US20150204038A1

US20150204038A1 - Novel hand-held snow shovel system

Info

Publication number: US20150204038A1
Application number: US14/253,661
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Faraci; Frank Faraci; Peter Masi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-06
Filing date: 2014-04-15
Publication date: 2015-07-23

Abstract

A hand-held snow shovel system features an “A” shaped shovel frame having a “V” shaped angular lower handlebar and a linear upper handlebar. The system features a shovel assembly having a first shovel blade and a second shovel blade. The blades each comprise a curved first blade end tapering to a linear second blade end. The linear first blade end of the first shovel blade is pivotally attached to the linear first blade end of the second shovel blade. The first shovel blade is pivotally located on a frame first side at a frame bottom end. The second shovel blade is pivotally located on a frame second side at the frame bottom end. The shovel assembly can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade and the second shovel blade in-line or at an angle with respect to one another.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/542,949, filed Jul. 6, 2012, the specification(s) of which is/are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to snow shovels and hand held snow removal systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Snow shovels have been used for clearing accumulated snow for many years, perhaps since the origination of the shovel itself. A typical snow shovel is equipped with a generally flat blade constructed from plastic or metal with a centrally located handle attached to the back side. While generally effective, the common snow shovel requires significant physical effort for use leading to premature fatigue and sometimes pain for the user. The present invention features a hand-held snow shovel system for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow via an angularly adjustable blade assembly.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features a hand-held snow shovel system for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow via an angularly adjustable blade assembly. In some embodiments, the system comprises an “A” shaped shovel frame. In some embodiments, the shovel frame tapers from a frame bottom end to a frame top end.
In some embodiments, the system comprises a “V” shaped angular lower handlebar. In some embodiments, the system comprises a linear upper handlebar located on the frame top end. In some embodiments, the lower handlebar is located between the upper handlebar and a cross member.
In some embodiments, the system comprises a shovel assembly having a first shovel blade and a second shovel blade. In some embodiments, the first shovel blade is a mirror image of the second shovel blade. In some embodiments, the blades are curved, e.g., semicylindrical, concaved, etc. In some embodiments, the blades each comprise a curved first blade end tapering to a linear second blade end. In some embodiments, the linear first blade end of the first shovel blade is pivotally attached to the linear first blade end of the second shovel blade.
In some embodiments, the first shovel blade is pivotally located on the frame first side at the frame bottom end. In some embodiments, the second shovel blade is pivotally located on the frame second side at the frame bottom end. In some embodiments, the shovel assembly can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade and the second shovel blade in-line or at an angle with respect to one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a rear perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an in-line position.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 4A shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 4B shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an in-line position.

FIG. 4C shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 4D shows a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 4E shows a side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 5A shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an in-line position.

FIG. 5B shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an in-line position.

FIG. 5C shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 6A shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 6B shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 7A shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 7B shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 8A shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 8B shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 9A shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 9B shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 10A shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 10B shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 11A shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 11B shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 12A shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 12B shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

FIG. 13 shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an in-line position.

FIG. 14 shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the shovel assembly in an angular position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:

- 100 Snow shovel system
- 200 Shovel frame
- 210 Frame first side
- 215 Frame second side
- 230 First side shovel mount
- 235 Second side shovel mount
- 360 Cross member
- 500 Upper handlebar
- 501 Upper handlebar first side
- 502 Upper handlebar second side
- 510 Grip component
- 600 Shovel assembly
- 610 First shovel blade
- 620 Second shovel blade
- 900 Frame top end
- 905 Frame bottom end
- 910 Lower handlebar
- 911 Lower handlebar first side
- 912 Lower handlebar second side
- 920 First connecting arc
- 925 Second connecting arc
- 930 Blade
- 931 First blade end
- 932 Second blade end
- 940 Central cylinder
- 941 First telescopic rod
- 942 Second telescopic rod

