System and method for setting up ski course gates

The present disclosure relates to a method for driving a ski course gate into a snow covered surface. The method includes the step of providing a portable driver having a housing, a drive member rotatedly connected to the housing, a gate engaging structure connected to the drive member, a rotational power source, and a rotational transference assembly mounted within the housing for transferring a rotational input from the rotational power source to the drive member. The method also includes the steps of inserting a pole portion of the ski course gate within a longitudinal channel of the drive member and sliding the pole portion longitudinally through the longitudinal channel of the drive member. Next, a torque transmitting engagement is formed between the gate engaging structure of the portable driving device and an auger portion of the ski course gate. Finally, the rotational power source is activated while a downward force is applied to the ski course gate such that the auger portion of the ski course gate is rotationally driven into the snow covered surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
Generally, the present invention relates to devices for transferring 
torque. More specifically, the present invention relates to devices for 
driving ski course gates into the snow. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
There is a need to quickly drive course gates into the snow on a ski slope 
to define a course. In a ski practice situation, a course is typically set 
and a large number of runs are made through the course. With each run, the 
condition of the course deteriorates. Ultimately, during the practice 
session, a new course must be set in order to provide suitable practice 
for the skiers. Over the period of a several hour practice session, the 
ski course will necessarily be reset several times. Resetting the ski 
course is a time consuming task that subtracts from the valuable practice 
time allocated on busy slopes. 
The gates are typically poles formed of thermoplastic material that project 
upward from the surface of the snow approximately four feet. The gate 
poles are made of a flexible thermoplastic material, having a hollow core 
and are approximately an inch and one-quarter in outside diameter. The 
poles are designed to deflect when struck by a passing skier and to return 
to the undeflected configuration after being passed by the skier. 
The gates typically have an auger section connected to the bottom of the 
pole. The auger section has a spiral flight defined thereon. Above the 
spiral flight, are driving teeth designed to be engaged by a driver for 
turning the spiral flight into the snow. There are presently several makes 
of gate and each such different make has driving teeth of a unique 
configuration requiring a driver that is uniquely adapted to the driving 
teeth. 
The current practice in setting course gates is for a first person to bore 
a hole in the snow. This is usually done with a power borer. The hole in 
the snow is typically somewhat smaller in diameter that the auger section 
of the gate pole, in order that the auger might establish a firm bite in 
the hole. A second person follows the first and drives the gate into the 
hole formed by the first person. This is done by a lever bar that has a 
central bore formed therein. The bore is slipped over the top of the gate 
pole and slid down to engage the driving teeth formed at the top of the 
auger section. The second person then manually turns the auger section 
into the hole. After the gate is in place, the lever bar is slid off the 
top of the gate pole. The lever bar is unique to the specific make of gate 
pole being used so that the notches formed in the central bore of the 
lever bar engage the driving teeth of the gate pole. 
There is a need in the industry to be able to rapidly set course gates to 
define a course. This is desirable in order to maximize the skiing time 
during any fixed practice session. Additionally, the course gate driving 
operation should be able to be accomplished by a single person. The gate 
driver utilized should have the flexibility to be able to be used with all 
the various makes of course gates. And finally, the gate driver should be 
powered in order to minimize the driving time and effort required to set 
the gate. 
A number of powered borers are known. None have structure or teach 
structure that is adapted to driving gate poles. The first such borer is 
as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,848 to Roberts and is designed to bore 
holes for the placement of poles. The auger is an integral component of 
the borer. 
An extension to a drill machine table is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 
5,350,027 to Mauch et al. The Mauch et al borer is an extension to an 
existing drill table that extends the distance from the table that a hole 
can be bored. The purpose is to allow the boring of a hole very close to a 
building without requiring that the drill table be positioned close to the 
building. A drill is attached to driven shaft by a coupling. The driven 
shaft is integral to the drill machine table extension. 
An earth auger is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,177,736 to D. G. Kilmartin 
et al. The Kilmartin Auger is a large device having a T shaped frame for 
resisting the reaction forces generated by rotation of the auger that must 
be operated by two persons. The auger is integral to the earth auger 
device. 
An anchor driver is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,671 to Adams et al. 
