US Patent 7575065 Metal detector with excavation tool

A hand-held metal detector and soil excavation device useful for locating and retrieving metallic objects concealed in soil or other materials. The device includes a housing with a hand-grip portion and an elongated probe portion. There is an excavation tool connected to the housing that is useful for moving soil to locate metallic objects that are sought. The device also includes a metal detector circuit located within the housing, that operates to generate an alert signal when the probe portion is moved into proximity of metallic objects.