Saw having movable table and saw blade

A compact tile saw which is especially adaptable for cutting of large-sized tiles wherein the table supporting the tile is movable towards the cutting saw, while at the same time the cutting saw is positionable in one of two positions of either being stationary or in moving in unison towards the table supporting the tile to be cut.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to compact saws of the type that are usually used 
for the cutting of tiles and the like. 
In the laying of ceramic tile that is ubiquitous in kitchens and bathrooms, 
it is necessary for the tile cutter to have an easily transportable and 
compact cutter by which tile segments may be made as by cutting or the 
like. The most efficient and workmanlike result that is obtained is by far 
achieved through a ceramic tile saw, with which this invention is 
primarily directed. The tile saw is relatively lightweight, is fairly 
compact, and because of the ability to have the saw and table, mounting 
the tile to be cut, movable towards and away from each other, the tile saw 
of the invention is capable of handling relatively large-sized tiles for 
its size even of the type that would normally be used in entry ways, 
foyers, and the like, as well as countertops and bathroom walls. 
Additionally, the tile saw of the invention may function as a regular saw, 
wherein the saw is fixed and the table moves towards the saw in the usual 
manner. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
While the prior art has taught the use of movable tables relative to a saw 
blade, none of the prior art currently known teaches having the table and 
saw member move towards each other in unison fashion or, wherein the saw 
member may be made stationary while the table with the tile to be cut 
thereon moves towards it. 
Furthermore, while ceramic tile and the like saws have been known and are 
extensively used in the prior art, the tile saws currently available are 
either very large in order to accommodate large-sized tiles and thus, 
awkward to carry from job site to job site or involve mechanisms which 
require the utilization of both hands of the operator: one operating the 
saw blade to move it across the tile while the other hand holds the tile 
to be cut. With the herein disclosed invention, both hands of the operator 
may be used to move the tile supporting table, thus decreasing the 
possible occurrence of hazardous accidents. 
Additionally, the prior art devices have suffered in the manner in which 
mechanical linkage of the movable table has been made with respect to the 
frame or support structure therefor. That is, generally speaking, the 
mounting mechanism after a certain amount of wear and tear, does not allow 
for the accurate guiding of table to the saw blade thusly, not obtaining 
true and accurate cuts so that recutting is often times necessary. With 
the horizontally positioned track and wheel combination of the current 
tile saw, this side to side "slop" is substantially negated and also, 
allows for easy relative movement by reason of similar mounting of the 
table of the saw and table towards each other to accomplish the desiratum 
of a compact tile saw cutter. 
The prior art consists of the following: 
______________________________________ 
U.S. PAT. NO. 
INVENTOR ISSUED 
______________________________________ 
2,241,142 KVALHEIM MAY 06, 1941 
3,090,615 MAY MAY 21. 1963 
3,807,095 HARDING APR 30, 1974 
3,844,269 RATER OCT 29, 1974 
4,105,012 HINI AUG 08, 1978 
4,393,450 JERARD JUL 12, 1983 
4,940,038 O'KEEFE JUL 10, 1990 
4,976,251 SMITH DEC 11, 1990 
4,991,354 SCHWEICKHARDT FEB 12, 1991 
5,127,391 O'KEEFE JUL 07, 1992 
5,179,806 BROWN JAN 19, 1993 
5,331,743 LUMP JUL 26, 1994 
5,398,458 HENRIKSEN MAR 21, 1995 
5,482,026 RUSSELL JAN 09, 1996 
5,542,325 BANE, III AUG 06, 1996 
5,605,141 BILOTTA FEB 25, 1997 
______________________________________ 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a compact, easily carried saw comprising the 
combination of a frame means, having a pair of opposed, elongate rail 
members, a saw blade means operatively mounted on said elongate rail 
members for one of a selected position, comprising stationary and linearly 
movable; a table member operatively mounted on said frame means for linear 
movement towards and away from said saw blade means, and means adapted to 
coordinate unison of movement of said saw blade means when in said 
linearly movable position with said table member. Additionally, the 
elongate rail members have upper and lower tracks for cooperative 
engagement of the saw blade means and the table member so that the same 
may move relative to each other. To accommodate even larger tiles, the saw 
blade means is mounted to the frame means by an unshaped bracket support 
that projects outboard or outwardly of the central longitudinal axis of 
the frame means. The table member may also be mounted for rotatable 
movement relative to the saw blade means. 
