# US 10,117,371 B2 · Trench scoop device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,371 B2 - Document ID: US10117371B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/941,815 - Filed: 2015-11-16 - Published: 2017-01-19 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-16 - Applicants: Donald J. Peterson - Inventors: Donald J. Peterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117371B2 ## CPC - A01B 1/026: {with auxiliary handles for facilitating lifting} - A01B 1/20: Combinations of different kinds of hand tools - E02F 3/02: hand-operated {; handheld soil shifting equipment acting by sucking E02F3/8891 (spades or rakes for agriculture or gardening purposes A01B)} - E02F 5/02: for digging trenches or ditches ({machines for making foundation slots E02F3/205, E02F3/475 take precedence}; agricultural ploughs for working ridges A01B13/02) - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A trenching tool including an elongated pole having a bottom end connected to an elbow construction. A hollow cylindrical tube is movably mounted to the bottom end of the elbow construction. The tube is opened on both ends allowing loading of and emptying material scooped from the trench. An adjustable connection secures the tube to the elbow construction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scoop for removing material from the bottom of a trench comprising: a pole having a longitudinal axis, a top end portion and a bottom end portion with said axis extending downward from said top portion when said pole is extended down into the trench; a hollow cylindrical tube with a center of gravity, with said tube connected to said pole and having a tubular wall with an exterior surface extending circumferentially 360 degrees around and defining a passage with an open forward end and an open rearward end with said exterior surface extending therebetween, said open forward end opens in a first direction and said open rearward end opens in a second direction with said first direction perpendicular to the said second direction for material to enter said passage through said open forward end and move in said passage toward said open rearward end as said pole moves said tube in a horizontal direction; and, positioning means, connected to said pole and to said tube, positioning said center of gravity of said tube offset from said axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The scoop of claim 1 and further comprising a connecting means connecting together said tube and said positioning means; and wherein: said positioning means includes a member extending from said pole to said tube, said tube and said center of gravity offset from said axis when said pole is extended down into the trench and when said pole is lifted from the trench. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The scoop of claim 2 wherein: said connecting means has a connector with a first mount with a flanged end fixedly secured to said exterior surface of said tube between said forward end and said rearward end and further having a second mount connected to said positioning means, said connector located exteriorly of said tube so material moving through said passage is not impeded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The scoop of claim 3 wherein said top end portion forms a first handle, and further comprising a second handle mounted to said pole extending outwardly from said pole and being perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The scoop of claim 4 wherein said second handle is adjustably mounted to said pole and movable along said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The scoop of claim 5 wherein said exterior surface of said tubular wall forms a plow between said forward end and said rearward end, said forward end of said tube defines a circular opening with said tube having a constant inside diameter from said forward end to said rearward end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The scoop of claim 6 wherein said open forward end of said tubular wall has a leading forward edge which is scalloped providing a cutting edge portion as said hollow tube is pulled through the trench to engage any compacted soil therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The scoop of claim 1 wherein said passage includes an interior rearward portion and an interior forward portion, said passage has an interior volume to receive the material with said interior volume in said rearward portion greater than in said forward portion. ### Claim 9 A pole assembly for removing material from an opening in the ground comprising: a pole extendable into an opening in the ground and haying a first handle end to be gripped as said pole is moved into and along the opening in the ground, said pole has a longitudinal axis; a hollow cylindrical tube having an a tubular wall with an exterior surface extending circumferentially there around and defining a passage with an open forward end and an open rearward end with said exterior surface extending therebetween, said tubular wall has an elbow shape with said tubular wall forming said exterior surface, said open forward end opens in a first direction and said open rearward end opens in a second direction with said first direction perpendicular to said second direction for material to enter said passage through said open forward end and through said passage toward said open rearward end; an adjustable connector having a first mount with a flanged end fixedly secured to said exterior surface between said forward end and said rearward end and further haying a second mount connected to said pole, said adjustable connector located exteriorly of said hollow tube so debris moving through said passage is not impeded, and, a connecting portion having a top end connected to said pole and having an opposite bottom end portion connected to said tube by said adjustable connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9 wherein said pole includes a bottom end portion and a longitudinal axis extending between said first handle end and said bottom end portion and further comprising a second handle mounted to said pole between said first handle end and said bottom end portion and extending outwardly from said first handle end being perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9 wherein said exterior surface of said tubular wall is a plow for use to level or flatten material in the trench. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9 wherein said passage has a constant inside diameter with said passage including a rearward portion and a forward portion, said passage has an interior volume to receive the material with said interior volume in said rearward portion greater than in said forward portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9 wherein said tube when loaded has a center of gravity, said connecting portion locates said center of gravity offset to said axis when said pole extends down into the ground. ### Claim 14 A pole assembly for removing material from an opening in the ground comprising: a pole extendable into an opening in the ground and having a longitudinal axis and a handle end to be gripped as said pole is moved into and along the opening in the ground, said pole has a pole end opposite of said handle end with said pole end being offset relative to said longitudinal axis; a hollow cylindrical tube having a center of gravity offset relative said longitudinal axis and further having a tubular wall with an exterior surface extending circumferentially there around defining a passage with an open forward end and an open rearward end with said exterior surface extending there between, wherein said open forward end opens in a first direction and said open rearward end opens in a second direction with said first direction perpendicular to said second direction; and, a movable connector securing said tube to said pole end and having a first mount with a proximal end secured to said exterior surface between said forward end and said rearward end and further having a second mount secured to said pole end with said first mount movably connected to said second mount, said connector located exteriorly of said hollow tube so material in said passage is not impeded. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The assembly of claim 14 wherein said movable connector is adjustable.