Ground hole forming device

Abstract

A ground-hole forming apparatus is provided and includes a drivable element, a bulb coupled to an end of the drivable element and including first and second resilient portions, a driving element including first and second ends and being movable by an operator in first and second directions such that the first and second ends drivably impact the first and second resilient portions of the bulb, respectively, to thereby drive the drivable element in the first and second directions, respectively. The first and second resilient portions are configured to absorb and deaden respective impacts thereof with the first and second ends.

1 . A ground-hole forming apparatus, comprising:
 a drivable element;   a bulb coupled to an end of the drivable element, the bulb comprising first and second resilient portions;   a driving element comprising first and second ends, the driving element being movable by an operator in first and second directions such that the first and second ends drivably impact the first and second resilient portions of the bulb, respectively, to thereby drive the drivable element in the first and second directions, respectively,   the first and second resilient portions being configured to absorb and deaden respective impacts thereof with the first and second ends.   
     
     
         2 . A ground-hole forming apparatus, comprising:
 a first elongate member, which is movable by an operator in first and second directions;   a bulb comprising resilient portions and being constrained to remain in an interior of the first elongate member; and   a second elongate member coupled at an end thereof to the bulb,   the second elongate member being drivable in the first and second directions by respective impacts between first and second ends of the first elongate member and the resilient portions of the bulb with the first elongate member moving in the first and second directions, respectively.   
     
     
         3 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the second elongate member is rigid. 
     
     
         4 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the bulb comprises a rigid element affixed to the second elongate member at the end thereof,
 the resilient portions being coupled to leading and trailing sides of the rigid element, respectively, which are defined in accordance with movement of the first elongate member in the first direction.   
     
     
         5 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the rigid element comprises a metallic material. 
     
     
         6 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are screw-coupled to the rigid element. 
     
     
         7 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second resilient portions comprise a resin-based material and curved impact surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . A ground-hole forming apparatus, comprising:
 a first elongate member comprising a tube defining an interior having first and second ends, a first stopper at the first end and a second stopper at the second end;   a second elongate member having third and fourth ends, the second elongate member being movable in first and second directions relative to the first elongate member; and   a bulb coupled to the third end and configured to constrain the third end in the interior, the bulb comprising:   first and second resilient portions configured to impact the first and second stoppers, respectively, to terminate movement of the second elongate member relative to the first elongate member in the first and second directions, respectively.   
     
     
         9 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the tube comprises a compliant outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the first stopper comprises a closure of the tube. 
     
     
         11 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the second stopper comprises a partial closure of the tube. 
     
     
         12 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the second stopper is configured to be screw-coupled to the second end of the first elongate member. 
     
     
         13 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the partial closure has a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of a central portion of the second elongate member, which is defined between the third and fourth ends. 
     
     
         14 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the second stopper comprises a gasket configured to guide a sliding movement of the central portion of the second elongate member. 
     
     
         15 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the second elongate member is rigid. 
     
     
         16 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the bulb comprises a rigid element affixed to the second elongate member at the third end,
 the first resilient portion being coupled to a leading side of the rigid element defined in accordance with the movement of the second elongate member relative to the first elongate member in the first direction, and   the second resilient portion being coupled to a trailing side of the rigid element defined in accordance with the movement of the second elongate member relative to the first elongate member in the first direction.   
     
     
         17 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the rigid element comprises a metallic material. 
     
     
         18 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second resilient portions are screw-coupled to the rigid element. 
     
     
         19 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second resilient portions comprise a resin-based material. 
     
     
         20 . The ground-hole forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second resilient portions comprise curved surfaces, which are respectively disposed to impact the first and second stoppers.