# Patent

## Title
Adjustable flip stop assembly for positioning a work piece

## Abstract

An improved adjustable work stop device for use in positioning work pieces which for machining purposes are clamped in a vice or other clamping means. The work stop comprises a laterally adjustable base, a flipper mount with flip arm movable in a vertical direction and lockable into desire position thereto, a flip arm with a positioner which is pivotably secured and rotates away from the work piece without scrubbing the work piece surface whereby clearance for machining, work or the like is accomplished on the butted side of the work piece.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/250,721 filed 2009 Oct. 12 by the present inventor.


FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
None
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
None
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
This relates to work positioning for CNC and manual machining, specifically to the use of stops for time saving and precision machining where one or multiple set-ups may be required.
2. Prior Art
In a working or manufacturing environment, the need to quickly set up for production impacts profitability. In addition to quick set up is the need for accuracy in repeatability, to repeat the work piece positioning quickly and accurately.
Several work stops have been patented. U.S. Pat. D264216 to Saupe and Crawford (1982), D269518 to Karlan (1983), U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,029,967 to Wolfe (2000), 4,030,718 to Philipoff (1977) lack the allowance for free access to the work piece on the side of the work stop without unclamping and again having to handle and re-setup the work piece, using time and therefore cost.
There are a couple of work stops which do move away for machining, however they will scrub against the work piece thereby causing imprecision in the current work piece or a future work piece—for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,686 to Storkh (1974) and U.S. Pat. D535671 to Bernhardt (2007).










REFERENCES CITED
















U.S. Pat. No. 1,068,170
DRILL BRACKET


U.S. Pat. No. 1,071,289
WORK HOLDING BLOCK


U.S. Pat. No. 2,450,931
CHUCK


U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,686
SELF-CENTERING VISE FOR 



CYLINDRICAL OR TAPERED WORK PCS


U.S. Pat. No. 2,823,567
VISE ROD MOUNTING A FIXED JAW & 



ADJUSTABLE FULCROMED PIVOT


U.S. Pat. No. 2,913,019
TOOL HOLDER


U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,930
HOLDING TONGS


U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,311
LOCATING STOP FOR WORK TO BE 



MACHINED


U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,686
STOP DEVICES


U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,557
QUICK-LOCKING MACHINE STOP


U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,816
FIXTURE BLOCK SERVING AS A 



MANUFACTURING ACCESSORY


U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,718
UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE VISE STOP


U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,802
AUTOMATED DEVICE


U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,767
SYSTEM & METHOD FOR POSITIONING 



WORK PIECES IN CNC MACHINE


U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,965
METHOD OF DEFLECTING WORKPIECE TO 



ESTABLISH RIGIDITY


U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,568
COUPLER FOR CABLE CONVEYORS


U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,555
MULTI-POSITION ADJUSTABLE WORK 



STOP ASSEMBLY


U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,861
WORKPIECE STOP DEVICE


U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,967
WORK STOP SYSTEM & JAW PLATE FOR 



HOLDING THE SAME


U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,312
WORKPIECE CLAMPING SYSTEM


U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,703
CLAMPING/SECURING/CONNECTING 



SYSTEM


U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,601
FLY TYPING DEVICE


U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,642
WORKPIECE GUIDE W/POSITIONABLE 



GUIDE SURFACE


U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,973
AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTABLE 



POSITIONING STOP FOR MACHINING 



TABLE


U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,601
MECHANICAL STOP SYSTEM


U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,997
STRAIGHT EDGE CLAMPING DEVICE FOR 



CLAMPING WORKPIECE


U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,125
VISE STOP


U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,792
VISE JAW W/WORK STOP


U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,968
INSERTA CLAMP


U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,855
VICE JAW W/WORK STOP


U.S. Pat. D231663
LOCATING STOP FOR WORK TO BE 



MACHINED


U.S. Pat. D232761
TOOL HOLDER FOR A LATHE TOOL OR 



SIMILAR ARTICLE


U.S. Pat. D239131
FLEXIBLE INSTRUMENT HOLDER & 



POSITIONER


U.S. Pat. D255578
GRINDING & MACHINE DOG


U.S. Pat. D264216
ADJUSTABLE STOP FOR POSITIONING A 



WORKPIECE IN MILL MACHINE


U.S. Pat. D269518
MILLING MACHINE TABLE STOP OR 



SIMILAR ARTICLE


U.S. Pat. D271772
GRINDING FIXTURE


U.S. Pat. D294587
TOOL HOLDER FOR A DRILL BIT OR THE 



LIKE


U.S. Pat. D302277
T-NUT WORKHOLDER CLAMP


U.S. Pat. D336481
COLLET HOLDING FIXTURE


U.S. Pat. D535671
ADJUSTABLE TABLE TOP WORKSTOP 



ASSEMBLY FOR MACHINE TABLES


U.S. Pat. D578145
ADJUSTABLE WORK STOP ASSY


U.S. Pat. PG 1515
MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO CATALOG 



2008/2009









Thus several advantages of one or more aspects are to provide a faster, therefore less costly and more accurate work stop. Other advantages of one or more aspects are to allow for machining, work or the like to occur on the butted side of the work piece. These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become apparent from the description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
In accordance with one embodiment, the adjustable flip stop is typically mounted to a surface or structure where a work piece, component or the like is moved against the adjustable flip stop for positioning the work piece.



