Abstract:
A work-piece securing apparatus for metal or wood working equipment, for example a miter saw, involves a support element mounted on the equipment and an elongated work-piece securing element movably supported by the support element. The support element is configured to receive and support the securing element such that the securing element retains mobility while supported on the support element to permit manual manipulation of the securing element to position the work-piece on the equipment and/or to position a work-piece engaging portion of the securing element at a desired contact point on a work-piece when the work-piece is positioned to be worked by a tool of the equipment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application 62/251,769 filed Nov. 6, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This application relates to equipment for working metal or wood, in particular to equipment for working metal or wood with an accessory for securing and/or manipulating work-pieces while using the equipment. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Metal and wood working equipment such as power saws (e.g. miter saws, radial arm saws), planers, jointers, table routers, milling machines and the like have high speed tools that shape work-pieces in different ways. Such equipment requires bringing a work-piece into contact with the tool and either moving the work-piece or moving the tool so that the tool may work the piece. During operation of the equipment, it is often desirable to temporarily secure the work-piece to permit the tool to work the piece cleanly, as undesired movement of the work-piece may lead to unacceptable results and may also present a safety hazard. It is also often desirable to manipulate the work-piece on the equipment to make positional adjustments of the work-piece on the equipment. With metal and wood working equipment, securing and/or manipulating the work-piece is often done by hand by an operator. However, the safety of the operator may be jeopardized if a part of the operator&#39;s body (e.g. a hand or fingers) is brought into close proximity of the high speed tool. 
         [0004]    It is therefore generally desirable for metal and wood working equipment, in particular power equipment, to provide the ability to temporarily secure a work-piece in position and manipulate the position of the work-piece while improving the safety of the operator. It is also desirable to be able to manipulate the work-piece “on-demand” by providing fine control over where and how the work-piece is secured. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    There is provided a work-piece securing apparatus for metal or wood working equipment, comprising a support element mounted on the equipment and an elongated work-piece securing element movably supported by the support element, the support element configured to receive and support the securing element such that the securing element retains mobility while supported on the support element to permit manual manipulation of the securing element to position the work-piece on the equipment and/or to position a work-piece engaging portion of the securing element at a desired contact point on a work-piece when the work-piece is positioned to be worked by a tool of the equipment. 
         [0006]    There is further provided a metal or wood working equipment comprising a base, a work-piece table supported on the base, a material working tool mounted on the base and configured to operate on a work-piece supported on the table, and a work-piece securing apparatus configured to secure the work-piece on the table, the work-piece securing apparatus comprising a support element mounted on the equipment and an elongated work-piece securing element movably supported by the support element, the support element configured to receive and support the securing element such that the securing element retains mobility while supported on the support element to permit manual manipulation of the securing element to position the work-piece on the equipment and/or to position a work-piece engaging portion of the securing element at a desired contact point on a work-piece when the work-piece is positioned to be worked by a tool of the equipment. 
         [0007]    The support element is configured to receive and support the securing element. Supporting the securing element may comprise providing a structure on which the securing element may rest so that the securing element may be manipulated while reducing the effect of gravity on the ability of an operator to control the manipulation of the securing element. In one embodiment, the support element may retain the securing element to restrict movement of the securing element along a vertical axis and a first horizontal axis, but not along a second horizontal axis orthogonal to the first horizontal axis, while still permitting vertical and horizontal angling of first and second ends of the securing element. Vertical and horizontal angling of first and second ends of the securing element may occur in a teeter-totter-like manner with the first end angled one way and the second end angled the other way in relation to a fulcrum point located along the securing element at a point where the securing element is supported on the support element. Such support and movement restrictions enhance fine control by the operator over the position that the work-piece engaging portion of the securing element may take on the work-piece. There may be more than one support element mounted on the equipment, for example to provide access to the work-piece from different sides of the tool. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the support element may comprise a base plate and a securing element mount, the base plate configured to mount the support element on the equipment and the securing element mount selectively movable to and fixedly securable at two or more positions on the supporting element. In one embodiment, the securing element mount may be selectively movable both horizontally and vertically. In one embodiment, the securing element mount may comprise a rod adapter within which the pin is generally vertically selectively movable, the rod adapter comprising a lock for securing the pin within the rod adapter. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the support element may comprise a through aperture through which the securing element may extend with sufficient tolerance between the edges of the aperture and the securing element to permit vertical and horizontal angling of the elongated element in the aperture. To permit angling of the securing element in the through aperture, the diameter of the through aperture is preferably larger, for example 2-10 times larger, than the distance through of the aperture. Smaller tolerances between the edges of the through aperture benefit from shorter distances through the aperture with respect to the ability to angle the securing element in the aperture. The through aperture may have any cross-sectional shape, for example circular, oval or polygonal (e.g. triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal and the like). Likewise, the securing element may have any cross-sectional shape, for example circular, oval or polygonal (e.g. triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal and the like) provided the securing element is capable of fitting through the aperture. In one embodiment, the securing element may comprise a generally cylindrical rod, which allows the rod to be rotated for fine adjustment of the position of the work-piece. In one embodiment, the through aperture may be circular, for example the through aperture may comprise an eye of an eyebolt. 
