1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices and structures for sawing logs and other cuttable members.
2. Related Art
The traditional method for manually cutting logs involves a four-step process. First, the user places a log on the ground. Then, a user saws into the log until a blade of the saw comes close to or into contact with the ground. Next, the user removes the saw from the log. Finally, the user manually rolls the log from 90 degrees to 270 degrees to present a new surface to cut. The user repeats at least steps one through three until the log is cut in two.
Sawbuck structures, which elevate logs and offer stability while a user manually cuts the log, are also known in the art. These structures cradle individual logs in V-shaped members. These designs are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,814 to Prior and U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,546 to Parsons.
Another known structure supports the underside of the log while a user manually cuts multiple logs. This structure, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,170 to Sampson, allows the logs to be arranged vertically so the user can cut multiple logs of the same length at the same time.
Additional structures incorporate safety devices and that improve uniformity while cutting logs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,640 to Michael attaches a pivot mechanism to a sawbuck. A saw mounts to the pivot mechanism. The saw can then be manually lowered into a log. This structure reduces the danger of injury by minimizing the risk of operator error. This structure also improves accuracy by predetermining and controlling the angle of the saw in relation to the log.
While known structures provide an elevated support structure usable for sawing logs, each has limitations. Known structures allow for only limited adjustments based on a number of variables, including the height of the operator or the size of the log. Known structures also require a user to handle the logs a number of times during cutting, especially when making multiple cuts to a single log. These structures are also limited to supporting only rounded logs, not planed wood.
This invention provides a support structure usable for elevating cuttable members off the ground.
This invention further provides a support structure that reduces potential damage to a saw by reducing the chance the saw will make contact with the ground.
This invention separately provides a portable support structure that can be disassembled and reassembled.
This invention separately provides a device usable to adjust a height of the support structure.
This invention further provides a device usable to adjust the support structure based on a diameter of the cuttable member.
This invention separately provides a device that reduces operator handling of the cuttable member.
This invention separately provides a device that supports multiple cuts after one loading step.
This invention separately provides a device that supports both round and planed cuttable members.
This invention separately provides a support structure that can be disassembled, moved and reassembled.
In various exemplary embodiments of a support structure according to this invention, the support structure includes two side members, each connected to a foot. The size and shape of each foot can be varied to stand the support structure by itself or to accept a support beam of varying length, diameter and/or material.
In various exemplary embodiments of the support structure according to this invention, the two side members of the support structure are connected by a plurality of cross members. Two toothed cross members provide both structural support and hold the cuttable member. The two toothed cross members are positioned in an offset configuration. Any additional cross members provide additional support. In various exemplary embodiments, cuttable members are placed between the two toothed cross members. The cuttable member is held in place under its own weight by the offset positioning of the two toothed cross members. In various exemplary embodiments, each of the two toothed cross members can be adjusted, independently of each other, up and down along the two side members to take into account variables including operator height and/or the size, shape and/or dimensions of the cuttable member. In various exemplary embodiments, the upper toothed cross member can be adjusted to form an angle allowing multiple cuttable members of varying dimensions to be placed onto the support structure.
In various exemplary embodiments, the two toothed cross members can each be turned 180 degrees relative to the side members to provide opposing flat holding surfaces. The flat holding surfaces allow planar surfaced cuttable members to be supported by the support structure. In various exemplary embodiments, the cross members can be unfastened from the two side members. The unfastened cross and side members can then be collected and readily transported to a different site for reassembly and use.
These and other features and advantages of various exemplary embodiments of the support structure and methods according to this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the article and methods according to this invention.
Various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein:
The following is a detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments of a support structure usable to hold or support cuttable members while they are cut according to this invention. For ease of discussion and understanding, the following detailed description refers to cuttable members as logs. It should be appreciated that a cuttable member can be any material, such as, for example, a log, lumber, timber, plastic, metals such as, for example, aluminum or steel, and/or any other known or later developed material that can be suitably used with this device. Likewise, the cuttable members can be any appropriate shape or form, such as random, as when the cuttable member is a log, rectangular, circular, cylindrical, planar, specifically-shaped, such as a turned member like a chair leg, or any other known or later developed shape. It should also be appreciated that the support structure can be used to support members that can be cut, sawed, machined or against which any other known or later-developed work operation, such as, for example, polishing, notching, sanding, welding or planing, can be suitably performed using this device.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
With the log 104 secured between the upper and lower toothed cross members 130 and 140, the user is able to cut the log 104 one or more times. After cutting the log 104 at least once, the user can either remove the log 104 from the support structure 100 or continue cutting the log 104 down until the log 104 no longer balances because the center of gravity is on the upper toothed cross member side of the lower toothed cross member 140. When the log 104 is no longer able to balance, it automatically disengages from the toothed cross members 130 and 140 and falls out of the support structure 100 to the ground, on the upper toothed cross member side of the support structure 100. It should be appreciated that, in various exemplary embodiments, the user can place a plurality of logs 104 of different lengths, diameters and/or sizes into the support structure 100. It should be appreciated that, in other various exemplary embodiments, the user can use the support structure 100 to hold other types of members beyond cuttable members to perform a variety of tasks, such as, for example, welding, scoring, bending, sanding and/or other operations to other types of members consistent with the above-outlined description.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
As shown in
The upper toothed cross member 130 is attached to the second portions 123 of the side members 120 with bolts 136. Each bolt 136 extends first through a hole 124 on the second portion 123, then through the oblong hole 132 of the upper toothed cross member 130. A washer 137 and a nut 138 are then placed on each bolt 136. The bolt 136, washer 137 and nut 138 are removable, allowing the upper toothed cross member 130 to be adjustably attached to both side members 120 through desired holes on the second portions 123.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
As shown in
The lower toothed cross member 140 is attached to the first portions 121 of the side members 120 with bolts 146. Each bolt 146 extends first through a hole 142 on the offset piece 149, then through a hole 122 on the first portion 121 of a side member 120. A washer 147 and a nut 148 are then placed on each bolt 146. The bolt 146, washer 147 and nut 148 are removable, allowing the lower toothed cross member 140 to be adjustably attached to the side members 120 through desired holes on the first portions 121.
As shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
It should be appreciated that the support structure 100 can be constructed out of any material known or later developed with the strength and rigidity to withstand the operation described above. It should be appreciated that, in other exemplary embodiments, the foot 110 can have other shapes, sizes, lengths and dimensions to accept differently sized and/or shaped extension objects 102. In still other exemplary embodiments, the foot 110 has one or more open sides. In still other exemplary embodiments, the passage 112 has different depths within the foot 110. In still other exemplary embodiments, the foot 110 is solid and of sufficient size, shape and mass to be able to stably support the support structure 100 during operation without the aid of any additional extension objects 102. In still other exemplary embodiments, the foot 110 can be omitted. In such exemplary embodiments, at least one side member 120 is physically connected to a support surface, such as by sinking the side member 120 into the ground, attaching it to another reinforcing structure or supporting it by any other known or later-developed structure that provides sufficient support to withstand operation of the support structure 100.
It should be appreciated that, in other exemplary embodiments, the foot 110 attaches to the side member 110 using a fastener or the like, such as, for example, nuts and bolts, rivets, surface welds and/or any other known or later developed permanent or detachable fastening technology that provides sufficient strength to withstand normal wear and tear when using the support structure 100.
It should be appreciated that, in other exemplary embodiments, the first portion 121 and second portion 123 of the side member 120, the first portion 131 and second portion 133 of the upper toothed cross member 130, the first portion 141 and second portion 143 of the lower toothed cross member 140 and/or the first portion 151 and second portion 153 of the crossbar 150 can be formed and/or connected in different ways. The two portions can be joined by permanent or detachable connections, such as, for example rivets, surface welds, bolting, can be formed by bending a continuous piece of material, by extruding an L-shaped member and/or by any other known or later developed forming or fastening technology that provides sufficient strength to withstand operation of the support structure 100.
It should be appreciated that, in other exemplary embodiments, the side members 120 can have any desired shape and/or orientation that allows a plurality of cross members and cross bars to be adjustably and/or detachably connected to the support structure 100. Some examples include constructing the side members 120 with an integral bend to create an offset, where the side members 120 attach to the feet 110 and bend at an angle at a desired interior location, providing the side members 120 with multiple bends at different angles, or the like. It should be appreciated that, in other exemplary embodiments, the upper toothed cross member 130 and lower toothed cross member 140 can have any desired shape, length and/or orientation that allows either to be adjustably attached to the side members 120 while at the same time able to support the log 104. Some examples include changing the length of offset between cross members, integrating an offset into the upper toothed cross member 130 and/or lower toothed cross member 140, attaching angular pieces to the cross members 130 and/or 140 to create the offset, attaching the offset piece 149 to the upper toothed cross member 130 or changing the length of the cross members 130 and/or 140 to accommodate one or more logs 104. In still other exemplary embodiments, the crossbar 150 can have any shape and/or orientation that allows attachment and/or adjustment of the crossbar 150 to a side member 120.
It should be appreciated that, in other exemplary embodiments, the upper toothed cross member 130, the lower toothed cross member 140 and/or the crossbar 150 can be connected to the side members 120 in different ways. The toothed cross members 130 and/or 140 and/or the crossbar 150 can be connected to the side members 120 using, for example, sliding, interlocking, bolting, pinning, surface welds and/or any other known or later developed permanent or detachable fastening technology that provides sufficient strength to withstand operation of the support structure 100. In still other exemplary embodiments, a plurality of toothed cross members 130 and/or 140 and/or crossbars 150 connect to the first portion 121 and/or the second portion 123 of the side members 120 through various connection mechanisms.
It should be appreciated that, in other exemplary embodiments of the toothed cross members 130 and/or 140, the toothed areas 134 and/or 144 can be implemented as an integral part of that cross member or can be implemented as a separate toothed member. In such exemplary embodiments, the separate toothed member is attached to the second portion of the cross member 133 and/or 143 using, for example, rivets, surface welds, bolts, pins and/or any other known or later developed permanent or detachable fastening technology that provides sufficient strength to withstand operation of the support structure 100.
It should be appreciated that, in other exemplary embodiments of the toothed area 134 and/or 144, the angles between the triangular extensions can be increased and decreased to create different depths. In still other exemplary embodiments, the size of the teeth can be increased or decreased. In still other exemplary embodiments, the teeth have a different shape, such as, for example, one or more of rounded, square, rectangular and/or any other known or later-developed shape usable to engage the log 104 during operation of the support structure 100. In still other exemplary embodiments, a user creates a flat support surface by removing a separate toothed member, rotating the toothed cross members 130 and/or 140 one hundred eighty degrees relative to the side members 120, or not including a toothed area 134 and/or 144 with the toothed cross members 130 and/or 140.
While this invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently foreseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is intended to embrace all known or earlier developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents.