Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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THE GARDEN ~IOLE DIGGER
The present invention relates to a hand operated garden hole
digging device.
Various types of hand operated digging devices are presently
used in the garden. The garden shovel and the garden hoe are
representative of some of these devices. They are made from
rigid material, have a flat or slightly curved surface of varying
sizes for lifting or scooping dirt from the ground and a handle
extending from the lifting surface of varying lengths,
This type of garden digging device has several
disadvantages. The gardener who wishes to dig a hole in order to
transplant a small potted plant or plant a garden bulb is forced
to dig a large hole in the area of the transplant site in order
to dig to the required depth. This is because the nature of the
lifting surface does not allow the dirt to be removed vertically,
but almost horizontally, otherwise it falls off of the surface.
This would be a concern to those gardeners who have a well
groomed lawn and forced to rip it up in order to transplant a few
plants.
Another disadvantage of this type .is time involved in
digging a hole of any depth, let alone of sufficient depth to
transplant most plants or bulbs. It is quite time consuming to
dig a larger area in order to get a hole deep enough, especially
if one wants to transplant several plants or bulbs.
Another disadvantage of this type is the work and subsequent
strain involved in digging a hole. In order to dig a hole with
this type of tool at least three times as much dirt must be
displaced. This requires extra lifting and strain especially for
more elderly gardeners.
Another type of hand powered hole digging device is
available for use by gardeners. This hand held device is cone
shaped and is available in one size. The operator forces the cone
into the ground and lifts it straight upward removing the dirt
left in the hole.
One disadvantage of this type is that the operator must
generate all the torque necessary with their hand. This is
especially difficult to do in hard soil or sod.
Another disadvantage of this type is that the device can
only dig one size of hole.
I Another type of hand powered hole digging device is used by
¦ 50 golf course operators. This device bores a cylindrical hole of
standard size into the golf course.
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One disadvantage of this type is tha-t the hole created is
always the same size and the hole is suited for golf courses.
This rnay be ideal for golfers but does not take into
consideration the varying needs of gardeners.
Another disadvantage of this type is that the device is
extremely unwieldy for gardeners.
It is desirable to have a light, convenient garden hole
digging device that can dig various sizes of holes into the earth
without unnecessarily tearing up grass or even adjacent plants or
bulbs, is capable of lifting dirt cleanly, regardless of the
angle of the device, having a mechanism to quickly change the
size of the digging cup, having a mechanism for ejecting the dirt
once it is lifted out of the ground, is easy to operate and is
time and energy efficient.
The present invention consists of a rigid cylindrical cup,
open at the bottom, a rigid flat base above the cup and to which
the cup is attached, and a rigid handle attached to the base and
extending straight up from the base.
The cylindrical cup can be easily removed from the base to
which it is attached. It has 3 rigid spikes that protrude upward
from the sides of the cylinder and break the plane of the base,
rising far enough through the base for a removable hair pin to be
inserted in a hole in each spike to prevent the cup from becoming
detached from the base.
The cylindrical cup has a jagged cutting edge along the
circumference of the bottom of the cup to facilitate easy
penetration of soil if the cup is rotated.
The base has several specifically measured holes in order to
attach cups of varying sizes. These sizes are 3", 3 1/2" and 4".
The handle extends a sufficient distance vertically such
that when the hole digger is resting on the surface of the earth
the handle can be grasped comfortably from a standing position
without unreasonable bend in the posture of an average human
being.
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The handle further extends horizontally at the point at
which it is grasped thereby forminy handgrips in order to allow
for the hole digyer to be grasped by two hands.
1'he handgrips extend a suitable length from the centre of
the shaft of the handle such that the operator can apply
sufficient force to each handgrip to generate enough downward
force and torque for the cup to be driven into the earth with a
minimum of strain on the operator.
The operator when applying the necessary force and back and
forth rotations to the handgrips creates small rotations of the
cylindrical cup thereby allowing the jagged edge of the cup to be
ground into the earth.
The cylindrical cup is of sufficient height to bore a hole
into the earth of sufficient depth that is useful to the
operator.
The cylindrical cup is of sufficient diameter to bore a hole
into the earth of sufficient width that is useful to the
operator.
There exists more than one cylindrical cup of varying sizes
to facilitate the boring of holes of sufficient width and depth
to satisfy the operator.
There exists an internal mechanism to aid in the lifting of
soil from the ground and the subsequent ejection of soil from the
hole digger.
The internal mechanism is comprised of a rigid flat surface
located wlthin the cup sp~nnlng most of the diameter of the cup
but only a fraction of the height of the cup. A rigid rod is
attached to the flat surface and extending through the centre of
the base deep into the shaft of the handle.
The rod has a rigid extension through the side of the shaft
of the handle. This extension is sufficient to allow the
operator to place their foot upon it.
