Beach umbrella pole assembly

Abstract

An umbrella pole assembly for inserting and holding an attached beach umbrella in the ground includes: (a) an auger assembly on a first, lower, auger end of the pole assembly; (b) a cylindrical main pole extending from the auger assembly; and (c) a drill attachment member at an opposite, upper, drill bit end of the pole assembly, the drill attachment member being detachably attachable to a rotatable chuck of a separate, portable, handheld tool for rotating the auger assembly; wherein the pole assembly does not include a motor. The auger assembly includes a lower, cutting section attached to an upper, anchoring section, which is attached to the main pole.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENT

This invention was described in Disclosure Document Number 600675, which was received by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on May 15, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention is a pole assembly that facilitates the installation and maintenance of a beach-type umbrella in malleable ground, especially at a beach, more particularly an umbrella pole assembly with a two-section auger and a drill attachment member for detachable attachment to a separate, handheld, motor-driven drill, screwdriver, or a like tool.

2. Background Information

Beach umbrellas serve to shield users from the direct rays of the sun at the beach and elsewhere, as desired. Beach umbrellas range in size from large umbrella assemblies with thick poles and heavy canvas canopies to lightweight types that can double as rain umbrellas. The typical beach umbrella pole has two members, an upper and lower member. The lower member typically includes a lower pole that is inserted into the ground. The upper member typically includes an upper pole that supports an umbrella canopy. Unfortunately, the wind outdoors, or simply the weight of the upper umbrella canopy and pole, often causes the whole umbrella assembly to tip over and fall to the ground. This poses an inconvenience and can pose a safety hazard. The wind sometimes continues to blow an open beach umbrella along the beach until it is hopefully caught.

A conventional beach umbrella pole can be very difficult to insert in the ground deeply and securely enough to stay up all day, especially for a person with limited upper body strength. At many beaches, the upper inch or two of sand may be soft, but the sand below the upper layer is often densely compacted. It is difficult to force a beach umbrella pole into the ground by hand. It is also difficult to hammer an umbrella pole into the ground without damaging the pole, particularly with a lightweight aluminum umbrella pole. The present invention includes an umbrella pole assembly that any user can easily insert into the sand or other ground using a separate, handheld, cordless screwdriver or drill, or a similar tool with a rotating drill chuck.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an umbrella pole assembly that facilitates insertion and maintenance of a beach umbrella or the like in malleable ground at the beach or elsewhere, which includes:

• • (a) an auger assembly on a first, lower, auger end of the pole assembly;
  • (b) a cylindrical main pole extending from the auger assembly; and
  • (c) a drill attachment member connected to the main pole at an opposite, upper, drill bit end of the pole assembly. The main pole extends in the same direction as the auger assembly. The drill attachment member is detachably attachable to a rotatable chuck of a separate, portable, handheld, motor-driven tool for rotating the auger assembly and driving it into the ground. The pole assembly does not itself include a motor. The auger assembly preferably includes a lower, cutting section attached to a larger upper, anchoring section of the auger assembly, the upper, anchoring auger section being attached to the main pole. The auger assembly of the invention holds the umbrella in the sand by penetration, depth, and friction.

In use, the user operates the screwdriver or other handheld, motor-driven tool with a rotatable chuck, causing the drill attachment member to turn and easily penetrate the ground. The user detaches the screwdriver or other tool from the drill attachment member when finished. The user may then attach the upper umbrella pole to the pole assembly. To remove the main pole from the ground, the user reattaches the screwdriver or other tool to the drill attachment member portion and operates the tool in reverse.

Advantages of the umbrella pole assembly of the present invention include the following:

• • 1) easy insertion of the umbrella assembly pole into the ground, even when the ground is hard, compacted sand;
  • 2) ready attachment to an existing portable cordless screwdriver or other handheld tool with a rotatable drill chuck to power turn the umbrella assembly pole;
  • 3) easy removal of the portable cordless screwdriver or other handheld tool with its rotatable drill chuck, and optionally the drill bit;
  • 4) easy placement of an umbrella canopy on the umbrella pole assembly;
  • 5) easy removal of the umbrella pole assembly from the ground when desired; and
  • 6) lightweight and easy to carry and store.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein examples of the invention are shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an umbrella pole assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the umbrella pole assembly according to FIG. 1, taken at line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the upper portion of the umbrella pole assembly according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an umbrella pole assembly according to the present invention, shown in use with an umbrella canopy;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper, drill bit portion of an umbrella pole assembly of the present invention and a handheld, cordless screwdriver;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an upper, drill bit portion of an umbrella pole assembly of the present invention, showing an extended lever;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an auger assembly of an umbrella pole assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lower, cutting auger section of an umbrella pole assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a lower, cutting auger section of an umbrella pole assembly according to the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a safety tip of the auger assembly of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “front,” “back,” “within,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Referring in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described.

With reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, the umbrella pole assembly of the present invention, generally referred to herein as 10, comprises a cylindrical main pole 12 in a lower, auger portion 13 of the pole assembly 10, a drill attachment member 16 in an upper, drill bit portion 15 of the pole assembly 10, and a two-section auger assembly 14 extending down from the lower end of the main pole 12. The pole assembly 10 has a first, auger end 20 at its lower end, and an opposite, second, upper drill bit end 21 at its opposite, upper end.

In use, the auger assembly 14 is driven into the sand or other ground material by a removable, handheld, motor-driven tool 30 for rotating the auger assembly. The tool 30 is attachable to the drill attachment member 16 of the umbrella pole assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 5. Any suitable portable, automatic, handheld tool with a rotatable drill chuck can be employed herein. The tool is separate from the pole assembly 10. A cordless battery-powered screwdriver, which is commonly found in many households, is a preferred tool for use herein. Once the umbrella pole assembly 10 is anchored in the ground 37, as seen in FIG. 4, the screwdriver or other tool 30 is removed.

Referring to FIG. 6, an open end 39 of an upper umbrella pole 38, which is connected to a canopy 40 with a conventional canopy support (e.g., collapsible ribs), connects to the drill attachment member 16 on the upper, drill bit portion 15 of the pole once the screwdriver 30 or drill has been removed. As depicted in FIG. 4, the upper umbrella pole 38 supports the collapsible beach-type umbrella canopy 40 of the umbrella 42. The umbrella canopy 40 is a canopy of a beach-type umbrella, though it can be used at locations other than the beach. The umbrella pole assembly 10 can be set up in any area where the ground is somewhat malleable (penetrable by an auger), such as a beach. The pole assembly 10 may be used to support various types of coverings other than beach umbrellas.

The open end 39 of the upper umbrella pole 38 shown in FIG. 6 fits over the drill attachment member 16 of the pole assembly 10. The upper, drill bit portion 15 preferably includes a mechanism for helping to hold the upper umbrella pole 38 on the pole assembly once it is in place. The upper, drill bit end portion 15 may, for example, include a groove 49 around the drill bit end 21 of the main pole 12 over which a corresponding edge of the open end 39 of the upper umbrella pole 38 snaps or otherwise closely fits (see FIG. 5). Preferably, the mechanism comprises a lever 18, which is shown in an extended position in FIG. 6. In brief, the lever 18 is pushed down to hold the open end 39 of the upper umbrella pole 38 on the drill attachment member 16. Other suitable mechanisms for detachably attaching an upper umbrella pole 38 and canopy to the pole assembly 10 may be employed herein.

The two-section, helical, auger assembly 14 provides the umbrella pole assembly 10 with both the drilling force required to penetrate sand or other ground and the friction required to hold the umbrella assembly fast against wind uplift. A lower, cutting section 34 of the auger assembly 14 penetrates through the sand or ground, at the same time removing the sand or other ground material as it spirals in a downward direction. The safety tip 36, which is preferably made of aluminum, at the lower end 20 of the lower, cutting auger section 34 has a dual purpose in that it digs into the sand, yet is safe to use around children and adults. The lower, cutting section 34 is attached to an upper, anchoring section 35 of the auger 14, as seen in FIG. 7. The upper, anchoring auger section 35 provides anchorage for the umbrella 42 against wind uplift, and the additional depth required for resisting wind shear force. The auger sections 34, 35 and main pole 12 all share a longitudinal axis (the pole assembly is substantially straight).

