Patent Publication Number: US-2023160675-A1

Title: Multipurpose Woodworking Gauge

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/281,167, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to clamping devices, and more specifically to a woodworking gauge for aligning objects to be cut relative to the cutting implement to enable a desired cut to be made in the object or material. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In the area of construction, often it is necessary to alter, cut or trim a piece of a construction material, such as wood, among others, in order to properly fit the construction material where necessary or desired. To accomplish this, many different styles and types of boring, drilling and/or cutting implements have been developed. 
     Some often utilized pieces of boring, drilling and/or cutting equipment include a support surface, such as a table on which the material to be cut can be placed, and a boring, drilling or cutting mechanism disposed within and extending above the support surface in order to be engageable with the material placed on the support surface. Devices of this type include table saws, band saws and drill presses, routing tables, cutting mechanisms having a metal or metallic support or non-metallic surface on which the material to be cut is positioned 
     One shortcoming with regard to devices of this type are issues with aligning a cutting guide or fence with the boring, drilling or cutting mechanism to achieve the desired bore, aperture or cut in the substrate material. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to develop an improved woodworking gauge for properly positioning a material guide or fence from the boring, drilling or cutting mechanism to address these issues with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a woodworking gauge for use with a boring, drilling or cutting mechanism having a support surface and a cutting implement disposed on an extending through the support surface includes a pair of alignment blocks joined by a pair of connecting rods. The rods are slidably positioned within bores extending through each of the alignment blocks and can be fixed with regard to the alignment blocks by clamps. One of the alignment blocks includes a positioning or locking insert that is engaged with the support surface to secure the alignment block in a stationary position on the support surface. The remaining alignment block includes a blade engaging insert to be positioned against the boring, drilling or cutting blade. The position of the connecting rods extending past the alignment block that is engaged with the blade enables a cutting fence to be positioned a desired distance from the blade to achieve the desired cut within the material workpiece. 
     These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a top plan view of the woodworking gauge on a support surface according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a side elevational view of the woodworking gauge of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a rear elevational view of the woodworking gauge of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is an isometric view of the woodworking gauge of  FIG.  1    including a large diameter router insert. 
         FIG.  5 A  is an isometric view of the insert of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  5 B  is a top plan view of the insert of  FIG.  5 A . 
         FIG.  5 C  is a side elevational view of the insert of  FIG.  5 A . 
         FIG.  6    is an isometric view of the woodworking gauge of  FIG.  1    including a small diameter router insert. 
         FIG.  7 A  is an isometric view of the insert of  FIG.  6   . 
         FIG.  7 B  is a top plan view of the insert of  FIG.  7 A . 
         FIG.  7 C  is a side elevational view of the insert of  FIG.  7 A . 
         FIG.  8    is an isometric view of the woodworking gauge of  FIG.  1    including a band saw insert. 
         FIG.  9 A  is an isometric view of the insert of  FIG.  8   . 
         FIG.  9 B  is a top plan view of the insert of  FIG.  9 A   
         FIG.  9 C  is a side elevational view of the insert of  FIG.  9 A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Before the present compositions, apparatuses and methods are described, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments and methodology, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims. 
     With reference now to  FIGS.  1 - 3    an exemplary embodiment of a woodworking gauge is illustrated generally at  14 . The gauge  14  is releasably securable to a support surface  20 , such as a metal table saw, band saw or router saw support surface, and includes a first alignment block  6  and a second alignment block  7 . The blocks  6 ,  7  are formed from a rigid material and each include a pair of spaced horizontal bores  100  and a pair of spaced vertical bores  102  extending therethrough. 
     A pair of connecting rods  104 , 106  are slidably disposed within the horizontal bores  100  such that the blocks  6 ,  7  can be moved along the rods  104 , 106 . The blocks  6 , 7  also include clamps  108 , 110  that can engage the blocks  6 , 7  with the rods  104 , 106  to secure the bocks  6 , 7  in the desired position on the rods  104 , 106 . In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rods  104 , 106  can be fixed with regard to each of the alignment blocks  6 , 7  by threaded clamps  108 , 110  disposed within the complementary threaded vertical bores  102 . As best shown in the illustrated exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  3   , the horizontal bores  100  are formed in the folds of inwardly extending flaps  400  joined to a base member  402  to form each of the blocks  6 , 7 . Further, the flaps  400  define a space  404  between the flaps  400  and the base member  402 , and the vertical bores  102  extend through the flaps  400  to intersect the space  404  and continue into the base member  402 . In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  3   , the space  404  includes horizontal bores  100  in which the rods  104 , 106  are positioned and a narrow portion  406  that extends away from the bore  100  and across which the clamp  108 , 110  extends between the flaps  404  and the base member  402 . In this manner, the threaded clamps  108 , 110  engaged in the vertical bores  102  across the space  404  can secure the rods  104 , 106  within the horizontal bores  100  by pulling the flaps  400  towards the base member  402  using the threaded engagement of the clamps  108 , 110  with the bores  102  and compressing the rods  104 , 106  between the flaps  400  and the base member  402 . 
