Patent Publication Number: US-2022219250-A1

Title: Pocket hole jig

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/060,597, filed on Oct. 1, 2020, which in turn is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/449,860, filed on Jun. 24, 2019 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,828,704), which in turn is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/883,261, filed on Jan. 30, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,357,831), which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/453,086, filed on Feb. 1, 2017, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/515,862, filed on Jun. 6, 2017, the entire contents all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to pocket hole jigs, and particularly to a pocket hole jig having a fence for aligning the pocket hole jig to a workpiece. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pocket hole jigs are commonly used to facilitate locating and drilling pocket holes in a workpiece. Known pocket hole jigs lack a means for accurately positioning the jig with respect to either of an end or a face of a workpiece. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides, in one aspect, a pocket hole jig for locating pocket holes in a workpiece. The pocket hole jig includes a base with a base plate and first and second lateral side walls extending along the base plate, a body disposed between the first and second lateral side walls and slidable along the base in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, the body including a drill bit aperture angled relative to the base plate, and a fence movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The fence including a first contact surface and a second contact surface opposite the first contact surface. The fence is pivotally coupled to the base. With the body in a position relative to the base, the first contact surface is engageable with a end of the workpiece with the fence in the lowered position to place the base a predetermined distance from the end of the workpiece, and, with the body in the position relative to the base, the second contact surface is engageable with a face of a second workpiece abutting the end of the workpiece with the fence in the raised position to place the base the predetermined distance form the end of the workpiece. 
     The present invention provides, in another aspect, a pocket hole jig for locating pocket holes in a workpiece. The pocket hole jig includes a base having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The base further including a drill bit aperture positioned proximate the first end and extending through a portion of the base. The drill bit aperture oriented at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The pocket hole jig further includes a fence pivotally coupled to the base proximate the second end of the base. The fence including a contact surface, and the fence pivotal about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the drill bit aperture. 
     The present invention provides, in another aspect, a pocket hole jig for locating pocket holes in a workpiece. The pocket hole jig includes a base having a forwardmost end defining a generally planer front surface and a drill bit aperture positioned opposite the forwardmost end. The drill bit aperture oriented at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the base. The pocket hole jig further includes a fence having a contact surface pivotally coupled to the base proximate the forwardmost end. The contact surface pivotal between a raised position and a lowered position, and the contact surface disposed rearward of the forwardmost end when in the raised position. 
     Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pocket hole jig according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an alternative perspective view of the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an alternative perspective view of the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a base of the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 1  illustrating a fence in a lowered position. 
         FIG. 5  is an alternative perspective view of the base of  FIG. 4  illustrating the fence between the lowered position and an upward position. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a first workpiece including pocket holes formed using the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second workpiece including pocket holes formed using the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a pocket hole jig according to another embodiment of the invention with a fence in a raised position. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 8  with the fence in a lowered position. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a portion of the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is an alternative perspective view of a portion of the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the fence of the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 8  with the fence in the lowered position. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the pocket hole jig of  FIG. 8  with the fence in the raised position. 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pocket hole jig  10  according to one embodiment. The jig  10  can be used to properly locate and facilitate drilling pocket holes  12 ,  16  in a workpiece  18 , such as a piece of wood ( FIG. 6 ). The holes  12 ,  16  each receive a pocket screw  19  that is used to attach the workpiece  18  to a second workpiece. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the jig  10  includes a base  20  and a body  22  movable relative to the base  20 . The body  22  includes a drill bit aperture  24  ( FIG. 3 ), a window  26 , and indicia  28 . The aperture  24  is angled downwardly toward the base  20  at an oblique angle and is shaped and sized to receive and guide a drill bit. When a drill bit is inserted through the aperture  24 , the bit extends through an aperture  30  ( FIG. 3 ) in the base  20  to drill into the workpiece  18 . The window  26  is provided so that a user can see the drill bit traveling through the aperture  24  and into the workpiece and so that debris (e.g., wood chips) created by the drill bit can exit the jig  10 . The aperture  30  and the window  26  are in communication with, or intersect, the drill bit aperture  24 . 
     The base  20  includes a base plate  31  and a generally U-shaped front wall  32  extending upward from the base plate  31 . The front wall  32  has a generally planer front surface  34 , which is also the forwardmost or front surface of the base  20 . A back end  36  of the base  20  does not include a wall, such that the back end  36  is open. Lateral side walls  38  extend upward from the base plate  31 , from the front wall  32  toward the back end  36 . 
