Abstract:
A shovel having a blade fixed to a shaft. A step fixed to the blade and/or the shaft, the step having a step shoulder, the step being spaced longitudinally along the shovel at a selected distance from the blade shoulder.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a shovel. More particularly, this invention relates to a shovel that has a foot step for improved ergonomic use and a foot step that is attachable to a shovel. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Shovels for excavating, such as the spade or spade shovel, which will be referred to herein as the shovel, have been known for some time. A shovel is a common tool for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials such as soil, sand, gravel, etc. Such shovels are tools that are commonly used in construction. 
         [0003]    Most shovels are hand tools consisting of a broad blade fixed to a medium-length handle. Shovel blades are usually made of sheet steel or hard plastics and are very strong. Shovel handles are usually made of wood (especially specific varieties such as ash or maple) or glass-reinforced plastic (fibreglass). 
         [0004]    Hand shovel blades made of sheet steel usually have a folded seam or hem at the back to make a socket for the handle. This fold also commonly provides extra rigidity to the blade. The handles are usually riveted in place. 
         [0005]    The upper edges of the blade have blade shoulders, typically consisting of a folded seam. In order to exert force on the shovel blade, a user places a foot on the blade shoulder. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to an improved shovel and step which provide enhanced ergonomic use. The shovel and step of the current invention enables excavation to be undertaken more quickly and with less stressful impact on a user&#39;s back. The inventor has appreciated that the conventional shovel only has one position on which a user places a foot to impart force on the shovel blade. 
         [0007]    It is an object of this invention to provide a shovel and step which reduces the stressful impact on a user&#39;s back particularly when shovelling deep excavations. The shovel and step of the current invention are particularly beneficial in that the step can be positioned at an appropriate height for a user enabling improved ergonomic posture when shovelling. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the invention consists of a shovel having a blade, a shaft attached to the blade, and a step attached to one of the blade and the shaft. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the invention consists of a shovel having a blade and a shaft, the blade having a tip at a first end and a socket at a second end, a shovel shoulder on each side of the socket; the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end fixed in the socket; and a step fixed to the blade and/or the shaft at a selected distance from the shoulders, such that in use a user applies a force to the step to work the shovel. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the step is fixed to the socket of the blade. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the step is fixed to the shaft proximate to the blade. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the step comprises a first step flange and a second step flange, each of the first and second step flanges being oriented in plane and positioned orthogonal to the shaft. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the step is adjustable in a longitudinal direction along the shaft. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the selected distance is between 4 to 6 inches. 
         [0015]    Preferably, a length of the shaft is and a length of the blade is between 18 and 22 inches and a length of the shaft is between 38 and 46 inches. 
         [0016]    Preferably, a distance between a top of the step and the shoulder is between 4 to 6 inches. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the shaft is made of a material selected from the group consisting of wood, carbon fibre, fiberglass and combinations thereof. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, the invention consists of a shovel blade having a tip at a first end and a socket at a second opposite end, a shovel shoulder on each side of the socket, a step being fixed to the socket at a selected distance from the shoulders. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the selected distance is between 4 to 6 inches. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the step is welded to the socket of the shovel blade. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the shovel blade and step are integrally formed. 
         [0022]    Further and other features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a shovel with a step in accordance with one embodiment of the invention from a front view; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows the shovel in  FIG. 1  from a rear view; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a shovel with a step in accordance with another embodiment of the invention from a rear view; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a shovel with a step in accordance with another embodiment of the invention from a front view the shovel in  FIG. 1  from a top view; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a shovel step in accordance with another embodiment of the invention shown in perspective view; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a shovel step in accordance with another embodiment of the invention shown in perspective view; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a shovel blade with a shovel step attached thereto in accordance with another embodiment of the invention shown in front view; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  shows the shovel blade with a shovel step attached thereto of  FIG. 7  shown in rear view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a shovel  2  from a front view in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The shovel  2  has a blade  4  and a shaft  6 . The shaft  6  has a proximal end  8  and a distal end  10 . The blade  4  has a socket  12  at one end opposite a tip of the blade. The blade  4  is attached to the shaft  6  by positioning the proximal end  8  of the shaft  6  into the socket  12  of the blade  4 , and then fixing thereto using a mechanical fastener such as a nail, rivet or screw. Preferably, the shaft is made of a material such as wood, carbon fibre, fiberglass and/or combinations thereof. 
