Patent ID: 7836980
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: E21B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An earth-boring tool having a body, comprising: a first recess formed in the body, a portion of the body forming the first recess defining a lateral sidewall surface of a cutting element pocket, at least a portion of the lateral sidewall surface having a generally cylindrical shape centered about a longitudinal axis of the cutting element pocket; a second recess formed in the body, the second recess having a rotationally leading end adjacent to a rotationally trailing end of the first recess and a rotationally trailing end intersecting a rotationally trailing surface of the body, the second recess being generally centered about the longitudinal axis of the cutting element pocket, at least a portion of the second recess projecting beyond the first recess in a laterally outward direction from the longitudinal axis of the cutting element pocket; at least one shoulder region at an intersection between the first recess and the second recess; and a filler material disposed within at least a portion of the second recess and abutting against the at least one shoulder region, the filler material defining a rotationally trailing end of the cutting element pocket.