AU2012241104A1 - Shovel - Google Patents

Abstract

A shovel (1) includes a pan (2) having a base (3) and at least one enclosing side wall (4). The side wall (4) has an open front portion (5) and a rear portion (6). A pan actuator (9) is hingedly mounted to the rear portion of the side wall (6). A spade (10) is pivotally mounted to the side wall (4). An elongate handle (12) is connected to the spade (10) and extends away from it such that the handle (12) and the spade (10) are maintained in a fixed orientation. The pan actuator (9) is moveable to rotate the pan (2) between a closed position wherein the spade (10) is disposed over or adjacent the pan open front portion (5) and an open position wherein the spade (10) is clear of the pan open front portion (5). 5445A-AU 1 Fig. 9

Description

5445A-AU AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FORA STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant(s): Simon Mark ARCHER & William Robert ARCHER Actual Inventor(s): Simon Mark ARCHER & William Robert ARCHER Address for Service: FRASER OLD & SOHN Patent Attorneys PO Box 560 MILSONS POINT NSW 1565 Invention Title: Shovel 1 5445A-AU SHOVEL Field of the Invention The invention relates to shovels and, in particular, to shovels for clearing debris from holes. The invention has been developed primarily for clearing post holes or well holes and will be described herein after with reference to these applications. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to these particular fields of use and is applicable to clearing debris from any hole or pipe, inter alia. Background Art Commonly, post holes being of the order of a meter or more deep and half a metre or more in diameter. Smaller holes are typically formed manually with the aid of a shovel or petrol powered hand-held auger. Larger holes are formed with tractor or truck mounted augers and these holes retain large posts and the like, for example, power poles. When shovels are employed to form post holes, the hole formed is wider than the spade bit. This is because the shovel needs to be tipped to allow the spade to move towards the horizontal to retain material to form the hole. However, once the hole depth increases beyond about a spade depth, the hole must be significantly widened to allow access. Material falls off the spade or from the hole walls or surrounds. This is especially frustrating when digging holes in sand. A person clearing a shovel dug hole by hand can only work up to about 70cm being the length of an arm. When using an auger, it will be appreciate that unlike a shovel a substantially uniformly wide hole is formed. In sandy ground particularly, debris returns off the auger blade upon its removal and also from the upper perimeter of the hole. Post holes, or wells, dug by augurs are typically much deeper than 70cm and clearing by hand or shovel is impractical, especially for narrow holes of the order of 50cm. To clear holes, two types of shovel have been developed. The first is in essence a pair of shovels having elongate handles each with an opposed spade at an end thereof. The spades are curved about the direction of elongation and the handles are hinged at 2 5445A-AU or adjacent the spades. Movement of the handles apart from a parallel position causes the shovels to move towards each other and retain material. Movement of the handle toward each other causes the spades to separate and extend substantially parallel. Unfortunately this first type of post hole shovel is not particularly useful, especially in sandy ground or sodden wet or sludgy material. This is because the spades are curved and do not match relying on material compression to retain it and in any event the handles can only open so far apart meaning the hole length can also limit the spade size. The second type of post hole shovel is a spade hingedly mounted on the end of an elongate handle. The spade is rotated from a position where it extends substantially parallel with the handle to a position where it is, most ideally, transverse. Whilst this is a useful device, especially in preventing bending, it essentially mechanically follows the action of a conventional shovel that is stabbed in parallel and then tipped using mechanical advantage. To move the spade when laden perpendicular is difficult and the spade only loosely retains sand or sodden or sludgy material. Genesis of the Invention The genesis of the invention is a desire to provide a post hole shovel overcoming one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided a shovel comprising: pan having a base and at least one enclosing side wall, the side wall having an open front portion and a rear portion; pan actuator hingedly mounted to, or adjacent to a rear portion of the side wall; a spade pivotally mounted to the side wall; an elongate handle connected to the spade and extending away therefrom such that the handle and the spade are maintained in a fixed orientation; and wherein the pan actuator is moveable to rotate the pan between a closed position wherein the spade is disposed over or adjacent the pan open front portion and an open position wherein the spade is clear of the pan open front portion. 