Abstract:
A system for measuring and cutting includes a portable measuring unit and a cutting unit. The measuring unit includes a transmitter and a measuring processor in communication with the transmitter. The measuring unit includes a first retractable tape measure having a first variable resistance wire and a sensor, the measuring processor having programming for determining first distance data and for transmitting that data. The cutting unit includes a saw and a receiver for receiving the first distance data transmitted from the measuring unit. The cutting unit includes a second tape measure with a second variable resistance wire, sensor, and processor for determining a second distance. When the second distance measurement is equal to the first distance measurement, an indicator is actuated so the user knows to actuate the saw to cut the workpiece. The system, therefore, eliminates inaccurate measurements and the need to remember or record measurements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to tools and, more particularly, to a system for measuring and recording measurements without having to write down the measurement and for cutting a work piece according to the recorded measurement. 
   The traditional method for measuring and cutting work materials, such as boards, is to measure, to commit the measurement to memory or record in writing on the work piece itself or even one&#39;s hand, and then to cut the work piece according to the measurement. As any construction worker knows all too well, it is often the case that a measurement is either not remembered, improperly recorded, or not understood by another person whose task it is to actually cut it. Frequently, the noisy environment of a construction site contributes to the problems of accurately taking, communicating, or actually cutting the work piece. In addition, the act of actually measuring a work piece with a tape measure is problematic due to human error. 
   Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system for measuring and cutting work pieces that eliminates the need to write down or remember a measurement. Further, it would be desirable to have a measuring and cutting system that would eliminate the possibility of an inaccurate measurement from a tape measure. In addition, it would be desirable to have a measuring and cutting system that decreases the time it takes to measure and cut a work piece. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A system for measuring and cutting according to the present invention includes a portable measuring unit and a cutting unit. The measuring unit includes means for measuring first distance data, namely, the length on a workpiece at which a cut is desired to be made. The measuring unit may further include a transmitter and a measuring processor in data communication with the transmitter and the means for determining the first distance data. The measuring processor includes programming for transmitting the first distance data. The means for measuring that first distance data may include a retractable tape measure utilizing a variable resistance wire, sensor, and programming for determining a length. Other means for determining the first distance data will also be discussed below. 
   The cutting unit includes a saw, a receiver for receiving the first distance data transmitted by the transmitter, and means for determining a second distance data. The means for determining a second distance may utilize another variable resistance wire or other technology and enables a user to again measure and properly position the workpiece on the saw to be cut at the measurement that was transmitted from the measuring unit to the cutting unit. The cutting unit includes an indicator—which may be audible or visual or both—for indicating when the second distance measurement is the same as the first distance measurement. When this is the case, it means that the workpiece is properly positioned to be cut to the desired measurement and the saw may be actuated. It is understood that the indicator may also be mechanical, such as a mechanical brake. 
   Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a system for measuring and cutting that eliminates the traditional practice of remembering or writing down a measurement of a workpiece to be cut. 
   Another object of this invention is to provide a system for measuring and cutting, as aforesaid, which eliminates human error associated with properly measuring a distance along a workpiece. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide a system for measuring and cutting, as aforesaid, that transmits a measurement from a portable measuring unit directly to a remote cutting unit. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system for measuring and cutting, as aforesaid, that provides an audible or visual indication when the cutting unit is aligned at a measurement along the workpiece equal to the measurement made by the portable measuring unit. 
   A further object of this invention is to provide a system for measuring and cutting, as aforesaid, that may be used to accurately measure and cut a workpiece in a noisy environment. 
   A still further object of this invention is to provide a system for measuring and cutting, as aforesaid, that is cost-effective to manufacture and user-friendly to use. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a measuring device of a system for measuring and cutting according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   a  is a front view of the measuring device as in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2   b  is a side view of the measuring device as in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a side view of the measuring device as in  FIG. 1  from another angle and with a marker in a retracted configuration; 
       FIG. 3   b  is a sectional view taken along line  3   b - 3   b  of  FIG. 3   a;    
       FIG. 3   c  is a side view of the measuring device as in  FIG. 1  from another angle and with a marker in an extended configuration; 
       FIG. 3   d  is a sectional view taken along line  3   d - 3   d  of  FIG. 3   c;    
       FIG. 4   a  is another front view of the measuring device as in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4   b  is a sectional view taken along line  4   b - 4   b  of  FIG. 4   a;    
       FIG. 4   c  is a sectional view taken along line  4   c - 4   c  of  FIG. 4   b;    
       FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of a cutting device of the system for measuring and cutting according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5   b  is a side view of the cutting device as in  FIG. 5   a;    
       FIG. 6   a  is a front view of the cutting device as in  FIG. 5   a;    
       FIG. 6   b  is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from  FIG. 6   a ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the system for measuring and cutting according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A system for measuring and cutting  100  according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 7  of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a system for measuring and cutting  100  according to the current invention includes a portable measuring unit  110  and a cutting unit  140 . 
