Abstract:
A guide for guiding a hand held saw is disclosed. The guide has a locating member for locating the guide relative to an edge and a guiding member that guides the saw. The guiding member can be locked at any angle between 0 and 90 degrees relative to locating member and is invertible so that angles between 90 to 180 degrees can be guided. The guide has an angle gauge and also stops for 45 and 90 degrees. A clamp interfits with the locating member to quickly secure the guide to the material to be cut.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to guides for saws and more particularly to a portable guide for saws that is adjustable through the range of 0 to 180 degrees and includes precise mechanical adjustment to 45, 90 and 135 degrees. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Hand held saws, such as jig saws, saber saws, circular saws and the like, are used extensively to cut sheet, board and beam materials such as wood or plastic. Guides for these saws aid in cutting the material along a straight line at a selected angle. Such guides include a means for locating the guide relative to an edge of the material and a means for guiding the saw. For use at a building site, a fully integrated guide is needed that is simple, easy to use, lightweight and durable. Such a guide should include a means for clamping the guide to the material being cut, a means for selecting the angle and a means for manually locking the guide without tools at the selected angle. The ability to quickly and precisely set the guide to common angles would also be beneficial. 
     Some simple saw guides function over a limited range of angles. U.S. Pat. No. 1,700,189 to Wikstrom discloses a simple guide that is usable over a range of about 45 degrees to 90 degrees. This guide has a locking means that includes a link, a slot and a bolt that must be tightened with a tool. If this guide is inverted, the guide is still limited to the same range. If the material to be cut can be turned over, this type of guide can be used over twice the range. When the material cannot be turned over, a guide that has a range of 0 to 180 degrees is needed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,134 to Stevens discloses a simple guide for a chain saw for cutting beams that is usable over about 180 degrees and includes an angle gauge. The guide is nailed to the beam and there is no means for locking the locating means at a selected angle relative to the guiding means. 
     Other saw guides are cumbersome, awkward or complex. These guides have tracks, tables or large templates, and are best used when the material can be brought to the guide. Track type guides are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,112 to Kordyban, U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,663 to Yacobucci, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,933 to Staniszewski disclose guides with tracks. U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,075 to Larsen and U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,457 to Winters disclose large template type miter guides. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     A guide for saws is disclosed including a locating member, a guiding member pivotally connected to and rotatable over 90 degrees relative to the locating member, and a locking means for manually locking the guiding member at a selected angle relative to the a locating member. The locating member has opposed protruding first and second flanges and the guide is invertible with the flanges alternately locating the guide to provide a range of angles over 180 degrees. A clamp slidably attached in one of opposed first and second slots in the locating member secures the locating member to the material being cut. The guide includes an angle gauge for visually setting the guide to any selected angle and positive stops for precisely setting the guide to 45 or 90 degrees without visual reference to the angle gauge. The locking means includes relatively large diameter circular mating faces that are pressed together to lock the angle between the locating member and the guiding member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Details of this invention are described in connection with the accompanying drawings that bear similar reference numerals in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the guide embodying features of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the locating member of the guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the locating member of the guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of the locating member of the guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the clamp slots of the locating member of the guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged top view of the angle gauge of the locating member of the guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the guiding member of the guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the guiding member of the guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 10 is an end view of the guiding member of the guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the guide of FIG. 1 set at 45 degrees. 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of the guide of FIG. 1 set at 90 degrees, the folded position shown in dashed lines. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a guide  10  embodying features of the present invention is shown, including a locating member  11  and a guiding member  12  pivotally connected to the locating member  11 . The locating member  11  locates the guide  10  relative to the material being cut and the guiding member  12  guides a saw cutting the material. 
     FIGS. 3,  4  and  5  show the locating member  11  including an elongated portion  13 , and a disk shaped or cylindrical portion  14 . The elongated portion  13  includes an elongated inner wall  15 , a straight elongated outer wall  16  spaced from the inner wall  15  and having a flat outer face  17 , and webs  18  connecting the inner wall  15  and the outer wall  16 . The inner wall  15  has opposed spaced first and second edge  19  and  20  extending the length thereof. The webs  18  have opposed spaced first and second edges  21  and  22  extending the length thereof. The first edges  19  and  21  of the inner wall  15  and the webs  18  are coplanar to form a first support surface  91  to support the locating member  11  on the material being cut. The second edges  20  and  22  of the inner wall  15  and the webs  18  are also coplanar, and when the locating member is turned over, second edges  20  and  22  form a second support surface  92  to support the locating member  11  on the material being cut. 