DRAWINGS-FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable flip stop according to the present embodiment
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustable flip stop with the flip arm pivoted open The dotted lines are for illustrative purposes only and are not part of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the adjustable flip stop according to the present embodiment
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the adjustable flip stop according to the present embodiment













DRAWINGS-REFERENCE NUMERALS


















 6
left support shaft



 8 
slide support



10 
flipper mount



12 
large spring pin



14 
spring pin



16 
pivot pin



18 
positioner



20 
flip arm



22 
lock nut



24 
screws (3 Xs)



26 
bottom screws



28 
knob



30 
spanner nut



32 
screw



34 
lock pin



36 
inside dowels



38 
inside screw



40 
stop base



42 
right support shaft









DETAILED DESCRIPTION
First Embodiment—FIGS. 1-4
One embodiment can be constructed of steel. A stop base 40 is connected to two support shafts 42 and 6 and held together with a screw 24. In the LH support shaft 6 are two spring pins 14. Attached to the support shaft 42 and 6 is a slide support 8. Holding the position of the slide support 8 on the support shaft 42 and support shaft 6 are the two screws 24. Mounted on the slide support 8 is a flipper mount 10. The flipper mount 10 is positioned by two dowels 36. The flipper mount is fastened by one screw 24. A flip arm 20 is attached to the flipper mount 10 using the dowel 36. Inside the flipper mount 10 contains a spring pin 12 which positions the flip arm 20 in the down position. A lock pin 34 slides in the flipper mount 10 to secure the flip arm 20 in place. A knob 28 is threaded onto a lock pin 34. The lock pin 34 is kept from being totally removed from the flipper mount 10 with a spanner nut 30. The spanner nut is held in position with a screw 32. The flipper mount 10 is positioned and secured to the slide support 8 using two inside dowels 36 and an inside screw 38. A positioner 18 is threaded into the flip arm 20. The positioner 18 is held in location with a locknut 22.
OPERATION
First Embodiment—FIGS. 1-4
The stop base 40 is secured to the table of a machine or any mounting work surface. The slots in the stop base 40 allow locating anywhere within range of the slots, thus allowing versatile locating. The stop base 40 provides a secure mounting surface for the support shafts 42 and 6. The support shafts 42 and 6 fit into a counter bore on the stop base 40 for exact locating. The screws 26 lock them into place. The upper spring pin 14 in the LH support shaft 6 keeps the slide support 8 from being removed from the support shafts 42 and 6. This prevents the slide support 8 and the like from falling off for safety purposes while the slide support 8 is in the upward position. The lower spring pin 12 keeps the support shaft 42 and 6 from meeting the stop base 40 to eliminate a pinch point for safety purposes. The slide support 8 slides on the support shafts 42 and 6 for adjustment of the adjustable flip stop. The slide support 8 is held in location using two screws 24 as they tighten against a flattened portion of support shafts 42 and 6. The flipper mount 10 is positioned on the slide support 8 using two dowels 36. The screw 24 holds the flipper mount 10 tight to the slide support 8. The flipper mount 10 holds the flip arm 20. The flipper mount 10 keeps the flip arm 20 secure from moving side to side for accurate positioning. The flip arm 20 is attached to the flipper mount 10 using the pivot pin 16 in the flipper mount 10. The pivot pin 16 allows the flip arm 20 to pivot, rotate or swing at least 180 degrees for accurate positioning and clearance for machining or the like. The flip arm 20 is held in place using the lock pin 34 which slides through two holes in the flipper mount 10 and one hole in the flip arm 20 which locks it into place. While gripping the knob 28 attached to the lock pin 34 pull away from the adjustable flip stop. This allows the flip arm 20 to pivot a least 180 degrees from the original part positioning location, which enables clearance for machining or other processes required. When the flip arm 20 is pivoted back to the positioning location, then push inward on the knob 28, this secures the lock pin 34 in the flip arm 20 for accurate positioning. The spanner nut 30 is used to keep the lock pin 34 from pulling out as it fits into a machined flattened side of the lock pin 34. The spanner nut 30 is locked into position using the screw 32. The positioner 18 is used for fine adjustment to locate a part, component or the like. Simply rotate clock-wise or counter-clockwise to adjust. The lock nut 22 fixes the positioner 18 into operator's desired location.
A unique feature is the location of the pivot pin 16 to the positioner 18. The pivot point is below the center line of the positioner 18. This allows the positioner 18 end to pivot in a backwards motion, therefore the positioner 18 does not scrub against the part.
DESCRIPTION
Alternative Embodiment
Another embodiment is various possibilities as to construction materials of the adjustable flip stop, such as:

