Snow shovel with convex edge

Abstract

A shoveling implement (10) includes an elongate shaft (12) attached to a blade (14) having a convexly shaped portion (16) protruding from the backside of the blade adjacent the lower leading (or distal) edge (17), which allows the blade to be easily pushed over rough or uneven surfaces.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a snow shovel with a blade having a leading lower edge which is specifically configured to easily scrape snow from rough, unpaved ground as well as other irregular or uneven surfaces. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In addition to their smoothly paved driveways, many home-owners have to clear snow from other rough or uneven surfaces, such as wood decks, rooftops, and stone, aggregate, or brick walkways or patios. This is especially true in rural areas, where most people have gravel driveways. In the snow-belt regions, farmers, ranchers, construction workers, service people and others must regularly go out into the field and clear snow from rough terrain. As anyone with experience shoveling snow from rough or uneven surfaces knows, it is difficult and frustrating to do with conventional snow shovels, because the thin, sharp edge of the blade tends to “dig” into the ground or “catch” on protruding ice, nail heads, wood planks,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The invention provides a snow shovel having a blade with a convexly-shaped surface located underneath the leading lower edge, which allows the blade to easily scrape snow from rough, unpaved ground as well as other irregular or uneven surfaces. This curved shape, which begins at the outermost edge of the blade and extends downward to, then up away from the ground, allows the blade to “ride over” protruding irregularities, instead of being abruptly stopped by them, as happens with a conventional shovel having a thin or flat bottom edge.

[0006] Another benefit resulting from the shape of the convex edge is not having to keep the blade (and handle) at a fixed angle to the ground in order to effectively scrape snow. Additionally, the convex edge can be pushed across flat or shingled roofs without causing damage, as often happens with a sharp-edged shovel.

Problems solved by technology

As anyone with experience shoveling snow from rough or uneven surfaces knows, it is difficult and frustrating to do with conventional snow shovels, because the thin, sharp edge of the blade tends to “dig” into the ground or “catch” on protruding ice, nail heads, wood planks, or frozen gravel, bringing forward motion and momentum to an abrupt and often painful wrist-jarring and / or gut-jabbing stop; and when the user attempts to compensate by lowering the shovel shaft, the blade skims up and over the snow, instead of under it.

In snow-belt regions, these rooftops must be periodically cleared of excessive accumulated snow, and these fragile surfaces are easily damaged by sharp-edged, conventional snow shovels.

Because all known hand-held snow shovels have a relatively sharp edge, which is difficult and frustrating to use on rough or uneven surfaces, there is a need for a shovel with an edge better suited for pushing snow across irregular, uneven, or fragile surfaces like rooftops.

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