Abstract:
A work piece positioning tool is disclosed. The tool includes a first leg and a second leg that have work piece abutting surfaces. Cooperative pivoting elements adjacent an end portion of each of the first and second legs are used for connecting the legs together in a plurality of relative angular orientations. The tool can be used in combination with first and second workpieces and first and second clamps to hold the first and second work pieces together at a desired angle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/773,958, filed Feb. 16, 2006, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND 
   Tools for use in aligning work pieces together are well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,073 shows a tool  10  for aligning work pieces at a right angle. This tool  10  is also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the present disclosure. The tool  10  has a first leg  12  connected to a second leg  14 , at a right angle, and is of one-piece construction. One or more clamps  50  are used to secure the tool to two work piece components to align them at a right angle to each other for further processing. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,073, the tool  10  may also include slots to accommodate other tools such as drill bits, screw drivers, etc. 
   While the tool  10  illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,073 has proved quite effective for aligning two work piece components at a right angle for further processing, it is limited to right angle orientations. One-piece tools of this type have proven quite useful for right angle clamping of work piece components. In addition, one-piece tools of this type have been proposed for other angular orientations (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. D426,127, where the smaller angle between two legs is 135°, and the larger angle between those legs is 225°). However, work piece component orientations can only be arranged with respect to the fixed angle (right angle or otherwise) of the one-piece tool. 
   SUMMARY 
   A work piece positioning tool is disclosed. The tool includes a first leg and a second leg that have work piece abutting surfaces. Cooperative pivoting elements adjacent an end portion of each of the first and second legs are used for connecting the legs together in a plurality of relative angular orientations. The tool can be used in combination with first and second workpieces and first and second clamps to hold the first and second work pieces together at a selected angle. 
   A method of using an adjustable work piece positioning tool includes positioning a first leg of the tool against a first work piece and a second leg of the tool against a second workpiece. An angular orientation between the first leg and the second leg is selected such that an angular orientation between the first work piece and the second work piece is substantially the same as the angular orientation between the first leg and the second leg. Clamps can be used to hold the first leg against the first work piece and second leg against the second work piece. 
   This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the claimed subject matter, and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be further explained with reference to the attached figures, wherein like structure elements are referred to by like reference numerals throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a prior art right angle tool  10  in use with clamps  50  on workpieces W 1  and W 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a composite illustration, showing on the top portion thereof a perspective view illustrating a prior art right angle tool  10  in use with clamps  50 , and on workpieces W 3  and W 4 , and the bottom portion thereof showing a perspective view illustrating a right angle tool  10  alone. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an adjustable angle alignment tool of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the adjustable angle alignment tool of the present invention in use with a pair of clamps  50 , on workpieces W 5  and W 6 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the range of adjustability of the adjustable angle tool of the present invention, with many alternate tool positions shown in phantom. 
       FIG. 6  is a side exploded view of the adjustable angle tool of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the adjustable angle tool of the present invention, from the top. 
       FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the adjustable angle tool of the present invention, with a tightening system not shown. 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable angle tool of the present invention, with the tightening system not shown. 
       FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the adjustable angle tool of the present invention, with the tightening system removed, and illustrating angular gradient indicia on one of the legs of the tool. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  are perspective top and bottom views of a first leg of the adjustable angle tool of the present invention, respectively. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  are perspective bottom and top views of a second leg of the adjustable angle tool of the present invention, respectively. 
   

   While the above-identified figures set forth one embodiment of the present invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the disclosure. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this invention. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 3-7  illustrate an adjustable tool  60  of the present invention. The adjustable tool has a first leg  62  and a second leg  64 . In one embodiment first leg  62  and second leg  64  are made from high-impact rigid polycarbonate for strength and accuracy. The first leg  62  has a free end  66  and a pivotal end  68 . Second leg  64  likewise has a free end  70  and a pivotal end  72 . The legs  62  and  64  are selectively held together and secured into a desired relative angular orientation by a tightening system which includes a tightening nut  65 . 
