Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method and system for providing workpiece positioning for power tools, such as miter saws. The apparatus includes an adjustable positioning device such as a threaded rod. A retention member is connected to the adjustable positioning device. The retention member is capable of pivotally obtaining an extended orientation and a retracted orientation to alternatively contact a workpiece disposed on the power tool deck and to retract into an unobtrusive storage orientation. The apparatus of the present invention allows for proper positioning while permitting ease of use and storage.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE  
       [0001]     The present application is a Continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/601,328, entitled Adjustable Cleat filed on Jun. 20, 2003, which in-turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Ser. Nos. 60/390,552, entitled: Adjustable Cleat filed on Jun. 21, 2002, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of power tools and particularly to a method and an apparatus for adjustable workpiece positioning.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Accurate, repeatable workpiece positioning is critical to the overall level of craftsmanship for woodworkers. In some instances, an imprecise cut may require additional sanding which is time consuming. For certain tasks, such as cutting a beveled miter joint, an imprecise cut may effect the appearance of the finished product or require the user to re-cut the workpiece. Often woodworkers will conduct test cuts to ensure a correct fit or “work-up” to their final cut. These techniques are time consuming and may diminish user satisfaction. For example, positioning a piece of trim molding at the proper angle with respect to the miter saw fence for cutting may be difficult or time consuming, especially for a novice user. Additionally, another drawback to current positioning mechanisms is the difficulty in set-up and removal after use.  
         [0004]     For example, a woodworker may use a C-clamp to position a piece of trim to a miter saw&#39;s fence. Thus, the user must retrieve the clamp, and subsequently remove the clamp after use. In another example, a positioning device such as a clamp is mounted integral to the power tool. Once again the user must remove the device should they desire to cut a large piece of wood or when additional deck space is required. Current positioning mechanisms for power tools fail to provide ease of use.  
         [0005]     Workpiece positioning systems often are cumbersome. For example, even if the built-in clamp provides enough room for the desired workpiece the clamp often is in the user&#39;s way, such as by protruding into the operator area or the like. Positioning mechanisms when removed often take up space or require the user to place the device in a remote portion of the work space so as not to interfere with the desired task. Current integral securing mechanisms are cumbersome when in use or removed and thus does not meet user demands.  
         [0006]     Another problem with integral positioning mechanisms is the inability to retrofit with existing power tools. For example, current positioning mechanisms are typically designed for a specific tool or for a specific manufacturer, thus a retrofit is often not possible.  
         [0007]     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an unobtrusive workpiece positioning apparatus capable of securing a workpiece while providing ease of use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for providing workpiece positioning for power tools such as miter saws, drill presses, mortise machines and the like. As will be appreciated the present invention allows for correct workpiece positioning while permitting easy unobtrusive storage.  
         [0009]     The apparatus of the present invention includes an adjustable positioning device, such as a threaded rod. The adjustable positioning device may be mounted in a housing or power tool work deck. The positioning device is disposed in a housing recess, such that the apparatus does not interfere with positioning a workpiece.  
         [0010]     Adjustably connected to the positioning device is a retention member. A retention member provides a cleat or stop for retaining a workpiece in a desired position. The retention member may pivot to achieve an extended orientation, such as beyond an external surface of the housing and a retracted orientation substantially contained within the housing recess.  
         [0011]     A securing member is connected to the retention member. Securing members include, deformable tabs, spring biased devices such as tabs, buttons and the like for securing the retaining member in a desired orientation.  
         [0012]     It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an apparatus for providing workpiece positioning with a retention member;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an apparatus for providing workpiece positioning, including a retention member orientated in an extended orientation;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of an apparatus for providing workpiece positioning, including a retention member orientated in a retracted orientation;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an apparatus for providing workpiece positioning including a threaded rod and a threaded segmented retention member;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an apparatus for providing workpiece positioning for miter sawing;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing workpiece positioning;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6A  is an perspective view of a retention member in an extended orientation with pivotal securing tabs; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 6B  is an exploded view of a retention member with pivotal securing tabs. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 1  an apparatus  100  for providing workpiece positioning is shown. The apparatus  100  in the present embodiment includes a housing  102 . The housing  102  permits connection to a power tool deck, such as the deck of a miter saw, a drill press deck and the like. The housing  102  includes a recess  114  generally for mounting apparatus components. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be incorporated in a power tool deck and the like without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, a drill press may include a work deck containing the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0023]     An attachment device is connected to the housing for securing the apparatus  100  to, for example a miter saw deck. Attachment devices permit connecting the apparatus  100  to a work surface, thus providing additional work area while permitting secure workpiece positioning. In the present embodiment, a pair of slots  112  for receiving a screw, a pin, or the like is shown. In further embodiments, other attachment devices are contemplated, such as to permit retrofitting the present invention to a particular tool.  
