Circular Cutter With Respect To Workpiece Or Workpiece Support Patents (Class 33/640)
  • Publication number: 20040040169
    Abstract: An alignment device (10) for use in aligning a power tool blade or bit or a metal frame, includes:
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Richard LeRoy Davis
  • Patent number: 6691423
    Abstract: A miter gauge apparatus for use on a work surface having an alignment track is disclosed. The miter gauge apparatus may include a guide bar adapted to slidably fit within an alignment track, a miter housing secured to the guide bar, a fence mount configured to rotate about the entire periphery of the miter housing, and an expandable fence. The miter housing may include a disc assembly comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, and a slot therebetween. A cam post slidably disposed within the slot can be configured to fit within a cam post aperture disposed on the fence mount. A cam pin disposed within the fence mount can be engaged within an opening on the cam post to releasably secure the fence mount to the miter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Bench Dog, Inc.
    Inventor: Norston Fontaine
  • Patent number: 6684519
    Abstract: It is a miter saw table that has adjustable measuring tapes. The tape sections can be calibrated so that the zero point on the tape is always set at the outer surface of the blade. This is done by using slidable wings that can be secured to a base. The wings a readjusted until the built-in tapes match a control tape. Once the wings are set, cuts can be made quickly by either setting a stop at the precise distance needed, or by sliding the board under the blade until the end of the board aligns with the desired measurement. The board can then be accurately cut without having to measure and mark the board first. Moreover, if the blade is changed during the course of work. The measuring system can be quickly re-calibrated to the thickness of the new blade and cuts can immediately be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Etienne McAllisterr
  • Patent number: 6665946
    Abstract: The machine alignment system comprises a master alignment plate having parallel faces. The alignment plate is mounted on a spindle in place of a saw blade to define the plane perpendicular to the spindle axis. The saw table surface is adjusted to be at a right angle with respect to the alignment plate, and the miter slot is adjusted to be parallel to the alignment plate. Parallelism is achieved by use of a slide bar in the miter slot and a dial indicator on the side bar to measure parallelism of the miter slot with respect to the master alignment plate. The slide bar is of adjustable width so that it can be adjusted to slide in the miter slot without slack. The fence and miter gage can each be adjusted using the master alignment plate as the reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Paul Reilly
  • Patent number: 6665947
    Abstract: A marking and cutting guide particularly adapted for use on large flat panels—such as pieces of plywood. The invention clamps onto large panels and remains in place while the user either uses it to mark a cutting line or uses is as a saw guide. Adjustment means are provided so that the user can easily adapt the device to panels of different sizes. Clamping means are provided so that the user can easily clamp the device to a panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Edward E. Kirkland
  • Publication number: 20030226273
    Abstract: A novel guide is disclosed for fixing to a cutting tool for cutting a piece of sheet material having a plurality of fiducial lines marked thereon. The guide has a set of alignment marks and a plurality of measurement scales associated with the alignment marks. Each measurement scale corresponds to at least one of the fiducial lines, such that when one of the alignment marks is aligned with a particular fiducial line, the measurement scale corresponding to the particular fiducial line indicates the distance of the blade of the cutting tool from an edge of the sheet material. Particular embodiments of the guide include a flat portion attached to the front of the cutting tool, or alternately, a laser guide rotatably fixed to the front of the cutting tool. Novel methods for cutting a predetermined distance from an edge of a piece of sheet material using the guides of the present invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventor: David N. Harris
  • Publication number: 20030221329
    Abstract: An adjustable portable power tool guide having a base plate, a base plate cutting edge to define a cut line, an adjustable tool guide rail for guiding a portable power tool cutter adjacent to the cutting edge, and an adjustable control bar that defines a reliable and predetermined angle between the cutting edge and the control bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Brion Gompper, Rex Pew
  • Publication number: 20030192192
    Abstract: A marking and cutting guide particularly adapted for use on large flat panels—such as pieces of plywood. The invention clamps onto large panels and remains in place while the user either uses it to mark a cutting line or uses is as a saw guide. Adjustment means are provided so that the user can easily adapt the device to panels of different sizes. Clamping means are provided so that the user can easily clamp the device to a panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Florida State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Edward E. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 6604296
