A hand tool is disclosed which provides for extension and protection of a person's hand while allowing for the manipulation of a food product, even over a hot oven or grill. The hand tool comprises the tool section, a handle, and a shield sleeve. The handle can be attached to the tool section or to the shield sleeve. In one embodiment, the tool section is reversibly attached to the shield sleeve, so that the tool is interchangeable with other tools.

A shovel is provided having a handle, a support assembly and a blade. The support assembly comprises a substantially flat mounting base adapted for connection to the blade and having first and second ends and front and rear regions. A shaft positioned at first angle to the base. First and second arms symmetrically arranged with respect to the shaft. The first arm connects the first end of the base with a central region of the shaft, and the second connects the second end of the base with a central region of the shaft. The shaft is formed with a hollow channel with a reinforcing rod disposed within the channel.

A shovel is provided having a handle, a support assembly and a blade. The support assembly comprises a substantially flat mounting base adapted for connection to the blade and having first and second ends and front and rear regions. A shaft positioned at first angle to the base. First and second arms symmetrically arranged with respect to the shaft. The first arm connects the first end of the base with a central region of the shaft, and the second connects the second end of the base with a central region of the shaft. The shaft is formed with a hollow channel with a reinforcing rod disposed within the channel.

A soil manipulating device for digging and raking soil includes a base plate, which defines a first plane and which has a first edge that is attached to a first end of a shaft. A set of tines is attached to and extends from a second edge of the base plate. Each tine defines an associated second plane and has opposed edges, which are serrated. At least one of the tines has an associated second plane which intersects the first plane. The shaft can be grasped in one or both hands of a user, positioning the user to insert the tines into soil to manipulate the soil by using the tines to cut into the soil. Various embodiments of soil manipulators can be used to perform a variety of digging and raking tasks while in a substantially upright posture and in a lowered posture, such as while sitting or knelling.

A cleaning implement is described, which can have an elongate handle with a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior surface. The interior surface of the elongate handle can define an interior cavity of the elongate handle. An elastic element can be secured within the interior cavity of the handle at the proximal end. A motion rod can also be concentrically secured within the interior cavity of the handle, adjacent to the elastic element. The motion rod can have an exposed end protruding out of the elongate handle at the distal end, and the exposed end can have a tip with a tool attachment feature.

An assembly, comprising a handle, a tool head and a sleeve, wherein an end of the handle engages within the sleeve on a first end of the sleeve and the sleeve engages within a socket of the hand tool on a second end of the sleeve, the sleeve thereby securely connecting the handle and the tool hand, and a method of fabrication thereof, comprising providing a handle, providing a sleeve, providing an implement head comprising a socket, inserting the handle, from an end thereof, within the sleeve by a first end of the sleeve, and inserting the sleeve, by a second end thereof, within the socket of the implement head.

A coupling for an elongated handle and a tool head is disclosed. The coupling includes a plug member, a ferrule, and a pin member. The plug member further comprises an elongated passage formed therein receives a tool head shank of the tool head. The elongated passage is in communication with a pair of aligned plug member openings formed through the plug member. The ferrule includes a pair of aligned ferrule openings. When the plug member is partially received within the ferrule, the plug member openings align with the ferrule openings. The pin member extends through the aligned ferrule openings and the plug member openings and through an opening of the tool head shank when the tool head shank is mounted in the elongated passage. The ends of the pin member are bent at an angle to an axis extending through the elongated passage to secure the tool head shank to the plug member and ferrule.

A shovel including a substantially spade-shaped blade. The substantially spade-shaped blade may include an inverted tip and rounded edges. A socket may be attached to the blade. A shaft may be secured at a first end to the blade through the socket.

A shovel including a substantially spade-shaped blade. The substantially spade-shaped blade may include an inverted tip and rounded edges. A socket may be attached to the blade. A shaft may be secured at a first end to the blade through the socket.

A digging implement including: a digging head (16); a substantially elongated main shaft (12) extending from the digging head (16); a main handle (14) secured to the main shaft (12) substantially opposed to the digging head (16); and an auxiliary handle assembly (140) and a footplate assembly (160) both mounted to the main shaft (12) between the digging head (16) and the main handle (14), the auxiliary handle assembly (140) and foot plate assembly (160) being each mountable to the main shaft (12) at different longitudinally spaced apart positions therealong.