The Adams driver is utilized to drive anchors into the ground. After such 
driving, the anchor is left in the ground. The driver is designed to 
engage the end of the rod that comprises a portion of the anchor by being 
in threaded engagement therewith. The anchor is left in place in the earth 
by disengaging the threads at the end of the rod from the driver. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The gate driver of the present invention substantially meets the 
aforementioned needs. The gate driver is preferably powered by a 
commercially available battery powered hand drill. The hand drill acts 
through a rotational transference assembly to drive the auger of a ski 
course gate into the snow. No preparatory hole is to be bored into the 
snow. The gate driver is readily operated by a single person and easily 
transportable from gate to gate for the setting thereof. The gate driver 
preferably has a replaceable gate engaging structure such as a keyway, bit 
or other tool that is adapted for forming a torque transferring engagement 
with the auger of the course gate. Gate engaging structures of various 
sizes and configurations can be used depending upon the particular make of 
course gate desired to be driven. 
The present invention further relates to a portable driving device 
including a drive member rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The drive 
member defines a longitudinal channel configured to receive a pole portion 
of a ski course gate. In a preferred embodiment, the drive member has an 
open side configured to facilitate inserting the pole portion of the gate 
into the longitudinal channel. A gate engaging structure is connected to 
the drive member and is adapted to form a torque transferring engagement 
with an auger portion of the gate. A rotational transference assembly is 
operably connected to the drive member. The rotational transference 
assembly is adapted to transfer a rotational input from a rotational power 
source to the drive member causing the drive member to rotate about the 
longitudinal axis. 
The open sided configuration of the preferred embodiment makes the device 
significantly easier to use than conventionally known gate driving 
devices. Conventionally known devices are typically slipped over the top 
of the pole a ski course gate. Because gate poles are usually five to six 
feet tall, it is awkward to slip a driving device over the top of a pole. 
Furthermore, gate poles often have flags attached to their tops that must 
be removed before a conventional driving device can be used. The open 
sided configuration of the preferred embodiment avoids these problems 
because it does not need to be slipped over the top of a ski course gate. 
Instead, the driving device is configured to laterally receive the ski 
pole of a ski course gate thereby allowing the device to be quickly and 
easily coupled with the auger portion of the gate. 
A variety of additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in 
part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from 
the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The 
advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the 
elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. It is to 
be understood that both the foregoing general description and the 
following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are 
not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The gate drive of the present invention is shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 
and 4. The gate drive 10 has three major subcomponents: gear case 12, gear 
set 14, and gate chuck 16. 
The gear case 12 has two major subcomponents: upper gear case 18 and lower 
gear case 20. The upper gear case 18 and the lower gear case 20 are 
preferably formed from solid aluminum barstock. The barstock utilized to 
form the upper gear case 18 and the lower gear case 20 are preferably of 
the same size, being approximately nine inches in length, four inches in 
width, and three-eighths of an inch in height. Mirror image gear housings 
22 are formed in the upper gear case 18 and the lower gear case 20. 
A lower chuck bore 24 is formed in the lower gear case 20 and is in 
registry with a similar upper chuck bore 26 formed in the upper gear case 
18. A needle bearing 25 is disposed within the lower chuck bore 24 and a 
needle bearing 27 is disposed within upper chuck bore 26. 
A drive shaft bore 28 is formed in the upper gear case 18. A needle bearing 
29 is disposed within the drive shaft bore 28. A cup-shaped input gear 
bearing holder 23 is formed in the lower gear case 20. The open end of the 
input gear bearing holder 23 opens into the gear housing 22 formed 
therein. A needle bearing 29 is disposed within the input gear bearing 
holder 23. 
A cup-shaped spur gear bearing holder 30 is formed in the lower gear case 
20. The open end of the spur gear bearing holder 30 opens into the gear 
housing 22 formed therein. A needle bearing 31 is disposed within the spur 
gear bearing holder 30. A similar spur gear bearing holder (not shown) and 
needle bearing (not shown) are formed opposed to the spur gear bearing 
holder 30 in the upper gear case 18. 
An elongate handle 32 is affixed to the upper gear case 18 by bolt 34 is 
depicted in FIG. 1. The handle 32 has a generally oval-shaped cross 
sectional gripping portion 35. It is understood that the handle 32 could 
as well be another convenient gripping shape, as for example, semicircular 
in shape, as depicted in FIG. 4. 
