Snow Shovel

Abstract

The snow shovel easily and with minimal effort, scoops up a pile of snow, pivot and wheels the contents to another location, whereupon operation of a lever releases its load. The telescoping frame and rotatable handle provides a selection of lockable positions. The front mounted scoop head is pivotally mounted to the lower end of the frame. Upon activation of a release lever, the scoop head is allowed to rotate downward, releasing its load. A wheel assembly mounted to an intermediate portion of the frame supports the shovel in an inclined position, allowing the user to concentrate on applying force in a forward direction rather than expending effort lifting the handle. Furthermore, the wheel assembly acts as a fulcrum whereby downward pressure on the handlebars of the shovel elevates the scoop for ease of transport. The wheel assembly may be rotated towards the frame when not in use.

1 . A snow shovel, comprising: 
 an elongated frame having an upper end and a lower end;    a handle assembly mounted to the upper end of said elongated frame;    a wheel assembly mounted to an intermediate portion of said frame;    a scoop release assembly fixedly mounted to the lower end of said frame; and    a scoop having a front scoop section, a rear section, and a rearward facing mounting block fixedly attached to said rear section, said mounting block pivotally mounted within said scoop release assembly, whereby said scoop has a first fixed operating position in which said scoop is horizontally aligned with said scoop release assembly, and a second operating position in which said scoop freely rotates in a vertical plane.    
   
   
       2 . The snow shovel according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle assembly includes a substantially horizontal handlebar having a pair of spaced apart handles and a stem depending from the center of said handlebar, said stem pivotally mounted to the upper end of said telescoping frame, such that said handle assembly can be adjusted in a vertical plane between pre-selected vertical angles relative to said frame.  
   
   
       3 . The snow shovel according to  claim 2 , further comprising a scoop release component mounted on said handlebars whereby activation of said scoop release component allows said scoop to vertically rotate within the scoop release assembly between the first position and said second position.  
   
   
       4 . The snow shovel according to  claim 3 , further comprising a first elongated flexible member extending between said scoop release component and said scoop release assembly.  
   
   
       5 . The snow shovel according to  claim 3 , further having: 
 a handle angle adjustment mechanism mounted between said handle stem and the upper end of said frame; and    a handle angle adjustment component mounted on said handlebar;    whereby activation of said handle angle adjustment component permits said handle assembly to be secured at uniformly spaced angles relative to said frame.    
   
   
       6 . The snow shovel according to  claim 5 , further comprising a second elongated flexible member extending between said handle angle adjustment component and said handle angle adjustment mechanism.  
   
   
       7 . The snow shovel according to  claim 5 , wherein said handle angle adjustment component has a plurality of spring loaded pins securing said handle assembly to said frame.  
   
   
       8 . The snow shovel according to  claim 1 , wherein said wheel assembly includes a pair of wheels, each of said wheels rotatably connected to a wheel strut, each wheel strut pivotally mounted to a wheel assembly mounting bar, whereby said wheels are pivotal from a position proximate to said frame to an extended position substantially normal to said frame.  
   
   
       9 . The snow shovel according to  claim 1 , wherein said scoop mounting block has a transverse lip having a forward facing first lateral abutment surface and a second rear facing arcuate abutment surface.  
   
   
       10 . The snow shovel according to  claim 9 , wherein said scoop release assembly includes a left side, a right side, a traversing member, and a spring-loaded latch slidably received between said left side and said right side.  
   
   
       11 . The snow shovel according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of said elongated frame is adjustable.  
   
   
       12 . A snow shovel, comprising: 
 a telescoping frame having an upper end and a lower end;    a handle assembly pivotally mounted to the upper end of said telescoping frame, said handle assembly including a handlebar, a handle stem depending from the center of said handlebar, and a handle angle adjustment assembly;    a handle angle adjustment component mounted to said handlebar;    a wheel assembly pivotally mounted to an intermediate portion of said frame;    a scoop release assembly fixedly mounted to the lower end of said telescoping frame; and    a scoop having a front scoop section, a rear section, and a rearward facing mounting block fixedly attached to said rear section, said mounting block pivotally mounted to said scoop release assembly, whereby said scoop has a first operating position in which said scoop is horizontally aligned with said scoop release assembly, and a second operating position in which said scoop is free to pivot in a vertical plane;    a scoop release component mounted on said handle assembly;    a first elongated flexible member interconnecting said scoop release component and said scoop release assembly; and    a second elongated flexible member extending between said handle angle adjustment component and said handle angle adjustment mechanism.