Referring now to FIG. 1-14, the present invention features a hand-held snow shovel system (100) for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow via an angularly adjustable blade assembly. In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises an “A” shaped shovel frame (200) having a frame first side (210), a frame second side (215), a frame top end (900), and a frame bottom end (905). In some embodiments, the frame first side (210) and the frame second side (215) are attached by a plurality of cross members (360) located there between. In some embodiments, the shovel frame (200) tapers from the frame bottom end (905) to the frame top end (900). In some embodiments, the shovel frame (200) is constructed from metal. In some embodiments, the shovel frame (200) is constructed from plastic.
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a “V” shaped angular lower handlebar (910) having a lower handlebar first side (911) and a lower handlebar second side (912). In some embodiments, the lower handlebar first side (911) is located on the frame top end (900) at an obtuse angle with respect to the frame first side (210). In some embodiments, the lower handlebar second side (912) is located on the frame top end (900) at an obtuse angle with respect to the frame second side (215).
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a linear upper handlebar (500) having an upper handlebar first side (501) and an upper handlebar second side (502). In some embodiments, the upper handlebar (500) is located on the frame top end (900).
In some embodiments, the lower handlebar (910) is disposed at an angle with respect to the upper handlebar (500) to allow one hand of the user to be positioned on each to provide a side force for scooping at an angle. In some embodiments, the lower handlebar (910) is disposed at an angle with respect to the upper handlebar (500) is novel and critical to the present invention.
In some embodiments, the lower handlebar (910) is located between the upper handlebar (500) and the cross member (360). In some embodiments, the upper handlebar first side (501) is located on and contiguous with the lower handlebar first side (911) via a first connecting arc (920). In some embodiments, the upper handlebar second side (502) is located on and contiguous with the lower handlebar second side (912) via a second connecting arc (925). In some embodiments, the upper handlebar first side (501) is located at an acute angle with respect to the lower handlebar first side (911). In some embodiments, the upper handlebar second side (502) is located at an acute angle with respect to the lower handlebar second side (912).
In some embodiments, the shape and angular orientation of the lower handlebar (910), the upper handlebar (500), the first connecting arc (920), and the second connecting arc (925), and the contiguous construction of the aforementioned components, is novel and critical to the present invention. In some embodiments, this combination of features provides for the user to grip the system (100) in numerous ways providing both comfort and variations of side force for shoveling snow.
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a shovel assembly (600) having a first shovel blade (610) and a second shovel blade (620). In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) is a mirror image of the second shovel blade (620). In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) are hereinafter referred to as blades (930). In some embodiments, the blades (930) are curved.
In some embodiments, the blades (930) each comprise a curved first blade end (931) tapering to a linear second blade end (932). In some embodiments, the linear second blade end (932) of the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally attached to the linear second blade end (932) of the second shovel blade (620). In some embodiments, the shape of the blades (930) is novel and critical to the present invention.
In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally located on the frame first side (210) at the frame bottom end (905) via a pivoting first side shovel mount (230) located on a back surface of the first shovel blade (610). In some embodiments, the second shovel blade (620) is pivotally located on the frame second side (215) at the frame bottom end (905) via a pivoting second side shovel mount (235) located on a back surface of the second shovel blade (620).
In some embodiments, a first telescopic rod (941) is adjustably attached to the first side shovel mount (230) and a second telescopic rod (942) is adjustably attached to the second side shovel mount (235). In some embodiments, the first telescopic rod (941) and the second telescopic rod (942) are each adjustably located in opposing ends of a central cylinder (940) located on the shovel frame (200).
In some embodiments, the first telescopic rod (941) attached to the first side shovel mount (230) and the second telescopic rod (942) attached to the second side shovel mount (235) are independently adjustable from one another.
In some embodiments, the first telescopic rod (941) attached to the first side shovel mount (230) and the second telescopic rod (942) attached to the second side shovel mount (235) are adjustably linked to one another to ensure equal angular adjustment.
In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) in-line with one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow. In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) located at an angle with respect to one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow.
In some embodiments, the upper handlebar (500) comprises a grip component (510) located thereon. In some embodiments, the lower handlebar (910) comprises a grip component (510) located thereon.
In some embodiments, a hand-held snow shovel for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow via an angularly adjustable blade assembly comprises a shovel frame (200) and a shovel assembly (600).
