Splitting Apparatus
Patent No. US10906202 (titled "Splitting Apparatus") was filed by Hutchinson Vaughan John on Dec 19, 2013.
What is this patent about?
’202 is related to the field of material splitting, specifically addressing the need for a safer and more user-friendly way to split wood into kindling. Traditional methods like axes and mauls pose significant safety risks, especially for inexperienced users, while motorized splitters are often bulky, expensive, and require considerable force. The patent aims to overcome these limitations by providing a compact and easily operable splitting apparatus.
The underlying idea behind ’202 is to reverse the conventional splitting action. Instead of driving a blade downwards into the material, the invention uses a stationary, upward-facing blade and a separate force to push the material down onto the blade. This eliminates the need for swinging heavy tools and reduces the risk of injury from misplaced blows or flying debris. The design also aims to minimize the force required, making it accessible to a wider range of users.
The claims of ’202 focus on a splitting apparatus comprising a vertically aligned free standing body. The body includes at least one vertically oriented elongate supporting device having a top end, the top end having a top surface perpendicular to the vertical axis of the body, a safety device having a substantially enclosed outer peripheral edge that is a protective barrier, the safety device being directly attached to the top surface of the top end of the vertically oriented elongate supporting device and being rigidly supported in a plane substantially perpendicular to the top end of the vertically oriented elongate supporting device and substantially parallel to a horizontal surface, the safety device defining a top of a central area of the body, the central area of the body defined by the safety device in conjunction with the elongate supporting device, the safety device including a substantially central aperture of the safety device that is an opening of a size configured to accommodate material inserted therethrough and into the central area of the body, a stationary cutting device located within the central area of the body and distanced below the safety device, the stationary cutting device including a cutting edge upwardly facing towards the safety device, such that a bottom end of the material inserted through the central aperture of the safety device is configured to rest on the upwardly facing cutting edge of the cutting device and a top end of the material is exposed at or above the safety device in a position to receive a downward non-cutting blunt force, such that the stationary cutting device effects an upward cutting force sufficient to split the material from the bottom up, and at least one side opening defined between the safety device, the elongate supporting device, and the horizontal surface to allow one or more portions of the split materials to fall from the central area of the body through the at least one side opening, wherein the material is contained within the central aperture of the safety device throughout the splitting process, the outer edge protective barrier being configured to limit either or both a user's hand and a separate pressure device from contacting the upward facing cutting edge distanced below the safety device, and the upward facing cutting edge is distanced above the surface over which the splitting apparatus is used.
In practice, the user places a piece of wood within a safety ring and atop the stationary blade. A mallet or similar tool is then used to strike the top of the wood, driving it downwards onto the blade and splitting it. The safety ring prevents the user's hands from coming into contact with the blade, and the split pieces fall away through side openings. The apparatus can be made from various materials, including metal, plastic, or wood, and can be adapted for splitting different materials, such as confectionery or ice.
The key differentiation lies in the fixed blade and downward force application . Unlike traditional axes or motorized splitters, this design eliminates the need for a forceful swing or complex machinery. The safety ring provides a crucial safety feature, minimizing the risk of injury. The apparatus is also designed to be compact and portable, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The ability to adapt the design for different materials further enhances its versatility compared to existing wood-splitting solutions.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’202 was filed, wood splitting was typically implemented using manual tools like axes and mauls, or motorized hydraulic splitters, at a time when safety concerns and physical exertion were significant factors. When hardware or software constraints made automation non-trivial, manual labor was common, but systems commonly relied on direct physical force rather than mechanical advantage to split materials.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the claims because the prior art did not teach a safety device with a substantially enclosed outer peripheral edge acting as a protective barrier, directly attached to the top surface of the top end that is perpendicular to the vertical axis of the body, and at least one side opening defined between the safety device, the elongated supporting device, and the horizontal surface to allow split materials to fall from the central area through the side opening, in combination with other limitations set forth in claim 17.
Claims
This patent includes 20 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 is directed to a splitting apparatus with a safety device and a stationary cutting device. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features, components, and manufacturing methods related to the splitting apparatus described in the independent claim.
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Date
Description
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US10906202
- Application Number
- US14653302
- Filing Date
- Dec 19, 2013
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Dec 19, 2033
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents