A toolrest for adjustable mounting within a receiving portion of a lathe tool carriage includes a vertical post portion rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, a first substantially horizontal member extending at an angle relative to the vertical post portion and a second substantially horizontal member extending at an angle relative to the first substantially horizontal member. In use, the first and/or second substantially horizontal members are positioned so that a plurality of toolrest positions and angles are provided relative to a workpiece.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a toolrest for use on woodturning lathes and specifically to a toolrest capable of being adjusted to a plurality of angles and positions relative to a workpiece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A lathe is commonly used to shape objects or workpieces. A lathe holds a workpiece as the workpiece is rotated at relatively high speed. Tools such as cutting and shaping tools are held in contact with the rotating workpiece to shape the workpiece. A lathe may be used to form spindles, table legs, bowls or the like. Lathes may be used to shape wood, metal or other materials.

The basic lathe includes a chuck and a tail piece which can be adjusted towards one another and against the workpiece, the chuck and tail piece being rotated about a central horizontal axis extending through the workpiece. The chuck is powered by a motor which rotates the chuck and the workpiece, typically at high speed. The chuck is adjusted to firmly engage the workpiece so that the workpiece can be supported and shaped. The workpiece is released by adjusting the chuck so the shaped workpiece can be removed from the lathe. The chuck typically includes grasping elements that move towards and away from one another symmetrically about the central horizontal axis of the chuck.

Most lathes include a horizontal base with rails mounted on the base to allow positioning of a lathe tool carriage. Conventional toolrests are mounted on the lathe tool carriage to provide the operator with a stable platform on which to engage the tool to the workpiece. The position of the lathe tool carriage can be adjusted to position the toolrest relative to the workpiece.

A tool support mounted on the lathe tool carriage and positioned adjacent the workpiece serves to steady a tool which can be moved radially toward the rotating workpiece and axially along the length of the workpiece. Rotation of the workpiece accompanied by proper tool location thereby removes material for shaping the workpiece according to the required pattern.

One problem operators experience with conventional toolrests is the limited range of motion available for engaging the tool to the workpiece. Prior solutions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,888,786; 5,224,529 and 5,992,482.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,888,786 to Place discloses a multi-component toolrest comprising an L-shaped bar including a vertical portion and a horizontal portion extending at a right angle therefrom. A shelf is movably mounted along the horizontal portion to provide support for the tool. It would be desirable to allow the operator to increase the range of motion of the tool. It would also be desirable to provide a toolrest with a one-piece construction to reduce the possibility of parts of the toolrest becoming disengaged during use which could result in damage to the workpiece or injury to the operator.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,529 to Kenny discloses a multi-component lathe tool and toolrest assembly wherein a cutting blade is attached at one end of a blade mounting shaft and a handle is attached at the other end of the blade mounting shaft. The handle is used to manipulate the tool to hollow out the core of a workpiece mounted on a lathe for the construction of nesting bowls. It would be desirable if the Kenny toolrest provided the operator with an increased range of motion. It would also be desirable if the Kenny toolrest was manufactured from a one-piece construction to decrease the possibility of injury to the operator or damage to the workpiece if the movable parts became disengaged during use.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,482 to Voisey discloses a multi-component toolrest wherein a first horizontally-projecting arm is rotatably mounted about a first vertical axis and a second horizontally-projecting arm is rotatable about a second vertical axis. The first horizontally-projecting arm may be coincident with or spaced horizontally from the second horizontally-projecting arm. A cutting tool may be placed on either the first horizontally-projecting arm or the second horizontally-projecting arm. It would be desirable if the Voisey toolrest comprised a single-piece construction to prevent parts from becoming disengaged during use and injuring the operator or damaging the workpiece.

