Patent ID: 8550515
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: E01H

Abstract:
1. A snow removal shovel, comprising: an elongate support having an upper end and an opposed lower end; a shovel blade having a ground engaging lower edge and an opposed upper edge, opposed side edges, a front snow-engaging side and an opposed rear side; the rear side of the shovel blade defines a middle between, and equidistant with respect to, the ground engaging lower edge and the upper edge, an upper section extending between the middle and the upper edge, and a lower section extending between the middle and the ground engaging lower edge; the lower section of the shovel blade is mounted for pivotal movement to the lower end of the elongate support at a pivot point located near the ground engaging lower edge of the shovel blade and between the ground engaging lower edge of the shovel blade and the middle of rear side of the shovel blade; the shovel blade pivots at the pivot point between a snow shoveling position of the shovel blade toward the elongate support and a snow dumping position of the shovel blade away from the elongate support; in the snow shoveling position of the shovel blade the upper edge of the shovel blade and the rear side of the shovel blade between the pivot point and the upper edge of the shovel blade are juxtaposed with respect to the elongate support; in the snow dumping position of the shovel blade the upper edge of the shovel blade and the rear side of the shovel blade between the pivot point and the upper edge of the shovel blade are positioned downwardly and away from the elongate support; a latch mounted to the elongate support for movement between a locked position for engaging the shovel blade in the snow shoveling position of the shovel blade for securing the shovel blade in the snow shoveling position of the shovel blade and preventing the shovel blade from pivoting from the snow shoveling position of the shovel blade to the snow dumping position of the shovel blade, and an unlocked position for disengaging the shovel blade in the snow shoveling position of the shovel blade for releasing the shovel blade in the snow shoveling position of the shovel blade and permitting the shovel blade to pivot from the snow shoveling position of the shovel blade to the snow dumping position of the shovel blade; a spring assembly coupled between the rear side of the shovel blade and the elongate support for biasing the shovel blade into the snow shoveling position of the shovel blade; and the spring assembly comprises a plurality of springs.