US3393672A - Self-contained portable branding iron - Google Patents

Description

Jul 23, 1968 N. G. COSTOPOULOS SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE BRANDING IRON Filed March 25, 1966 Nick 6. Costopoulos mfg fig, 3-

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,393,672 SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE BRANDING IRON Nick G. Costopoulos, P.0. Box 192, Sunrise, Wyo. 82231 Filed Mar. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 537,329 7 Claims. (Cl. 126-404) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable branding device wherein an elongated member has a handle on one end and a branding iron detachably mounted to the other. A compressed fuel gas cylinder is detachably mounted in a base receiving means and further held to the elongated member by a detachable band. The branding iron member is connected to the fuel gas cylinder through a valve and the gas is directed into a central axial cavity in the branding iron where vent holes permit the entry of air for combustion. Retractable legs are affixed to the elongated member near its branding iron end. When in an extended position the legs and the handle form a three point suspension so that the detachable branding iron element does not contact the surface upon which the composite structure rests.

This invention relates to branding irons and, more particularly, to a portable branding iron fueled by L. P. gas.

The prior are conventional branding irons now known have proven to be heavy, unwieldy, inflexible in operation and limited in their adaptability for branding various objects. This invention provides a lightweight, easily operated and convenient branding iron which includes a simple and troublefree heat source for the branding portion of the iron.

Conventional branding irons assume a variety of forms, probably the most common of which consists of noth ng more than an elongated piece of iron having a brandlng member on one end thereof. In practice, the branding member is heated in a fire to a desired temperature prior to the branding operation. Such devices are admittedly rugged and simple in construction but are inconvenient to use since they are slow to heat and require repeated reheating while being used. Another disadvantage of conventional devices of this type arises from the need for a separate heat source. Yet another disadvantage accrues from the fact that the branding indicia are unchangeable unless the device is completely reconstructed. The necessity for a separate heat source for the iron is particularly vexacious since the building of a fire on open range is troublesome and oftentimes dangerous due to the possibility of starting a grass or forest fire. Another serious problem involved with the use of a fire in certain regions in the scarcity of fuel.

Efforts have been made to improve the aforementioned conventional branding iron by the inclusion of a burner associated with the iron for heating same. Devices of this type are exemplified by U.S. Patents Nos. 717,019 and 926,881 which employ a burning fluid for heating the branding iron. Other branding irons such as that exemplified in US. Patent No. 1,101,616 employ a volatile fluid such as ether which is poured into a storage tank forming a permanent part of the device.

The aforementioned conventional branding iron structures which employ liquid fuel, are generally heavy and cumbersome to use and suifer from the further disadvantage of requiring a separate storage supply of fuel which is inconvenient, messy and a source of fire hazard. Another disadvantage of devices of both of the aforementioned types is the necessity for rather complex valving and pressure pump means for pressurizing the fiuid in the storage tank on the branding iron. Since the fuel sup- 3,393,672 Patented July 23, 1968 ply for such devices must be maintained free of debris andsthe like that would clog the small passages through which the fuel must pass, they require an inordinate amount of maintenance. Another disadvantage of the liquid fuel type of branding iron resides in the fact that the liquid fuel is heavy and deleteriously adds to the weight of the overall structure.

Conventional branding irons employing volatile fuel suchas ether suffer from all of the disadvantages of the liquid fuel devices discussed above and are further handicapped by the great danger of explosions incident with the use of the iron and with the storage of the fuel.

The conventional branding irons employing either liquid or volatile fuel are all heavy unitary devices from which the fuel tank cannot be removed without an essentially complete disassembly of the device. Consequently, when the fuel in the tank becomes exhausted and no further supply of fuel is available, it is impractical to heat the iron in a separate fire due to the cumbersome nature of the devices and the possibility of an explosion of the remnant fuel in the tank.

The known self-fuel branding irons all require that the entire structure be supported on an auxiliary support or hand held during the heating or cooling of the iron since it is obviously desirable that the iron not be in contact with any other surface while it is hot.