         [0010]    The support element may be mounted on the equipment in a single fixed position or may be mounted on the equipment so that at least a portion of the support element may occupy two or more positions in relation to other parts of the equipment. Being able to move at least a portion of the support element permits further change in the position of the securing element supported thereon in relation to the work-piece, thereby providing greater flexibility of operation. Movement of the at least a portion of the support element is preferably selective insofar as an operator can choose the position. The at least a portion of the support element is preferably fixedly securable at the selectable positions to ensure that the at least a portion of the support element does not move inadvertently. 
         [0011]    The at least a portion of the support element may be selectively movable in a direction so that a component of the movement is parallel to one, two or three mutually orthogonal axes. For example, movement between positions may be vertical, parallel to a first horizontal axis and/or parallel to a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first horizontal axis. In one embodiment, horizontal movement may be provided by a pin movable in a track. In one embodiment the track may be arcuate. Movement in the track may comprise components of movement parallel to one or both horizontal axes. In another embodiment, vertical movement may be provided by a pin vertically movable in a pin holder and selectively securable at two or more vertical positions. 
         [0012]    The support element or a portion thereof may also be rotationally movable to change an angle that the elongated securing element makes with the work-piece supported on the equipment. The rotational movement may be selectively securable at two or more angular positions. In one embodiment where the support element comprises a through aperture through which the securing element extends, rotation of the through aperture changes the angle that a central axis through the aperture makes with the work-piece, thereby changing the angle that the elongated securing element makes with the work-piece. 
         [0013]    The securing element may be used to temporarily secure the work-piece at a position on the equipment where the work-piece is to be worked by the tool. The securing element may also be used to adjust the position of the work-piece on the equipment. Securement of the work-piece may be accomplished by engaging a work-piece engaging portion of the securing element at a desired contact point on the work-piece and holding the work-piece engaging portion against the work-piece to brace the work-piece against an immovable portion of the equipment, for example a fence and/or a table of the equipment. Adjustment of the work-piece may be accomplished by engaging a work-piece engaging portion of the securing element at a desired contact point on the work-piece and moving the securing element while engaged with the work-piece. Moving the securing element may comprise translating the securing element for coarse changes in the position of the work-piece or rotating the securing element for fine changes in the position of the work-piece. Preferably, the securing element may be manipulated manually by the operator, and the operator may make “as needed” adjustments to the location of the securing element on the work-piece or the position of the work-piece on the equipment while operating the equipment. 
         [0014]    The securing element is elongated and comprises first and second ends. The securing element may comprise any suitable material, for example wood, metal, plastic or the like. However, the securing element preferably comprises a material that does not splinter or shatter should the securing element contact the tool while the tool is operating. Preferably, the securing element comprises wood. While the securing element may have any cross-sectional shape, in one embodiment the securing element may be generally cylindrical. In one embodiment, an end of the securing element may have a generally circular cross-section and may be sheathed in a butt sleeve comprising a material with a sufficiently high coefficient of friction to effectively hold the work-piece in place while the operator performs the work or to grip the work-piece while positioning the work-piece on the equipment. In another embodiment, an end of the securing element may have a flat portion comprising a material with a sufficiently high coefficient of friction to effectively hold the work-piece in place while the operator performs the work or to grip the work-piece while positioning the work-piece on the equipment. The securing element may comprise one end that is circular in cross-section and sheathed in a butt sleeve and another end comprising a flat portion. The material with a sufficiently high coefficient of friction may be an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material may be, for example, an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, a polyurethane rubber or a natural rubber. The butt sleeve and flat portion may comprise the same or different elastomeric material. 
