Laterally Adjustable Snow Shovel Reinforced by Braces

Abstract

A shovel includes a handle assembly connected to a blade or a bracket of a blade for pivoting between a first position or second position at a first or second acute angle between the blade axis and the handle axis. The blade also has a third position at substantially a right angle between the handle axis and the blade axis. A pair of braces are attached to the blade. A set of holes or an arcuate slot are provided in the bracket or blade to brace the handle assembly at one of the three positions with the help of fasteners.

1 . A shovel comprising: 
 an elongated handle assembly having an upper end, a lower end and a handle axis;    a blade having a blade axis, the blade being pivotally connected to the lower end of the handle assembly, for pivoting between a first position at a first acute angle between the handle and blade axes on one side of the blade, and a second position at a second acute angle between the handle and blade axes on an opposite side of the blade;    a first elongated cross brace having a lower end connected to one side of the blade, the first cross brace having an upper end connected to the handle assembly at a bracing location on the handle assembly that is spaced from the blade;    a second elongated cross brace having a lower end connected to an opposite side of the blade, the second cross brace having an upper end connected to the handle assembly at the bracing location on the handle assembly;    each of the first and second cross braces having, at their respective upper ends, means for bracing the blade in the first and the second positions; and    a bracket comprising an upper bracket portion pivotally connected to the lower end of the handle assembly, and a lower bracket portion fixed to the blade, the handle assembly being pivotally connected with the blade, the upper bracket portion including an arcuately aligned set of holes and a handle assembly engaging hole spaced vertically from the arcuately aligned set of holes, the shovel including fasteners extending through at least one hole of the arcuately aligned set of holes and handle assembly engaging hole, and engaged to the lower end of the handle assembly for pivotally connecting the handle assembly to the blade.    
   
   
       2 . A shovel according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle fastened to at least one stem.  
   
   
       3 . A shovel comprising: 
 an elongated handle assembly having at least one handle at an upper end attached to a stem which leads to a lower end and a handle axis;    a blade having a blade axis;    pivotally connecting means for pivotally connecting the blade to the lower end of the handle assembly, for pivoting between a first position at a first acute angle between the handle and blade axes on one side of the blade, a second position at a second acute angle between the handle and blade axes on an opposite side of the blade, and a third position at substantially a right angle between the handle and blade axes along the center vertical axis of the blade;    a first elongated cross brace having a lower end pivotally connected to one side of the blade, the first cross brace having an upper end detachably connected to the handle assembly at a bracing location on the handle assembly that is spaced from the blade;    a second elongated cross brace having a lower end pivotally connected to an opposite side of the blade, the second cross brace having an upper end detachably connected to the handle assembly at the bracing location on the handle assembly;    each of the first and second cross braces having, at their respective upper ends, further means for bracing the blade in the first, second, and third positions; and    the pivotally connecting means comprise a bracket fixed at an upper end to the handle assembly and pivotally connected at a lower end to the blade at a substantially central connection area of the blade, one of the bracket and blade including an arcuate slot and an engaging hole spaced vertically from the arcuate slot, the shovel including fasteners extending through the slot and an engaging hole for pivotally connecting the handle assembly to the blade at the first, second and third positions.    
   
   
       4 . A shovel according to  claim 3 , wherein the further means for bracing comprises a plurality of holes in each of the cross braces, one hole of the first cross brace being aligned with one hole of the second cross brace for establishing each position of the blade, the shovel including a connector engagable with the handle assembly adjacent the bracing location for passing through the aligned holes of the cross braces.  
   
   
       5 . A shovel according to  claim 3 , wherein the arcuate slot is in the bracket.  
   
   
       6 . A shovel according to  claim 3 , wherein the arcuate slot is in the blade.  
   
   
       7 . A shovel according to  claim 3 , wherein the handle is engaged to the stem via a connector passing through holes in both the handle and stem.  
   
   
       8 . A shovel comprising: 
 an elongated handle assembly having at least one handle at an upper end attached to a stem which leads to a lower end and a handle axis;    a blade having a blade axis;    pivotally connecting means for pivotally connecting the blade to the lower end of the handle assembly, for pivoting between a first position at a first acute angle between the handle and blade axes on one side of the blade, a second position at a second acute angle between the handle and blade axes on an opposite side of the blade, and a third position at substantially a right angle between the handle and blade axes along the center vertical axis of the blade;    a first elongated cross brace having a lower end pivotally connected to one side of the blade, the first cross brace having an upper end detachably connected to the handle assembly at a bracing location on the handle assembly that is spaced from the blade;    a second elongated cross brace having a lower end pivotally connected to an opposite side of the blade, the second cross brace having an upper end detachably connected to the handle assembly at the bracing location on the handle assembly; and    the pivotally connecting means comprise a bracket fixed at an upper end of the bracket to the handle assembly and being pivotally connected at a lower end to the blade at a substantially central connection area of the blade, one of the bracket and blade including an arcuately aligned set of holes and an engaging hole spaced vertically from the set of holes, the shovel including fasteners extending through one of the set of holes and the engaging hole for fixing the handle assembly to the blade at one of the first, second and third positions.    
   
   
       9 . A shovel according to  claim 8 , including a plurality of holes in each of the cross braces, one hole of the first cross brace being aligned with one hole of the second cross brace for establishing each position of the blade, the shovel including a connector engagable with the handle assembly adjacent the bracing location for passing through the aligned holes of the cross braces.  
   
   
       10 . A shovel according to  claim 8 , wherein the arcuately aligned set of holes is in the bracket.  
   
   
       11 . A shovel according to  claim 8 , wherein the arcuately aligned set of holes is in the blade.  
   
   
       12 . A shovel according to  claim 8 , wherein the handle is engaged to the stem via a connector passing through holes in both the handle and stem.