Consequently, the need for a branding iron which is simple, reliable, economical, convenient and safe has long been felt prior to this invention.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved branding iron.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a branding iron using an easily removable fuel tank.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved branding iron employing a source of heat that is convenient, safe and economical.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a branding iron that employe disposable pressurized gaseous fuel containers.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a self-fueled branding iron which is light in weight and easy to use.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a self-fueled branding iron which does not require a separate support during the heating or non-use periods of the branding iron so as to keep the heated portion of the iron out of contact with other objects.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a branding iron having readily replaceable branding indicia.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a branding iron employing a disposable fuel tank that can be removed to enable heating of the iron by auxiliary sources.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the annexed drawings, which illustrate a specific embodiment, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a bisecting sectional view of the removable branding iron and the mounting structure for same. The objects of this invention are achieved by a branding iron structure employing an elongated frame member having selectively removable branding indicia on one end of the frame member and means attached to the frame member for removably mounting a LP. gas cylinder of the well known conventional type for providing fuel for heating the branding member. A pivotable support member attached to the frame provides means for resting the iron during heating or cooling of the iron.

A preferred embodiment of the branding iron comprising this invention is generally designated as shown in FIG. 1. A frame member comprising a hollow elongated mounting member 12 is made of any suitable lightweight metal and is provided with a handle 13 at one end and an angled extension 14 having a branding iron mounting means 15 extending from the other end thereof. A removable branding iron 16 is threadably received on the branding iron mounting means 15, which is angularly offset from the main axis of member 12 as shown in FIG. 1. A conventional cylinder 18 of L. P. gas is attached to mounting member 12 so that the base of the cylinder is received in a cylinder base receiving means 20 which extends radially from mounting member 12. A cylindrical recess 22 of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the cylinder is provided in receiving member 20. The base of the cylinder is received within recess 22 as shown in FIG. 1. The axis of the cylinder 18 is parallel to the axis of member 12 and the outlet of the cylinder is connected by means of a conventional female fitting 24 mounted on a conduit 25. When female fitting 24 is tightened, it opens a conventional ball check valve in cylinder 18 to allow gas to escape to an adjustable valve 28 which is provided between a second conduit 26 and conduit to vary the gas output from cylinder 18.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the details of the removable branding portion of this inventions illustrated embodiment will be clearly seen. The removable branding iron 16 consists of a conically shaped body member of bronze or other suitable metal threadably received on a threaded extension 32 of branding iron mounting means 15. A hollow passage 34 extends through both mounting means 15 and threaded'extension 32. Passage 34 communicates with conduit 26 on the end of member 15 opposite extension 32. A removable orifice jet 38 has a small orifice 40 extending therethrough and is threadably received in extension 32. The branding iron 15 contains a central axial cavity 42 which has a plurality of hollow passageways 44 communicating therewith to provide air for combustion and permit the escape of the'combustion gases. Branding indicia 46, in .any desired form, extend outwardly from the outer end of member 16.

It should be noted that the aforementioned structure is susceptible to various modifications Within the scope of the invention. For example, it is not necessary that the means such as 15, 26, and 32 be formed in a unitary manner as show. Separate threaded sub-assemblies are easily employed. As a second example, conduit 26 and passage 34 can be a unitary tube extending through member 15 to receive a separate threaded extension 32 threaded on the end of the tube.

Another important aspect of this invention is the provision of a pivotally mounted bifurcated support member 48 which is attached to elongated mounting member 12 and has two divergent leg portions 48a and 48b as shown in FIG. 1. The pivotally mounted support member 48 pivots about a bolt 50 extending through slightly flexible bracket members 52 mounted on member 12. The support member 48 can be retained in either a retracted position (the dashed line position of FIG. 1) or the illustrated extended position by tightening of wing nut 54. An abutment 56 engages member 12 when the support member 48 is in its extended position so as to prevent further pivotal movement of member 48 in an obvious manner. When the support member 48 is in the extended position it serves as a support to maintain the heated portion of the iron out of contact with the supporting surface. Note that the entire branding iron structure assumes a three point rest consisting of the two legs of the support memberand portion 57,01? the handle 13. This structure provides a convenient means for supporting the heated portion during the times when the iron is not in use or when the iron is being initially heated.

It is also pointed out that support member 48 can obviously be attached to mounting member 12 in a variety of other conventional ways, such as, for example, by the use of a pivot support employing detent retaining means for retaining the support member in the extended and retracted positions.

