Single Handled Post Hole Digger

Abstract

The present invention is a light-weight, single handle post hole digger. The single handle of the post hole digger is generally comprised of an outer elongated vertical handle and an inner elongated vertical shaft located substantially within the outer handle. The post hole digger of the present invention has two blade members used to cut into the ground and to loosen soil when in an open configuration and then used to capture and remove soil when in a closed configuration. In some embodiments, a first stationary blade member is permanently attached to the inner elongated vertical shaft by an adjustable pin or bolt and a second movable blade member is connected to the outer elongated handle via a connection rod.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A single handled post hole digger comprising:
 a handle assembly having an outer handle having a bore for receiving an inner shaft, the inner shaft having an upper distal portion extending outwards from the outer handle and a lower portion extending outward from a proximal portion of the outer handle;   a pair of movable blades pivotally attached to the lower portion allowing the movable blades to pivot about the lower portion between an open position and a closed position;   a linkage assembly disposed between the upper distal portion and the lower portion connected to the outer handle and connected to the movable blades so that when the outer handle is rotated about the inner shaft, the movable blades move between the open position and the closed position;   a locking assembly attached to the outer handle that, when locked, prevents the outer handle from rotating relative to the inner shaft thereby holding the movable blades in an open or closed position;   an extendable handle assembly removably attached to the handle assembly for increasing the vertical length of the handle assembly;   a step attached to the handle assembly allowing a user to put downward force on the handle assembly which is transferred to the blades to dig into the ground;   a light attached to the lower portion of the inner shaft and in electronic communications with a switch attached to the outer shaft for actuating the light;   a bubble level attached to the outer handle indicating whether the user has the handle assembly oriented in a straight up position; and,   a depth ring slidably carried by the outer handle that can be used to indicate a predetermined target depth.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including step connector slidably attached to the outer handle and attached to the step allowing the step to be position along the length of the outer connector. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the step is pivotally attached to the handle assembly allowing the step to be positioned between an operational configuration to a stored configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the switch includes an accelerometer that is actuated when the blades impact the ground thereby actuating the light. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the linkage assembly includes a ball and socket connection. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the a linkage assembly include a link bar pivotally connected between the inner shaft and the blades disposed generally orthogonal to a long axis of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  including a sleeve pivot connection attached to the inner shaft and connected to the link bar. 
     
     
         8 . A single handled post hole digger comprising:
 an outer handle having a bore for receiving an inner shaft wherein the outer handle rotates about the inner shaft;   a movable blade pivotally attached to the inner shaft allowing the movable blade to pivot about the inner shaft between an open position and a closed position; and,   a linkage assembly connected between the outer handle and the movable blade so that when the outer handle is rotated about the inner shaft, the movable blade move between the open position and the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  including:
 an inner extension connected to the inner shaft thereby extending the inner shaft; 
 an outer extension connected to the outer handle thereby extending the outer handle; and, 
 thereby allowing for a deeper hole to be produced. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  including a second linkage assembly connected between the outer handle and a second blade so that when the outer handle is rotated about the inner shaft, the second blade moves between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  including a step attached to the outer handle allowing a user to put downward force on the blades to dig into the ground. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  including a bubble level attached to the outer handle indicating whether the user has the handle assembly oriented in a straight vertical position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  including:
 a light source carried by the inner shaft for providing light toward the blades; 
 a power source carried by the outer handle in electrical communications with the light source; and, 
 a switch for actuating the light source to provide light to a working area. 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the switch is an accelerometer actuated by impact of the blades against the ground. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8  including a stationary blade carried by the inner shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 8  including a locking assembly attached to the outer handle that, when locked, prevents the outer handle from rotating relative to the inner shaft thereby holding the movable blades in an open or closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 8  including a bubble level attached to the outer handle indicating whether the user has the handle assembly oriented in a straight up position. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9  including a depth ring slidably carried by the outer handle that can be used to indicate a predetermined target depth. 
     
     
         19 . A single handled post hold digger comprising:
 an inner shaft;   a movable blade pivotally attached to the inner shaft;   a second blade attached to the inner shaft;   an outer handle surrounding the inner shaft and attached to the movable blade by a linkage assembly pivotally connected between the outer handle and the movable blade so that when the outer handle is rotated about the inner shaft, the movable blade moves between the open position and the closed position; and,   a link bar included in the linkage assembly disposed generally orthogonal to a long axis of the handle assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  including an adjustable pin operatively associated with the second blade to adjust the cutting angle of the second blade.