Shovel with rigid, perforated blade

摘要

A shovel includes a handle and a blade in which a central portion of the blade contains a plurality of perforations. The perforations are in an array of rows and columns and the rows extend in a direction perpendicular to the handle. The perforations are elongated and have a length in a direction approximately perpendicular to the handle. The perforations in adjoining columns and rows are interleaved a predetermined amount and the total area of the perforations is about one-half the area of the central portion. The blade is made from a single sheet of steel that is punched and bent into a compound shape to provide a rigid basket for retaining material. The perforated area is relatively flat, extends to the front edge of the blade, and can be reinforced with ridges that are formed when the sheet is bent. The front edge is reinforced by rolling the edge out of the plane of the central portion.