         [0024]     An adjustable positioning device is connected to the housing and is disposed generally in the housing recess  114 . A threaded rod  104  is utilized as an adjustable positioning device in the present embodiment. In further embodiments, other positioning devices are utilized, such as an advancing bar and friction stop, and the like for providing adjustable positioning. In another example the retention member is fitted with a friction lock so as to allow the retention member to adjust along a bar, a rod and the like for allowing movement along an axis. The threaded rod  104  is mounted to the housing  102 , substantially within the housing recess  114  and may be actuated by a user manipulating a knob  110  secured to an end of the rod  104 .  
         [0025]     A retaining member  106  is adjustably connected to the threaded rod  104 . As may be seen in  FIG. 4  the retaining member  406  provides a stop or cleat for retaining a workpiece, such as a piece of molding  420  in a desired position. Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  the retaining member  206  is adjustably connected to the threaded rod  204 . The retention member  206  is capable of pivotally obtaining an extended orientation, beyond an exterior surface of housing  202  and a retracted orientation (see  FIG. 2B ), wherein the retention member  206  is contained substantially within housing recess  214 .  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 1 a  securing mechanism is connected to a retention member  106 . A pair of deformable tabs  108  are utilized to secure the retention member  106  in at least one of a extended orientation and a retracted orientation. Deformable tabs  108  are capable of being squeezed inwardly towards the retention member  106  and upon release springing outwardly from the retention member  106 . The deformable tabs  108  in the present example are capable of extending outwardly from the retention member  106  to engage an outer surface of a housing  104 . The tabs  108  in the present embodiment may be formed of metal plastic, such as nylon and the like. Alternatively, when a user desires to dispose the retention member  106  in a retracted orientation the deformable tabs  108  may be disengaged and pivoted, along with the retention member  106  generally into the housing recess  114 . See generally  FIG. 2B . As may be best seen in  FIG. 3 , a retention member  306  includes relief areas to permit the tabs  308  to move inwardly to allow for pivoting the retention member  306  into a housing recess.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B  in a further embodiment a securing mechanism is a pair of pivotal tabs  608 . The pivotal tabs are mounted generally in a recess formed in the retention member  606 . As desired a user may pivot the tab  608  outwardly to engage the housing or deck. The pivotal tabs  608  may be formed of metal, plastic such as nylon and the like. Further, the retention member  606  may include an aperture extending between the side recesses with a spring therein for extending the pivotal tabs generally outward. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various biasing means may be employed to bias the pivotal tabs outward. For instance a coiled spring  622  may be utilized to bias the tab  608 .  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a retention member  306  includes an aperture  316  with segmented threads for engaging threads included on a threaded rod  304 , thus the retention member  306  is capable of pivotally attaining an extended orientation and a retracted orientation. In further embodiments, a retention member pivots about a cylindrical pivot containing an aperture there through with threads for engaging corresponding threads on a threaded rod. In the further embodiment, the retention member main body includes a jacket for at least partially surrounding the cylindrical pivot, thus permitting extending and retracting the retention member. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other systems for providing pivoting capability may be implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0029]     In further embodiments securing mechanisms include spring biased devices, such as tabs, buttons and the like for securing a retention member in a desired orientation. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many securing mechanisms may be employed to secure the retention member in a desired orientation, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 a  method  500  for providing retractable workpiece positioning for power tools is discussed. Initially, a workpiece such as a piece of trim or the like is positioned on the power tool deck  502 . The retention member is orientated into an extended orientation  504  so that the retention member provides a cleat or stop for positioning the workpiece. Extending the retention member  504  may include orientating the retention member such that securing mechanism, for example deformable tabs engage an exterior surface of an associated housing or tool deck. The retention member&#39;s position is adjusted  506  by directing the adjustable positioning device to the desired position. The desired task is performed  508 , such as cutting a trim piece. Optionally, the retention member may be retracted  510  for example by actuating the securing mechanism and pivoting the retention member below the work surface.  
         [0031]     Further, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed are examples of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the present invention. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.  
         [0032]     It is believed that the retractable positioning apparatus of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The from herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.