Shovel-like digging, scooping and transporting apparatus with back-strain relief features

• US 4,865,372 A
• Filed: 06/20/1988
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edwin Z. Gabriel
• Original Assignee: Edwin Z. Gabriel
• Inventors: Gabriel, Edwin Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Application Number:
  US07/211,063
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 37/265, 37/284, 37/285, 37/137, 37/130, 37/141 R, 37/DIG. 12, 37/120, 37/121, 294/54.5, 294/55.5, 294/55, 294/57, 294/58, 294/59, 294/49
• US Class Current: 294/49
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 1/00 Hand tools edge trimmers for lawns A01G3/06 ; machines for working soil A01B35/00; making hand tools B21D
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/02 Hand implements E01H5/04, E01H5/10, E01H5/12 take precedence shovels or spades in general A01B1/02; brooms, brushes A46B

Abstract

This is a compact shovel-like apparatus capable of performing many tasks, including digging, scooping up materials dug, and then enabling one to transport such materials to a chosen site, where the materials would be dumped without straining one'"'"'s back. The apparatus consists of a removable handle, including bicycle-like handle bars, a round tubular member, and a shovel-head, capable of holding an ample quantity of materials. Runners are an integral part of the shovel-head'"'"'s underneath to enable one to push the apparatus over suitable terrain, without lifting. For transportation over hard surfaces, like concrete sidewalks and streets, wheels are provided, as an option. In one embodiment the shovel-head is perforated to permit liquids to be discharged, while retaining nonliquid substances. This head'"'"'s perforated surface may have a resilient plastic overlay to prevent liquids and powdery substances from passing through the holes. In another embodiment the tubular member'"'"'s angle can be adjusted to suit the user for the particular gardening task to be performed, thus avoiding back strain. With the aid of the plastic overlay, the same basic shovel-head may be used for all of the embodiments. Also a technique is shown for quickly and effortlessly replacing just the toothed strip of the shovel-head. This apparatus being on wheels would enable some physically handicapped persons to do some gardening and similar tasks, including snow shoveling.

Claims

1. A shovel-like apparatus for digging, scooping and transporting a shovel of loose or wet materials to a desired site, comprising:

(a) a shovel-head formed to provide a semi-enclosure open to the top and providing a support surface portion for the transporting of said shovelful of materials, said head having means for removable attachment of a rod-like member;

(b) a substantially rigid rod-like member with an upper and a lower end, said lower end mountable in the removable attaching means on the shovel-head;

(c) a handle removably attached at its intermediate portion to the upper end of the rod-like member, said handle having a stem portion sized and adapted for removable attachment to the upper end of the rod-like member, said handle having bicycle-like grips on each end of the handle;

(d) a multiplicity of perforations in said shovel-head, these perforations providing means for drainage of unwanted fluid from snow and the like, these perforations also providing means for spreading seed, fertilizer and the like when carried on the upper surface of the shovel-head;

(e) a front-edge strip adapted for removable mounting to a front edge of the support surface portion of said shovel-head, and

(f) said head provided with a shaped pliable sheet, perforated with holes, said sheet sized to be removably seated on the support surface portion of the shovel-head, its holes aligning with the holes of said perforations of the shovel-head;

but its holes being sized smaller than the holes of said shovel-head;

(g) said head being provided with runners on the underside of said head for ease in transporting of said materials.

2. A shovel-like apparatus as in claim 1, and wherein said bicycle-like grips are replaceable by a stemmed knob, and said strip replaceable by one having several fork-like prongs for scooping up manure, spreading and raking manure or for scooping up fish from streams.

3. A shovel-like apparatus for digging, scooping and transporting a shovelful of loose or wet materials to a desired site, comprising:

(a) a shovel-head formed to provide a semi-enclosure open to the top and providing a support surface portion for the transporting of said shovelful of materials, said head having means for removable attachment of a rod-like member;

(b) a substantially rigid rod-like member with an upper and a lower end, said lower end mountable in the removable attachment means on the shovel-head,

(c) a front-edge strip adapted for removable mounting to a front edge of the support surface portion of said shovel-head;

(d) said support portion formed with a number of studs with indentations which are fastened along said front of said shovel-head support portion member, said studs adapted for protruding through holes formed in said strip, a cam assembly having a winged knob, said cam assembly rotatably fastened to said shovel-head, said knob manually rotated for translational sliding said strip for placement of said strip on said shovel-head support portion, said winged knob when rotated 180°

causing said strip to move translationally sufficiently for said strip to engage said indentations of said studs and be clamped in place;

the removal of said strip being accomplished by reversing rotation of said knob and causing said strip to move in the opposite direction to enable its removal by prying up said strip with a sharp-edged tool, for the purpose of replacing said strip.

