Northeastern University, Tucker Marion, has spent the last several years redesigning our weapons against winter weather.
"The snow shovel and ice scraper have not been redesigned in 40 years. Based on our research, there was no brand loyalty and most consumers expressed frustration with the products available on the market. We saw this as an opportunity," said Marion.
From design phase to product development, Marion has created several new products to do battle with.
THE ICE DOZER
"Current ice scrapers don't allow you to transfer power very well. Your wrist is cocked. It's not very ergonomic," said Marion. "We wanted to ideate something that is very comfortable to use for regular people and the elderly. Our goal was to create a product that is easy to use and easy to manufacture," he added.
The result -- the "
Ice Dozer" with multiple ways to grip and apply pressure to the ice.
"There are different scraping surfaces that actually help out with different thicknesses of frost and ice," remarked Marion.
Including what amounts to "tenderizers" that allow you to score or whack the ice, simulating the action of an ice pick.
There is also a snap on/snap off brush for cleaning your side mirror that includes a notch feature meant to clean the ice from your windshield wiper. As you apply pressure to the Ice Dozer, the scraping surfacing bends, contouring to your windshield. The grip allows you to get your elbow in on the action, inspired by the design of a wood saw. A new mini-ice scraper will soon be available too. The device has both front and back blades and a grip that was inspired by the shape of a computer mouse.
THE SNOW MOVER
"Here in New England we're getting snowstorms of 6 to 12 inches of snow putting a lot of stuff on the top of your car," noted Marion.
To tackle the issue, especially on trucks and SUVs, he created the "
Snow Mover."
"So with this particular product, it has an extendable handle so you can go up and get the stuff off of your car," noted Marion. The Snow Mover also has an ice scrapping feature and is meant to double as a small scale snow shovel.
THE BUBBLE SHOVEL
"Arguably one of the most frustrating things in New England winter is going out and trying to shovel 12 inches of deep wet snow," stated Marion. "There have been studies done that shoveling snow is as strenuous on your heart as briskly walking or jogging or playing singles tennis."
For years Marion has been dedicated to brainstorming a better solution which has given life to the "Bubble Shovel." Marion created a curved underside versus the flat or slightly curved surface of a typical snow shovel.
"The curved contour allows the shovel to rock so you can literally rotate the shovel and dump the snow without having to lift it. You can even ski it up and over snow banks. The handle is multipurpose too with options to push or use it as a lever. There are several different grips you can use to limit strain on the body," Marion explained.
PUT TO THE TEST
I decided to test the products out in the field during some of my snow coverage this season. Both the Ice Dozer and Snow Mover were very helpful--easier to operate than my conventional methods and more functional overall. The Bubble Shovel I found to be too heavy and a bit difficult to maneuver. The
Ice Dozer and
Snow Mover retail for about $20 and can be purchased on Amazon. The Bubble Shovel will be available this September.
Tucker tells his students, "One of the things that separates a successful entrepreneur from those that aren't is perseverance." The same can be said for getting through this long winter!
SOME ADDITIONAL SNOW STATS
--Medical researchers have found that shoveling snow requires the same energy expenditure as an active round of singles tennis or speed walking.
--Studies have shown that blood pressure in older people increases in cold weather, combine that with the cardiac strain of shoveling snow, and you have a recipe for heart attack
--People over 65 are more fearful of ice (and falling on it) than the threat from crime
--The average weight of a shovel loaded with heavy wet snow is about 16 pounds
--The typical person shovels 12 times a minute moving 192 pounds of snow
--Over the span of 10 minutes a person lifts almost 2000 pounds of snow
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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