Snow shovel with box support structure
A support structure for securing a handle member to the blade portion of a snow shovel or snow pusher. The support structure includes an enclosed and contoured box portion having separated walls integrally formed to one another supporting the connection between the handle member and the blade portions of the shovel assembly. The box support structure provides lightweight multidirectional support while preventing build-up of snow and ice from the combined assembly. The support structure allows the blade member to be formed flat and smooth for low resistance operation for snow and ice removal.
1. A support structure for connecting a blade to a handle of a shovel comprising:
a handle tube member, said handle tube member having an inner tubular surface, an outer tubular surface, a top end surface and a bottom end surface, said inner tubular surface having a substantially conjugate shape with respect to a first end of a shovel handle for receiving said first end of said shovel handle therein,
a rear wall, said rear wall including an outer surface, an inner surface, a rear wall perimeter surface and a perimeter bottom surface, said rear wall integrally formed to said outer tubular surface of said handle tube member along a rear portion thereof, said rear wall extending outward with respect to said handle tube member,
a front wall spaced apart from and extending generally parallel with respect to said rear wall so that a space remains between said front wall and said rear wall, said front wall integrally formed to said handle tube member along a front portion thereof and extending outwardly with respect thereto,
a top wall integrally formed to a perimeter surface of said rear wall and a perimeter surface of said front wall connecting said front wall and said rear wall along a top surface, as well as a left side perimeter surface and a right side perimeter surface of said rear wall, said top wall integrally formed to said handle tube member extending between said front wall and said rear wall,
said front wall terminating short of the length of said rear wall, an intermediate wall integrally formed to and extending from a bottom perimeter surface of said front wall to said inner surface of said rear wall where the intermediate wall is also integrally formed, defining a box structure formed by said rear wall, said front wall, said top wall and said intermediate wall,
said rear wall and said top wall extending beyond the length of said front wall to support a shovel blade, a perimeter bottom wall integrally formed to said top wall and said rear wall to provide a space between a rear surface of a blade member and said inner surface of said rear wall,
a shovel blade member positioned and secured to be in contact with a front edge surface of said perimeter bottom wall and said left side perimeter top wall and said right side perimeter top wall to maintain said spacing between said rear surface of said blade member and said inner surface of said rear wall.
2. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said handle tube member is integrally formed to said intermediate wall.
3. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 1 wherein said bottom end surface of said handle tube member is integrally formed to said intermediate wall.
4. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 1 including at least one blade support channel, said at least one blade support channel integrally formed to and extending outwardly from an outer surface of said front wall, said blade support channel adapted to support an upturned portion of said blade member.
5. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 4 wherein said at least one blade support channel includes an outer blade support wall, an inner blade support wall and a front blade support wall, said outer blade support wall, said inner blade support wall and said front blade support wall integrally formed together and arranged to form a U-shaped blade support channel, said front blade support wall arranged to set parallel and in contact with said upturned portion of said blade member.
6. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 5 wherein a portion of said inner blade support wall is integrally formed to said outer surface of said handle tube member.
7. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 5 wherein a portion of said outer blade support wall is integrally formed to said outer surface of said front wall.
8. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 5 wherein said front blade support wall includes at least one fastener aperture for securing said upturned portion of said blade to said U-shaped blade support channel.
9. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 5 wherein said inner surface of said rear wall includes a plurality of blade support ribs integrally formed thereto, said blade support ribs shaped to extend between said inner surface of said rear wall and said rear surface of said blade member to provide structural support to said blade member.
10. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 9 wherein a top surface of each said blade support rib is curved to support a curved said rear surface of said blade member.
11. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 1 including at least one divider rib integrally formed to and extending between said rear wall and said front wall, providing structural support to said box structure.
12. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 11 wherein said divider rib is also integrally formed and extending between said top wall and said intermediate wall.
13. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 1 including a plurality of blade attachment tabs secured to said inner surface of rear wall adjacent said perimeter bottom wall, said blade attachment tabs each adapted to receive at least one fastener for securing said blade member to said support structure.
14. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 1 wherein said blade member is substantially flat and extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of said handle tube member.
15. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 14 wherein said blade member includes an upturned portion positionable adjacent said handle tube member.
16. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 15 wherein said blade member includes a cylindrical radius extending between said flat portion of said blade member and said upturned portion of said blade member.
17. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 1 wherein said support structure is constructed from resin material.
18. The support structure for connecting the blade to the handle of a shovel of claim 17 wherein said resin material is plastic.