Hand tool

1. An improved hand tool comprising:

an elongated handle member coupled to a tool head;

a junction between the elongated handle member and a surface of the tool head defining an elongated interface;

a first weld provided at least partially along the elongated interface so that the tool head is rigidly attached to a lower end of the elongated handle member;

a step portion extending from the tool head and having a recess that receives the elongated handle member; and

a second weld between the step portion and the elongated handle member proximate the recess.

2. The improved hand tool of claim 1 wherein the tool head is one of a shovel, a spade, a fork, a rake, a hoe, and a cultivator.

3. The improved hand tool of claim 1 wherein the elongated handle member has an offset configuration.

4. The improved hand tool of claim 1 wherein the step portion includes a plurality of treads formed thereon.

5. The improved hand tool of claim 1 further comprising a gripping member coupled to a upper end of the elongated handle member and having a cross-section that is substantially circular.

6. The improved hand tool of claim 5 wherein a top portion of the gripping member is offset from an axis of the upper end of the elongated handle member.

7. The improved hand tool of claim 1 , wherein the first weld defines a substantial U shape on the tool head.

8. The improved hand tool of claim 1 wherein the hand tool is provided as a commercially available product.

9. An improved hand tool having a handle member coupled to a tool head, the improvement comprising:

a junction between the handle member and a surface of the tool head defining an elongated interface;

a weld provided at least partially along a perimeter of the elongated interface;

a step member extending from the tool head and including a recess configured to at least partially receive a lower end of the handle member;

a weld joining the step member and the lower end of the handle member proximate the recess;

so that the tool head is rigidly attached to the lower end of the handle member.

10. The improved hand tool of claim 9 wherein the tool head is one of a shovel, a spade, a fork, a rake, a hoe, and a cultivator.

11. The improved hand tool of claim 9 further comprising a gripping member coupled to an upper end of the handle member, wherein the gripping portion includes a top portion having a substantially arcuate profile that is coupled to a bottom portion having a substantially U-shaped profile configured to provide a lower gripping surface.

12. The improved hand tool of claim 9 wherein the tool head includes a blade member formed of a material having a first thickness and the step member has a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

13. The improved hand tool of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of treads formed in a crisscross pattern on the step member.

14. The improved hand tool of claim 9 wherein the tool head includes a step end and a leading end each having a first thickness, and a substantially planar section between the step end and the leading end having a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

15. An improved hand tool having a handle member coupled to a tool head where the tool head includes a blade member and a step member, the improvement comprising:

a lower end of the handle member having an angled face configured for placement on a face of the blade member to define an interface therebetween;

the angled face of the handle member secured to the face of the blade member at least partially along the interface;

the blade member integrally formed with the step member, the step member having a plurality of treads and a recess at least partially surrounding the lower end of the handle member; and

a weld that couples the step member to the lower end of the handle member at the recess.

16. The improved hand tool of claim 15 wherein the interface between the angled face of handle member and the face of the blade member defines an elongated interface, and wherein a weld is provided at least partially along a perimeter of the elongated interface so that the tool head is rigidly attached to the lower end of the handle member.

17. The improved hand tool of claim 15 further comprising a gripping member disposed at an upper end of the handle member, wherein the gripping member includes a top portion with opposite ends defining an arc therebetween to provide an upper gripping surface and a bottom portion configured to provide a lower gripping surface and coupled to the opposite ends of the top portion and coupled to the handle member.