Hand-Actuated Earth Auger

Abstract

A hand-actuated earth auger of the type used to drill water wells, for taking soil samples, or other similar purposes is disclosed. It consists of a spiral or bladed earth drill, extended with one stem rod consisting of one or more stem segments, and one tee handle mounted on a handle collar. The handle collar can be clamped at any height along the stem rod, while the tee handle can be attached to the handle collar in two configurations, resulting in two different heights of the handle. These features allow the operator to lift the auger out of the ground by doing a seated calf raise in two quick increments, corresponding to the two configurations of the tee handle. It also allows the stem rod to be assembled of fewer, but longer stem segments, thus saving on cost.

Claims

1. A hand-actuated earth auger comprising: an earth drill extended with a stem rod; a handle collar capable of being clamped at any location along said stem rod; and a tee handle which can be configured with the handle collar in two ways, corresponding to two different heights of the tee handle measured from the tip of the earth drill.

Description

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded, three-dimensional view of the hand-actuated earth auger in accordance with the present invention equipped with a stem rod having a square cross section, also showing the tee handle configured such that a longer tip-to-handle distance L1 is achieved.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the hand-actuated earth auger in accordance with the present invention, showing the tee handle configured such that a shorter tip-to-handle distance L2 is achieved

[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded, three-dimensional view of the hand-actuated earth auger in accordance with the present invention equipped with a circular cross-section stem rod.

[0013] FIG. 4 shows the hand-actuated earth auger of the present invention as it is lifted off the ground by an operator doing a seated calf raise, with the tee handle positioned across his upper legs.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the hand-actuated earth auger according to the present invention, consisting of an earth drill 10, a stem rod 15, a handle collar 20 and a tee-handle 25. The stem rod 15 has square cross section and assembles with earth drill 10 via a connector end 34 and a bolt 36.

[0015] Stem rod 15 can be fabricated in one piece or can be assembled from multiple stem segments 30 by means of connectors 35, and of bolts 36.

[0016] Handle collar 20 can be clamped at any location along stem rod 15 with the help of clamping bolt 40 which threads into a nut 41 welded on the side of handle collar 20. In another embodiment of the present invention, nut 41 is welded on the edge of handle collar 20, such that the axis of clamping bolt 40 is contained in the diagonal plane of stem rod 15. As it is apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, in order for clamping bolt 40 to engage stem rod 15 when tightened, a sufficiently large hole aligned with the axis of nut 41 must be practiced into handle collar 20 before said nut is welded in place.

[0017] Tee handle 25 consists of a pair of handlebars 46 and a central bracket 47 fastened together by welding or by other means, or are fabricated in one piece.

[0018] Central bracket 47 is provided with a pair of holes 51 and 61 which serve to assemble securely tee handle 25 with handle collar 20 by means of pins 5 and 6 and of a long pin 55. Pins 5 and 6 are provided each with transverse small holes 50 and 60, and are solidly attached to the side of handle collar 20. Pins 5 and 6 are oriented such that they can be inserted through holes 51 and 61 as suggested by the two parallel dashed lines in FIG. 1, resulting in a hand-actuated earth auger assembly as shown in FIG. 2.

[0019] For the hand-actuated earth auger ready for use having the handle collar 20 clamped at a desired location along stem rod 15, and for tee handle 25 secured in place using long pin 55, a distance L1 can be measured between the tip of earth drill 10 and the longitudinal axis of handlebars 46.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows the hand-actuated earth auger of the present invention ready to use, where tee-handle 25 is assembled with handle collar 20 in a flipped position, such that distance L2 measured between the tip of earth drill 10 and the longitudinal axis of handlebars 46 is shorter than distance L1 by an amount equal to the active length of long pin 55.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the hand-actuated earth auger according to the present invention where stem rod 15 and their connectors 36 have circular rather than square cross sections. More compatible with a cylindrical stem rod 15, a handle collar 21 it is provided which ensures clamping through friction for both turning and the puling earth drill 10. As recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art familiar with bicycle saddle adjustments, the desired clamping is the results of closing a slit 65 practiced on one side of handle cleave 21 under the effect of tightening clamping bolt 40 against nut 41.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows an operator of the hand-actuated earth auger of the present invention as he is lifting the earth drill off the ground by doing a seated calf raise. To achieve maximum lifting force, the operator seats on a stool 70, and rests his feet on a rectangular wood block 75 of about two feet long. Wood block 75 can be replaced with a pair of shorter rectangular blocks, in particular with a pair of clay bricks. The operator then adjusts the location of the tee handle 25 along stem rod 15, such that handlebars 46 are positioned in contact with his upper legs. For the first lift, the tee handle 25 is configured for a bigger distance L1 as shown in FIG. 1. After the first successful lift of the earth drill, the tee handle 25 is configured for a smaller distance L2 as shown in FIG. 2 and the seated calf raise maneuver is repeated. Such a dual maneuver is sufficient to unstick the earth drill out of wet sand or claw, after which lifting the auger out of the ground can be completed in a conventional way.

[0023] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been particularly described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it should be understood that the invention is not so limited. Many modifications, equivalents and adaptations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims: