CA2808003C

CA2808003C - Kindling wood splitting device

Info

Publication number: CA2808003C
Application number: CA2808003A
Authority: CA
Inventors: J. Nathan Loucks; Robert J. Loucks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2013-03-14
Publication date: 2017-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-14
Also published as: CA2808003A1

Abstract

A splitting tool and upright device, used together to split kindling from pieces of firewood. The splitting tool has a steel dowel that protrudes through at the cutting end perpendicular to the blade. The upright device is fastened to a base and consists of identical parallel plates, having a series of matching, downward-facing notches. Firewood is placed on the base adjacent to the upright device. The dowel end of the splitting tool is placed between the parallel plates of the upright device just above the wood. Downward force is applied to the handle of the splitting tool. The dowel braces in the notches and becomes a fulcrum. Leverage amplifies the force and causes the firewood to split. As the handle of the splitting tool is raised, the dowel slides down to the next pair of matching notches. This controlled process is repeated until the kindling is split.

Description

, KINDLING WOOD SPLITTING DEVICE
Field of the Invention This invention provides an improved method for splitting kindling from larger pieces of firewood in a quiet and controlled manner, without the use of impact force.
Background of the Invention Kindling wood is commonly used for building fires in wood stoves, campfires, wood furnaces, and cooking fires. The axe has long been the standard tool used for splitting kindling and will always have its place. The axe can be an intimidating tool that many people are simply not comfortable using. Due to the violent nature of the act, splitting kindling with an axe typically needs to be done outside. Desire exists for a kindling splitting tool that does not require the use of impact force. Other log and kindling splitting tools have been invented, as shown in the following patents.
= U.S. Patent 4,244,407 = U.S. Patent 5,547,001 = U.S. Patent 4,354,537 = U.S. Patent 720,010 Existing kindling tools have a variety of drawbacks that require improvement.
The applicant feels that the missing qualities of existing kindling tools include:
= Simplicity of design;
= Low manufacturing cost;
= Effectiveness;
= Suitability for use indoor use;
= Freestanding.
The applicant's invention contains these qualities.

Summary of the Invention The Kindling Wood Splitting Device of the instant invention is designed and constructed such that kindling sized wood may be sliced from larger pieces of firewood in a quiet and controlled manner whereby the single operator would feel comfortable using the invention inside a finished home; ideally next to the hearth. The invention employs ample mechanical advantage to allow the operator to cut kindling from standard pieces of straight-grained hardwood and from traditionally used softwood. By fitting a splitting tool with a steel dowel that is used in concert with an upright device that has a series of downward-facing, matching pairs of notches in which the dowel can brace and pivot, wood can be split incrementally using leverage until a piece of kindling wood breaks away.
The primary objective of this invention is to provide a simple, convenient and inconspicuous kindling tool that effectively splits kindling from softwood and straight-grained hardwood in a quiet and controlled manner, without the use of impact force.
Other objectives of this invention are:
= to construct a kindling tool that will cut kindling from wood in length up to and including standard 16" pieces of firewood;
= to provide the user with ample mechanical advantage so as to split kindling sized pieces of wood with a reasonable amount of effort;
= to construct a kindling tool that is freestanding, in that it does not need to be mounted to any surface to be effectively employed and so that it may be readily used on the floor, a table or another appropriate flat surface;
= to provide a kindling tool that folds down for compact storage and/or for transport.
Finally, this invention has been designed with simplicity so that it may be manufactured cost-effectively using materials and methods common to those trained in the art.

-2-Brief Description of the Drawings Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 shows the upright device, including its attached base and the separate splitting tool;
Figure 2 shows the invention in operational orientation with a piece of firewood in place and an arrow indicating the direction of user-applied force for operation;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows the trajectory of the dowel from one pair of matching notches to the next as the handle of the splitting tool is raised;
Figure 5 shows the second application of user applied force; and Figure 6 shows the Kindling Wood Splitting Device in storage position.
Detailed Description of the Invention The invention illustrated comprises a splitting tool 1 and a notched upright device 2 which are designed such that the splitting tool 1 fits between identical plates of upright device 2. A
pivot dowel 6 fits into matching pairs of notches 4 of the identical plates of the upright device 2. The identical plates of the upright device 2 are spaced to allow the splitting tool 1 to fit between them, acting as guides for, but not binding the splitting tool 1.
The upright device 2 is fastened to bracket 5, which is attached perpendicularly at one end of base 3. The upright device 2 is locked vertically for operational orientation and folds down for storage, horizontal to base 3.
The splitting tool 1 is a continuous piece of steel having a curved blade portion 7 and a handle portion 8. A steel dowel 6 is securely fitted through the splitting tool 1 at the blade end.
During use:
Upright device 2 is locked in vertical position. A piece of firewood 9 is placed on the base 3, adjacent to the notched edges of the identical plates of the upright device 2 so that a kindling sized portion 11, 1" wide or less, extends beyond the plane of blade 7 of splitting tool. The

-3-splitting tool 1 is fitted between the identical plates of the upright device 2, dowel 6 is braced into the pair of matching notches 4a closest to the top of the firewood 9.
Downward force 10 is applied by the user on the handle 8 of the splitting tool. The force is amplified by leverage, driving the blade 7 of the splitting tool into the firewood 9. When the handle 8 of the splitting tool is raised 12, the pivot dowel 6 of the splitting tool slides down 13 to the next appropriate pair of matching notches 4b where it is again braced. Downward force is again applied 14 by the user to handle 8 of the splitting tool, further splitting the kindling.
This process is continued until the piece of kindling breaks away.
During storage:
Upright device 2 folds down and rests horizontally on base 3. Splitting tool 1 is placed, blade down, between the identical plates of upright device 2.
The invention is designed for splitting wood that typically has straight grain and few knots.
The invention is not designed for splitting blocks of firewood.
The foregoing description has been provided so as to illustrate the principles of this invention and is not meant to limit the invention to the exact design and methods described and shown.

-4-

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A freestanding, manually operable tool for splitting kindling from larger pieces of firewood comprising: a splitting tool fitted with a pivot dowel; and a separate upright device comprising substantially parallel, elongated plates having matching pairs of downward-facing notches shaped to fit the pivot dowel of the splitting tool, which acts as a fulcrum as leverage is used to split the kindling.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the splitting tool is a planar, elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end, the pivot dowel is securely fixed in the distal end, and the proximal end comprises a handle, the pivot dowel protrudes substantially perpendicularly from both sides of the splitting tool so as to fit into the matching notches of the upright device.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the splitting tool has a sharpened blade at the distal end.

4. The tool of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upright device is pivotally attached to a generally rectangular, planar and elongated base, such that the upright device can fold down horizontal to the base for storage and, in operational orientation, the upright device can be locked in a vertical position, substantially perpendicular to the base.

5. The tool of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the notches have a smooth radius between them, allowing the pivot dowel of the splitting tool to easily transition downward from one pair of matching notches to the next during use.

6. The tool of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plates of the upright device are spaced apart at a distance slightly larger than a width of the splitting tool such that the blade of the splitting tool fits between the plates, and the plates guide the splitting tool but the splitting tool does not bind between the plates.

7. The tool of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plates of the upright device are spaced apart using a suitable washer at an upper end of the upright device, and the upright device is fastened to the base by a bracket at a lower end of the upright device.

8. The tool of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plates of the upright device are fastened together with threaded bolts.