Patent Publication Number: US-10773416-B1

Title: Split wood retention device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/327,757, filed Apr. 26, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a retention device to hold wood as it is being split. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Firewood from cut trees is used in fires all over the world on a daily basis. Whether the fire is for heating, lighting, general ambience or the like in a home or at a campsite, the wood must be cut and split for the fire. An ax, a splitting maul, wedge and sledge, or the like is commonly used when manually splitting wood. The log is placed upon a splitting stump and struck in a vertical fashion whereupon the individual pieces fall to the ground. The larger pieces are then placed upon the stump and struck again until all are small enough. Then the user must again bend over and pick up all of the individual pieces of firewood and place them in a wood pile. This results in repeated bending over which can quickly become tiring after a few short minutes, much less after a long session of splitting wood. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the repeated bending over to pick up firewood during a manual splitting operation can be reduced. The use of the split wood retention device reduces the amount of work and repeated bending over associated with manual wood splitting in a manner that is quick, easy, and effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned issues and inherent problems and observed that there is a lack in the prior art for a means to hold wood as it is being split. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a retention device, comprising a backing plate having a planar configuration. The backing plates comprises a first wing having a first wing first face, a first wing second face, a first wing first end, a first wing second end, a first wing top edge, a first wing bottom edge, an anchor plate having an anchor plate aperture which is disposed therein and secured to the first wing first face adjacent the first wing first end and between the first wing top edge and the first wing bottom edge and a first latch plate having a first latch plate aperture which is disposed therein and secured to the first wing first face adjacent an inside edge of the anchor plate and between the first wing top edge and the first wing bottom edge. The backing plate also comprises a second wing having a second wing second face, a second wing first end, a second wing second end, a second wing top edge, a second wing bottom edge and a first lock bar plate having a first lock bar plate aperture disposed therein secured to the second wing first face adjacent the second wing second end and between the second wing top edge and the second wing bottom edge and a second lock bar plate having a second lock bar plate aperture which is disposed therein secured to the second wing first face adjacent the second wind second end and between the second wing top edge and the second wing bottom edge and subjacent the first lock bar plate with the first lock bar plate aperture aligned with the second lock bar plate aperture. 
     The retention device also has a chain secured to the anchor plate, a latch pin secured to the first latch plate and a lock bar which is moveably secured between the first lock bar plate and the second lock bar plate. The backing plate is configured to cradle a portion of a piece of wood against the first wing second face and the second wing second face. The chain is configured to circumscribe a remainder of the piece of wood and removably secure to the lock bar. The chain is removably secured to the lock bar and when the lock bar is thereafter rotated between the first latch plate and the second latch plate and flush with the first wing first face the piece of wood is retained within the device by the latch pin being placed within the first latch plate aperture and the second latch plate aperture. 
     In a separate embodiment, the backing plate has a bend which comprises an angle defined between the first wing and the second wing between ninety degrees (90°) and one hundred seventy-nine degrees (179°). 
     The backing plate may comprise a bend between the first wing and the second wing. The chain comprises a first chain having a first chain first end and a first chain second end, a second chain having a second chain first end and a second chain second end and a spring having a spring first end connected to the first chain second end and a spring second end connected to the second chain first end. The spring is secured to the anchor plate with an anchor pin. 
     The latch pin may comprise a latch pin shaft having a latch pin first end and a latch pin second end, a latch pin eye secured at the latch pin first end, a latch pin aperture disposed adjacent the latch pin second end, a latch pin limit plate subjacent the latch pin eye, a latch pin retainer capable of being removably secured within the latch pin aperture and a tether secured to the latch pin eye and the first latch plate adjacent the first latch plate aperture. 
     The lock bar may comprise a lock bar shaft having a lock bar shaft first end and a lock bar shaft second end, a lock bar pivot secured at the lock bar shaft first end, a lock bar pivot aperture and a binder hook secured adjacent an interior side of the lock bar pivot. 
     The lock bar may be removably secured between the first lock bar plate and the second lock bar plate by a lock bar pivot pin removably secured within the first lock bar plate aperture, the lock bar pivot aperture and the second lock bar plate aperture. The first chain first end is removably securable to the binder hook. 
