About the SnowPusherLite:
by: Tom Westman, the Innovator
"The SnowPusherLite Story", video was created and produced by David Addison
2009:
IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE: GOING GLOBAL
2009-2010 was our best year yet. While orders continue to come from all over the United States, we started to hear from our Candadian Neighbors from the north. Ice rinks are big and Canada and many skaters found that the SnowPusherLite was the perfect tool to clear and clean ice rinks. Order inquiries came in from the United Kingdom and from Germany. Unfortunately, shipping to those destinations need more research to make it affordable. We are currently working on that project.
HEAVY DUTY: WE LISTENED TO YOUR COMMENTS
While our handle worked wonderful for most of our customers, we did hear you ask for a stronger handle for the larger 48" and 38" models. So, new for 2010, every 38" and 48" SnowPusherLite will come with a stronger woodlen handle with a diameter of 1 1/8" width. We will be also shipping a heavier duty galvanized steel edge to further enhance your Snow pusher tool.
NEW ONLINE ORDERING FOR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES
We always have replacement parts available for our SnowPusherLites. To request parts you can simply order them from our new online order page. Remember that when ordering parts with your original SnowPusherLite order, the parts ship FREE!!
INTRODUCING THE "LITE-LIGHT" - THE 1ST SNOWPUSHERLITE ACCESSORY
Be the first one on your block to have a headlight for your SnowPusherLite!! NEW for 2010, this new accessory simply attaches to the handle of your SnowPusherLite and will illuminate the area directly ahead of you. A multi function switch provides 3 different levels of
illumination. Requires 3 AAA batteries (included).
I would like to thank all of you who sent me testimonials as well as “constructive criticisms” for this product. Without your feedback, I would have no reason to continuously improve the product to achieve my goal of making snow removal user friendly, safe and efficient. Keep the testimonials and critiques coming, and we look forward to another successful year with your help. You can help us make this product better.
Tom Westman
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
2008:
VERSION 2.0: THE YEAR OF IMPROVEMENTS
We had a very successful initial launch of the SnowPusherLite, due mostly to the local Channel 4 news segment “Ruth to the Rescue”, that aired on January 31st, and the two page feature article that was in the Birmingham Eccentric newspaper. I was convinced that the tool was taking on a life of its own and I wasn’t going to stand in its way. I realized that it needed strengthening in key areas and that improvements were required for the ease of assembly if the unit(s) were to be shipped by common carrier. The “voice of the customer” was all I needed to effect the enhancements required to remedy the relatively minor issues.
NEW HANDLE
The handle needed to be changed from a light duty, vinyl coated steel tubular construction to a strong100% hardwood handle, to be able to support the width of the large blade. This new handle offers the resilience needed while pushing heavier amounts of snow as well as light powdery snow.
NEW CUSHIONED GRIP
Some customers noticed that the original vinyl coated tubular handle was slippery when cold, wet gloves were used to push snow. Also, the original handle had what was thought to be a convenience feature that was a swivel hanging hole, but it was very uncomfortable to push on the pointed plastic swivel piece. The answer to both of these issues was to add a 21 inch, molded, closed-end, cushioned grip that increased the diameter of the handle, offered a non-slip grip, and cushioned the handle end. Unfortunately, we sacrificed the hanging loop end.
 NEW ONE-PIECE BRACKET
For those customers that had their SnowPusherLite shipped to them, the assembly was often times difficult for those not mechanically inclined. After just a few phone calls from customers, we decided that each unit would be assembled and then disassembled prior to shipping to make certain that there would be no further complaints. This process made the job of manufacturing extremely time consuming and needed to be addressed. The answer was to design and build a prototype bracket that could be used on all three models. The new bracket needed to be made of a flexible break-resistant material that offered the strength needed and added to the ease of assembly.
NEW SQUEEGEE TOP EDGE
Last but not least, the improvement that I think people will enjoy most is the upper edge of the snow pusher has now been replaced with a functional rubber squeegee blade. This change offers versatility and enables the customer to flip the tool over and use it to clean out the slush and melted snow out of their garage.
2007:
HOW IT ALL STARTED
For the past 40 some years, I have been cleaning snow off the driveway of my house, or my parents home when I was younger, with a snow shovel that was never more than 24 inches wide. When I purchased the home I now live in with its large circular drive 20 years ago, I needed to find a way to remove that light snow that falls throughout the winter season. After a heavier snowfall, I would use my snow thrower to get the majority of the white stuff off the drive, but there was still the residual snow that the snow thrower would not clean up. So once again, I would get my 24 inch steel snow shovel out and walk up and down, side to side to get the driveway clean to my satisfaction.
Years ago, I recall a neighbor pushing two snow shovels, side by side, up and down his drive to remove the light snow quickly. The concept was a good one but I recall his frustration of having to deal with lifting two shovels at the end of his path. He would rest the handle of one shovel on his chest while he emptied the first shovel and then do the same for the second. What a pain!
I took some time this past summer to research materials and components that would satisfy all of the requirements of the tool that I have wanted and needed.
• The tool needed to be wide, light, durable, and easy to use.
• The handle needed to be long enough, comfortable to grip and have an “eye” on the end to hang in between snows. The blade needed to be lightweight and curved slightly to prevent snow from spilling over the top.
• The curvature of the blade also allowed for clearing the snow from the edge of the drive by lifting the tool at the end of the path up over snow that had already been shoveled
• It also needed to be made of a material that snow would not stick to and have a metal strip to reduce wear. Lightweight braces were added to each side of the handle to prevent flexing of the blade. Snow will not stick to this tool, like an ordinary shovel, so the lifting required is minimal – easy to use for young and old.
As a result – the SnowPusherLite was created. |