4. A shovel-like apparatus for digging, scooping, plowing and transporting a shovelful of loose or wet materials to a desired site, comprising:

(a) a shovel-head with an upper tubular part and with a support surface for transporting said shovelful of materials, said head having means for removable attachment of a rod-like member;

(b) a substantially rigid rod-like member with an upper and lower end, said lower end mountable in the removable attachment means on the shovel-head;

(c) a handle attached at its intermediate portion to the upper end of the rod-like member, said handle having a removable stem portion, sized and adapted for attachment to the upper end of the rod-like member, said handle having bicycle-like grips on each end of the handle;

(d) the lower end of said rod-like member including two diametrically opposing and staggered button-like hemispheres integrally attached to the ends of leaf springs;

said tubular part of said shovel-head including diametrically opposing pair of holes for said button-like hemispheres;

said hemispheres protruding through holes in said rod-like member and protruding also through the holes in said tubular part when said end is connected to said tubular part;

whereby said rod-like member may be removed easily from said tubular part by manually depressing said hemispheres with one'"'"'s fingers and simultaneously pulling up on said rod-like member;

(e) said tubular part having a second pair of diametrically opposing holes for said hemispheres, enabling said rod-like member to be slightly rotated in relation to said shovel-head and to the original pair of holes, when assembling said lower end of the rod-like member to said tubular part, so said apparatus can perform a plowing function.

5. A shovel-like apparatus for performing a multitude of farming tasks, including catching fish, by virtue of replaceable attachments to its lower end, including digging, scooping and transporting a shovelful of loose, dry or wet materials to a desired site, comprising a semi-enclosed shovel-head, a lightweight tubular rod having a top and a bottom end, removably attached to said shovel-head;

and handles removably attached to said top end of said rod;

said head having a top and an underside surface with its front edge having means for attaching various-shaped metal strips;

said handles comprising a round tubular stem with bicycle-like handles attached thereto;

said shovel-head having perforations for draining off unwanted liquids and for spreading fertilizer and plant seed;

wherein said means for attaching said metal strips to said front edge being screws or bolts, one of said strips having prongs like a pitch fork for shoveling said materials, said materials being essentially hay, fodder and manure, and wherein said shovel-head having at least two wheels attached to said underside surface for transporting said materials to a desired site, in order for said apparatus to perform the combined functions of a pitch fork and a wheelbarrow, thus eliminating the lifting operation to transfer said materials to said wheelbarrow;

such an apparatus also being helpful for some physically handicapped individuals, enabling them to perform pitch-like operations to remove materials from one location and place them in another location.

6. A shovel-like apparatus for digging, scooping and transporting shovelful of loose or wet materials to a desired site, comprising:

(a) a shovel-head formed to provide a semi-enclosure open to the top and providing a support surface portion for the transporting of said shovelfuls of materials, with said portion, in addition to the support surface portion, configured so as to have upwardly-extending back and end portions providing a defined engageable top surface;

(b) a substantially rigid rod-like member with an upper and a lower end, said lower end mountable in the removable attaching means on the shovel head;

(c) a handle removably attached at its intermediate portion to the upper end of the rod-like member, said handle having a stem portion sized and adapted for removable attachment to the upper end of the rod-like member, said handle having bicycle-like grips on each end of the handle;

(d) a cover hingedly attached to the back portion of the shovel head and in closed condition providing means for securing the contents of and on the support surface portion so as to prevent splashing over the back and ends when and while maneuvering said shovel-like apparatus;

(e) a front-edge strip adapted for removable mounting to a front edge of the support surface portion of said shovel head, and

(f) latch means on said rod-like member and adapted to selectively engage and retain said cover in a "shovel open" condition as and when desired, and by manipulation to release said cover to a closed condition when desired.

7. A shovel-like apparatus as in claim 6 in which the latch means is a U-shaped spring secured to said rod-like member.

8. A shovel-like apparatus as in claim 7 in which the latch means includes an elongated narrow protrusion on said cover adapted to engage said leaf spring to engage and retain said cover in the open condition.