Drill adapter for an ice auger

Abstract

The drill adapter for an ice auger is an adapter that allows an ice auger to be powered by a battery-powered drill. The device includes a receiver tube that is configured for attachment to an ice auger shaft, and an end cap with a removable driver bit for attachment to a battery-powered drill. The device also includes, as a safety feature, a floating shield that spins freely around the receiver tube thereby allowing rotation of the shield to be stopped while the device is powering an ice auger, and includes a spring within the receiver tube that absorbs vibration.

1 . A drill adapter for an ice augur, comprising: 
 a receiver tube having a cylindrical wall, and upper and lower ends, the lower end of the receiver tube being adapted for coupling with an ice auger shaft;    an end cap having a substantially cylindrical shape, a bottom end, a top end, and an axial bore, the end cap being coupled with the upper end of the receiver tube; and    a drill driver bit disposed in the axial bore of the end cap, the bit being adapted for use with a portable drill.    
   
   
       2 . The drill adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein said receiving tube has a groove defined therein, the adapter further comprising: 
 a disk-shaped floating shield having a center aperture defined therein, the center aperture having a diameter greater than said receiving tube;    a C-ring clip removably inserted into the groove defined in said receiving tube; and    a collar extending around a portion of said end cap;    wherein when the C-ring clip is disposed in the groove in said receiving tube and said floating shield is disposed around said receiving tube with said floating shield being positioned above the C-ring clip and below the collar, said floating shield spins freely around said receiving tube independent of rotation of said receiving tube and the auger, so that said floating shield is capable of remaining stationary while said receiving tube and the ice auger are spinning.    
   
   
       3 . The drill adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein said end cap has a threaded bore defined therein, the adapter further comprising a setscrew removably extending through the threaded bore into the axial bore in order to temporarily secure the drill driver bit to the adapter.  
   
   
       4 . The drill adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein said receiver tube has first and second aligned apertures defined therein, the adapter further comprising: 
 a locking pin adapted for insertion through said first and second apertures in said receiving tube, the locking pin being adapted for insertion through an aperture defined in the ice auger in order to retain the ice auger in said retainer tube; and    an internal spring disposed in said receiver tube between the locking pin and said end cap for cushioning vibration.    
   
   
       5 . The drill adapter for an ice auger according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an extension tube having an upper and a lower end, a support plug disposed therein, first and second upper apertures defined therein, first and second lower apertures defined therein, and an internal spring depending from said support plug, the upper end of the extension tube being removably inserted into the lower end of said receiver tube, and the lower end of the extension tube being adapted for receiving the ice auger shaft;    a first lock pin removably inserted through the first and second apertures of the extension tube and through the lower end of said receiver tube in order to temporarily secure the extension tube to said receiver tube; and    an extension locking pin removably inserted through the first and second lower apertures and the ice auger in order to temporarily secure the ice auger to the extension tube.    
   
   
       6 . A drill adapter for an ice auger, comprising: 
 a receiver tube having a cylindrical wall, an upper and lower end, a groove and a first and second aperture; said lower end of said receiver tube adapted for coupling with the top of an ice auger shaft;    an end cap having a substantially cylindrical shape, a bottom, a top, an axial bore adapted to receive a drill driver bit, a collar, and a threaded aperture extending from said bore; said end cap adapted for coupling with said upper end of said receiver tube;    a drill driver bit adapted for use with a drill;    a floating shield in the shape of a disk with a center aperture, said center aperture having a diameter greater than the outside diameter of said receiving tube;    a C-ring clip adapted for coupling in said groove in said receiving tube;    a setscrew dimensioned for use in said threaded aperture in said end cap;    a locking pin adapted for insertion through said first and second apertures in said receiver tube; and    an internal spring extending downward from said bottom of said end cap;    wherein said end cap is coupled with said upper end of said receiver tube; said drill driver bit is disposed in said axial bore of said end cap; said C-ring clip is disposed in said groove in said receiver tube and said floating shield is disposed around said receiver tube, said floating shield being positioned above said C-ring and below said collar extending around a portion of said end cap, and said setscrew is screwed into said threaded aperture;    whereby said floating shield spins freely around said receiving tube such that said floating shield can remain stationary while said receiving tube and the ice auger are spinning;    whereby tightening said setscrew secures said drill driver bit in said bore in said end cap, and loosening said setscrew permits removal and replacement of said drill driver bit;    whereby, when the top of an ice auger shaft is inserted into said lower end of said receiving tube such that said first and second apertures in said receiving tube align with the aperture in the top of the ice auger shaft, and said locking pin is inserted through said first aperture in said receiving tube, through the aperture in the ice auger shaft and through said second aperture in said receiving tube, then said drill adapter for an ice auger is coupled with the ice auger; and    whereby when said lower end of said receiver tube is coupled with the top of an ice fishing auger shaft and said drill driver bit is coupled with a power drill, said drill adapter for an ice auger allows an ice auger to be powered by a power drill.    
   
   
       7 . The drill adapter for an ice augur according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 an extension tube having an upper and lower end, a support plug disposed therein, a first and second upper aperture, a first and second lower aperture, and an internal spring depending from said support plug; said upper end adapted for insertion into said lower end of said receiver tube and said lower end adapted for coupling with the top of an ice auger shaft; and    an extension locking pin adapted for insertion through said first and second lower apertures;    whereby said lower end of said extension tube is coupled with the top of an ice fishing auger by inserting said extension locking pin through said first lower aperture, through the aperture in the top of an ice auger shaft and through said second lower aperture; and said upper end of said extension tube is coupled with said lower end of said receiver tube by inserting said locking pin through said first aperture in said receiver tube, through said first and second lower apertures, and through said second aperture in said receiver tube;    whereby, when said lower end of said extension tube is coupled with the top of an ice auger shaft and said upper end of said extension tube is coupled with said lower end of said receiver tube, said extension tube extends the distance between the ice auger and the drill thereby allowing the ice auger to be lowered deeper into a layer of ice.