Snow shovel and method of using the same

Abstract

A snow shovel and a method of using the snow shovel are provided. The snow shovel comprises an elongated shaft, a blade movably coupled to the shaft, a lock mechanism for locking the shaft to the blade and a spring-loaded cable running through the elongated shaft. The lock mechanism comprises a plurality of notches located on a rear surface of the blade and a locking bar attached to the spring-loaded cable. Upon pulling upward the spring-loaded cable, the locking bar is released from the notch such that the blade can be adjusted relative to the shaft.

1 . A snow shovel comprising:
 an elongated shaft having a handle end and a blade end;   a blade pivotally coupled to the blade end of the shaft;   a lock mechanism for fixing a blade angle between the shaft and the blade;   a lock release having a spring-loaded cable running through the elongated shaft from the handle end to the blade end; and   wherein exerting tension on the spring-loaded cable releases the lock mechanism thereby permitting adjustment of the blade angle.   
     
     
         2 . The snow shovel of  claim 1 , wherein the lock mechanism comprise a plurality of notches located on a back surface of the blade and a locking bar attached to the spring-loaded cable, the locking bar being received in at least one of the plurality of notches upon a spring force toward the at least one of the plurality of notches at a lock position. 
     
     
         3 . The snow shovel of  claim 1 , wherein the lock mechanism comprise a plurality of main notches in a direction parallel to at least one edge of the blade, and a plurality of secondary notches perpendicular to the at least one edge of the blade. 
     
     
         4 . The snow shovel of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of notches are located at a protrusion in a central area on a back surface of the blade. 
     
     
         5 . The snow shovel of  claim 3 , wherein the pluralities of main notches are located at positions to allow the blade to rotate different angles relative to the shaft along a plane parallel to the at least one edge of the blade. 
     
     
         6 . The snow shovel of  claim 5 , wherein an outmost notch allows the blade to rotate a maximum of approximate 45-degrees relative to the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The snow shovel of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of secondary notches are located at positions to allow the blade to rotate through different angles relative to the shaft along a plane perpendicular to the at least one edge of the blade. 
     
     
         8 . The snow shovel of  claim 7 , wherein an outmost notch allows the blade to rotate a maximum of approximate 10-degrees relative to the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The snow shovel of  claim 1 , wherein the releasing means comprise a grip held at the handle end of the shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The snow shovel of  claim 1 , further comprising a first D-shaped handle coupled to the handle end of the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The snow shovel of  claim 10 , further comprising a second T-shaped bar handle located below the first handle. 
     
     
         12 . The snow shovel of  claim 11 , further comprising a third D-shaped handle located below the second handle, the third D-shaped handle being perpendicular to the shaft or having an angle between 0-degrees to 90-degrees relative to an upward direction of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The snow shovel of  claim 1 , wherein the blade has a concave front surface for holding snow, a convex rear surface for engaging with the shaft, a pair of parallel straight edges, and a pair of parallel curved edges. 
     
     
         14 . The snow shovel of  claim 13 , further comprising a pair of end plates perpendicular to the at least one edge and extending from the two curved edges. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using a snow shovel having an elongated shaft having a handle end and a blade end, a blade pivotally coupled to the blade end of the shaft, a locking mechanism for fixing a blade angle between the shaft and the blade, a lock release having a spring-loaded cable running through the elongated shaft from the handle end to the blade end, the method comprises:
 exerting tension on the spring-loaded cable;   releasing the locking mechanism;   adjusting the blade angle by rotating the blade relative to the shaft; and   locking the blade to the shaft.   
     
     
         16 . The method of using the snow shovel of  claim 15 , wherein releasing the locking mechanism comprises withdrawing the locking bar from one of a plurality of notches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of using the snow shovel of  claim 16 , wherein rotating the blade comprises rotating the blade along a plane parallel to at least one edge of the blade. 
     
     
         18 . The method of using the snow shovel of  claim 17 , wherein rotating the blade comprising rotating the blade along a plane perpendicular to the at least one edge of the blade. 
     
     
         19 . The method of using the snow shovel of  claim 16 , wherein locking the blade comprise releasing the spring-loaded cable and inserting a locking bar into one of the plurality of notches.