Patent Application
20200318302
The present invention relates to the field of snow shovel construction. More particularly, this invention relates to a snow shovel ergonomically designed and constructed to be safely, comfortably and easily used to move snow, and may also be used to move dirt, sand and the like.
Snow shovels are widely used by owners of homes and businesses to remove snow from walkways, entrances and areas surrounding the home or business. Shoveling snow is often a tedious and tiring task, and moreover is frequently associated with injuries to those using the shovel.
Many innovations for shovels have been provided in the prior art. While many of these innovations have proven suitable for the specific purposes for which they were designed, they all differ from the present invention, for example devices such as those disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,224,751; 4,231,604; 4,865,373; 5,074,064; 5,499,852; 5,918,921 and 9,163,372 which describe innovations
U.S. Pat. No. 4.224,751 to Schoemann teaches a snow removal device comprising a frame and a scoop; U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,604 to Obergfell teaches a shovel with a blade and elongated handle and laterally extending enlargement and pad acting as the fulcrum of a lever; U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,373 to Hudson teaches a manually operated snow shovel with wheels and an angularly bent handle; U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,064 to Nickels teaches a snow shovel with wheels for movement and swinging snow ejection plate; U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,852 to Seigendall teaches a second handle intended to keep the user from bending over and thereby reducing back injury and strain; U.S. Pat. No. 5,918, 921 to Samuelson teaches a levered snow shovel which is moved about on a single wheel; U.S. Pat. No. 9,163,372 to Elston teaches a three-handled snow shovel to overcome difficulties encountered with two handled shovels.
These patents show numerous innovations which may be suitable for the specific individual purposes that they address, but are not suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shovel for moving snow that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shovel for moving snow that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shovel for moving snow that is simple to use and ergonomically designed to reduce the need for the user bend over in order to avoid back injury and strain.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shovel for moving snow that may also be used to move sand, dirt and the like.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shovel for moving snow that includes a blade for carrying the snow, a lower shaft that extends from the blade angling forward substantially forty five degrees and upward and then connecting with an upper shaft forming another substantially forty five degree angle so that the shaft is substantially perpendicular to the ground, with a handle just attached to the upper side of the upper shaft beyond the joining point, and ending in a second handle.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shovel for moving snow that includes a blade for carrying the snow, a lower shaft that extends from the blade angling forward substantially forty five degrees and upward and then connecting with an upper shaft forming another substantially forty five degree angle so that the shaft is substantially perpendicular to the ground, with a handle just attached to the upper side of the upper shaft beyond the joining point, and ending in a second handle, with gloves or mittens mechanically attached to each of the two handles, allowing users to slip their hands into said gloves or mittens when gripping the handles, providing for improved grip, comfort and protection against the cold and injury caused by friction or abrasion.
This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. These and other features of the invention can be further understood by reference to the following drawings.
Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples or applications set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention. For example, while the present invention has an application for use with snow shovels, it is anticipated that the present invention may have application in other forms of shovels and other tools used in the lifting and moving of materials such as dirt, sand, hay, grass, grain or coal.
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It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing specification.