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the upper anchoring auger section 35 spirals around (or comprises) a central shaft 43 that is the lower end portion of the main pole 12, ending at the lower end 22 of the main pole 12. An upper end 44 of the lower, cutting auger section 34 extends from or is attached to the lower end of the upper, anchoring auger section 35, which is preferably at the lower end 22 of the main pole 12, preferably at one side of the main pole end 22 (i.e., off-center) as seen in FIG. 7 for a more continuous, more effective flow of the spiraling blades 47, 48 between the auger sections 34, 35. The two auger sections 34, 35 may be made of one piece of plastic or other durable material, or they may be two pieces that are fastened together, as by welding or using a suitable adhesive. The lower, cutting auger section 34 preferably does not include a central shaft as the upper, anchoring auger section 35 does, because it has been found herein that a central shaft in this auger section is likely to interfere with cutting and channeling the earth/sand back up out of the hole in the ground being made by the auger 14. The central shaft 43 in the upper, cutting auger section 35 helps to maintain the auger assembly 14 in the hole once it has been dug by the rotating pole assembly 10. For good ground cutting and dirt/sand scooping performance, the length of the upper, anchoring auger section 35 is preferably approximately equal to the length of the lower, cutting auger section 34. The whole auger assembly 14 is preferably below ground when the pole assembly 10 is ready to receive the umbrella canopy 40.

Referring to FIG. 9, it is most preferred that the slope of the auger blades 47, 48 of the upper and lower auger sections is greater towards the outside of the blades than the slope of the auger blades at the inside of the blades. It is believed that this higher slope on the outside of the auger blade spirals (helical formation) and steeper slope on the inside (toward the center of the spiral) facilitates digging into the ground and scooping loose dirt out. In one embodiment, the lower, cutting section auger blades 47 are each angled between about 40 and about 50 (most preferably 45) degrees, and evenly spaced apart from one another to facilitate loose dirt/sand removal from the auger hole as it is being dug. Preferably, the slope of the upper auger blades 48 is less than the slope of the lower auger blades 47, and the upper, anchoring auger section blades 48 are evenly spaced apart from one another, for better balancing of the pole assembly in the hole. The auger blades 48 of the upper, anchoring auger section 35 are preferably substantially larger in diameter than the auger blades 47 of the lower, cutting auger section 34 (see FIG. 7). The wider upper auger blades 48 in the upper, anchoring auger section 35 are believed to resist uplift, e.g., of the canopy by wind gusts, and thus provide a good anchor for the umbrella. In the lower section of the auger assembly 14, though, the narrower lower auger blades 47 facilitate the ground cutting function.

The safety tip 36 of the auger assembly 14 protects against accidents, such as cuts caused by an otherwise sharp auger tip coming in contact with a finger or other part of the body. This is especially important where children are accompanying the user to the beach or other recreational spot. Such accidents are unlikely to occur with the present invention, since the tip of the auger remains covered by the auger safety tip 36 even during use. The lightweight, water resistant auger safety tip 36 is preferably substantially made of a metal such as aluminum, for durability even after repeated uses cutting through the earth. Since the metal safety tip 36 does the initial work, the rest of the auger assembly 14 can be made of the preferred softer hard plastic, also for safety reasons and because plastic is inexpensive and generally less subject to damage by a marine environment than metal or the like.