     The outer wall  16  extends beyond the first edges  21  of webs  18  to form a first flange  23  and beyond the second edges  22  of webs  18  to form a second flange  24 . When the locating member  11  is positioned with the first edges  19  and  21  of the inner wall  15  and the webs  18  on a material to be cut, the first flange  23  is the first locating means that positively positions the locating member  11  along an edge of the material. When the locating member  11  is positioned with the second edges  20  and  22  of the inner wall  15  and the webs  18  on a material to be cut, the second flange  24  is the second locating means that positively positions the locating member  11  along an edge of the material. Alternative structure, such as two extending pins that locate the locating member  11  relative to an edge, may be used to form the first locating means or the second locating means. 
     FIG. 2 shows a clamp  25  that secures the guide  10  to the material being cut. A clamp particularly suitable for use in the present invention is a Quick Grip from American Tool Companies, Inc., DeWitt, Nebr. Other clamps such C clamps or other bar clamps are also suitable for use in the present invention. Clamp  25  includes a bar  26 , a fixed jaw  27  at one end of the bar  26 , a movable jaw  28  opposite the fixed jaw  27  and slidable along the bar  26 , and tightening means  29  that tightens the movable jaw  28  against an item being clamped and secures the movable jaw  28  relative to the bar  26 . The fixed jaw  27  and the movable jaw  28  each have a leg  30  that extends away from bar  26  and inward toward the opposing jaw, and a foot  31  perpendicular to the bar  26  at the end of the leg  30  that is away from the bar  26 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the elongated portion  13  of the locating member  11  includes opposed first and second clamp slots  32  and  33  for alternately receiving the foot  31  of the fixed jaw  27  or movable jaw  28  of the clamp  25 . The first clamp slot  32  includes opposed, spaced, inward facing first and second side faces  34  and  35  that extend from second edges  22  of webs  18  and from the inner face  15  into the elongated portion  13 , and opposed, spaced, concave first and second grooves  36  and  37  that extend into the elongated portion  13  from the inner face  15  along the inward extent of first and second side faces  34  and  35 , respectively. A base face  38 , that is parallel to the second edges  22  of webs  18 , extends between the inner extent of the first and second grooves  36  and  37  to form the bottom of first clamp slot  32 . Thus the first clamp slot has an inverted T shape when viewed from the inner face  15 . 
     The first and second grooves  36  and  37  are sized and shaped to receive the edges of the foot  31  so that the clamp  25  is attached to guide  10  by sliding foot  31  into the first and second grooves  36  and  37  until the foot  31  contacts outer wall  16 , with leg  30  extending upward and outward from first clamp slot  32  to bar  26  of clamp  25 . The second clamp slot  33  is the same size and shape as the first clamp slot  32  and extends from first edges  21  of webs  18  opposite the first clamp slot  32 , so that when the guide  10  is inverted, foot  31  of clamp  25  slides into the second clamp slot  33  to attach clamp  25  to guide  10 . 
     Referring again to FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 , the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11  has a circular support face  40  and an oppositely facing, spaced circular mating face  41 . The distance between the support face  40  and the mating face  41  of the cylindrical portion  14  is about half the thickness of the distance between the first edge  19  and the second edge  20  of the inner wall  15  of the elongated portion  13 . The diameter of the cylindrical portion  14  is approximately equal to two times the distance between the inner wall  15  and outer face  17  of the elongated portion  13 . The cylindrical portion  14  connects to a first end  42  of the elongated portion  13  with the support face  40  coplanar with the first edges  19  and  21  of the inner wall  15  and the webs  18 , to form a continuation of the first support surface  91 . The center of the cylindrical portion  14  is substantially in the plane of the inner wall  15  of the elongated portion  13  so that about half of the cylindrical portion  14  extends beyond inner wall  15 . A diagonal web  43  extends radially outward at a 45 degree angle from the cylindrical portion  14  to the outer wall  16  along a line though the center of the cylindrical portion  14 . 