         [0015]    The work-piece securing apparatus may be utilized with any metal or wood working equipment, especially power equipment. Some examples of equipment include a power saw (e.g. a miter saw or a radial arm saw), a powered planer, a powered jointer, a powered table router and a powered milling machine. Miter saws are particularly preferred. The support element of the work-piece securing apparatus when mounted on such equipment may provide new angles of approach for the securing element to enhance effectiveness, comfort and safety when using the securing element to secure and/or manipulate the work-piece on the equipment. 
         [0016]    Further features will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description. It should be understood that each feature described herein may be utilized in any combination with any one or more of the other described features, and that each feature does not necessarily rely on the presence of another feature except where evident to one of skill in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    For clearer understanding, preferred embodiments will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  depicts a miter saw having mounted thereon a first embodiment of a work-piece securing apparatus in which an elongated work-piece securing element comprises a generally cylindrical rod and a support element comprises a horizontally movable eyebolt. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  depicts the miter saw of  FIG. 1  showing the cylindrical rod being used in an alternative configuration. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  depicts the miter saw of  FIG. 1  showing parts disconnected from the miter saw. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  depicts a miter saw having mounted thereon a second embodiment of a work-piece securing apparatus in which an elongated work-piece securing element comprises a generally cylindrical rod and a support element comprises a horizontally and vertically movable pin. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  depicts the miter saw of  FIG. 4  showing the cylindrical rod being used in an alternative configuration. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  depicts the miter saw of  FIG. 4  showing parts disconnected from the miter saw. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  depicts a magnified view of the support element seen in  FIG. 4  with the pin in a vertically raised position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  depicts a magnified view of the support element seen in  FIG. 4  with the pin in a vertically lowered position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  depicts an exploded view of the pin and mounting structures for the pin seen in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  depict a miter saw  10  having a first embodiment of a work-piece securing apparatus  30  mounted thereon. The miter saw  10  is a generally typical miter saw comprising a base  11 , a turntable  12  supported on the base  11 , and a circular saw blade  13  rotatably mounted on a pivoting arm  14 , the saw blade  13  positioned above the turntable  12  to cut a work-piece  15  supported on the turntable  12 . The pivoting arm  14  is pivotally mounted on the base  11  so that pulling down on a handle  16  causes slide rails  17  to translate horizontally backwards thereby causing the saw blade  13  to translate downward and backwards. The saw blade  13  is actuatable by an on/off switch for a motor located in the pivoting arm  14  and is equipped with a guard  18  to protect an operator from the rotating saw blade  13 , the guard  18  pivoting upward and out of the way of the saw blade  13  before the saw blade  13  contacts the work-piece  15 . The turntable  12  is rotatably mounted on the base  11  and may be rotated by urging a lever arm  19  in a horizontal direction. The lever arm  19  may be locked in place and unlocked using a miter lock handle  20 . The exact angle of the miter cut to be made on the work-piece  15  may be set by rotating the turntable  12  to a desired position as indicated on a miter gauge  21  on the base  11 . A blade guide  22  may be employed on the turntable  12  and a fence  23  provides a solid support for the bracing the work-piece  15  on the turntable  12 . Fence extenders  24  may be used to enlarge the effective area of the fence  23  to provide additional support for the work-piece  15  on the turntable  12 . 