In assembly, the upper gear case 18 and the lower gear case 20 are brought 
into registry. A plurality of cap screw bores 36 formed in lower gear case 
20 and arrayed around the perimeter thereof are brought into registry with 
a plurality of threaded bores 38 formed in upper gear case 18. A cap screw 
40 is disposed in each cap screw bore 36 and threaded into the respective 
threaded bore 38. 
The second component of the gate driver 10 is the gear set 14. The gear set 
14 has a drive shaft 42 that projects upward through the drive shaft bore 
28 and is rotationally borne with the needle bearing 29. The drive shaft 
42 is an elongate solid shaft preferably made of a steel material. Drive 
shaft 42 is preferably one-half inch in diameter and has flats 44 formed 
proximate the upper margin thereof. The flats 44 are designed to be 
grippingly engaged within the chuck 46 of battery powered hand drill 48. 
The drive shaft 42 is fixedly coupled to the helical input gear 50. The 
helical input gear 50 is supported within gear case 12 by the needle 
bearing 29 disposed within drive shaft bore 28 on the upper side and by a 
stub shaft 51 that is opposed to the drive shaft 42. The stub shaft 51 is 
borne within the needle bearing 29 that is disposed within the input gear 
bearing holder 23 formed in the lower gear case 20. The helical input gear 
50 has a plurality of teeth 52 formed around the outer margin thereof. 
A spur gear 54 is disposed next to the helical input gear 50. The teeth 56 
formed on the outer margin of the spur gear 54 intermesh with the teeth 52 
of the helical input gear 50. The spur gear 54 is rotatably held in place 
by an upper stub axle 57 and an opposed lower stub axle (not shown). The 
upper stub axle 57 is borne within the needle bearing 31 of the spur gear 
bearing holder 51. The lower stub axle is rotationally borne within a 
similar needle bearing 31 borne within a spur gear bearing holder 30 
within the lower gear case 20, similar to the aforementioned spur gear 
bearing holder. 
A helical output gear 58 comprises the third gear of the gear set 14. The 
helical output gear 58 is disposed adjacent to the spur gear 54 and the 
teeth 60 of the helical output gear 58 are intermeshed with the teeth 56 
of the spur gear 54. The gear reduction effected from the helical input 
gear 50 and the spur gear 54 is approximately 5 to 1. The helical output 
gear 58 is fixedly borne on the gate chuck 16. 
The gate chuck 16 is the third subcomponent of gate driver 10. The gate 
chuck 16 has an elongate cylindrical tube 62 that projects above and below 
the gear case 12. An axial gate bore 64 is formed in tube 62. The gate 
bore 64 is preferably one and three-eighths inches in diameter. The gate 
bore 64 is designed to loosely engage and support the gate shaft 82 of 
gate 80. 
A replaceable bit 66 is disposed at the lower margin of the elongate tube 
62. The replaceable bit 66 has an inside diameter that is slightly greater 
than the outside diameter of tube 62. The replaceable bit 66 is affixed to 
tube 62 by set screws 70. Alternatively, the replaceable bit 66 may be 
removably affixed to the tube 62 by cooperative threads formed in bit 66 
and the tube 62. 
A series of teeth 72 are formed in the lower margin of the replaceable bit 
66. The notches 72 are designed specifically to mate with the driving 
teeth 88 of the specific make of gate 80 that is to be driven. The gates 
80 by various manufacturers have driving teeth 88 that are unique to that 
particular make. Accordingly, a series of replaceable bits 66 is made 
available, each such bit having unique notches 72 designed to engage the 
driving teeth 88 of a different make of gate 80. 
The gate 80 has an elongate gate shaft 82 that projects approximately four 
feet above the surface of the snow of the ski slope. Mounted on the lower 
end of the gate shaft 82 is the auger portion 84 of the gate 80. The auger 
portion 84 has a spiral flight 86 designed to be rotationally driven into 
the snow. At the upper margin of the auger portion 84 are a set of 
upwardly projecting driving teeth 88. The teeth 72 of the replaceable bit 
66 an designed to engage the driving teeth 88. 
The gate driver 10 is prepared for operation by engaging the chuck 46 of 
the battery powered hand drill 48 with the flats 44 of the drive shaft 42. 