In the safety tip longitudinal cross-section shown in FIG. 10, the lower end 20 portion of the lower, cutting auger section 34 includes safety tip indentations 45, into which correspondingly shaped lips 46 of the safety tip 36 fit. The safety tip 36 preferably snaps onto the pointed lower end 20 of the lower, cutting auger section 34 as the lips 46 of the safety tip 36 snap into the corresponding safety tip indentations on the lower, cutting auger section 34. The safety tip 36 is preferably removable so that it can be replaced if it is damaged, but it can be permanent.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the drill attachment member 16 is at the opposite, upper end 21 of the pole assembly 10. The drill attachment member 16 is preferably removable for easier attachment of an upper umbrella pole. By “drill attachment member” herein is meant any attachment member that is detachably attachable to a chuck on the rotatable tool 30, such as a screwdriver or drill, so that the auger assembly 14 rotates when the tool is on. The drill attachment member 16 preferably meshes with standard size drill chucks on a conventional drill, screwdriver, or the like.

The auger assembly 14 preferably has a point at its lower end to facilitate easy penetration of the upper, shallow sand, and spirals to facilitate penetration of the deeper, more compacted ground and to inhibit movement of the umbrella pole assembly 10 once it has been inserted, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 7. In use, the user first inserts the pointed auger end 20 of the lower, cutting auger section 34 shallowly into the ground by hand. The auger end 20 need not be deeply inserted into the ground. The user then attaches the commercially available, portable, battery-powered electric screwdriver 30 or other tool to the drill attachment member 16 in the opposite, drill bit end 21. The cordless screwdriver 30 preferably has a reversible motor. The user operates the screwdriver 30 or other tool in the forward direction (typically a clockwise rotation), which rotates the drill attachment member 16 and in turn the entire pole assembly, causing the auger assembly 14 to turn and easily penetrate the ground. The main pole 12 is preferably substantially made of a metal, such as aluminum, and the auger assembly 14 is preferably substantially made of a plastic or other suitable material.

As seen in FIG. 3, the cordless screwdriver 30 is attached to the upper end 21 of the umbrella pole assembly 10 by means of a rigid, longitudinally protruding drill attachment member 16. The attachment member 16 may correspond to a drill bit that would ordinarily fit into the drill bit 31 of the cordless screwdriver 30. The drill chuck 31 in the screwdriver 30 (or drill) may grip the drill attachment member 16 in the same manner that it would grip a drill bit in normal operation. The user operates the screwdriver 30, turning the drill attachment member 16 and the entire pole assembly 10. The drill attachment member 16 is preferably of a diameter within a range found in common drill bits, so as to facilitate attachment of the screwdriver 30 or drill by means of its existing drill chuck 31.

In an alternate embodiment, a built-in or removable drill chuck replaces the drill attachment member 16 on the upper, drill bit end 21 of the pole 10. The built-in or removable drill chuck and the drill chuck 31 on the cordless screwdriver 30 can both grip a removable drill attachment member 16, preferably of a size corresponding to drill bits commonly used in cordless drills and screwdrivers, and the user operates the cordless screwdriver 30 in the same manner, turning the drill attachment member 16 and the pole assembly 10.

The present invention can be produced and sold as a complete beach umbrella 42, including the upper umbrella pole 38 attached to a ribbed canopy 40. Alternatively, the umbrella pole assembly 10 may be produced and sold separately and attached to a separately purchased upper umbrella pole with an umbrella canopy. A universal locking adaptor may be used to join the upper umbrella pole 38 to the umbrella pole assembly 10.

As seen in the transverse cross-section of the pole assembly depicted in FIG. 2, the lightweight main pole 12 includes a plastic “X”-shaped brace 11 and solid pole filler material 17 (solid piece at each end) to stiffen and strengthen it. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, aluminum rivets 19 are preferably used for attachment in the construction of the pole assembly 10.

The pole assembly 10 itself is not motorized. In use, once the rotatable chuck 31 of the motor-driven screwdriver 30 or a similar type of tool is attached to the drill attachment member 16, the user depresses a power button, switch, or the like of the screwdriver 30 to operate a motor of the screwdriver 30. Depressing the button engages the tool electric motor, which rotates the tool chuck 31, which is preferably at the end of a shaft of the tool, at a selected speed in a clockwise direction. As the portable screwdriver 30 or other tool drives the auger assembly 14 in a clockwise direction, the auger assembly 14 digs down into the ground 37. The tool 30 preferably also includes a rechargeable battery, gear box, power drive, and power drive stabilizer (not shown).