    Abstract: A Framing Speedsquare Attachment is disclosed. Also disclosed is an attachment that includes a segment for slidingly attaching a conventional Speedsquare thereto. The attachment further includes a telescoping extension having a measuring scale on its top surface. Interconnecting the first segment to the telescoping portion is a U-shaped segment that is configured to permit a conventional saw blade to pass through without cutting the attachment. The attachment may also include an anti-jam mechanism to prevent a stop member from pinching a board to be cut. As designed, the attachment provides the user with the ability to make repetitive cuts without the need to use an additional measuring tape nor needing to make cut demarcations on the board to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Mastrobattista
  • Patent number: 6584698
    Abstract: An angle indicating apparatus includes a rod member, an indicia member, an indicator, a spring-loaded tumbler unit, and a locking unit. The indicia member is mounted pivotally on the rod member about a pivot axis, and includes a base plate formed with a generally semi-circular cutout. The indicator is disposed in the cutout and points to angle indicia that are provided on the base plate adjacent to the cutout. The base plate is further formed with a curved guide slot, and has a bottom side formed with a plurality of angularly spaced apart positioning grooves. The spring-loaded tumbler unit is mounted on the rod member and engages removably a selected one of the positioning grooves. The locking unit passes through the guide slot and is operable so as to engage the rod member and arrest undesired rotation of the indicia member relative to the rod member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: P & F Brother Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Ta-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20030088992
    Abstract: A guide for marking or cutting at an oblique angle corrugated sheet material for buildings, decks or the like comprises a base that is mounted on the surface of corrugated sheet material by means of clamping members that grip the corrugations on the face or surface of the sheet material. A protractor rotatably mounted on the base include a straight edge that provides a guideline for a marking tool or cutting tool. The straight edge can includes a number of interconnectectable or hinged extension sections that can be used to provide a longer straight edge for marking a guide path over a considerable width of sheet material. The present invention is a lightweight, relatively inexpensive and relatively compact tool that can readily be used on the job site for making accurate, oblique cut lines in large siding panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Nelson, August Katsma
  • Patent number: 6560886
    Abstract: An auxiliary appliance, known as a mitering device, for setting the cutting angle in miter-cutting operations prior to the cutting proper, comprising two arms (1, 2), which are pivotally interconnected by means of a hinge, each one of said arms having at least one orientation face, and an angle-indicating means (4), which is connected to the arm-interconnection hinge via a gear mechanism (5), said gear mechanism being adapted, upon relative pivotal motion of the arms, to transfer essentially half of said pivotal motion to the angle-indicating means relative to the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Ulf Gullberg
  • Patent number: 6543324
    Abstract: A throat plate insert for a table saw is provided having a scale on the upper side thereof adjacent the region of the elongated slot for the circular saw blade. The scale provides an indication of the height of a specified diameter saw blade corresponding to the chordal length of a segment of saw blade protruding through the elongate slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: One World Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Dils
  • Patent number: 6532679
    Abstract: A self-adjusting accessory for a table saw that includes a guide for sliding in the guide groove of the work supporting table of a table saw and which is biased against the edge of the guide groove which is closest to the cutting blade. The guide bar is used in conjunction with the plurality of table saw fixtures such as a miter gauge, an alignment gauge and a stop gauge. The alignment gauge also forms part of apparatus for carrying out a method of verifying the straightness of the arbor for the cutting blade, the alignment of the arbor relative to the guide groove of the work supporting table and the flatness of the cutting blade. The invention also includes an apparatus for adjusting the alignment of the arbor relative to the guide groove of the work supporting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventor: Jerry W. Cole
  • Publication number: 20030037453
    Abstract: A Framing Speedsquare Attachment is disclosed. Also disclosed is an attachment that includes a segment for slidingly attaching a conventional Speedsquare thereto. The attachment further includes a telescoping extension having a measuring scale on its top surface. Interconnecting the first segment to the telescoping portion is a U-shaped segment that is configured to permit a conventional saw blade to pass through without cutting the attachment. The attachment may also include an anti-jam mechanism to prevent a stop member from pinching a board to be cut. As designed, the attachment provides the user with the ability to make repetitive cuts without the need to use an additional measuring tape nor needing to make cut demarcations on the board to be cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Mastrobattista
  • Patent number: 6510618
