Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8177272 | Snow/utility shovel having arrangements to lock the handle and blade to the shaft in different rotational positions while preventing axial movement therebetween An ergonomic shovel that has a curved, bent angle shaft that reduces the user's exertion, strain and fatigue. In addition, when not in use, shovel provides a space saving design so it can be stored nearly flat, saving storage space. This is accomplished by rotating ... | 05/15/2012 |
| 7406975 | Multi-purpose convertible device and application of use A multi-purpose convertible device interchangeably convertible from a shovel mode to an anchor mode, wherein, when in the shovel mode, the convertible device removes earthen material to form an opening, and when in the anchor mode, the earthen material is positioned... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7380848 | Laterally adjustable snow shovel reinforced by braces A shovel includes a handle assembly being pivotally connected to a blade or a bracket of a blade for pivoting between a first position or second position at a first or second acute angle between the blade axis and the handle axis. The blade also has a third position... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7347468 | Combined shovel and clearing tool arrangement A combined shovel and clearing tool with a shovel and a clearing tool member for being coupled to the shovel. The clearing tool member can be selectively retained in a usage disposition, such as relative to a leading edge of a shovel blade, and in a storage disposit... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7318612 | Gravity actuated retrieval device Gravity-actuated device for retrieving various types of objects from various ground surfaces. The device has a single retrieval arm pivotably mounted on a slender frame. Gripping elements on the end of the retrieval arm allow the operator to grip a variety of object... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7305779 | Snow-shoveling apparatus An apparatus includes a shaft that has proximal and distal end portions. The shaft includes spaced grip covers conjoined about an outer surface thereof and is provided with a centrally registered sleeve formed therein. An arcuately shaped plow section is affixed to ... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7299614 | Collapsible rake A novel rake minimally consists of: at least two tine frames, each tine frame having a plurality of tines coupled thereto; a tine frame coupling for coupling to proximal ends of each of the tine frames; pivot mechanisms coupled between the tine frames and the tine f... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7293317 | Holding device and cleaning tool with the holding device Disclosed is a holding device including a handle and a support member pivotally connected to a front end of the handle for supporting a cleaning wiper. The support member has a pivot axis oriented in a direction crossing a shaft axis of the handle. The support membe... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7260866 | Device for clearing rain gutters A gutter-clearing tool having a scoop-plate and a top-plate where the front end of the top-plate is pivotally attached to the top end of the scoop-plate, and the top plate is attached to a rod. A pivot joint allows the scoop-plate to close upwardly toward the top pl... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7134208 | Ergonomic handle for vegetation trimmer A vegetation trimmer having a head, a handle and an intermediate portion interconnecting the head to the handle. The intermediate portion is configured to include a first portion, a second portion and a third portion that are each arranged about a respective axis. T... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7111741 | Multi-purpose rake The multi-purpose rake includes a rake head and a detachable pole for pulling the rake across a surface. The rake head has a frame with two arced end ribs, an upper and a lower crossbar extending between the end ribs. The upper crossbar has a sleeve or other attachm... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7100313 | Mechanical digging device A mechanical digging device with a handle-like support is provided with a digging part near its bottom end and two grip arms on its upper end, a support part embodied on the bottom end of the support and a rotating device mounted on the support and connected to the ... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7077444 | Two handled shovel A two handled shovel for clearing a surface, the shovel comprising a blade having a leading edge which contacts the surface, a main handle attached to the blade, and an auxiliary handle pivotally attached to the blade near the leading edge. The shovel may be used by... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7032941 | Tool including adjustable handle A tool includes different tool heads, and an angularly adjustable handle. The angular adjustability allows better ergonomic body posture during use, thus reducing stress and injury, and also allows multiple functions for each tool. The handle comfortably receives a ... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7017234 | Folding tools with locking hinges Folding tools including a tool blade and a handle are foldably connected by a lockable hinge which permits folding the assembly for compact storage but automatically locks into a rigid assembly when fully unfolded. The hinge operates by the movement of a locking bar... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6925676 | Gutter cleaner The cleaner includes a long pole having a mirror adjacent its upper end for inspection of the gutter from the ground without using a ladder. A gutter-clearing tool above the mirror has a downwardly angled arm provided with a lower working tip that may be in the natu... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6922920 | Snow removal device A snow removal apparatus in the form of a shovel in which a leveraged arrangement is used to lift snow gathered on the shovel blade by lateral movement of such blade while supported by a handle adjustably secured upon the blade and the shovel handle is rested upon a... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6578890 | Snow grabber A snow removal device for elevated positions, such as roofs, while remaining on the ground. The device includes a shovel type head 10 which folds back, to assist the slide motion up the surface of a pitched roof. The shovel type head 10 is spring 14 loade... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6526619 | Gutter cleaning system A gutter cleaning system has a shovel with a working surface and a connecting component. The connecting component is a rigid member. A handle has inboard and outboard components and a locking mechanism to vary the length of the handle. An adjustable holde... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6457757 | Snow shoveling apparatus with handle and blade adjustable during movement of apparatus A snow shoveling apparatus includes a handle mounted to an intermediate portion of a base of a mobile frame such that the handle can undergo pivotal movement between selected vertical angles relative to the base, a tool mounted to a front end of the base ... | 10/01/2002 |
