Apparatus for securing firewood during splitting

{
  "publication_number": "US9636841B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Apparatus for securing firewood during splitting",
  "abstract": "A tool which holds one or more logs steady, in place, and secured to a chopping block while all logs are spilt to the desired size with an axe or splitting maul. This prevents the logs from falling over, saving time, energy, and strain on the user's back.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus for securely and vertically holding one or several logs to be split onto a raised base, comprising: a. a rigid beam having a length equal to at least a height of said raised base plus two-thirds of an expected length of a longest of said logs, a cross-sectional area between two and thirteen square inches, and b. a means of securely attaching said rigid beam vertically to said raised base, and c. a monolithic elastic member having a length to stretch around said rigid beam and said logs, and d. a means of releasably connecting two ends of said elastic member together tightly such that said logs are held vertically and securely to said rigid beam and said raised base while allowing for expansion as said logs are split, whereby said logs can be split into as many pieces as desired without said pieces falling onto the ground, saving time and energy, and reducing strain on the user's back.",
    "2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said elastic member is loosely attached to said rigid beam through a slot or bracket on said rigid beam, thereby allowing some adjustment up or down to accommodate different lengths of said logs.",
    "3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein a piece of tire tread is attached to the top of said rigid beam to protect from axe blows.",
    "4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the means of attaching said rigid beam to said raised base is a non-elastic strap having a length to reach around said raised base, attached at a point from a bottom end of said rigid beam equal to substantially one-half of the height of said raised base, and wrapped around a midpoint of said raised base, and a. a means of releasably connecting two ends of said non-elastic strap together tightly.",
    "5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said rigid beam is a wood 2×4."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Prior Art The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently seems relevant: U.S. Patents Pat. No. U.S. Class Issue Date Patentee 4,239,198 269/156 1980 Dec. 16 Trupp 4,326,703 269/156 1982 Apr. 27 Marley 4,505,465 269/130 1985 Mar. 19 McCrary 4,515,195 144/366 1985 May 7 Gladstein 6,244,313 144/366 2001 Jun. 12 Sarvela 4,535,980 269/102 1985 Aug. 20 Jordan 4,460,028 144/366 1984 Jul. 17 Henry One of the most frustrating and back-breaking things about splitting firewood is when a log falls off of the chopping block, or pieces flying off that you wanted to split into smaller pieces, or even having to pick up the finished pieces off the ground. All of the bending over to replace logs or pick up the pieces makes the job hard on the back and more time consuming. Prior art attempts to solve this problem have helped some, but all have drawbacks. A hydraulic splitter can be used, but they are very expensive, noisy, require gas, oil, and maintenance, and are not very portable. Another option is an old car tire laid onto and attached to a chopping block, into which logs are placed. This method does not hold the logs firmly, is not adjustable for any quantity or size of logs, and also is not easily transported. Other prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,028 to Henry (1984) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,465 to McCrary (1985) hold logs together while splitting, but the logs are still prone to fall over while splitting. U.S. Pat. No.",
  "cpc": [
    "B27L 7/08",
    "B25B 1/205"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 1/20",
    "B27L 7/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "FETTER LESLIE STEPHEN"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "FETTER LESLIE STEPHEN"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-09-17",
  "publication_date": "2017-05-02",
  "grant_date": "2017-05-02",
  "priority_date": "2014-09-18",
  "application_number": "US-201514857813-A",
  "family_id": "58276432",
  "citations": [
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  ]
}