It is an object of the invention to provide a compact, easily carried saw 
for cutting of ceramic tile which is relatively lightweight and which does 
not take up much space with respect to its overall dimensions. 
It is another important object of the invention to provide a compact tile 
saw for accommodation of large tiles, wherein the saw blade mechanism is 
either positionable in a fixed position relative to its support or in a 
movable position to move towards and away from a table which mounts the 
tile to be cut, which is similarly mounted. 
It is another important object of the invention to provide a compact tile 
saw wherein the saw blade means and table member supporting the tile to be 
cut are mounted for movement towards and away from each other in unison by 
reason of a pulley system. 
It is still another object of the invention to provide a compact tile saw 
wherein a frame member has dual or upper and lower tracks and wherein the 
saw blade means and the table member are mounted on rollers adapted to be 
cooperatively guided in a horizontal fashion for linear movement with 
respect to each other. 
It is still a specific object of the invention to provide a compact saw 
blade means wherein the same is movably mounted on a frame as is a table 
member and wherein, the saw blade means is supported in cutting position 
by means of an outboard support bracket to further accommodate large-sized 
tiles. 
It is still a more specific object of the invention to provide a relatively 
compact, easily carried tile saw, which is capable of accommodating very 
large tiles for its size and to be able to cut the tiles with a high 
degree of precision not usually associated with tile cutters of its size. 
These and other important objects of the invention will become more 
apparent from the hereinafter following commentary taken in conjunction 
with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate like 
elements throughout, it will be seen that the compact tile saw 2 of the 
invention comprises basic frame means 4 in this instance consisting of two 
opposed, elongate, parallel members 6 and 8, having what may be considered 
upper track 10 and lower track 12 on elongate rail 6 and upper rail 14 and 
lower rail 16 on elongate member 8 for purposes to be described. 
It will be noted that opposed bar members 18 and 20 complete the frame 
means 4 which is characterized as having a rectangular configuration with 
the short ends 18 and 20 providing rigidity and terminating in foot 
members 22, 24, 26 and 28, thereby forming a raised frame means 4, which 
may sit upon a counter or floor where the tile saw 2 is to be utilized. 
Secured to side rails 6 and 8 in cooperative relationship therewith is saw 
blade means 30, mounted on carriage means 31, comprising crossed bar 
members 32 and 34 to which are secured plates 36 and 38, mounting rolling 
wheels 40 in secure relationship to lower track 12 to thereby allow saw 
means 30 to move linearly towards and away from the end of frame means 4 
and, more specifically, cross-bar member 20, and the table that will 
support the tile, as will be described. 
Cross-bars 32 and 34 extend outward or outboard of the elongate side rail 
member 8 and has a u-shaped configuration formed by upper bar 42, center 
bar 44, which is welded or otherwise secured to the extending bars 32 and 
34. The terminus of upper bar 42 terminates in motor bracket 46 which is 
adapted to retain motor 48 having sawguard 50 and circular saw blade 52 in 
association therewith and being secured in rigid relationship with respect 
to motor bracket 46. Motor 48 has typical on and off switch 54 with 
electrical power supply cord 56. 
Positioned beneath frame means 4 is rectangular lubricant pan 60 suitable 
to contain lubricant, such as water, which is pumped by submersible pump 
62 via lubricant supply tube 63 to the cutting surface of the tile not 
shown and at the contact point of the tile with saw blade 52 which not 
only lubricates the saw blade 52, but also cuts down on the dust 
associated with sawing through a ceramic tile, as those in the art will 
well recognize. Power cord 64 runs along with hose 68, from submersible 
pump 62 to motor 48 by which power is supplied. 
