# US 10,309,160 B1 · Automatic handheld shovel with auger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,160 B1 - Document ID: US10309160B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/213,411 - Filed: 2018-12-07 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-07 - Assignees: Technology Interiors, LLC - Applicants: Technology Interiors, LLC - Inventors: Rick Goren - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309160B1 ## CPC - E21B 11/005: {Hand operated drilling tools} - E02F 3/02: hand-operated {; handheld soil shifting equipment acting by sucking E02F3/8891 (spades or rakes for agriculture or gardening purposes A01B)} - E21B 10/44: Bits with helical conveying portion, e.g. screw type bits; Augers with leading portion or with detachable parts (E21B10/42 takes precedence) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract An electrical handheld shovel system includes a handheld shovel with an auger bit. The shovel includes a motor configured to rotate the auger bit and a portable power source configured to power the motor. The shovel includes an input/output (I/O) device and a controller to control rotation of the auger bit. The shovel has a handle and a shovel portion. In one example, the power source is integrated into the handle, and in another example, the power source is detachably coupled to the handle. The shovel has a gearbox coupled to the motor. The shovel portion includes a blade positioned proximal to the auger bit to retain debris from the auger bit. The auger bit has a flute that is partially covered by the blade, and the blade defines a discharge opening configured to discharge at least some of the debris. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A digging system, comprising: a handheld shovel including: a handle; a shovel portion attached to the handle, wherein the shovel portion includes a blade coupled in a fixed manner to the handle, and an auger bit; a motor configured to rotate the auger bit while the blade remains stationary relative to the handle; and wherein the blade is positioned proximal to the auger bit to retain debris from the auger bit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld shovel includes an Energy Storage System (ESS) configured to power the motor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the handheld shovel includes: an input/output (I/O) device; and a controller operatively connected to the I/O device to control rotation of the auger bit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the ESS is integrated into the handle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the ESS is detachably coupled to the handle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the shovel includes a gearbox coupled between the motor and the auger bit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the gearbox and the motor are housed inside the handle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the ESS includes a battery. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the auger bit has a flute that is at least partially covered by the blade. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the blade defines a discharge opening configured to discharge at least some of the debris. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the blade has a semi-cylindrical shape that partially surrounds the auger bit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the auger bit has a helical web that contacts the blade. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the auger bit has a helical web that is spaced from the blade to form a clearance gap of at most 1 cm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the blade has a cutting edge configured to cut into the ground. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the auger bit has a tip that extends past the cutting edge of the blade. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the blade covers a first lateral side of the auger bit to retain a plug of debris in the auger bit; and the blade defines a discharge opening that extends along a longitudinal axis to expose a second lateral side of the auger bit to discharge at least some of the debris. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein: the blade has a cutting edge configured to cut into ground; the blade has a semi-cylindrical shape that partially surrounds the first lateral side of the auger bit; and the auger bit has a helical web that is spaced from the blade to form a clearance gap of at most 1 cm. ### Claim 18 A method, comprising: placing a shovel portion of a handheld shovel in contact with a dig site, wherein the handheld shovel includes a handle and a shovel portion attached to the handle, wherein the shovel portion includes a blade and an auger bit, wherein handheld shovel includes a motor; digging a hole at the dig site with the auger bit of the handheld shovel, wherein said digging the hole includes rotating the auger bit with the motor while the blade remains stationary relative to the handle; and removing the shovel portion of the handheld shovel from the hole with at least some debris retained between the blade and auger bit in the shovel portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: discharging the debris from the shovel portion with the auger bit after said removing the shovel portion of the handheld shovel from the hole. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: wherein the blade defines a discharge opening where the auger bit is exposed; and discharging debris from the hole through the discharge opening while the shovel portion is located in the hole during said digging the hole. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: wherein the blade covers a first lateral side of the auger bit; wherein the blade defines a discharge opening that extends along a longitudinal axis to expose a second lateral side of the auger bit; discharging debris from the hole through the discharge opening while the shovel portion is located in the hole during said digging the hole; and discharging the debris from the shovel portion with the auger bit after said removing the shovel portion of the handheld shovel from the hole.