Shovel assembly

Abstract

A shovel assembly including: an elongated shaft, wherein the elongated shaft includes a length, a first proximal end, and a second distal end; a handle sub-assembly, wherein the handle sub-assembly is secured to or forms part of the first proximal end of the elongated shaft; a blade implement, wherein the blade implement is secured to or forms part of the second distal end of the elongated shaft; and a blade implement guide member associated with the blade implement, wherein the blade implement guide member enables the removal of snow from uneven surfaces without jarring the operator.

Claims

1. A shovel assembly, comprising: an elongated shaft, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a length, a first proximal end, and a second distal end; a blade implement, wherein the blade implement includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall, and wherein the blade implement is secured to or forms part of the second distal end of the elongated shaft; a blade implement guide member, wherein the blade implement guide member comprises a bottom surface, a front surface, and a top surface and is positioned proximate the sidewall of the blade implement, wherein the blade implement guide member emanates forward, upward, and away from the bottom surface of the blade implement, and wherein the blade implement guide member enables the removal of snow from uneven surfaces without jarring the operator; a handle sub-assembly, wherein the handle sub-assembly includes a left side segment that is adapted to engage a user's left hand and a right side segment that is adapted to engage a user's right hand, such that a user's left and right hands are positioned parallel to the bottom surface of the blade implement, and wherein the handle sub-assembly is adapted to direct a user's force parallel to the bottom surface of the blade implement, and, in turn, a ground during normal operation; and an ice chip member, wherein the ice chip member contacts the bottom surface of the blade implement, and the top and bottom surfaces of the blade implement guide member.

2. The shovel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, and/or wood.

3. The shovel assembly according to claim 2, wherein the elongated shaft is at least partially coated with a fluorosilicone rubber.

4. The shovel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the handle sub-assembly is secured to or forms part of the first proximal end of the elongated shaft.

5. The shovel assembly according to claim 4, wherein the handle sub-assembly comprises a C-top, D-top, E-top or O-top handle.

6. The shovel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the handle sub-assembly is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, and/or wood.

7. The shovel assembly according to claim 6, wherein the handle sub-assembly is at least partially coated with at least one shock absorbing material selected from the group consisting of a natural polyisoprene, a synthetic polyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a chloroprene rubber, a butyl rubber, a halogenated butyl rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a hydrogenated nitrile rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber, an ethylene propylene diene rubber, an epichlorohydrin rubber, a polyacrylic rubber, a silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, a polyether block amide, a chlorosulfonated, ethylene-vinyl acetate, a resilin, an elastin, a polysulfide rubber, an elastolefin, and combinations thereof.

8. The shovel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the blade implement is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, and/or wood.

9. The shovel assembly according to claim 8, wherein the blade implement is at least partially coated with a non-stick agent.

10. The shovel assembly according to claim 9, wherein the non-stick agent is selected from the group consisting of a polytetrafluoroethylene and/or fluorinated ethylene propylene.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It will be further understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

(2) The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

(3) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a shovel assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention;

(4) FIG. 2 is a front view of the shovel assembly of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 is a rear view of the shovel assembly of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 is a left side view of the shovel assembly of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the shovel assembly of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the shovel assembly of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a shovel assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention;

(10) FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a shovel assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention showing the blade implement guide member associated with the side walls of the blade implement;

(11) FIG. 9 is a left side view of a shovel assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention showing the blade implement guide member forming part of a sidewall of the blade implement; and

(12) FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a shovel assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention showing the blade implement guide member partially covered with a wear strip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(13) The present invention is directed to, in one embodiment, a shovel assembly comprising, consisting essentially of, and/or consisting of: (a) an elongated shaft, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a length, a first proximal end, and a second distal end; (b) a blade implement, wherein the blade implement is secured to or forms part of the second distal end of the elongated shaft; and (c) a blade implement guide member associated with the blade implement. In this embodiment, the blade implement guide member enables the removal of snow from uneven surfaces without jarring the operator.

(14) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elongated shaft is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, and/or wood.

(15) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elongated shaft is at least partially coated with at least one shock absorbing material selected from the group consisting of a natural polyisoprene, a synthetic polyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a chloroprene rubber, a butyl rubber, a halogenated butyl rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a hydrogenated nitrile rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber, an ethylene propylene diene rubber, an epichlorohydrin rubber, a polyacrylic rubber, a silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, a polyether block amide, a chlorosulfonated, ethylene-vinyl acetate, a resilin, an elastin, a polysulfide rubber, an elastolefin, and combinations thereof.

