Abstract:
A manually-operable log splitter for use with a splitting wedge has a pair of jaws pivotable about a point. Each jaw is connected to a handle extending away from its associated jaw from the pivot point. The jaws have a tip smaller than a width of the splitting wedge with which the splitter is used. The jaws and handles are dimensioned and configured for insertion beside the splitting wedge when embedded in a log. Manual application of force F on each handle outward from the pivot point spreads the jaws and provides sufficient force for splitting the log. This tool is particularly suited for small scale log splitting, such as by a home owner for personal use.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 06/313,747 filed Oct. 22, 1981, entitled MANUALLY OPERABLE LOG SPLITTER, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and claims any and all benefits to which it is entitled therefrom. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a hand-operated tool for splitting logs. More particularly, it relates to such a tool which may be used to complete the splitting of a log rapidly and conveniently when a splitting wedge is embedded in the log. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the use of a splitting wedge and sledge hammer for splitting logs, a substantial percentage of the time the wedge will become embedded in the log without completing the splitting of the log into two pieces. Further, many logs require multiple blows to complete the splitting, even if the wedge does not become embedded in the log without completing the splitting. The use of crow-bars and similar tools to free an embedded wedge is time consuming and difficult. The use of multiple blows to split the log increases the amount of labor expended to complete the task. 
         [0004]    Various techniques have been proposed in the art as a substitute for the use of splitting wedges in an effort to avoid these problems in their use. For example, various J hydraulically operated log-splitting devices and log splitters driven from motor vehicle drive wheels are employed for high volume log splitting. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,549, issued Sep. 16, 1980, discloses a pressurized device powered by the pressure of a chain saw internal combustion engine cylinder for splitting logs. 
         [0005]    While some power-operated devices have achieved acceptance in commercial wood lots and other high volume wood splitting situations, they are of limited suitability for small scale use, such as by home owners who split E their own wood, due to their expense. 
       ADVANTAGES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a low cost, manually operable tool for increasing the rate of manual log splitting with a wedge. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide a manually operable device for rapid completion of log splitting with a splitting wedge for use when the wedge is embedded in a log. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the invention to provide such a log-splitting device with which a twisting force is not produced between handles of the device when force is applied to them for operation. 
         [0009]    It is yet a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide an article of manufacture and method for splitting logs using two people. 
         [0010]    It is yet a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a kit for splitting logs, the kit comprising a log splitter as described herein, a sledge hammer and one or 2 wedges, the wedges having optionally one or two different sizes. 
         [0011]    The attainment of these and related objects may be achieved through use of the novel, manually operable log splitter herein disclosed. This log splitter has a pair of jaws pivotable about a point. Each jaw is connected to a handle extending away from its associated jaw from the pivot point. The handles are substantially longer than the length of each jaw. Each jaw has a tip smaller than a width of a splitting wedge with which the log splitter is used. The jaws and handles are dimensioned and configured for insertion beside the splitting wedge when the wedge is embedded in a log. Manual application of a force on each handle outward from the pivot point by a user provides sufficient force for splitting the log. The handles and jaws preferably have coplanar longitudinal axes about the pivot point. 
         [0012]    In operation, fireplace length logs, for example 18 inches (46 cm) to 24 inches (61 cm) long, are easily split after a wedge has been used to start the split. The log splitter of this invention may be used in place of multiple blows on a splitting wedge, or utilized only when the wedge is stuck and embedded in a log being split. In either instance, the ease with which the splitting operation may be completed through use of the manually-operable log splitter of this invention results in substantially faster manual log splitting. 
         [0013]    The attainment of the foregoing and related objects, advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a manually operable log splitter  10  of the present invention in accordance with the invention, showing its manner of use. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a similar perspective view, but of manually operable log splitter  10  of the present invention at the conclusion of its use to split a log. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view, taken along the line  3 - 3 ′ of the manually operable log splitter  10  of the present invention in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    The description that follows is presented to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principals discussed below may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but the invention is to be given the largest possible scope which is consistent with the principals and features described herein. 