Locking pin 70 cooperates with spaced holes 72 in side rail member 8 to 
enable the saw blade means 30 and, more specifically, the carriage means 
31 which mounts the saw blade means 30 on the lower track 12 to be moved 
in a longitudinal manner along the longitudinal axis of frame means 4 and 
to rigidly position the saw blade means 30 in a stationary position, as 
will be described. 
Locking pin 70 is spring-biased so that it is urged into a locked position 
with one of the selected apertures 70, and merely pulling on the ring 74 
causes disengagement of the locking pin 70, and rotation thereof keeps the 
pin 70 in the disengaged position. Situated opposite the saw means 30 is 
table assembly 80, comprising a platten or table 82, having grooves 84 for 
purposes well known in the art and wherein, table assembly 80 comprises a 
carriage system similar to that previously discussed for the saw means 30 
and, in this particular instance, consisting of rectangular plates 86 and 
88 having horizontally mounted pulley wheels 90, and engaging the upper 
track 10 of rails 6 and 8, so that the table assembly 80 is linearly 
movable towards and away from the saw means 30. The platten or table 82 
which forms a support surface for a tile (not shown) to be cut is mounted 
on what may be considered swivel plate assembly 90, comprising opposed 
plates 92 and 94, and having ball bearings there between, such that the 
table 82 may be freely rotatable through 360.degree. relative to the table 
assembly 80, to which it is connected. Obviously, other means of 
supporting the table 82 would suffice as well, and in its simplest form, 
it will be contemplated that a simple stud or post pivot be utilized to 
support the table 82 in rotative fashion within table assembly 80, thereby 
dispensing with the more complicated and costly ball bearing mechanism in 
the assembly as shown. 
Proximate the mid-section of cross bars 18 and 20, are mounted in aligned 
relationship, via mounting plates 100 and 102, mobibus wheel elements 104 
and 106 here taking the configuration of pulley wheels which are mounted 
for rotational movement with respect to the mounting plates 100 and 102, 
respectively. A cable, belt, chain or in this particular instance cord, 
made of high strength nylon for example, 108 forms a mobibus loop through 
which unison of movement between saw blade means 30 and table assembly 80 
is achieved. 
Beneath table 82 is positioned locking assembly 110 which in this 
particular instance comprises lever arm 112 which is pivotally mounted to 
cam 114, secured to the table assembly and, more specifically, the under 
carriage thereof, such that rotation of the lever 112 into a full engaging 
position engages the cam 114 with pulley cord 108 so as to enable table 
assembly 80 to move should the cord 108 be moved. The rotation of the 
lever 112 in the opposite direction releases the camming action so as to 
release any unison of movement between table assembly 80 and the mobibus 
cord 108, thereby allowing table assembly 80 with a positioned tile 
thereon for example, to freely move towards and away from saw blade means 
30. In this free-moving position, and assuming that the saw blade means 30 
is locked in position, as earlier described, the tile saw 2 of this 
invention acts much like a conventional tile saw, at least with respect to 
the cutting operation. 
However, when the locking pin 70 is disengaged from the aligned 
corresponding aperture 72, the saw blade means 30 and table assembly 80 
now move in unison towards each other, in a linear fashion, by reason of 
the engagement of the saw blade means 30 having connecting mechanism 120, 
in this particular instance comprising clamp 122, which clamps in a 
captive relationship the cord 108 relative to the saw means 30 and, more 
specifically, to the cross-supporting bars 32 and 34. 
Thus, when the camming mechanism for table assembly 80 is disengaged and 
the locking pin 70 of the saw means 30 is disengaged, the table assembly 
80 and the saw means 30 move in unison by reason of being attached to the 
same mobibus cord 108 so that movement of the table assembly 80 in 
direction of the saw means 30 causes translation of movement of the saw 
blade means 30 towards table 82 and vice versa. However, in practice, once 
a tile is placed on the table support formed by table 82, the tile setter 
will push the table and, more specifically, the end 83, having an 
upstanding ridge 85 by which to confine the tile towards the saw means 30 
to thereby engage the saw blade 52 with the ceramic tile to cut the same. 
