US358335A - Post-hole digger - Google Patents

Description

(No Moiiel.

J. W. CLARK.

POST HOLE BIGGER. N0. 358,335. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.

N. PETERS. PM )Lilhnmpher, wnhingmn, I71v (L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. oLAErcoE ETNA, OHIO.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,335, dated February 22, 1887.

Application filed October 20, 1886. Serial No. 216,757. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, J AMES W. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Etna, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Hole Diggers; and I do declare the fo1- lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved posthole digger; and it consists in the novel features h ereinafter more fully described, claimed, and pointed out in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved post-hole digger. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the guard adjusted upon the rod by dotted lines, and Fig. 3 is a bottom plan.

The vital point of this invention is having combined with a post-hole digger, provided with parallel blades arranged upon diametrically-opposite sides of the vertical axis or rod thereof, a guard mounted upon said rod to turn therewith in the operation of digging, and having a portion located on each side opposite the space between the blades and acting in connection therewith to hold the removed earth, said guard at the same time being free to have a longitudinal movement on the rod to release the earth when the digger is withdrawn from the hole. 7

The digger shown in the drawings comprises the rod A, the handle B, and the blades 0, which are fastened to opposite ends of the plate D, secured to the lower end of the rod A. The blades 0 are sharpened on their forward edges, and have their lower ends, 0, bent inward to remove the earth and retain it in place when the digger is withdrawn from the hole.

The guard comprises the head E and the arms F,which are secured to the opposite ends of the head E, and are arranged at such distance apart that they will track in the path of the blades and act in connection therewith to retain the removed earth between them and said blades, in a manner well understood. The ends of the head are bent substantially at right angles, forming projections e, to which the upper ends of the arms F are secured. The arms F are made of thin metal, and are curved in cross-section to conform with the circle of the hole being dug. They may be sharpened on their forward edges or not, as preferred.

The head E is centrally apertured to permit the passage of the rod A, which is of such shape in cross-section that the head will turn therewith, but will permit it (the head) to have a longitudinal movement thereon for releasing the earth when the digger is withdrawn. The brace G, attached at each end to the opposite ends of the head and having its middle portion located at a distance from said head, is centrally apertured to permit the passage of said rod A. The aperture in said brace corresponds with the aperture in the head and assists in effectinga turning of said head with the rod. It at the same time serves as a handle to be grasped by the hand when moving the guard along the rod A.

In practice the weight of the head, the arms, and brace is sufficient to hold the guard at its lowest point'upon the rod when removing the earth, as willbe readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a post-hole digger, the combination, with the rod and the blades secured to the lower end thereof, and having the main portion thereof parallel with the rod or its prolongation, of the guard adapted to slide 1011- gitudinally upon the rod, and having a portion located on each side opposite the space between the blades, and acting in connection therewith to hold the removed earth, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The'combinatiomwith the rod and blades having their ends curved inward secured upon its lower end and diametrically arranged, of the guard having arms arranged to track in the path of the cutters, and mounted upon said rod to turn therewith and free to have a longitudinal movement thereon, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the post-hole digger, of the guard having arms curved on the are of a circle in cross-section, mounted on the 1 blades secured thereto, of the guard composed rod of said digger to turn therewith, and free 3 of the head having its ends bent substantially to have a longitudinal adjustment thereon, at right angles. and the arms secured to said I5 substantially as and for the purpose described. bent ends, substantially as and for the pur- 5 4. The combination, with the rod and the pose described.

blades secured thereto, of the guard mounted In testimony whereof I affix my signature in upon the rod to turn therewith and having a presence of two witnesses. longitudinal movement thereon, and the reenforcing brace and handle secured to said I JAMES CLARK IO guard. substantially as and for the purpose \Vitnesses:

described. MAUI) AULT,

5. The combination, with the rod and the Osman VANDORN.

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