Patent Publication Number: US-8109305-B1

Title: Log splitter attachment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to log splitters and more particularly pertains to a new log splitter for attaching to a machine such as an excavator or backhoe boom to facilitate splitting of large diameter logs into multiple triangular wedges. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a central portion and an attachment portion coupled to the central portion such that the central portion is designed for attachment to the boom arm of a machine such as a back hoe or excavator. A plurality of planar sections is coupled to the central portion. The planar sections are arranged to extend radially outward from the central portion. A plurality of distal wedge members is provided. Each distal splitting wedge member is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of planar sections. A central wedge splitting member has a plurality of radial wedge portions. The central wedge splitting member is coupled to a base of the central portion. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partially exploded top side perspective view of a log splitter attachment according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new log splitter embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the log splitter attachment  10  generally comprises a central portion  12  and an attachment portion  14  coupled to the central portion  12  such that the central portion  12  is designed for attachment to the boom arm  16  of a machine  18  such as a back hoe or excavator. A plurality of planar sections  20  is coupled to the central portion  12 . The planar sections  20  are arranged to extend radially outward from the central portion  12 . A plurality of distal wedge members  22  is provided. Each distal splitting wedge member  22  is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of planar sections  20 . A central wedge splitting member  24  has a plurality of radial wedge portions  26 . The central wedge splitting member  24  is coupled to a base  28  of the central portion  12 . 
     A bottom edge  30  of each planar section  20  is tapered. Each bottom edge  30  of the planar sections  20  is coplanar to each other bottom edge  30  of the planar sections  20 . 
     Each distal wedge member  22  includes a pair of ramp portions  32 . Each ramp portion  32  is positioned on a respective outer face  34  of the distal wedge member  22 . 
     The radial wedge portions  26  each have a respective base edge  36 . Each base edge  36  is coplanar to each other base edge  36  of the radial wedge portions  26 . Each bottom edge  30  of the planar sections  20  is coplanar to the base  28  of the central portion  12 . 
     The distal wedge members  22  also each have a respective lower edge  38 . Each lower edge  38  is coplanar to each other lower edge  38  of the distal wedge members  22 . The lower edges  38  of the distal wedge members  22  are also coplanar with the base edges  36  of the radial wedge portions  26 . 
     The attachment portion  14  includes a plate member  40 , an extension portion  42  coupled to the plate member  40 , and a pair of spaced arm members  44  extending from the plate member  40 . The spaced arm members  44  have aligned apertures  46  such that the arm members  44  are designed for coupling to the boom arm  16 . 
     Each of the distal wedge members  22  includes a pair of spaced distal wedge apertures  48 . The planar sections  20  each have a pair of spaced threaded portions  50 . A plurality of threaded coupling members  52  is provided with each being insertable through a respective one of the distal wedge apertures  50  for removably coupling the distal wedge members  22  to the planar sections  20 . Each of the planar sections  20  includes a cutout portion  54  adjacent to the bottom edge  30  of the planar section  20 . Each pair of threaded portions  50  is positioned to extend into the respective planar section  20  from the cutout portion  54  such that a distal edge  56  of the distal wedge member  22  is aligned with a distal edge  58  of the planar section  20  when the distal wedge member  22  is coupled to the planar section  20 . 
     The central wedge splitting member  24  has a threaded connection portion  60  and the central portion  12  has a complimentary threaded opening  62  such that the central wedge splitting member  24  is removably couplable to the central portion  12 . 
     A plurality of triangular planar section bracing members  64  is provided. Each planar section bracing member  64  is coupled to extend between the attachment portion  14  and a top edge  66  of a respective one of the planar sections  20 . A plurality of plate member bracing members  68  is provided. Each plate member bracing member  68  coupled to extend between the plate member  40  and the extension portion  42 . 
     In use, the attachment portion  14  is attached to the boom arm  16  of a machine  18  such as a back hoe or an excavator. A log is positioned such that the boom arm  16  can be maneuvered to hold the log splitting attachment  10  over the log. The boom arm  16  is lowered so the distal wedge members  22  and central wedge splitting member  24  contact and are driven into and through the log to split the log into triangular sections. The distal wedge members  22  and central wedge splitting member  24  are replaceable as needed. The device may be provided in a variety of sizes to best accommodate splitting of various sizes of logs. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.