Shovel and related methods

Abstract

A shovel and related methods are disclosed. The shovel has a blade having an underside, an upper side, and at least one side wall, the upper side configured to hold snow. The shovel has a skid coupled to the underside of the blade, and a strap attachment mechanism coupled to the at least one side wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shovel, comprising:
 a blade having an underside, an upper side, and at least one side wall, the upper side configured to hold snow;   a skid coupled to the underside of the blade; and   a strap attachment mechanism coupled to the at least one side wall.   
     
     
         2 . The shovel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle removably coupled to the blade.   
     
     
         3 . The shovel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the skid is detachable from the blade.   
     
     
         4 . The shovel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the strap attachment mechanism is detachable from the blade.   
     
     
         5 . The shovel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the skid comprises a first material;   the blade comprises a second material different from the first material; and wherein   the first material is configured to wear more quickly than the second material.   
     
     
         6 . The shovel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the strap attachment mechanism comprises a first material;   the blade comprises a second material different from the first material; and wherein   the first material is configured to wear more quickly than the second material.   
     
     
         7 . The shovel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of strap attachment mechanisms.   
     
     
         8 . A method of making a shovel, comprising:
 providing a blade having an underside, an upper side, and at least one side wall, the upper side configured to hold snow;   coupling a skid to the underside of the blade; and   coupling a strap attachment mechanism to the at least one side wall.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 removably coupling a handle to the blade.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 detaching the skid from the blade.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 detaching the strap attachment mechanism from the blade.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the skid comprises a first material;   the blade comprises a second material different from the first material; and wherein   the first material is configured to wear more quickly than the second material.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the strap attachment mechanism comprises a first material;   the blade comprises a second material different from the first material; and wherein   the first material is configured to wear more quickly than the second material.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 coupling a plurality of strap attachment mechanisms to the at least one side wall or the underside.   
     
     
         15 . A method of using a shovel, comprising:
 providing a shovel with (a) a blade having an underside, an upper side, and at least one side wall, the upper side configured to hold snow, (b) a skid coupled to the underside of the blade, and (c) a strap attachment mechanism coupled to the blade; and   detaching at least one of the skid or the strap attachment mechanism from the blade.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 removably coupling a handle to the blade.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detaching the skid from the blade.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detaching the strap attachment mechanism from the blade.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the skid comprises a first material;   the blade comprises a second material different from the first material; and wherein   the first material is configured to wear more quickly than the second material.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the strap attachment mechanism comprises a first material;   the blade comprises a second material different from the first material; and wherein   the first material is configured to wear more quickly than the second material.