Abstract:
A guard for a log splitter apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the guard includes a support member adapted to be secured to a rail of a log splitter apparatus, and a panel hingedly secured to the support member. The panel may be lockably positionable at least between a collapsed position and an extended position. The panel is adapted to capture at least portions of a log, in various aspects. In various aspects, a plurality of support members are located about the panel to secure the panel to the rail of the log splitter apparatus. The support members may be located such that the support members and the panel avoid interference with mechanisms of the log splitter apparatus with the guard secured to the rail. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to log splitter apparatus, and more specifically, equipment adapted to capture logs or chunks of logs ejected from the log splitter apparatus. 
         [0003]    2. Background 
         [0004]    Log splitter apparatus are widely used to split logs for use as firewood. However, log splitting using a log splitter apparatus can be a dangerous activity, because chunks of wood may fall off of the log splitter apparatus and strike the user for example, on the legs and feet. A log may suddenly disintegrate while being split showering splinters of wood over the area. Furthermore, the user may find it difficult to pick up repeatedly chunks of wood that have fallen off of the log splitter apparatus, for example, onto the ground, as this requires bending over and lifting the chunk of wood from the ground for further processing such as additional splitting into smaller pieces, loading into a trailer, or placement onto a storage rack. 
         [0005]    It may be desirable to move the log splitter apparatus to areas where wood is being cut, to areas where wood is being stored, or both, and the log splitter apparatus may be stored for long periods of time between uses. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatus as well as related methods that may capture chunks of wood from the log splitter apparatus while not impeding the transport or storage of the log splitter apparatus. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    These and other needs and disadvantages may be overcome by the apparatus and associated methods disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure. 
         [0008]    A guard for a log splitter apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the guard includes a support member adapted to be secured to a rail of a log splitter apparatus, and a panel hingedly secured to the support member. The panel may be lockably positionable at least between a collapsed position and an extended position. The panel is adapted to capture at least portions of a log, in various aspects. In various aspects, a plurality of support members are located about the panel to secure the panel to the rail of the log splitter apparatus. The support members may be located such that, with the guard secured to the rail, the support members and the panel avoid interference with mechanisms of the log splitter apparatus. 
         [0009]    This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows below. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  illustrates by perspective view an implementation of a log splitter apparatus with panels in the extended position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  illustrates by perspective view the implementation of the log splitter apparatus of  FIG. 1A  with panels in the collapsed position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  illustrates by side view portions of the implementation of the log splitter apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  illustrates by top view the portions of the implementation of the log splitter apparatus of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2C  illustrates by side view portions of the implementation of the log splitter apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2D  illustrates by side cut-away view portions of the implementation of the log splitter apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2E  illustrates by side cut-away view portions of an implementation of a log splitter apparatus; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  illustrates by top view portions of an implementation of a log splitter apparatus; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  illustrates by side cut-away view portions of the implementation of the log splitter apparatus of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3C  illustrates by perspective view portions of the implementation of the log splitter apparatus of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates by side cut-away view portions of an implementation of a log splitter apparatus; and, 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates by process flow chart an exemplary method of operation of an exemplary log splitter apparatus. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    The Figures are exemplary only, and the implementations illustrated therein are selected to facilitate explanation. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the elements shown in the Figures to form the various implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in the various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar elements. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the implementations shown in the drawings and are utilized to facilitate description thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    A log splitter apparatus that includes a guard for the capture of ejected wood chunks is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the guard includes a panel hingedly attached to a support member. The support member may be secured to a rail portion of the log splitter apparatus to secure the guard to the log splitter apparatus. In various aspects, the guard including the panel and one or more support members is adapted for attachment to a variety of log splitters. 
         [0024]    The panel may be hingedly positioned between at least a collapsed position and an extended position. Placement of the panel into the collapsed position may facilitate transport or storage of the log splitter apparatus. When placed in the extended position, the panel may capture at least portions of a log, for example, following splitting of the log. With the panel in the extended position, the user may rest a portion of a log upon the panel for eventual placement upon the splitter. A plurality of the support members may secure the panel to the rail of the log splitter apparatus, and the support members may be positionable about the log splitter apparatus to avoid interference with the mechanisms of the log splitter apparatus. 
