Abstract:
A two-handled, manual shoveling device permits it user to stand relatively upright while engaged in shoveling activity. The shoveling device has a primary handle fixed at a one end to a tool head, such as a snow shovel head. One end of a secondary handle is connected to the primary handle proximate the tool head by a hinge coupling assembly. The hinge coupling assembly includes a swivel feature allowing the secondary handle to rotate relative to the primary handle. Additionally, the hinge coupling assembly has a release mechanism, such as a hinge pin. The release mechanism allows the secondary handle to be separated from the primary handle, and the primary handle and tool head to be used as a more conventional shoveling tool.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is in the field of devices combined with handles and adapted for engaging materials for manipulating purposes. More specifically, the invention is in the field of such devices having tool heads for engaging materials, which include an auxiliary handle additional to the handle usually present on the device. In particular, the present invention relates to two-handled snow shovel with a hinge coupling to the auxiliary handle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Hand held shoveling tools, particularly show shovels and the like, are well known in the art. It is recognized that a person engaged in shoveling activity using one of these tools can readily experience serious fatigue, and muscle and joint pain, especially in the back. Ostensively, the cause for this discomfort is the repetitive bending over that the shoveler is required to do in order to engage the shovel blade at foot level with the material to be lifted. Recognizing the repetitive bending over as the source of this problem, the field has been motivated to provide solutions such as the two-handled shovel.  
         [0003]     Two-handled shoveling tools have been developed in the art to address this problem, typically by attempting to reduce the degree of bending over that a shoveler must do to accomplish the same work as with prior single straight handled shovels. A common feature of one type of two-handled shovels is a primary handle attached to the tool head (shovel blade) having an auxiliary or secondary handle attached to the primary handle. An example of a prior two-handled shove is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,266 to Vaslas. The Vaslas patent teaches a secondary handle that in use is fixed to a primary handle at two points along the length of the primary handle. However, the secondary handle of Vaslas is not movable relative to the primary handle during shoveling.  
         [0004]     An improvement over the Vaslas is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,349 to Coble. The Coble patent teaches a secondary handle that in use is attached to a primary handle at only one point along the length of the primary handle. More specifically in Coble, one end of the secondary handle is connected to the primary handle proximate the tool head. Additionally in the Coble device, the means of attachment of the secondary to the primary handle allowed the secondary handle articulate relative to the primary handle. However, the ring means taught as a feature of the Coble secondary handle attachment means provides for a relatively loose or inexact coupling between the primary and secondary handles. An alternative to the Coble device having a less loose and more precise coupling between the primary secondary handles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,522 to Renaud. The coupling between one end of the secondary handle to the primary handle taught by Renaud comprises a combination U-joint and screw swivel element. This coupling element potentially provides for a more secure and precise coupling and for smoother operation of a two-handled shovel by a user. However, the simple screw swivel component of the Renaud coupling element has the inherent risk of coming unthreaded and the secondary handle separating during use of the shovel.  
         [0005]     A more secure mechanism for coupling one end of the secondary handle to the primary handle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,582 to Rocha. The coupling mechanism between the one end of the secondary handle to the primary handle taught by Rocha comprises a combination bushing and screw swivel element. In the Rocka device, a rotatable bushing is retained proximate the tool end of the primary handle, with the bushing attached to the secondary handle by a swivel linkage. However, if a user desires to use the shovel without the secondary handle attached, the bushing component of the coupling element cannot be easily removed from the primary handle, especially if the primary handle terminates in a T-grip as shown in the Rocha patent. An alternative two-handled shovel also utilizing a bushing component in the mechanism coupling the first end of the secondary handle to the primary handle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,619 to Clark, Jr. The coupling element of the Clark device comprises the combination of an externally threaded sleeve (bushing) and a complimentary threaded adjustment nut. The adjustment nut has pivot mounts fixed on it, and the nut is nut is positionable along the length of the threaded sleeve. The pivot mounts provide means for pivotably attaching the secondary to the adjustment nut. The Clark two-handled shovel includes the feature of having the secondary grip end of the secondary handle be positionable relative to the grip end of the primary handle to accommodate different size users. However, the maximum mechanical advantage is accomplished when the attachment point of the secondary handle is close to the tool head. Moving the attachment point away from the tool head diminishes the mechanical advantage of the lever formed by the user&#39;s grip on the primary handle and the lifting point as the attachment (lifting) point is moved away from the tool head. Therefore, when the attachment point of the secondary handle is moved away from the tool head, a greater force must be used to lever a given load than when the attachment point is close to the tool head. Therefore, moving the attachment point away from the tool head may not be beneficial to shorter user&#39;s of the Clark device.  
         [0006]     Although the above devices each may be useful for its intended purpose, it would be beneficial to the field to have an alternative two-handled shovel which overcomes these limitations.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention is a two-handled, manual shoveling tool. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a two-handled show shovel. The two-handled feature of the present invention allows a user to stand relatively upright while using the tool. This can reduce the back fatigue a user may experience while engaging in shoveling activities.  