     The cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11  includes an aperture  44  through the center from the support face  40  to the mating face  41 , sized and shaped to receive an upwardly extending, externally threaded bolt  46 . A hexagonal recess  45  in the support face  40 , concentric with aperture  44 , is sized and shaped to receive the hexagonal head  47  of bolt  46  and to prevent the head  47  from turning. FIG. 7 shows an angle gauge  48  that is formed in the mating face  41  of the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11  by inscribed radial lines  49  and inscribed numbers  50 . 
     FIGS. 8,  9  and  10  show the guiding member  12  including a first elongated portion  53 , a second elongated portion  54  and a disk shaped or cylindrical portion  55 . The first elongated portion  53  includes an elongated inner wall  56 , a straight elongated outer wall  57  spaced from the inner wall  56  and having a flat outer face  58 , and webs  59  connecting the inner wall  56  and the outer wall  57 . The inner wall  56  has opposed space first and second edge  60  and  61  extending the length thereof. The outer wall  57  has opposed space first and second edge  62  and  63  extending the length thereof. The first edges  60  and  62  of the inner wall  56  and the outer wall  57  are coplanar to form a first support surface  93  to support the guiding member  12  on the material being cut. The second edges  61  and  63  of the inner wall  56  and the outer wall  57  are also coplanar, and when the guide  10  is turned over, second edges  61  and  63  form a second support surface  94  to support the guiding member  12  on the material being cut. 
     The distance between the first edge  60  and the second edge  61  of the inner wall  56  of first elongated portion  53  of the guiding member  12  is the same as the distance between the first edge  19  and the second edge  20  of the inner wall  15  of elongated portion  13  of the locating member  11 . In the illustrated embodiment the first elongated portion  53  of the guiding member  12  is longer than the elongated portion  13  of the locating member  11 . 
     The cylindrical portion  55  of the guiding member  12  has a circular mating face  65  and an oppositely facing, spaced, circular support face  66 . The distance between the mating face  65  and the support face  66  of the cylindrical portion  55  is equal to the difference between the distance between the first edge  60  and the second edge  61  of the inner wall  56  of first elongated portion  53  of the guiding member  12  and the thickness of the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11 . The diameter of the cylindrical portion  55  of the guiding member  12  is the same as the diameter of the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11 . The cylindrical portion  55  connects to a first end  67  of the first elongated portion  53  coplanar with the second edges  61  and  63  of the inner wall  56  and the outer wall  57 , to form a continuation of the second support surface  94 . The center of the cylindrical portion  55  is substantially in the plane of the inner wall  56  of the first elongated portion  53  so that about half of the cylindrical portion  55  extends beyond inner wall  56 . 
     An aperture  68 , sized and shaped to receive bolt  46 , extends through the center of the cylindrical portion  55  from the support face  66  to the mating face  65 . The support face  66  has a recess  69 , concentric with the aperture  68 , for receiving a tightening means for bolt  46 , as will be described hereinafter. A window  70  positioned between the recess  69  and the periphery of the cylindrical portion  55  extends through the cylindrical portion  55  between the support face  66  and mating face  65 . The window  70  includes an indicator  71  centered along a radially outward side  72 . 
     The second elongated portion  54  of guiding member  12  has a substantially rectangular cross section with an inner face  74 , a first face  75 , an outer face  76  and an second face  77  bounding the rectangle. The second elongated portion  54  connects to the guiding member  12  at a first end  78  and extends from the cylindrical portion  55  opposite the first elongated portion  53 , with the outer face  76  of the second elongated member  54  coplanar and continuous with the outer face  58  of the outer wall  57  of the first elongated member  53 . The outer faces  76  and  58  form a guiding surface for a saw. A second end  79  opposite the first end  78  is beveled at a 45 degree angle inward relative to the outer face  76  and the length of the outer face  76  is precisely selected as will be disclosed hereinafter. A diagonal web  80  extends radially outward at a 45 degree angle from the cylindrical portion  55  to the inner face  74  along a line though the center of the cylindrical portion  55 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the guide  10  is assembled with the mating face  41  of the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11  juxtaposed over the mating face  65  of the cylindrical portion  55  of the guiding member  12 , and with the inner wall  15  of the elongated portion  13  of the locating member  11  facing the inner wall  56  of the first elongated portion  53  of the guiding member  12 . The bolt  46  extends through the aperture  44  of the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11  and the aperture  68  of the cylindrical portion  55  of the guiding member  12  with the head  47  of the bolt  46  in the recess  45  in the support face  40  of the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11 . 