     The body  22  is disposed between the lateral side walls  38  such that the body  22  can slide forward (i.e. in the direction of arrow  40 ) and rearward (i.e. in the direction of arrow  42 ) relative to the base  20  ( FIG. 1 ). Forward movement of the body  22  is limited by the front wall  32 , while the open back end  36  permits the body  22  to be completely withdrawn from the base  20 . In some embodiments, a retaining member (e.g., a projection) may limit rearward movement of the body  22  to prevent the body from being separated from the base  20 . 
     Friction between the base  20  and body  22  holds the body  22  in position relative to the base  20  until the user exerts sufficient force to slide the body  22 . In some embodiments, the body  22  may include a projection or projections and the base  20  may include a series of recesses that receive the projection(s) to releasably hold the body  22  in the desired position relative to the base  20 . The sides  38  each include a marking  47  (e.g., an arrow in illustrated embodiment). The marking  47  and indicia  28  of the body  22  indicate to the user the relative position of the body  22  relative to the base  20 . The indicia  28  include a plurality of lines that each correspond to a particular thickness  46  ( FIG. 6 ) of the workpiece  18  (e.g., ¾ inch, 1 inch, 1¼ inch, etc.). That is, the user can position the body  22  relative to the base  20  by aligning the arrow  47  to the indicia  28  that corresponds to the thickness  46  of the workpiece  18 . 
     The base  20  further includes a fence  50 . The fence  50  aids the user in quickly and accurately positioning the jig  10  a correct distance  52  from an end  54  of the workpiece  18  ( FIG. 6 ). The distance  52  and setting of arrow  47  and indicia  28  to the thickness  46  of the workpiece  18  are important so that the screw  19  exits the workpiece  18  through the end  54  of the workpiece  18  rather than through a face  56  of the workpiece  18 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 , the fence  50  is pivotally attached to the front end  34  of the base  20 . The fence  50  is pivotable between a first or raised position ( FIG. 2 ) and a second or lowered position ( FIG. 4 ). The fence  50  includes legs  58  with contact surfaces  60 . When the fence  50  is in the lowered position, the contact surfaces  60  are coplanar with the front surface  34  of the front wall  32 . Due to the pivot position of the fence  50 , the contact surfaces  60  are brought both down and forward when the fence  50  is moved to the lowered position. In other words, the contact surfaces  60  occupy a first position when the fence  50  is in the raised position and a second position when the fence  50  is in the lowered position. The second position is forward of the first position. 
     The illustrated fence  50  further includes a center portion  62  having a recess  64 . The recess  64  keeps the fence  50  clear from the path of the drill bit when the fence  50  is in the lowered position. In some embodiments, the fence  50  may be spring biased toward either the lowered position or the upward position, such as by a torsion spring  65 . Alternatively, the fence  50  may be spring biased toward both the lowered position and the upward position, such as by an over-center spring. In some embodiments, a detent  69  may be used to retain the fence  50  in either or both the downward and upward positions until the user pivots the fence  50 . 
     In operation, when the fence  50  is in the lowered position ( FIG. 4 ) the jig  10  can be used for locating pocket holes  12 ,  16  ( FIG. 6 ). The jig  10  is placed on the face  56  of the workpiece  18  so that the base  20  rests on the face  56 . The distance  52  is set by the fence  50 . More specifically, the contact surfaces  60  of the legs  58  of the fence  50  are placed in contact with the end  54  of the workpiece  18 . This positions the jig  10  the correct distance  52  from the end  54 . The user can then drill the hole  12  by inserting the drill bit through drill bit aperture  24  and advancing the drill bit the desired distance. To drill another hole  16 , the user repositions the jig  10  on the face  56  to drill the hole  16  in the same manner. Thus, the fence  50  advantageously allows multiple pocket holes  12 ,  16  to be drilled at the same distance  52  from the end  54 , and the distance  52  is properly calibrated such that the pocket holes  12 ,  16  intersect the end  54  of the workpiece  18 . 
     In some applications, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a workpiece  66  does not have a free end  68  over which to hang the legs  58  of the fence  50  like the end  54  of the workpiece  18  of  FIG. 6 . In such applications, the fence  50  is placed in the raised position shown in  FIG. 2 . Then, the front surface  34  is aligned with the end  68  of the workpiece  66  to set the jig  10  at the correct distance  52 . In the application shown in  FIG. 7 , a second workpiece  70  is located at the end  68  of the first workpiece  66 . Therefore, the front surface  34  can simply be abutted against the second workpiece  70  to properly position the jig  10  the distance  52  for locating pocket screw holes  12 ,  16 . 