Obviously, in the position shown for table 82, longitudinal cuts of a 
ceramic tile, for example, are contemplated. 
However, in order to accommodate cutting on a diagonal, for example, there 
are positioned on either end of table 82, rotatable stops 130, which may 
be rotated into upstanding position as shown in FIG. 1, in order to lend 
greater support, edge wise, for a tile that would be configured to be 
received within the confines of the upstanding supports 130. Obviously, 
where a larger tile is contemplated, the upstanding supports 130, would be 
rotated in a downward position so as to lie below the plane of table 82 to 
accommodate larger sized tiles. Additionally, in order to obtain diagonal 
cuts, for example, or to accommodate other types of cuts and larger tiles, 
the table assembly 80 is configured to rotate through 360.degree. circle, 
as previously described and, in order to make the table 82 stationary, 
there is provided spring detent 140, having projecting stub shaft or bolt 
142, which projects into one of a plurality of holes 144 formed in the 
bottom of table 82, to thereby rigidly position table 82, in either the 
position shown in FIG. 1 or that shown in dotted line in FIG. 2. 
EXAMPLE 
To test the efficacy of the tile saw cutter of the invention, a structure 
was built essentially as shown in the drawings, wherein the overall length 
of the longest part of the cutter 2 or, more specifically, side frames 6 
and 8, were approximately 18 inches long, with the width including side 
rails in the shorter direction or for the supports 18 and 20 being 
approximately 10 inches in width thereby providing a frame means about 18 
inches.times.10 inches with legs being approximately 41/2 inches high. The 
saw blade means 30 support structure and, more specifically, the u-shaped 
arm 42 was extending out from rail member 8 about 51/2 inches with the 
vertical support being approximately 53/4 inches high. The table 
dimensions of table 82 are approximately 101/2 inches wide by about 93/4 
inches long up to the retaining ridge 85. The motor was of appropriate 
power and, in this particular instance was one horsepower, capable of 
10,000 rpm and adapted to carry a 41/2 inch saw blade. 
The thusly configured and constructed compact tile saw 2, is not only 
lightweight for easy carrying but also because of its compact size, is 
easy to use, for example, in cramped quarters or on countertops when the 
tile setter, for example, may be laying tile to form a counter. The tile 
cutter 2 is found to fulfill all the requirements for its size of handling 
large sized tiles, is convenient and efficient to utilize in that the two 
hands of the operator, where the saw means is in a stationary position, 
may be used to move the table 82 towards the stationary saw, and where the 
saw means 30 is intended to be movable in unison with the table assembly 
80, it is found that much larger sized tiles may be cut and worked upon 
then would be the case if the saw means 30 were stationary. 
Thus, there has been disclosed a compact tile saw which is easily handled, 
of relatively low cost construction, of rigid construction to be 
relatively fault free in operation, and particularly suited to negate the 
inaccuracies that would occur by reason for example, of the table and saw 
being mounted on vertical mounted wheels as opposed to horizontally 
mounted wheels as disclosed herein. 
While specific structures have been shown, it is only important to enjoy 
the essence of the invention that the table and saw be movable towards and 
away from each other in unison, and in the manner disclosed. While it is 
desirable to have horizontal wheels other means may be used, and for that 
matter mounting inside and on the outside of the rails, as opposed to the 
upper and lower mounting as disclosed. For example, a singular dual track 
member may be used to vertically mount wheel or guide members for the saw 
blade means and table means. Additionally, one may wish to have the saw 
blade means and table means operatively mounted for unison of movement 
with no provision for the saw blade means to be stationary. All such 
modifications and alterations will suggest themselves to those of ordinary 
skill in the art and all such changes and modifications, as well as 
others, are intended to be covered by the appended claims.