Once the auger assembly 14 is buried in the ground 37, the screwdriver 30 (or other tool) is detached and stored in a carry bag or box or the like, where it is protected from the elements. The screwdriver 30 or other tool does not remain in place on the pole assembly 10 and is not an integral part of the pole assembly 10. This is advantageous in that the handheld screwdriver 30 or other tool can also be used for other purposes, and in that the screwdriver 30 or the like is not exposed to blowing sand or salt water spray from the ocean, which can cause corrosion (especially of screwdriver batteries). Also, detachment of the screwdriver 30 or other tool frees up the end of the main pole 12 for detachable attachment of the upper umbrella pole 38.

Once the auger assembly 14 has been inserted in the ground to a sufficient depth, the user detaches the cordless screwdriver 30 or other tool from the upper pole portion 15 (see FIG. 5). The user then attaches the upper umbrella pole 38 (see FIG. 6) to the upper, drill bit end 21, preferably by sliding the lower, open end 39 of the upper umbrella pole 38 into the upper, drill bit end 21 around the drill attachment member 16. In the embodiment shown, the upper umbrella pole 38 is then locked into place by depressing the friction/compression lever 18 (also see FIG. 3). The lever 18 pivots in a lever pivot joint 41. The lever pivot joint housing is attached to a lever band 32, which encircles the upper, drill bit portion of the main pole 12. The lever 18 is shown in an open position in FIG. 6. Depressing the lever 18 causes a foot 23 inside the lever pivot joint housing to press on the outside of the end portion of the upper umbrella pole 38 within the main pole 12. Once the user has attached the upper umbrella pole 38 and umbrella canopy 40 to the pole assembly 10, it is ready for use. Later on, lifting the lever 18 retracts the foot 23 so that the upper umbrella pole 38 can more easily be removed.

When the user wishes to leave the beach or other outdoor recreational area, the user collapses the umbrella canopy 40, pulls up on the lever 18 or unclasps any other attachment mechanism employed herein, and removes the upper umbrella pole 38 from the pole assembly 10. The user then reattaches the screwdriver 30 (or drill, etc.) to the drill attachment member 16 and presses a reverse switch or button on the screwdriver. The subsequent rotation of the screwdriver chuck moves the main pole 12 and its attached auger assembly 14 in a counterclockwise direction. As it turns in a counterclockwise direction, the auger assembly 14 reverses out of the hole. The screwdriver 30 (or drill, etc.), rotatable pole, and two-section auger assembly therefore facilitate both insertion and removal of the umbrella pole assembly 10 into and from the ground.

From the foregoing it can be realized that the present invention benefits end users by eliminating the need to push the end of an umbrella pole all the way into the ground by hand force alone. The invention further benefits users by eliminating the need to turn the umbrella pole by hand through the incorporation of a drill attachment member that is easily attachable to a suitable power tool for rotating the pole and auger assembly. The pole assembly therefore need not include a handle or a collar with support legs. The invention can be powered using commonly available cordless tools and does not require that a motor or power source be built into the pole assembly, which keeps the pole assembly of the invention lightweight and easy to carry. The invention can also be used away from the beach at other outdoor areas where it is desirable to install an umbrella for shade, such as at picnic grounds, by a lake or pond, in a sports game tailgating area, or just in a backyard.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, this description is for illustrative purposes only. It is to be understood that any materials and dimensions given herein are illustrative only, and are not meant to be limiting, but can be varied without changing the substance of the invention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications, substitutions, omissions, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and that such are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. It is intended that the doctrine of equivalents be relied upon to determine the fair scope of these claims in connection with any other person's product which fall outside the literal wording of these claims, but which in reality do not materially depart from this invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