   The portable measuring unit  110  ( FIGS. 1-4   b  and  7 ) includes a transmitter  112 , means for determining first distance data, and a processor  114  (also referred to herein as a “measuring processor”) in data communication with the transmitter  112  and the means for determining first distance data. More particularly, the means for determining first distance data may include a retractable tape measure  116  (also referred to herein as a “first retractable tape measure”) having an outermost end  116   a  and a length and means for determining the extension of the tape measure  116 . The means for determining the extension of the tape measure  116  may include, for example: an optical encoder that counts holes in the tape measure  116  as they pass over the encoder; a roller placed against the tape measure  116  and a counter for counting the number of revolutions of the roller; or a variable resistance wire  117  (also referred to herein as a “first variable resistance wire”) coupled to the tape measure  116  and extending the length of the tape measure  116 , a sensor  118  (also referred to herein as a “first sensor”) for detecting a resistance of a portion of the wire  117  adjacent the sensor  118  ( FIG. 4   b ), and programming in the measuring processor  114  for associating the resistance detected by the sensor  118  with the first distance data. The sensor  118  may be in data communication with the measuring processor  114 , and the portion of the wire  117  adjacent the sensor  118  may be selectively variable. In other words, as the tape measure  116  is extended or retracted, the portion of the wire  117  that is adjacent the sensor  118  will change. The processor  114  may associate the first distance data with the resistance detected by the sensor  118  using a predetermined formula or correlation, for example. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , a display  121  may be in data communication with the measuring processor  114  to display the first distance data, and an input device  123  may be in data communication with the measuring processor  114  to obtain saw adjustment data from a user. The measuring processor  114  may have programming for actuating the transmitter  112  to transmit the first distance data, programming for actuating the display  121  to present the first distance data thereon, and/or programming for actuating the transmitter  112  to transmit the saw adjustment data. 
   A housing  124  may contain the transmitter  112  and the measuring processor  114 . The housing  124  may have front and rear sides  124   a ,  124   b , and the tape measure outermost end  116   a  may be closer to the housing front side  124   a  than to the housing rear side  124   b . The first distance data may correspond to a distance from the tape measure outermost end  116   a  to the housing rear side  124   b  (allowing the housing to abut one measurement surface), or the first distance data may correspond to a distance from the tape measure outermost end  116   a  to another predetermined point (e.g., the housing front side  124   a ). 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 3   a  through  3   d , the measuring unit  110  may include a marking apparatus  130 . The marking apparatus  130  may have a marker cavity  132  with an open lower end  132   a . A pushbutton  133  may be operatively coupled to a flexible member  134 , and one end  134   a  of the flexible member  134  may be operatively coupled to a spring  135  for compressing the spring  135  when the pushbutton  133  is pressed. A door  136  may have one end  136   a  operatively coupled to the spring  135  for movement between a closed configuration  137   a  when the spring  135  is extended ( FIG. 3   c ) and an open configuration  137   b  when the spring  135  is compressed ( FIG. 3   d ). A marker  138  may be operatively coupled to the pushbutton  133  so that the marker  138  is movable between an extended configuration  138   a  when the pushbutton  133  is pressed and the door  136  is at the open configuration  137   b  ( FIG. 3   d ) and a retracted configuration  138   b  when the pushbutton  133  is released and the door  136  is at the closed configuration  137   a  ( FIG. 3   c ). The marker  138  may be, for example, a graphite marker, a chalk marker, or an ink marker, and though not shown in the drawings, the marker  138  may be removable or may have a removable tip to selectively accommodate situations needing graphite, chalk, or ink. 