     The backing plate may comprise aluminum. The first wing top edge and the first wing bottom edge may comprise a first wing top edge flange and a first wing bottom edge flange. The first wing top edge flange and the first wing bottom edge flange may further comprise a contiguous second wing top edge flange and a second wing bottom edge flange. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wood retention device  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the wood retention device  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the wood retention device  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the wood retention device  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the wood retention device  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a first side view of the wood retention device  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an opposite side view of the wood retention device  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the wood retention device  10  encircling a wood piece  200  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  wood retention device 
               20  backing plate 
               22  first wing 
               24  intermediate bend 
               26  second wing 
               28  first face 
               32  second face 
               34  reinforcement flange 
               36  anchor plate 
               42  lock bar pivot plate 
               46  latch plate 
               48  latch plate aperture 
               50  anchor shackle 
               52  anchor pin 
               54  anchor pin fastener 
               56  anchor pin retainer 
               60  first chain 
               62  first chain first end 
               64  chain link 
               66  first chain second end 
               70  spring 
               72  spring first end 
               74  spring eye 
               76  spring coil 
               78  spring second end 
               80  second chain 
               82  second chain first end 
               86  second chain second end 
               90  lock bar 
               92  lock bar shaft 
               94  binder hook 
               98  lock bar pivot 
               100  lock bar pivot pin 
               102  pivot pin fastener 
               104  pivot pin retainer 
               110  latch pin 
               111  tether 
               112  latch pin shaft 
               114  latch pin eye 
               116  latch pin limit plate 
               117  latch pin retainer aperture 
               118  latch pin retainer 
               200  wood piece 
           
         
       
    
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 8 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under the scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only these particular configurations shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a wood retention device (herein referred to as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means to hold a wood piece  200 , such as a portion of a tree trunk, or a large branch, for hand splitting and securing the split pieces thereof in a conveniently bound package after the splitting procedure so as to simplify the subsequent transfer of the wood pieces  200  to a wood pile. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the apparatus  10 , and  FIGS. 2 through 7 , respective face views of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus  10  includes a backing plate  20  equipped with a pivoting lock bar  90 , and a pair of chains  60 , and  80  interconnected with a compression spring  70 . The backing plate  20  is a “V”-shaped aluminum casting having a planar first wing  22  attached to a planar second wing  26  by means of a formed intermediate bend  24 . The intermediate bend  24  places the second wing  26  at an angle of between ninety degrees (90°) and one hundred seventy-nine degrees (179°) relative to the first wing  22 . This configuration permits the wood piece  200  to be cradled along a second face  32  of the backing plate  20 . The backing plate  20  is provided with at least two (2) reinforcement flanges  34  along a first face  28  to augment the structural rigidity thereof. A reinforcement flange  34  is preferably located along each longitudinal edge of the backing plate  20 . However, additional reinforcement flanges  34  may be cast along any portion of the backing plate  20  as may be necessary to provide an adequate structural integrity without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     An anchor plate  36  is disposed along a first face  28  of the first wing  22  at a distal edge opposite from the intermediate bend  24 . The anchor plate  36  provides an attachment point for the first chain  60 . The anchor plate  36  may have any appropriate configuration to provide the adequate connection of the first chain  60  to the backing plate  20 . An anchor shackle  50 , configured to be a commercially available fastening component, is threaded through a chain link  64  at a first chain first end  62  and secured into an aperture (not specifically shown) in the anchor plate  36  by means of an anchor pin  52 . The cylindrical, headed anchor pin  52  is inserted into the aligned apertures (not shown) of the anchor shackle  50  and the anchor plate  36  in a typical fashion. The anchor pin  52  is retained in the anchor shackle  50  by means of a threaded anchor pin fastener  54 , which is positively secured by an anchor pin retainer  56 , such as a cotter pin, or the like. The use of both an anchor pin fastener  54  and an anchor pin retainer  56  provides a redundancy to the securement of the anchor pin  52  to obviate a failure thereof due to the impact forces exerted upon the apparatus  10  during use. 
     A spring first end  72  is connected to a first chain second end  66  by a standard means of the engagement of a spring eye  72  into a chain link  64 . The spring eye  74  may be partially, or completely, wound around the chain link  64  to secure the connection without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . A spring second end  78  is connected to a second chain first end  82  of a second chain  80  by a similar means. The spring  70  is a commercially available component having a plurality of spring coils  76  and a sufficient spring rate to adequately retain the wood piece  200 , both before and after splitting. The first chain  60  and the second chain  80  are configured to be a plurality of chain links  64  of any of a variety of commercially available chains having a size suitable for the intended purpose. 
