Patent ID: 7118145

Claim:
A lightweight plastic snow shovel comprising a one piece, molded scoop connected to an elongated one piece, molded handle, said handle connected to a molded one piece hand grip through a shock absorbing mechanism, said shock absorbing mechanism having an upper bracket, a lower bracket, a guide, and a coil spring, said upper bracket formed as an annular plate with a central bore, at least two ears extending normal to said annular plate toward said hand grip, said hand grip disposed between said ears, one end of said guide extending through said central bore of said upper plate, a fastener securing said at least two ears, said hand grip and said one end of said guide, said lower bracket formed as an annular plate with a central bore, at least two ears extending normal to said annular plate toward said scoop, said handle disposed between said ears of said lower bracket, the other end of said guide slidably extending through said central bore of said lower plate, a slot in the other end of said guide, a second fastener extending through said ears of said lower plate and said slot, a coil spring surrounding said guide with one end contacting said upper bracket and the other end contacting said lower bracket, an annular shaped guard constructed and arranged to surround said spring secured to said upper bracket; whereby said hand grip and said scoop move relative to each other compressing said spring.