Patent Publication Number: US-8991512-B2

Title: Device for improved clean up of holes, and method of using same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present application generally relates to devices for cleaning up dirt and soil resulting from boring or digging a hole in the earth, when using an auger or other digging tool such as a clamshell digger. More particularly, the present application relates to a device that may be used to collect and remove the dirt and soil displaced when boring or digging a hole for a post, such as a fence post or post for a deck. 
     Professional tradesmen, carpenters, and others are often called upon to build fences or decks. Posts are typically positioned at intervals to support the fences or decks. The bottom of the posts are positioned in holes that are bored or dug into the earth, and once the post is positioned within the hole, some of the dirt or soil may be filled in around the post or the post may be set in concrete, as examples. 
     The holes may be bored into the ground using a power auger. Alternatively, the holes may be bored or dug using handheld tools such as a shovel, spade, hand auger or a clamshell digger, or some combination thereof. Regardless of how the hole is created, the hole is formed by removing dirt and soil (or sand or gravel) from the earth, which becomes piled up around the hole. During the course of boring or digging the holes and positioning posts within the holes, the dirt and soil piled around the holes may also get stepped on and tracked around the yard. Eventually, after the posts are positioned within the holes, the dirt and soil piled up around the posts, and the dirt and soil tracked around the yard needs to be cleaned up and removed. 
     The process of cleaning and removing the dirt and soil around each post, and the dirt and soil tracked around the yard, may be a time-consuming and tedious process. It may take two workers 20 to 30 minutes per post to properly clean up the area around each post. The cleanup process may involve shoveling the dirt and soil piled up around the posts and moving it into a wheelbarrow or cart where it may be removed from the area. The cleanup process may also entail using a shop vacuum and/or hosing down the grass to return the yard to a pristine condition. A typical fence may have 30 to 50 posts. Therefore, there is a significant amount of time and expense involved in cleaning up the dirt and soil removed from the holes. 
     As a result of the labor-intensive and time-consuming cleanup process, it would be desirable to provide a device that can be used to more easily collect and remove the dirt and soil displaced from the holes. It would also be desirable to provide a tool that may be used that results in a reduction of time required to clean up the dirt and soil displaced from the holes during the hole forming process. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a device for the cleanup of dirt or soil removed when forming a hole in the earth is provided having a first board having a first edge, a second board having a first edge, a first hinge attached to the first edge of the first board and the first edge of the second board, an aperture defined by a portion of the first edge of the first board and a portion of the first edge of the second board, a first plate slidably attached to the first board, wherein the first plate is movable from a first, open position where the aperture is open, to a second, closed position where the first plate extends over at least a portion of the aperture, and wherein a top surface of the first board is movable towards a top surface of the second board to form a V-shaped surface for directing dirt or soil off of the first board and the second board. 
     In a further aspect, a device for the cleanup of dirt or soil removed when forming a hole in the earth is provided having a board having a top surface and a bottom surface, an aperture positioned through the board, a plate slidably attached to the board, wherein the plate is movable from a first, open position where the aperture is open, to a second, closed position where the plate extends over the aperture, and wherein the aperture has a diameter that is sized to accommodate an 8-inch auger positioned through the aperture when a hole is being drilled by the auger. 
