Foldable Snow Shovel With Nested Arcuate Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding scooping/pushing shovels with telescoping handles face issues of increased storage space requirements due to arcuate blades and non-optimal configurations for either scooping or pushing, along with complex and prone-to-degradation locking mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A foldable shovel design featuring two arcuate members hinged together with a locking disk assembly, allowing optimal configuration as either a scooping or pushing device, and made from highly visible materials for hazard indication, with the handle nested within the blade for compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a telescoping handle is used in a folding scooping/pushing shovel, then the handle can be collapsed to reduce storage space, but the locking mechanism becomes complex and prone to degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into multiple telescoping sections that can be collapsed into each other, allowing the handle to be reduced to a compact size for storage while maintaining full extension length for use. The segments are connected by simple hinge joints rather than complex locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping handle sections are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, with each section fitting inside the previous section like nested dolls. This nesting arrangement minimizes the storage volume of the handle while allowing it to extend to full length when needed.
2Ease of operation
If an arcuate blade is used for scooping/pushing snow, then the blade shape is better adapted for moving snow, but the storage space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed with an arcuate shape that maintains its curved form for optimal snow scooping and pushing performance, while the entire blade assembly can be folded or collapsed when not in use. The dynamic folding capability allows the blade to transition between its functional arcuate shape and a compact storage configuration.
3Ease of operation
If the handle extends well beyond the blade perimeter for better leverage, then pushing capability is improved, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is segmented into multiple telescoping sections that can be collapsed into each other, allowing the handle to extend beyond the blade perimeter for optimal pushing leverage when in use, but collapse to a compact size that fits within or near the blade perimeter for storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle length is made dynamic through telescoping sections that can extend and collapse. When extended, the handle provides maximum leverage for pushing snow; when collapsed, the handle retracts to minimize storage space requirements.
4Device complexity
If a fixed angle relationship between handle and blade is used in telescoping handles, then the structure is simpler, but the shovel is not optimized for either pushing or scooping
Solution Approach 1:
The angle between the handle and blade is made dynamic rather than fixed. The handle can be positioned at different angles relative to the blade, allowing optimization for either pushing or scooping functions. This dynamic adjustability is achieved through hinged connections that permit angular movement while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable shovel structured for scooping/pushing is provided. The disclosed foldable shovel includes two arcuate members that are hinged together at one end. In the folded configuration the two arcuate members are nested. Further, the coupling device includes a locking disk assembly structured to allow the arcuate members to be configured in different positions relative to each other. Thus, the foldable shovel may be optimally configured as either a scooping device or a pushing device.