     A matched pair of lock bar pivot plates  42  is disposed along a distal edge of the first face  28  of the second wing  26 . The lock bar pivot plates  42 , preferably cast into the backing plate  20 , provide an attachment point for the lock bar  90 . The lock bar  90  provides a conditional attachment point for the second chain  80  and a means to functionally attach the apparatus  10  to a wood piece  200  either as a single unit, or as a collection of smaller split wood pieces  200 . The lock bar  90  consists of an arcuate, cylindrical lock bar shaft  92 , a lock bar pivot  98 , and a binder hook  94 . The lock bar shaft  92  is configured to have a plurality of defining bends which result in a divergence from the first face  22  of the backing plate  20  and then a corresponding convergence therewith to achieve a gap between the lock bar  90  and the backing plate  20  for the insertion of a user&#39;s hand, or hands, as a grasping position to facilitate the handling and maneuvering of the apparatus  20  and the retained wood piece(s)  200 . The lock bar pivot  98  is an annular ring attached to, or formed with, the lock bar shaft  92 . The lock bar pivot  98  serves as an attachment point for the lock bar  90  to the lock bar pivot plates  42 , as well as an over-center pivot to gather the first chain  60 , the spring  70 , and the second chain  80  around the wood piece  200 . As stated, the lock bar  90  is attached through the lock bar pivot  98  to the lock bar pivot plates  42  by means of a lock bar pivot pin  100 . The cylindrical, headed lock bar pivot pin  100  is similar in construction to the previously disclosed anchor pin  52 . The lock bar pivot pin  100  is provided with a threaded pivot pin fastener  102 , which is further secured by a pivot pin retainer  104 , such as a cotter pin, or the like. The binder hook  94  is an arcuate attachment of the lock bar  90  intended to be engaged into a convenient chain link  64  of the second chain  80  to complete the attachment of the backing plate  20  to the wood piece  200 . 
     A pair of latch plates  46  is disposed along a first face  28  of the first wing  22  of the backing plate  20  in proximity to the anchor plate  36 . Each latch plate  46  is provided with a latch plate aperture  48  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The latch plate apertures  48  are aligned for the insertion of a latch pin  110 . The distance between the latch plates  46  is to accommodate the insertion of the distal end of the lock bar  90 . The lock bar  90  is intended to be retained between the latch plates  46  by the latch pin  110 . The latch pin  90  is composed of a cylindrical latch pin shaft  112  to which a preferably circular latch pin limit plate  116  is attached. A torus shaped latch pin eye  114  is attached to the latch pin limit plate  116  opposite from the latch pin shaft  112 . The latch pin eye  114  provides a grasping surface to aid in the insertion of the latch pin  110  into the latch plate apertures  48  and the removal therefrom. It is preferred that a tether  111  attaches the latch pin  110  to one (1) of the latch plates  46 , in order to ensure that the latch pin  110  does not get lost. It is appreciated that the latch pin  110  is of a length that ensures that it will be retained within the pair of latch plates  46  when installed through the apertures  48 . If required, a latch pin retainer  118 , configured to be a commercially available quick pin, or the like, can be inserted into a latch pin aperture  117  in a distal end of the latch pin shaft  112  to retain the latch pin  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of the apparatus  10 , encircling a wood piece  200 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. In use, the second face  32  of the backing plate  20  is placed into contact with a single wood piece  200 , not having been split, approximately at the longitudinal center thereof. The lock bar  90  is pivoted about the lock bar pivot pin  100  to orient the binder hook  94  in proximity to the wood piece  200 . The first chain  60 , the spring  70 , and the second chain  80  are wrapped around an opposite side of the wood piece  200  so as to encircle the wood piece  200 . Any chain link  64  of the taut second chain  80  falling in proximity to the binder hook  94  is engaged therewith and the lock bar  90  is pivoted about the lock bar pivot pin  100  to engage the distal end of the lock bar shaft  92  into the latch plates  46 . This maneuver tightens the chains  60 ,  80  around the wood piece  200  thereby extending the spring  70  to compensate for the over-center location of the binder hook  94 . The latch pin  110  then inserted into the latch plate apertures  48  and secured through the latch pin aperture  117  with the latch pin retainer  118 . The wood piece  200  can subsequently split into smaller wood pieces  200  in a typical manner with an axe, or a wedge. After having split the wood piece  200  into appropriate sizes, the wood pieces  200 , still bound by the apparatus  10 , can be transferred to a stacked woodpile, or other desired location, by utilizing the lock bar shaft  92  as a handle. When the wood pieces  200  have been transfer to the desired location, the apparatus  10  can be removed therefrom by removing the latch pin retainer  118  from the latch pin aperture  117  freeing the latch pin  110 ; pivoting the lock bar  90  away from the backing plate  20  to reduce the tension in the spring  70 ; and disengaging the chain link  64  from the binder hook  94 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by an enabled individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 2 . The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the steps listed in the previous discussion. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.