US20030230180A1 - Saw guide - Google Patents

Abstract

A guide for use with a cutting member, such as hand saws, that is easy to use, is readily portable and can be adjusted to permit cutting of precise compound angles on work pieces of various configurations. The guide mechanism comprises two angularly related members arranged so that when one member engages the face of a work piece, the other member functions to glidably engage a cutting member, such as the blade of a hand saw with the teeth thereof in cutting relation with said face of the work piece. In one form of the invention, locking mechanisms are provided to lock the member in any selected angular relation and a magnet is carried by the guide member which uniquely functions to continuously urge the saw into engagement with a plurality of rollers that are also carried by the guide member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention[0001]
• The present invention relates generally to guide mechanisms for guiding cutting members such as knives and saws. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel saw guide mechanism that is precisely adjustable to enable cutting of various types of work pieces at a variety of angles, including compound angles.[0002]
• 2. Discussion of the Prior Art[0003]
• The prior art is replete with various types of guide mechanisms for guiding cutting members, including handsaws, power saws, saber saws and the like. Such guide mechanisms typically employ a protractor having a 180-degree adjustment range. Various forms of miter boxes, miter vises and mitering machines are also known.[0004]
• Quite commonly used in the woodworking field is the simple miter box which may be attached to a bench, or fitted in a vice, and will receive the work piece to be cut. The miter box usually provides a guide for the saw while cutting either at right angles or at an angle of 45 degrees to an edge of the work piece and in some instances includes 60 degree and 30 degree cuts. These prior art miter boxes are rather bulky, are somewhat imprecise and are difficult to use.[0005]
• As a general rule, the prior art equipment that is capable of making precise cuts, including cuts at compound angles, is quite expensive and typically the woodworking hobbyist or professional woodworker, must make a substantial investment in several different pieces of equipment to satisfy even the most common needs for making precision cuts on work pieces.[0006]
• Additionally, much of the prior art equipment is suitable only for processing plain, rectangular work pieces and is not capable of handling work pieces such as round stock and the like.[0007]
• As will be better appreciated from the description which follows, the guide mechanism, or saw guide, of the present invention provides several unique features not found in the prior art. For example, the guide mechanism, or saw guide, includes two angularly related members one of which engages the work piece and the other of which, namely a guide member or bevel plate, precisely guides the travel of the cutting member. The bevel plate uniquely carries a plurality of rollers that support the cutting member as the cutting member, such as a saw blade is reciprocated relative to the work piece. The bevel plate also carries magnetic means that functions to continuously urge the cutting member toward the bevel plate and into engagement with the plurality of rollers. With this novel construction, the cutting member, such as a hand saw, can be smoothly and accurately reciprocated relative to the work piece to accomplish precise cuts with smoothness and precision.[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• It is an object of the present invention to provide a guide for use with cutting member such as hand saws that is easy to use, is readily portable and can be adjusted to permit cutting of precise compound angles on work pieces of various configurations. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a guide mechanism of the aforementioned character that comprises two angularly related members arranged so that when one member engages the face of a work piece, the other member functions to guidably engage a cutting member, such as the blade of a hand saw with the teeth thereof in cutting relation with said face of the work piece. Means are also provided to lock the members in any selected angular relation.[0009]
• Another object of the invention is to provide guide of the character described in the preceding paragraph in which magnetic means carried by the guide member, or bevel plate, function to continuously urge the hand saw into engagement with a plurality of rollers that are also carried by the bevel plate. These uniquely positioned rollers function to permit the hand saw to be smoothly and accurately reciprocated relative to the guide member and the work piece during the sawing operation.[0010]
