US 4,379,475 A · Wedging apparatus useful for log splitting

Abstract

Two elongated members are coaxially movable relative to one another with one member rigidly attached to a working head such as an elongated wedge or the like. In one embodiment, the inner member is fixed to the working head while the outer member movably surrounds the inner member. The outer member is dimensioned so that its lower perimeter edge is small enough to allow the members to be reciprocated so as to drive the head into a log or other material without the outer member being held against coaxial reciprocal movement by the material. The members can be secured as for lifting, withdrawing, transporting, and the like with a flexible collar on the outer member for cooperating with a hole therethrough for gripping the inner member. The outer member can be fixed to the working head and the inner member reciprocally movable therein. Shock absorbing handles and an impact surface cushion insert are also shown which reduce jarring and fatigue in an operator's hands and arms.

Claims12

Dependent claims

In apparatus for performing wedging type operations on a severable material as in log splitting and the like, including first and second elongated members positioned in concentric, coaxially slidable relation to each other, the first of said elongated members having a base and a tapered wedge body extending from said base to a tip and an impact surface adapted to receive impact force components directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tapered wedge body, and the second of said elongated members being adapted to be driven manually by a person in coaxial, longitudinal relation to the first elongated member and having an impact surface in axial alignment with the impact surface on said first elongated member and from the inertial momentum of said second elongated member to said impact surface on said first elongated member when said second elongated member is moved coaxially in relation to said first elongated member, the improvement comprising:

shock absorber means mounted on said apparatus for dampening shock transmitted by said second elongated member from the impact surface thereon to the person's hands.

Manually operated apparatus for performing wedging type operations on a severable material as in log splitting and the like, comprising:

first and second elongated members positioned in concentric, coaxially slidable relation to each other, the first of said elongated members having a base and a tapered wedge body extending from said base to a tip and a first impact surface adapted to receive impact force components directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tapered wedge body, and the second of said elongated members being adapted to be driven manually by a person in coaxial, longitudinal relation to the first elongated member and having a second impact surface in axial alignment with the first impact surface on the first elongated member and adapted to impact on and to transfer forces from the inertial momentum of said second elongated member to the said first impact surface on said first elongated member when said second elongated member is moved coaxially in relation to said first elongated member,
a pair of semi-flexible, springy handle bars, each of which is affixed to and extends radially outwardly from respectively opposite sides of said second elongated member and is adapted to effectively transmit driving force components parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tapered body exerted on the distal end thereof by a person's hand to move said second impact member on said second elongated member toward and into contact with said first impact surface on said first elongated member while also being adapted to dampen the shock created by said first and second impact surfaces striking each other and transmitted by said second elongated body member to the persons hand.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wedging apparatus useful for log splitting

Life of this patent

Wedging apparatus useful for log splitting

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12