Abstract:
An adjustable snow shovel system for facilitating effective removal of snow that has an ergonomically optimized handle for steering. The system has a blade-angle adjustment mechanism for extending and retracting shovel blades as appropriate for shovelling snow. The blade-angle adjustment mechanism is protected by a nose piece that also assists with removing snow. The system has a truck assembly that allows the system&#39;s wheels to swivel 360 degrees for fluid steering. The entire truck assembly can also swivel 180 degrees, allowing for easy storage of the system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/253,661, filed Apr. 15, 2014 as a continuation-in-part, and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/542,949 filed Jul. 6, 2012 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,800,175 issued Aug. 12, 2014, the specification(s) of which is/are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Snow shovels have been used for clearing snow accumulation for many years, likely since the advent of a standard shovel. A typical snow shovel is equipped with a generally flat blade constructed from plastic or aluminum with a centrally located handle attached. While generally effective, the snow shovel requires a significant physical effort for use leading to fatigue and sometimes pain for the user. The present invention features an adjustable snow shovel system for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows the adjustable snow shovel system ( 999 ). 
         FIG. 2  shows the rectangular tubular frame ( 100 ). 
         FIG. 3  shows the blade-angle adjustment mechanism ( 200 ). 
         FIG. 4  shows a zoomed view of the blade-angle adjustment mechanism ( 200 ). 
         FIG. 5  shows the shovel blade assembly ( 300 ). 
         FIG. 6  shows a blade ( 310 ) of the shovel blade assembly ( 300 ). 
         FIG. 7  shows a partially exploded view of the assembly of the system ( 999 ). 
         FIG. 8  shows the truck assembly ( 400 ). 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein: 
       999  adjustable snow shovel system 
       100  rectangular-tubular frame 
       110  body section 
       111  body first side 
       112  body second side 
       113  body top end 
       114  body bottom end 
       115  first body support 
       116  second body support 
       120  handle section 
       121  handle first side 
       122  handle second side 
       123  handle top end 
       124  handle bottom end 
       125  rest surface 
       126  first handle bar 
       127  second handle bar 
       128  handle mid-piece 
       200  blade-angle adjustment mechanism 
       210  pair of racks 
       211  rack first end 
       212  rack second end 
       220  pinion 
       230  pair of arms 
       231  arm first end 
       232  arm second end 
       240  hinge hole 
       300  shovel blade assembly 
       310  pair of blades 
       320  blade arm hub 
       330  blade arm clip 
       340  blade top end 
       350  blade bottom end 
       360  hinge 
       370  V-shaped shovel nose 
       400  truck assembly 
       410  wheel support tube 
       411  tube first end 
       412  tube second end 
       420  spindle 
       430  pair of wheels 
       510  first body cover plate 
       520  second body cover plate 
       530  tube housing 
       600  angle adjustment shaft 
       610  shaft first end 
       620  shaft second end 
       630  pair of shaft clips 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the present invention is shown. The present invention is an adjustable snow shovel system ( 999 ). 
     In some embodiments, the system ( 999 ) comprises a rectangular-tubular frame ( 100 ) having a body section ( 110 ) and a handle section ( 120 ). Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the rectangular-tubular frame ( 100 ) is shown. 
     In some embodiments, the handle section ( 120 ) has a V-shaped outline, wherein the valley of the handle section ( 120 ) defines a rest surface ( 125 ) on which a user can lean against and thus push the system ( 999 ) with his or her body weight. It is believed that this allows the user to push the system ( 999 ) with greater ease. The handle section ( 120 ) comprises a handle first side ( 121 ), a handle second side ( 122 ), a handle top end ( 123 ), and a handle bottom end ( 124 ). In some embodiments, a handle mid-piece ( 128 ) is disposed from the handle first side ( 121 ) to the handle second side ( 122 ). In some embodiments, a first handle bar ( 126 ) and a second handle bar ( 127 ) are disposed 90 degrees to and through the handle mid-piece ( 128 ) from the handle bottom end ( 124 ) to the handle top end ( 123 ). In some embodiments, the first handle bar ( 126 ) and the second handle bar ( 127 ) are symmetrically offset from the center of the handle section ( 120 ). It is believed that the first handle bar ( 126 ), second handle bar ( 127 ), and handle mid-piece ( 128 ) provide different grip points for the user. This allows the proper amount of force to be applied to the system ( 999 ) for fluid steering. Without wishing to limit the present invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed the handle section ( 120 ), especially the features mentioned above, is designed for optimal human ergonomics. 
     In some embodiments, the body section ( 110 ) has a trapezoidal-shaped outline. The body section ( 110 ) comprises a body first side ( 111 ), body second side ( 112 ), body top end ( 113 ), and a body bottom end ( 114 ). In some embodiments, a first body support ( 115 ) and a second body support ( 116 ) are disposed from the body first side ( 111 ) across to the body second side ( 112 ). This is believed to provide structural integrity to the body section ( 110 ). 
     In some embodiments, the system ( 999 ) comprises a blade-angle adjustment mechanism ( 200 ). Referring now to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the blade-angle adjustment mechanism ( 200 ) is shown. In some embodiments, the mechanism ( 200 ) has a pair of racks ( 210 ) and a pinion ( 220 ). The pair of racks ( 210 ) each has a rack first end ( 211 ) and a rack second end ( 212 ). In some embodiments, the mechanism ( 200 ) also has a pair of arms ( 230 ) each comprising an arm first end ( 231 ) and an arm second end ( 232 ), wherein the arm second end ( 232 ) has a hinge hole ( 240 ). The arm first end ( 231 ) is disposed on the rack second end ( 212 ). 