• Another object of the invention is to provide guide of the character described in which magnetic means carried by the guide member function to continuously urge the hand saw into engagement with a low friction component that is also carried by the guide member. The low friction component, that may take the form of a low friction plastic, functions to permit the hand saw to be smoothly reciprocated relative to the guide member during the sawing operation.[0011]
• Another object of the invention is to provide a guide of the class described that includes adjustment means that permits the precise adjustment of the angle of the base member relative to the edge of the work piece.[0012]
• Another object of the invention is to provide a guide as described in the preceding paragraph that further includes locking means for locking the base member in a selected, angular orientation relative to the edge of the workpiece.[0013]
• Another object of the invention to provide a guide mechanism that comprises two angularly related members arranged so that when one member engages the face of a workpiece, the other member functions to guidably engage the blade of either a saw or a knife with the cutting edge thereof disposed in cutting relation with said face of the work piece.[0014]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a generally perspective, front view of one form of the guide mechanism of the present invention for guiding the travel of a cutting member, such as a saw blade constructed of a ferrous metal.[0015]
• FIG. 2 is a generally perspective, rear view of the guide mechanism shown in FIG. 1.[0016]
• FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view of the guide mechanism shown in figure[0017]
• FIG. 4 is a front view of the guide mechanism shown in FIG. 1 being used to cut a piece of round stock rather than the rectangular shaped work piece shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and[0018]3.
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines[0019]5-5 of FIG. 3.
• FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the guide shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.[0020]
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines[0021]7-7 of FIG. 6.
• FIG. 8 is a generally perspective, front view of an alternate form of the guide of the invention, which is similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but in which the magnet component is mounted in a different manner.[0022]
• FIG. 9 is a generally perspective, rear view of the alternate form of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8.[0023]
• FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the guide member shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.[0024]
• FIG. 11 is a generally perspective, front view of still another form of guide mechanism of the invention.[0025]
• FIG. 12 is a generally perspective, front view of another form of guide mechanism of the invention.[0026]
• FIG. 13 is a generally perspective view of yet another form of guide mechanism of the present invention.[0027]
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS.[0028]1-7, one form of the guide mechanism of the present invention for guiding the travel of a cutting member, such as a ferrous metal hand saw “S” is there shown. In this form of the invention, the apparatus comprises abase assembly14 and a guide member orbevel plate assembly16 that is pivotally connected tobase assembly14 and extends outwardly therefrom.Guide member assembly16 functions to guide the travel of cutting member “S” as it is reciprocated between a first position shown in FIG. 1 and a second position shown in FIG. 2. A unique feature of the apparatus of the present invention resides in the provision of magnetic means, here shown as amagnet18, that is carried byguide member16aofguide assembly16. This important magnetic means functions to urge the saw blade “S” toward theguide member16a.
• As illustrated in FIG. 3,[0029]bevel plate16ais pivotally connected tobase assembly14 for movement between a first position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 3 and second and third positions shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 3. First locking means, which are operably associated withbase assembly14, function to lockbevel plate16ain any selected position anywhere within its angular range. As best seen in FIG. 5, this first locking means here comprises a shaft, orhinge pin20, that is rotatably carried by thebase assembly14 andguide assembly16 in a manner presently to be described.