3 5445A-AU Preferably, the base is substantially square or rectangular. More preferably, the open front portion extends along one edge of the base such that when the pan actuator is moved to the open position the pan base at the open front portion and a lower edge of the spade are substantially parallel. In preferred embodiments, the pan includes a pair of opposed side walls extending above the pan base intermediate the rear portion of the sidewall and the open front; and an axle extending across the pan and mounted at each end to the the opposed sidewalls, the axle extending substantially parallel with the open front portion. More preferably, the spade and the handle are mounted to the axle. Preferably, the handle and the pan actuator are telescopic; or an end of the handle distal from the spade and the pan actuator distal the pan rear portion are configured to receive elongate handle extension sections. In preferred embodiments, the shovel includes a latch movable between a latched position wherein the latch is engaged with the pan to prevent rotation of the pan and an unlatched position wherein the latch is moved clear of the pan. The shovel 1 therefore advantageously allows the removal of debris from post holes or well bores or the like, especially in sandy soil or with particularly loose debris or in sodden or sludgy material since the pan 2 moves together with spade 16 to act as a bucket. Further, in contrast to the prior art having a hinged bucket, the shovel 1 especially does not require a larger hole and the pan 2 can have relatively much larger (ie pan base 3 area). Yet further, the shovel 1 does not pinch debris between spades as the hinges pair of spade-type of prior art so as to be a more practical alternative especially in sandy soils or sludge. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 4 5445A-AU Fig. 1 is a side view of the shovel according to the preferred embodiment. In an open position; Fig. 2 is a side view of the shovel of Fig. 1 in a closed position; Fig. 3 is a bottom view of part of the shovel of Fig. 1 in the open position; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of part of the shovel of Fig. 1 in the closed position; Fig. 5 is an elevated front view of part of the shovel Fig. 1 in a partly open position; Fig. 6 is use a side view of part of the shovel of Fig. 1 in the open position; Fig. 7 is an elevated top few of the shovel of Fig. 1 in a partly closed position; Fig. 8 is a front view of part of the shovel of Fig. 1 in the closed position; Fig. 9 is an elevated perspective view of part of the shovel of Fig. 1 in the partly open position; Fig. 10 is an elevated perspective view of part of the shovel of Fig. 1 in the closed position; and Fig. 11 is a rear elevated perspective view of part of the shovel of Fig. 1 in the closed position. Detailed Description Referring to the drawings generally, the shovel 1 especially suited to clearing debris from post holes and wells, for example, those dug in creek beds. The shovel 1 includes a metal pan 2 having a base 3 and a enclosing side wall 4 extending a predetermined height above the base 3. The height of the side wall 4 need not be constant. The pan 2 can be formed from any preferred metal or metal alloy, or any other suitable material including plastics. The enclosing side wall 4 includes a rear side wall portion 6 and a pair of opposed left and right hand side walls 7 and 8 respectively. The side wall 4 has an open front portion 5 disposed intermediate the left and right side walls 7 & 8. The rear portion 6 also extends intermediate the side walls 7 & 8. A pan actuator 9 is mounted to lower end 10 of the rear portion 6 of the said side wall 4. The pan actuator 9 elongate and hingedly mounted at a lower end 11 to the pan 2 for movement in a plane substantially parallel with the sidewalls 6 & 7. The pan 5 5445A-AU actuator 9 extends upwardly away from the pan base 3 terminating at a manipulation end 12. In the preferred embodiment, it can be seen that the manipulation end 12 is in the form of a handgrip and is contoured or shaped about the rear wall 6 to provide clearance for the rear wall 6. The rear wall 6 also includes a recess or cut-out portion 13 at an upper end 14 thereof to accommodate the pan actuator 9. An axle 15 extends across the pan 2 a predetermined height above the pan base 3 and is rotatably mounted at each end to said left and right hand sidewalls 7 & 8. The axle 15 extends substantially parallel with the open front portion 5. A spade 16 is connected to the axle 15 by means of a pair of arms 17 such that rotation of the axle 15 causes corresponding rotation of the spade 16. It can be seen that the arms 17 are attached to left and right sides 18 & 19 of the axle 15. The arms 17 are substantially straight and attach to an upper end spade side walls 20 & 21. An elongate handle 22 is connected to the axle 15 at a handle mounting end 23 and extends upwardly away from the axle 15 terminating at a distal handle end 24. The handle 22 and the spade 16 are maintained in a fixed orientation as shown in the drawings of the preferred embodiment. A spade cover or extension 25 extends from the top 26 of the spade 16 and terminates at the handle 2 a predetermined height above the top 20 & 21 of the side walls 7 & 8. The pan actuator 9 is moveable longitudinally so as to correspondingly to rotate the pan 2 from the lower end 10 of the rear side wall 6 about the axle 15. In the preferred embodiment, the actuator 9 is retained to handle 22 by means of retaining bracket 29 which allows the actuator and handle to move longitudinally relative to each other. The pan 2 rotates between two positions. The first is a closed position (eg, Fig. 2) where the spade 16 is disposed adjacent the pan open front portion 6 and the second an open position (eg, Fig. 1) wherein said spade is clear of said pan open front portion. 