Patent ID: 7111418

Claim:
An apparatus for removal and disposal of materials comprising: a wheel assembly having an axle and a single wheel with a diameter equal to or greater than about 30 inches, the axle including a fulcrum member capable of transmitting a recoil reaction to an action applied at the axle; a driving member having two spaced-apart members, an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion, wherein the middle portion is attached to the fulcrum member of the axle with the axle positioned adjacent the middle portion having longitudinal adjustability relative to the middle portion that allows selective adjustment to the axle longitudinal positioning without substantially changing the axle height relative to the surface on which the apparatus is being supported; a handle disposed at about the upper portion of the driving member for moving the wheel assembly; and a blade disposed at about the lower portion of the driving member, the blade adapted to pick up a load of material from a surface when the blade is lowered to the surface by raising the handle and pushing the handle forward; wherein the wheel is substantially centrally disposed between the two spaced-apart members of the driving member, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that, when the handle is pushed generally downwards, the blade springs generally upwards and forwards throwing the load of material briskly upward and away from the blade in response to a recoil through the fulcrum member at the axle of the wheel assembly and pivoting of the driving member about the axle of the wheel assembly.