         [0008]     The present two-handled shoveling tool has a primary handle fixed at a first end to a tool head, preferably a snow shovel type tool head. The other end of the primary handle can be formed to include a hand grip to accommodate the grasp of a user, or can be adapted to receive a grip handle. A secondary handle is detachably connected by its first end to the primary handle, proximate the tool head. The other end of the secondary handle can also be formed to include a hand grip to accommodate the grasp of a user, or can be adapted to receive a grip handle. A detachable coupling assembly connects the secondary handle to the primary handle. The coupling assembly can be readily separable into two section, or can be completely detachable from the primary handle.  
         [0009]     The detachable hinge coupling assembly, as its name implies, has a release mechanism. The release mechanism allows the secondary handle to be separated from the primary handle, and the primary handle and tool head to be used as a more conventional shoveling tool. The separated section of the assembly remaining with the primary handle has no loose parts to rattle or move as the tool is being used in the conventional fashion. In a preferred embodiment, the detachable coupling assembly was a hinge-type coupling. In this embodiment, the hinge base plate was mounted on the primary handle using removable screw fasteners. Other means or fasteners useful for mounting the base plate to a handle of the present invention are known to an selectable by one of ordinary skill in the art for practice in the present invention. A hinge plate was pivotably (or hingeably) connected to the base plate (stationary member) by a hinge pin. The hinge pin was removable, and allowed for connecting and disconnecting the hinge plate to and from the base plate.  
         [0010]     The hinge plate in turn connected to the first end of the secondary handle. The connection of the secondary handle to the hinge plate was accomplished using a swivel assembly. The swivel assembly comprised first and second swivel members connected by a swivel pivot/engagement means. The first swivel member comprised a portion of the hinge plate. The second swivel member extended from the first end of the secondary handle. In this embodiment, the engagement means was a fastener connecting the first and second swivel members in a common plane of rotation relative to each other.  
         [0011]     Optionally, the primary handle of the present invention is adjustable in length (rather than the secondary handle) if it is desirable to provide a tool that is adjustable for shorter users. Alternatively, an adjustable length means may be practiced on the secondary handle as well, so long as the attachment point of the secondary handle to the primary handle is not moved away from the tool head.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates the present two-handled shovel with the secondary handle in a stored configuration.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates the present two-handled shovel with the secondary handle in a free configuration.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a close-up view of the hinge coupling assembly of the present two-handled shovel with the secondary handle in a free configuration.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a top plan and a cross-sectional view respectively of a section of the shaft of the primary handle of the present two-handled shovel.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are a top plan and a cross-sectional view respectively of the end section of the shaft of the secondary handle of the present two-handled shovel.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a top plan and corresponding end views, and  6 C is a side elevation view of the swivel member mounted at the end of the secondary handle.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are a top plan and corresponding end views, and  7 C is a side elevation view of one of a pair of base plates of a hinge coupling assembly mounted on the primary handle.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are a top plan and corresponding end views, and  8 C is a side elevation view of a hinge plate of a hinge coupling assembly mounted on the primary handle.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are a top plan and corresponding end views, and  9 C is a side elevation view of a hinge coupling assembly of the present invention shown mounted on the primary handle and connecting to the secondary handle.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a close-up view of an alternative embodiment of the hinge coupling assembly of the present two-handled shovel with the secondary handle in a free configuration.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Referring now to the drawings, the details of preferred embodiments of the present invention are graphically and schematically illustrated. Like elements in the drawings are represented by like numbers, and any similar elements are represented by like numbers with a different lower case letter suffix.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the two-handled shoveling tool  10  comprises a primary handle  14  having a first tool end  16  to which a tool head  18  is fixed. A secondary or auxiliary handle  22  is detachably connected at a first hinge end  24  to the primary handle  14  proximate the tool head  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 10 , a hinge coupling assembly  40  detachably connects the secondary handle  22  to the primary handle  14 . The combination of the two handles in the present invention  10  facilitates the use of a shoveling tool while reducing the bending over a user ordinarily would need to do to accomplish a typical shoveling task, such as removing snow from a walkway. Additionally, the secondary handle  22  can be removed from the device  10  to enable its use as a shoveling tool in the typical manner.  
         [0024]     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , and particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the primary handle  14  of the present shoveling tool  10  was a metal tube. Other materials suitable for practice as the primary handle  14  are known to and selectable by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the primary handle  14  may be constructed of wood (see  FIG. 10 ), plastic or other suitable material. Proximate the tool end  16  of the primary handle  14 , means are provided by which the hinge coupling assembly  40  is attached to the primary handle  14 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the attachment means are fastener holes  20 , which coincide with a preferred embodiment of the hinge coupling assembly  40 . However, other attachment means are known to and practicable in the present invention by the ordinary skilled artisan.  