         [0018]    It will be understood that in the event parts of different embodiments have similar functions or uses, they may have been given similar or identical reference numerals and descriptions. It will be understood that such duplication of reference numerals is intended solely for efficiency and ease of understanding the present invention, and are not to be construed as limiting in any way, or as implying that the various embodiments themselves are identical. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a manually operable log splitter  10  of the present invention in accordance with the invention, showing its manner of use.  FIG. 2  is a similar perspective view, but of manually operable log splitter  10  of the present invention at the conclusion of its use to split a log. Turning now to the drawings, more particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , there is shown a manually operable log splitter  10  of the present invention. As best shown in  FIG. 1 , jaws  12  and  14  are pivoted about at pin  16 , which fastens them together, either permanently or detachably. A pair of identical handles  18  extend from the pivot pin  16  away from the jaws  12  and  14 . Optionally, handles  18  can be bent slightly such that it is more ergonomically efficient for user to assert force F required to split the log  26 . The handles  18  may be fabricated of, for example, tubular steel that is desirably galvanized for rust resistance, stainless steel and other durable materials. Jaws  12  and  14  may be fabricated from a relatively soft steel and permanently coupled to the handles  18  by processes such as welding, glue, mechanical fastening means, etc. Jaws  12  and  14  also desirably each has a projecting tip  20  for engaging a log  26  on its opposing faces  22  and  24  of log  26 . If desired, the projecting tips  20  and adjacent portions of the jaws  12  and  14  may be annealed and quench-cooled in oil to give a hard face. Handles  18  are beveled at  28  where they are permanently coupled and/or welded to the jaws  12  and  14  to facilitate insertion of the manually operable log splitter  10  of the present invention deeply into split  25  of log  20 , which is sometimes required. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view, taken along the line  3 - 3 ′ of the manually operable the manually operable log splitter  10  of the present invention in  FIG. 1 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , handles  18  and their associated jaws  12  and  14  have coplanar longitudinal axes about the pivot pin  16 , so that the application of force F to the handles  18  of the present invention  10  in operation will not produce a twisting force T in the log splitter. Grips  30  are provided at the ends of handles  18 , remote from the pivot pin  16 . As a safety and convenience feature, a safety pin  32  is inserted through mating holes  40  and  42  in the jaws  12  and  14  and locked by a locking pin  33  to hold the jaws  12  and  14  in a closed position when the present invention  10  is not in use. Optionally, a bail on the handles  18  near grips  30  could also be used for this purpose. 
         [0021]    As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , optionally pivot pin  16  is fastened detachably on jaws  14  and  16  of the present invention  10 . When desired, user can easily detach pivot pin  16  and reattach pivot pin  16  on any of the mating holes  40  and  42  on jaws  14  and  16 . The purpose of the switching is to adjust the effort force EF produced to split log  26 . In theory, as pivot pin  16  moving down jaws  12  and  14 , effort force EF will increase with the constant force F provided by user. In one embodiment, the safety pin  32  and locking pin  33  couple can be applied to unused mating holes  40  and  42  to lock the entire manually operable log splitter  10  when not in use. 
         [0022]    As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when in operation, the jaws  12  and  14  in the closed position, are inserted beside wedge  31  embedded in the log  26 . Tips  32  of the jaws  12  and  14  therefore have a width less than the width  34  of the wedge  31 . With a typical wedge  31  having a width of about 1½ inches or 3.8 cm, tips  32  of the jaws  12  and  14  should have a width of about one inch or 2.5 cm. Outward force F is then applied against the handles  18  to move the jaws  12  and  14  to the position as best shown in  FIG. 2 , thus applying sufficient effort force EF to split the partially split log  26 . In most situations, these forces F may be applied by holding the present invention  10  transverse to the user. Slightly more force F may be obtained by pointing one handle  18  away from the user or by having one person pulling on each handle  18 . With certain hand-to-split logs  26 , it is necessary to apply force F to the handles  18  more than once and work the jaws  12  and  14  further into the log  26  between each application of force F. The bevel at facilitates such insertion. Moreover, user can move the position of pivot pin  16  lower on handles  18  in order to apply more effort force EF to split the log  26 . 
         [0023]    For an user of average height, the manually operable log splitter  10  of the present invention should have an overall length of about 48 inches or 122 cm with a distance from the beveled portion  28  of the handles  18  to tip  32  of the jaws  12  and  14  of about 8 inches or 20 cm. It should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that a manually-operable log splitter  10  is capable of achieving the stated objects of the invention has been provided. The present invention  10  will complete the splitting of a log  26  having a splitting wedge  31  embedded in the log rapidly and conveniently. As a result, logs  26  may be split manually with the assistance of the present invention  10  at a substantially more rapid rate than by using conventional techniques to remove a wedge  31  that is embedded in a log  26  being split. 
         [0024]    As mentioned above, the manually-operable log splitter  10  of the present invention may be employed using two people. When used by two people simultaneously, it becomes more efficient and effective in splitting larger and greater numbers of logs. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, a kit for splitting logs contains manually-operable log splitter  10  as described herein, a sledge hammer and one or 2 wedges, the wedges having optionally one or two different sizes. Providing and using a kit comprising the manually-operable log splitter  10 , a hammer and a wedge will enable one or more users to better split logs as desired. 
         [0026]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications and patent documents referenced in the present invention are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0027]    While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, with the limits only of the true purview, spirit and scope of the invention.