Under Vehicle Snow-Shovel
A snow-shovel apparatus and method that allows a person to easily remove compacted snow from underneath a vehicle which is stuck and possibly hungup in the snow. Generally, a two bladed shovel-like design wherein the horizontally opposed blades open up from a folded position next to the handle for use. The shovel with blades retracted is pushed through compacted snow underneath the vehicle, is positioned by the user at the beginning of the shovel stroke where the blades are forced open by telescoping the handle, and snow is withdrawn from underneath the vehicle by the exertion of pulling forces along the handle, drawing the blades and captured snow towards the user. The handle is compressed and the blades retracted when not in use. The under vehicle snow-shovel is especially useful to the traveler as an aid in freeing vehicles that are hung up and stuck in the snow.
The present invention relates in general to a snow removal apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, and in particular to a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of compacted snow from underneath a vehicle which is stuck and possibly hungup in the snow.
Often times during the winter in snowy climates the depth of the snow is sufficient to prevent enough traction between a vehicles tires and the ground or road surface. For example, a snowstorm that delivers 18″ of snow is enough to prevent a passenger vehicle from driving on non-plowed roads. Even a storm that delivers only 6″ of snow, if combined with blowing and drifting, can make roads impassable for many passenger vehicles. Driving on such unplowed roads can cause a vehicle to begin to plow snow with the undercarriage of the vehicle if the snow is deeper than the vehicles ground clearance. Plowing snow causes the snow to compact, and when the snow which the vehicle is plowing with its undercarriage becomes compact and dense enough, the vehicle's under carriage will begin to ride up on the compacted snow, unweighting the tires and causing a loss of traction, thereby causing the vehicle to become hung-up and stuck in the compacted snow. This is especially true when there is considerable blowing and drifting of snow taking place, because snow drifts are already partially compacted by the wind.
For this reason, roads and streets are plowed, moving snow from the center of the road to the shoulders of the road resulting in a road surface that allows a passenger vehicle to pass. Plowing roads, thereby moving all of the snow to the sides of the road creating snow banks can create its own set of problems because plowing compacts snow, increasing its density and cohesiveness, thereby creating snowbanks that are much harder and more compacted than freshly fallen snow. On the occasion that roads become icy and slippery during the winter, vehicles may lose control and drive off the road becoming hung-up and stuck in these snowbanks.
There is also the matter that plows naturally throw up a snowbank across every driveway that they pass on the street or roadway, oftentimes plowing them in and plugging them up. Waiting for such driveways to be plowed or blown out is not always an available option and the choice is then to shovel the driveway open or try and drive through the snowbank. Attempting to drive through a snowbank often leads to a vehicle becoming hungup and stuck in the snowbank.
There is also the matter of vehicles parked on the side of the road or street during a snowstorm which will oftentimes get plowed in. As the plow comes along early in the morning passing the parked vehicles, snow pushed by the plow forms a snow bank around the parked vehicles, as well as being thrown underneath the vehicles due to the high initial velocity of the snow coming off of the plows blade. There is again a choice of shoveling first or just trying to drive out. The driving out choice often leads to a vehicle becoming hung-up and stuck in a snowbank.
Once a vehicle has become hung up and stuck in the snow, it must either be towed out, pushed out, or shoveled out. Having a vehicle towed out of a snow bank is the most costly option and a tow truck may not be available. Having a vehicle pushed out of a snowbank requires somebody else to help push, and oftentimes, shoveling will still be required. If there is no tow truck available and if there is no one else to help push, then to get the vehicle unstuck, the snow beneath the vehicle must be removed by shoveling. Removing this snow serves two purposes, it decreases the drag between the vehicle and the ground and, by removing the compacted snow which the vehicle frame has ridden up on, returns the vehicle's weight to the vehicle's tires, greatly improving traction between the drive wheels and ground. When the force provided by the driving wheels exceeds the drag on the vehicle, the vehicle will become unstuck.
Compacted snow beneath a stuck vehicle must ordinarily be removed by pulling it out from underneath the vehicle for several reasons. The first reason is that when a vehicle has become hungup, whether by driving through very deep snow, such as a compacted snow drift or a plowed in driveway, or by sliding off of the road into a compacted snowbank, it is not possible, from one side of the vehicle, to push the compacted snow underneath the vehicle out the other side. The second reason snow must be pulled from underneath a vehicle stuck in the snow is that the undercarriage of the vehicle is close to the ground (often ten inches or less), and snow cannot be lifted out from underneath it.
