Abstract:
An apparatus for holding a log or similar material during cutting is disclosed. The apparatus includes a log holder having a housing and a saddle. A cavity formed in the housing is tapered along a longitudinal axis for receiving an end of a log. The saddle is disposed adjacent to the tapered cavity and offset from the longitudinal axis to inhibit rotation of the log during cutting. A pole and a base rotatably support the log holder in the elevated position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29/390,599, filed on Apr. 27, 2011. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for holding a material during cutting and, more particularly, a saw buck. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     Numerous prior art saw bucks are designed to hold material during a cutting operation. However, these designs often involve clamping or chaining down the material prior to cutting. Some saw bucks hold the material in a midpoint, impeding cutting in the middle of the material and requiring shifting the material as it is cut to remain balanced on the saw buck. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide a saw buck which holds material such as a log at an end without requiring additional fastening prior to cutting. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     As further set forth in detail below, this disclosure provides an apparatus for holding a material during cutting having an elongated support extending from an elevated portion. The elevated portion includes a saddle member disposed adjacent to a tapered cavity adapted to receive an end of the material. 
     In general, the apparatus includes a log holder having a housing defining a cavity. The cavity is generally tapered along a longitudinal axis such as a truncated pyramid or truncated cone but may take any other suitable tapered geometric form. An opening in the housing is operable to receive an end of a log or similar material. A saddle is disposed adjacent to the opening. A pole extends from the log holder and supports the log holder in an elevated position on a base. The pole is rotatably coupled to the base so that the log holder is free to rotate about the axis of the pole. 
     In an embodiment, the log housing defines a first planar member having a first major face and a second planar member having a second major face angularly aligned with respect to the first major face to define the tapered cavity. In an embodiment, the base is a stationary plate. In another embodiment, the base is configured to be used with a receiver hitch on a vehicle. The saddle may be configured as a V-shaped member, a U-shaped member or a semicircular member for constraining the log. The saddle and a surface of the housing within the cavity may have a textured surface formed thereon for gripping the log. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a saw buck with a stationary base holding a log shown in broken lines; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of a saw buck taken; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a saw buck with a base adapted to attach to a receiver hitch on a vehicle; and 
         FIG. 4  Is a perspective view of the base shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a saw buck  10  supporting a log  12  or similar material in a cantilevered manner. As such, a free end of the log  12  opposite the saw buck  10  is readily accessible for cutting. Saw buck  10  generally includes a log holder  14  and a pole  16  extending from the log holder  14 . The components for the saw buck  10  are preferably constructed with metal (e.g., steel) but may also include high strength plastic or polymer components, a composite components or components constructed with other suitable material. 
     The log holder  14  includes a housing  18  disposed adjacent to a saddle  20 . The housing  18  includes a first planar member  22  having a first major face  24 . A second planar member  26  having a second major face  28  is angularly aligned with respect to the first major face  24 . Sidewalls  23 ,  27  extend between the first and second planar members  22 ,  26  which collectively define a tapered cavity  30 . The cavity  30  is accessible through an opening  32  at one end of the housing  18 . As shown, the tapered cavity  30  is in the form of a truncated pyramid and adapted for receiving an end of the log  12 . While the pyramidal shape is presently preferred, one skilled in the art will recognize that the tapered cavity may take other tapered forms such as a truncated cone or other shape having a tapered cavity formed therein. 
     The second planar member  26  has a tab  34  extending downwardly towards the first planar member  22 . The second planar member  26  has a textured surface formed by a set of protrusions  35  formed therein and extending into the cavity  30  for gripping the log  12 . While protrusions  35  are shown, one skilled in the art will recognize that other features may be used to provide this gripping function such as a textured surface, internal teeth or a high static friction coating. A brace  36  extends from the pole  16  to the bottom of the second planar member  26  to provide support and rigidity to the log holder  14 . 
     The saddle  20  is disposed adjacent an opening  32  in the housing  18 . The saddle  20  is generally perpendicular to the first planar member  22 . An edge  38  of the saddle  20  is elevated above the first planar element  22  adjacent to the opening  32  of the tapered cavity  30 . The log  12  is supposed in a cantilevered manner from the log holder  14  with the end of the log  12  inserted into cavity  30  and contacting the saddle edge  38 . In this way, the saddle  20  functions to support the log  12  while preventing rotation thereof. 
     As illustrated in the figures, the saddle edge  38  has a set of teeth  40  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) formed thereon for biting into the log. Other means for increasing the static friction on the contact edge of the saddle may be used such as a textured surface or other high static friction coating. The saddle  20 , and in particular, the saddle edge  38  is preferably configured in a V-shape, a U-shape, or a semicircular shape to prevent rotation of the log  12 . 
     The pole  16  extends from the log holder  14  and is adapted to connect to a stationary base  40 . The stationary base  40  includes a base plate  42  and a pipe  44 . The pipe  44  has an outer diameter sized to be slidably coupled with the pole  16 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outer diameter of the pipe  44  is sized to be received within the inner diameter of the pole  16 . In this way, the log holder  14  is supported in an elevated position and is rotatable through 360°. Alternately, the inner diameter of the pipe  44  may be sized to receive the outer diameter of the pole  16 . The base member  38  may be used to attach the saw buck  10  to a stationary object to retain the position of the saw buck  10 . For example, the base member  38  may attach the saw buck  10  to the ground, a structure such as a deck or platform, a vehicle such as a truck bed or trailer, or other rigid object. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an alternate embodiment of the saw buck  10 ′ is illustrated having a vehicle hitch base  46  adapted to attach to a receiver hitch  48  on a vehicle (not shown). The vehicle hitch base  46  has a beam  50  extending generally horizontal from the receiver hitch  48 . A pipe  52  extends generally perpendicular from the beam  50  at an end opposite the receiver hitch  48 . As illustrated, the outer diameter of the pipe  52  is sized to be received within the inner diameter of the pole  16 ′. The length of the beam  50  may vary greatly to accommodate various uses; for instance, operating the saw buck while a pick-up gate is raised and lowered. A web  56  extends angularly from beam  50  to the pipe  52  to improve the stiffness of the joint therebetween. A cutout  58  is formed in the bottom of pole  16 ′ to provide clearance for the web  56 . The cutout  58  may be oversize relative to the thickness of the web  56  to permit a degree of rotation of the saw buck  10 ′ on the vehicle hitch base  46 . 
     The embodiments set forth above are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the apparatus to those who are skilled in the art. Various details are set forth such as examples of specific components and devices to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may take various forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     When an element or component is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” “coupled to”, or “between” another element or component, it may be directly or indirectly on, engaged, connected, coupled to or between the other element or component. Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements or components, these elements and/or components should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one efrom another. Likewise, terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element or component could be termed a second element or component without departing from the teachings of the examplar. 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.