         [0025]    In some aspects, the panel may be generally planar. In other aspects, the panel may be curved to conform to the curvature of the log. For example, large forces may be developed within the log as the log is being split by the log splitter apparatus that may cause the log to burst into fragments that may fly about thereby posing a hazard to, for example, the lower extremities of a user of the log splitter apparatus. The panel, such as a panel having either a generally straight shape or a curved shape that generally conforms to the curved shape of the log, may be positioned to confine portions of the log while the log is being split, for example, in order to contain fragments of the log to prevent injury to the user. Two or more guards may be provided in various aspects and the guards may be positioned on opposite sides of the log splitter apparatus. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate an implementation of a log splitter apparatus  10  including guards  16 ,  18  attached thereto. As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , log splitter apparatus  10  includes rail  201  that is formed as an I-beam having webbing  205  interposed between flanges  210 ,  215 . In other implementations, rail  201  may be a railroad rail, various other types of structural beams, or similar, and may be made, for example, of steel, iron, or aluminum. 
         [0027]    Base  220  is secured about surface  212  of rail  201 , as illustrated, and carriage  230  located on surface  212  of rail  201 . Base  220 , as illustrated, is fixed to rail  201  by bolts  221 , but may be fixed to rail  201  by welds, by a combination of bolts and welds, or so forth, in various implementations. 
         [0028]    Carriage  230  is slidably secured to flange  210  of rail  201  at carriage attachment  233 . In various implementations, carriage attachment  233  may be formed as a channel that receives portions of flange  210  so that flange  210  may slide through the channel  238  (see  FIG. 2D ) to allow carriage  230  to slide upon surface  212  of rail  201  and flange  210  while being secured to flange  210 . Carriage attachment  233 , in various implementations, may include various rollers, bearings and so forth to allow the carriage  230  to slide upon rail  201 . 
         [0029]    Carriage  230  is connected to shaft  240  and shaft  240  is actuated by a source of motivation such as a hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, screw, or so forth, (not shown), and the source of motivation may be connected to a power source  280  such as a gasoline engine, electric motor or suchlike, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of this disclosure. The shaft  240 , as actuated by the source of motivation, may direct carriage  230  to traverse the rail  201  toward base  220  or away from base  220 . Various controls (not shown) may be provided to allow the user to control the traversal of the carriage  230  toward or away from base  220  or to hold carriage  230  in a particular location on rail  201 . 
         [0030]    In the implementation of the log splitter apparatus  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the carriage  230 , which is movable, is formed as a wedge  237 , and base  220 , which is fixed, is formed to have a generally flat face  227  oriented toward wedge  237  of carriage  230  along rail  201 . In other implementations (see  FIG. 3A ), the fixed base, such as base  220 , may be formed as a wedge, such as wedge  237 , and the movable carriage, such as carriage  230 , may be formed to have a generally flat face, such as face  227 , with the wedge portion of the base and the flat face portion of the carriage oriented toward one another along rail  201 . 
         [0031]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , guards  16 ,  18  are secured to flange  215  of rail  201  opposite one another along rail  201 , and panels  30 ,  40  of guards  16 ,  18 , respectively, are positioned in the extended position  70 . Guards  16 ,  18  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , are generally secured about the portion of rail  201  traversed by carriage  230  such that, when panels  30 ,  40  are positioned in the extended position  70 , panels  30 ,  40  capture logs or portions of logs that roll off of surface  212  of rail  201  or portions of the log that may fall off of surface  212  following the splitting of the log upon surface  212  of rail  201 . Guards  16 ,  18  are secured to lower flange  215  of rail  201 , as illustrated, and carriage  230  traverses upper surface  212  of rail  201  and upper flange  210 , so that the guards  16 ,  18  in the extended position  70  do not interfere with the traversal of carriage  230 . 