     The tightening member  83  includes a flat round disk  84  with a center aperture  85 , a hexagonal wall  86  concentric with aperture  85  and extending perpendicularly from the disk  84 , and six radial spokes  87  connected to the disk  84  and to the hexagonal wall  86 , and extending from wall  86  to the periphery the disk  84 . The hexagonal wall  86  forms a well  88  sized and shaped to receive an internally threaded nut  89 . Preferably nut  89  is a low profile nut such as a jam nut. The tightening member  83  is threaded onto bolt  46  to hold the locating member  11  and the guiding member  12  together. The recess  69  in the support face  66  of the cylindrical portion  55  of the guiding member  12  and the tightening member  83  are mutually sized and shaped such that the tightening member  83  fits into the recess  69  without extending above the plane of the support face  66 . The radius of the disk  84  is large enough for fingers to readily press against the spokes  87  to tighten the nut  89 , and in the illustrated embodiment about 0.75″ to 1″. 
     The indicator  71  in the window  70  in the cylindrical portion  55  of the guiding member  12  aligns over the radial lines  49  and numbers  50  inscribed in the mating face  41  of the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11  to indicate the angle between the outer face  17  of the elongated portion  13  of the locating member  11  and the outer face  58  of the outer wall  57  of the first elongated portion  53  of the guiding member  12 . An angle of 0 degrees is shown when the outer faces  17  and  58  are parallel and 90 degrees when the outer faces  17  and  58  are perpendicular. Alternatively, the radial lines  49  and numbers  50  of angle gauge  48  could be inscribed on the mating face  65  of the guiding member  12  with the window  70  and indicator  71  in the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member. 
     Tightening the tightening member  83  on the bolt  46  presses the mating face  41  of the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11  against the mating face  65  of the cylindrical portion  55  of the guiding member  12  to lock the guiding member  12  at any selected angle from 0 to 90 degrees relative to the locating member  11 . The diameters of the mating face  41  of the cylindrical portion  14  of the locating member  11  and the mating face  65  of the cylindrical portion  55  of the guiding member  12  are about twice the width of the elongated portion  13  of the locating member  11  or the first elongated portion  53  of the guiding member  12 . These large diameters create a large locking force, or resistance to rotation of the guiding member  12  relative to the locating member  11  so that the guide  10  is securely locked at the selected angle without the need for tools. 
     Referring now to FIG. 11, the length of the second elongated portion  54  of the guiding member  12  is selected such that when the outer face  17  of the elongated portion  13  of the locating member  11  is placed against a flat surface and the guiding member  12  is rotated until the second end  79  of the second elongated portion  54  of the guiding member  12  contacts the flat surface, the guide  10  is set to 45 degrees. In this way the second end  79  of the second elongated portion  54  of the guiding member  12  is a stop means for precisely setting the guide 10 to 45 degrees without visual reference to the angle gauge  65 . This selected length of the second elongate portion  54  also assures that the guide  10  provides a full guiding surface for a saw for angles between 45 and 90 degrees, and up to 135 degrees when the guide  10  is inverted. As shown in FIG. 12, when the guiding member  12  is rotated until the diagonal web  80  of the guiding member  12  contacts the diagonal web  43  of the locating member  11 , the guide  10  is set to 90 degrees, providing a stop means for precisely setting the guide  10  to 90 degrees without visual reference to the angle gauge  65 . 
     The above described guide  10  is a light, simple and portable guide for saws. The integrated clamp allows carrying and handling of the guide  10  with one hand, making the guide  10  particularly suitable for roof work such as “trim and fit cuts” The two sided design allows the guide  10  to be used either right or left on the top or the bottom of a board. The portability, two sided design, and integrated clamp also make the guide  10  suitable for cutting posts already set in the ground. The guide  10  is foldable to 0 degrees for convenient storage. 
     Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.