# US 12,179,717 B2 · Snow and ice remover for vehicle roofs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,717 B2 - Document ID: US12179717B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/397,671 - Filed: 2021-08-09 - Published: 2021-11-25 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-13 - Assignees: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation - Applicants: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation - Inventors: Howard Livingston, Jr.; Howard Livingston; Doug Werhel; Stephan Lawson; Eric Chang; Thomas William Murray; Christian Kasilag - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179717B2 ## CPC - B60S 3/04: for exteriors of land vehicles {(B60S3/002, B60S3/004 take precedence; specially adapted for railway vehicles B60S3/006)} - B60Y 2200/148: Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract Vehicle snow and ice removers are disclosed. An example vehicle and ice remover includes a plurality of first modular frames, where the first modular frames have a first shape and a plurality of second modular frames, where the second modular frames have a second shape different than the first shape. The first modular frames and the second modular frames are connected to form a first side frame, a second side frame opposite the first side frame, and a cross frame connecting the first side frame and the second side frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle snow and ice remover, comprising: a plurality of first modular frames, the first modular frames having a first shape, a plurality of second modular frames, the second modular frames having a second shape different than the first shape, the second modular frames include a plurality of first modular frames coupled together to provide the second shape, the first modular frames and the second modular frames to be connected to form a first side frame and a second side frame opposite the first side frame; and a cross frame connecting the first side frame and the second side frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 1, wherein the first shape is a triangle and the second shape is a rectangle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 2, wherein the first modular frames each has a first base having a first length T1, a second base having a second length T2, and a hypotenuse connecting the first base and the second base, wherein the first length T1 is greater than the second length T2, and wherein the second modular frames each has a pair of opposite long sides and a pair of opposite short sides connecting the opposite long sides, wherein each of the opposite long sides has a third length R1 and each of the opposite short sides has a fourth length R2. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 3, wherein the second length T2 is approximately half of the first length T1, and wherein the first length T1 is equal to the third length R1 and the second length T2 is equal to the fourth length R2. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 4, wherein each of the first side frame and the second side frame has a height in a vertical direction that is equal to a sum of the first length T1, the third length R1, and the fourth length R2. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 5, wherein the cross frame has a width in a horizontal direction between the first side frame and the second side frame that is equal to two times the first length T1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 1, wherein the first side frame and the second side frame include at least one of the first modular frames and the second modular frames. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 1, wherein the cross frame includes the first modular frames and does not include any of the second modular frames. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first connectors and a plurality of fasteners to couple the first modular frames and the second modular frames to form the first side frame and the second side frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 9, further including a plurality of second connectors to couple the cross frame to the first side frame and the second side frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 1, wherein a first one of the second modular frames includes two first modular frames coupled together. ### Claim 12 A vehicle snow and ice remover comprising: a plurality of first modular frames, the first modular frames having a first shape, a plurality of second modular frames, the second modular frames having a second shape different than the first shape, the first modular frames and the second modular frames to be connected to form a first side frame and a second side frame opposite the first side frame, the first side frame includes at least two first modular frames and at least two second modular frames, the second side frame includes at least two first modular frames and at least two second modular frames; and a cross frame connecting the first side frame and the second side frame, and wherein the cross frame includes at least two first modular frames. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 12, wherein the second modular frames each includes at least two first modular frames coupled together to provide the second shape. ### Claim 14 A vehicle snow and ice remover comprising: a first side frame including a first set of modular frames, the first set of modular frames to form the first side frame of the vehicle snow and ice remover, wherein at least three modular frames of the first set of modular frames are to couple to define at least a portion of a first length of the first side frame; a second side frame including a second set of the modular frames, the second set of the modular frames to form the second side frame of the vehicle snow and ice remover, wherein at least three modular frames of the second set of modular frames are to couple to define at least a portion of a second length of the second side frame; and a cross frame interconnecting and spanning between the first side frame and the second side frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 14, wherein the modular frames have a triangular shape, and wherein the modular frames can be configured to have a rectangular shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 14, further including a plow retainer coupled to the first side frame and the second side frame, the plow retainer having a U-shaped frame. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 16, further including a plow assembly coupled to the plow retainer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 14, further including a plurality of outriggers including a third set of the modular frames, a first outrigger to couple to the first side frame and a second outrigger to couple to the second side frame. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 18, further including a plurality of ballasts, respective ones of the ballast coupled to respective ones of the outriggers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The vehicle snow and ice remover of claim 14, wherein the at least three modular frames of the first set of modular frames are stacked vertically. ### Claim 21 A method comprising: forming a first side frame by coupling a first set of first modular frames and second modular frames, the first modular frames having a first shape and the second modular frames having a second shape different than the first shape, the second modular frames formed by a plurality of the first modular frames to provide the second shape; and forming a second side frame by coupling a second set of the first modular frames and the second modular frames and forming a cross frame connecting the first side frame and the second side frame. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein forming the cross frame includes coupling a third set of first modular frames and the second side frame. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further including coupling a plow retainer to the first side frame and the second side frame and attaching a plow assembly to the plow retainer.