Ice auger cordless drill adaptor

Abstract

An ice auger adaptor for connecting a portable drill to an ice auger. The adaptor includes a connecting pin having a first end for connection to the chuck of a power drill and a second end configured to install on the shaft of an ice auger. Disposed on the connection pin between the two ends and proximate the first end is a flange. A retaining disc having a center aperture is installed on the connection pin so that it abuts against the flange. The center aperture has a diameter sufficiently larger than the diameter of the connection pin to permit free rotational movement therebetween. The retaining disc also includes two peripheral apertures which can be connected to the ends of an elastomeric retaining cord. The retaining cord has a length such that, when it is wrapped around the body of the drill, the retaining disc and remainder of the adaptor are secured snugly to the drill. The retaining disc and retaining cord cooperate to keep the ice auger secured to the drill and prevent accidental falls of the ice auger through the ice. They also serve to support much of the weight of the drill lid, thus preventing damage to the chuck.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based on and claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application 60 / 647,933, filed Jan. 31, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to the field of ice auger adaptors, and specifically to ice auger adaptors which safely and securely connect a portable power drill to an ice auger. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In order to engage in the popular winter pastime of ice fishing, it is first necessary to make a hole in the ice so that the fisherman can access the open water lying therebelow. Ice augers, which are designed to bore a hole through the ice to permit such access, are in common use. However, while such augers can be operated by hand, hand drilling the hole through the ice is a laborious and time-consuming process. [0004] Hence, a variety of methods are commonly used to power the ice auger. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,161 discloses an ice auger conversion kit which can be mounted to a con...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] Thus, when the retaining cord is wrapped around the drill and its ends secured, it holds the retainer firmly and snugly onto the connecting pin with the connecting pin free to rotate within the retainer as it is driven by the power drill. Hence, the ice auger which is connected to its second end will also rotate while the retaining disc is held stationary with respect to the power drill. Furthermore, the retainer and the retaining cord serve to secure the connecting pin and ice auger to the drill chuck, thereby preventing unintended detachment when the adaptor is in use. Furthermore, the retaining cord, when in place, also transfers much of the weight of the ice auger to the body of the drill, which not only helps prevent detachment, but also serves to brace the drill with respect to the auger, thereby stabilizing the entire apparatus. It also helps prevent damage to the drill chuck caused by prior art auger adaptors which place all of the weight of the apparatus on the chuck.

[0014] The retainer of the present invention is preferably formed of a sheet material having smooth, slippery surfaces so that the connection pin and flange will not bind therewith when they are spinning. Typical materials which may be employed for this purpose include various polymeric materials such as, for example, nylon, Teflon, Delrin, or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWP). UHMWP has been found to be particularly suitable for this purpose because it is, compared to other materials possessing similar properties, relatively inexpensive and easy to work. Alternatively, metals such as aluminum, steel, brass or the like may be employed.

Problems solved by technology

However, while such augers can be operated by hand, hand drilling the hole through the ice is a laborious and time-consuming process.

However, many of these known devices suffer from the problem that the auger can detach from the drill when it is in operation, thus resulting in the ice auger falling through the hole into the water.

However, all of the prior art devices described above suffer from certain disadvantages.

When they are in use, the chuck of the drill must bear the entire weight of the ice auger (plus whatever adaptor is in use), which often leads to detachment of the auger from the drill and / or damage to the drill chuck.

In addition, the whole assemblage is very cumbersome to use because no bracing is provided to help steady the power source end against the vibrations that result from the cutting bit of the auger biting into the ice.

Accordingly, the operator must continually attempt to steady the entire apparatus, which is quite difficult because of its long combined length, and also is very fatiguing because drilling the actual hole takes a significant amount of time to accomplish.

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