   Adjacent its free end  66 , the first leg  62  is generally “I” shaped in lateral cross section, with inner and outer parallel and planar flanges  74  and  76 , respectively, provided on opposite sides of a central panel  78 . On a top side of the central panel  78  (as seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  10  and  11 ), the central panel  78  has a peripheral rim  80  which is generally continuous from the free end  66  to the pivot end  68 , with rim  80  projecting upwardly from the central panel  78 . A plurality of lateral stiffening ribs  82  also project outwardly from the central panel  78 , between the inner and outer flanges  74  and  76 . The rim  80  is circular about a pivot shoulder  84  adjacent the pivot end  68  of the first leg  62 . 
   On its bottom side, central panel  78  also has a rim projecting therefrom, as shown by rim  86  in  FIG. 12 . Rim  86  extends from adjacent the free end  66  of the first leg  62  along its periphery but stops short of the pivot end  68  and has a pivot stop triangular wall portion  86   a  defined by angle walls  88  and  90  which are disposed at 45° angles relative to the inner flange  74  and outer flange  76 , respectively. The pivot shoulder  84  on the top side of the central panel  78  is concentric about a pivot axis for the tool  10 . On the bottom side of the central panel  78  (see  FIG. 12 ), the first leg  62  has a female cylindrical bore  91 , and a plurality of radially oriented rib or teeth features  92  formed thereon, both of which are also aligned about the pivot axis for the tool  10  (the rib or teeth features  92  radiate outwardly from the pivot axis). A plurality of lateral stiffening ribs  93  are also provided on the bottom side of the central portion  78 , extending between the inner and outer flanges  74  and  76 . 
   Adjacent its free end  70 , the second leg  64  is also generally “I” shaped in lateral cross section, with inner and outer parallel and planar flanges  94  and  96 , respectively, provided on opposite sides of a central panel  98 . On a top side of the central panel  98  (as seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  10  and  14 ), the central panel  98  has a peripheral rim  99  which extends from the free end  70  but stops short of the pivot end  72  and has a pivot stop triangular wall portion  99   a  defined by angle walls  100  and  101  which are disposed at 45° angles relative to the inner flange  94  and outer flange  96 , respectively. The rim  99  and angle walls  100  and  101  project upwardly from the central panel  98 . A plurality of lateral stiffening ribs  102  also project upwardly from the central panel  98 , between the inner and outer flanges  94  and  96 . 
   Adjacent to pivot end  72 , a male cylindrical portion  104  projects upwardly from the central panel  98 , concentric about the pivot axis for the tool  10 . The male cylindrical portion  104  of the second leg  64  is formed to be pivotally received within the female cylindrical bore  91  of the first leg  62 . A plurality of radially oriented rib or teeth features  105  are formed on the top side of the central panel  98  (see  FIG. 14 ), and are aligned to radiate outwardly from the pivot axis of the tool  10 . On its bottom side, central panel  98  has a peripheral rim projecting therefrom, as shown by rim  106  in  FIG. 13 . Rim  106  extends from adjacent the free end  70  of the second leg  64  and is generally continuous to the pivot end  72  thereof. A plurality of lateral stiffening ribs  112  also project outwardly from the bottom side of the central panel  98 , between the inner and outer flanges  94  and  96 . The rim  106  is circular about a pivot cylinder  114  adjacent to pivot end  72  of the first leg  64 . The pivot cylinder  114  is also concentric about the pivot axis for the tool  10 . 
   As so constructed, each leg is rigid and presents right angle surfaces between outer faces of each of its ribs and its respective inner planar flange, planar outer flange and free end (which is also formed as a generally planar panel). The first and second legs  62  and  64  are pivotally connected together by a tightening system about the pivot axis. The tightening system includes a tightening nut  65  which is typically threadably received on an axial threaded shaft  115  (see  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 ). The shaft  115  is affixed to the second leg  64 , may extend through the pivot cylinder  114  thereof, and projects upwardly from the top side of the central panel  98  of the second leg  64  through a hole in the pivot shoulder  84  of the first leg  62 . When so assembled, the male cylindrical portion  104  is received within the female cylindrical bore  91 . A spring  116  may be disposed between a bottom surface of the tightening nut  65  and the pivot shoulder  84  to assist in urging the components away from each other when the tightening nut  65  is not tightened down onto the threaded shaft  115  to allow for easier pivoting of first leg  62  with respect to second leg  64  without interference of pivoting elements on first leg  62  and second leg  64 . 
   In operation, the tightening nut  65  is turned to loosen it on the threaded shaft  115  (moving away from the pivot shoulder  84 ), thereby allowing disengagement of the opposed rib or teeth features on the two legs and allowing relative pivoting of the first leg  62  and second leg  64 . The legs may be pivoted through a range of motion illustrated in  FIG. 5 , so that they may be aligned relative to each other at angles ranging from 45° to 315°. Relative orientation of legs may be at any position from 45° to 315° in the embodiment illustrated (or may be incremental such as, for example, in 5° increments). The positions of the legs may be established by gradients, established by the interrelationship of the rib or teeth features  92  and  105  which are in engagement when the first and second legs  62  and  64  are secured together. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates second leg  64  fixed in place (at the six o&#39;clock position), with first leg  62  being moved through common angular orientations, with many of those orientations shown in phantom. Once a desired angular orientation is achieved, the tightening nut  65  is tightened down onto the threaded shaft  115  and against force of the spring thereon to securely fasten the first leg  62  relative to the second leg  64 . The interfitting rib or teeth features  92  and  105  serve to additionally lock the first and second legs  62  and  64  in the desired orientation, so that they cannot be moved until the pressure exerted by the tightening nut  65  is released axially. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates the adjustable angle tool  60  of the present invention in use relative to work pieces W 5  and W 6 . One or more clamps  50  include jaws are secured between a work piece face and one of the flanges on each of the legs of the adjustable tool  60 . Prior to the work pieces being clamped in place relative to the adjustable tool  60 , the adjustable tool  60  has been oriented to a desired angular orientation of the first and second legs  62  and  64  and the tightening system then activated to secure the legs in those relative orientations. In  FIG. 4 , that angular orientation is illustrated as approximately 170°. 
   In  FIG. 10 , that angular orientation is illustrated as 45° as measured by the smaller angle between the legs (or 315° as measured by the larger angle between the legs).  FIGS. 8 and 9  also illustrate a 45°/315° angular orientation. In the configurations shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10 , one of the angle walls on each leg abuts a flange on the other leg. For instance, as seen in  FIG. 10 , the angle leg  100  on second leg  64  abuts the inner flange  74  on the first leg  62 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates the adjustable tool  60  in a 60° orientation as measured by the smaller angle between the legs (or a 300° orientation as measured by the larger angle between the legs). A user may be guided in aligning the two legs relative to one another by using visible angular indicia adjacent the pivot ends  68  and  72  of the first and second legs  62  and  64 , respectively. Such indicia are illustrated in  FIG. 10  as indicia  117 , and may include opposed alignment marks on the two legs. 
   The adjustable angle tool of the present invention thus provides a device and method for establishing a predetermined angular orientation of the tool. Work pieces are disposed adjacent the tool and affixed thereto by clamps or other suitable means so that the work pieces assume the desired angular orientation. Once clamped to the adjustable angle tool of the present invention, further processing of the work pieces can then be accomplished (such as joining them together) while the work pieces are maintained in the desired angular orientation. Once the work pieces have been suitably joined or processed as desired, the clamps and adjustable angle tool can then be removed therefrom. The adjustable angle tool can then be reconfigured to a different angular orientation for further use, as desired. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.