    Abstract: A free-standing angle gage is described having a first substantially flat plate connected to a second substantially flat plate. When the angle gage is placed on the reference surface of a power tool, the sides of the first and second substantially flat plates form angles to the reference plane. By aligning an adjustable element of the power tool against one of the angled sides of the angle gage, the angle formed by the adjustable element the reference surface may be determined quickly and accurately. Also described is a method of measuring the angle formed by an adjustable element of a power tool relative to a reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Frank J. Tomiser, Jr., Kiyoshi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 6510878
    Abstract: An attachable baseplate for a highspeed router which can be used with router in an upright handheld position, or in an inverted position with router suspended by same baseplate in a router table. Front edge of baseplate has cutout portion for sliding engagement and containment of a right and a left incrementally marked alignment indicator. When secured to baseplate in a predetermined position indicators show actual diameter margins of the installed cutting tool. This simplifies and makes precise the alignment of the cutting tool to the layout line of the workpiece and allowing measuring capabilities when enlarging the existing cut without the necessity of changing cutting tool. Alignment and measuring capabilities perform equally in the handheld or suspended router table mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Frank J. Cavit
  • Publication number: 20020189121
    Abstract: A miter gauge apparatus for use on a work surface having an alignment track is disclosed. The miter gauge apparatus may include a guide bar adapted to slidably fit within an alignment track, a miter housing secured to the guide bar, a fence mount configured to rotate about the entire periphery of the miter housing, and an expandable fence. The miter housing may include a disc assembly comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, and a slot therebetween. A cam post slidably disposed within the slot can be configured to fit within a cam post aperture disposed on the fence mount. A cam pin disposed within the fence mount can be engaged within an opening on the cam post to releasably secure the fence mount to the miter housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: BENCH DOG, INC.
    Inventor: Norston Fontaine
  • Publication number: 20020133961
    Abstract: A free-standing angle gage is described having a first substantially flat plate connected to a second substantially flat plate. When the angle gage is placed on the reference surface of a power tool, the sides of the first and second substantially flat plates form angles to the reference plane. By aligning an adjustable element of the power tool against one of the angled sides of the angle gage, the angle formed by the adjustable element the reference surface may be determined quickly and accurately. Also described is a method of measuring the angle formed by an adjustable element of a power tool relative to a reference plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Frank J. Tomiser, Kiyoshi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 6434852
    Abstract: An inexpensive and easily used gauge for accurately gauging the position of a tool is described. The gauge includes at least one fixed or adjustable gauging reference positioned relative to the table or other work locating datum of the power tool. The gauging reference has a conductive surface to be brought into contact with the working element of the tool. A gauge for measuring the angle of a tool is also described with a gauging reference that contacts the tool in a plane parallel to the plane of motion of the working elements of the tool. An LED and battery are connected in series and to the gauging reference and to a second contact node. The second node of the normally open circuit is insulated from the gauging reference but arranged for contact with a conductive path to the working elements of the tool. When the gauging reference and the contact are in conductive engagement with the tool an LED emits light indicating that the working element of the tool is in the correct position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Pacific Rack & Machine, LLC
    Inventors: Wayne A. Tarris, Ronald Farrar
  • Publication number: 20020100174
    Abstract: A portable saw guide and T-square and method of use where an accurate and straight saw cut is desirable. The T-square saw guide has an alignment arm and a flexible guide arm which can be quickly and accurately secured to a work piece such as a sheet of plywood by a clamping mechanism in order that a worker may use a guide edge of the T-square to accurately maneuver and guide a saw along a desired course despite variations in the surface of the work piece. The guide arm forms a flush linear contact between a surface of the workpiece and the saw guide to compensate for any non planar irregularities such as a bow, sag or warp in the work piece to cause continuous contact between the saw being guided along the guide edge of the T-square to produce a straight cut along the work piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Richard E. Gooden
  • Patent number: 6382276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a slotless router base plate used for mounting routers by a majority of manufacturers to a router table. A router is attached to a baseplate, and then this router-baseplate assembly is attached to a router table. Numerous hole grouping patterns are provided to accommodate various routers, eliminating the need for users of the baseplate to create holes for specific router models themselves. Slots in the router baseplate are avoided to provide for greater strength and stability in the mounting. An alternative embodiment includes providing a labeling for the hole groups. The router baseplate may be round, but alternative shapes are provided, including providing the hole pattern directly in the router table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Wolfcraft, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Daniels, Edmund Apolinski
  • Publication number: 20020023365
    Abstract: A self-adjusting accessory for a table that includes a guide for sliding in the guide groove of the work supporting table of a table saw and which is biased against the edge of the guide groove which is closest to the cutting table. The guide bar is used in conjunction with the plurality of table saw fixtures such as a miter gauge, an alignment gauge and a stop gauge. The alignment gauge also forms part of apparatus for carrying out a method of verifying the straightness of the labor for the cutting blade the alignment of the arbor relative to the guide groove of the work supporting table and the flatness of the cutting blade. The invention also include an apparatus for adjusting the alignment of the arbor relative to the guide groove of the work supporting table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventor: Jerry W. Cole
  • Publication number: 20010034951
    Abstract: The invention is an alignment tool for precisely aligning a workpiece to the saw blade of a cutting tool so that as the saw blade and the workpiece are brought together, the predetermined plane of cut through the workpiece, as defined for example by scribe lines on the workpiece, is aligned with the saw blade cutting plane as defined by the leading cutting edge of the saw blade. The alignment tool comprises an alignment head that is spaced from the saw blade. Extending or projecting from the alignment head is at least one alignment element disposed for engagement with the workpiece along the predetermined plane of cut through the workpiece. In order to secure the alignment head in position, a support arm is disposed between the saw blade and the alignment head. The support arm attaches to the alignment head to support the same in spaced relation from the saw blade, wherein the alignment head is adjustable in a direction parallel with the saw blade cutting plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventor: John E. Sears
  • Patent number: 6298573
    Abstract: A device for centering tools, such as saw blades, rotary cutters and the like which are circular and which have bores of different sizes, on processing machines such that they can be positioned about their center axes. The device includes a mounting plate adapted to be attached to such a machine, a first and second bearings on the plate, and a third bearing mounted for movement on the plate selectively toward or away from the first and second bearings. The first, second and third bearings being engagable with the bore of the blade such that the bore is centered on the machine and the blade is rotatable about its center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: North American Products Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Segal, Russell E. Neukam
  • Patent number: 6263584
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for configuring the angular alignment of a device or apparatus, such as a table saw blade. Specifically, the present invention includes a housing unit containing a light source for generating an optic marker, preferably a planar beam, a mechanism by which the housing unit is attached to the apparatus to be aligned, and a scaled protractor for calculating the angular relationship in degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Barry S. Owens
  • Patent number: 6256900
    Abstract: A miter gauge and method which provides substantially improved resolution in setting the miter angle without adding mechanical complication to the miter gauge mechanism compared to a conventional gauge configuration. The gauge includes a rectangular guide bar which slidably fits within the conventional guide groove of a cutting tool. The guide bar includes an elongated bar and is provided with a first reference pin hole aligned with the center axis of the guide bar for receiving a reference pin (F) held at a known distance of 5 inches from a pivot point on the bar. A slotted semi-circular frame is pivotally mounted to the top surface of the guide bar to pivot about the fixed pivot point on the guide bar. The guide frame includes a planar guide surface or fence against which the workpiece is held as it is moved into the cutting blade of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Charles L. Myers
  • Patent number: 6256899
    Abstract: A guide for a hand held power cutting tool of the type having a blade extending through a base plate, includes a stem element having distance gradations thereon and a cutting tool guide piece attached to an end of the stem element. A shoe element is provided for engaging surfaces of a work piece and an anvil element is adjustably connected to the shoe element whereby the anvil element is movable longitudinally with respect to the shoe element. The anvil element engages an upper surface of the shoe element to form an opening therewith through which the stem element slidably passes so that the stem element is adjustable longitudinally with respect to the opening to position the guide piece at a location whereby when an edge of the base plate engages a front face of the guide piece, the blade will cut the work piece at a desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: George D. McGhee
  • Patent number: 6216575
    Abstract: A throat plate insert for a table saw is provided having a scale on the upper side thereof adjacent the region of the elongated slot for the circular saw blade. The scale provides an indication of the height of a specified diameter saw blade corresponding to the chordal length of a segment of saw blade protruding through the elongate slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: One World Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Dils
  • Patent number: 6195905
