Foldable Shovel With Integrated Lighting And Leveler
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shovels are cumbersome and difficult to operate when buried under debris, lacking a practical means to determine the direction of escape and providing adequate lighting in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A foldable shovel apparatus with a securing cord, protruding teeth, integrated lighting, and a leveler apparatus, along with a carrying case that includes additional lighting and utility slots for emergency supplies, allowing for easier navigation and access to essential tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional shovel is used, then the digging function is provided, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The shovel is divided into multiple segments that can fold relative to each other. The handle is segmented into sections that can collapse, and the blade is segmented to allow folding, transforming the shovel from a rigid bulky structure to a compact foldable configuration that is easy to carry while maintaining full digging functionality when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The shovel transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic foldable structure. Hinges and folding mechanisms allow the shovel to change its configuration between a deployed digging position and a collapsed carrying position, enabling it to adapt to different operational requirements and reducing bulk when not in use.
2Loss of information
If a conventional shovel is used, then the digging function is provided, but the user cannot determine the direction of escape in the dark
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shovel with additional emergency survival features including a light source, a level indicator, and a compass. These separate functional elements are merged into a single integrated emergency apparatus that the user carries, allowing them to determine escape direction and see surroundings while maintaining the primary digging function.
Solution Approach 2:
The emergency apparatus is designed with multi-functionality to address multiple survival needs simultaneously. The device provides digging capability through the shovel, directional orientation through the level and compass, and illumination through the light source, making it a universal survival tool that handles various emergency situations without requiring multiple separate devices.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional shovel is used, then the digging function is provided, but the device is too large to operate with limited range of motion
Solution Approach 1:
The shovel's segmented design allows it to collapse into a compact form that can fit within limited spaces and be maneuvered with restricted range of motion. When deployed, the segments extend to provide full digging capability, but when retracted, they create a small profile that can be operated in confined spaces where a conventional shovel would be too large to manage.
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency apparatus having: a foldable shovel having: a shovel handle; a shovel head pivotally engaged with the shovel handle; a lighting apparatus associated with the shovel handle; a leveler apparatus associated with the shovel handle; and a utility slot nested within the shovel handle; and a carrying case configured to engage with the foldable shovel and secure the foldable shovel to a user. Different embodiments of the carrying case may be capable of providing additional functions, such as providing redundant lighting and leveler apparatuses, and additional storage space. The emergency apparatus is sufficiently small and lightweight to avoid encumbering the user.