       FIGS. 8-14  illustrate a jig  110  according to another embodiment. The jig  110  includes features that are similar to the jig  10  of  FIGS. 8-14  and like components have been given like reference numbers plus 100. The jig  110  includes a base  120  with a base plate  131  and lateral side walls  138  ( FIG. 11 ). A body  122  is disposed between the side walls  138  and movable relative to the base  120 . The jig  110  also includes a fence  150  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The fence  150  is movable between a first or raised position ( FIG. 8 ) and a second or lowered position ( FIG. 9 ). The fence  150  includes a rearward facing contact surface  160  and a forward facing contact surface  162  opposite the contact surface  160 . The rearward contact surface  160  occupies a first position when the fence  150  is in the raised position and a second position when the fence  150  is in the lowered position. The second position is forward of the first position. 
     The fence  150  is used in the lowered position when there is a free end  54  ( FIGS. 6 and 13 ) on the work piece  18  over which to hang the fence  150 . The fence  150  is moved to the raised position when there is no free end  68  ( FIGS. 7 and 17 ) over which to hang the fence  150  and the forward facing contact surface  162  of the fence  150  then abuts the workpiece  70  to properly position the jig  110 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the body  120  includes a groove  200  at the front end  134  of the base  120  at each side of the base  120 . The grooves  200  are at an inclined angle  202  relative to a flat bottom surface  203  of the base  120 . Each groove  200  includes a lower detent  204  and an upper detent  206 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the fence  150  includes legs  210 . Each leg  210  includes a rail  212  that is received in one of the grooves  200  of the base  120 . A ball-shaped projection  214  is located on each rail  212 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , when the fence  150  (fence  50  in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) is in the raised position, the ball-shaped projections  214  (ball-shaped projections  67  in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) are received in the upper detents  206  (upper detents  69  in  FIG. 4 ) to hold the fence  150  (fence  50  in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) in the raised position. The ball-shaped projections  214  are received in the lower detents  204  when the fence  150  is in the lowered position to hold the fence  150  in the lower position. The rails  212  being received the grooves  200  guide movement of the fence  150  between the raised and lowered positions. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13-14 , in operation, when the fence  150  is in the lowered position ( FIG. 13 ) the jig  110  can be used for locating holes  12 ,  16  ( FIG. 6 ). The jig  110  is placed on the face  56  of the workpiece  18  so that the base  120  rests on the face  56 . The distance  52  ( FIG. 6 ) is set by the fence  150 . More specifically, the contact surface  160  of the fence  150  is placed in contact with the end  54  of the workpiece  18 . This positions the jig  110  the correct distance  52  from the end  54 . The user can then drill the hole  12  ( FIG. 6 ) by inserting a drill bit  300  ( FIG. 11 ) through the drill bit aperture  124  and advancing the drill bit  300  the desired distance. To drill another hole  16 , the user repositions the jig  110  on the face  56  to drill the hole  16  in the same manner. Thus, the fence  150  advantageously allows multiple pocket holes  12 ,  16  to be drilled at the same distance  52  from the end  54 , and the distance  52  is properly calibrated such that the pocket holes  12 ,  16  intersect the end  54  of the workpiece  18 . 
     In some applications, such as that illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 14 , a workpiece  66  does not have a free end  68  over which to hang the fence  150  like the end  54  of the workpiece  18  of  FIG. 6 . In such applications, the fence  150  is placed in the raised position shown in  FIG. 14 . With the fence  150  in the raised position, the forward facing contact surface  162  of the fence  150  abuts the workpiece  70  to position the apertures  12 ,  16  at the appropriate distance  52  ( FIG. 7 ). 
     The fence  150  is moved between the raised and lowered positions by sliding the fence  150  in the grooves  200 . The ball-shaped projections  214  and the recesses  204  and  206  releasably retain the fence  150  in the desired position. Also, the angle  202  ( FIG. 10 ) of the grooves  200  causes the rearward facing contact surface  160  of the fence  150  to be positioned a distance  302  ( FIG. 13 ) from the front surface  134  of the base  120  when in the lowered position. The distance  302  is equal to the thickness of the fence  150  (i.e. the perpendicular distance between the contact surfaces  160 ,  162 ) so that the jig positions the holes  12 ,  16  the same distance from the ends  54 ,  68  of the workpieces  18 ,  66  regardless whether the there is a free end over which to hang the fence  150 . 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.