The foregoing toolrests allow the operator to employ the tool from a limited number of positions. It would be beneficial to provide a toolrest capable of engaging the workpiece from a wide range of positions and angles. In particular, it would be beneficial to provide a toolrest that allows the operator to move a tool from one portion of the workpiece to another portion of the workpiece with minimal adjustment of the toolrest so that the workpiece can be engaged seamlessly from a broad range of positions and angles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved toolrest that allows the operator to engage the workpiece from a plurality of angles and positions. A preferred embodiment of the toolrest includes a vertical post portion adapted for vertical and rotational movement within a receiving portion, a first substantially horizontal member extending at a first angle relative to the vertical post portion, and a second substantially horizontal member extending at a second angle relative to the first substantially horizontal member. The first and second angles are preferably about 90 degrees. By adjustably mounting the toolrest within the receiving portion, the first and second substantially horizontal members define a plurality of toolrest positions relative to the workpiece.

The vertical post portion can include an adjustable collar for engaging the receiving portion to define the extent of travel of the vertical post portion within the receiving portion. The vertical post portion includes a first end and a second end, the first end adapted for receipt within the receiving portion. The collar can be positioned as a stop member along the vertical post portion to define the extent of travel of the vertical post portion within the receiving portion.

The first substantially horizontal member includes a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with the second end of the vertical post portion. The first substantially horizontal member can be positioned at a plurality of angles and positions relative to the workpiece. The second substantially horizontal member includes a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with the second end of the first substantially horizontal member. The second substantially horizontal member can also be positioned at a plurality of angles and positions relative to the workpiece. The lengths of the first and second substantially horizontal members can vary depending on the shape and configuration of the workpiece.

The present toolrest has a number of advantages over conventional toolrests including one-piece construction and allowing the operator to engage the workpiece from a wide range of positions and angles so that the operator can seamlessly transition a tool from one portion of the workpiece to another portion of the workpiece without moving or adjusting the toolrest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a toolrest10includes a vertical post portion12that can be adjustably and slidably mounted about a vertical axis14within a bore16defined in a receiving portion18of a lathe tool carriage20. The vertical post portion12includes a first end22and a second end24. The first end of the vertical post portion22is received within the bore16of the receiving portion18. A first substantially horizontal member26includes of a first end28and a second end30. The first end of the first substantially horizontal member28extends at a first angle of about 90 degrees relative to the second end of the vertical post portion24. A second substantially horizontal member32includes a first end34and a second end36. The first end34of the second substantially horizontal member32extends at a second angle of about 90 degrees relative to the second end30of the first substantially horizontal member26. The lengths of the first substantially horizontal member26and the second substantially horizontal member32can vary depending on the shape and configuration of a workpiece38. (SeeFIG. 2). The lathe tool carriage20is slidably mounted on rails40of a lathe42and locked in position by a lever arm44. (SeeFIG. 2).

The vertical post portion12can include an adjustable set-screw collar46(seeFIG. 5) for engaging the receiving portion18and limiting the extent of travel of the vertical post portion12within the receiving portion18. A threaded portion of a locking lever48extends through a corresponding threaded channel50defined in the receiving portion18to engage the vertical post portion12and firmly position the toolrest10in various adjusted positions. The toolrest10may be adjusted at various heights and angles relative to the workpiece through engagement of the locking lever48. The set-screw collar46acts as a stop member to allow the first substantially horizontal member26and the second substantially horizontal member32of the toolrest10to pivot about the vertical axis14while maintaining the height of the toolrest relative to the receiving portion18of the lathe tool carriage20and the workpiece38. (SeeFIG. 2).

The toolrest10is preferably used as follows. The operator mounts the workpiece38(which can comprise a solid block of wood or a segmented workpiece, as shown) on the lathe42in a conventional manner. (SeeFIG. 2). The workpiece38is releasably mounted by a chuck52of the lathe42. (SeeFIG. 3). A motor54transfers power to the lathe42causing the chuck52to rotate at a high rate of speed. (SeeFIGS. 2 and 3). The chuck52turns the workpiece38about a central horizontal axis56of the lathe42. (SeeFIGS. 2 and 3). A central horizontal axis58of the workpiece38and the central horizontal axis54of the lathe42are identical to the central horizontal axis58of the chuck52. (SeeFIGS. 2, 3 and 4).