    Abstract: A self-adjusting accessory for a table saw that includes a guide for sliding in the guide groove of the work supporting table of a table saw and which is biased against the edge of the guide groove which is closest to the cutting blade. The guide bar is used in conjunction with the plurality of table saw fixtures such as a miter gauge, an alignment gauge and a stop gauge. The alignment gauge also forms part of apparatus for carrying out a method of verifying the straightness of the arbor for the cutting blade, the alignment of the arbor relative to the guide groove of the work supporting table and the flatness of the cutting blade. The invention also includes an apparatus for adjusting the alignment of the arbor relative to the guide groove of the work supporting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Jerry W. Cole
  • Patent number: 6101729
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of using a power saw guide for use with a power saw having a sole plate with a fence-following surface spaced a set distance from a sawing plane of the power saw. The power saw guide comprising a long leg and a short leg that are mutually orthogonal legs defining an "L" shape. A permanently attached fence is located along the outer edge of each leg defining a sole-sliding edge to guide the fence-following surface of the saw. Each fence is located on opposite surfaces of the guide Opposite the sole-sliding edge of the fence, is a plank-contact edge that makes contact with plank edge and ensures the cutting of the plank is done perpendicular to the length. An apron gusset extends beyond the intersection of the legs in both mutually orthogonal directions. The apron gusset is aligned with the plank-contact edges of the fences. Since the set distance for each power saw is different, the apron gusset initially has a length that exceeds the set distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Frank L. Stringari
  • Patent number: 6101733
    Abstract: A device of utility in precisely setting the angular relationship of a circular saw blade of radial bench type power saw, which includes a special protractor defined by removing adjoining segments of the linear leg and the curved leg thereof, and a modified T-square including a head piece having a curvature matching that of the curved leg of the protractor and a connected ruler blade extending radially toward the center of said protractor, said T-square being improved in that the thickness of the head piece is greater than that of the ruler blade and the location of the ruler blade is such that the blade can be located on either face and still use an upper and lower lip for sliding contact with the circular edge of the protractor, whereby two T-squares are not necessary as in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,096.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Steve Horvath
  • Patent number: 6073532
    Abstract: A cove molding setup device comprising a platform having a bottom fork adapted to be supported upon a saw table arbor beside a disc blade; a slide bar mounted upon said platform at a plurality of transverse positions with respect to said base fork; a protractor mounted to said slide bar at a plurality of rotatably adjustable angles about a pivot; and a fence guide bar adjustably mounted to said protractor at a plurality of distances from said pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Capel C. English
  • Patent number: 5915808
    Abstract: A combination carpenter's square and saw guide, and a conversion kit for converting an existing carpenter's square to such combination, utilizes a standard L-shaped square with a channel mounted on each leg of the square and extended in the same direction so that the channels are each extended in the X or Y direction and are on opposite faces of the flat carpenter's square. A rod is axially slidably inserted into each channel, and the distal end of the rod is extended out beyond the corner of the square a distance equal to the distance between the sole plate of a circular hand saw and the plane of the blade, and fixed in this position. The resulting tool is a carpenter's square which also acts as a convenient saw guide, as the workman can back off the square until the tip of the rod aligns with a pencil mark made at the cut line, and use the square for a saw fence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Frank L. Stringari
  • Patent number: 5826346
    Abstract: The measuring gage has a body which is positioned in the upright direction for vertical measurement or can be positioned in any direction for other measurements. The body includes a notched land area for nesting a ruler which is locked in by rotatable stops to restrict ruler movement. A further recessed area within the ruler land area houses a strip magnet to hold the ruler. Two half-round configurations simulate vertical rods which serve as ways upon which the measuring arm and protractor housing ride. A T-shaped slot between the half-round rod ways acts to retain a nut for the measuring arm. The measuring arm can glide along the body and measure the height directly against the ruler. The magnetic strip retains the ruler in its nested area when the gage body is in a vertical position and unsecured by the cam locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Paul J. Reilly
  • Patent number: 5774998
    Abstract: A pipe saddle gauge is disclosed. The pipe saddle gauge provides a frame which adjusts in a telescoping manner to frictionally engage the base of a table type circular saw. The frame provides two pieces of square tubing, an inside tube telescopically carried within an outside tube. Each tube carries a bracket which engages the side of the table saw. An all thread rod carried within both tubes carries washers and threaded nuts at each end, thereby biasing the tubes together, causing the brackets to grip the sides of the table saw. A pivot post is supported by the frame in a vertical orientation. The pivot post provides a support tube, fixed to the frame, and a pivot tube carried within the support tube to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the horizontal. The support tube carries a gauge arm, which moves through a horizontal plane when the pivot tube pivots. The gauge arm carries an annular plate in an off-center manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Jason Gregory Mortensen
