Shovel for debris removal

A shovel is provided having a handle, a support assembly and a blade. The support assembly comprises a substantially flat mounting base adapted for connection to the blade and having first and second ends and front and rear regions. A shaft positioned at first angle to the base. First and second arms symmetrically arranged with respect to the shaft. The first arm connects the first end of the base with a central region of the shaft, and the second connects the second end of the base with a central region of the shaft. The shaft is formed with a hollow channel with a reinforcing rod disposed within the channel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general to shovels, and more particular to shovels useful for debris removal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to tools and, more specifically, to a shovel designed for moving debris longitudinally while the shovel also moves longitudinally. Thus, the need for lifting the shovel during debris removal is minimized. There are known in the prior art to make advanced shovels which can be made of various expensive materials, such as alloys some of which may be aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber. Many different means of attaching blades to the shovel assembly are known from the prior art, such as welding, brazing, soldering, molding, or pressing fittings together, etc. may also be incorporated into the design.

Thus, it has been long felt and unsolved need for an inexpensive shovel useful for various debris removal which can be easily assembled and disassembled by a user without use of tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in figures of the drawing.

As to a further description of the manner and use of different embodiments of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation of the embodiments different from that discussed below will be provided.

One aspect of the invention provides a shovel for debris removal which is formed with a handle, a support assembly and a blade. The support assembly is interposed between the handle and the blade and comprises a flat mounting base for connection to the blade. The base has first and second ends and longitudinally extending front and rear regions. A connecting shaft extends between proximal and distal areas, wherein the proximal area is adapted for connection to the handle and the distal area is adapted for connection to the base. The front region of the base is connected to the blade. The shaft is positioned at an angle to the base. First and second arms symmetrically arranged with respect to the shaft. The first arm is positioned at an angle to the base and connects the first end of the base with a central region of the shaft. The second arm is positioned at an angle the base and connects the second end of the base with a central region of the shaft. The shaft is formed with a hollow channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the shaft, a reinforcing rod disposed within the channel. The handle has first and second ends, wherein the first end is adapted for connection to said shaft and the second end utilized by a user to permit the blade to be pushed by a user while gripping the handle. A locking assembly is disposed at a hollow area of the first end of the pole/handle and includes a resilient element provided at first end of the handle. An engaging pin extends from the resilient element, so as to be pushed in and out an aperture passing through the first end. In the working position the proximal end of the shaft is disposed within the hollow area of the pole/handle, so that the pin engages the socket in the shaft locking the handle on the supporting assembly, wherein to remove the handle from the supporting assembly the resilient element is lifted to disengage the pin from the socket/receiving recess.

Another aspect of the invention provides a locking assembly for removable connection between the handle and the shaft of the support assembly. The locking assembly includes a hollow sleeve extending from the first end, a resilient element provided at first end with an outwardly extending engaging pin. In use the pin is pushed in and out of an aperture passing through the first end into the hollow space, so that the pin engages a socket in the shaft locking the handle on the support assembly, to remove the handle from the support assembly the resilient element is lifted to disengage the pin from its engagement with the socket of the shaft.

A further aspect of the invention provides a pair of pole storage hooks extending from a rear side of the support assembly, each storage hook is formed having a curved recess. The storage hooks are separated by the shaft, in the assembled condition while the support assembly is attached to the blade the handle is stowed between the rear side of the support assembly and the blade with the exterior of the handle engaging the curved recesses of the storage hooks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The shovel assembly10of the invention is designed for the removal of various types of debris and enables the user to move the debris along a surface to be cleaned instead of physically lifting them. In one embodiment the shovel assembly of the invention can be manufactured from a lightweight polymeric material having minimal deformation under load, a property normally associated with metals. This property is further substantially improved by providing reinforced members in the critical areas of the device such as a shaft forming a part of a support assembly. On the other hand, use of many conventional materials other than polymers is within the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in general and more particular toFIGS.1-8illustrating a shovel assembly10for debris removal according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. Among the essential elements of the shovel are a handle12in the form of a pole, a blade60and a support assembly30providing a connection between the handle and the blade.