The present invention features a shovel assembly (600) having a first shovel blade (610) and a second shovel blade (620). In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) is a mirror image of the second shovel blade (620). In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) are hereinafter referred to as blades (930). In some embodiments, the blades (930) each comprise a first blade end (931) and a second blade end (932). In some embodiments, the second blade end (932) of the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally attached to the second blade end (932) of the second shovel blade (620).
In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally located on a frame first side (210) at a frame bottom end (905) of a shovel frame (200). In some embodiments, the second shovel blade (620) is pivotally located on a frame second side (215) at the frame bottom end (905) of a shovel frame (200).
In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) in-line with one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow. In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) located at an angle with respect to one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow.
The present invention features a shovel assembly (600) having a first shovel blade (610) and a second shovel blade (620). In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) is a mirror image of the second shovel blade (620). In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) are hereinafter referred to as blades (930). In some embodiments, the blades (930) each comprise a first blade end (931) and a second blade end (932). In some embodiments, the second blade end (932) of the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally attached to the second blade end (932) of the second shovel blade (620).
In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally located on a frame first side (210) at a frame bottom end (905) of a shovel frame (200). In some embodiments, the second shovel blade (620) is pivotally located on a frame second side (215) at the frame bottom end (905) of a shovel frame (200).
In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) in-line with one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow. In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) located at an angle with respect to one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow.
The present invention features a shovel assembly (600) having a first shovel blade (610), a second shovel blade (620), a third shovel blade, and a fourth shovel blade. In some embodiments, the blades (930) are pivotally attached in a sequence. In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610), the second shovel blade (620), the third shovel blade, and the fourth shovel blade in-line with one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow. In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610), the second shovel blade (620), the third shovel blade, and the fourth shovel blade located at an angle with respect to one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow. In some embodiments, one or more blades (930) may be positioned in-line with each other and one or more blades (930) may be positioned at an angle with respect to one another.
The present invention features a shovel assembly (600) having a first shovel blade (610), a second shovel blade (620), and a third shovel blade. In some embodiments, the blades (930) are pivotally attached in a sequence. In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610), the second shovel blade (620), and the third shovel blade in-line with one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow. In some embodiments, the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610), the second shovel blade (620), and the third shovel blade located at an angle with respect to one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow. In some embodiments, one or more blades (930) may be positioned in-line with each other and one or more blades (930) may be positioned at an angle with respect to one another.
In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) is centrally mounted on the shovel frame (200) and the second shovel blade (620) is mounted on the first blade end (931) or the second blade end (932) of the first shovel blade (610) and can be used to divert snow in a desired direction.
The present invention features a shovel assembly (600) having a first shovel blade (610), a second shovel blade (620). In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) are each divided into two linear components. In some embodiments, the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) are each divided into two linear components that are individually adjustable on a horizontal axis.
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a salt spreader disposed on a top of the shovel frame (200) thereon. In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises one or more wheels disposed on the shovel frame (200) thereon.
As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number.
The disclosures of the following U.S. patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0258888 A1; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0214316 A1; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2005/0268498; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0088148; U.S. Pat. No. 8,166,677; U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,558; U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,072; U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,830; U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,704; U.S. Pat. No. 2,388,985; and U.S. Pat. No. 885,909.
Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. Reference numbers recited in the claims are exemplary and for ease of review by the patent office only, and are not limiting in any way. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting of” is met.
The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hand-held snow shovel system (100) for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow via an angularly adjustable blade assembly, wherein the system (100) comprises:

