DIGGING APPARATUS

This invention relates to a digging apparatus, and in particular such a digging apparatus suitable, but not exclusively, for digging into soil.

Most commercially available digging apparatus include a motor driving a rotatable drilling bit. Some such apparatus only allow one-way drilling, i.e. rotation of the drilling bit in one direction only. They therefore do not allow for reverse rotation of the drilling bit, which is in fact a desirable feature as it helps the drilling bit out of the substrate being drilled or dug, e.g. soil. While some digging apparatus allow choice of drilling direction by pressing a button, it would mean that a user has to press a button every time he/she wants to change the drilling direction of the drilling bit.

In addition, most existing mechanisms allowing releasable engagement of drilling bits to a digging apparatus are complex to manufacture and operate, and may also require the use of other tools. Furthermore, most existing digging apparatus have a closed-loop handle. Such a kind of handle suffers from the drawback that, when kickback occurs, a hand or hands of a user may be easily hit by such a closed-loop handle.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a digging apparatus and a digging tool for a digging apparatus in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide useful alternatives to the trade and public.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digging apparatus including a handle assembly, a motor, a switch member electrically connected with said motor, said switch member being movable between a first position in which operation of said motor is allowed and a second position in which operation of said motor is prevented, and a digging tool drivenable by said motor, said digging tool having a longitudinal axis, characterized in that, when said switch member is in said first position, said motor is adapted to drive said digging tool to rotate about said longitudinal axis in a first rotational direction in response to movement of said handle assembly in a first direction, and said motor is adapted to drive said digging tool to rotate about said longitudinal axis in a second rotational direction which is opposite to said first rotational direction in response to movement of said handle assembly in a second direction which is substantially opposite to said first direction.

In use, when said switch member is in said first position, and in response to movement of said handle assembly in said first direction, said motor may be adapted to drive said digging tool to rotate about said longitudinal axis in said first rotational direction to move said digging apparatus in said first direction.

In use, when said switch member is in said first position, and in response to movement of said handle assembly in said second direction, said motor may be adapted to drive said digging tool to rotate about said longitudinal axis in said second rotational direction to move said digging apparatus in said second direction.

Said apparatus may include an electric circuit connecting said switch member, said motor and an auxiliary switch assembly, and, when said switch member is in said first position, and in response to movement of said handle assembly in said first direction, said auxiliary switch assembly may be adapted to close said electric circuit in a first configuration to operate said motor to drive said digging tool to rotate about said longitudinal axis in said first rotational direction.

When said switch member is in said first position, and in response to movement of said handle assembly in said second direction, said auxiliary switch assembly may be adapted to close said electric circuit in a second configuration to operate said motor to drive said digging tool to rotate about said longitudinal axis in said second rotational direction. Said auxiliary switch assembly may include a first auxiliary switch which, when said switch member is in said first position and in response to movement of said handle assembly in said first direction, may be adapted to close said electric circuit in said first configuration. Said auxiliary switch assembly may include a second auxiliary switch which, when said switch member is in said first position and in response to movement of said handle assembly in said second direction, may be adapted to close said electric circuit in said second configuration. Said first auxiliary switch may comprise a first sliding switch. Said second auxiliary switch may comprise a second sliding switch.

Said first direction may be from said handle assembly to said digging tool and may be substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said digging tool.

Said handle assembly may include two handle portions each with a free end, and said free ends of said handle portions may point towards generally opposite directions. Said handle assembly may be of a generally S-shape. Said switch member may be on one of said handle portions.

Said digging tool may be releasably connected with said motor. Said digging tool may include a body with markings thereon for indicating a depth of penetration of said digging tool into a substrate. Said digging tool may include a first longitudinal end for penetrating into a substrate and an opposite second longitudinal end for releasable connection with an engagement mechanism of said digging apparatus. Said digging tool may include a hollow connection part adjacent said second longitudinal end. Said hollow connection part may include two through-holes with their central longitudinal axes aligned with each other. Said engagement mechanism may include a male member adapted to be inserted into said hollow connection part of said digging tool. Said male member of said engagement mechanism may include two pin members with their central longitudinal axes aligned with each other. Said pin members may be movable towards each other to a compressed position and away from each other to an extended position. Said pin members may be biased towards said extended position. When said digging tool is connected with said engagement mechanism, said pin members of said male member of said engagement mechanism may be in said extended position and may be at least partly received through said through-holes of said hollow connection part of said digging tool to prevent disengagement of said digging tool from said engagement mechanism. When said digging tool is connected with said engagement mechanism, said pin members of said male member of said engagement mechanism may be movable from said extended position to said compressed position to allow disengagement of said digging tool from said engagement mechanism. Said male member of said engagement mechanism may be of a generally square cross-section. Said hollow connection part of said digging tool may have a cavity of a generally square cross-section.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digging tool for a digging apparatus, said digging tool including a body with a plurality of markings thereon for indicating a depth of penetration of said digging tool into a substrate.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digging tool for a digging apparatus, said digging tool including a first longitudinal end for penetrating into a substrate, an opposite second longitudinal end for releasable connection with a digging apparatus, and a hollow connection part adjacent said second longitudinal end, wherein said hollow connection part includes two through-holes with their central longitudinal axes aligned with each other.

