Pivotable multiple socket

Abstract

A pivotable multiple socket for shovels comprising a rotatable socket member to receive the end of a shovel handle, the socket member being in the form of an adapter which itself seats in and is removable from the permanently mounted socket of the shovel blade, in which the rotatable socket member can be rotated to a plurality of different working positions. The rotatable socket member includes a tubular insert to rotatably seat in the permanently mounted socket of the shovel blade, a first tubular socket to receive the end of the shovel handle in axial alignment with the tubular insert of the socket member, and a second tubular socket for receiving the end of the shovel handle which extends at an oblique angle from the longitudinal axis of the tubular insert portion of the socket member. The socket member in accordance with this invention permits positioning the shovel blade at different angles to the shovel handle, both vertically and horizontally.

I claim: 
     
       1. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel, comprising first socket means to receive the insertable end of a shovel handle, connection means to connect said first socket means to a shovel blade, said connection means including a longitudinal axis extending from a shovel blade at substantially a right angle to the lateral direction across said blade, said first socket means including a first socket cavity, said first socket cavity being axially aligned with said connection means when connected thereto, second socket means to receive the insertable end of a shovel handle, said second socket means including a second socket cavity being positioned on said .[.pivotable multiple.]. socket .Iadd.means .Iaddend.whereby its longitudinal axis extends at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of said first socket cavity, and rotation means operatively associated with said first socket means and said connection means whereby said .[.pivotable multiple.]. socket .Iadd.means .Iaddend.may be rotated on said longitudinal axis of said connection means and of said first socket means axially aligned therewith. 
     
     
       2. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said .[.pivotable multiple.]. socket .Iadd.means .Iaddend.may be rotated three hundred and sixty degrees on said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       3. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said .[.pivotable multiple.]. socket .Iadd.means .Iaddend.may be rotated on said longitudinal axes between a first position in which said second socket cavity extends diagonally at a substantially vertical angle relative to said blade, a second position rotated ninety degrees in one direction from said first position, and a third position rotated ninety degrees in the opposite direction from said first position, said pivotable multiple socket enabling use of said blade as a dozer when said second socket cavity is rotated to said second and third positions and a said shovel handle is received therein. 
     
     
       4. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connection means includes a fixed socket member rigidly mounted on the back wall of a said shovel blade, said fixed socket member including a cylindrical cavity, said first socket means includes an insert end opposite from said first cavity, said insert end being cylindrical and corresponding in dimension to that of said cylindrical cavity of said fixed socket member for being snugly received therein and rotatable therein. 
     
     
       5. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first socket means and said insert end thereof comprise a first elongated tubular member. 
     
     
       6. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second socket means includes a second tubular member, said second tubular member being integrally connected to said first elongated tubular member at an oblique angle thereto. 
     
     
       7. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel as set forth in claim 4, wherein said fixed socket member includes a pair of diametrically opposite apertures opening to said cylindrical cavity thereof, said cylindrical insert of said first socket means includes a first pair of diametrically opposite apertures therethrough, said pair of diametrically opposite apertures of said fixed socket member and said first pair of diametrically opposite apertures of said cylindrical insert being in registration with each other when said cylindrical insert of said first socket means is operably received in said cylindrical cavity of said fixed socket member, and a retaining pin for insertion through said apertures when in said registration with each other. 
     
     
       8. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel as set forth in claim 7, wherein said cylindrical insert of said first socket member includes a second pair of diametrically opposite apertures circumferentially aligned with said first pair of apertures, said second pair of diametrically opposite apertures being angularly spaced apart from said first pair of apertures. 
     
     
       9. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first pair of diametrically opposite apertures of said cylindrical insert of said first socket means is in registration with said diametrically opposite apertures of said fixed socket member when said second socket cavity extends diagonally from said blade in a substantially vertical angle thereto when the lateral dimension of said blade is positioned to extend horizontally. 
     
     
       10. A pivotable multiple socket for a shovel as set forth in claim 9, wherein said second pair of diametrically opposite apertures of said cylindrical insert of said first socket means is in registration with said diametrically opposite apertures of said fixed socket member when said second socket cavity extends diagonally from said blade in a substantially horizontal angle thereto when the lateral dimension of said blade is positioned to extend horizontally. .Iadd. 
     
     
       11.  A shovel including a shovel blade having a shovel handle adapted to be connected thereto, comprising: a socket permanently mounted to a rear wall of said shovel blade;   means for connecting said shovel handle to said shovel blade, said connecting means being insertable into said permanently mounted socket, said connecting means being rotatable relative to said permanently mounted socket;   said permanently mounted socket having a longitudinal axis extending from said shovel blade at substantially a right angle to a lateral direction across said shovel blade, said connecting means being associated with said shovel handle to rotate therewith relative to said permanently mounted socket, said shovel handle having a longitudinal axis adjacent said connecting means extending at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of said permanently mounted socket adjacent said connecting means; and   means for releasably securing said connecting means in a discrete plurality of fixed positions in said permanently mounted socket;   whereby said shovel handle can be retained in any of said discrete plurality of fixed positions for angular adjustment of said shovel handle relative to said shovel blade..Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The shovel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said connecting means includes an insert end and at least one socket means having a socket cavity opposite said insert end, said insert end being insertable into said permanently mounted socket for rotation relative thereto, said socket cavity having a longitudinal axis extending at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of said permanently   
     
     
        mounted socket..Iaddend. .Iadd.13.  The shovel as set forth in claim 12 wherein said socket cavity is adapted to receive an insertable end of said shovel handle, said socket cavity having a longitudinal axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of said shovel handle, and including means for securing said insertable end of said shovel handle in said socket cavity..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The shovel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said securing means includes a pair of diametrically opposite apertures in said permanently mounted socket and a pair of diametrically opposite apertures in said connecting means, respectively, said apertures in said connecting means being adapted for registration with said apertures in said permanently mounted socket, and including a retaining pin for insertion through said respective pairs of apertures when said respective pairs of apertures are in registration with each other..Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The shovel as set forth in claim 14 wherein said securing means further includes a second pair of diametrically opposite apertures in one of said connecting means and said permanently mounted socket, said second pair of apertures also being adapted for registration with said apertures in the other of said connecting means and said permanently mounted socket, said pairs of apertures in said one of said connecting means and said permanently mounted socket being angularly 
     
     
        spaced apart from each other..Iaddend. .Iadd.16.  The shovel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said connecting means is rotatable through three hundred sixty degrees on the longitudinal axis of said permanently mounted socket..Iaddend.