The toolrest10can be adjustably mounted within the receiving portion and through engagement of the locking lever48, whereby rotation of the locking lever48securely holds the toolrest10in place. By selective adjustment of the locking lever48and the set-screw collar46, the operator can position the toolrest10to various positions and angles. A cutting tool60can be positioned relative to either the first substantially horizontal member26or the second substantially horizontal member32of the toolrest10. (SeeFIG. 1). The upper portion of the first substantially horizontal member26and the upper portion of the second substantially horizontal member32can include flat surfaces (not shown) so the operator can better support a cutting tool60in a stable position on the toolrest10. (SeeFIG. 1). Symmetrical cuts are made to the workpiece38when an operator applies the cutting tool60to the inner surface62, outer surface64and/or bottom surfaces66of workpiece38as the workpiece38turns around a central horizontal axis58thereby shaping the workpiece38. (SeeFIGS. 1 and 4). The first substantially horizontal member26and the second substantially horizontal member32may be positioned about the vertical axis14to keep the cutting tool60consistently close to the workpiece38and to reduce cutting tool60vibration. (SeeFIG. 1).

FIGS. 2 and 3disclose the toolrest10positioned so that an operator can rest the cutting tool60(seeFIG. 1) against the first substantially horizontal member26and/or the second substantially horizontal member32to engage the outer surface64and/or bottom surfaces66of the workpiece38. (SeeFIGS. 4 and 6). The first substantially horizontal member26and second substantially horizontal member32are positioned adjacent to the workpiece38. The first substantially horizontal member26is parallel to the outer surface64of the workpiece38, thus allowing the operator to use the cutting tool60(seeFIGS. 1, 4 and 6) to engage and thereby form the workpiece38. The operator can further shape the bottom surface66of the workpiece38by placing the tool60(seeFIGS. 1, 4 and 6) on the second substantially horizontal member32. The 90-degree angle turns of the one-piece metal construction (preferably alloy steel) and the rotational movement of the toolrest10around the vertical axis14allow the operator to safely and accurately employ a cutting tool60(seeFIG. 1) to engage the workpiece38in a multiple of positions and angles. As a result, the operator can safely employ the cutting tool60to engage both the inner surface62and the outer surface64of the workpiece38. (SeeFIGS. 1, 4 and 6).

FIGS. 4 and 6further demonstrate the versatility of the invention. The locking lever48associated with the receiving portion18can be positioned to allow rotation of the toolrest10within the bore16of the receiving portion18. Rotation of the toolrest10about the vertical axis14provides the operator with multiple angles whereby to engage the workpiece38with the cutting tool60(seeFIG. 1) as the workpiece38rotates about a central horizontal axis58. The locking lever48attached to the receiving portion18may be adjusted to allow horizontal rotation of the toolrest10about the vertical axis14to allow the operator to engrave the workpiece38along a horizontal plane. The locking lever48associated with the receiving portion18may be used to position the toolrest10in the desired position relative to the workpiece38to reduce vibration of the cutting tool60(seeFIG. 1) placed upon the toolrest10. InFIG. 4, the second substantially horizontal member32is positioned substantially parallel to the central horizontal axis56of the lathe42and the first substantially horizontal member26is substantially perpendicular to the central horizontal axis56of the lathe42.

Referring toFIG. 5, an enlarged view of the set-screw collar46and locking lever48relative to the toolrest10and receiving portion18of the lathe tool carriage is shown. The set-screw collar46includes a threaded set screw68positioned within and extending through a corresponding threaded passage (not shown) of the set-screw collar46for maintaining the height of the toolrest10relative to the receiving portion18and thus the workpiece38.

InFIG. 6, the first substantially horizontal member26is positioned substantially parallel to the central horizontal axis56of the lathe42and the second substantially horizontal member32is positioned substantially perpendicular to the central horizontal axis56of the lathe42, thus providing additional angles and positions for engaging the workpiece38with the cutting tool60. (SeeFIG. 1). In view of the increased range of positions and angles of the toolrest10relative to conventional toolrests, the operator is able, for example, to engage the inner surface62of the workpiece38and the bottom surface66of the workpiece38.

Although the embodiments described herein primarily apply to woodturning lathes, it will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be applied to other types of lathes including those used for metal working. Thus, the foregoing description should not be construed as limiting the invention to the embodiments described or to lathes suitable only for woodturning.