    
    
        Stainless steel
        Aluminum
        Plastics
        Wood
        Brass
    
    


Another embodiment is the adjustable flip stop could be made in various sizes.
Another embodiment is individual parts of the adjustable flip stop may be comprised of various shapes.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
Thus the reader will see that while the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiments, but as examples of some of the presently preferred embodiments. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the designs of the various embodiments. For example, the embodiments can have different lengths, shapes, and sizes. In addition, the embodiments' can be manufactured from alternate materials such as, but not limited to aluminum, brass, stainless steel, 9i-pp most all ferrous and non-ferrous metals and plastics. Furthermore, the work stop could be plated, painted or coated and the like thereby changing the color and finish.
Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claim and its legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.

## Claims

1. A device for use in positioning work pieces for machining, working, a variety of purposes, and said workpieces which are clamped in a vice or other clamping means, said device comprising:
a. a base to support positioning of a work piece for machining, work or a variety of purposes;
b. a plurality of support shafts having a vertical axis mounted on said base;
c. a means for vertical movement slidably parallel to said support shafts;
d. a mounting means including a proximal and distal portion with said proximal portion being mounted on said means for vertical movement with respect to said base;
e. a flip arm mounted pivotably on said mounting means said proximal portion wherein said flip arm is accurately position with respect to said work piece and said flip arm rotates without contacting said work piece to allow for said machining, for said work or for said variety of purposes;
f. wherein said means for vertical movement comprises the slide support which has bored holes for said support shafts for vertical movement, screws in said slide support whereby fixing vertical location.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said base comprises slots parallel to allow for means of lateral movement of work stop.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said support shafts allow for vertical movement, said support shafts comprise of left and right sides and have a flat surface for locking means of vertical movement with screw wherein spring pins limit the means for vertical movement.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises of a flipper mount with means of fixing to said slide support and means of pivotably retracting flip arm and means to limit travel and means of locking a flip arm in place.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said means of fixing comprises of a screw and dowels and said means of pivotably retracting said flip arm comprises a pivot pin wherein said flip arm pivots around axis of said pivot pin and said means to limit travel comprises a large spring pin wherein said flip arm rests on said large spring pin wherein said means of lock comprises a lock pin.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein said means of lock comprises said lock pin with male thread to accommodate a knob wherein an opposing female thread allows attachment of a knob wherein said lock pin has flat surface so that a spanner nut limits travel of said lock pin wherein said spanner nut is held secure with a screw.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein said flip arm comprises a lock nut and a positioner thereby providing a means of abutment to work piece.

8. A device for use in positioning work pieces for machining, working, a variety of purposes, and said workpieces which are clamped in a vice or other clamping means, said device comprising:
a. a base to support positioning of a work piece for machining, work or a variety of purposes;
b. a plurality of support shafts having a vertical axis mounted on said base;
c. a means for vertical movement slidably parallel to said support shafts;
d. a mounting means including a proximal and distal portion with said proximal portion being mounted on said means for vertical movement with respect to said base;
e. a flip arm mounted pivotably on said mounting means said proximal portion wherein said flip arm is accurately position with respect to said work piece and said flip arm rotates without contacting said work piece to allow said machining, said work or said variety of purposes;
f. wherein said support shafts allow for vertical movement, said support shafts comprise of left and right sides and have a flat surface for locking means of vertical movement with screw wherein spring pins limit the means for vertical movement.

9. A device for use in positioning work pieces for machining, working, a variety of purposes, and said workpieces which are clamped in a vice or other clamping means, said device comprising:
a. a base to support positioning of a work piece for machining, work or a variety of purposes;
b. a plurality of support shafts having a vertical axis mounted on said base;
c. a means for vertical movement slidably parallel to said support shafts;
d. a mounting means including a proximal and distal portion with said proximal portion being mounted on said means for vertical movement with respect to said base;
e. a flip arm mounted pivotably on said mounting means said proximal portion wherein said flip arm is accurately position with respect to said work piece and said flip arm rotates without contacting said work piece to allow said machining, said work or said variety of purposes;
f. a means of fixing comprises of a screw, a lock pin and dowels and a means of pivotably retracting said flip arm comprises a pivot pin wherein said flip arm pivots around axis of said pivot pin and a means to limit travel comprises a large spring pin wherein said flip arm rests on said large spring pin.