Foldable Shovel with Rotating Handle for Safe Carrying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable shovels are not optimally designed for carrying, as they pose hazards if the user stumbles and fall, are often flimsy, difficult to assemble, and lack intuitive deployment, especially in emergency situations where quick access is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A foldable shovel design with rotatable and detachable handle elements that can be easily transitioned between carrying and deployed positions, allowing for single-handed operation and improved safety during use, featuring a shovel blade with two edges and a retractable shaft for enhanced portability and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the shovel is made collapsible for portability, then the carrying burden is reduced, but the device becomes flimsy and breakable
Solution Approach 1:
The shovel is divided into separate components (blade, shaft sections, handle) that can be collapsed into a compact configuration for carrying, yet maintain structural integrity when deployed. The segmented design allows the shovel to be lightweight for portability while each segment is engineered to bear appropriate loads during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The shovel employs dynamic structural elements such as telescoping shaft sections and articulating joints that allow the device to transition between compact carrying position and extended working position. This dynamic design enables the shovel to adapt its structure based on operational needs, providing strength when deployed and compactness when carried.
2Volume of moving object
If the handle grip is positioned for compact carrying, then portability is improved, but it digs into the user's vertebrae and causes injury
Solution Approach 1:
The handle grip position is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to be adjusted between a compact position for carrying and an ergonomic position for use. When deployed, the handle extends to a position that maintains proper spinal alignment and prevents digging into the vertebrae, while in carrying mode it consolidates to a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle configuration changes its geometric parameters (position, angle, extension) based on operational mode. In carrying mode, the handle parameters are optimized for compactness, while in working mode, the parameters are adjusted to provide ergonomic grip positioning that prevents injury to the user's spine.
3Loss of time
If the shovel is designed for quick deployment in emergencies, then response time is reduced, but the assembly becomes complex and non-intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The shovel components are pre-configured and pre-positioned to enable rapid assembly. Connection interfaces are designed with alignment features and quick-connect mechanisms that guide the user through intuitive assembly steps, eliminating the need for complex procedures or specialized knowledge during emergency deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The shovel incorporates self-aligning connection mechanisms and intuitive interface designs that guide the assembly process automatically. The structural elements are designed to naturally align and connect without requiring precise manual positioning or complex manipulation, enabling even a panicked or injured user to assemble the device quickly and intuitively.
4Area of stationary object
If the shovel blade is made larger for effective shoveling, then the shoveling capability is improved, but the overall size increases and reduces portability
Solution Approach 1:
The shovel blade is designed as a separate, detachable component that can be optimized for effective shoveling area while the overall shovel structure remains compact when collapsed. The blade can be securely attached when needed for effective shoveling operations, yet stored separately or in a compact position when portability is the priority.
Solution Approach 2:
The shovel employs a telescoping and articulating structure that allows the blade to be positioned at an optimal distance from the handle during use, effectively increasing the functional blade area without permanently increasing the collapsed overall size. The dimensional configuration changes between compact storage and extended working states.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided that includes a shovel blade and one or more handle elements, wherein the shovel blade may fold together with the one or more handle elements for portability such that the person carrying the portable shovel on their back is shielded from the handle elements of the shovel poking or injuring them if they should fall down while carrying the portable shovel.