     Referring now to the illustrated exemplary embodiments of  FIGS.  4 - 8 C  The first alignment block  6  includes a notch  112  disposed on one side which receives one of a number of cutting implement-engaging inserts  3 , 4 , 5  shown in  FIGS.  5 A- 5 C,  7 A- 7 C and  9 A- 9 C ., respectively. Each insert  3 ,  4 ,  5  includes a tab  114  on one side of a body  111  that is engageable within the notch  112  to secure the insert  3 , 4 , 5  to the first alignment block  6 . Opposite the tab  114 , the body  111  of the insert  3  in  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C  includes a cutout  116  adapted to receive one half a small diameter shaft  201 , the insert  4  includes a cutout  118  adapted to receive one half a large diameter shaft  202  of a router  200  ( FIGS.  5 A- 5 C ), and the insert  5  includes a recess  120  adapted to receive one half of the thickness of a band saw blade  300  ( FIGS.  9 A- 9 C ). In an alternative embodiment, the insert  5  can have a recess  120  adapted to receive the full thickness of the saw blade  300 . For each insert  3 , 4 , 5 , the size of the body  111  and the cutout  116 , 118 , 120 , varies to accommodate the associated cutting implement. 
     Looking now at  FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  6  and  8   , in order to securely position the gauge  14  on the support surface  20 , a channel lock  8  that is adapted to be positioned and engaged within a complementary shaped channel  11  formed in the support surface  20  is fixed to the base member  402  of the second block  7  opposite the flaps  400 , such as by a number of screws  27  engaged between the base member  402  and the channel lock  8 . The channel lock  8  is positioned within the channel  11  when the gauge  14  is disposed on the support surface  20  in order to engage the channel  11  and retain the second block  7  in a stationary position on the support surface  20 . The channel lock  8  additionally includes a number of set screws  25  disposed within bores on one or both sides of the channel lock  8 , as shown in  FIG.  3   . The set screws  25  can be rotated relative to the channel lock  8  to protrude outwardly from the channel lock  8  in order to enable the channel lock  8  to more closely conform to the dimensions of the channel  11 , and thus more securely hold the second block  7  and the gauge  14  on the support surface  20 . In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the second block  7  includes a lower recess or notch  120  in which can releasably be disposed the channel lock  8  for engagement with the channel  11  in the support surface  20 . 
     To use the gauge  14 , initially the clamps  108 , 110  are disengaged to enable the blocks  6 , 7  to slide along the rods  104 , 106 . The gauge  14  is then positioned on or against a flat surface, such as vertically on the support surface  20  or horizontally against a cutting fence  12  disposed on the support surface  20 , to align the one end of each of the rods  104 , 106  with the edge of the first block  6 . The second block  7  is then slid along the rods  104 , 106  to space the second block  7  away from the first block  6 , and then is secured in the spaced position by engaging the clamps  108 , 110  on the second block  7  with the rods  104 , 106 . 
     After securing the second block  7  to the rods  104 , 106 , the gauge  14  is placed flat against the surface  20  in order to use a measuring device (not shown) to position the proper amount or length of each rod  104 , 106  beyond the first block  6 . The length of the rods  104 , 106  extending beyond the first block  6  corresponds to the desired distance between the cutting implement, such as the band saw blade  300 , and the depth or location for the cut to be made in the material being cut. Once the desired length of each rod  104 , 106  is positioned beyond the first block  6 , the clamps  108 , 110  on the first block  6  are engaged with the rods  104 , 106  to affix the rods  104 , 106  relative to the first block  6 . 
     After securing the first block  6  to define the desired cutting distance from the blade  300 , the band saw insert  5  is secured to the first block  6 , as shown in  FIGS.  4 ,  6  and  8   . Alternatively, the insert  5  can be engaged with the first block  6  prior to the alignment of the rods  104 , 106  with the first block  6 . The clamps  108 , 110  in the second block  7  are then disengaged from the rods  104 , 106  to allow the second block  7  to slide along the rods  104 , 106 . 
     The gauge  14  can then be placed on the support surface  20  with the rods  104 , 106  oriented parallel to the support surface  20  ( FIG.  4   ) and the channel insert or lock  8  can be placed within the channel  11  formed in the support surface  20 . The set screws  25  can be adjusted at this point in order to adjust or extend the cross-section, e.g., the width, of the channel lock  8  to enable the channel lock  8  to more closely fit within the channel  11 , thereby more securely holding the lock  8  within the channel  11 . 