| 6412841 | Multi-use cleanup tool system A multi-use cleanup tool system used for providing a portable device that can be utilized as a dustpan or a shovel. The multi-use cleanup tool system includes a scoop, support bracket attached to the scoop, an elongate handle pivotally attached to the sup... | 07/02/2002 |
| 6332635 | Connection for detachably connecting a tool implement and a tool handle A tool having a tool handle and a tool head. A tubular member is provided on one end of the tool handle, with the axis of the tubular member extending transverse to the tool handle. A cylindrical member is provided on the non-working end of the tool head.... | 12/25/2001 |
| 6315341 | Shovel having an adjustable blade angle A shovel having an adjustable blade angle for changing the angle of the blade with respect to the handle. The shovel having an adjustable blade angle includes a handle member. The handle member is elongate and has a first end and a second end. A blade mem... | 11/13/2001 |
| 6290273 | Articulated snow shovel The present invention concerns a manual snow discarding device that takes into account the security and the efficiency of the snow discarding operation. The device includes at a lower extremity of a shaft an angularly adjustable bent section having a lowe... | 09/18/2001 |
| 6254154 | Hole digging tool An improved digging tool for digging holes and the like. A shovel is pivotally attached to a handle shaft and includes an improved primary lever mechanism and a secondary lever mechanism.... | 07/03/2001 |
| 6237258 | Snow or other bulk material removal apparatus An apparatus (10) includes a planar engagement member (20), a plurality of support members (30, 40), and a cylindrical handle member (60). The engagement member (20) can move a bulk material across a substantially planar surface. The plurality of cylindri... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6196600 | Animal waste scooping and disposal device An animal waste scooping and disposal device with a replaceable disposable bag mounted on the rear of the scooping tray is disclosed. This disposable bag, coupled with the pivoting tray, enables the user to collect several different areas of animal waste ... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6155620 | Ergonomically efficient tool An improved ergonomically efficient tool having two adjustable and lockable bends allowing the handle to be bent to selected angles at each bend. An alternate embodiment includes a telescoping feature between the two bends allowing the handle length to be... | 12/05/2000 |
| 6131971 | Foldable spade A foldable spade includes an elongated handle with front and rear end portions opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and a biasing member which is disposed proximate to the front end portion, and a blade member with a blade surface wall. A f... | 10/17/2000 |
| 6053548 | Manually-operable combination shovel and plow for snow and other material A manually-operable shovel for efficiently moving material, including a shovel blade, a shovel handle, a joint for attaching the shovel blade to the shovel handle, and an articulation device cooperating with the joint for permitting the operator to positi... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6029998 | Catwalk sticks for propelling a snowboarder Catwalk Sticks are used by snowboarders for pulling themselves along flat terrain. The Catwalk Sticks include a handle, shaft and blade. The blade, which pivots on a bolt, is locked open when in use via a latch. The latch is secured to the shaft via a sha... | 02/29/2000 |
| 5996442 | Hand tool having interchangeable and replaceable striking heads, and assembly process A process for releasably attaching a tool handle to a tool head includes the steps of (1) inserting an end of the tool handle into the tool head through a tool head aperture, (2) turning the end of the tool handle relative to the tool head to engage a pai... | 12/07/1999 |
| 5984393 | Shovel with pivoting head A shovel assembly having a shovel head and a handle shaft. The handle shaft has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the handle shaft propagates along a longitudinal axis. A pivot joint is interposed between the shovel head and the handl... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5971653 | Connector means for allowing radial adjustment of one member relative to another A tool having a tool handle and a tool head. A connecting member is provided on one end of the tool handle, with the axis of the connecting member extending transverse to the tool handle, and a connector is provided on the non-working end of the tool head... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5829808 | Adjustable angle snow shovel An adjustable handle for a shovel such as a snow shovel which has an arcuate slot which cooperates with a fastener on the handle to allow the handle to be adjusted from side to side. A reinforcement is secured to the back of the shovel and surrounds the a... | 11/03/1998 |
| 5810408 | Ergonomically efficient tool An improved ergonomically efficient implement handle having two joints allowing the handle to be bent to selected angles at each joint and a telescoping feature between the two joints allowing the handle length to be adjusted to the height of the user. Th... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5791707 | Snow removal device A snow moving device which can assume the configuration of a roof snow scraper, a snow pusher or plow, and a conventional shovel, comprising a handle connected to a planar rectangular blade via a plurality of support arms, the blade incorporating arcuate ... | 08/11/1998 |
| 5727829 | Combined shovel and broom The present invention provides a combined shovel and broom having a pivoting shovel blade for selectably choosing one of a shoveling position and a brushing position. The combined shovel and broom is simple and allows the shovel portion and the broom port... | 03/17/1998 |
| 5676412 | Folding snow shovel A folding shovel with a two part concave scoop hinged at the center wherein the scoop can be folded in half wherein the handle slides into the hinge and forms the hinge pin and wherein the handle is comprised of two sections, slidingly coupled to each oth... | 10/14/1997 |
| 5630633 | Shovel with driven tiltable blade A shovel having a blade and a handle pivotally mounted on the back of the blade with a mechanism for pivotally retaining the handle at various angles relative to the blade between an open and a closed position. A releasable locking mechanism is operable f... | 05/20/1997 |