The handle12is typically in the form of an elongated pole enabling the shovel to be operated by a user. Other configurations of the handle are also within the scope of the invention. The handle extends between first14and second16ends, wherein the first end is adapted for connection to a shaft40of the support assembly30and the second end is utilized by a user to permit the blade to be pushed while the handle is gripped by the user. As best illustrated inFIG.3the first end14is hollow to accommodate a locking assembly18for removable connection between the handle and the shaft of the support assembly. In the illustrated embodiment the locking assembly includes a sleeve19formed with hollow inner space26extending from the first end14. However, an integral hollow part of the first end of the handle is also contemplated. The locking assembly18further comprises a resilient element20provided at the first end14with an engaging pin22extending outwardly therefrom. In use the pin22is pushed in and out of an aperture24passing through the first end into the hollow space26. In the engaged working position, a proximal end of the shaft40of the support assembly is disposed within the hollow space26. Further, the pin22engages a socket/receiving recess43in the shaft locking the handle12on the support assembly30. To remove the handle12from the support assembly30the resilient element20is lifted to disengage the pin22from its engagement with the socket/receiving recess43of the shaft

Turning now toFIGS.2,4,6and8illustrating in more detail the support assembly30providing connection between the handle and the blade. The support assembly30consists of a substantially planner mounting base32adapted for connection to the blade60. The base32extends between first33and second37ends in a lateral direction as well as between front34and rear35regions in a longitudinal direction. The connecting shaft40extends between its proximal41and distal42areas. The proximal area is adapted for insertion into the hollow space26of the sleeve19of the handle12. The distal area42is connected to the base32, ultimately enabling the blade to be pushed by a user while gripping the handle. An attachment part39of the base between the front34and rear35regions is adapted for connection to the blade60. First44and second46arms extend between the first33and second37ends at a lower elevation to be connected and symmetrically arranged with respect to the shaft40at a higher elevation. As best illustrated in at leastFIG.8, the first arm44positioned at an angle2A in a horizontal plane C to the base32to connect the first end33of the base with a central region of the shaft40. The second arm46is positioned at an angle2B in the horizontal plane C to the base32to connect the second end37of the base with a central region of the shaft. As best illustrated inFIGS.2and4, the shaft40is positioned at an angle D in a vertical plane regarding the base32. Through their connection to the shaft40, the arms44and46also extend at an appropriate angle to the base32in the vertical plane. It will be discussed later in the application that to solidify the composite angular relationship between the arms44,46and the base32multiple, spaced apart stiffening reinforcing ribs extend between the arms and the base.

As best illustrated inFIG.4, the shaft40is formed with a hollow internal channel48extending along its longitudinal axis. To reinforce the structure of the shaft a reinforcing element or a rod50is disposed within the channel48to enable the shaft to withstand tortuous and bending moments generated during the use of the shovel of the invention. In one embodiment the reinforcement element or rod50forms an integral part of the shaft and/or support assembly. In a modified embodiment the channel48extends substantially through the entire central region of the shaft40and the rod50can be inserted into and removed from the channel as needed.

As best illustrated inFIGS.2-8an exterior of the shaft40is formed with a plurality of reinforcement latitudinal and longitudinal members49developing multiplicity of cells/meshes47. The semi-hollow cells47penetrate the material of the shaft exterior substantially reducing its weight.

The proximal area41of the shaft extends outwardly from the support assembly in general, and more specifically it extends outwardly from an area of projected intersection between the first arm44and the second arm46. The distal area42of the shaft is integral with and extends from the front and central regions of the mounting base32.

As best illustrated inFIG.2reinforcement mounting structure52connects the first44and second46arms with the mounting base32. The reinforcement mounting structure52comprises first53and second54groups of spaced from each other reinforcing ribs. The first group of ribs53connects the attachment part39of the mounting base32to the first arm44, whereas the second group of ribs54connects the attachment part39to the second arm46.

As illustrated inFIGS.2,6and8in the preferred embodiment the mounting base32is formed with multiple holes62and multiple fasteners64and nuts66are provided for connection of the base to the blade60. To assemble the shovel the, fasteners pass through the holes in the base to threadably engage the nuts and to provide connection between the support assembly and the blade. It should be also noted that any other conventional way of connecting the base and the blade is contemplated by the invention.

As illustrated inFIGS.5-7a pair of pole storage hooks55and56are provided at and extend from a rear side of the mounting base32and are separated by the shaft40. Each storage hook is formed having a curved recess57. In a disassembled condition of the shovel10, while the support assembly30is attached to the blade60, the pole/handle12is stowed between the rear side of the support assembly and the blade, with the exterior of the pole12firmly engaging the curved recesses57of the storage hooks. This connection is reliable to the extent that the entire shovel can be lifted by a user using the handle shoved as discussed above between the support assembly and the blade.

Thus, it has been demonstrated above that the invention provides simple, economical shovel assembly very useful for many types of debris removal, the shovel which can be easily assembled and disassembled by a user without use of any sophisticated tools. An essential aspect of the invention is that it enables the user to move the debris along a surface to be cleaned instead of physically lifting them. Beneficially the shovel assembly of the invention is typically manufactured from a lightweight polymeric material having minimal deformation under load, a property normally associated with metals and other expensive materials. Reliability of the invention is improved by providing the reinforced metal inserts in the critical areas of the device such as a shaft forming a part of a support assembly.