US20110214316A1

US20110214316A1 - Contoured snow shovel with narrow apex

Info

Publication number: US20110214316A1
Application number: US12/660,968
Authority: US
Inventors: Juan C. Gomez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-08
Filing date: 2010-03-08
Publication date: 2011-09-08

Abstract

A contoured snow shovel facilitates the removal of snow and ice. The contoured snow shovel is constructed with a handle attached to an arm portion which, in turn, extends to a shovel segment. The shovel segment comprises a contoured converging blade. Vertical side walls of the contoured converging blade are joined together to form a narrow apex. Due to the narrow apex, the shovel head easily cuts through snow layers and ice. Broken-up particles of the snow and ice collecting along either side of the shovel head, are moved substantially simultaneously in opposite, lateral directions, and plowed from the pathway being shoveled. Walkways and motor pathways are thereby cleared quickly, at low cost in a reliable, efficient manner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a snow shovel structured for ease in pushing through snow and ice; and more particularly to a contoured snow shovel construction comprising a handle, arm portion, and shovel segment that includes a contoured converging shovel head blade with vertical side walls joined together to form a narrow apex.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Snow removal is often a difficult task, and can become laborious, timely and costly. Snow shovels are commonly utilized for walkways and driveways for both commercial and residential snow removal projects. Snow accumulation of heavy flakes results in difficult removal of heavy snow layers which can cause difficulty in handling conventional snow shovels. Backbreaking snow removal causes many individuals to develop muscle aches and pain, and creates blisters on hands and fingers. Often, one must resort to a snow blower for removal; however such devices can be cumbersome, expensive, and require use of gasoline, which does not store well and may not be readily available when needed.
Conventional snow shovels include a shovel blade attached to a handle, wherein the shovel blade is generally on the horizontal plane so that it longitudinally scrapes along the ground. Heavy snow and ice gathers on the blade weighing down the shovel, and causing more force to be applied by the shovel operator. Although the blades are shallow in height at the ground—shovel blade interface, the blades do not cut through the snow and ice very easily. As the horizontal blade cannot cut through the layers of snow and ice on the vertical plane, the blade must be thrust under the layers when force is applied. Inability of the blade to adequately cut through the snow and ice, together with the heavy load carried by the shovel, increase forces required by shovel operator, tending to cause soreness or injury. This extra force and effort makes snow removal even more tedious, time consuming and frustrating for the shovel operator.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,829,808, 5,906,060, 5,845,949, 5,918,921, 7,059,643 and 7,140,654 disclose snow shovels having a general horizontal blade construction that scrapes or runs parallel to the ground, as is common with construction of conventional snow shovels. The designed shovel blades impart a horizontal blade configuration on the shovel. The horizontal blade shovel construction has limitations owing to its lack of ability to optimally cut through layers of heavy snow and ice. Application of excessive force is required to force the blade underneath the snow and ice layers. As the snow and ice layers load onto the shovel, the shovel becomes heavy and difficult to maneuver.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,165,314, 4,199,181, 5,975,602 and 7,156,435 disclose snow shovels having a general horizontal blade construction on the ground-shovel interface of the shovel, and additionally disclose contoured shovel bodies shaped generally as an arc. These types of shovel constructs are subject to disadvantages similar to those encountered by conventional shovels in that the ground-shovel interface consists of a horizontal blade configuration. Limitations attending horizontal blade shovel constructions apply to the contoured arc-type body constructs, since the contoured arc-type body does not enhance the shovels' ability to optimally cut through layers of heavy snow and ice.
Despite attempts to construct a snow shovel capable of providing a snow shovel construction that maximizes the snow and ice removal in relation to energy expended, there remains a need in the art for a new and improved snow shovel construction contoured on the vertical plane. There is also a need in the art for a snow shovel construction comprising a shovel segment that includes a contoured converging shovel head blade. Further, there exists a need in the art for a shovel having a contoured shovel head with vertical side walls joined together to form a narrow apex uniquely designed to provide optimal cutting through snow and ice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a contoured snow shovel construction that maximizes snow and ice removal in relation to energy expended. Cutting through snow and ice is achieved with minimal energy exertion by means of an improved snow shovel construction, which is contoured on the vertical plane. The shovel acts as a plough to effectively push snow and ice from the sidewalk or pathway. Significantly, the snow shovel is provided with a shovel segment that includes a contoured, converging shovel blade. Dual vertical side walls of the shovel blade are joined together to form a narrow apex uniquely designed to provide optimal cutting through snow and ice.
More specifically, the contoured snow shovel comprises a handle attached to an arm portion which, in turn, extends to a shovel segment. The shovel segment comprises a contoured converging blade. Vertical side walls of the contoured converging blade are joined together to form a narrow apex. Advantageously, the narrow apex cuts through snow layers and ice in a highly efficient manner. As the snow and ice break-up, the crumbled snow and ice particles are ploughed by the vertical side walls to either side of the shovel head, effectively clearing the walkway being shoveled.
The contoured snow shovel moves snow quickly and efficiently without the need for motors, petroleum, oil and the like. It is lightweight and easily stored in a small space or hung on a wall for future use. Shoveling is accomplished without having to lift or carry clumps of snow. The contoured snow shovel acts like a plow when moved across a sidewalk or driveway area, causing snow to be pushed away to either side of the shovel head, efficiently clearing a walkway or motoring path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the contoured snow shovel;

FIG. 2 shows a top side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows one of the vertical side walls which is appointed to be joined to another vertical side wall to form the narrow apex, contoured, converging shovel blade or head shown by FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a contoured snow shovel having a narrow apex that is appointed to move snow quickly and efficiently without the need for a snow blower and the like. Due to its construction, which preferably includes fabrication with low density, durable materials, the contoured snow shovel is lightweight and easily stored in a small space or hung on a wall for future use. Shoveling is accomplished without having to pick up or carry clumps of snow. The contoured snow shovel acts like a plow when moved across a sidewalk or driveway area. Snow is readily pushed away to either side of the contoured converging shovel blade. Walkways and motoring paths are thereby cleared quickly, at low cost, in a highly efficient manner.
In a preferred embodiment, the contoured snow shovel is constructed with a shovel segment that comprises a contoured, converging blade, which operates to cut through snow layers and penetrate ice. At the same time, the contoured converging blade pushes broken-up snow or ice along the sides of the blade to plough the pathway. The contoured converging blade is constructed having vertical side walls joined together to form a narrow apex. This narrow apex functions to cut through the snow layers and ice. As the snow and ice break-up, the snow and ice particles are ploughed by the vertical side walls to either side of the shovel head, effectively clearing the walkway being shoveled. Preferably, the contoured converging blade is formed by the abutment of dual opposing, placed vertical side walls which form the narrow apex at the point of abutment. These vertical side walls are preferably arced to form semi-circular or elliptical portions forming a shallow trough for the snow and ice to be gathered upon and pushed for optimal plowing effect. Also preferably, a lower secondary horizontal blade is incorporated within the horizontal bottom of the vertical side walls. This lower secondary blade acts to effectively scrape along the sides of the contoured converging blade to ensure snow and ice are scraped by the vertical sides as the shovel is pushed on a surface.
Due to the lightweight construction of the contoured snow shovel it can readily be carried to its destination, stored, and handled with minimal energy exertion. Preferably the contoured snow shovel is constructed with a wooden arm portion and a lightweight shovel segment composed of steel, metal, polymeric materials, or a combination thereof.
FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the contoured snow shovel, shown generally at 10. FIG. 2 shows a top side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown generally at 100. FIG. 3 shows one of the vertical side walls which is appointed to be joined to another vertical side wall to form the narrow apex contoured converging shovel blade of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown generally at 200.
In referring to FIGS. 1-3, the contoured snow shovel comprises a shovel body 11 having a handle 14, angled arm portion 13, and a shovel segment 12. A contoured converging blade shovel head 20 is connected to the shovel segment 12 of the shovel body 11 at joint 15. Contoured converging blade 20 includes dual vertical side walls 21 joining together to form a narrow apex 23. Narrow apex 23 cuts through the heavy of thick snow with ease. Vertical side walls 21 preferably have an arced shape 22 or curved shape (elliptical, or the like) therein on the vertical plane x-x as well as on the horizontal plane y-y so that the side walls 21 are curved. The arced nature of the side walls 21 better enables the blade to cut through snow to be removed and push the snow to either side of the shovel head. With this arrangement, pathways can be formed in a highly efficient manner.
Vertical side walls 21 preferably include secondary horizontal blades 30 along the bottom edge 31 thereof. In operation, the secondary horizontal blades 30 act to further provide scraping and penetration of the snow and ice as the shovel is pushed along the pathway. Preferably secondary horizontal blades 30 have a smaller depth at the bottom edge 31 in order to provide a tapering effect at the edges. Such tapering produced by the secondary horizontal blades facilitates clean scraping of the surface during snow removal. Vertical side walls 21 are preferably constructed of a rigid polymeric material. Alternatively, vertical side walls 21 are composed of a metal, such as stainless steel, or other lightweight, durable steel.
The narrow apex segment 23 preferably includes a substantially rigid tip covering 40. Covering 40 is composed of a durable material in order to provide optimal cutting in the snow and ice. For example, covering 40 may be composed of a steel material. Significantly, covering 40 is structured as a vertical wedge, as shown at 45 (FIG. 2). In this manner, narrow apex segment 23 optimally penetrates snow and ice and breaks and fragments the snow for removal with minimal force exerted by the shovel operator.
The height (y-y) of the contoured converging blade 20 provided by side walls 21 preferably ranges from 3 inches to 12 inches. More preferably, the height ranges from 4 inches to 6 inches. In this manner, the vertical height of the contoured shovel enables the narrow apex segment 23 to cut through deep snow and ice, while at the same time providing a side wall 21 depth that best enables snow and ice to be collected along either side of the shovel head, moved substantially simultaneously in opposite, lateral directions, and plowed from the pathway being shoveled.
Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to, but that additional changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

Claims

1. A contoured snow shovel comprising:

a. a handle, an arm portion, and a shovel segment;

b. said shovel segment including a contoured converging blade with two vertical side walls that are joined together to form a narrow apex, said apex comprising a vertical wedge;

c. said vertical side walls comprising secondary horizontal blades; and

d. said narrow apex segment includes a substantially rigid tip covering.

2. A contoured snow shovel as recited by claim 1, wherein said vertical side walls joined together to form said narrow apex have an arc shape.

3. A contoured snow shovel as recited by claim 1, wherein said vertical side walls joined together to form said narrow apex have a curved shape.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. A contoured snow shovel as recited by claim 1, wherein said shovel segment is composed of a polymeric material.

7. A contoured snow shovel as recited by claim 1, wherein said shovel segment is composed of a metallic material.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. A contoured snow shovel as recited by claim 1, wherein said contoured converging blade has a height ranging from 3 inches to 12 inches.

11. A contoured snow shovel as recited by claim 1, wherein said contoured converging blade has a height ranging from 4 inches to 6 inches.