This is done conventionally using a key that is supplied with the battery 
powered hand drill 48 in the same way that a drill bit is locked within 
the chuck 46. The appropriate replaceable bit 66 that is designed to be 
used with the specific make of gate 80 is affixed to elongate tube 62 by 
using the set screws 70 or by threading thereon. 
In operation, the top of the gate shaft 82 of the gate 80 is slipped into 
the replaceable bit 66 and up through the gate bore 64 of the elongate 
tube 62 until the driving teeth 88 of the gate 80 engage the teeth 72 of 
the replaceable bit 66. The operator then grasps handle 32 with one hand 
and the battery powered hand drill 48 with the other hand. The gate 80 is 
positioned in an upright position. Downward force is exerted on the handle 
32. The battery powered hand drill is actuated. Such action causes 
rotation of the gate 80, driving the spiral flight 86 into the snow. 
FIGS. 5-7 show an exemplary alternative driving device 120 constructed in 
accordance with the principles of the present invention. The driving 
device 120 includes a housing 122 including an upper portion 124 and a 
lower portion 126 that are fastened together by conventional fastening 
techniques such as bolts. The housing 122 defines a slot 128 having an 
open end 130 opposite from a closed end 132. The open end 130 of the slot 
128 is sized to receive a pole portion 134 of a ski course gate 136. The 
closed end 132 of the slot 128 is slightly enlarged and defines a 
generally cylindrical shaped bore 138 that is centered on a longitudinal 
axis 140 extending generally transversely through the housing 122. A 
handle 123 is preferably connected to the housing 122 for grasping the 
driving device 120. 
A drive member such as an elongated, generally cylindrical drive shaft 142 
or other type of drive member is rotatably mounted in the bore 138 at the 
closed end 132 of the slot 128. The shaft 142 is centered on the 
longitudinal axis 140 and defines an longitudinal channel 144 extending 
throughout the length of the shaft 142. The longitudinal channel 144 is 
sized and configured for receiving the pole portion 134 of the gate 136. 
Furthermore, the shaft 142 has an open side 146 extending longitudinally 
along the length of the shaft 142. The open side 146 has a width slightly 
larger than the diameter of the pole portion 134 of the gate 136. The 
width provided by the open side 146 of the shaft 142 allows the pole 
portion 134 of the gate 136 to be laterally inserted directly into the 
longitudinal channel 144. Such an open-sided configuration eliminates the 
awkward and time consuming step of axially sliding the shaft 142 over the 
top of the pole portion 134 of the gate 136. 
A key 148 or other type of gate engaging structure adapted for transferring 
torque is preferably connected to the bottom of the drive shaft 142. The 
key 148 has teeth 150 adapted to mate with slots 152 of a keyway 154 
defined by an auger portion 156 of the gate 136 so as to form a torque 
transferring engagement therewith. The key 148 provides a means for 
transferring torque from the rotatable drive shaft 142 to the gate 136 and 
is preferably detachably connected to the bottom of the drive shaft 142 by 
conventional connection techniques. For example, the connection can be 
made by set screws or the key 148 can be threaded on the drive shaft 142. 
Because the key 148 is detachable, gate engaging structures of various 
sizes and configurations can be used depending upon the particular make of 
course gate desired to be driven. 
The driving device 120 includes a rotational transfer assembly, such as a 
gear assembly 158, that is adapted for transferring rotation. The gear 
assembly 158 is mounted in the housing 122 and includes an output gear 160 
fixedly connected to the drive shaft 142. The output gear 160 extends 
radially outward from the drive shaft 142 and is generally transversely 
aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis 140. The output gear 160 has 
drive teeth that define a periphery of the output gear 160. The periphery 
of the output gear 160 is generally centered on the longitudinal axis 140. 
The output gear 160 also has a radial gap that is aligned with and 
corresponds to the open side 146 of the drive shaft 142. The radial gap 
has a radial distance designated by d.sub.1. 
The output gear 160 is rotatably mounted in the housing 122 by a bearing 
structure. For example, the driver device 120 is shown including a bearing 
structure formed by opposing upper and lower shoulders 164 and 166 
respectively integrally formed with the upper and lower portions 124 and 
126 of the housing 122. When the driving device 120 is assembled, the 
upper and lower shoulders 164 and 166 encircle a substantial portion of 
the drive shaft 142 and the output gear 160 is retained between the 
shoulders 164 and 166. It will be appreciated that by fabricating the 
housing 122 of a petroleum based plastic, the bearing structure will be 
self-lubricating thereby reducing bearing friction. 