A conventional snow shovel is the best tool for removal of snow around a stuck vehicle, which can be used to scoop and throw the snow. However, using the same snow shovel to try and remove the compacted snow from beneath the vehicle is very difficult to do because conventional shovels are designed to push, lift and throw snow, and they do not work well for trying to draw compacted snow out from underneath a hung-up vehicle. Many conventional snow shovels are not designed to penetrate compacted snow even when it is not found under a vehicle, and may be difficult if not impossible to use to remove compacted snow from underneath a vehicle hungup and stuck in the snow.
Numerous patents have been developed to aid in personal snow removal. Some prior art allows snow to be pushed across the ground for removal. Some prior art allows snow to be scooped up and thrown for removal. Some prior art allows snow to be pulled with a snow-blade, generally for removal from upper surfaces of a vehicle or the pitched roofs of buildings. None of the prior art is designed for penetration of compacted snow under a vehicle. None of the prior art is designed for the efficient removal of compacted snow from under a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,890 issued Jun. 17, 2003 to Gilmore et al. is a modified roof snow rake with a spring loaded and collapsible shovel head to assist in gliding over the snow as the shovel head is pushed up a pitched roof to a desired location to begin pulling snow off of the roof. This snow removal apparatus is designed to remove snow from an elevated surface and is not designed to penetrate compacted snow or for use under a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,078 issued Sep. 14, 1999 to Whitehead et al. is a standard snow shovel which makes use of a telescoping handle to make for more compact storage for carrying in a vehicle. The telescoping handle does not contribute to additional shoveling functions other than to provide a standard length handle when shoveling and a compact handle length for storage. This shovel is designed for throwing snow.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,929 issued Oct. 27, 1998 to Tisbo et al. is a combination snow shovel which makes use of a special curved blade to allow use for pushing or lifting and throwing snow. This shovel is not designed to pull compacted snow out from under a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,768 issued Feb. 19, 1991 to Ewen is a combination shovel and utility device for use with a vehicle, and can be used as a shovel, a large ice scraper a mat or an emergency sled. The flattened shovel blade is not conducive to carrying any sizeable amount of snow out from under a vehicle and the design itself is bulky and inefficient. A typical combination tool which is marginal for specific uses. This tool is not designed to pull compacted snow out from under a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,819 issued Jul. 18, 1989 to Moorefield is a vehicle snow rake with a rigid plastic or rubber blade. This tool is designed for pulling snow off of a vehicle. This snow rake is not designed to penetrate compacted snow and it is not designed for use under a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,943 issued Nov. 5, 1985 to Mirto is a vehicle snow rake with a telescoping and collapsing handle. This tool is designed for pulling snow off of a vehicle. This snow rake is not designed to penetrate compacted snow and it is not designed for use under a vehicle.
Most travelers in snow country will carry a standard snow shovel or even a square point or round point shovel in case they get stuck in the snow. These shovels are not designed to deal with compacted snow underneath a vehicle. A snow-shovel's scoop is generally too big to fit under most vehicles and with lightweight plastic construction, most are not strong enough to penetrate compacted snow. Even when the scoop is strong enough to penetrate compacted snow, most will not fit entirely underneath a vehicle with average ground clearance, and once its scoop has been pushed as far under the edge of a vehicle as it will fit, under an area of compacted snow, the scoop end must be slightly tilted up and pulled backwards with the hope that there is enough drag created on the compacted snow overlaying the shovel scoop that it will stay on the scoop as the scoop is withdrawn from underneath the edge of the vehicle. Snow has an extremely low coefficient of friction, even more so when it is colder outside and icy, and most often will slide off of the snow shovel blade as it is being withdrawn from underneath the vehicle, especially since there is a tendency for the snow to be scraped off of the shovel blade by the lower edge of the car frame if the shovel is lifted at all before it is entirely clear of the underside of the vehicle. Such shovels are useful mainly to shovel out around a vehicle which is stuck in the snow.
Smaller square point and especially round point shovels are very good at penetrating compacted snow under a vehicle but they are poor at pulling very much snow out since they are designed for lifting loads and not dragging them. Snow tends to constantly slide off the blade of such shovels as it is pulled from under the vehicle leaving most of any small shovel full still under the vehicle.
