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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to ice augers, and more particularly to an apparatus that enables an ice auger to be powered by a battery-powered drill. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] The use of ice augers is well known in the prior art. Typically, a fisherman uses an ice auger during winter to bore a hole through the ice covering a lake for access to fishing below. Early embodiments of ice augers were hand-powered, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,744, issued Apr. 11, 1989 to T. J. Caswell (funnel hole ice auger). However, boring a hole through a thick layer of ice using a hand-powered ice auger required a great expenditure of strength and energy. As a result, other means for powering ice augers have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,321, issued Aug. 31, 1971 to G. Kortschaga; U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,632, issued Dec. 12, 1972 to L. J. Burke; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,751, issued May 8, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a drill adapter for an ice auger that has a floating shield, which has a diameter larger than that of the cutting diameter of the auger to thereby prevent the auger from falling through the hole it produces.

[0014] It is a further object of the invention to provide a drill adapter for an ice auger that incorporates a spring to help minimize vibration and thereby act as a shock absorber.

[0015] Still another object of the invention is to provide a drill adapter for an ice auger that incorporates a removable driver bit that can be easily replaced if damaged.

[0016] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which presents safety features and is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

Problems solved by technology

However, boring a hole through a thick layer of ice using a hand-powered ice auger required a great expenditure of strength and energy.

; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,617, issued Jun. 20, 2000 to J. M. Berner, teach motorized augers, but each of these devices requires the expense of a separate dedicated motor.

Although useful for those individuals possessing a chainsaw or grass-trimming tool, these devices are not useful for other individuals.

However, each of these has several drawbacks.

First, while each includes a safety shield to prevent the auger from falling through the hole produced by the auger, the shield is attached to the adapter such that it spins with the adapter and therefore presents a potential safety hazard should the shield contact clothing or the operator when drilling.

Second, each includes a permanently integrated driver bit that cannot be easily replaced if bent or broken.

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