The gear assembly 158 also includes an input gear 168 rotatably mounted in 
the housing 122 by conventional means such as bearings 170 mounted in the 
upper and lower portions 124 and 126 of the housing 122. The input gear 
168 is adapted for being rotationally coupled to a rotational power 
source. For example, the input gear 168 is shown fixedly connected to an 
input shaft 172 mounted in the bearings 170 and having a distal end 174 
extending transversely outward from the top of the upper portion 124 of 
the housing 122. The distal end 174 functions as a bit and is adapted to 
be rotationally coupled to a rotational power source such as a chuck 176 
of an electric drill. 
A rotational input generated by the rotational power source is transferred 
from the input gear 168 to the output gear 160 by first, second, and third 
pairs of spaced apart gears 178, 180 and 182. The first, second and third 
pairs of gears 178, 180 and 182 are rotationally mounted in the housing 
122 by conventional means such as bearings. The gears of the first pair 
178 are aligned on opposite sides of the input gear 168 and rotationally 
interlock with the input gear 168. The second gear pair 180 rotationally 
interlocks with the first gear pair 178. The third gear pair 182 
rotationally interlocks with the second gear pair 180. The output gear 160 
rotationally interlocks with the third gear pair 182. 
The component gears of the first, second and third pairs of gears 178, 180 
and 182 are progressively spaced farther apart. For example, the gears of 
the second gear pair 180 are spaced farther apart than the gears of the 
first gear pair 178. Similarly, the gears of the third gear pair 182 are 
spaced farther apart than the gears of the second gear pair 180. The 
spacing between the gear pairs 178, 180 and 182 is progressively increased 
to provide a radial spacing distance d.sub.2 between the third pair of 
gears 182 that is at least equal to the radial distance d.sub.1 of the 
radial gap in the output gear 160. Consequently, always at least one of 
the gears of the third pair 182 is interlocked with the output gear 160 
despite the radial gap in the periphery of the output gear 160. 
As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the gears 160, 168, 178, 180 and 182 of the gear 
assembly 158 are spur gears that are rotatable about parallel axes and are 
aligned generally along a single plane. However, rotational transference 
assemblies other than the gear assembly specifically shown can be used to 
transfer rotation from a rotational power source to a drive member. For 
example, the relative size, type, number, and arrangement of the gears 
employed to transfer rotation can be varied. Also, other types of 
implements for transferring rotation such as pulleys, belts, chains and 
friction gears can be substituted for gears and arranged to transfer 
rotation from a rotational input to a drive member. 
As previously described, a preferred use for the driving device 120 is to 
drive a ski course gate 136 in a snow covered surface. In use, the key 148 
is first connected to the bottom of the drive shaft 142 and the electric 
drill chuck 176 is rotationally coupled to the distal end 174 of the input 
shaft 172. The open side 146 of the drive shaft 142 is then moved into 
alignment with the open end 130 of the housing slot 128 such that the slot 
128 is unobstructed. The open side 146 of the drive shaft 142 and the open 
end 130 of the housing slot 128 are aligned by activating the electric 
drill causing the gear assembly 158 to rotate the drive shaft 142 within 
the slot 128. 
When alignment is achieved, the electric drill is de-activated and the pole 
portion 134 of the gate 136 is inserted laterally through the slot 128 and 
into the longitudinal channel 144 of the drive shaft 142. The drive shaft 
142 is then slid axially downward along the pole portion 134 and the teeth 
150 of the key 148 are interlocked within the slots 152 of the auger 
keyway 154. Next, the electric drill is re-activated causing torque to be 
transferred through the driving device 120 to the auger portion 156 of the 
gate 136 causing the gate 136 to axially rotate. As the gate rotates, a 
downward force is exerted on the handle 123 of the driving device 120 
causing the auger to drill into the snow covered surface thereby anchoring 
the gate 136. 
Although the preferred use of the above-described invention is to drive 
ski-course gates, it will be appreciated that the invention can also be 
used to transfer torque to other types of members or structures. 
While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been 
illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the 
invention is not limited to the precise construction so illustrated and 
described herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the 
present invention be dictated by the scope of the appended claims and not 
the description of the preferred embodiment.