         [0033]    The blade  4  has a blade shoulder  14  on each side of the socket  12  which can be used to apply pressure to the blade by a user&#39;s foot in a conventional manner of using a shovel. A step  16  is attached to the socket  12 . The step  16  has a step shoulder  18  which can be used to apply pressure to the blade  4  and provides an ergonomically enhanced positioning for a user to apply pressure to the blade  4 , in particular for taller users. Essentially, the step  16  has a first and second step flange which are oriented in plane with each other and this plane is orthogonal to the shaft  6 . Preferably, the step  16  is welded to the shovel blade  4 . Alternatively, the shovel blade  4  and the step  16  are integrally formed. 
         [0034]    In a preferred embodiment, a length X from a tip of the shovel blade  4  to an opening of the socket  12  is between 18 inches and 22 inches, and more preferably between 19 and 21 inches. The step shoulder  18  is shown in  FIG. 1  as being flush with the opening of the socket  12  but it is to be appreciated that this is not essential and the step shoulder  18  can be fixed at a lower position such as 1 or 2 inches below the level of the opening of the socket  12 . 
         [0035]    In a preferred embodiment, a length Y of the shaft  6  between the proximal end  8  and the distal end  10  is between 38 and 46 inches. In a preferred embodiment, a distance Z between a top of the step and the shoulder is between 4 to 6 inches. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  shows the shovel  2  of  FIG. 1  in rear view. As shown, the step  16  is generally a plate that is fixed to a rear side of the socket  12  by any means including but not limited to welding, gluing, or mechanical fasteners (not shown). The step  16  can be made of metal, fiberglass, rigid plastic or other rigid composite material that could accept a force applied by a user&#39;s foot and translate that force to the blade  4  to dig into material without cracking or breaking. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows a shovel  20  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The shovel  20  has a blade  22  and a shaft  24 . The shaft  24  has a proximal end  26  and a distal end  28 . The blade  22  has a socket  30 . The proximal end  26  shaft  24  is inserted into the socket  30  and is fixed thereto by mechanical fasteners. The blade  22  has a blade shoulder  32  on each side of the socket  30 . A step  34  is fixed to the socket  30  by welding, gluing or mechanical fasteners. The step  34  has a plurality of gripping protrusions  36  which provide enhanced grip with a user&#39;s foot. It is to be appreciated the gripping protrusions  36  are provided in a preferred embodiment but these are not essential to the invention. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  shows a shovel  40  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The shovel  40  has a blade  42  and a shaft  44 . The shaft  44  has a proximal end  46  and a distal end  48 . The blade has a socket  50  with a blade shoulder  52  on each side of the socket  50 . The proximal end  46  of the shaft is inserted into the socket  50  and fixed by mechanical fasteners. A step  54  has a step shoulder  56 . The step  54  is fixed to the shaft  44  by mechanical fasteners  58  such as screws, nails or rivets. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows a step  60  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The step  60  has flanges  62  which have a step surface  64 . Two step holes  66  are provided to facilitate attachment to the shaft  44  or alternatively to the socket  46  by mechanical fasteners as may be desired. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  shows a step  80  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The step  80  has flanges  82 . The flanges  82  have gripping protrusions  84  which enhance the grip of a user&#39;s footwear. It is to be appreciated that the gripping protrusion  84  are not essential to the invention. The step  80  has holes  86  to facilitate attachment to the shaft  44  or alternatively to the socket  46  by mechanical fasteners. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  shows a shovel blade with a shovel step attached thereto  100  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention shown in front view. The shovel blade  102  has a socket  104  into which a shaft or handle can be inserted and fixed. The shovel blade  102  has a blade shoulder  106  on each side of the socket  104 . 
         [0042]    A shovel step  108  is fixed to the socket  104 . In a preferred embodiment, the shovel step  108  is fixed by welding. The shovel step  108  has a step shoulder  110 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  shows the shovel blade with a shovel step attached thereto of  FIG. 7  shown in rear view. 
         [0044]    Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is also to be understood that the invention is not restricted to these particular embodiments rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are functional, or mechanical equivalents of the specific embodiments and features that have been described and illustrated herein. 
         [0045]    It will be understood that, although various features of the invention have been described with respect to one or another of the embodiments of the invention, the various features and embodiments of the invention may be combined or used in conjunction with other features and embodiments of the invention as described and illustrated herein.