Hole digger

Abstract

The present invention relates to post hole diggers. In particular, the present invention describes a post hole digger that constructs uniform diameter holes. The post hole digger of the present invention is comprised of a pair of handles, digging scoops and a hinge bracket. The hinge bracket translates the movement of the handles into movement of the scoops. The hinge bracket restricts the movement of the handles as digging occurs, allowing for the construction of a relatively straight-sided post hole, essentially removes the tapering of a hole as the hole becomes deeper.

What it is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hole digger for making uniform diameter holes, comprising: 
 a pair of elongated handles each one of said pair having a first end and a second end;    a pair of digging scoops, the first one of said pair of digging scoops attached to said first end of the first one of said pair of elongated handles and the second one of said pair of digging scoops attached to said first and of the second one of said pair of elongated handles; and,    a hinge bracket securely attached on and between each of said first and said second end of said handles.    
     
     
         2 . A hole digger according to  claim 1  wherein said elongated handles are made of wood.  
     
     
         3 . The hole digger according to  claim 1  wherein said elongated handles are 4 to 6 feet long.  
     
     
         4 . A hole digger according to  claim 1  wherein said elongated handles cross when said digging scoops are in the open position.  
     
     
         5 . A hole digger according to  claim 1  wherein said digging scoops are hardened steel.  
     
     
         6 . A hole digger according to  claim 1  wherein said pair of scoops comprise a groundbreaking edge, said ground breaking edge having teeth.  
     
     
         7 . A hole digger according to  claim 6  wherein the teeth of said first one of said pair of scoops incline toward said second one of said pair of scoops and the teeth of said second one of said pair of scoops incline toward said first one of said pair of scoops.  
     
     
         8 . A hole digger according to  claim 7  wherein said teeth incline at an angle in the range of 0° to 28° degrees.  
     
     
         9 . A hole digger according to  claim 1  wherein said hinge bracket is located at a midpoint between said second end of each of said elongated handles and a top of said scoop.  
     
     
         10 . A hole digger according to  claim 1  wherein said hinge bracket is located between said top of said scoops and said midpoint of said elongated handles.  
     
     
         11 . A hole digger according to  claim 1  wherein said handles are removably secured to said hinge bracket by a screw.  
     
     
         12 . A hole digger according to  claim 1  wherein said hinge bracket is made of hardened steel.  
     
     
         13 . A hole digger for making uniform diameter holes, comprising: 
 a pair of elongated handles each with a first end and a second end;    a pair of digging scoops, the first one of said pair of digging scoops fixedly attached to one of said first end of said handles, and the second one of said pair of digging scoops attached to said first end of the second one of said pair of elongated handles, each one of said pair of digging scoops movably joined to each other; and    a hinge bracket securely attached on and between each of said handles.    
     
     
         14 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein said elongated handles are made of wood.  
     
     
         15 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein each one of said elongated handles are 4 to 6 feet long.  
     
     
         16 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein said elongated handles cross when said digging scoops are in the open position.  
     
     
         17 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein said hinge bracket is located at a midpoint between said second ends of each of said elongated handles and a top of each one of said pair of scoops.  
     
     
         18 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein said hinge bracket is located between said top of each one of said pair of said scoops and said midpoint of said elongated handles.  
     
     
         19 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein each one of said pair of digging scoops are hardened steel.  
     
     
         20 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein each one of said pair of said digging scoops further comprise a groundbreaking edge said groundbreaking edge having teeth.  
     
     
         21 . A hole digger according to  claim 20  wherein the teeth of said first one of said pair of scoops incline toward said second one of said pair of scoops and the teeth of said second one of said pair of scoops incline toward said first one of said pair of scoops.  
     
     
         22 . A hole digger according to  claim 21  wherein said teeth incline at an angle in the range of 0° to 28° degrees.  
     
     
         23 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein said hinge bracket is removably secured to each of said pair of handles by a screw.  
     
     
         24 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein said hinge bracket is made of hardened steel.  
     
     
         25 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein said scoops are pivotally joined by a first bolt.  
     
     
         26 . A hole digger according to  claim 25  wherein said hinge bracket is located four inches above said first bolt.  
     
     
         27 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein the first one of said pair of digging scoops further comprises an upper portion, said upper portion having at least 
 one protrusion; and  
 the second one of said pair of digging scoops further comprises an upper portion, said upper portion defining at least one slot, said at least one slot receiving said at least one protrusion.  
 
     
     
         28 . A hole digger according to  claim 13  wherein each one of said pair of digging scoops further comprises an upper portion, each one of said upper portions having a first side defining a slot and a second side defining a hole.  
     
     
         29 . A hole digger according to  claim 28  further comprising a protrusion, said protrusion received by said slot and said hole in each one of said pair of digging scoops.  
     
     
         30 . A hole digger of  claim 29  wherein said protrusion is a said bolt.  
     
     
         31 . A hole digger according to  claim 28  wherein said hinge bracket is located four inches above said protrusion.  
     