What is needed then, is a snow removal apparatus and method which is simple and easy to use, and which allows someone who's vehicle is stuck in the snow to easily penetrate the compacted snow underneath the vehicle and then be able to capture and draw out and remove a substantial load of snow with each shovel stroke, to consistently control how much snow is removed with each pass of the shovel, to quickly and efficiently remove the compacted snow from underneath the vehicle allowing the vehicle to become unstuck, and to fold down into a compact unit for storing when not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which allows a driver to quickly and efficiently remove compacted snow from underneath a vehicle which is hungup and stuck in the snow, in a timely and cost effective manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which provides for the removal of snow without lifting.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which provides for the removal of snow by the method of pulling, and not pushing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which provides a small, hardened, blade edge surface area for easy penetration of compacted snow under a vehicle.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which provides for a reasonably large and rigid shovel surface area for the consistent removal of a substantial load of snow with each shovel stroke.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, whose effective shovel surface area can be easily adjusted if necessary by the user at any time while shoveling.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which is portable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which is inexpensive compared to prior art.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, which can be quickly closed to a compact size and stored out of the way when not in use.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are realized in one embodiment of a snow-shovel apparatus and method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, comprising
Generally, a two bladed shovel-like design wherein the horizontally opposed blades open up from a folded position next to the handle for use.
The horizontally opposed folding shovel blades allow for the efficient penetration of compacted snow and the removal thereof. A telescoping handle mechanism controls the angle and thereby the resistance of the shovel blades allowing for semi-automatic folding and unfolding of the blades when penetrating and then removing compacted snow from under a vehicle. Folding shovel blades and a telescoping handle present an extremely compact unit for storing when not in use.
The method of the present invention includes the steps of, providing a snow-shovel apparatus for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, pushing the shovel with blades retracted through compacted snow underneath the vehicle, stopping at a desired starting position for a shovel stroke, telescoping the handle open and thereby forcing the blades partially open to the snow capture position, exerting rearward longitudinal forces along the shaft by pulling on the handgrip thereby causing the blades to dig into the snow and expand to their fully open or drag/plow position, continuing to pull on the shaft thereby drawing the blades and captured snow towards the user, withdrawing a captured load of snow from underneath the vehicle, compressing the handle thereby allowing the shovel blades to retract back down against the handle tube, repeating the previous steps until enough snow has been removed that the vehicle is unstuck, and storing the snow-shovel apparatus, in this compressed configuration, in the vehicle for future use.
Other objects and features of the invention will become clear upon a reading of the Detailed Description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention may be understood from the description of the embodiment which follows and from the accompanying drawings. The drawings are hereby expressly made a part of the specification.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the various drawings to depict like or similar elements of the claimed snow-shovel apparatus. For the purpose of presenting a brief and clear discussion of the snow-shovel apparatus, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for the removal of compacted snow from underneath a vehicle hungup and stuck in a snowbank. This is for representative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting in any manner.
Individual shovel parts have been labeled in
Referring now to
The shovel head assembly 30 is comprised of two shovel blades 40, two blade control arms 42, two control arm Y joints 54, two blade control arm slots 50, two slot seals 52, two pressed roll pins 48, two pin enclosures 38, two blade hinge assemblies 34, two bolt and nut assemblies 36, and one shovel head hinge plate 56.
The telescoping handle assembly 12 is comprised of an inner shaft 16, an outer shaft 14, a slide pin 46, two slide pin slots 44, a hinge plate retaining bolt 32, an outer shaft lock pin hole 22, two inner shaft lock pin holes 24 as can be seen in
In the preferred embodiment of the snow-shovel apparatus 10, the outer shaft 14 is a hollow tube having a closed end and an open end into which the inner shaft 16 is inserted. The inner shaft's 16 outside diameter is equal to the outer shaft's 14 inside diameter, which sizing allows the inner shaft 16 to slide within the outer shaft 14 without excessive friction or play, and may be made to a size from ¾ inch to 1½ inches, more or less, to any size that fits comfortably in a user's hand. The inner shaft 16 extends into and runs almost the full length of the outer shaft 14 when in the compressed position. The outer shaft 14 and the inner shaft 16 can be made of aluminum, stainless steel or carbon steel, depending on the size of shovel, although aluminium is preferred for its weight savings.
