KINDLING WOOD SPLITTING DEVICE

DISPOSITIF DE FENDAGE DE BOIS D'ALLUMAGE

English 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.

French Abstract

Un outil de fendage et un dispositif vertical sont utilisés ensemble pour fendre du petit bois à partir de morceaux de bois à brûler. Loutil de fendage comporte un goujon dacier qui fait saillie à travers lextrémité de coupe perpendiculairement à la lame. Le dispositif vertical est fixé à une base et consiste en des plaques parallèles identiques comportant une série dencoches correspondantes orientées vers le bas. Du bois à brûler est placé sur la base à proximité du dispositif vertical. Lextrémité goujon de loutil de fendage est placée entre les plaques parallèles du dispositif vertical tout juste au-dessus du bois. Une force descendante est exercée sur la poignée de loutil de fendage. Le goujon se coince dans les encoches et devient un point dappui. Leffet de levier amplifie la force et fait fendre le bois. À mesure que lon monte la poignée de loutil de fendage, le goujon coulisse vers le bas vers la prochaine paire dencoches correspondantes. Ce procédé commandé est répété jusquà ce que le petit bois soit fendu.

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.
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Description

CA 02808003 2016-09-09
,
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.
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CA 02808003 2016-09-09
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.
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CA 02808003 2016-09-09
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
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CA 02808003 2016-09-09
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.
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Representative Drawing