         [0032]    Panel  30  of guard  16  is formed from members  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  38  that are secured to one another to form a lattice structure, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A . Members  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  are hingedly attached to support members  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 , respectively, at hinges  23 ,  25 ,  27 ,  29  (see  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B ) and support members  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  are secured to flange  215  of rail  201  by connectors  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  37  (see  FIG. 2C ) in this implementation. Accordingly, panel  30  is positionable about hinges  23 ,  25 ,  27 ,  29  between extended position  70  illustrated in  FIG. 1A , and collapsed position  60  illustrated in  FIG. 1B . After being placed in the extended position  70  or in the collapsed position  60  or in positions intermediate of the extended position  70  and the collapsed position  60 , panel  30  may be locked in the extended position  70 , the collapsed position  60 , or in positions intermediate of the extended position  70  and the collapsed position  60 . Panel  30  may be unlocked and then rotated about hinges  23 ,  25 ,  27 ,  29  into a new position. For example, panel  30  may be unlocked and then rotated about hinges  23 ,  25 ,  27 ,  29  from the collapsed position  60  into the extended position  70  and then locked at the extended position so that no further rotation of panel  30  occurs without unlocking hinges  23 ,  25 ,  27 ,  29 . 
         [0033]    Panel  40  is formed similarly to panel  30  and includes members  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  58  secured to one another to form a lattice structure, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A . Members  52 ,  54 ,  56  are hingedly attached to support members  42 ,  44 ,  46  at hinges  43 ,  45 ,  47 , and support members  42 ,  44 ,  46  are secured to flange  215  of rail  201  by connectors  63 ,  65 ,  67 , respectively. Although not shown in  FIG. 1A , member  58  is hingedly attached to a support member, such as support member  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and the support member is secured to flange  215  by a connector, such as connector  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  37 ,  63 ,  65 ,  67 . Accordingly, panel  40  is positionable about hinges  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and the hinge connection of member  58  between extended position  70  illustrated in  FIG. 1A , and collapsed position  60  illustrated in  FIG. 1B . Panel  40  may be locked in the extended position  70 , the collapsed position  60 , or in positions intermediate of the extended position  70  and the collapsed position  60 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 1B  illustrates panels  30 ,  40  in collapsed position  60  in which the panels  30 ,  40  are generally oriented vertically. In this implementation, when placed in the collapsed position, panels  30 ,  40  extend generally vertically above rail  201 , but may be hinged to extend downward generally vertically below rail  201  in other implementations. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , log splitter apparatus  10  includes wheels  250  to allow the log-splitter  10  to be moved about. In various implementations, the log splitter apparatus  10  may include a trailer hitch or other such towing connection (not shown) to allow the log splitter apparatus to be moved about by towing. Positioning of panels  30 ,  40  of guards  16 ,  18  in the collapsed position  60  may reduce the width of the log splitter apparatus  10 , which may facilitate the moving about of the log splitter apparatus  10 . Positioning of panels  30 ,  40  of guards  16 ,  18  in the collapsed position  60  may reduce the horizontal space occupied by the log splitter apparatus  10 , which may facilitate storage of the log splitter apparatus  10 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B  illustrate hinge  23  that connects member  32  to support member  22 . Hinges  25 ,  27 ,  29 ,  43 ,  45 ,  47  that connect members  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  to support members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 , respectively, may be generally similar to hinge  23  that connects member  32  to support member  22  in this illustration. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B , member  32  is attached to support member  22  by hinge  23  that is formed as a pin  123  so that member  32  may rotate about pin  123 , and, thus, member  32  may rotate about support member  22 . Pin  123  may be a bolt or similar connector that passes through member  32  and support member  22 . Member  32  and support member  22  are secured to one another by pin  123  in combination with nut  127 , which may be a wing-nut (as illustrated), standard hexagonal nut, or similar threaded attachment, in this implementation. Various washers and so forth may be included in various implementations, and other hinged fasteners may be used in other implementations to attach member  32  to support member  22 . Hinge  23  may be unlocked or locked by loosening or tightening, respectively, nut  127 , in this implementation. For example, member  32  may be placed in a desired position and the nut  127  tightened to lock frictionally member  32  in the desired position. Nut  127  may be loosened to unlock hinge  23  by allowing hinged movement of member  32  relative to support member  22 . In various implementations, pin  123  and nut  127  may be removed to disengage member  32  from support member  22 . Other hinges that allow rotation of member  23  about support member  22  and that allow for locking member  32  into position with respect to support member  22  may be used in other implementations. Other hinges that for disengagement of member  32  from support member  22  may be used in other implementations. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2C  illustrates the attachment of support member  22  to flange  215 . Support members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  may be attached to flange  215  in a manner similar to the attachment of support member  22  to flange  215  illustrated in  FIG. 2C . As illustrated in  FIG. 2C , slot  121  is formed in end  123  of support member  22  and slot  121  receives portions of flange  215  therein. In this implementation, bolt  131  passes through portions of support member  22  into slot  121  to engage flange  215  within slot  121  in order to secure support member  22  to flange  215 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2C , bolt  131  frictionally engages flange  215  when tightened to secure support member  22  to flange  215 . In other implementations, for example, bolt  131  may threadedly engage flange  215 , may pass through flange  215  through a hole provided through the flange and be threadedly engaged with opposing portions of support member  22 , with various nuts or other threaded fasteners, or combinations thereof. 
         [0037]    Support member  22  is removably secured to flange  215  as the support member  22  may be disengaged from flange  215  by disengagement of bolt  131  from flange  215 . In other implementations (not shown), support member  22  may be secured to rail  201  including flange  215  permanently (non-removably) by weld or other such attachment. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2D  illustrates carriage attachment  233  of carriage  230 , which is formed, in part, by arm  236 . A channel  238  is defined by arm  236  of carriage attachment  230 . A portion of flange  210  of rail  201  is received in channel  233  so that portions of flange  210  may slide within channel  238 . Portions of arm  236  then slide upon surface  214  of flange  210  and portions of carriage  230  may slide upon surface  212  of rail  201 . Bearings, rollers, and so forth may be provided within channel  238  or otherwise located about carriage  230  including arm  236  to facilitate movement of carriage  230  along rail  201 . Another carriage attachment (not shown) similar to carriage attachment  230  may be provided on the opposite side of rail  201  to guide the carriage along the rail  201 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 2E  illustrates an implementation of log splitter apparatus  400 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2D , hanger  408  is secured to web  405  of rail  401  between flange  405  and flange  415  in log splitter apparatus  400 . Hanger  408 , as illustrated, is secured to web  405  by weld  411 . Hanger  408  in this implementation is positioned on web  405  such that hanger  408  does not interfere with the traversal of the carriage, such as carriage  230 . Hanger  408  defines interior cavity  413 , and portions of support member  422  are received within cavity  413  by insertion therein. Portions of support member  422  may be attached within cavity  413  of hanger  408  by interference fit, as illustrated, or various bolts or other fasteners may be provided to attach support member  422  to hanger  408 , or both, in various implementations. 