• Another important feature of the apparatus of the present invention is a[0030]miter plate22 rotatably connected tobase assembly14 so that themiter plate22 can be selectively rotated in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. As indicated in FIG. 7, themiter plate22 rotates relative to thebase plate14 about amiter plate post24. Miterplate post24 has abase portion24athat is received within arecess26 formed in the base plate and an upper threadedportion24b. Threadably interconnected with upper threadedportion24bofplate post24 is a miterplate tightening handle27. Miter plate tightening handle27, along withmiter plate post24 comprise the second locking means of the invention for locking the miter plate in selected positions. More particularly, as is clear from a study of the drawings, by tightening miterplate tightening handle27, the miter plate will be moved into pressural engagement with the base plate in a manner to prevent rotation of the miter plate relative to the base plate.
• Another important feature of the guide apparatus of the present invention is interface means carried by guide member or[0031]bevel plate16afor providing an interface between the bevel plate and the cutting member or saw blade “S”. In one form of the invention, this important interface means comprises a plurality ofrollers28 that are mounted onguide member16ain the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and4.Rollers28, which are rotatably mounted on conventional roller bearings connected toguide member16a, extend outwardly from thefront face17 of guide member16aso as to rollably engage and support saw blade “S” in the manner indicated in FIG. 3 as the saw blade reciprocates relative to the work piece. As also shown in FIGS. 3 and 7,magnet18 extends outwardly from thefront face17 ofguide member16aand functions to pull or urge the saw blade into pressural contact or engagement with therollers28 thereby maintaining the saw blade “S” in a stable plane with respect to the guide member.Magnet18, which is of conventional construction, can be connected to guidemember16ain any appropriate manner, such as, for example, by using an appropriate adhesive, such as an epoxy, bonding the magnet into acounterbore29 formed in the bevel plate. Preferably,magnet18 is bonded intocounterbore29 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 so that the front surface the magnet is spaced from the saw blade “S” a distance “D” of approximately 0.02 inches.
• Turning once again to FIG. 1, it is to be noted that[0032]base plate14ahas a pair of spaced-apartfirst hinge sections32 and34 that are integrally formed withbase plate14a. In similar fashion,bevel plate16ais provided with spaced-apartsecond hinge sections36 and38 that are integrally formed withbevel plate16a.Hinge sections32 and34 are maintained in axial alignment withhinge sections36 and38 by the previously identified shaft or hinge pin20 (see FIG. 5). With this construction, it is apparent thatbevel plate16acan be pivoted relative tobase plate14ainto the positions shown in FIG. 3 with the hinge sections and hinge pin functioning in the manner of a conventional hinge.
• Turning particularly to FIGS. 1 and 5, it is to be noted that shaft, or hinge[0033]pin20, includes an externally threaded,central portion20a. Similarly, hingesection36 ofbevel plate16ais provided with internal threads that threadably receive thethreads20aofshaft20. Affixed to the outboard end ofshaft20 is a tighteninghandle40 which, when rotated by the operator, will clamphinge sections32 and36 together in a manner to lock the bevel plate in a selected angular position relative tobase plate14a. Tighteninghandle40, along with threadedshaft20, comprise the previously identified first locking means of the invention for locking the bevel plate assembly in the first, second and third positions shown in FIG. 3. As best seen in FIG. 1, hingesection32 is provided with abevel angle scale42 andhinge section36 is provided with a bevelangle index mark44 that can be indexably aligned with selected indicia42aof thebevel angle scale42. This indexing means permits theguide member16ato be precisely angularly aligned with respect to the base plate at a determinable angle as indicated by the indicia42aof thebevel angle scale42.
• Turning to FIG. 2, it is to be observed that[0034]base plate14ais provided with a miterplate angle scale46 andmiter plate22 is provided with a miterplate index mark48 that can be indexably aligned with a selectedindicia46aof the miterplate angle scale46. With this arrangement, when the miterplate tightening handle27 is loosened,miter plate22 can be positioned relative tobase assembly14 so that the miterplate index mark48 can be readily aligned with the selected one of theindicia46aof the miterplate angle scale46 provided on thebase plate14a.
