Adjustable work piece positioning tool

A work piece positioning tool is disclosed. The tool includes a first leg and a second leg that have work piece abutting surfaces. Cooperative pivoting elements adjacent an end portion of each of the first and second legs are used for connecting the legs together in a plurality of relative angular orientations. The tool can be used in combination with first and second workpieces and first and second clamps to hold the first and second work pieces together at a desired angle.

BACKGROUND

Tools for use in aligning work pieces together are well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,073 shows a tool10for aligning work pieces at a right angle. This tool10is also shown inFIGS. 1 and 2of the present disclosure. The tool10has a first leg12connected to a second leg14, at a right angle, and is of one-piece construction. One or more clamps50are used to secure the tool to two work piece components to align them at a right angle to each other for further processing. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,073, the tool10may also include slots to accommodate other tools such as drill bits, screw drivers, etc.

While the tool10illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,073 has proved quite effective for aligning two work piece components at a right angle for further processing, it is limited to right angle orientations. One-piece tools of this type have proven quite useful for right angle clamping of work piece components. In addition, one-piece tools of this type have been proposed for other angular orientations (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. D426,127, where the smaller angle between two legs is 135°, and the larger angle between those legs is 225°). However, work piece component orientations can only be arranged with respect to the fixed angle (right angle or otherwise) of the one-piece tool.

SUMMARY

A work piece positioning tool is disclosed. The tool includes a first leg and a second leg that have work piece abutting surfaces. Cooperative pivoting elements adjacent an end portion of each of the first and second legs are used for connecting the legs together in a plurality of relative angular orientations. The tool can be used in combination with first and second workpieces and first and second clamps to hold the first and second work pieces together at a selected angle.

A method of using an adjustable work piece positioning tool includes positioning a first leg of the tool against a first work piece and a second leg of the tool against a second workpiece. An angular orientation between the first leg and the second leg is selected such that an angular orientation between the first work piece and the second work piece is substantially the same as the angular orientation between the first leg and the second leg. Clamps can be used to hold the first leg against the first work piece and second leg against the second work piece.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the claimed subject matter, and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments.

While the above-identified figures set forth one embodiment of the present invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the disclosure. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 3-7illustrate an adjustable tool60of the present invention. The adjustable tool has a first leg62and a second leg64. In one embodiment first leg62and second leg64are made from high-impact rigid polycarbonate for strength and accuracy. The first leg62has a free end66and a pivotal end68. Second leg64likewise has a free end70and a pivotal end72. The legs62and64are selectively held together and secured into a desired relative angular orientation by a tightening system which includes a tightening nut65.

Adjacent its free end66, the first leg62is generally “I” shaped in lateral cross section, with inner and outer parallel and planar flanges74and76, respectively, provided on opposite sides of a central panel78. On a top side of the central panel78(as seen inFIGS. 3,6,7,8,10and11), the central panel78has a peripheral rim80which is generally continuous from the free end66to the pivot end68, with rim80projecting upwardly from the central panel78. A plurality of lateral stiffening ribs82also project outwardly from the central panel78, between the inner and outer flanges74and76. The rim80is circular about a pivot shoulder84adjacent the pivot end68of the first leg62.

On its bottom side, central panel78also has a rim projecting therefrom, as shown by rim86inFIG. 12. Rim86extends from adjacent the free end66of the first leg62along its periphery but stops short of the pivot end68and has a pivot stop triangular wall portion86adefined by angle walls88and90which are disposed at 45° angles relative to the inner flange74and outer flange76, respectively. The pivot shoulder84on the top side of the central panel78is concentric about a pivot axis for the tool10. On the bottom side of the central panel78(seeFIG. 12), the first leg62has a female cylindrical bore91, and a plurality of radially oriented rib or teeth features92formed thereon, both of which are also aligned about the pivot axis for the tool10(the rib or teeth features92radiate outwardly from the pivot axis). A plurality of lateral stiffening ribs93are also provided on the bottom side of the central portion78, extending between the inner and outer flanges74and76.

Adjacent its free end70, the second leg64is also generally “I” shaped in lateral cross section, with inner and outer parallel and planar flanges94and96, respectively, provided on opposite sides of a central panel98. On a top side of the central panel98(as seen inFIGS. 3,6,7,8,10and14), the central panel98has a peripheral rim99which extends from the free end70but stops short of the pivot end72and has a pivot stop triangular wall portion99adefined by angle walls100and101which are disposed at 45° angles relative to the inner flange94and outer flange96, respectively. The rim99and angle walls100and101project upwardly from the central panel98. A plurality of lateral stiffening ribs102also project upwardly from the central panel98, between the inner and outer flanges94and96.