  • Patent number: 5735054
    Abstract: A self-adjusting accessory for a table saw that includes a guide for sliding in the guide groove of the work supporting table of a table saw and which is biased against the edge of the guide groove which is closest to the cutting blade. The guide bar is used in conjunction with the plurality of table saw fixtures such as a miter gauge, an alignment gauge and a stop gauge. The alignment gauge also forms part of apparatus for carrying out a method of verifying the straightness of the arbor for the cutting blade, the alignment of the arbor relative to the guide groove of the work supporting table and the flatness of the cutting blade. The invention also includes an apparatus for adjusting the alignment of the arbor relative to the guide groove of the work supporting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Jerry W. Cole
  • Patent number: 5704263
    Abstract: A saw guide is provided for use with a hand held circular power saw thereby enabling a user to selectively cut either a 90 or 45 degree cut through a construction member such as a 2.times.4. The saw guide is adapted to be used with either a 2.times.4, 2.times.6, 2.times.8, 2.times.10, or a 2.times.12. The saw guide has a first saw guide edge, a second saw guide edge and a wood guide edge. The saw guide also has two adjustable pencil guide edges which are internal to the saw guide. The pencil guide edges are situated so that they are parallel to the first and second saw guide edges. The pencil guide edges are movably mounted within the saw guide so that they can be adjusted so to the width of a given power saw's foot. This allows the user to automatically account for this foot width when using the saw guide to cut a desired length of construction member. The saw guide also is designed to allow the user to easily clamp it to a board. Thus, the user does not have to use one hand to keep the saw guide in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Edward William Swanberg
  • Patent number: 5632096
    Abstract: A device of utility in precisely setting the angular relationship of a circular saw blade of a radial bench type power saw, which includes a special protractor defined by removing adjoining segments of the linear leg and the curved leg thereof, and a modified T-square including a head piece having a curvature matching that of the curved leg of the protractor and a connected ruler blade extending radially toward the center of said protractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Steve Horvath
  • Patent number: 5561912
    Abstract: A goniometer arm for use in conjunction with a precision cutting apparatus comprising an arm for supporting a rotating adaptor arm which in turn supports and secures a rotating disc and a specimen holder. The goniometer arm allows a specimen to be cut along a specific plane about a specific axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Buehler Ltd.
    Inventor: Horst Stange, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5546670
    Abstract: A multi-purpose measuring instrument for wood working machines including a body having a horizontal side and a vertical side. The edge of the horizontal side is provided with magnets and the vertical side is provided with slide blocks capable of longitudinal sliding movement and being positioned. The slide blocks may be used in measuring the height of the blade of the wood working machine. A circular level set is movably and rotatably provided in the center of the body. The level set consists of inner rings, outer rings and a bubble tube. The outer rings may be turned to a desired degree and angle adjustment of workpieces is achieved by adjusting the rings and the position of the bubble in the bubble tube, providing multiple measuring functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Vance Chiang
  • Patent number: 5533273
    Abstract: The present invention provides a convenient, efficient apparatus and method for aligning a workpiece with the cutting plane of a machine tool that is convenient and efficient. The apparatus comprises a spring-loaded device for aligning a workpiece with the cutting point of the spindle of a milling machine, which further comprises a dial indicator held in a movable block. The dial indicator is used to measure the desired difference in indicator readings between the front and back of a workpiece. To position the workpiece an operator pushes down on the indicator to contact the workpiece and slides it back and forth across the workpiece, which may be titled to obtain the desired difference in indicator reading between front and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: DCM Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald P. Lawson, Thomas A. Ryan, Gary R. Puetz
  • Patent number: 5495784
    Abstract: A cutting depth setting device is provided for a saw machine which includes a base portion having a positioning block protruding therefrom, a drive arm pivotally engaged with the base portion about a pivot axle, a protruding block projecting from the drive arm and located above the positioning block, a threaded hole vertically defined through the protruding block, a circular saw blade rotatably mounted on the drive arm to pivot therewith for cutting a workpiece, a working platform mounted beneath the saw blade for holding the workpiece, the cutting depth setting device including an adjusting bolt threadedly extending through the threaded hole of the protruding block to be displaced vertically relative to the protruding block, a head fixedly mounted on an upperside of the adjusting bolt for rotating the adjusting bolt, a pointer pivotally engaged on an underside of the adjusting bolt to move vertically therewith, a first panel movably mounted on the drive arm and having a flat surface which is located adjacent