6 5445A-AU In use, it can be seen that the spade advantageously enters a post hole or the like in the open position and is moved into the closed position rotating the pan 2 rather than the shovel 16 thereby retaining even sandy or very loose material. The shovel 1 further does not require a post hole to be dug wider than it needs to be. In the preferred embodiment, when the pan actuator 9 is moved longitudinally (away from the base 3) to the open position the planes formed by the pan base 3 and the spade 16 are substantially parallel. This allows the shovel 1 to be driven into loose material and debris in a post hole. When moved into the closed position with movement of the actuator 9 longitudinally (towards the base 3) the pan 2 rotates so that the edge 27 of the base 2 along the open front portion 5 moves to meet the bottom edge 28 of the spade 16 defining the closed position. Here, planes formed by the spade 16 and the pan base 3 are substantially perpendicular and the spade acts to form a barrier against collected debris falling from the open front portion 5 of the pan 2. In the preferred embodiment shown and in the open position, edge 27 of the base 3 along the open front portion 5 and the lower edge 28 of said spade 16 are substantially parallel and most preferably extend the same distance longitudinally from the distal end 24 of the handle 22. The base 3 is substantially square or rectangular with curved or bevelled corners. The side wall 4 extends substantially perpendicularly from the base 3 and is correspondingly shaped at the comers. It can therefore be seen that the shovel 1 allows the significantly more efficient removal of debris from post holes or the like, especially in sandy soil or with particularly loose debris whereby the pan 2 together with spade 16 act as a bucket. Most advantageously, the shovel 1 can be used to remove debris from sodden or sludgy holes or wells and is significantly relatively more efficient than the prior art shovels. In contrast to the prior art having a hinged bucket, the shovel 1 especially does not require a larger hole and the pan 2 can be relatively much larger (ie pan base 3 area). Further, the shovel 1 does not pinch debris between spades as the hinges pair of 7 5445A-AU spade-type of prior art so as to be a more practical alternative especially in sandy soils. It will be appreciated that the spade 16 in the preferred embodiment shown is kept substantially vertical in both the open and closed positions (and in-between) allowing a digging motion. Yet further, the movement of actuator 9 longitudinally and particularly towards the pan 2 when closing provides a mechanically less arduous motion that the hinged spade prior art allowing a greater load of debris to be removed. Although the comers of the side wall 4 are rounded or bevelled, the corners where side walls 7 & 8 meet the front open portion 5 are preferably substantially square (and the spade 16 correspondingly shaped) to allow the pan 2 (as well as spade 16) to also be used in a digging motion. Although not illustrated, it will be understood that the shovel 1 can be adapted to reach to the bottom of deeper holes. For example, the handle 2 at the handle distal end 24 and the pan actuator 9 at the pan actuator manipulation end 12 can be configured to receive handle and actuator extensions respectively. This may be by longitudinal end to end attachment by means of threaded portions at end 24 & 12 to receive and thereby retain corresponding threaded portions at an end of each longitudinal extension. Of course, the extensions may be connected longitudinally by any preferred conventional means such as by keyed engagement or the use of brackets or clamps. Further, the handle 22 and the actuator 9 may be telescopic whereby one or more respective longitudinal extensions are nested therein. It will be further appreciated that although also not illustrated, the shovel 1 can include a latch mechanism having one or more latches that are movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. In the latched position the latch(es) is engaged with the pan 2 to prevent its rotation (especially towards the closed position). In the unlatched position the latch is moved clear of the pan 2 to allow its rotation in response to (actuation of) the actuator 9. 8 5445A-AU In embodiments using a latching mechanism (most useful when handle extension are employed) a latch actuator is preferably disposed on or adjacent the handle distal end 24 (or equivalent on any handle 22 extension). In the alternative, the latch actuator can be disposed on the pan actuator 9 at the pan actuator manipulation end 12 (or equivalent on any pan actuator extension). Most preferably, the latch(es) are spring loaded or otherwise resiliently biased towards the unlatched position. This way, once the shovel 1 is down a hole and the latch actuator is actuated, the bias on the latch(es) would force the latch(es) to disengage. It will also be appreciated that whilst the handle 22 is connected to the axle 15 it can be suitably shaped if necessary to rotatably mount directly to the sidewalls 7 & 8 or to the spade 16 preferably at or adjacent top edge 26. The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "including" or "having" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of'. 9