The telescoping motion of the inner shaft 16 out from the outer shaft 14 is the mechanism by which the shovel head assembly 30 is actuated. A pair of slide pin slots 44 are cut into two opposing sides of the outer shaft 14. The inner shaft slide pin 46 inserts through and is attached to the inserted end of the inner shaft 16, then extending outwards through the slide pin slots 44 in the outer shaft 14, as can be clearly seen in
The shovel blade end of each shovel blade control arm 42 inserts through a control arm slot 50 which is a narrow slot cut longitudinally down the center of each shovel blade 40 for approximately 90 percent of its length. The purpose of this slot is to accept the shovel blade control arm 42, and provide guidance for the control arm 42, while the shovel is in operation. The shovel blade end of each control arm 42 passes through the shovel blade 40 and out the back side of the shovel blade 40 where the roll pin 48 is pressed through its end perpendicular to the control arm slot 50, which can be clearly seen in
The shovel blades 40 are designed to provide the backing and support for dragging the snow from beneath the vehicle with their concave working surface being mounted facing rearward. The pin enclosures 38 keep the control arms 42, secure to the back of the shovel blades 40 which face forward when in the extended or snow capture position. The pin enclosures 38 are three sided enclosures creating enclosed runners within which the blade end of the control arm 42 and pressed roll pin 48 are housed. The fourth side is open, and it is this side that is secured to the back of the shovel blade 40. The pin enclosures 38, cover the control arm slot 50 cut in the shovel blade 40 as viewed from the top of the shovel blade 40, as seen in
The control arm 42 determines the direction and movement limitations of the shovel blade 40. The control arm 42 determines direction of shovel blade 40 movement by a combination of the push or pull action the user is applying to the handle assembly 12 of the snow shovel apparatus 10, the status of the handle lock pin 26, and the slide pin 46 location in the slide pin slots 44. General shovel blade 40 movements are limited and controlled by the control arms 42. The control arm 42 limits shovel blade 40 movement by limiting the arc that the shovel blade 40 can swing about its point of rotation 34, which is the hinge assembly 34. The control arm 42 can be made of aluminum, stainless steel or carbon steel, depending on the size of the snow shovel apparatus 10. Generally, larger shovels will require stronger steels to ensure adequate strength and durability. The secure attachment of the pin enclosure 38 to the back side of the shovel blade 40 also acts to strengthen the shovel blade 40 around the control arm slot 50.
To prevent snow and ice from entering the control arm slots 50 during use and clogging up the pin enclosures 38 and thereby preventing the free movement of the shovel blades 40, in concert with the telescoping of the handle assembly 12 and the movement of the blade control arms 42 back and forth within the shovel blade control arm slot 50, slot seals 52 are provided, as can be seen in
Each shovel blade 40 is attached to a hinge assembly 34 by a nut and bolt assembly 36, which is attached on the opposite side of the hinge to the shovel head hinge plate 56. The bolt and nut assemblies 36 that are used to connect the hinge assemblies 34, to the shovel blades 40 are made of steel or stainless steel. The bolts have hex heads or Allen head cap screw sockets. The nuts have a nylon insert in them to prevent the nuts from loosening. This feature ensures the hinge 34/shovel blade 40 connection remains rigid for the life of the snow-shovel apparatus 10. The hinge assemblies 34 are attached in a horizontally opposed fashion to the shovel head hinge plate 56 causing the shovel blades 40 to have the same horizontally opposed arrangement. The shovel head hinge plate 56 can be made of steel or stainless steel. The hinge assemblies 34 are designed to not need any lubrication other than a small shot of spray lubricant once a year to function properly. The shovel head hinge plate 56 is attached to the end of the outer shaft 14 by a hinge plate retaining bolt 32, and it is this attachment point to the end of the outer shaft 14, and the shovel blade control arm 42 attachment to the slide pin 36, that creates the unique actuation of the shovel head assembly 30 by telescoping the handle assembly 12. The hinge plate retaining bolt 32 can be made from steel or stainless steel. It has outside threads that thread into an insert or plug in the closed end of the outer shaft 14.