A digging apparatus and a digging tool according to the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a main body of a digging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
• Fig. 2 is a top view of a handle assembly of the digging apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the main body of the digging apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Figs. 4A to 4D show steps of assembling the main body of the digging apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 is an exploded view of a gear box of the main body of the digging apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 6A is a perspective view of a main body of a digging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
• Fig. 6B is a perspective view of an adaptor for use with the main body of Fig. 6A;
• Fig. 6C is a front view of a drilling bit for use with the adaptor of Fig. 6B;
• Fig. 7A is a side view of a further drilling bit for use with the digging apparatus of Fig. 1, and being shown as connected with a part of an engagement mechanism of the main body of the digging apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 7B is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked A of Fig. 7A, being a part of the drilling bit shown in Fig. 7A;
• Fig. 7C is a perspective view of an engagement mechanism of the main body of the digging apparatus of Fig. 1; and
• Fig. 7D is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked B of Fig. 7A, showing the releasable connection between the drilling bit and the engagement mechanism of the main body of the digging apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a main body 12 of a digging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated as 10. The main body 12 includes a handle assembly 14 at one longitudinal end thereof and an output shaft 16 at an opposite longitudinal end thereof. As will be discussed below, one longitudinal end of the output shaft 16 is connected with a motor of the digging apparatus 10 and an opposite longitudinal end of the output shaft 16 is releasably connected with a digging tool, such as a drilling bit. The main body 12 has a central longitudinal axis L-L.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of the handle assembly 14 of the digging apparatus 10. The handle assembly 14 is in a generally S-shape, and has two handle portions 18a, 18b, each with a respective free end 20a, 20b pointing towards generally opposite directions. As mentioned above, most existing digging apparatus have a closed-loop handle, and such a kind of handle suffers from the drawback that, when kickback occurs, a hand of a user or hands may be easily hit by such a closed-loop handle. With the S-shaped handle assembly 14 of the present invention, however, in addition to be grasped easily, when kickback occurs, a user can easily let loose of the handle assembly 14 from the free ends 18a, 18b, thus not having to withstand the kickback force, and reducing the risk of being hurt by the digging apparatus 10.

A main switch 22 is provided on the handle portion 18a, to be manually operable by a user. The main switch 22 may be moved between an "ON" position and an "OFF" position. When the main switch 22 is in the "OFF" position, the motor (to be discussed below) of the digging apparatus 10 is prevented from being operated. When the main switch 22 is in the "ON" position, the motor of the digging apparatus 10 may be operated upon activation of a switch mechanism to be discussed below.

As shown in Fig. 3, the handle assembly 14 of the main body 12 includes an upper handle part 24 and a lower handle part 26, with the main switch 22 including a push button 28 operatively associated with a micro-switch 30 which is electrically connected with a motor 32. The motor 32 is connected with the output shaft 16 via a gear box 34. The main body 12 includes a left body housing 36, a right body housing 38, a left outer housing 40, a right outer housing 42, springs 44, 46, spring holders 48, 50, a first slide switch 52, and a second slide switch 54. The motor 32, the main switch 22 (including the micro-switch 30), the first slide switch 52 and the second slide switch 54 are all electrically connected with one another via an electric circuit. The first slide switch 52 and the second slide switch 54 form an auxiliary switch assembly 55, which co-operates with the main switch 22 in operating the digging apparatus 10.

