# US 9,039,054 B1 · Load launching shovel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,054 B1 - Document ID: US9039054B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/366,635 - Filed: 2012-02-06 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-06 - Applicants: Donald L. French - Inventors: Donald L. French - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039054B1 ## CPC - A01B 1/026: {with auxiliary handles for facilitating lifting} - A01B 1/02: Spades; Shovels - E01H 5/02: Hand implements (E01H5/04, E01H5/10, E01H5/12 take precedence {shovels or spades in general A01B1/02; brooms, brushes A46B}) - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) - E01H: STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING {OR PREVENTING} FOG IN GENERAL {CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS}(cleaning in general B08B) ## Abstract A hand operated shovel system for moving materials that uses spring enhanced human power to increase force during the flinging part of shoveling. A user adds propulsive force to a shovel having a spring located between the handle and the blade. Motion of the handle and blade rotates the spring to store energy expended during the initial acceleration of lifting, and applies the stored energy back into the material during the deposition step, increasing the ballistic trajectory of the material. If material deposition can be accomplished without flinging, the shovel acts as a substantially rigid body for standard shoveling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of materials movement using spring enhanced human power to increase leverage, the steps comprising: a) supplying propulsive force to a spring assisted shovel system for said materials movement, said force being selected from the group: impulse and linear; b) modulating said force to said spring assisted shovel system; c) applying torque to a helical torsion spring; d) capturing potential energy within said helical torsion spring; e) varying said force to said spring assisted shovel system; f) releasing said potential energy from said helical torsion spring; g) applying said potential energy to said spring assisted shovel system; and h) applying said potential energy to said materials movement, wherein said application of said potential energy enhances the ballistic trajectory of said materials. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said modulating said force step (b) comprises a lifting impulse acceleration of said materials on said spring assisted shovel system for a predetermined time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said applying torque to said helical torsion spring step (c) further comprises storing a moment arm movement of said helical torsion spring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said storing a moment arm movement further comprises storing an initial rotational acceleration of said impulse force of said moment arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said varying said force step (e) further comprises decelerating said supplied force, whereby said captured potential energy from said helical torsion spring is released into said material and applied thereto. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said enhancement of said ballistic trajectory is concomitantly positively affected by said application of captured potential energy applied thereto, subsequent to the termination of said propulsive force to said material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said material is selected from the group: frozen water, granular, conglomerate, organic, and inorganic. ### Claim 8 In a hand operated shovel system having a handle and a shovel blade, the improvement comprising: a) a helical torsion spring operatively connected to said handle; b) means operatively connected to said handle for hingedly attaching said shovel blade thereto; c) a removably attached retention device on said handle for restraining said helical torsion spring; d) means for capturing rotational energy within said helical torsion spring; and e) means for releasing stored energy within said helical torsion spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hand operated shovel system of claim 8, wherein said means for hingedly attaching said shovel blade to said handle allows bidirectional rotational movement thereof respective to said handle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The hand operated shovel system of claim 8, wherein said removably attached retention device on said handle comprises physical restraint thereto of one end of said helical torsion spring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hand operated shovel system of claim 10, wherein a free end of said helical torsion spring is operatively connected to said shovel blade. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The hand operated shovel system of claim 8, wherein said means for capturing and said means for releasing rotational energy are actuatable by physical movement of said hand operated shovel system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The hand operated shovel system of claim 8, wherein said physical movement is selected from the group: impulse, linear, acceleration, and deceleration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The hand operated shovel system of claim 8, wherein said helical torsion spring is replaceable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The hand operated shovel system of claim 8, wherein said helical torsion spring further comprises means for adjusting said helical torsion spring to accommodate different material loads. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The hand operated shovel system of claim 15, wherein said means for adjusting said helical torsion spring comprise a range of spring constants. ### Claim 17 In a hand operated shovel system having a handle and a shovel blade, the improvement comprising: a) a horizontal bisection of said shovel blade having an upper blade section and a lower blade section; b) means operatively connected to said bisected shovel blade for hingedly attaching said bisected shovel blades thereto; c) a spring operatively connected to said bisected shovel blade sections; d) a removably attached retention device on said bisected shovel blade sections for restraining said spring; e) means for capturing rotational energy within said spring; and f) means for releasing stored energy within said spring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hand operated shovel system of claim 17, wherein said means for hingedly attaching said bisected shovel blades sections thereto comprises a continuous hinge allowing bidirectional rotational movement thereof said lower blade section respective to said handle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The hand operated shovel system of claim 17, wherein said means for capturing and said means for releasing rotational energy are actuatable by physical movement of said hand operated shovel system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The hand operated shovel system of claim 17, wherein said spring further comprises a range of spring constants.