The outer shaft lock pin hole 22 near the end of the outer shaft 14 is sized to properly accept the handle lock pin 26, as can be seen in
The handgrip bracket 18 connects the handgrip 20, to the inner shaft 16. The handgrip bracket 18 can be attached to the inner shaft 16 by epoxy, screws or rivets, depending on the preferred method of construction. The handgrip bracket 18 can be made of a cold weather plastic, such as high-density polyethylene, or aluminum or steel depending on the size of the shovel. The handgrip 20 is primarily what the user will hold when pulling snow from underneath a vehicle. The handgrip 20 is a synthetic rubber cover over the grip end of the handgrip bracket 18, and there may also be a second handgrip mounted on the rearward end of the outer shaft 14, which may be a soft foam type grip. The purpose of the handgrip 20 is to help keep the user's hand warm by slowing the rate at which heat is drawn out of the user's hand, and to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on the handle for more efficient and consistent application of force.
Referring now to
As can be seen in
As can be seen in
Likewise,
Referring now to
-
- providing a snow-shovel apparatus 10 for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle;
- pushing the shovel 10 with blades 40 retracted through compacted snow underneath the vehicle;
- stopping at a desired starting position for a shovel stroke;
- telescoping the handle 12 open and thereby forcing the blades 40 partially open;
- exerting pulling forces longitudinally along the handle 12 towards its rearward end thereby causing the blades 40 to dig into the snow and expand to their fully open position;
- continuing to pull on the handle 12 thereby drawing the blades 40 and captured snow towards the user;
- withdrawing a captured load of snow from underneath the vehicle;
- compressing the handle 12 thereby allowing the shovel blades 40 to retract back down against the handle 12;
- repeating the previous steps until enough snow has been removed that the vehicle is unstuck; and
- storing the snow-shovel apparatus 10, in this compressed configuration, in the vehicle for future use.
The method and embodiment of the present invention shown and discussed are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and a wide variety of equivalent methods and embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A snow removal apparatus for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, comprising:
- a multivariable blade means by which the blade or blades may be turned, retracted or folded to an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force;
- a positioning means attached to said multivariable blade means by which said blade or blades may be positioned to an angle of lesser or greater resistance thereby allowing the blade means to penetrate compacted snow or to capture a load of compacted snow; and,
- a force application handle means for the application of positive or negative direct forces longitudinally applied down the length of the handle to the blade means, for the pushing of the retracted blade means through compacted snow under a vehicle and the pulling of the extended blade means with its captured load of compacted snow out from under a vehicle.
2. The snow removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means also provides a locking mechanism thereby allowing the blade means to be locked in an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force.
3. The snow removal apparatus according to claim 1, including a hand grip means attached to said handle means to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on the handle means for more efficient and consistent application of force.
4. The snow removal apparatus according to claim 1, including a sealing means attached to said positioning means to seal out snow and ice to prevent jamming of said positioning means during use.
5. The snow removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means also provides a locking mechanism thereby allowing the blade means to be locked in an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force; and,
- including a hand grip means attached to said handle means to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on the handle means for more efficient and consistent application of force; and,
- including a sealing means attached to said positioning means to seal out snow and ice to prevent freezing and jamming of said positioning means during use.
6. A method for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a snow removal apparatus for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle;
- ensuring the snow removal apparatus is in the closed or snow penetrating position;
- applying a positive force longitudinally down the force application handle means to the blade means, thereby driving said blade means through the compacted snow under a vehicle;
- adjusting the positioning means, thereby opening the blade means to an angle of greater resistance;
- applying a negative force longitudinally down the force application handle means to the blade means, thereby pulling said blade means through the compacted snow and drawing out from under the vehicle a load of compacted snow captured by the open blade means;
- resetting the positioning means and thereby the blade means back into the closed blade position;
- repeating the above procedure until enough of the compacted snow under the vehicle has been removed that the drag on the vehicle due to the density of the compacted snow is no longer greater than the traction force between the vehicle tires and the ground, thereby making the vehicle unstuck; and,
- closing said snow removal apparatus to its storage position.
7. A snow removal apparatus for removal of snow from underneath a vehicle, comprising:
- a shovel head assembly for penetrating compacted snow under a vehicle and then capturing, plowing and drawing out a load of snow from under a vehicle, comprised of one or more shovel blades, hingedly attached to a central frame means whereby said shovel blades may swing back and forth;
- a telescoping handle assembly comprised of an inner and an outer shaft, said outer shaft being attached by an attachment means to said central frame means of said shovel head assembly and said inner shaft being attached by an attachment means to said shovel blades, whereby the telescoping of said handle assembly controls the angle of said blades, allowing said blades to be positioned by the user to an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the snow thereby allowing for the pushing of said shovel head assembly with blades retracted through compacted snow under a vehicle and then pulling said shovel head assembly with blades extended with its captured load of compacted snow out from under a vehicle.
