Patent ID: 6439629
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A post hole digger for digging a post hole by a user, the post hole digger comprising:a digging assembly having a pair of spade portions, one of said spade portions being pivotally coupled to the other of said spade portions such that said spade portions are closable together to collect dirt therebetween for removal by the user when the user inserts said spade portions into the dirt; a handle being coupled to said digging assembly; an actuating member being coupled to said digging assembly, said actuating member being for actuating said digging assembly such that said actuating member closes and opens said spade portions for collecting and releasing dirt when said digging assembly is being used to dig a post hole; wherein each of said spade portions of said digging assembly comprises a top wall and perimeter wall extending from said top wall, said perimeter wall of each of said spade portions having an arcuate cross-section taken perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of said perimeter wall; wherein said perimeter wall of each of said spade portions has a pair of side portions, each of said side portions tapering towards a distal end of said perimeter wall for facilitating insertion into the dirt; wherein said pair of spade portions includes a first spade portion and a second spade portion, said first spade portion being fixedly coupled to said handle, said top wall of said second spade portion being pivotally coupled to said first spade portion, said second spade portion being coupled to said actuating member for holding dirt between said second spade portion and said first spade portion when said second spade portion is pivoted towards said first spade portion through actuation of said actuating member; wherein said second spade portion has a pair of arms being coupled to an interior surface of said top wall of said second spade portion, said arms extending from said top wall towards said first spade portion, said arms being pivotally coupled to said actuating member such that movement of said actuating member pivots said second spade portion with respect to said first spade portion; wherein said first spade portion has a stanchion, said stanchion upwardly extending from said top wall of said first spade portion, said stanchion being coupled to said handle such that said stanchion provides support to said digging assembly when said spade portions are driven into the dirt; wherein a plurality of guide members are coupled to said handle, each of said guide member slidably receiving a portion of said actuating member such that said guide members maintain alignment between said actuating member and said handle; wherein each of said guide members has an annular ring and a shaft, said shaft being coupled to said handle, said annular ring being coupled to said shaft such that an aperture formed by said annular ring slidably receives said actuating member through said aperture; and wherein a hand member is coupled to an upper end of said actuating member, said hand member extending outwardly from said actuating member away from said handle such that said hand member is positioned over said second spade portion, said hand member actuating said digging assembly when said hand member is pulled by the hand of the user.