     In a further aspect, a method is provided having the steps of positioning a board having a top surface and a bottom surface over an area where a hole is to be formed in the earth, positioning an aperture located on the board over a spot where the hole is to be formed, positioning a plate slidably attached to the board into a first, open position where the aperture is open, forming a hole in the spot, collecting dirt or soil removed when forming the hole on the top surface of the board, moving the plate to a second, closed position, where the aperture is closed, transporting the board to a place where the dirt or soil may be directed off of the board, and tilting the board to direct dirt or soil that was collected on the board off of the board. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective top view of cleanup device  10  with first plate  20  and second plate  22  in a second, closed position with respect to aperture  16 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , with first plate  20  and second plate  22  in a first, open position with respect to aperture  16 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective top view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with auger  72  positioned through aperture  16 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective top view of cleanup device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-3  after a hole is been formed with dirt or soil  80  collected on cleanup device  10 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective top view of cleanup device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  with first plate  20  and second plate  22  moved back to the second, closed position with respect to aperture  16  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective top view of the cleanup device shown in  FIG. 5 , with the top surface  12   a  of first board  12  moved towards the top surface  14   a  of second board  14  to form a V-shaped surface for directing the dirt or soil  80  off of the cleanup device  10 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective top view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIG. 6  with the dirt or soil  80  being directed off of cleanup device  10 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective bottom view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-7  with first plate  20  and second plate  22  in a second, closed position with respect to aperture  16 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective bottom view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-8  with first plate  20  and second plate  22  in a first, open position with respect to aperture  16 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of cleanup device  110  having a chute extending from an end thereof; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of cleanup device  210  having a chute positioned on a top surface thereof; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a series of posts after being positioned within holes formed in the earth, showing piles of dirt and soil surrounding the posts. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective top view of cleanup device  10  having a first board  12  attached to a second board  14  with hinge  18  and hinge  19 . An aperture  16  is defined by a portion of first board  12  and a portion of second board  14 , and is positioned between hinge  18  and hinge  19 . In  FIG. 1 , a first plate  20  is shown in a closed position with respect to aperture  16 , and second plate  22  is also shown in a closed position with respect to aperture  16 . First board  12  includes a number of holes  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56  that may serve as handholds for a user to hold onto when moving or transporting the cleanup device  10 , or tilting the device when directing dirt or soil off of the boards. Similarly, second board  14  also includes a number of holes  58 ,  60 ,  62 , and  64  that may also serve as handholds for a user to hold onto when moving or transporting the cleanup device  10 , or tilting the device when directing dirt or soil off of the boards. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , with first plate  20  and second plate  22  in an open position with respect to aperture  16 . Plate handle  21  may be used to pull plate  20  away from the aperture  16  to open aperture  16  and plate handle  23  may be used to pull plate  22  away from the aperture  16  to open aperture  16 . When it is desired to move plates  20  and  22  back into a closed position, then plate handles  21  and  23  may be used to push the plates  20  and  22  back to a closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , where the aperture  16  is substantially closed. Plate  22  is shown have slidable movement between plate holders  26  and  28  and the bottom surface of board  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an edge  20   a  of plate  20  is engaged with an edge  22   a  of plate  22  when the plates are in the closed position. It will be recognized that gaps could exist at the interface between edge  20   a  and edge  22   a  when the aperture is substantially closed. Therefore, as used herein, the term “substantially closed” means that the area of the aperture is at least 90% blocked by plate  20  and/or plate  22 . Furthermore, while not shown in  FIG. 1 , one of the ends  20   a  or  22   a  could extend beyond the other of the ends  20   a  or  22   a  when the plates  20  and  22  are in the closed position. 
     Moreover, in some embodiments, only a single plate may be required. For example, a plate having a flexible end could be used to cover the aperture and bend when the board  12  and board  14  are moved into a V-shaped surface, while still covering the aperture  16 . In addition, while plates  20  and  22  are shown positioned on the bottom of boards  12  and  14 , it is also possible that plates  20  and  22  could be positioned on the top surface of boards  12  and  14 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective top view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In  FIG. 3 , a power auger  70  that may be used to bore holes for fence or deck posts is shown. A handle  74  is shown which may be used to position auger  72  through aperture  16  of cleanup device  10  and over a spot where it is desired to bore a hole. At this stage of the process the plates  20  and  22  are in the open position, before the hole has been bored. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the cleanup device  10  after a hole has been bored by the power auger  70  shown in  FIG. 3 . Typical holes may be bored  42  inches deep. As the hole is bored, dirt and soil are displaced from the hole and collected into piles  80  on top of board  12  and board  14 . In this manner, the cleanup tool  10  may be used to collect the dirt and soil removed by the auger and prevent it from accumulating in piles directly on the grass surrounding the hole. In addition, if using handheld tools such as a clamshell digger, the dirt or soil displaced by such tools may also be collected and piled onto the top of board  12  and  14 . 
