Patent ID: 8177272

Claim:
A shovel comprising: a blade; a handle; a shaft; a first connection arrangement which connects a lower end of the shaft to the blade; a second connection arrangement which connects an upper end of the shaft to the handle; and at least one of the first and second connection arrangements including: a first arrangement which connects the shaft to a respective one of said blade and handle in a manner that prevents relative axial movement between the shaft and the respective one of said blade and handle while permitting relative rotational movement between the shaft and the respective one of said blade and handle, wherein said first arrangement includes: a) an arcuate opening extending partially along a circumference of one of: i) the shaft, and ii) at least one of the blade and handle; b) an axially locking opening in the other of: i) the shaft, and ii) at least one of the blade and handle; and c) a pin for engagement within the axially locking opening and the arcuate opening to prevent relative axial movement between the shaft and the respective one of said blade and handle while permitting relative rotational movement between the shaft and the respective one of said blade and handle for a rotational angle defined by said arcuate opening; and a second arrangement separate from said first arrangement which releasably locks the shaft and the respective one of said blade and handle in one of a plurality of desired rotational orientations around an axis of the shaft.