Snow Shovel Box Support Structure for Ice Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow shovel designs face challenges with costly manufacturing due to complex blade formations, corrosion from salt infiltration, and ergonomic issues with assembly and weight distribution, particularly with open-sided plate attachments that lead to ice and snow buildup.
Innovation Solution
A support structure featuring an enclosed, contoured box with separated walls and blade support ribs that securely attaches the handle to the blade, allowing for lightweight, flat blade designs that prevent snow and ice accumulation, and simplifies assembly with minimal hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If curves, rolled beads and turned up edges are added to the blade to provide structural support, then the blade can withstand loads without buckling, but the manufacturing cost increases due to multiple machine operations
Solution Approach 1:
The blade structure is segmented into a flat blade body and a separate box support structure with internal ribs and walls. This segmentation allows the blade to remain flat and simple for low-cost manufacturing, while the box structure provides the necessary structural support through its internal geometry rather than surface features.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding complexity to the two-dimensional blade surface with curves and beads, the support structure extends into the third dimension by creating a box-shaped structure with internal ribs and walls. This dimensional transition provides structural support without complicating the blade's primary working surface.
2Strength
If the blade is made extremely thick and heavy to withstand loads, then structural support is improved, but the overall weight of the shovel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shovel assembly uses a composite structure combining a thin, lightweight blade with a separate box support structure made from materials optimized for strength-to-weight ratio. This composite approach allows the blade to remain thin and light while the box structure provides the necessary load-bearing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support function is moved from the blade's thickness dimension to a separate three-dimensional box structure. This allows the blade itself to remain thin and lightweight, while the box structure provides structural support through its volumetric geometry and internal ribbing.
3Strength
If open sided plates with gussets are used to attach the handle to the blade, then structural support is provided, but snow and ice build up on the structure during use
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful feature of open-sided plates that allows snow and ice accumulation is eliminated by extracting the support function into a closed box structure. The box structure encloses the handle attachment area, preventing snow and ice from building up on the attachment mechanism while still providing the necessary structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The box structure acts as an enclosing shell that protects the internal attachment mechanism from environmental factors. This shell-like structure prevents snow and ice accumulation on the critical attachment components while allowing the blade and handle to perform their functions.
4Ease of manufacture
If open sided plates are used for handle attachment, then assembly is simplified, but corrosion occurs due to salt infiltration through the interphase between plate and blade
Solution Approach 1:
The corrosion vulnerability of open-sided plates is eliminated by extracting the attachment function into a closed box structure. This enclosure prevents salt and moisture infiltration at the plate-blade interface, thereby preventing corrosion while maintaining assembly simplicity through the integrated box design.
Solution Approach 2:
The box structure serves as a protective shell that seals the internal attachment mechanism from corrosive environmental factors. This enclosed shell prevents salt and moisture from reaching the metal components, thereby eliminating corrosion issues while maintaining ease of assembly through the integrated design.
5Strength
If gussets are used to provide structural support, then blade strength is improved, but significant weight is added to the shovel assembly from snow and ice build up
Solution Approach 1:
The snow and ice build-up problem associated with gusseted structures is eliminated by extracting the support function into a closed box structure. This enclosure prevents snow and ice from accumulating on the support elements, thereby eliminating the additional weight that would result from such accumulation while maintaining the necessary structural support.
Data Source
AI summary
A support structure for securing a handle member to the blade portion of a snow shovel or snow pusher. The support structure includes an enclosed and contoured box portion having separated walls integrally formed to one another supporting the connection between the handle member and the blade portions of the shovel assembly. The box support structure provides lightweight multidirectional support while preventing build-up of snow and ice from the combined assembly. The support structure allows the blade member to be formed flat and smooth for low resistance operation for snow and ice removal.