     In the absence of using cleanup tool  10 , after positioning the posts within the holes, each post would be surrounded by a pile of dirt or soil displaced from hole during the formation of the hole. In particular,  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a series of posts after being positioned within holes formed in the earth of yard  340  without the use of cleanup tool  10 , showing piles of dirt and soil surrounding the posts. In particular, post  300  is shown positioned within hole  320  and surrounded by a pile of dirt and soil  80 , post  302  is shown positioned within hole  322  and surrounded by a pile of dirt and soil  82 , post  304  is shown positioned within hole  324  and surrounded by a pile of dirt and soil  84 , and post  306  is shown positioned within hole  326  and surrounded by a pile of dirt and soil  80 . Such piles are eliminated, or significantly reduced, when using cleanup  10  during the hole forming process. 
     Typical fence or deck posts may be 4 inches by 4 inches, in which case auger  72  may have an 8-inch diameter bit, while other fence and deck posts may be 5 inches by 5 inches, in which case auger  72  may have a 10-inch diameter bit. Therefore, the diameter of aperture  16  should be sized to accommodate at least an 8-inch bit. However, to accommodate both an 8-inch diameter bit and a 10-inch diameter bit, the diameter of aperture  16  should be 12 inches or more. However, the larger the diameter of the aperture, the more dirt and soil will drop back onto the area surrounding the hole, instead of onto boards  12  and  14  as is desired. Therefore, it has been found that an aperture with a diameter of 12 inches provides sufficient flexibility to accommodate an 8-inch bit and a 10-inch bit without allowing too much dirt or soil to fall through the aperture  16 . It will be appreciated that while aperture  16  is shown as a circular hole, other geometries for the aperture which may not be as advantageous as a circular hole could be used as well. In addition, the cleanup device  10  may also be used for other larger applications. For example, a telephone pole may require a  16  inch diameter hole, and the aperture  16  of cleanup device  10  may be sized to accommodate a hole of that size, or larger, as well. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective top view of cleanup device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  after the auger has been removed. Piles of dirt or soil  80  are shown collected about aperture  16 . Once the hole is completed and the auger or handheld tool such as a clamshell digger are removed, first plate  20  and second plate  22  are shown moved back to the second, closed position with respect to aperture  16 . The cleanup tool is now ready to remove the piles of dirt and soil  80  collected on top of boards  12  and  14  from the hole site. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective top view of the cleanup device shown in  FIG. 5 , with the top surface  12   a  of first board  12  moved towards the top surface  14   a  of second board  14  to form a V-shaped surface for directing the dirt or soil  80  off of the cleanup device  10 . In this example, hinges  18  and  19  are used to attach board  12  to board  14  and allow the boards to move to form a V-shaped surface. As used herein, the term “hinge” is to be interpreted broadly to include any device that can be used to attach an end of board  12  to an end of board  14  and allow upper surfaces  12   a  and  14   a  of boards  12  and  14  to move towards each and form a V-shaped surface. 
     It will be appreciated that hinges  18  and  19  may be used to allow the upper surface  12   a  and  14   a  of boards  12  and  14  to be drawn together into contact with each other, thereby enabling the cleanup device  10  to be folded which provides for more convenient transportation and storage of cleanup device  10 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective top view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIG. 6  with the dirt or soil  80  being directed off of cleanup device  10  with boards  12  and  14  formed into a V-shape surface. It will be noted that the ends  20   a  and  22   b  of plates  20  and  22  remain in the closed position during this step of the process where the aperture remains in a substantially closed position. In this step of the process, the piles of dirt or soil  80  are directed into wheelbarrow  82 , where it may be further removed from the hole site. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective bottom view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-7  with first plate  20  and second plate  22  in a closed position with respect to aperture  16 . Plate  20  is adapted for slidable linear movement between plate holders  30  and  32  and the bottom of board  12 . Similarly, plate  22  is adapted for slidable linear movement between plate holders  26  and  28  and the bottom of board  14 . Supports  37 ,  39 ,  34 , and  36  are also positioned on the bottom of boards  12  or  14 , and supports  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  are also positioned on the bottom of boards  12  or  14  to provide support for someone standing on cleanup tool  10  during the hole forming process. While the supports are shown as separate members attached the boards  12  or  14 , this represents only an example configuration. It will be appreciated that the supports could be formed to together as a single unit, formed integrally with the board  12  or  14 , and/or have different geometries. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective bottom view of the cleanup device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-8  with first plate  20  and second plate  22  in an open position with respect to aperture  16 . Here the plates  20  and  22  have been pulled away from aperture  16  with a linear movement. However, it is also possible that the aperture could be opened or closed using a plate that is moved using rotational movement. For example, a plate could be rotated 90 degrees to move a plate over the aperture  16 , and rotated back 90 degrees to move the plate away from aperture  16 . 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of cleanup tool  110  having a chute  114  extending from an end thereof. The chute  114  may be a separate element attached to the board  112  or integrally formed with board  112 . Cleanup tool  110  is similar to the cleanup tool  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-9  with aperture  116  the same as aperture  16 , and a plate  120  that is movable from a first closed position as shown in  FIG. 10  to a second open position where the aperture  116  is open. Plate handle  121  may be used to move the plate  120  as desired. Cleanup tool  110  includes board  112  having aperture  116  extending through board  112 , and holes  150 ,  152 ,  154 ,  160 ,  162 , and  164  that may serve as handholds for manipulating and transporting cleanup tool  110 . 