   The cutting unit  140  ( FIGS. 5   a - 7 ) includes a saw  141 , a receiver  142  for receiving the first distance data from the transmitter  112 , and a cutting processor  144  in data communication with the receiver  142 . A display  145  for presenting the first distance data may be in data communication with the cutting processor  144 , and the cutting processor  144  may have programming for actuating the display  145  to present the first distance data. Means for determining second distance data may be in data communication with the cutting processor  144 . More particularly, the means for determining second distance data may include a retractable tape measure  146  (also referred to herein as a “second retractable tape measure”) having an outermost end  146   a  and a length and means for determining the extension of the tape measure  146 . The outermost end  146   a  may have a clip  149  for interacting with a workpiece. The means for determining the extension of the tape measure  146  may include, for example: an optical encoder that counts holes in the tape measure  146  as they pass over the encoder; a roller placed against the tape measure  146  and a counter for counting the number of revolutions of the roller; or a variable resistance wire  147  (also referred to herein as a “second variable resistance wire”) coupled to the tape measure  146  and extending the length of the tape measure  146 , a sensor  148  (also referred to herein as a “second sensor”) for detecting a resistance of a portion of the wire  147  adjacent the sensor  148 , and programming in the cutting processor  144  for associating the resistance detected by the sensor  148  with the second distance data. The sensor  148  may be in data communication with the cutting processor  144 , and the portion of the wire  147  adjacent the sensor  148  may be selectively variable. In other words, as the tape measure  146  is extended or retracted, the portion of the wire  147  that is adjacent the sensor  148  will change. The processor  144  may associate the second distance data with the resistance detected by the sensor  148  using a predetermined formula or correlation, for example. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5   a  through  6   b , the saw  141  may include a saw blade  141   a  (though the blade shown in the drawings is a rotary saw blade, the blade may alternately be a band saw blade, a reciprocating saw blade, etc.) and a saw adjustment mechanism (e.g., gearing for changing the angle of the saw blade  141   a , etc.). The second distance data preferably corresponds to a distance from the second tape measure outermost end  146   a  to the saw blade  141   a . The cutting processor  144  may be in data communication with the saw adjustment mechanism, and the cutting processor  144  may have programming for actuating the saw adjustment mechanism to automatically adjust the saw  141  in accordance with the saw adjustment data obtained by the receiver  142  from the transmitter  112 . The cutting processor  144  may additionally or alternately have programming for actuating the display  145  to present the second distance data. 
   An indicator  150  may be in data communication with the cutting processor  144 , and the cutting processor  144  may have programming for actuating the indicator  150  when the first distance data is equal to the second distance data ( FIG. 7 ). The indicator  150  may be the display  145 , another visual indicator (e.g., a LED), an audible alarm, and/or another device that provides information to a user. 
   In use, a user may measure a length between two points and obtain corresponding first distance data by extending the outermost end  116   a  of the first tape measure  116  to one point and placing the housing rear side  124   b  at the second point. The first sensor  118  may detect the resistance of the portion of the wire  117  that is adjacent the first sensor  118 , and the measuring processor  114  may associate the resistance detected by the sensor  118  with the first distance data as described above. The measuring processor  114  may actuate the first display  121  to present the first distance data, and the measuring processor  114  may actuate the transmitter  112  to send the first distance data to the receiver  142 . The user may provide saw adjustment data (e.g., miter angle, bevel angle, etc.) through the input device  123 , and the measuring processor  114  may actuate the transmitter  112  to send the saw adjustment data to the receiver  142 . To mark a workpiece, the user may push the pushbutton  133 , causing the flexible member  134  to compress the spring  135 , the spring  135  to open the door  136 , and the marker  138  to extend through the open lower end  132   a  of the marker cavity  132  to mark the workpiece, as described above and best shown in  FIGS. 3   a  through  3   d.    
   The receiver  142  of the cutting unit  140  may receive the first distance data and the saw adjustment data from the transmitter  112 . The cutting processor  144  may actuate the second display  145  to present the first distance data, and the saw adjustment mechanism may automatically adjust the saw  141  (e.g., the bevel angle or the miter angle) in accordance with the saw adjustment data. A workpiece may be passed across the saw  141  so that it catches the clip  149 , causing the tape measure  146  to extend. The second sensor  148  may detect the resistance of the portion of the wire  147  that is adjacent the second sensor  148 , and the cutting processor  144  may associate the resistance detected by the second sensor  148  with the second distance data as described above. The cutting processor  114  may actuate the second display  145  to present the second distance data, and the cutting processor  144  may actuate the indicator  150  when the first distance data is equal to the second distance data, signaling to the user that the workpiece is at the appropriate length for cutting. If the workpiece was marked as described above, the mark may be used to confirm the cutting location. 
   It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.