• In using the apparatus of the invention shown in FIGS.[0035]1-7, themiter plate22 is interconnected with the work piece “WP” by means of a conventional C-Clamp “C” (FIG. 3). Using the miterplate angle scale46 and the miterplate index mark48, thebase plate assembly14 can be positioned at the desired angle with respect to the edge of the work piece and can be locked in this position with respect to the miter plate by tightening the miterplate tightening handle27. It is apparent that the miter plate can be adjusted relative to the base plate to permit a cut that is perpendicularly aligned with the edges of the work piece, or, alternately, at a selected angle with respect to the edges of the work piece as depicted in FIG. 2. With the angle of the base plate suitably selected, as shown in FIG. 1, the angle of thebevel plate16acan be similarly adjusted by loosening bevelplate tightening handle40 and then using thebevel angle scale42 and the bevelangle index mark44, thebevel plate16acan be pivoted relative to the base so as to select the desired bevel angle of cut of the saw blade. In this regard, it is to be observed that this angle can be varied from 0 degrees at which the saw blade will form a vertical cut in the work piece to any selected angle at which the saw blade will form angular saw cuts “SC” of the character illustrated in FIG. 3. After the bevel angle of cut has been selected, the bevelplate tightening handle40 is tightened to lock the bevel plate in the selected position.
• With the[0036]base plate14aand thebevel plate16a, appropriately aligned and C-clamped to the work piece “WP”, the saw blade can be moved into engagement with therollers28 of the roller means in the manner shown in FIG. 3. In this position,magnet18 will continuously pull the saw blade into contact with the roller bearings thereby providing a smooth, stable reciprocal rolling motion of the saw blade relative to the work piece.
• As indicated in FIGS. 1, 4 and[0037]5, when the workpiece to be cut comprises round stock “RS”, a V-groove34aformed in thebase plate14a, includinghinge section34, functions to align the workpiece.
• Turning to FIGS. 8, 9 and[0038]10, an alternate form of the guide mechanism of the present invention is there shown. This form of the invention is similar in most respects to that shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 and like numerals are used in FIGS. 8, 9 and10 to identify like components. The primary difference in the embodiment shown in FIGS.1-7 and that shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 resides in the fact that themagnet18 is received within acounterbore50 provided in therear surface51 a of the guide member51 (FIG. 10). With this construction, when the guide mechanism is in use, the magnet is continuously pulled intocounterbore50 due to the tug of the saw blade as it travels along the roller means.
• Referring to FIG. 11, still another form of the guide mechanism of the present invention is illustrated being used to cut a crown molding. Once again, this mechanism is similar in most respects to that shown in FIGS.[0039]1-10 and like numerals are used to identify like components. The principal difference between this latest embodiment and the earlier described embodiment resides in the configuration of the guide member orbevel plate52 molded of a low friction plastic which here is generally circular in shape and is provided at itsperiphery52awith a raised saw-support rim. During the cutting operation, the saw blade will be supported byrim52a, which will enable the smooth reciprocal movement of the saw blade.
• Turning to FIG. 12, yet another form of the guide mechanism of the present invention is there illustrated. This mechanism is similar to that shown in FIG. 11 and like numerals are used to identify like components. The principal difference between this latest embodiment and that shown in FIG. 11 resides in the fact that the centrally located magnet has been replaced by a[0040]magnetic rim56 which circumscribes thefront face58aof theguide member58 in the manner shown in FIG. 12. During the cutting operating, the magnetic rim will continuously pull the saw blade into slidable contact withmagnetic rim56.
• Turning to FIG. 13, still another form of the guide mechanism of the present invention is there illustrated. This mechanism, which is adapted to be used with a knife “K” rather than with a saw blade, comprises a[0041]base60 and a pair of spaced apart guidemembers62 that are connected to base60 and extend upwardly therefrom. The magnetic means of this latest form of the invention comprise a pair ofmagnetic strips64 that are affixed to guidemembers62 in a manner shown in FIG. 13.
• In using the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, the knife blade “KB” of the knife “K”, which is constructed from a ferrous metal, is continuously pulled into contact with the[0042]magnetic strips64 and toward the guide members so that during the cutting operation the knife blade reciprocally slides smoothly along the magnetic strips to precisely cut the work piece “WP” in the manner illustrated in FIG. 13.
• Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following documents.[0043]

