Smooth Push Interference Free Snow Shovel

Abstract

A hand operated snow shovel that will smoothly transition over expansion joints and uneven heights between adjacent surfaces due to the unique design of the leading edge of the blade. The leading edge of the invention is set at an angle to the centerline of the blade to create an offset which effectively makes the leading edge wider than an expansion joint opening and prevents the leading edge from dropping into the expansion joint. In addition, the leading corner of the blade is curved upwards higher than the acceptable height differences in uneven adjacent surfaces. The upwards curve creates a lifting surface for the blade which will cause the leading edge to raise as it is pushed forward allowing the leading edge to smoothly transition from a lower surface to a higher surface as the blade is pushed forward.

What is claimed is that: 
     
         1 . A shovel comprising: a blade with a straight leading edge not perpendicular to the centerline of the blade. 
     
     
         2 . A shovel of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the leading edge, in relation to the centerline of the blade, is set to create an offset that is wider than the width of an expansion joint opening between adjacent slabs in a surface. 
     
     
         3 . A shovel of  claim 1 , that will smoothly transition over expansion joint openings without dropping into an expansion joint opening since the leading edge will be wider than the expansion joint opening given the angle of the leading edge relative to the centerline of the blade. 
     
     
         4 . A shovel of  claim 1 , comprising of a leading edge that is not flat and has a leading corner with an upwards curved surface. 
     
     
         5 . A shovel of  claim 4 , comprising of an upwards curved surface of the leading corner that is set at a non-perpendicular angle to the blade centerline. 
     
     
         6 . A snow shovel of  claim 4 , where the upwards curve of the leading corner raises up higher than the acceptable height difference in adjacent slabs. 
     
     
         7 . A shovel of  claim 4 , that will smoothly transition over a higher edge as the shovel is pushed from a lower slab to a higher slab as the force pushing the snow shovel forward will cause the blade to raise as the curved lifting surface rides over a higher slab edge.