8. The snow removal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said telescoping handle assembly also provides a locking mechanism thereby allowing said blades to be locked in an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force.
9. The snow removal apparatus according to claim 7, including a hand grip means attached to said telescoping handle assembly to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on said telescoping handle assembly for more efficient and consistent application of force.
10. The snow removal apparatus according to claim 7, including a sealing means attached to said attachment means to said shovel blades to seal out snow and ice to prevent jamming of said attachment means to said shovel blades during use.
11. The snow removal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said telescoping handle assembly also provides a locking mechanism thereby allowing said blades to be locked in an angle of lesser or greater resistance to the direction of applied force; and,
- including a hand grip means attached to said handle assembly to provide a more comfortable and secure grip on said handle assembly for more efficient and consistent application of force; and,
- including a sealing means attached to said attachment means to said shovel blades to seal out snow and ice to prevent jamming of said attachment means to said shovel blades during use.
12. The snow removal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said telescoping handle assembly is comprised of an inner shaft, an outer shaft, a slide pin, two slide pin slots, a retaining bolt, an outer shaft lock pin hole, two inner shaft lock pin holes, a handle lock pin, a handle lock pin chain, a handgrip bracket, and a handgrip;
- said inner shaft diameter sized to slide within said outer shaft without excessive friction or play, said outer shaft diameter sized to comfortable fit in a user's hand, sized lengthwise to reach at least halfway underneath a car or truck from the side, having an opening at one end in which said inner shaft slides, having said slide pin slots cut longitudinally in the top and the bottom sides of the opposite end of said outer shaft from said opening, having said retaining bolt fastened into the solid end opposite said opening, said inner shaft having said slide pin vertically pressed into and through the inside end of said inner shaft whereby said slide pin protrudes through said slide pin slots in said outer shaft, retaining said inner shaft within said outer shaft and confining the movement of said inner shaft to the length of said slide pin slots, said slide pin slots sized to allow movement for proper functioning of said shovel head assembly, said inner shaft sized lengthwise to protrude from said outer shaft a distance by which said protruding end may be easily gripped by the user, when said inner shaft is inserted as far as said slide pin and said slide pin slots will allow; and
- wherein said shovel head assembly is comprised of a hinge plate, two hinge assemblies, two shovel blades, two bolt and nut assemblies, two control arm slots, two shovel blade pin enclosures, two control arms, two pressed roll pins, two control arm Y joints, and two slot seals;
- said shovel head hinge plate being attached to said outer shaft by said hinge plate retaining bolt, said hinges being attached opposite one another to said shovel head hinge plate by any appropriate means, said shovel blades each having a front edge and a rear edge and a concave scoop side and a convex back side, being attached by said rear edge to the opposite side of said hinges from said hinge plate, whereby said shovel blades are attached to said shovel head assembly in a horizontally opposed fashion and can hinge ably fold down against said outer shaft with said concave scoop side facing said outer shaft, said shovel blades having said control arm slots cut down the center of each blade to allow said shovel blade control arms and said pressed roll pin to move readily up and down most of the length of the blade, with said control arms extending through said control arm slots and with said roll pin pressed into the end of said control arm and perpendicular to said control arm slot, preventing said control arm and pressed roll pin from pulling out of said control arm slot, said shovel blade pin enclosures being attached to said back side of said shovel blade and sized to entirely cover said control arm slot and provide a housing for said pressed roll pin and whereby said shovel blade is strengthened surrounding said control arm slot and whereby said control arm and said pressed roll pin being contained within said pin enclosures may control the angle and movement of said shovel blade by the exertion of positive or negative longitudinal forces, said shovel blade control arms extending down from their attachment through said control arm slots, down along said outer shaft, said control arm splitting into two arms at said control arm Y joint, said split arms diverging to opposite sides of said outer shaft and attaching to said slide pin extending through said outer shaft slide pin slots from said inner shaft, whereby movement of said inner shaft in relation to said outer shaft causes said shovel blade control arms to adjust the angle of said shovel blades, providing a mechanism to control said shovel head assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 8, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 8, 2007
Inventor: Rick Larson (Proctor, MN)
Application Number: 11/161,581
International Classification: E01H 5/02 (20060101);