     Cleanup tool  110  further includes chute  114  that has a chute wall  115  and a chute wall  117  extending from board  112 . Dirt or soil collected on the board  112  during the process of forming a hole may be directed off of board  112  by tilting the board so that the dirt and soil is directed through chute  114  and out of chute outlet  119 . With this design, the cleanup tool  110  may have only one board and only one plate. 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of cleanup tool  210 . Cleanup tool  210  is similar to the cleanup tool  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-9  with aperture  216  the same as aperture  16 , and a plate  220  that is movable from a first closed position as shown in  FIG. 11  to a second open position where the aperture  216  is open. Cleanup tool  210  includes a board having aperture  116  extending threrethrough and holes  250 ,  252 ,  254 ,  260 ,  262 , and  264  that may serve as handholds for manipulating and transporting cleanup tool  210 . 
     Cleanup tool  210  has a chute positioned on top. The chute is formed of a first chute wall  215  and a second chute wall  217  that extend towards chute outlet  219 . Dirt or soil collected on cleanup tool  210  during the process of forming a hole may be directed off by tilting the cleanup tool  210  so that the dirt and soil is directed through chute outlet  219 . Similar to  FIG. 10 , with this design, the cleanup tool  210  may have only one board and only one plate. However, cleanup tool  210  does not include a chute extension. 
     The cleanup tools and their components shown in  FIGS. 1-11  may be made of a variety of different materials. For example, the boards, plates, supports, etc. may be made of wood, plastic, or composite materials, or even lightweight metals such as aluminum or magnesium, or a combination of those materials could be used. 
     It will be appreciated that the use of the cleanup tools shown in  FIGS. 1-11  may advantageously reduce the amount of dirt and soil that needs to be cleaned up from the ground after the posts are positioned. As a result, the amount of cleanup time and the labor and expense of cleaning up the dirt and soil displaced during the hole forming process is advantageously reduced. 
     A method of forming holes for fence or deck posts using the cleanup tool shown in  FIGS. 1-11  may be used to that reduces cleanup time and reduces the labor and expense of cleaning up the dirt and soil displaced during the hole forming process is provided. The method may include the steps of positioning a board having a top surface and a bottom surface over an area where a hole is to be formed in the earth, positioning an aperture located on the board over a spot where the hole is to be formed, positioning a plate slidably attached to the board into a first, open position where the aperture is open, forming a hole in the spot, collecting dirt or soil removed when forming the hole on the top surface of the board, moving the plate to a second, closed position, where the aperture is closed, transporting the board to a place where the dirt or soil may be directed off of the board, and tilting the board to direct dirt or soil that was collected on the board off of the board. 
     The method may further include the step of moving the top surface of the board towards a top surface of a second board to form a V-shaped surface before the step of tilting the board to direct dirt or soil off the board. 
     Example embodiments have been described above. Those skilled in the art will understand that changes and modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention, which is defined by the claims.