As shown in Figs. 4A to 4D, to assemble the main body 12 of the digging apparatus 10, the motor 32 and the gear box 34 are connected with each other, and are enclosed within a cavity between the left body housing 36 and the right body housing 38, with a part of the gear box 34 and the output shaft 16 extending outside the left body housing 36 and the right body housing 38. The thus assembled portion is then encased between the left outer housing 40 and the right outer housing 42, again with a part of the gear box 34 and the output shaft 16 extending outside the left outer housing 40 and the right outer housing 42. The upper handle part 24 and the lower handle 26 part are then assembled on top of the thus assembled portion to form the main body 12.

As shown in more detail in Fig. 5, the gear box 34 of the main body 12 of the digging apparatus 10 includes a pinion adaptor 56 coupled to a pinion 58, a motor mount 60, two gear box pins 62, 64, a washer 66, a first layer planetary gear 68, a first layer planet carrier 70, a second layer planetary gear 72, a first ring gear 74, a second layer planet carrier 76, a third layer planetary gear 78, a second ring gear 80, a bearing 82, a retaining ring 84, and a gear box housing 86.

According to the present invention, a drilling bit is releasably connected with and driven by the motor 32 via the output shaft 16 of the main body 12 to form the digging apparatus 10. To operate the digging apparatus 10, the main switch 22 is moved (e.g. by moving the push button 28) from the "OFF" position to and remain at the "ON" position to activate the micro-switch 30. A user holding the handle assembly 14 of the digging apparatus 10 then moves (e.g. pushes) the handle assembly 14 in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis L-L of the digging apparatus 10 and from the handle assembly 14 towards the output shaft 16 (and thus towards the drilling bit), as shown by the arrow D in Fig. 1. When in use, e.g. when the drilling bit of the digging apparatus 10 abuts or penetrates a substrate to be dug (e.g. soil), as the central longitudinal axis L-L of the digging apparatus 10 extends generally vertically, this direction of movement of the handle assembly 14 is generally downward. Upon movement of the handle assembly 14 in this direction, the first slide switch 52 is activated to close the electric circuit in a configuration in which electricity is supplied to activate the motor 32 to drive the output shaft 16 to rotate in a clockwise direction (when seen from top) to cause the drilling bit to rotate in the same rotational direction, to dig and move downward into the substrate, thus also moving the digging apparatus 10 downward into the substrate.

If desired, the user may (while maintaining the main switch 22 in the "ON" position) move (e.g. pull) the handle assembly 14 in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow D in Fig. 1 (i.e. parallel to the central longitudinal axis L-L of the digging apparatus 10 and from the output shaft 16 (or from the drilling bit) towards the handle assembly 14). When in use, e.g. when the drilling bit of the digging apparatus 10 penetrates a substrate to be dug (e.g. soil), as the central longitudinal axis L-L of the digging apparatus 10 extends generally vertically, this direction of movement of the handle assembly 14 is generally upward. Upon movement of the handle assembly 14 in this direction, the first slide switch 52 is deactivated, while the second slide switch 54 is activated to close the electric circuit in a different configuration in which electricity is supplied to activate the motor 32 to drive the output shaft 16 to rotate in an opposite, anti-clockwise direction (when seen from top) to cause the drilling bit to rotate in the same rotational direction, to move upward and away from the substrate, thus also moving the digging apparatus 10 upward and away from the substrate. More particularly, when the main switch 22 and the first slide switch 52 are activated, the first slide switch 52 closes the electric circuit in a configuration in which electricity is supplied to the motor 32 in a direction to cause the output shaft 16 of the motor 32 to rotate in the clockwise direction (when seen from top), and when the main switch 22 and the second slide switch 54 are activated, the second slide switch 54 closes the electric circuit in a different configuration in which electricity is supplied to the motor 32 in an opposite direction to cause the output shaft 16 of the motor 32 to rotate in the opposite, anti-clockwise direction (when seen from top).

By way of the aforesaid arrangement of the digging apparatus 10 according to the present invention, auto selection of forward/rearward movement of the digging apparatus 10 into and out of the substrate to be dug is allowed. This enables the user to finish the work quicker as there is no need to manually push any button to select the direction of rotation of the drilling bit (and thus the direction of movement of the digging apparatus 10. Such an auto selection of forward/rearward movement of the digging apparatus 10 also fits in with human habit, as, normally, a user pushes the digging apparatus 10 downward if he/she wants to dig deeper, and the user pulls the digging apparatus 10 upward if he/she wants to retrieve the digging apparatus 10. Such a feature also allows the user to cause the drilling bit to drill back and forth in the substrate more easily and conveniently, without having to push any button manually.

