Patent ID: 7918292

Claim:
An earth-boring bit comprising: a bit body comprising a plurality of legs extending longitudinally therefrom; a cutter rotatably mounted to a bearing shaft depending from each leg; at least one groove in an outer surface of at least one leg, the at least one groove extending in a generally oblique direction across a radially outer surface of the at least one leg from a rotationally leading side of the at least one leg to a rotationally trailing side of the at least one leg; a first region of hardfacing disposed over the at least one groove; a second region of hardfacing disposed over an upper region of the radially outer surface of the at least one leg adjacent the at least one groove, the second region of hardfacing having an average thickness greater than an average thickness of the first region of hardfacing; and a third region of hardfacing disposed over a lower region of the radially outer surface of the at least one leg adjacent to the at least one groove, the third region of hardfacing having an average thickness greater than the average thickness of the first region of hardfacing.