         [0040]    Another implementation of log splitter apparatus  500  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C. As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , base  520  and carriage  530  are mounted upon surface  512  of rail  501 . Base  520  has a generally wedge shaped face  523  that is oriented toward the generally planar face  537  of carriage  530 . Base  520  is fixed to rail  501  while carriage  530  may move along rail  501  along path  581 , for example, to compress a log between face  537  of carriage  530  and face  523  of base  520  thereby splitting the log. Guard  516 , which includes panel  540 , is removably secured to rail  501  and positioned in extended position  570  to capture logs or pieces of logs that may fall off of surface  512  of rail  501  during operation of log splitter apparatus  500 . Another guard similar to guard  516  may be positioned along rail  501  but this additional guard is omitted from these illustrations for purposes of illustrative clarity. 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , panel  540  of guard  516  is formed of members  564 ,  566 ,  568 ,  552 ,  554 ,  556 ,  558 ,  562  secured to one another in a lattice structure. Members  552 ,  554 ,  556  of panel  540  are hingedly attached (see  FIG. 3C ) to support members  572 ,  574 ,  576 , respectively, and support members  572 ,  574 ,  576  are removably attached to flange  515  of rail  501  to secure guard  516  to rail  501 . Members  558  and  562 , although generally parallel to members  552 ,  554 ,  556 , are not attached to rail  501  so that portions of the panel  540  including members  558 ,  562  are cantilevered from member  556  and support member  576 , as illustrated. In this implementation, panel  540  of guard  516  extends alongside rail  501  along path  581  such that member  568  is set apart from rail  501  to define gap  583  between the portion of member  568  that generally extends between support member  576  and member  562  and rail  501 . Portions of the carriage  530  may pass within gap  583  without the carriage  530  contacting member  562  of panel  540  as the carriage  530  is traversed along path  581  between path endpoints  578 ,  582 , while any log or pieces of log that fall off of surface  512  of rail  501  may fall upon panel  540 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , arm  571  of carriage  530  may pass through gap  583  between member  568  and rail  501  as carriage  530  is traversed along path  581 . Thus, guard  516  is mounted to rail  501  in such a way that guard  516  does not interfere with the traversal of carriage  530 , and, hence, guard  516  does not interfere with the operation of log splitter  500 . 
         [0042]    A detail of carriage  530  is shown in  FIG. 3B . As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , carriage  530  rests along surface  512  of flange  510  of rail  501 . Arms  571 ,  573  of carriage  530  extend past flange  515  of rail  501 . Axle  566  passes between arms  571 ,  573  such that rollers  562 ,  564  that are secured to axle  566  pass along surface  518  of flange  515  of rail  501 . Thus, when carriage  530  is traversed along path  581 , portions of carriage  530  slide upon surface  512  and wheels  562 ,  564  roll upon surface  518  of rail  501 . Thus, even though, in this implementation, the traversal of carriage  530  along path  581  implicates both flanges  510 ,  515  of rail  501 , guard  516  is mounted to rail  501  in such a way that guard  516  does not interfere with the traversal of carriage  530  along path  581 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 3C  illustrates log splitter apparatus including guard  516 , which includes panel  540 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , members  552 ,  554 ,  556  of panel  540  are hingedly attached to support members  572 ,  574 ,  576  by hinges  591 ,  593 ,  595 , respectively, so that panel  540  may be positioned between an extended position  570 , as illustrated, and a collapsed position (not shown). Hinges  591 ,  593 ,  595  may, for example, be formed in the same way as hinge  23  that attaches member  32  to support member  22  illustrated in  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B . Support members  572 ,  574 ,  576  may be attached to flange  515  of rail  501  to secure panel  540  to rail  501  in a manner similar to the attachment of support member  22  to flange  215  illustrated in  FIG. 2C . As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , slots  583 ,  585 ,  587  are formed in support members  572 ,  574 ,  576 , respectively, and portions of flange  515  may be received in slots  583 ,  585 ,  587 . In this implementation, bolts  584 ,  586 ,  588  pass through portions of support members  572 ,  574 ,  576  into slots  583 ,  585 ,  587 , respectively, to engage flange  515  within slots  583 ,  585 ,  587  in order to attach in a removable fashion the support members  572 ,  574 ,  576  to flange  515 . Support members  572 ,  574 ,  576  are attached to flange  515  of rail  501  at locations such that support members  572 ,  574 ,  576  do not interfere with carriage  530  as carriage  530  traverses path  581 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  illustrates log splitter apparatus  600  that includes rail  601  and panels  630 ,  640 , of guards  616 ,  618 , respectively. Panel  630  of guard  616  is hingedly attached to support member  633  by hinge  635 , and support member  633  is removably attached to flange  615  of rail  601 . Panel  640  is hingedly attached to support member  643  by hinge  645 , and support member  643  is removably attached to flange  615  of rail  601 . Hinges  635 ,  645  may be generally configured as hinge  23 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , in various implementations. Support members  633 ,  643  may be formed similarly to support member  22 , and support members  633 ,  643  may be attached to flange  615  in a manner similar to the attachment of support member  22  to flange  215 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2C . Panels  630 ,  640  are curved such that, when placed in the extended position  670 , panels  630 ,  640  surround log  689  to protect the user by containing fragments of log  689  should log  689  shatter while being split. In  FIG. 4 , panel  630  of guard  616  in the collapsed position  660  is illustrated in phantom. Panel  630  may be positioned between the collapsed position  660  and the extended position  670  by rotation about hinge  635 . In the collapsed position  660 , panel  630  extends generally downward from rail  601  and may allow the user to access rail  601 , for example, to place log  689  thereupon. Panels  640 ,  640  may be rotated into the collapsed position  660  during transport or storage of log splitter apparatus  600 . 