It should be noted that the motor 32 can only operate either when both the main switch 22 and the first slide switch 52 are simultaneously activated, or when both the main switch 22 and the second slide switch 54 are simultaneously activated. Such an arrangement enhances the safety in use of the digging apparatus 10. Thus, in a way, the main switch 22 acts as a safety switch.

Fig. 6A shows a main body 12a of a digging apparatus 10 according to second embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the main body 12a is highly similar to that of the main body 12 discussed above, the only difference being the detailed shape of the respective handle assembly 14, 14a. An output shaft 16a of the main body 12a (with a central longitudinal axis T-T) is releasably connected with a drilling bit 88a with a central longitudinal axis P-P, as shown in Fig. 6C, via an adaptor 90 with a central longitudinal axis S-S, as shown in Fig. 6B. The adaptor 90 has an upper hollow cylindrical part 92 with two through holes 94 with their central longitudinal axes aligned with each other. The hollow cylindrical part 92 receives part of the output shaft 16a of the main body 12a, and may be releasably connected with the output shaft 16a by a lock pin (not shown) going through the through holes 94 and correspondingly positioned through hole (not shown) through the output shaft 16a. The adaptor 90 also has a lower hollow cylindrical part 96 with two pairs of through holes 98, 100, with their respective pair of central longitudinal axes aligned with each other. An upper end of the 102a of the drilling bit 88a may be releasably connected with the lower hollow cylindrical part 96 of the adaptor 90 by bolts and nuts, and with possible length adjustment, depending on which pair of aligned holes 98, 100 are used. When the drilling bit 88a is thus releasably engaged with the main body 12a, the central longitudinal axis T-T of the main body 12a, the central longitudinal axis P-P of the drilling bit 88a and the central longitudinal axis S-S of the adaptor 90 are aligned with one another.

Fig. 7A shows a drilling bit 88 for use with the digging apparatus 10, in which the drilling bit 88 is shown as being connected with a part of an engagement mechanism 104 of the main body 12 of the digging apparatus 10. The drilling bit 88 has a central longitudinal axis M-M which, when the drilling 88 is releasably connected with the engagement mechanism 104, is aligned with the central longitudinal axis L-L of the main body 12 and of the connection mechanism 104. To allow the user to easily know the depth to which the drilling bit 88 has penetrated into the substrate (e.g. soil), and as shown in Fig. 7B, the drilling bit 88 has on its body 106 a number of markings 108 (which may be coloring and/or etchings) to show the distance of the respective marking 108 from a tip 110 of the drilling bit 88, being one longitudinal end of the drilling bit 88.

The upper end 102 (i.e. the longitudinal end opposite the tip 110) of the drilling bit 88 has a hollow connection part 112 with a cavity of a square cross-section sized and configured to receive a part of a male member 114 of the engagement mechanism 104, which male member 114 also being of a square cross-section. The hollow connection part 112 of the drilling bit 88 has a pair of through holes with their central longitudinal axes aligned with each other.

The male member 114 includes two pins 116 with their central longitudinal axes aligned with each other. The pins 116 are movable towards each other to a compressed position and away from each other to an extended position. The pins 116 are biased towards the extended position by a spring 118. When the drilling bit 88 is connected with the engagement mechanism 104, in which the male member 114 is received within the hollow connection part 112 of the drilling bit 88, the pins 116 are in the extended position and are partly received through the through-holes of the hollow connection part 112 of the drilling bit 88 to prevent disengagement of the drilling bit 88 from the engagement mechanism 104. If desired, the pins 116 may be movable (e.g. by manually compressing the pins 116 towards each other, and against the biasing force of the spring 118) to the compressed position, in which the pins 116 are clear of the through holes of the hollow connection part 112 of the drilling bit 88, to allow disengagement of the drilling bit 88 from the engagement mechanism 104, thus allowing disconnection of the drilling bit 88 from the main body 12.

Most existing drilling bit locking mechanism makes use of a pin and key. It is time consuming to change the drilling bit. Since the drilling bit is long, it is difficult to align the hole for insertion of the pin and key. There is also the risk of losing the pin or key. On the other hand, the arrangement discussed above allows for easy and convenient connection and disconnection of the drilling bit 88 with and from the main body 12 of the digging apparatus 10, without requiring the use of any tool or accessory.

It should be understood that the above only illustrates and describes an example whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.