     In some embodiments, the system ( 999 ) comprises a shovel blade assembly ( 300 ). Referring now to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the shovel blade assembly ( 300 ) is shown. The shovel blade assembly ( 300 ) has a pair of blades ( 310 ), and in some embodiments, each blade ( 310 ) has a blade arm hub ( 320 ) and a blade arm clip ( 330 ). In some embodiments, each blade ( 310 ) has a blade top end ( 340 ) and a blade bottom end ( 350 ) both adapted to shovel snow. It is believed that this effectively doubles the availability of the system ( 999 ), since the pair of blades ( 310 ) can be flipped such that when the blade top end ( 340 ) dulls the blade bottom end ( 350 ) can continue to shovel snow, and vice versa. In some embodiments, the pair of blades ( 310 ) are pivotally connected via a hinge ( 360 ). In some embodiments, in order to prevent snow from impeding the system&#39;s ( 999 ) mobility and to protect the hinge ( 360 ), a V-shaped shovel nose ( 370 ) is disposed on the hinge, partially overlapping the pair of blades ( 310 ). 
     In some embodiments, the system ( 999 ) comprises a truck assembly ( 400 ). Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the truck assembly ( 400 ) is shown. In some embodiments, the truck assembly ( 400 ) has a goose neck-shaped wheel support tube ( 410 ), a spindle ( 420 ), and a pair of wheels ( 430 ). The wheel support tube ( 410 ) comprises a tube first end ( 411 ) and a tube second end ( 412 ). In some embodiments, the spindle ( 420 ) is disposed on the tube second end ( 412 ) and the pair of wheels ( 430 ) are disposed on the spindle ( 420 ). In some embodiments, the pair of wheels ( 430 ) can swivel 360 degrees via the spindle ( 420 ) rotating about the tube second end ( 412 ). It is believed that this feature allows for mobility from the pair of wheels ( 430 ) and thus fluid navigation and steering of the system ( 999 ). 
     In a non-limiting example, the assembly of the system ( 999 ) is as follows: the body section ( 110 ) and handle section ( 120 ) are one whole component as the handle bottom end ( 124 ) is fluidly disposed on the handle top end ( 123 ). The blade-angle adjustment mechanism ( 200 ) is disposed in between the second body support ( 116 ) and the body bottom end ( 114 ), then sandwiched between a first body cover plate ( 510 ) and a second body cover plate ( 520 ), such that the first body cover plate ( 510 ) and second body cover plate ( 520 ) are disposed on the body section ( 110 ) from the second body support ( 116 ) to the body bottom end ( 114 ). 
     Continuing with the example assembly, the shovel blade assembly ( 300 ) is then pivotally connected to the blade-angle adjustment mechanism ( 200 ) via the blade arm hub ( 320 ) hinging to the hinge hole ( 240 ) on each of the pair of blades ( 310 ). When the pair of blades ( 310 ) are in-line with each other, the blade arm clip ( 330 ) secures the arm ( 230 ) to keep the blades sturdy. 
     Installation of an angle adjustment shaft ( 600 ) comprising a shaft first end ( 610 ) and a shaft second end ( 620 ) then follows. The shaft first end ( 610 ) is disposed through the first body support ( 115 ) and second body support ( 116 ) to key into the pinion ( 220 ). The shaft second end ( 620 ) is secured to the first body support ( 115 ) via a pair of shaft clips ( 630 ). To change the angle of the shovel blade assembly ( 300 ), the shaft second end ( 620 ) is first removed from the pair of shaft clips ( 630 ). The shaft second end ( 620 ) is then turned to activate the pinion ( 220 ) to extend or retract the pair of arms ( 230 ) disposed on the pair of racks ( 210 ), thus pivoting the pair of blades ( 310 ) and changing the angle of the shovel blade assembly ( 300 ). In some embodiments, the blade-angle adjustment mechanism ( 200 ) allows for more than six configurations of the system ( 999 ), 
     The example assembly continues with a tube housing ( 530 ) centrally disposed on the second body cover plate ( 520 ). The tube first end ( 411 ) of the wheel support tube ( 410 ) inserts through and secures to the tube housing ( 530 ) such that the pair of wheels ( 430 ) contact the ground. The angle of the system ( 999 ) relative to the ground is adjustable via adjusting the extent to which the tube first end ( 411 ) is secured to the tube housing ( 530 ). In some embodiments, the tube first end ( 411 ) can be swiveled 180 degrees so that the pair of wheels ( 430 ) can be stored in between the first body support ( 115 ) and second body support ( 116 ). It is believed that this allows for easier storage of the whole system ( 999 ). For example, tucking the pair of wheels ( 430 ) in between the first body support ( 115 ) and second body support ( 116 ) allows the system ( 999 ) to be hung flush on a wall. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a partial assembly of the system ( 999 ) is shown. 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. Reference numbers recited in the claims are exemplary and for ease of review by the patent office only, and are not limiting in any way. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting of” is met. 
     The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.