         [0028]    The work-piece securing apparatus  30  comprises a base plate  31  fixedly mounted on the base  11  of the miter saw  10 . The base plate  31  may be fixedly mounted by any suitable method, for example welding, bolting and the like. The base plate  31  comprises an arcuate track  32  within which a pin, in this case an eyebolt  33 , is releasably and movably mounted. The eyebolt  33  may be releasably and movably mounted in a vertical orientation in the track  32  on the base plate  31  with the use of nuts  34 ,  35  threaded on the eyebolt  33  below and above the base plate  31 . One or more washers  36  may be used between the nuts  34 ,  35  and the base plate  31  to help secure the eyebolt  33  on the base plate  31  in the track  32 . The nut  34  comprises a handle  37  to assist with tightening and loosening the nut  34 . One or all of the nuts may comprise handles. The eyebolt  33  comprises an eye  38  through which a generally cylindrical rod  41  may extend and in which the rod  41  may be supported. The rod  41  comprises first and second ends, the first end comprising a rubber sheath  42  inserted over the first end of the rod  41 , and the second end comprising a flat rubber pad  43  attached to one side of the second end of the rod  41 . 
         [0029]    In operation, the work-piece  15  is supported on the turntable  12  and against the fence extender  24  (or against the fence  23  if the fence extender  24  is not used) in a position below the saw blade  13  to be cut at a desired location along the work-piece  15 . The turntable  12  may be rotated to provide a miter cut of a desired angle. To secure the work-piece  15  in the desired position on the turntable  12 , an operator inserts the rod  41  through the eye  38  of the eyebolt  33 , and engages an end of the rod  41  with the work-piece  15  at a desired point proximate, but not in, the desired cutting location. The rod  41  is used to brace the work-piece  15  against the fence extender  24  and/or on the turntable  12  by applying force through the rod  41 . Depending on the desires of the operator, the skills of the operator and/or the nature (e.g. shape) of the work-piece  15  either the first end with the rubber sheath  42  (see  FIG. 1 ) or the second end with the flat rubber pad  43  (see  FIG. 2 ) may be engaged with the work-piece  15 . There is sufficient tolerance between the rod  41  and the edges of the eye  38 , and the diameter of the eye  38  in comparison to the thickness of the eye  38  is sufficiently large that the operator is able to angle the engagement end of rod  41  both vertically and horizontally to provide fine control over the positioning of the end of the rod  41  on the work-piece  15  and fine control over positioning the work-piece  15  on the turntable  12 . To ensure that the eye  38  is correctly positioned to maximize the ability of the operator to manipulate the rod  41  against the work-piece  15 , the eyebolt  33  may be moved in the track  32  to a selected location and/or rotated around a vertical axis to orient the eye  38  at a selected angle. Movement of the eyebolt  33  in the track and/or rotation of the eyebolt  33  around a vertical axis change the direction in which the eye  38  points and therefore changes the direction in which the rod  41  generally points while extending through the eye  38 . Loosening the nut  34  (and/or the nut  35 ) permits the eyebolt  33  to translate horizontally in the track  32  and permits the eyebolt  33  to rotate about a vertical axis. Re-tightening the nuts  34 ,  35  secures the eyebolt  33  to the base plate  31 . Vertical height of the eye  38  may also be adjusted, if desired, by threading the nuts  34 ,  35  higher or lower on the eyebolt  33 , however, the embodiment described in connection with  FIG. 4  provides a more efficient way of adjusting the height of an eye. 
         [0030]    The base plate  31  is mounted on the left side of the miter saw  10 , and a second base plate  31 ′ is fixedly mounted on the right side of the miter saw  10 . The second base plate  31 ′ has the same construction as the base plate  31  and embodies a portion of a second support element of a second work-piece securing apparatus for the miter saw  10 . The second base plate  31 ′ may be accompanied by a separate eyebolt and/or cylindrical rod, or the eyebolt and cylindrical rod associated with the base plate  31  may be transferred to the second base plate  31 ′ in the event an operator wishes to secure the work-piece  15  from the right side of the miter saw  10 . The nut  34  may be completely removed from the eyebolt  33  to permit dismounting of the eyebolt  33  from the base plate  31  to facilitate transfer of the eyebolt  33  and cylindrical rod  41  to the base plate  31 ′ on the right side of the miter saw  10 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  depict a miter saw  100  having a second embodiment of a work-piece securing apparatus  130  mounted thereon.  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  depict magnified views of a support element  150  of the work-piece securing apparatus  130 , and  FIG. 9  depicts an exploded view of a securing element mount  155  of the support element  150  of the work-piece securing apparatus  130 . In many aspects, the miter saw  100  and the work-piece securing apparatus  130  comprise elements which are the same as the elements described in connection with the miter saw  10  of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . The following description of miter saw  100  focuses on the differences over miter saw  10 ; however, where numbered elements are the same elements in miter saws  10  and  100 , the same numerals are used to identify the same elements. 
