Wood Splitter

This invention relates generally to log splitting devices and deals more particularly with a relatively inexpensive wood splitter such that the splitter can be conveniently used with a conventional sledge hammer or the like, or such that the device can be conveniently used for splitting small kindling without the use of such a sledge hammer.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a wood splitting device of the type which can be readily used next to a fireplace or stove, and which device can be conveniently carried by the user, a handle being provided for this purpose, which handle also serves to permit use of the device in splitting small kindling or the like.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating a preferred form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

Turning now to the drawing in greater detail, a generally rectangular tube 10 is provided in an upright orientation with its lower end secured to a generally horizontally extending base 12. The base 12 has a generally rectangular stop or collar member 14 welded thereto and the upright standard or post 10 can be detachably connected to the collar by bolts or the like or it can be welded to the collar 14 in any event to provide a very rugged structure suitable for supporting wedge means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In its presently preferred form, the wedge means includes an elongated tubular portion 16 of non-circular shape slidably received on the rectangular standard or post 10, and a tapered downwardly pointed wedge member 18 which is mounted in forwardly spaced relationship to the elongated tubular portion 16 such that the upwardly facing, or top surface 18b of the wedge member 18 can be struck with a sledge hammer or the like as indicated generally by the arrow 20 of FIG. 1. In so using the device of FIG. 1 the wedge means is raised, by the handle 26, and a log placed with its lower end on the upwardly facing surface of the base 12 and its upper end is engaged by the lower chisel edge 18a of the wedge member 18. As so arranged striking the upper surface 18b of the wedge member 18 can be readily accomplished. As so operated the device is safe enough to permit splitting of logs adjacent the fireplace area in a home.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the wedge member 18 is provided in forwardly spaced relationship to the longitudinal axis of the upright standard or post 10, and the means for so orienting the wedge member 18 preferably comprises a bracket structure including a second wedge member 22, which second wedge member 22 is also of downwardly tapered configuration and terminates in a pointed lower chisel edge 22a. It will be noted from FIG. 2 that the included angle of the second wedge member 22 is slightly greater than that of the primary or lead wedge member 18. It should also be noted that the lower chisel edge 22a of the second wedge member 22 is spaced vertically above the lower chisel edge 18a of the first mentioned wedge member 18 so that its chisel edge 22a does not interfere with use of the primary chisel edge 18a in the splitting of logs.

Not only does the second wedge member 22 not interfere with the splitting of such logs, but it is noted that the larger included angle of the second wedge member serves the purpose of holding the two halves of such logs in a spread-apart configuration such that the first mentioned wedge member 18 will not tend to bind up in the log during the splitting operation achieved as a result of striking the upwardly facing abutment surface 18b of such primary wedge member 18. It is further noted that the lower pointed chisel edges of both wedge members 22 and 18 reside in a common vertical plane which plane also includes the longitudinal axis of the standard or post member 10. Thus, and as best shown in FIG. 2, the device of the present invention is symmetrical when viewed from the front except for the use of a locking pin member 24 to be described.

Turning next to a detailed description of FIG. 3, the primary or first wedge member 18 can be seen from this view to comprise a solid chisel element, preferably of hardened steel, whereas the somewhat fatter second chisel member 22 is fabricated from welded pieces of sheet metal, although it could of course comprise a weighted member such that the overall wedge means might be made proportionately heavier in the event that somewhat heavier logs were to be split in the manner described above.

Finally, and still with reference to the bracket structure which supports the primary wedge member 18 in spaced relationship forwardly of the post 10, a handle 26 extends from a point just below the upper abutment end of the first wedge member, generally rearwardly, to connect said first wedge member with the hollow tubular portion 16, and said handle serves to define a finger space between the handle and the upper end of the second wedge member in order to permit the wedge means to be conveniently raised from the position shown after removal of the locking pin 24. As so constructed and arranged the second wedge member 22 can be conveniently used for splitting small kindling wood or the like in a second mode of operation for the device which does not require use of a sledge or the like.

In the position shown for the wedge means in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lifting handle 26 can be conveniently used in order to transport the wood splitter from one position to another. Removal of the locking pin 24 permits the wedge means to be raised conveniently by the lifting handle so that kindling wood can be split as discussed in the preceding paragraph, and so a log can be placed between the base 12 and the lower chisel edge 18a of the primary wedge member 18 in order to permit striking the wedge member as described previously.

In the event that a log does become bound with the wedge means during the latter mode, it will be desirable to position the wedge means in a raised position with the locking pin 24 in a hole 28 provided for it. In such a position, that is raising of the wedge means and insertion of the locking pin 24 in the upper hole 28 with the wedge means being thereby supported in its raised or upper position (not shown) the log can be struck from above directly by the sledge to free the wedge means therefrom.

Still with reference to the various locations of the wedge means on the standard or post 10, it is noted that the collar 14 provided on the base 12 defines a stop position for limiting the downward movement of the wedge means and thereby preventing damage to the chisel edge 18a when the device is used or splitting either kindling wood or large logs as described.