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Inventor: Ruey-Zon Chen
  • Patent number: 5493789
    Abstract: A miter gauge and saw blade calibrator is in the form of a flat plate with grooves defined in top and bottom surfaces at various angles. The grooves are sized to receive the bar of a miter gauge so that bar can be elevated above a table slot with its side extending above the slot abutting a side of the groove. The calibrator is slid along the bar toward the miter head until the miter head lays flat against one of the sides of the calibrator on both sides of the bar, to set the angle between the head and the bar equal to the angle between the groove and the corresponding side of the calibrator. Fine angle calibration bars can also be provided between the calibrator and the miter head so as to set smaller or unusual angle increments. In addition, the perimetral edges of the calibrator form different angles so that one edge can be placed against the table top surface of a table saw or other tool and another edge against the blade to accurately set the angle of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventor: Mark A. Duginske
  • Patent number: 5491906
    Abstract: The body of the gage is in the form of a channel with web and flanges. The web and flanges define three planar surfaces with the flange surfaces at a right angle to the web surface and parallel to each other. The edges define an orthogonal structure. An angle gage movably mounted on the body defines angles with respect to one of the orthogonal surfaces and a height gage on the body measures distances with respect to the same orthogonal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Inventor: Paul J. Reilly
  • Patent number: 5487319
    Abstract: A saw guide is arranged to include first and second gauge sectors pivotally mounted relative to first and second table plates that are telescopingly mounted relative to one another. A fence member extends along the first and second table plates for guidance of a saw blade therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Inventor: Delbert J. Cody
  • Patent number: 5473821
    Abstract: A parallelogram tool for measuring exterior and interior angles is used in conjunction with a miter saw having a pair of pivotally mounted guide blocks. The tool is made of six link members that are pivotally interconnected to one another. One of the pivotal connections may be tightened to lock the tool into position after a measurement has been made, and at least one pivotal connector extends below the plane of the tool. The locked tool is then transferred to the flat plate of a miter saw having a pair of arcuate slots formed in it in bilateral relation to one another and having a central diametrically extending slot. The central slot receives the pivotal connector that extends below the plane of the tool. The arcuate slots guide a pair of pivotally mounted guide blocks which are placed into abutting relation to the measuring arms of the tool and then locked into position. The tool is then removed and items to have a miter cut formed in them are placed against the guide blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: John DiMarco
  • Patent number: 5425405
    Abstract: A router and shaper guide wherein a positioning rib is arranged for reception within a support table guide groove, such that a first guide plate is arranged for abutment with the positioning rib and the second guide plate is arranged for sliding engagement with the first guide plate to provide for a guide surface for positioning of a workpiece or guide fence therealong, such that the first and second guide plates are arranged for engagement along respective guide walls that are oriented at acute angles relative to the positioning rib to permit lateral adjustment spacing of the guide fence relative to the positioning rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Inventor: Ronald R. Brodsky, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5423360
    Abstract: A centering apparatus intended for use with a woodworking device having a cutting tool and fence for positioning the center of a work-piece in exact alignment with the center of the cutting tool. The centering apparatus comprising an elongate member having a first end, a second end, parallel longitudinal sides and a center hole located at the center of the elongate member. A swiveling right angle bracket for engaging one of two opposing parallel surfaces of a work-piece is connected to the first end. Connected to the second end is a contact member for contacting a guiding fence. A cylindrical dowel pin for pivoting the centering apparatus about the center hole of the elongate member is aligned with the geometric center of the cutting tool with one end of the cylindrical dowel pin extending through the center hole of the elongate member and the other end positioned within the chuck of the cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Taylor Design Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Taylor, Perry G. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 5402581
    Abstract: Miter slot bar construction comprising a pair of elongated body members arranged in parallel interengaged position with resilient parts to cause the members to engage the sides of a miter slot uniformly for guiding action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Hurd, James F. Vidmar