Claims (20)

I claim:

1. A guide for guiding the travel of a cutting member constructed of a ferrous metal, comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a guide member connected to said base and extending outwardly therefrom for guiding the travel of the cutting member as it is reciprocated between first and second positions; and

(c) a magnet carried by said guide member for urging the metal cutting member toward said guide member.

2. The guide as defined inclaim 1 in which said guide member is pivotally connected to said base for movement between a first and a second position.

3. The guide as defined inclaim 2, further including locking means operably associated with said base for locking said guide member in said first and second positions.

4. The guide as defined inclaim 2 further including interface means carried by said guide member for providing an interface between said guide member and the metal cutting member.

5. The guide as defined inclaim 4 in which said interface means comprises a plurality of rollers mounted on said guide member.

6. The guide as defined inclaim 4 in which said interface means comprises a low friction plastic component mounted on said guide member.

7. A guide for guiding the travel of a cutting member constructed of a ferrous metal, comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a miter plate rotatably connected to said base for movement between first and second miter plate positions;

(c) a guide assembly pivotally connected to said base for movement between first and second guide assembly positions, said guide assembly comprising:

(i) a bevel plate having a guide surface; and

(ii) a magnet connected to said bevel plate; and

(d) first locking means connected to said base plate assembly to lock said bevel plate in said first and second bevel plate positions.

8. The guide as defined inclaim 7, further including second locking means connected to said miter plate for locking said miter plate in said first and second positions.

9. The guide as defined inclaim 7 in which said guide assembly further includes at least one roller assembly comprising:

(a) a roller bearing connected to said bevel plate; and

(b) a roller connected to said roller bearing for rotation relative to said bevel plate, said roller having a peripheral surface to support the cutting member.

10. The guide as defined inclaim 7 in which said base plate assembly includes a base plate and a pair of spaced-apart first hinge sections connected to said base plate and extending therefrom.

11. The guide as defined inclaim 10 in which said first locking means comprises a shaft carried by said spaced-apart first hinge sections and a handle connected to said shaft for imparting rotation thereto.

12. The guide as defined inclaim 10 in which said guide assembly further includes a pair of spaced-apart second hinge sections disposed adjacent said first hinge sections of said base plate assembly, said shaft of said first locking means being supported by said pair of spaced-apart second hinge sections.

13. The guide as defined inclaim 10 in which a selected one of said hinge sections is internally threaded and in which a portion of said shaft is externally threaded, said portion being threadably receivable within the internal threads of said selected one of said hinge sections.

14. A guide for guiding the travel of a hand saw constructed of a ferrous metal, comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a miter plate rotatably connected to said base for movement between first and second miter plate positions;

(c) a guide assembly pivotally connected to said base plate assembly for movement between first and second guide assembly positions, said guide assembly comprising:

(i) a bevel plate;

(ii) at least one roller assembly connected to said bevel plate, said roller assembly comprising:

a. a roller bearing; and

b. a roller connected to said roller bearing for rotation relative to said guide member, said roller having a peripheral surface supporting the saw; and

(iii) a magnet connected to said bevel plate;

(d) first locking means connected to said base plate assembly for locking said guide assembly in said first and second guide assembly positions; and

(e) second locking means connected to said miter plate for locking said base plate in said first and second positions.

15. The guide as defined inclaim 14 in which said base plate assembly includes a base plate and a pair of spaced-apart first hinge sections connected to said base plate and extending therefrom.

16. The guide as defined inclaim 15 in which said first locking means comprises a shaft carried by said spaced-apart first hinge sections and a handle connected to said shaft for imparting rotation thereto.

17. The guide as defined inclaim 16 in which said guide plate assembly further includes a pair of spaced-apart second hinge sections disposed adjacent said first hinge sections of said base plate assembly, said shaft of said first locking means being supported by said pair of spaced-apart second hinge sections.

18. The guide as defined inclaim 17 in which a selected one of said hinge sections is internally threaded and in which a portion of said shaft is externally threaded, said portion being threadably receivable within said selected one of said hinge sections.

19. The guide as defined inclaim 17 in which a selected one of said hinge sections is provided with a bevel-angle scale.

20. The guide as defined inclaim 17 in which said base plate is provided with a miter plate angle scale.

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