A flexible band member 58 is attached to member 12 and encircles the cylinder 18 to firmly maintain the cylinder in position during use. Releasable means 59, which may be any-conventional buckle or clasp, provides means for releasing band member 58. When the cylinder becomes exhausted so as to require replacement, female fitting 24 is loosened; band member 58 is loosened; the old cylinder is removed; and a new one inserted in its place. The female fitting 24 is then tightened and the device is ready for subsequent use. As was noted previously the cylinder 18 is of the conventional type having-a ball check valve which is automatically opened by the tightening of female fitting 24.. This tightening of female fitting 24 moves the cylinder in an axial direction a small amount. Cylindrical recess 22 is sufficiently deep, however, so that the end of the cylinder remains within the recess. In instances when the fuel supply cylinder should become exhausted, and no replacement cylinder is available, the empty cylinder is merely removed and the branding iron heated by a separate heat source in a conventional manner. Consequently, there is no danger of an explosion of the remnant fuel in the cylinder.

If it should be desired to change the branding indicia being employed, branding iron 16 is removed simply by rotating it off of extension 32 and another iron bearing desired indicia is threaded onto extension 32.

The device of this invention is extremely simple to use since all that is necessary for use is that adjustable valve 28 be opened and the gas escaping into cavity 42 ignited by means of any external flame or spark applied through the passageways 40. A conventional sparking device, match, or even a cigarette lighter provides an ideal and convenient source of flame for such ignition. The device is highly versatile in that the intensity of the flame can be adjusted by means of valve 28 so that the temperature of the branding indicia can be varied for branding various objects.

It is, accordingly, apparent that the aforementioned structure enables the use of a convenient, safe and easy to use fuel source in a manner highly advantageous over the known devices.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A light-weight self-contained portable branding means comprising:

(a) an elongated mounting member including means for removably attaching a container of compressed feul gas thereto;

(b) a handle on one end of said mounting means and a branding iron mounting means on the other end of said elongated member;

(c) a branding iron including branding indicia and detachably mounted on said branding iron mounting means in association with said container of compressed fuel gas to receive gas from said container to heat said branding iron; and

(d) means for adjusting the amount of gas received by said branding iron so as to "vary the temperature of said branding iron.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said container is in the form of an elongated cylinder having a base end and a fuel output end with a fuel discharge conduit thereon and (b) said means for removably attaching said container includes a cylinderbase receiving means mounted on said elongated member adjacent said handle.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said means for attaching said container further .in-

cludes band means attached to said elongated member to encircle said container.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said branding iron includes a body having a central axial cavity with a threaded opening at one end of said cavity threaded onto said branding iron mounting means and further includes vent holes about the periphery of said body member communicating with said cavity.

5. The device of claim 4 further including:

(a) a bifurcated support means including two legs attached to said elongated member to extend outwardly therefrom in an extended position so that said branding means can rest on three elements consisting of said two legs and said handle so that the branding iron is free from contact with the surface upon which the entire structure rests.

6. The device of claim 5 further including:

(a) pivot means mounting said bifurcated support means for pivotal movement of said support means on said elongated member between said extended position and a retracted position; and

(b) means for selectively retaining said bifurcated support means in either said retracted position or said extended position.

7. The device of claim 6 including a band means attached to said elongated member to encircle said container and wherein:

(a) said elongated member comprises a tubular frame;

(b) said cylinder base receiving means extends radially from said tubular frame and includes a recessed opening for receiving said cylinder base;

(c) said tubular frame includes an angled portion at the end opposite from said handle which extends outwardly from said tubular frame in the same direction as said cylinder base receiving means;

(d) said branding iron mounting means is attached to the end of said angled end portion and said cavity in said branding iron is in alignment with the axis of said cylinder; and

(e) said band means is located intermediate said branding iron mounting means and said cylinder base receiving means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,616 6/1914 Christiansen l58l6 2,683,484- 7/1954 Falligant 158-33 2,841,694 7/1958 Webster 158-32 X 3,171,466 3/1965 Katchur 158-13.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 461,654 2/ 1937 Great Britain. 646,851 11/ 1950 Great Britain.

JAMES W. 'WESTI-IAVER, Primary Examiner.

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