AU2016100953A4 - Shovel accessory - Google Patents

Abstract

An accessory for use with a shovel and in particular for distributing forces over a wide area of a shovel user's foot to help alleviate injurious stresses is attachable to the shaft or shaft receiving sleeve of a shovel blade or scoop to be operatively located covering the shoulder. The configuration of the accessory provides two zones of contact with the shoulder and with a transitional portion of the blade connecting with the shaft-receiving sleeve. One of the points is a thickened area of a footplate distally located from the receiving sleeve and the other is at an edge of a facet that abuts the transitional portion. This arrangement provides for advantageous added flexion to suit a wide variety of shovel shapes and sizes while protecting the digger's foot against imperfect foot impact or pressure while digging. SHEET 2 OF 3

Description

SHOVEL ACCESSORY Field of invention [01] This invention relates to an accessory for use with a shovel and in particular for distributing forces over a wide area of a shovel user's foot.

Background to the invention [02] The typical shovel or spade comprises a blade attached to a handle. The blade has a cutting edge at an end remote from the handle and a shoulder each side of the handle at the opposite end. The blade may be shaped according to the intended primary function of the shovel, such as digging, scooping or scraping. The digging-type shovel is operated in cutting mode by a user placing a foot on one of the shoulders and pushing generally downward into the earth, snow or other material to be cut for displacement. The application of downward force urges the cutting edge of the blade into the material after which it can be lifted and moved by means of the remainder of the blade.

[03] A difficulty that arises for shovel users relates to the repeated reactive upward force exerted by the relatively narrow shovel shoulder on a narrow strip across the sole of the foot, mostly below the arch and instep. This is uncomfortable to both regular and occasional shovel users, leading to pain, fatigue, and injury, both acute and chronic. Shovel designers have attempted to alleviate this issue by providing a turned-over lip on the shoulder to broaden, by longitudinally lengthening i.e. in a forward direction, the area against which the foot can push. However, the broadening of the lip result in storage and transportation issues arising from the greater transversal footprint the broadening brings about.

[04] US patent number 5,901,996 proposes an accessory for protecting a user's pushing foot during digging, the accessory providing a pair of rigid broad steps, each of which extends at a right angle from the shaft and provides additional longitudinal length to the stepping surface available to a digger for placement of the digging or downwardly pushing foot. The accessory is not well adapted to being fitted to shovels having different shoulder and blade profiles even though a thickened base portion is provided.

Objects of the invention [05] It is an object of this invention to address the shortcomings of the prior art and, in doing so, to provide an accessory that, when attached to the shovel, provides for more even distribution of the forces exerted on the user's foot in using a number of different shovel shapes.

[06] The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere as at the priority date of the present application.

[07] Further, and unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense - that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not being limited to" - as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense - that is to say meaning "including this and nothing else".

Summary of invention [08] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an accessory for a digging shovel having a digging blade with opposed foot-pushable shoulders and being connected to a shaft-receiving sleeve, a. the accessory comprising a plate which is operatively mountable to a shoulder of said blade, having i. an upper side defining a foot-pushable surface of greater longitudinal width than the shoulder, ii. a shoulder-facing underside and iii. locating means integrally formed with the plate, and being adapted for operatively locating the plate against longitudinal displacement from said shoulder when the plate is being urged against the shoulder during digging action, b. the accessory being characterised in that the shoulder-facing underside comprises first and second shoulder-contacting zones spaced from each other, i. the first zone including an underside edge of the plate, proximate the shaft-receiving sleeve of the shovel, which is locatable to abut said shoulder when the accessory is operatively mounted and digging force is exerted on the foot-pushing surface, and ii. the second zone being defined by a relatively thicker portion of the plate located distally from the shovel shaft and under which is defined a blade-contacting driving surface.

[09] In an embodiment, intermediate said first and second zones is defined a line of preferred flexion of the plate.

[010] In a preferred embodiment, the thicker portion of the plate extends for between at least 35% and 75% preferably from 45% to 67% of the radial width of the plate between its opposed proximal and distal lateral edges, as determinable in relation to the axis of symmetry of the shovel to which it is operatively mounted.

[011] In a preferred form of the invention, the accessory comprises mounting means adapted for being securable to the shovel shaft-receiving sleeve.

[012] In a further preferred form of the invention, the accessory comprises a second plate configured to be transposedly symmetrical to the first and extending from the mounting means diametrically opposite the first. The second plate is preferably integrally formed with the first.

[013] The plate upper surface preferably comprises an anti-slip feature to improve purchase between the user's footwear and the surface. In an embodiment, the feature comprises elongate parallel ridges extending in a direction away from the shaft of the shovel.

Brief description of drawings [014] In order that the invention may be readily understood, and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures. Thus:

Figure 1 shows, in side view, a preferred embodiment of the accessory of this invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the accessory of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the accessory of Figure 1 operatively attached to a shovel.

Figure 4 is a top view of the accessory of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a underside rear perspective view of the accessory of Figure 1.

Figure 6 represents a second embodiment of the accessory in side view, as would be viewed for a side parallel with the shoulder of a shovel to which it would be fitted.

Figure 7 is a top view of the accessory of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a bottom view of the accessory of Figure 6.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention [015] Referring to a preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, a foot-protecting accessory for mounting on a shovel is generally denoted by the number 10 and is shown operatively connected to a shovel blade 30 in Figure 3. This shovel blade is just one of many examples with which the accessory 10 may be used, because of features it comprises.

[016] Thus, in Figure 3, the shovel to which accessory 10 is attached has a blade 30 having a front surface 32, adapted for scooping up loose matter. To loosen firm matter by digging, a user exerts pushing force on the left or right shoulders 34a, 34b, using one of his feet. The shovel blade is shown integrally formed with a neck 36, which ends in a shaft-receiving sleeve. The shaft provides a handle for a user to grasp in controlling shovel positioning. Typically, on either side of the neck, the blade has a small over-bend at the upper edge that defines each of the shoulders and provides a small surface against which a user may push with his foot. Between neck 36 and each shoulder 34a,b is a curved transition portion 38 connecting the shoulder to the neck.

[017] The accessory has a foot plate 12 for placement in use between the sole of a user's foot and the shoulder portion 34a, 34b of a shovel blade. The footplate provides a significantly greater surface than the shoulder, against which the user presses his foot to insert the shovel blade into the matter to be dug when performing digging.

[018] The plate has a foot sole-receiving upper surface 14 and a lower surface 16, as seen in Figures 2 and 5. In Figure 4, it is seen that upper surface 14 is adapted for receiving the sole of the user's foot in having parallel ridges 18, providing it with an antislip finish. Extending downwardly from the foot plate, and generally parallel to the back of the shovel blade when in use, is a locating plate 20. The locating plate prevents the footplate being pushed forwards and off the shoulder of the shovel. It also prevents unwanted rotation with respect to the shoulder. The external angle at the junction between locating plate 20 and footplate 16 provides arresting means for the heel of footwear worn by the user, to prevent unwanted forward slippage of the foot from the footplate.

[019] Within the internal angle formed at the junction of locating plate 20 and footplate 16 is a thickened portion 22, integrally formed with both plates and defining a surface 24 at a level different to that of the adjacent portion of lower surface 16, being spaced farther from upper surface 14 than lower surface 16.

[020] Integrally formed with footplate 16 is a neck 26, having a semicircular channel 28 for locating around the shaft-receiving sleeve 36 of the shovel handle, and adapted to be securely fastened thereto. The exterior of the neck has a pair of semicircular ridges, between which is a groove 42. The groove provides a locality for use in fastening the neck to a shovel shaft, for example using a cable tie 48, or a quick-release lever-clamp, hose clamp or other suitable fastening. Above and below the ridges defining groove 42 are further recessed surfaces 44, 46 that may be similarly employed in fastening or stabilising the accessory.

[021] When accessory 10 is fitted to the shovel sleeve 36, it is against transition portion 38 that a first contact point, located on an edge of an under-surface facet 50, comes to rest in abutment. This is shown in Figure 3, where accessory 10 is shown located slightly off-centre with respect to the shovel shaft 36. By adjusting the relative position for axial alignment with the shovel and by tightening fastening 48, accessory 10 will be optimally located for operative use. In such position, lower surface 24 of thickened portion 22 of footplate 16 is brought to bear on either or both of shoulders 34b and 34a, depending which foot the user chooses to push with. Having two points of contact helps stabilise the footplate and provide added protection to the user's foot against injury resulting from unexpected twisting of the accessory, or its giving way on the end located distally from neck 26.

[022] The provision of facet 50 having opposed defining edges extending transversely but not at right angles across lower surface 16, enables at least two points of contact to be achieved between the underside 16 and a large variety of shovel configurations - not just as shown in Figure 3. This is further facilitated by the propensity for flexion of the footplate in the area generally either side of facet 50 to adapt the shape of the pushing surface 14 to the shovel configuration and the footwear or even the unprotected bare sole of the user. Allowing the flexion enables the footplate to buckle controllably inwardly towards neck 26 rather than allowing surface 14 to become inclined excessively outward radially from the neck. This assists in avoiding injury to the user.

[023] Between elongate facet 50 and the semicircular neck and channel 28 is an inclined planar panel 52. As shown in Figure 3 it allows for a gap to be left between it and the transition portion 38 of the shovel blade. This allows a further degree of freedom for possible flexion of the accessory and adaptability to fit a range of shovel shoulder shapes. This would be unachievable with a curved panel having surface designed to follow and preferably match the contours of the shovel shape.

[024] It is found that excellent support for the user's foot as well as flexion for adapting to the shape of the shovel shoulder is obtained when surface 24 extends for about 35% of the radial distance from the axis of symmetry of the accessory, or about 50% of the distance from the outer edge of plate 12 to the nearest edge portion of facet 50. As indicated in the invention summary, these proportions may be varied within limits and still be within the scope of this disclosure.

[025] It will be apparent from Figures 2-5 that the accessory in the preferred embodiment comprises twin footplates 16 - one formed symmetrically either side of neck 26, so as to provide facility for a user to apply either foot to either side of the shovel blade without removing and refitting the accessory. However, it is within the scope of this invention, that a single footplate may be connected to the neck of the accessory. It is further within the spirit of this disclosure that the neck may be abbreviated to the extent of being little more than an arc of an O-ring that is resiliently flexible to be clamped around the shaft sleeve of the shovel neck. In an alternative embodiment, the accessory neck may comprise an upwardly extending tab portion that may be clamped to the shaft sleeve using a fastening device such as a cable tie or a hose clamp of suitable size.

[026] In a further embodiment, the accessory provides a single footplate having two downwardly projecting flanges for location either side of the shovel blade shoulder, so that the footplate straddles the shoulder. The footplate has on its underside, between the locating flanges, a thickened outer portion providing a pressure-distributing surface between the blade shoulder and the foot plate upper surface. The inner edge of the footplate (the inner edge that is located in use against the transition portion of the shovel between blade and neck shaft sleeve) provides a further point of contact between the accessory and the shoulder, in the same way as the abutting angled surface described above.

[027] An example of this embodiment of the accessory is shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, marked 100, but in which like functional parts found in Figures 1-5 carry like numbering. Instead of only one locating flange 20, this embodiment has a second downwardly extending panel 102, integrally formed with flange 20, connecting footplate 12 and its thickened portion 20, having a lower shoulder abutting surface 24. In Figure 8, it can be seen that surface 24 extends fully from flange 20 to panel 102.

[028] Similarly to the first embodiment, a facet 50, having opposed edges, divides under surface 16 from upwardly inclined portion 52 of footplate 12, to a periphery 26 where the neck ends and forms a receiving channel 28 for the shaft or sleeve of a shovel blade.

[029] In operative location and orientation, abutting surface 24 straddles the shoulder of the shovel to which it is fitted, with flange 20 and panel 102 on either side of the blade and with neck 26 adjoining the shaft sleeve and facet 50 abutting the transition portion of the shovel at a point located on at least one of its edges .

[030] Slots 106 are provided in neck portion 26, to accommodate fasteners, such as cable ties, for securing the accessory to the shovel via the neck.

[031] These embodiments merely illustrate particular examples of apparatus of the invention providing means for the protection of a person's foot being used for pushing a shovel in digging. With the insight gained from this disclosure, the person skilled in the art is well placed to discern further embodiments by means of which to put the claimed invention into practice.

Claims (5)

1. Claims The claims defining the invention are:

   1. An accessory for a digging shovel having a digging blade with opposed foot-pushable shoulders and being connected to a shaft-receiving sleeve, a. the accessory comprising a plate which is operatively mountable to a shoulder of said blade, having i. an upper side defining a foot-pushable surface of greater longitudinal width than the shoulder, ii. a shoulder-facing underside and iii. locating means integrally formed with the plate, and being adapted for operatively locating the plate against longitudinal displacement from said shoulder when the plate is being urged against the shoulder during digging action, b. the accessory being characterised in that the shoulder-facing underside comprises first and second shoulder-contacting zones spaced from each other, i. the first zone including an underside edge of the plate, proximate the shaft-receiving sleeve of the shovel, which is locatable to abut said shoulder when the accessory is operatively mounted and digging force is exerted on the foot-pushing surface, and ii. the second zone being defined by a relatively thicker portion of the plate located distally from the shovel shaft and under which is defined a blade-contacting driving surface.
2. 2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the first zone comprises an elongate facet extending transversely across the plate.
3. 3. The accessory of claim 2 wherein the thicker portion of the plate extends for between at least 35% and 75% of the radial width of the plate between its opposed proximal and distal lateral edges as determinable in relation to the axis of symmetry of the shovel to which it is operatively mounted.
4. 4. The accessory of claim 2 or claim 3 further comprising mounting means adapted for being securable to the shovel shaft-receiving sleeve.
5. 5. The accessory of any one of the preceding claims comprising a second plate configured to be transposedly symmetrical to the first, and extending from the mounting means diametrically opposite the first.