BRIEF LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE DRAWINGS

• 10 umbrella pole assembly
• 11 X-shaped brace
• 12 main pole
• 13 lower, auger portion
• 14 auger assembly
• 15 upper, drill bit portion
• 16 drill attachment member
• 17 solid pole filler
• 18 friction/compression lever
• 19 rivets
• 20 lower end of auger
• 21 upper, drill bit end
• 22 lower end of main pole
• 23 lever foot
• 30 cordless screwdriver tool
• 31 drill chuck on cordless drill
• 32 lever band
• 34 lower, cutting auger section
• 35 upper, anchoring auger section
• 36 safety tip
• 37 ground
• 38 upper umbrella pole
• 39 open end of upper pole
• 40 umbrella canopy
• 41 lever pivot joint
• 42 umbrella
• 43 central shaft at end of pole
• 44 upper end of lower auger section
• 45 safety tip indentations
• 46 safety tip lips
• 47 lower auger blades
• 48 upper auger blades
• 49 end groove

Claims

1. An umbrella pole assembly for inserting and holding an attachable beach umbrella in malleable ground, the pole assembly comprising:

(a) an auger assembly on a first, lower, auger end of the pole assembly;

(b) a cylindrical main pole extending from the auger assembly; and

(c) a drill attachment member connected to the main pole at an opposite, upper, drill bit end of the pole assembly, the drill attachment member being detachably attachable to a rotatable chuck of a separate, portable, handheld tool for rotating the auger assembly; wherein the pole assembly does not comprise a motor.

2. The pole assembly according to claim 1, wherein the auger assembly comprises a lower, cutting auger section attached to an upper, anchoring auger section of the auger assembly, the upper, anchoring auger section being attached to the main pole.

3. The pole assembly according to claim 2, wherein the auger assembly further comprises a removable safety tip at a lower end of the lower, cutting auger section.

4. The pole assembly according to claim 2, wherein the portable tool is a cordless, battery-operated screwdriver, and the auger assembly is rotatable in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.

5. The pole assembly according to claim 3, wherein the upper, drill bit end of the pole assembly is detachably connectable to an open end of an upper umbrella pole, the upper umbrella pole being connected to a collapsible umbrella canopy.

6. The pole assembly according to claim 5, wherein the portable tool is a handheld, motor-driven drill.

7. The pole assembly according to claim 2, further comprising an X-shaped brace and solid pole filler material incorporated into the main pole of the pole assembly.

8. The pole assembly according to claim 2, wherein the main pole is in a lower, auger portion of the pole assembly, and the drill attachment member is in an upper, drill bit portion of the pole assembly at the opposite, upper end of the pole assembly, the drill attachment member being removable.

9. The pole assembly according to claim 2, wherein the upper, anchoring auger section comprises a central shaft.

10. The pole assembly according to claim 9, wherein an upper end of the lower, cutting auger section extends from the lower end of the upper, anchoring auger section; and the lower, cutting auger section does not comprise a central shaft.

11. The pole assembly according to claim 2, wherein an upper end of the lower, cutting auger section is attached to the lower end of the upper, anchoring auger section off-center.

12. The pole assembly according to claim 10, wherein the auger assembly further comprises a removable safety tip that snaps onto the lower end of the lower, cutting section.

13. The pole assembly according to claim 10, wherein a slope of a plurality of blades of the upper and lower auger sections towards the outside of the blades is greater than a slope of the auger blades at the inside of the blades.

14. The pole assembly according to claim 3, wherein the lower end of the lower, cutting auger section comprises safety tip indentations into which correspondingly shaped lips of the safety tip fit.

15. The pole assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pole assembly does not comprise a handle.

16. The pole assembly according to claim 1, wherein the length of the upper, anchoring auger section is about equal to the length of the lower, cutting auger section, and the lower cutting auger section blades are spaced apart and are each angled between about 40 and about 50 degrees.

17. The pole assembly according to claim 2, wherein an average diameter of a plurality of upper auger blades in the upper, anchoring auger section is substantially larger than an average diameter of a plurality of lower auger blades in the lower, cutting auger section.

18. The pole assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a friction/compression lever on the upper drill bit end of the main pole.

19. The pole assembly according to claim 3, wherein the main pole is substantially made of metal, the auger assembly is substantially made of plastic, and the safety tip is a cap substantially made of metal.