Adjacent to pivot end72, a male cylindrical portion104projects upwardly from the central panel98, concentric about the pivot axis for the tool10. The male cylindrical portion104of the second leg64is formed to be pivotally received within the female cylindrical bore91of the first leg62. A plurality of radially oriented rib or teeth features105are formed on the top side of the central panel98(seeFIG. 14), and are aligned to radiate outwardly from the pivot axis of the tool10. On its bottom side, central panel98has a peripheral rim projecting therefrom, as shown by rim106inFIG. 13. Rim106extends from adjacent the free end70of the second leg64and is generally continuous to the pivot end72thereof. A plurality of lateral stiffening ribs112also project outwardly from the bottom side of the central panel98, between the inner and outer flanges94and96. The rim106is circular about a pivot cylinder114adjacent to pivot end72of the first leg64. The pivot cylinder114is also concentric about the pivot axis for the tool10.

As so constructed, each leg is rigid and presents right angle surfaces between outer faces of each of its ribs and its respective inner planar flange, planar outer flange and free end (which is also formed as a generally planar panel). The first and second legs62and64are pivotally connected together by a tightening system about the pivot axis. The tightening system includes a tightening nut65which is typically threadably received on an axial threaded shaft115(seeFIGS. 4,5,6and7). The shaft115is affixed to the second leg64, may extend through the pivot cylinder114thereof, and projects upwardly from the top side of the central panel98of the second leg64through a hole in the pivot shoulder84of the first leg62. When so assembled, the male cylindrical portion104is received within the female cylindrical bore91. A spring116may be disposed between a bottom surface of the tightening nut65and the pivot shoulder84to assist in urging the components away from each other when the tightening nut65is not tightened down onto the threaded shaft115to allow for easier pivoting of first leg62with respect to second leg64without interference of pivoting elements on first leg62and second leg64.

In operation, the tightening nut65is turned to loosen it on the threaded shaft115(moving away from the pivot shoulder84), thereby allowing disengagement of the opposed rib or teeth features on the two legs and allowing relative pivoting of the first leg62and second leg64. The legs may be pivoted through a range of motion illustrated inFIG. 5, so that they may be aligned relative to each other at angles ranging from 45° to 315°. Relative orientation of legs may be at any position from 45° to 315° in the embodiment illustrated (or may be incremental such as, for example, in 5° increments). The positions of the legs may be established by gradients, established by the interrelationship of the rib or teeth features92and105which are in engagement when the first and second legs62and64are secured together.

FIG. 5illustrates second leg64fixed in place (at the six o'clock position), with first leg62being moved through common angular orientations, with many of those orientations shown in phantom. Once a desired angular orientation is achieved, the tightening nut65is tightened down onto the threaded shaft115and against force of the spring thereon to securely fasten the first leg62relative to the second leg64. The interfitting rib or teeth features92and105serve to additionally lock the first and second legs62and64in the desired orientation, so that they cannot be moved until the pressure exerted by the tightening nut65is released axially.

FIG. 4illustrates the adjustable angle tool60of the present invention in use relative to work pieces W5and W6. One or more clamps50include jaws are secured between a work piece face and one of the flanges on each of the legs of the adjustable tool60. Prior to the work pieces being clamped in place relative to the adjustable tool60, the adjustable tool60has been oriented to a desired angular orientation of the first and second legs62and64and the tightening system then activated to secure the legs in those relative orientations. InFIG. 4, that angular orientation is illustrated as approximately 170°.

InFIG. 10, that angular orientation is illustrated as 45° as measured by the smaller angle between the legs (or 315° as measured by the larger angle between the legs).FIGS. 8 and 9also illustrate a 45°/315° angular orientation. In the configurations shown inFIGS. 8,9and10, one of the angle walls on each leg abuts a flange on the other leg. For instance, as seen inFIG. 10, the angle leg100on second leg64abuts the inner flange74on the first leg62.

FIG. 7illustrates the adjustable tool60in a 60° orientation as measured by the smaller angle between the legs (or a 300° orientation as measured by the larger angle between the legs). A user may be guided in aligning the two legs relative to one another by using visible angular indicia adjacent the pivot ends68and72of the first and second legs62and64, respectively. Such indicia are illustrated inFIG. 10as indicia117, and may include opposed alignment marks on the two legs.

The adjustable angle tool of the present invention thus provides a device and method for establishing a predetermined angular orientation of the tool. Work pieces are disposed adjacent the tool and affixed thereto by clamps or other suitable means so that the work pieces assume the desired angular orientation. Once clamped to the adjustable angle tool of the present invention, further processing of the work pieces can then be accomplished (such as joining them together) while the work pieces are maintained in the desired angular orientation. Once the work pieces have been suitably joined or processed as desired, the clamps and adjustable angle tool can then be removed therefrom. The adjustable angle tool can then be reconfigured to a different angular orientation for further use, as desired.