         [0045]    In operation of the log splitter apparatus, such as log splitter apparatus  10 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600 , panels, such as panels  30 ,  40 ,  540 ,  630 ,  640 , of guards, such as guards  16 ,  18 ,  516 ,  616 , 618 , may be positioned in the extended position, such as extended position  70 ,  570 ,  670 . A log, such as log  689 , may be placed upon surface, such as surface  212 ,  412 ,  512 ,  612 , of the rail, such as rail  201 ,  401 ,  501 ,  601 , of the log splitter apparatus. The log is positioned such that the ends of the log are generally oriented toward the base, such as base  220 ,  520 , and the carriage, such as carriage  230 ,  530 . The carriage is then activated such that the carriage traverses along a path, such as path  581 , toward the base to compress the log between the carriage and the base in order to split the log. Should the log fall off of the surface while being positioned upon the surface, the log may fall upon the panel of the guard, which then captures the log and prevents the log from falling away from the log splitter apparatus. The user may reposition the log from the guard back onto the surface in order to continue splitting of the log. Similarly, upon splitting of the log, any fragments of the log that fall off of the surface may then fall upon the guard(s), which then capture these fragments. Following splitting of the log, the user may retrieve the fragments of the log from the guard(s), from the surface of the rail, or both. The guard(s) may protect the user by, for example, preventing the log, fragments of the log, or both from falling upon the user&#39;s feet or legs or other lower portions of the user&#39;s body. In various aspects, the guard(s) may prevent splinters or other fragments of a log that explodes under compression from striking the user. The guard(s) may be positioned at a generally convenient height that facilitates the retrieval of the log or fragments of the log by the user, in various aspects. 
         [0046]    When operation of the log splitter apparatus is completed, the panels of the guards may be positioned into the collapsed position, such as collapsed position  60 ,  560 ,  660 , and the log splitter apparatus transported or stored with the panels in the collapsed position. The guards may be removed from the log splitter apparatus, for example, during transport or storage. 
         [0047]    An exemplary operational method  800  is illustrated by process flow chart in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , method  800  is entered at step  801 . At step  805 , the panel(s) of the guard(s) are positioned into the extended position and locked in the extended position. At step  810 , a log is placed upon the surface of the log splitter apparatus. At step  815 , the log splitter apparatus is activated to split the log. At step  820 , fragments of the log are removed from the panel(s) or other portions of the guard(s), from the surface, or from both the panel(s) or other portions of the guard(s) and the surface. At step  825 , the panels are collapsed into the collapsed position and locked in the collapsed position. Method  800  is exited at step  829 . In various aspects, operational methods may include installation of the guard(s) onto the rail. In various aspects, operational methods may include removal of the guard(s) from the rail. In various aspects, operational methods may include installation of support member(s), such as support members  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  422 ,  572 ,  574 ,  576 ,  633 ,  643 , onto the rail, removal of the support member(s) from the rail, or both. In some aspects, operational methods may include installation of hanger(s), such as hanger  408 , onto the rail, with the hanger(s) adapted to secure the support member(s) to the rail. In various aspects, operational methods may include installing support member(s) to rail in such a way that the support member(s) do not conflict with the carriage as the carriage traverses the path. 
         [0048]    The foregoing discussion along with the Figures discloses and describes various exemplary implementations. These implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and in the claims. Upon study of this disclosure and the exemplary implementations herein, one of ordinary skill in the art may readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.