Abstract:
The combination saw guide and gauge permits the use of a powered saw such as a circular, jig, or reciprocating saw to make cuts with precision presently requiring a table saw with a circular saw blade. The combination saw guide and gauge comprises a scale with at least one uppeer jaw that, in combination with at least one screw, serves to clamp the device to the base of the powered saw. The scale comprises a base, gradations, and at least one clearance into which a guide member can be inserted. The at least one clearance can be an aperture, a slot, or a groove. The gradations serve as a means of measurement. A purpose served by said means of measurement is enabling setting a width of material to be cut. The device is clampable onto a powered saw base such as is common to, but not restricted to, a circular, jib, or reciprocating saw. An optional guide flange on the scale permits a sawer to grasp and help guide the scale.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Par. 119(e)(i) applicant claims priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/089,605 of Jun. 17, 1998 and Ser. No. 60,094,488 of Jul. 29, 1998 with the same title, Combination Saw Guide and Gauge. 
    
    
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a combination saw guide and gauge, applicable to powered saws including, but not restricted to, circular, jig, and reciprocating. 
     2. Background Information 
     While powered circular, jig, and reciprocating saws are popular, table saws are required for accurate cutting. For example, to rip saw a plywood sheet that is 4 foot by 8 foot using a table saw, a working area with a length of 22 feet is required, along with either an assistant to help handle the material while it is being sawed or a larger work table requiring even more area. 
     Also, table saws with circular blades are very dangerous. The circular blade is exposed upward towards the user. Also, one is moving the work through the saw blade as opposed to moving the saw blade through the work. Table saws with circular blades are especially dangerous when used to saw shorter pieces because of the proximity of an operator to the exposed saw blade. As will be seen from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the abovementioned shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the present invention. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is a device which permits the use of a powered saw such as, but not restricted to, a circular, jig, or reciprocating saw to make cuts with precision presently requiring a table saw with a circular saw blade. The device comprises a scale with at least one jaw that in combination with a screw serves to clamp the device to the base of the powered saw. The scale includes at least one clearance into which in combination with a guide member and at least one screw, serves as a guide means. The device includes at least one guide means. The clearance can be an aperture, a slot, or a groove. The device is attachable to a powered saw such as, but not restricted to, a circular, jib, or reciprocating saw. An optional guide flange on the scale permits a sawer to grasp and help guide the scale. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a combination saw guide and gauge. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a base plate of a powered saw. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention which includes a slot as opposed to a multiplicity of apertures. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a second alternate embodiment of the present invention which includes a groove as opposed to a multiplicity of apertures. 
     FIG. 5 is a third embodiment with a different clamping mechanism and a different guide member arrangement. 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B are views of a third embodiment guide membeb FIG. 6 is a fourth embodiment with a different guide means. 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B further illustrate the guide means shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 7 is an alternate clamp screw. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the third embodiment guide assembly. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a combination saw guide and gauge  1  comprising a scale  20 , a short upper jaw  11 A, a long upper jaw  11 B, screws  14 , guide member  16 , and an optional guide flange  17 . The scale  20  comprises a base  10 , apertures  15 , and gradations  18 . The short upper jaw  11 A and the long upper jaw  11 B each contain at least one mount reinforcement  12  with a threaded clearance  13 . The guide member  16  has a head such that the guide member  16 , which fits in each of the apertures  15  will not pass through the aperture  15 , being restrained by the head of the guide member  16  which will ride on the surface of the scale  20 . Said guide member  16  being suitable for containment within each of the apertures  15 , thus serving as a guide means. While cutting a plywood panel with a powered saw, for example, the guide means can be set for the width of the cut, and would ride along the edge of the panel while the powered saw blade is cutting along a cut such as indicated by a dotted line  31  representing a line of cut as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The combination saw guide and gauge  1  is attachable to a powered saw base, such as is commonly found on powered circular saws, powered jig saws, and powered reciprocating saws. The powered saw base slips in between the upper jaws  11 A and  11 B, which are coupled to the base  10 , and the base  10  and the screws  14  which are inserted into the threaded clearances  13  are tightened to hold the combination saw guide and gage  1  in position on a powered saw base  30  (Ref. FIG.  2 ). The screws  14  serve as a means of holding the saw guide and gauge in position on the powered saw base  30 . 
     The guide member  16  is inserted through whichever of the apertures  15  provides the appropriate spacing between the guide member  16  and the powered saw. The guide member  16  has a head that holds the guide member  16  in position in the appropriate aperture  15 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide member  16  would be a six penny nail, which is a common nail in the carpentry trade. 
     The optional guide flange  17  is coupled to the scale  20  at an end distal from the upper jaws  11 A and  11 B. The guide flange  17  is used for longer embodiments of the combination saw guide and gage  1  so a sawer can manually stabilize the guiding action of the invention. This is a desirable feature when ripsawing wide cuts. An example of a wide cut is splitting a  4  foot by  8  foot sheet of plywood down the center. 
     The gradations  18  serve as a means of measurement. 
     FIG. 2 shows the combination saw guide and gauge  1  attached to the powered saw base  30  such as is common to a powered saw such as a circular, jig, or reciprocating saw. As previously mentioned, the dotted line  31  indicates the line of cut of the saw. The powered saw base  30  is contained between the upper jaws  11 A and  11 B and the base  10  of the scale  20 . The preferred materials of construction for the preferred embodiment of the present invention are metal. Aluminum has an advantage for weight and ease of forming. Steel has an advantage in terms of wear and strength. 
     The upper jaws  11 A and  11 B are affixed to the base  10  which extends from the scale  20 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the upper jaws  11 A and  11 B would be coupled to the base  10  by welding. However, as obvious to anyone skilled in the art, there are other ways to couple the upper jaws  11 A and  11 B to the base  10 . 
     The upper jaws  11 A and  11 B could be formed from the base  10 , but that results in a less rigid structure than is the case of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apertures  15  are staggered in rows to permit minute adjustments so as to enable relatively precise cuts. While two rows permit one eight inch adjustments with clearances of approximately {fraction (3/32)} inch diameters, more rows would permit more minute adjustments. A {fraction (3/32)} inch diamter clearance suffices for a six penny nail, which serves as a guide member  16  one of the apertures  15 , serving as a guide means for most cuts in lumber. 
     FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a slotted combination saw guide and gauge  201  comprising a slotted scale  220 , an upper jaw  211 A, a longer upper jaw  211 B, thumb screws  214 , slot guide clamp screw  216 , and an optional slot guide flange  217 . The slotted scale  220  comprises a slotted base  210 , a slot  230 , and slotted scale gradations  218 . The upper jaw  211 A and the longer upper jaw  211 B each contain at least one slotted base mount reinforcement  212  with a threaded aperture  213 . The slot guide clamp screw  216  fits through the slot  230  and into a slot guide threaded aperture  219  of a slot guide  215 . The slot guide  215  is positioned as desired, then clamped in position against the slotted scale  220  by tightening the slot guide clamp screw  216  into the slot guide threaded aperture  219  to serve as a guide means. 
     The slotted combination saw guide and gauge  201  is attachable to the powered saw base  30  as was the combination saw guide and gauge  1  as shown in FIG.  2 . The powered saw base  30  slips in between the upper jaws  211 A and  211 B and the slotted base  210  and the thumb screws  214  which are insterted into the threaded apertures  213  are tightened to hold the slotted combination saw guide and gauge  201  in position. 
     The slot guide  215  clamped in position as previously described provides the desired spacing between the slot guide  215  and the desired line of cut of the saw as indicated by the dotted line  31  in FIG. 2 
     Also, the optional slot guide flange  217  is used for longer embodiments of the slotted combination saw guide and gauge  201  so a sawer can manually stabilize the guiding action of the invention. This is a desirable feature when ripsawing wide cuts. An example of a wide cut is splitting a  4  foot by  8  foot sheet of plywood down the center. 
     FIG. 4 shows a second alternate embodiment of the present invention, a grooved combination saw guide and gauge  301 . The difference between these various embodiments is that the preferred embodiment uses a multiplicity of apertures  15 , the alternate embodiment uses a slot  230  instead of apertures  15 , and the second alternate embodiment uses a groove  330  instead of apertures  15  or a slot  230 . Instead of a slot guide  215  as is used in the alternate embodiment, there is a groove guide  315  which includes a groove guide threaded aperture  319  which is clamped in position by a groove guide screw  316  through the groove guide threaded aperture. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the grooved combination saw guide and gauge  301  comprises a grooved scale  320 , a jaw  311 A, a longer jaw  311 B, jaw screws  314 , groove guide member  315 , the groove guide screws  316 , and an optional groove guide flange  317 . The grooved scale  320  comprises a grooved base  310 , a groove  330 , and gradations  318 . The jaws  311 A and  311 B each contain at least one jaw mount reinforcement  312  with reinforcement threaded apertures  313 . 
     The groove guide screw  316  through the groove guide threaded aperture  319  of the groove guide member  315  into the grove  330  of the grooved scale  320 , secures the groove guide member  315  in position, against the grooved scale  320  as required, thus serving as a guide means for the grooved combination saw guide and gauge  301 . 
     The grooved combination saw guide and gauge  301  is attachable to a base plate  30  in the manner as shown for the combination saw guide and gauge in FIG.  2 . 
     The gradations  18  on the preferred embodiment, as do the gradations  218  on the alternate embodiment and the gradations  318  on the second alternate embodiment serve as a means of measurement. A purpose served by said means of measurement is enablement of setting a width of material to be cut. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, an alignment groove combination saw guide and gauge  401  comprising an alignment groove base  410 , an alignment groove scale  420 , and upright  425 , thumb screws  214 , clamp arms  422 , protective covers  424 , a guide assembly  450 , lock peg  471 , a lock nut  461 , and an upright  425 . 
     The alignment groove scale  420  comprises an alignment groove base  410 , an alignment groove  430 , and gradations  418 . 
