Ice cutter

Abstract

An ice cutting apparatus including a driving mechanism, a shaft, a plate, a web and a blade. The shaft is connected to the driving mechanism. The plate has at least one opening therein, the plate being detachably connected to the shaft. The web borders a portion of the at least one opening. The blade is attached to the plate, and is shaped to accommodate the web.

1 . An ice cutting apparatus, comprising: 
 a driving mechanism;    a shaft connected to said driving mechanism;    a plate having at least one opening therein, said plate being connected to said shaft;    a web bordering a portion of said at least one opening; and    a blade attached to said plate, said blade being shaped to accommodate said web.    
   
   
       2 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said blade includes a slot into which said web is inserted thereby straddling a portion of said web.  
   
   
       3 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an other blade substantially similar to said blade, said at least one opening including a first opening associated with said blade and a second opening associated with said other blade.  
   
   
       4 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an auger connected to said shaft, said auger having a first outer diameter and said plate having a second outer diameter, said first outer diameter being smaller than said second outer diameter.  
   
   
       5 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said web has a portion that is proximate said second outer diameter, said web sweeping inwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       6 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plate includes a protrusion, said shaft including an opening into which said protrusion is inserted.  
   
   
       7 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a connecting device, said shaft and said protrusion each having corresponding holes that align and through which said connecting device is inserted.  
   
   
       8 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a centering blade inserted into said plate and detachably connected thereto by said connecting device.  
   
   
       9 . An ice cutting apparatus, comprising: 
 a plate having at least one opening therein;    a web bordering a portion of said at least one opening; and    a blade attached to said plate, said blade being proximate to at least two sides of said web.    
   
   
       10 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said blade includes a slot into which said web is inserted thereby straddling a portion of said web.  
   
   
       11 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising an other blade substantially similar to said blade, said at least one opening including a first opening associated with said blade and a second opening associated with said other blade.  
   
   
       12 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a shaft detachably connected to said plate.  
   
   
       13 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising an auger connected to said shaft, said auger having a first outer diameter and said plate having a second outer diameter, said first outer diameter being smaller than said second outer diameter.  
   
   
       14 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said web has a portion that is proximate said second outer diameter, said web sweeping inwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       15 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said plate includes a protrusion, said shaft including an opening into which said protrusion is inserted.  
   
   
       16 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a connecting device, said shaft and said protrusion each having corresponding holes that align and through which said connecting device is inserted.  
   
   
       17 . The ice cutting apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a centering blade inserted into said plate and detachably connected thereto by said connecting device.  
   
   
       18 . A method of cutting a hole in ice, comprising the steps of: 
 rotatably driving a shaft connected to a shaped plate; and    positioning a cutting blade that is detachably attached to said shaped plate on the ice, said cutting blade straddling a portion of a web of said plate.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of reverse driving said shaft once the hole is cut in the ice thereby cleaning the hole by driving cut ice into water under the ice.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: 
 inserting a centering blade through said shaped plate; and    detachably connecting said shaped plate and said centering blade to said shaft with a connecting device.