         [0025]     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the primary handle  14  includes an optional primary hand grip  15  attached to its distal end  17 . The configuration of the primary hand grip  15  is not a part of the present invention, only that the primary handle  14  be graspable by a user. Also shown in various figures is a tool head  18  that is a shovel scoop or blade. The ordinary skilled artisan will appreciate and it is intended that the configuration shown for the tool head  18  is not to limit the scope of the present invention and that other configurations of a shovel blade (indeed, other altogether different tool heads  18 , e.g., a fork) are practicable with the present invention.  
         [0026]     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , and particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the secondary handle  22  of the present shoveling tool  10  was a metal tube. Other materials suitable for practice as the secondary handle  22  are known to and selectable by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the secondary handle  2  may be constructed of wood, plastic (see  FIG. 10 ) or other suitable material. Proximate the hinge end  24  of the secondary handle  22 , means are provided by which the hinge coupling assembly  40  is attached to the secondary handle  22 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B , the attachment means comprises fastener holes  20   a  and a handle swivel member  28 . The handle swivel member  28  in a preferred embodiment is a formed plug that was partially inserted into the tube lumen of the secondary handle  22  and held in place with a fastener  21   a.    
         [0027]     The swivel member  28  has a plug end  29  and a receiver end  30 . In one preferred embodiment, the plug end  29  inserts into the tube lumen of the secondary handle  22  and positioned to have its through hole  19   a  align with the fastener hole  20   a  of the secondary handle  22  (see  FIGS. 5A-6C ). A handle fastener  21   a  is used to hold the plug end  29  in place. The receiver end  30  of the swivel member  28  corresponds to swivel attachment member  44  of the hinge coupling assembly  40 , including having a corresponding through hole  19   b . However, other attachment mechanisms are known to and practicable in the present invention by the ordinary skilled artisan. For example, in the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the plug end  29  of the swivel member  28  received the hinge end  24  of the secondary handle  22 , and an expansion pin type fastener  21   a  was used to hold the plug end  29  in place.  
         [0028]     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the secondary handle  22  (as is the case with the primary handle) includes an optional secondary hand grip  23  attached to its distal end  26 . The a specific configuration for the secondary hand grip  26  is not a part of the present invention, only that the secondary handle  22  be graspable by a user.  
         [0029]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 10 , the present two-handled shovel  10  includes a hinge coupling assembly  40 . See also  FIGS. 7A-9C . The hinge coupling assembly  40  comprises a hinge plate  44  hingeably mounted on the primary handle  14 , and attached to the handle swivel member  30  of the secondary handle  22 . The hinge coupling assembly  40  has a base or mounting plate(s)  42  by which the assembly  40  is hingeably mounted on the primary handle  14 . A base fastener means  21  is used to attach the base plate  42  to the primary handle  14 . Other means for mounting the base plate  42  to the primary handle are known to and practicable in the present invention by one of ordinary skill in the art (e.g., ring clamps, welding, etc.). The hinge plate  44  is hingeably connected to the base plate  42  (the stationary member of the hinge coupling assembly  40 ) by a hinge pin  46 . Additionally, the hinge plate  44  has a swivel connection  52  which couples the hinge assembly  40  to the swivel member  30  of the secondary handle  22 . The swivel connection  52 , in the embodiments shown, comprises a swivel through hole  19   c  on the hinge plate  44  which corresponds to the swivel member through hole(s)  19   b  on the swivel member  30  of the secondary handle  22 . A swivel fastener  54  aligns and passes through the through holes  19   b  &amp;  19   c , and joins the swivel member  30  of the secondary handle  22  to the hinge coupling assembly  40 . The swivel fastener  54  provides an engagement means connecting the swivel member  30  of the secondary handle  22  to the hinge coupling assembly  40  in a common plane of rotation relative to each other.  
         [0030]     In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the hinge pin  46  was removable from the hinge pin bore  50 . This feature allowed the secondary handle  22  and part of the hinge coupling assembly  40  to be separated from the primary handle  14 . This enabled the primary handle  14  and tool head  18  combination of the present tool  10  to be used in a more conventional manner. Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-9C , the hinge pin  46   a  may be retained in the pin bore  50  in a captive manner. Also in a preferred embodiment, the fasteners  21  were removable, allowing the entire hinge coupling assembly  40  to be removed from the primary handle  14  (e.g., see  FIG. 10 ).  
         [0031]     Optionally, it is preferred that both the primary handle  14  and the secondary handle  22  of the present invention be adjustable in length (not shown) if it is desirable to provide a tool that is adjustable for shorter users. Means for accomplish adjustable length handles are know to and practicable in the present invention by one of ordinary skill in the art, so long as the attachment point of the secondary handle  22  to the primary handle  14  is not moved away from the tool head  18 .  
         [0032]     While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of one or another preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible, which would be obvious to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, and not just by the embodiments.