Abstract:
The multi-dimensional miter guide has the ability to make a three-dimensional cut in a work piece in a single pass through the cutting or sawing action of a machine. This yields a cut in the work piece that has both a horizontal angle and a vertical slope between the horizontal and vertical plane. The multi-dimensional miter guide also has the ability to sand or grind a rough cut work piece to a precise three-dimensional angle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to the field of sawing and cutting, and also to the field of sanding and grinding.  
         [0002]     Miter guides have been used for many years to accomplish accurate angular cuts in work pieces. Miter guides have been invented and manufactured in simple and complex forms.  
         [0003]     Prior technology of miter guides can be seen in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,401,560; 3,841,188; 4,002,329; 5,097,601; 5,379,669; 5,771,767; 5,979,283; 6,532,679.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,097,601; and 6,532,679 represent simple horizontal plane miter guides. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,841,188; 4,002,329; 5,379,669; 5,771,767; and 5,979,283 represent other devices used to achieve miter cuts in the horizontal plane by a more complex means. U.S. Pat. No. 1,401,560 represents a miter guide that produces a miter cut between the horizontal and vertical plane. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,841,188; 4,002,329; 5,097,601; 5,379,669; 5,771,767; 5,979,283; 6,532,679 all produce a miter cut in a work piece in the horizontal plane by the miter guide rotating on a vertical axis. These miter guides do not have the ability to be adjusted in the horizontal to vertical plane by rotation of a horizontal axis. U.S. Pat. No. 1,401,560 has the ability to adjust and rotate on a horizontal axis and does not have the ability to adjust and rotate on a vertical axis. All of the previous miter guides have the limitation of only making a two dimensional cut in a work piece. The first dimension being the plane of the cutting blade and the second dimension being the plane created by the slope or angle of the miter guide that intersects the first plane or dimension.  
         [0005]     The multi-dimensional miter has the ability to make the same angular cuts as the previously described miter guides and also adding a third dimension of cutting ability. The first dimension being the plane of the cutting blade, the second dimension being the plane of the platform where the work piece rests, and the third dimension accomplished by rotation either clockwise or counterclockwise from a perpendicular angle to the cutting blade whereby a three dimensional cut is produced at the intersect point of the three planes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The primary object of the invention is a miter guide that can perform a three-dimensional cut in a work piece in a single pass through a cutting or sawing machine.  
         [0007]     Another object of the invention is a miter guide that can be used to sand or grind a work piece to a precise three-dimensional angle.  
         [0008]     Another object of the invention is a miter guide that can be adjusted quickly.  
         [0009]     A further object of the invention is a miter guide that is easy to use.  
         [0010]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.  
         [0011]     The multi-dimensional miter guide is a device that can produce a three-dimensional cut in a work piece in a single pass through a cutting or sawing machine. The miter guide can also be used to grind or sand a work piece to a specific three-dimensional angular value. The miter guide consists of a base with a radius slotted adjustment path, a work platform, a slotted slope adjustment arm, a slide guide, a degree pointer and a work piece guide plate. The slide guide is attached to bottom of the base which travels the guide groove of a machines work table parallel to the machines action in both directions. The base rotates and locks in many different angular orientations assisted by the degree pointer. An adjustable work platform is attached to the base at the machine end and pivots. The other end of the base and platform are connected by a slotted slope adjustment arm with many different angular orientations.  
         [0012]     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.  
         [0013]     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of the multi-dimensional miter guide  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of the base and associated components  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of the work piece platform and associated components  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of a table saw with the miter guide in a working position  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of the horizontal to vertical angular adjustment of the platform  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a drawing of the rotational angular adjustment of the base  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.  
         [0021]     In accordance with the present invention,  FIG. 1  shows a complete drawing of an assembled multi-dimensional miter guide.  FIG. 2  shows the base  101  and associated components.  FIG. 3  shows the work piece platform  114  and associated components.  FIG. 4  shows a drawing of a table saw  125  with the miter guide in a working position holding a work piece.  FIG. 5  shows the horizontal to vertical angular adjustment of the platform.  FIG. 6  shows of the rotational angular adjustment of the base  101 .  
         [0022]     The base  101  in  FIG. 2  has predetermined fastening holes  102  that align with the fastening holes  115  in the platform  114  in  FIG. 3  and then secured to each other by a means of fastening  103  permanently that allows for a pivoting or hinging movement.  
         [0023]     The base  101  in  FIG. 2  has a radius slotted adjustment path  105  to allow for rotation of the slide guide  108  and the angle pointer  106  which are secured by a means of permanent attaching  107  and  109  through a predetermined hole  116  in the base  101  that allows for the pivot action of the slide guide  108  independent of the base  101 . A removable means of securing  110  which passes through the pointer  106 , the radius slotted adjustment path  105  and then into the slide guide  108  gives the miter guide it&#39;s unique adjustability. This is the adjustment that gives the miter guide it&#39;s functional, three-dimensional ability. The removable means of securing  110  when tightened locks the base  101  in a predetermined angular setting as shown in  FIG. 4  and more specifically  FIG. 6 . The machine facing end of the base  101  is radius or geometrically formed to allow rotation past the saw blade  127  in  FIG. 4  or other cutting, sanding or grinding machines action.  
         [0024]     The base  101  in  FIG. 2  also has predetermined holes  112  at the end opposite the machine that have removable means of securing which pass though the slotted slope adjustment arm  124  in  FIG. 3  at the bottom. This is the pivot action of the arm  124 . The arm  124  can be moved from one side of the base  101  in  FIG. 2  to the other side depending on the angular orientation of the base  101  and the work piece  128  in  FIG. 4  for the preferred angle of cut.  
         [0025]     The work piece platform  114  in  FIG. 3  has predetermined holes  121  which accept a removable means of securing  122  that passes through the arm  124  and then into the platform  114 . This is the slope angular adjustment for the platform  124 . The platform  124  has predetermined holes  117  to accept a removable means of securing  119  that passes through the work piece guide plate  118  and into the platform  124 . The plate  118  can be moved from one side to the other depending on the angular orientation of the base  101  in  FIG. 2  and the work piece  128  in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0026]     The base  101  in  FIG. 2  has a means of reinforcing  104  at the rear and likewise the platform  114  in  FIG. 3  has a means of reinforcing  120  at the rear. Adjustment of angular and slope orientations are represented by  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  which include predetermined markings. These are shown in  FIG. 2  with the markings  111  in the base  101  and also in the cutaway view in  FIG. 6  showing the markings  111  in the base. The adjustment and slope orientation markings for the platform  114  and the arm  123  are shown in  FIG. 5 . The platform  114  has a permanent marking  129  that in turn is lined up with one of the various slope orientation markings  128  on the arm  123 .  
         [0027]     The miter guides adjustments are slotted to allow for small adjustments due to variations in parallel trueness between the machine guide groove  126  in  FIG. 4  and the saw blade  127 .  
         [0028]     In operation the miter guide is positioned in a predetermined angular rotational orientation that applies to the base  101  in  FIG. 2  by adjusting the pointer  106  and tightening the removable means of securing  110 . Then the platform  114  in  FIG. 3  is adjusted to a predetermined slope orientation by aligning one of the markings  128  with the permanent marking  129  and then tightening the removable means of securing  122 . Then the work piece  128  in  FIG. 4  is placed on the platform  114  up against the guide plate  118 . The miter guide assembly along with the work piece  128  are then moved along the guide groove  126  of the table saw  125  through the cutting action of the blade  127  thus producing a three-dimensional cut in the work piece  128  in a single pass.  
         [0029]     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.