There is a hole in side of the shaft of the handle to allow
the extension of the rod to move freely vertically while not
jeopardizing the structural rigidity and integrity of the shaft
of the handle.
The movement of the flat surface of the internal mechanism
corresponds to the movement of the rod and the rigid extension of
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the rod. If the extension is fcrced downward then the surface is
forced downward through the height/length of the cylindrical cup
thereby forcing the contents of the cylindrical cup to be
ejected. -
The rigid extension through the shaft of the handle is at a
comfortable height so as to prevent strain of the operator as
they apply downward force on the extension with their foot.
10The invention, as exemplified by a preferred embodiment, is
described with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a front view of the hole digging device; and
Figure 2 is a side view of the hole digging device shown in
Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hole digging device
shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a front view of the internal mechanism of the
hole digging device shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the internal mechanism of
the hole digging device shown in Figure l; and
Figure 6 is a side view of the cylindrical cup of the hcle
digging device shown in Figure 1; and
30Figure 7 is a perspective view of the cylindrical cup of the
hole digging device shown in Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the hole digging
device shown in Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a front view of the internal mechanism of the
hole digging device shown in Figure 1 with a preferred
embodiment.
40Figure 10 is a perspective view of the internal mechanism of
the hole digging device shown in Figure 1 with a preferred
embodiment.
Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention
shown, a hole digging device 10 comprises a cylindrical cup 11, a
base 33, a handle 41, and an internal mechanism 52.
The cylindrical cup is comprised of a cylindrical body 12, a
- : jagged edge 14, and three spikes 16, 18, 20 that protrude above
: 50 the cup in order to be inserted into the base. Each spike has a
hole 22, 24, 26 into which a pin 28, 30, 32 can be inserted to
fix the cup into place.
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~he base is comprised of a ~lat plate 34, into which several -
holes 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 64, 66, 68 have been drilled in
order to insert the cups of varying sizes. -,
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The handle is permanently attached to the base from above
and is comprised of a shaft 42, and two handgrips 48, and 50.
There is a bend 44, and 46 in the handle at the point at which
the handgrips are joined to the shaft. These may be arcuate even
though they are shown in the figures as being angular.
The internal mechanism 52 rests,inside the framework of the
hole digger. It is comprised of a flat surface 54 which is
attached to a straight rod 56 that extends upward from the
surface. There are two foot levers 58, and 60 that extend
horizontally from the straight rod. These are designed to
protrude through the shaft of the handle of the hole digger in
order to operate the internal mechanism.
There is a hole 62 in the shaft of the handle through which
the foot lever protrudes. The hole is of sufficient size to
permit the internal mechanism to move freely upward or downward
within a given range.
The purpose of the garden hole digger is to provide an
efficient and easy way to dig a hole for potted plants and garden
bulbs, as an example. The hole digger is rested upon the ground
with the hand grips held firmly. By applying a downward force
~0 coupled with lateral rotations of the handle the cylindrical cup
is driven into the earth. As the cup fills with dirt the flat
surface of the internal mechanism is pushed upward. The hole
digger is forced downward until the base is almost level with the
ground. The corresponding position of the flat surface of the
internal mechanism is at the top of the cylindrical cup.
Once the cup is filled apply an upward force on the
handgrips to lift the hole digger out of the ground. A clean,
neat hole of the desired size remains.
To discharge the dirt from the hole digger place the hole
digger directly above the desired location. Place your foot on
one of the foot levers that extend from the internal mechanism.
Apply a downward force upon the foot lever forcing the flat
surface of the internal mechanism downward through the
cylindrical cup and dumping the contents on the ground.
To change the cylindrical cup in order to use one of a more
appropriate size simply remove all three hair pins that are
inserted in the holes in the spikes of the cups. Remove the old
cup from the base and insert the new cup in the corresponding
preset holes.
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The garden hole digger is preferably made of rigid metals.
Such material is unalterable, resistant to damage from rocks and
stones and completely reusable.
I'he preferred embodiment of the internal mechanism in Figure
9 and 10 differs from Figure 4 and 5 because it is comprised of a
rigid packing surface 70, located within the cup spanning most of
the diameter of the cup but only a fraction of the height of the
cup with both ends 71 and 75 angled upward toward the base and 73
parallel to the base. There are two bends 72 and 74 which may be
arcuate but are shown in the Figures as angular.
The rigid packing surface effectively creates two triangular
wedges at the top of the cup. As the hole digger travels deeper
into the earth the dirt that enters the cup is forced into the
wedges at the top of the cup. This causes the dirt to be packed
tightly into the cup such that the dirt can be lifted cleanly out
of the hole.
Although only a single embodiment of the present invention
has been described and illustrated, the present invention is not
limited to the features of this embodiment, but includes all
variations and modifications within the scope of the claims.
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