(a) an “A” shaped shovel frame (200) having a frame first side (210), a frame second side (215), a frame top end (900), and a frame bottom end (905), wherein the frame first side (210) and the frame second side (215) are attached by a plurality of cross members (360) located there between, wherein the shovel frame (200) tapers from the frame bottom end (905) to the frame top end (900);

(b) a “V” shaped angular lower handlebar (910) having a lower handlebar first side (911) and a lower handlebar second side (912), wherein the lower handlebar first side (911) is located on the frame top end (900) at an obtuse angle with respect to the frame first side (210), wherein the lower handlebar second side (912) is located on the frame top end (900) at an obtuse angle with respect to the frame second side (215);

(c) a linear upper handlebar (500) having an upper handlebar first side (501) and an upper handlebar second side (502), wherein the upper handlebar (500) is located on the frame top end (900);

wherein the lower handlebar (910) is located between the upper handlebar (500) and the cross member (360), wherein the upper handlebar first side (501) is located on and contiguous with the lower handlebar first side (911) via a first connecting arc (920), wherein the upper handlebar second side (502) is located on and contiguous with the lower handlebar second side (912) via a second connecting arc (925), wherein the upper handlebar first side (501) is located at an acute angle with respect to the lower handlebar first side (911), wherein the upper handlebar second side (502) is located at an acute angle with respect to the lower handlebar second side (912);

(d) a shovel assembly (600) having a first shovel blade (610) and a second shovel blade (620), wherein the first shovel blade (610) is a mirror image of the second shovel blade (620), wherein the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) are hereinafter referred to as blades (930), wherein the blades (930) are curved,

wherein the blades (930) each comprise a curved first blade end (931) tapering to a linear second blade end (932), wherein the linear second blade end (932) of the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally attached to the linear second blade end (932) of the second shovel blade (620),

wherein the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally located on the frame first side (210) at the frame bottom end (905) via a pivoting first side shovel mount (230) located on a back surface of the first shovel blade (610), wherein the second shovel blade (620) is pivotally located on the frame second side (215) at the frame bottom end (905) via a pivoting second side shovel mount (235) located on a back surface of the second shovel blade (620),

wherein a first telescopic rod (941) is adjustably attached to the first side shovel mount (230) and a second telescopic rod (942) is adjustably attached to the second side shovel mount (235), wherein the first telescopic rod (941) and the second telescopic rod (942) are each adjustably located in opposing ends of a central cylinder (940) located on the shovel frame (200),

wherein the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) in-line with one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow, wherein the shovel assembly (600) can be affixed into a position having the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) located at an angle with respect to one another for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow.

2. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the upper handlebar (500) comprises a grip component (510) located thereon.

3. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the lower handlebar (910) comprises a grip component (510) located thereon.

4. A hand-held snow shovel for facilitating effective removal of accumulated snow via an angularly adjustable blade assembly, wherein the shovel comprises:

(a) a shovel frame (200); and

(b) a shovel assembly (600) having a first shovel blade (610) and a second shovel blade (620), wherein the first shovel blade (610) is a mirror image of the second shovel blade (620), wherein the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) are hereinafter referred to as blades (930), wherein the blades (930) are curved,

wherein the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally located on a frame first side (210) at a frame bottom end (905) via a pivoting first side shovel mount (230) located on a back surface of the first shovel blade (610), wherein the second shovel blade (620) is pivotally located on a frame second side (215) at the frame bottom and (905) via a pivoting second side shovel mount (235) located on a back surface of the second shovel blade (620),

5. A shovel assembly (600) having a first shovel blade (610) and a second shovel blade (620), wherein the first shovel blade (610) and the second shovel blade (620) are hereinafter referred to as blades (930), wherein the blades (930) each comprise a first blade end (931) and a second blade end (932), wherein the second blade end (932) of the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally attached to the second blade end (932) of the second shovel blade (620),

wherein the first shovel blade (610) is pivotally located on a frame first side (210) at a frame bottom end (905) of a shovel frame (200), wherein the second shovel blade (620) is pivotally located on a frame second side (215) at the frame bottom end (905) of a shovel frame (200),