         [0032]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the work-piece securing element  130  comprises a base plate  31  fixedly mounted on the base  11  of the miter saw  100 . The base plate  31  comprises an arcuate track  32  within which a pin  133 , is releasably and movably mounted. The pin  133  may be releasably and movably mounted in a vertical orientation in the track  32  on the base plate  31  with the use of a rod adapter  134  and a bearing  135 . The rod adapter  134  comprises a first bore hole  136  through which the pin  133  extends and the bearing  135  comprises a second bore hole  137  aligned with the first bore hole  136  and through which the pin  133  also extends. The rod adapter  134  is secured to the bearing  135  by a set of nuts  140  and bolts  139 . The bearing  135  comprises an annular disc  141  and a cylindrical bore  142 , the annular disc resting on an upper surface of the base plate  31  and the cylindrical bore  142  extending through the track  32 . With the rod adapter  134  secured to the bearing  135  and the pin  133  extending through the bore holes  136 ,  137 , the pin  133  is mounted in the track  32  and translatable in a horizontal plane by moving the bearing  135  in the track  32 . To secure the pin  133  in a selected location in the track  32 , a locking handle  143  is used, the locking handle  143  comprising a third bore hole  144  within which the cylindrical bore  142  is frictionally engaged and through which the pin  133  extends. Frictional engagement of an inner surface of the third bore hole  144  with an outer surface of the cylindrical bore  142  and frictional engagement of an upper surface  145  around the third bore hole  144  of the locking handle  143  with a lower surface of the base plate  31  prevents translation of the bearing  135  in the track  32 . By physically turning and lowering the locking handle  143 , the bearing  135  may be released to permit translation of the bearing  135  in the track  32 . 
         [0033]    Vertical translation and rotational movement of the pin  133  may be readily controlled with a locking lever  146  on the rod adapter  134 . The locking lever  146  comprises a bolt  147  that threadingly engages with a pair of opposed set nuts in opposed flanges  148  of the rod adapter  134 . Tightening the locking lever  146  forces the flanges  148  together thereby reducing the diameter of the first bore hole  136  sufficiently so that inner surfaces of the first bore hole  136  frictionally engage the pin  133  preventing the pin  133  from translating vertically or rotating about a vertical axis. Loosening the locking lever  146  loosens the pin  133  in the first bore hole  136  of the rod adapter  134  permitting the pin  133  to be translated vertically to a selected location and to be rotated about a vertical axis to orient at a selected angle an eye  149  mounted on the pin  133 .  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  depict the pin  133  raised and lowered with the eye  149  at different vertical locations. The eye  149  may be unitized with the pin  133 , or may be a separate part that is mounted on the pin  133  frictionally or by virtue of a threaded connection or the like. 
         [0034]    In a similar manner as described in connection with  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a generally cylindrical rod  41  may extend through and be supported by the eye  149 . The rod  41  may be used in the same manner as described above to secure the work-piece  15  on the turntable  12  against the fence extender  24  (or the fence  23  if no fence extenders  24  are used). 
         [0035]    While the drawings depict the base plate as a generally flat piece extending in a horizontal plane away from the base of the miter saw, the base plate may instead comprise a bend at or close to the base of the saw to angle the base plate up and towards to the miter saw. Therefore, a portion of the base plate with the track would be angled acutely with respect to a horizontal plane resulting in the pin pointing in a non-vertical orientation toward the miter saw. Such a configuration reduces a tripping hazard presented by the support element extending into a walking area around the miter saw because the base plate would not extend as far horizontally and the pin would extend in towards the miter saw. So that the rod may still be employed with maximum flexibility by the operator, the pin may be bent in the opposite direction as the bend in the base plate so that the eye remains oriented such that a central axis through the eye remains generally parallel to the horizontal plane. 
         [0036]    The novel features will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon examination of the description. It should be understood, however, that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the wording of the claims and the specification as a whole.