(16) In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shovel assembly further comprises a handle sub-assembly. In this embodiment, the handle sub-assembly is secured to or forms part of the first proximal end of the elongated shaft. Examples of handle sub-assemblies comprise C-top, D-top, E-top and O-top handles.

(17) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle sub-assembly is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, and/or wood.

(18) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle sub-assembly is at least partially coated with at least one shock absorbing material selected from the group consisting of a natural polyisoprene, a synthetic polyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a chloroprene rubber, a butyl rubber, a halogenated butyl rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a hydrogenated nitrile rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber, an ethylene propylene diene rubber, an epichlorohydrin rubber, a polyacrylic rubber, a silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, a polyether block amide, a chlorosulfonated, ethylene-vinyl acetate, a resilin, an elastin, a polysulfide rubber, an elastolefin, and combinations thereof.

(19) In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blade implement is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, and/or wood.

(20) In another aspect of the present invention, the blade implement is at least partially coated with a non-stick agent. In this embodiment, the non-stick agent is selected from the group consisting of a polytetrafluoroethylene and/or fluorinated ethylene propylene.

(21) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blade implement guide member emanates forward and away from the blade implement, and optionally is flush with and upward extending from a bottom surface of the blade implement.

(22) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blade implement guide member consists of three guide members emanating forward and away from the blade implement.

(23) In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blade implement guide member is integrated with and/or forms part of the blade implement.

(24) In another aspect of the present invention, the blade implement guide member comprises at least two guide members associated with left and right side walls of the blade implement. In this embodiment, the blade implement guide member preferably comprises at least two guide members integrated into the left and right sidewalls of the blade implement.

(25) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blade implement guide member is at least partially covered by a wear strip.

(26) The present invention is also directed to, in one embodiment, a shovel assembly comprising, consisting essentially of, and/or consisting of: (a) an elongated shaft, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a length, a first proximal end, and a second distal end; (b) a handle sub-assembly, wherein the handle sub-assembly is secured to or forms part of the first proximal end of the elongated shaft; (c) a blade implement, wherein the blade implement is secured to or forms part of the second distal end of the elongated shaft; and (d) a blade implement guide member associated with the blade implement, wherein the blade implement guide member enables the removal of snow from uneven surfaces without jarring the operator.

(27) The present invention is further directed to, in one embodiment, a shovel assembly comprising, consisting essentially of, and/or consisting of: (a) an elongated shaft, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a length, a first proximal end, and a second distal end; (b) a handle sub-assembly, wherein the handle sub-assembly is secured to or forms part of the first proximal end of the elongated shaft; (c) a blade implement, wherein the blade implement is secured to or forms part of the second distal end of the elongated shaft; (d) a wear strip, wherein the wear strip is associated with the blade implement; and (e) a blade implement guide member associated with the blade implement, wherein the blade implement guide member enables the removal of snow from uneven surfaces without jarring the operator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(28) While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail, one or more specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

(29) It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of one or more embodiments of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.

(30) Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1-6 collectively, shovel assembly 10 is shown as generally comprising elongated shaft 12, handle sub-assembly 14, blade implement 16, and one or more blade implement guide members 18. In accordance with the present invention, shovel assembly 10 is configured to enable a user to remove, for example, snow from uneven surfaces without jarring the operator.

(31) Elongated shaft 12 comprises length (L), first proximal end 20, and second distal end 22. Elongated shaft 12 is preferably fabricated from, for example, metals (e.g. aluminum, tin, copper, nickel, titanium, steel, and alloys thereof), natural resins, synthetic resins, plastics, composites, woods, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, elongated shaft 12 is at least partially coated (e.g., dip coated, spin coated, brush coated and/or spray coatedincluding, but not limited to, cold spraying, thermal spraying, high velocity spraying (e.g., supersonic), low velocity spraying (e.g., subsonic), triboelectric discharge kinetic spraying and other similar processes) with at least one shock absorbing material selected from the group consisting of a natural polyisoprene, a synthetic polyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a chloroprene rubber, a butyl rubber, a halogenated butyl rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a hydrogenated nitrile rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber, an ethylene propylene diene rubber, an epichlorohydrin rubber, a polyacrylic rubber, a silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, a polyether block amide, a chlorosulfonated, ethylene-vinyl acetate, a resilin, an elastin, a polysulfide rubber, an elastolefin, and combinations thereof.

