Patent ID: 6131971
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: A01B,Y10T

Abstract:
A foldable spade comprising:an elongated handle with front and rear end portions opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and a biasing member disposed proximate to said front end portion;a blade member having a blade surface wall with a distal end and a proximate end relative to said handle;a front engaging member including a bottom plate secured on said proximate end of said blade member, and a pair of first engaging plates which extend from said bottom plate in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and a pivot transverse to the longitudinal direction and which are disposed pivotally on said front end portion of said handle about the pivot so as to be rotated between a first position where said blade surface wall extends forward from said front engaging member along the longitudinal direction, and a second position where said blade surface wall extends rearward from said front engaging member to be folded over said handle; anda rear engaging member substantially U-shaped, and including a pair of second engaging plates which are disposed on said front end portion of said handle rearwardly of said first engaging plates, and which have elongated slots that extend in the longitudinal direction, and an engaging rod which passes through said elongated slots and which is secured to said front end portion of said handle in a direction parallel to the pivot such that said engaging rod is movable relative to said rear engaging member along said elongated slots when said rear engaging member is move relative to said front engaging member in the longitudinal direction, said rear engaging member further having a base part which bridges said second engaging plates, and an abutting portion which is disposed on said base part, and biased by said biasing member to move along the longitudinal direction to engage said front engaging member when said front engaging member is in the first position, said rear engaging member being movable against said biasing member to release said front engaging member to move toward the second position.