     The upright  425  comprises upright slots  425 . A preferred embodiment of the upright  425  is achieved by coupling an angle shape to the alignement groove base  410 . 
     The clamp arms  422  each have a threaded screw aperture  423 . 
     The lock peg  471  comprises a thread  472  and a tit  473 . 
     Each clamp arm  422  is inserted into one of the upright slots  425 A. A thumb screw  214  through the threaded screw aperture  423  can be tightend as required to serves a clamping function clamping a powered saw base (such as the powered saw base  30  shown in FIG. 2) between the alignment groove base  410  and said clamp arms  422 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5,  5 A,  5 B, and  10 , the guide assembly  450  comprises a guide groove  451 , an alignment projection  452  which mates with the alignment groove  430  of the alignment groove scale  420 , a rectangular clearance  453 , a grip tab  454 , and a guide  455 . The guide assembly  451  can be locked in position to serve as a guide means for the alignment groove saw guide and gauge  401  by the insertion of the lock peg  471  into the rectangular clearance  453 , with the tit  473  engaging the alignment groove  430 , and with the threaded locking nut  461  tightened sufficiently on the thread  472  of the lock peg  471 . The guide assembly  451  so locked in position serves as a guide means. FIG. 10 shows a cross section view of the guide assembly  450  installed on the third embodiment of the present invention, the alignment groove combination saw guide and gauge  401 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a fourth embodiment combination saw guide and gauge  501  comprises a non-grooved scale  520 , a slotted upright  525 , thumb screws  214 , clamp arms  422 , protective covers  424 , a wedge guide assembly  550 , and a taper lock peg  571 , and a threaded locking nut  461 . 
     The slotted upright  525  comprises slots  525 A. 
     The nongrooved scale  520  comprises a nongrooved base  510 , and nongrooved gradations  518   
     The protective covers  424  are of an appropriate plastic or rubber and serve to protect the nongrooved scale base  510  from wear from the thumb screws  214 . 
     The taper lock peg  571  comprises a threaded stud  572  and a taper  573 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 6,  6 A, and  6 B, the wedge guide assembly  550  comprises a guide means groove  551 , a rectangular clearance  553 , a guide means grip tab  554 , and a guide plate  555 . 
     The wedge guide assembly  550  when locked in position on the nongrooved scale  520  by means of the taper lock peg  571  in conjunction with the threaded locking nut  461  serves as a guide means during the operation of the fourth embodiment combination saw guide and gauge  501 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative to the thumb screws  214 . Instead of using the thumb screw  214  with the protective cover  424  in conjunction with a clamp arm  422 , a ball screw  621  is used with a foot  622 . The ball screw  621  comprises a ball  621 A. The foot  622  comprises a ball socket  622 A. The foot  622  protects the base  510  from wear. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the invention, a fifth embodiment combination saw guide and gauge  801  comprising a fifth embodiment scale  820 , a modified upright  825 , ball screws  621  each with a foot  622 , clamp arms  422 , protective covers  424 , a plate  700 , a plate screw  704 , the web guide  550 , the taper lock peg  571 , and the threaded locking nut  461 . 
     The fifth embodiment scale  820  comprises a fifth embodiment base  810  and fifth embodiment gradations  818 . 
     The modified upright  825  comprises modified slots  825 A and an upright aperture  825 B. 
     The plate  700  (Ref. FIGS. 8 and 9) comprises a clearance  701  and a nut  703  coupled to the plate  700 . The nut  703  is shown coupled to the plate  700  in FIG. 8 by a weld  702 . As obvious to anyone skilled in the art, there are equivalent ways to couple the nut  703  to the plate  700 , including forming it from the plate  700 . 
     The plate  700  in conjunction with the plate screw  704  inserted through the upright aperture  704  serves as a means of locking the clamp arms  422  more securely in position when said clamp arms  422 , in conjunction with the ball screws  621  and the ball feet  622  are locking the fifth embodiment combination saw guide and gauge  801  on a powered saw base  30  such as is shown in FIG.  2 . This is an enhanced means of attaching a combination saw guide and gauge than was previously discussed in the other embodiments. 
     To operate the combination saw guide and gauge: 
     a) follow the poer saw manufacturer safety directions, 
     b) don appropriate safety equipment, 
     c) conform to safety rules, regualtions, and safe work practises, 
     d) attach the combination saw guide and gauge to a power base saw by adjusting the means of attachment of the combination saw guide and gauge until the combination saw guide and guage is clamped securely on the power saw base, 
     e) set the guide means for a desired width of cut, 
     f) check material to be cut is properly supported, 
     g) turn on the power saw, 
     h) make the cut, 
     i) make additional cuts as required, 
     j) turn off powered saw, 
     k) properly store saw, 
     l) properly store the combination saw guide and gauge, 
     m) properly store material, and 
     n) clean up area. 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. 
     For example, the guide member  16  could be a headed dowel or a nail. 
     As another example, the material to be cut is not limited to wood. This invention will work with other materials, such as metal, plastic, sheetrock, masonry, and formica, to name a few. 
     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.