(32) Handle sub-assembly 14 is preferably secured to or (if integrally fabricated) forms part of first proximal end 20 of elongated shaft 12. Handle sub-assembly 14 preferably comprises a C-top, D-top (See FIG. 7), E-top or O-top handle, and is preferably fabricated from, for example, metals (e.g., aluminum, tin, copper, nickel, titanium, steel, and alloys thereof), natural resins, synthetic resins, plastics, composites, woods, and mixtures thereof.

(33) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle sub-assembly 14 is at least partially coated with at least one shock absorbing material selected from the group consisting of a natural polyisoprene, a synthetic polyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a chloroprene rubber, a butyl rubber, a halogenated butyl rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a hydrogenated nitrile rubber, an ethylene propylene rubber, an ethylene propylene diene rubber, an epichlorohydrin rubber, a polyacrylic rubber, a silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, a polyether block amide, a chlorosulfonated, ethylene-vinyl acetate, a resilin, an elastin, a polysulfide rubber, an elastolefin, and combinations thereof.

(34) Blade implement 16 is preferably secured to or (if integrally fabricated) forms part of second distal end 22 of elongated shaft 12. Blade implement 16 preferably comprises a snow blade, plow, scoop, or other removal implement, and optionally comprises reflective members and/or tape (not shown). Typically, blade implement 16 includes a bottom wall having a top surface and a bottom surface, a rear wall having a front surface and a rear surface, and optional side walls having inner and outer surfaces. Preferably the sidewalls of blade implement 16 in cooperation with the rear wall retain a significance amount of matter or snow during normal use. Blade implement 16 is preferably fabricated from, for example, metals (e.g., aluminum, tin, copper, nickel, titanium, steel, and alloys thereof), natural resins, synthetic resins, plastics, composites, woods, and mixtures thereof.

(35) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, blade implement 16 is at least partially coated with a substantially non-stick or non-stick agent. In this embodiment, the non-stick agent is selected from the group consisting of a synthetic fluoropolymer (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene) and/or a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene (e.g., fluorinated ethylene propylene).

(36) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more blade implement guide members 18 are associated with blade implement 16. During normal operation (e.g., forward displacement of shovel assembly 10 away from the user) one or more blade implement guide members 18 enables the removal of snow from uneven surfaces without jarring the operator. It will be understood that blade implement guide members 18 serve as a span member for shovel assembly 10especially when an upcoming surface is raised relative to the current position of shovel assembly 10. Such a span, similar to a snowmobile ski, enables the user to avoid abrupt stops and/or jarring while shoveling snow.

(37) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, blade implement guide members 18 emanate forward and away from blade implement 16, and optionally are flush with and upward extending from a bottom surface of blade implement 16.

(38) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, blade implement guide members 18 consists of three separate guide members emanating forward and away from blade implement 16. The guide members preferably include a plurality of ribs or tines 24 and apertures 25, which both strengthen guide members 18, and during normal operation, provide for an enhanced spring effect for facilitating displacement over uneven surfaces.

(39) In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, blade implement guide members 18 are integrated with and/or form part of blade implement 16. It will be understood that blade implement guide members 18 may be associated with, integrated with, and/or form part of a base and/or sidewalls of the blade implement. In this embodiment, blade implement guide members 18 preferably extend beyond the front surface of the blade implement.

(40) Referring now to FIG. 8, and in another aspect of the present invention, the blade implement guide member may comprise at least two guide members 18 associated with left and right side walls of blade implement 16. In this embodiment, the blade implement guide member optionally comprises at least two guide members integrated into left and right sidewalls of the blade implement.

(41) Referring now to FIG. 9, shovel assembly 10 may include a blade implement guide member that forms part of a sidewall of blade implement 16.

(42) As is shown in FIG. 10, and in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, blade implement guide member 18 is at least partially covered with wear strip 26. Such a wear strip increases the life of shovel assembly 10. In addition, when guide member 18 is covered with wear strip 26, shovel assembly 10, can be used as an ice chip as well. It will be understood that blade implement guide member 18 can be associated with blade implement 16 and/or wear strip 26. It will be further understood that wear strip 26 can serve as a blade implement guide member 18 depending upon its configuration.

(43) In one embodiment of the present invention, and as is best shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of the handle, blade implement, and blade implement guide member collectively enable a user's vector of force to be directed parallel to the groundinstead of into the ground.

(44) It will be understood that, during normal use, shovel assembly 10 is utilized with a forward push from the user to collect snow and other matter.

(45) The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.