     
         32 . A hole digger for making uniform diameter holes comprising: 
 a pair of elongated unitary parts, each one of said pair of elongated unitary parts having two ends wherein the first one of said ends is shaped as a digging scoop, each scoop having a top end, an upper portion and a groundbreaking edge, and the remaining portion of each of said elongated unitary parts forming an elongated handle; and    a hinge bracket securely attached on and between each of said elongated handles.    
     
     
         33 . The hole digger of  claim 32  wherein said digging scoops are securely joined to each other.  
     
     
         34 . The hole digger of  claim 32  wherein said hinge bracket is located at a midpoint between the second end of each of said elongated handles and said top of said scoops.  
     
     
         35 . A hole digger according to  claim 32  wherein each of said ground breaking edges further comprises teeth.  
     
     
         36 . A hole digger according to  claim 35  wherein the teeth of said first one of said pair of scoops incline toward said second one of said pair of scoops and the teeth of said second one of said pair of scoops incline toward said first one of said pair of scoops.  
     
     
         37 . A hole digger according to  claim 36  wherein said teeth incline at an angle in the range of 0° to 28° degrees.  
     
     
         38 . A hole digger according to  claim 32  wherein 
 the first one of said pair of digging scoops having at least one protrusion on said upper portion of said scoop,  
 the second one of said pair of digging scoops having at least one slot defined by said upper portion of said second scoop wherein said at least one protrusion is received by said at least one slot.  
 
     
     
         39 . A hole digger according to  claim 38  wherein said at least one protrusion has a head wider than said at least one slot of said second scoop.  
     
     
         40 . A hole digger of  claim 38  wherein said at least one protrusion is a bolt.  
     
     
         41 . A hole digger according to  claim 38  wherein said hinge bracket is located at least four inches above said protrusion.  
     
     
         42 . A hole digger for making uniform diameter holes comprising: 
 a pair of elongated handles each with a first end and a second end;    a pair of digging scoops, the first one of said pair of digging scoops contiguous with a first hinge bracket section and attached to said first end of said first one of said pair of said elongated handles,    the second one of said pair of digging scoops contiguous with a second hinge bracket section and attached to said first end of said second one of said pair of elongated handles, each one of said pair of scoops including a groundbreaking edge, and an upper portion, the upper portion of said first one of said pair of digging scoops and the upper portion of said second one of said pair of scoops being movably secured to each other;    and said first hinge bracket section and said second hinge bracket sections being operatively joined together.    
     
     
         43 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  wherein each one of said pair of elongated handles are each made of wood.  
     
     
         44 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  wherein each one of said pair of elongated handles are 4-6 feet long.  
     
     
         45 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  wherein said pair of elongated handles cross when said pair of digging scoops are in an open position.  
     
     
         46 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  wherein said upper portion of the first one of said pair of digging scoops further comprising at least one protrusion; and 
 said upper portion of said second one of said pair of digging scoops defining at least one slot wherein said at least one protrusion is received by said at least one slot.  
 
     
     
         47 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  wherein said first one of said pair of digging scoops and said first hinge bracket section is hardened steel and said second one of said pair of digging scoops and said second hinge bracket section is hardened steel.  
     
     
         48 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  wherein each one of said groundbreaking edges further comprise teeth.  
     
     
         49 . A hole digger according to  claim 48  wherein said teeth of said first one of said pair of scoops incline toward said second one of said pair of scoops and the teeth of said second one of said pair of scoops incline toward said first one of said pair of scoops.  
     
     
         50 . A hole digger according to  claim 49  wherein said teeth incline at an angle in the range of 0° to 28° degrees.  
     
     
         51 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  wherein said hinge bracket is secured to each of said two handles by a screw.  
     
     
         52 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  wherein said scoops are securely joined by a bolt.  
     
     
         53 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  further comprising a protrusion wherein said upper portion of each of said digging scoops has a first side which defines a slot and a second side which defines a hole, said protrusion received by said slot and by said hole.  
     
     
         54 . A hole digger according to  claim 53  wherein said protrusion has a head wider than said slot of said second scoop.  
     
     
         55 . A hole digger of  claim 54  wherein said protrusion is a bolt.  
     
     
         56 . A hole digger according to  claim 53  wherein said hinge bracket is located four inches above said protrusion.  
     
     
         57 . A hole digger according to  claim 42  wherein 
 one of said digging scoops has at least one protrusion on the upper portion of said scoop,  
 a second digging scoop has at least one slot defined by the upper portion of said second scoop wherein said at least one protrusion is received by said at least one slot.  
 
     
     
         58 . A hole digger according to  claim 57  wherein said at least one protrusion has a head wider than at least one said slot of said second scoop.  
     
     
         59 . A hole digger of  claim 58  wherein said at least one protrusion is a bolt.  
     
     
         60 . A hole digger according to  claim 57  wherein said hinge bracket is located four inches above said at least one protrusion.