     Once disposed in the channel  11 , the rods  104 , 106  are slid with respect to the second block  7  in order to locate the first block  6  and insert  5  against the band saw blade  300 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . In this position, the rods  104 , 106  extend past the blade  300  the required distance for the spacing of the cut to be made in the material. 
     After the first block  6  and insert  5  are positioned against the blade  300 , the clamps  108 , 110  on the second block  7  are engaged with the rods  104 , 106  to lock the rods  104 , 106  in position relative to the channel  11 . In this configuration, the rods  104 , 106  first block  6  and second block  7  are rigidly positioned on the support surface  20 . The cutting fence  12  can then be positioned on the support surface  20  and moved into a location where the fence  12  contacts the ends of the rods  104 , 106  opposite the first block  6 . In this position, the fence  12  defines a space between the fence  12  and the blade  300  corresponding to the desired distance or depth of the cut to be made in the material. The fence  12  is then locked to the support surface  20  to maintain the position of the fence  12  relative to the blade  300 , and the gauge  14  can be removed from the support surface  20 , such as by loosening one or more of the pairs of clamps  108 , 110  and lifting the channel lock  8  out of the channel  11 , thus enabling the cutting device to be utilized to form the desired cut in the material workpiece. 
     If both rods  104 , 106  do not contact the fence  12  when the fence  12  is moved into contact with the rods  104 , 106 , the screws  27  engaging the second block  7  with the channel lock  8  can be loosened in order to rotate the second block  7  with regard to the channel lock  8  in order to align the second block  7  with the channel lock  8  disposed within the channel  11  and/or the rods  104 , 106  with the table fence  12 . Once aligned, the screws  27  are tightened to affix the second block  7  in alignment with the channel lock  8  and the channel  11  and/or the rods  104 , 106  with the fence  12 . 
     When utilizing the gauge  14  to define a desired position for a cut in a material workpiece to be made using a router  200 , the same process described previously can be utilized with the sole exception of the use of one of the inserts  3  or  4  to accommodate the diameter of the small diameter shaft  201  or the large diameter shaft  202  of the particular router  200 . When utilizing the inserts  3  or  4 , the distance that the rods  104 , 106  are positioned outwardly from the first block  6  is adjusted by the spacing of the cutouts  116  or  118  in the inserts  3  and  4 . 
     Finally, in order to locate, align or set a table saw blade  500  vertically with regard to the support surface  20 , a similar process to that described previously is utilized. After the rods  104 , 106  have been aligned with the first block  6 , the second block  7  is slid away from the first block  6  and engaged with the rods  104 , 106  using the clamps  108 , 110 . The gauge  14  can then be moved from the vertical position relative to the support surface  20  and placed with the rods  104 , 106  parallel to the support surface  20 , and the first block  6  can then be slid along the rods  104 , 106  towards the second block  7  and engaged with the rods  104 , 106  using the clamps  108 , 110 . The second block  7  then be engaged with the channel lock  8  and positioned over the channel  11  using the engagement of the lock  8  within the channel  17 . This step is optional and can be omitted, particularly when the support surface  20  does not include a channel  11 . 
     Once the second block  7  is aligned with the support surface  20  in a position that is parallel to the slot  502  in which the saw blade  500  is disposed, the rods  104 , 106  and first block  6  can be slide relative to the second block  7  until one or both of the rods  104 , 106  contact the saw blade  500 . In this position, the saw blade  500  can be adjusted relative to the support surface  20  utilizing known adjustment mechanisms (not shown) on the support surface  20  to orient the saw blade  500  to vertically touch both rods  104 , 106 , thereby aligning the saw blade  500  vertically with respect to the support surface  20 . 
     The gauge  14  can also be used to align a table saw blade  500  and/or table saw fence  12  parallel to the table saw slot  502  and channel  11 . First, the gauge  14  would first align the table saw blade  500  parallel to the table saw slot  502  and channel  11 . To accomplish this, on the gauge  14  the rods  104 ,  106  are set with an equal distance extending from slide block  6 . The slide block  6  is then clamped to rods  104 ,  106 . The channel lock  8  is secured in the channel  11 , with the rods  104 ,  105  are free to slide within slide block  7 . The slide block  6  and rods  104 ,  106  are fixed together are slid forward until one or both rods  104 , 106  make contact with the table saw blade  500 . The saw blade  500  is adjusted using the mechanism (not shown) on the table saw until the side of blade  500  makes contact with both rods  104 ,  106 . The saw blade  500  is now positioned parallel to saw table slot  502  and the channel  11 . Next, the table saw blade  500  is lowered below the surface of table/support surface  20 . The fence  12  is subsequently slid towards rods  104 ,  106  until the fence side  12  contacts one or both rods  104 ,  106 . If the fence  12  does not touch both rods  104 ,  106 , the position of the fence  12  on the support surface  20  is adjusted until both rods  104 , 106  are in contact with the fence  12 . 
     Various other embodiments of the present invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the filed claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.