Patent Publication Number: US-2007102194-A1

Title: Soil auger assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119 of Chinese Patent Application having Serial No. 200510030341.4 filed on Oct. 10, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a type of soil auger assembly. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a soil auger assembly which can be used to shrink and loosen up various types of materials, to drill holes in soil to any depth, can be disassembled and stored and to take samples in different depths of soil.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      The soil auger disclosed in Soviet Union Standard SU 1076808 (1984) includes an extension rod equipped with a handle and a hollow tube having a longitudinal groove. The tube is formed in a spiral shape. There are scales on the extension rod which can be used to indicate depth. The length of the handle and the extension rod can be adjusted via a stopper. There is a projection at the bottom of the extension rod, where a flat helical auger will be connected. The blade of the auger is open. A fixation element is installed at the bottom of the extension rod, and the auger is firmly installed on the fixation element. This design has several disadvantages. First, the handle and the extension rod are connected together. Second, the size of the entire tool is very large, making it difficult to carry around. Third, although the length of the handle and the extension rod is adjustable, the adjustment is limited. Fourth, the drill is unable to handle the situation when the soil to be drilled is too deep and exceeds the adjustable length of the handle and the extension rod.  
      There is a need, therefore, for a soil auger assembly that is easy to us, can be disassembled and stored, can drill holes to any depth and take samples at different depths of soil.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In one or more embodiments, the soil auger assembly can be disassembled and can reach the soil at any depth.  
      In one or more embodiments the soil auger assembly includes augers, cutting blades, handles, extension rods, working shafts, and beveled tips. The auger and cutting blade can be wound spirally on the working shaft. The extension rod can be integrated with the handle. The soil auger assembly includes at least one connection rod which can be arranged between the extension rod and the working shaft. The soil auger assembly includes at least one connection rod which can be connected via a slotted screw thread.  
      In one or more embodiments, the connection rod can be connected between the extension rod and the working shaft via a slotted screw thread. In this way, the soil auger assembly can be disassembled when not in use so that the soil auger assembly can be transported and stored easily. If necessary to drill relatively deep soil, several connection rods can be connected to increase the length of the soil auger assembly to accommodate different depths. This drill can be used very easily. In one or more embodiments, the soil auger assembly can be disassembled and can drill soil at any depth. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.  
       FIG. 1  depicts a partial schematic illustration of a soil auger assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments described. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      A detailed description will now be provided. Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims. Each of the inventions will now be described in greater detail below, including specific embodiments, versions and examples, but the inventions are not limited to these embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions, when the information in this patent is combined with available information and technology.  
       FIG. 1  depicts a partial schematic illustration of a soil auger assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments described. In one or more embodiments, the soil auger assembly includes one or more augers  1 , cutting blades  2 , handles  3 , extension rods  4 , working shafts  5 , beveled tips  6 , and connection rods  7 . The auger  1  with cutting blade  2  can be wound spirally on the working shaft  5 . The beveled tip  6  is located at a first end of the working shaft  5 . A slotted screw thread  8  can be formed or located at a second end of the working shaft  5 .  
      The extension rod  4  can be integrated with the handle  3 . A slotted screw thread  8  can be formed at one end of extension rod  4 . At least one connection rod  7  can be connected between the extension rod  4  and working shaft  5 . The connection rod  7  can be connected via a slotted screw threads  8 . Slotted screw threads  8  can be formed at the two ends of the connection rod  7  to engage the screw threads  8  of the extension rod  4  and working shaft  5 . Said slotted screw threads  8  can have a hexagonal thickened part  9 .  
      When the soil auger assembly is in use, the extension rod  4  and working shaft  5  can be connected via the slotted screw threads  8  until they cannot rotate anymore. The hexagonal thickened part  9  can be used to help the user connect the components (i.e. the extension rod  4  and working shaft  5 ). The handle  3  can be rotated to use the soil auger assembly. The beveled tip  6  is adapted to penetrate the soil as the auger  1  is rotated. The auger  1  loosens the soil and conveys the soil upwards. For large depths, it is possible to insert auger  1  into the soil and then connect one or more connection rods  7  from the surface without removing the entire soil auger assembly from the hole. After use, the drill can be disassembled and stored separately. This is very convenient.  
      In another embodiment, the present invention relates to:  
      1. A type of soil auger assembly including a auger ( 1 ), a cutting blade ( 2 ), a handle ( 3 ), an extension rod ( 4 ), a working shaft ( 5 ), and a bevel angle ( 6 ) with the auger ( 1 ) equipped with cutting blade ( 2 ) wound spirally on working shaft ( 5 ) and with extension rod ( 4 ) integrated with handle ( 3 ), characterized by the fact that at least one connection rod ( 7 ) is arranged between extension rod ( 4 ) and working shaft ( 5 ), and the connection rod is connected via slotted screw thread ( 8 ).  
      2. The soil auger assembly of paragraph 1, wherein a slotted screw thread ( 8 ) is formed at one end of said connection rod ( 4 ).  
      3. The soil auger assembly of paragraphs 1 or 2, wherein the top of said working shaft ( 5 ) is bevel angle ( 6 ), and slotted screw thread ( 8 ) is formed at the other end.  
      4. The soil auger assembly of paragraphs 1, 2 or 3, wherein the slotted screw threads ( 8 ) are formed at the two ends of connection rod ( 7 ).  
      5. The soil auger assembly of any of paragraphs 1 to 4, wherein the slotted screw thread ( 8 ) has a hexagonal thickened part ( 9 ).  
      In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to:  
      1. A soil auger assembly comprising:  
      an auger;  
      a cutting blade;  
      a handle;  
      an extension rod;  
      a working shaft; and  
      a beveled tip;  
      wherein the auger with the cutting blade is wound spirally on the working shaft and the extension rod is integrated with the handle.  
      2. The soil auger assembly of paragraph 1, further comprising at least one connection rod arranged between the extension rod and the working shaft.  
      3. The soil auger assembly of paragraphs 1 or 2, further comprising a slotted screw thread formed at one end of extension rod  4 .  
      4. The soil auger assembly of paragraphs 1, 2 or 3, wherein the connection rod is connected via a slotted screw thread.  
      5. The soil auger assembly of paragraphs 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the-slotted screw thread is formed at least at one end of the connection rod.  
      6. The soil auger assembly of paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein at one end of the working shaft is the beveled tip, and at the other end of the working shaft is the slotted screw thread.  
      7. The soil auger assembly of paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein at one end of the connection rod is the slotted screw thread and at the other end of the connection rod is the slotted screw thread.  
      8. The soil auger assembly of any of paragraphs  1  to  7 , wherein the slotted screw thread has a hexagonal thickened part.  
      Various terms have been defined above. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined above, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. Furthermore, all patents, test procedures, and other documents cited in this application are fully incorporated by reference to the extent such disclosure is not inconsistent with this application and for all jurisdictions in which such incorporation is permitted.  
      While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.