Claims (13)

1. A shovel comprising: pan having a base and at least one enclosing side wall, said side wall having an open front portion and a rear portion; pan actuator hingedly mounted to, or adjacent to a rear portion of said side wall; a spade pivotally mounted to said side wall; an elongate handle connected to said spade and extending away therefrom such that said handle and said spade are maintained in a fixed orientation; and wherein said pan actuator is moveable to rotate said pan between a closed position wherein said spade is disposed over or adjacent said pan open front portion and an open position wherein said spade is clear of said pan open front portion.

2. A shovel according to claim 1 wherein when said pan actuator is moved to said open position said pan base and said spade are substantially parallel, and when said pan actuator is moved to said closed position said spade and said pan base are substantially perpendicular.

3. A shovel according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said base is substantially square or rectangular and said open front portion extends along one edge of said base such that when said pan actuator is moved to said open position said pan base at said open front portion and a lower edge of said spade are substantially parallel.

4. A shovel according to claim 2or 3 wherein said pan includes a pair of opposed side walls extending above said pan base intermediate said rear portion of said sidewall and said open front; and an axle extending across said pan and mounted at each end to said opposed sidewalls, said axle extending substantially parallel with said open front portion.

5. A shovel according to claim 4 wherein said spade and said handle are mounted to said axle.

6. A shovel according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said pan actuator is elongate and extends substantially parallel to said handle such that said actuator is longitudinally movable between said closed and open positions.

7. A shovel according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said handle and said pan actuator are telescopic. 10 5445A-AU

8. A shovel according to any one of claims I to 6 wherein an end of said handle distal from said spade and said pan actuator distal said pan rear portion are configured to receive elongate handle extension sections.

9. A shovel according to any one of claims 1 to 8 including a latch movable between a latched position wherein said latch is engaged with said pan to prevent rotation of said pan and an unlatched position wherein said latch is moved clear of said pan.

10. A shovel according to claim 9 including a latch actuator disposed on or adjacent said handle distal from said spade.

11. A shovel according to claim 9 including a latch actuator disposed on said pan actuator distal said pan rear portion.

12. A shovel according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein said latch is resiliently biased towards said unlatched position.

13. A shovel being substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 15 th day of October, 2012 SIMON MARK ARCHER AND WILLIAM ROBERT ARCHER By FRASER OLD & SOHN Patent Attorneys for the Applicants 11