Patent Publication Number: US-10323421-B1

Title: Template for a router to notch a door latch slot

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of tools for working and preserving wood or similar materials, more specifically, a tool for slotted or mortised work. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The template for a router to notch a door latch slot is a jig that is adapted for use in routing slots in door slab such that the door slab can receive a latch plate. The template for a router to notch a door latch slot is clamped to the door slab such that an aperture formed in the template for a router to notch a door latch slot is positioned over the edge of the door slab. The aperture can then be used as a template for the router to create a door latch slot to receive the latch plate of the door lock. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the template for a router to notch a door latch slot will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the template for a router to notch a door latch slot in detail, it is to be understood that the template for a router to notch a door latch slot is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the template for a router to notch a door latch slot. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the template for a router to notch a door latch slot. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to one or more potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . 
     The template for a router to notch a door latch slot  100  (hereinafter invention) comprises a U channel  101 , a pressure plate  102 , and a thumbscrew  103 . The invention  100  is a jig that is adapted for use in routing slots in a door slab  151  such that the door slab  151  can receive a latch plate. The invention  100  is clamped to the door slab  151  such that an aperture  112  that is formed in the invention  100  is positioned over and clamped to the edge  152  of the door slab  151 . The aperture  112  is used as a template for the router to create a door latch slot that receives the latch plate of a door lock or a door latch set. 
     The U channel  101  is a U shaped structure that formed to fit around the edge  152  of the door slab  151 . The U channel  101  comprises a clasp frame  111 , an aperture  112 , a thumbscrew hole  113 , a first guide hole  114 , and a second guide hole  115 . The clasp frame  111  is the base of the U channel  101  and provides the characteristic U shape of the U channel  101 . The clasp frame  111  comprises a first arm  171 , a second arm  172 , and a connector  173  which are clearly identified in  FIG. 3 . The clasp frame  111  is further defined with six rectangular surfaces that are referred to as a first surface  161 , a second surface  162 , a third surface  163 , a fourth surface  164 , a fifth surface  165 , and a sixth surface  166 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 3 , the first arm  171  forms the first surface  161  and the fourth surface  164 . The fourth surface  164  faces the sixth surface  166  and forms a portion of the interior of the clasp frame  111 . The first surface  161  is the surface of the first arm  171  that is distal from the sixth surface  166 . The second arm  172  forms the third surface  163  and the sixth surface  166 . The sixth surface  166  faces the fourth surface  164  and forms a portion of the interior of the clasp frame  111 . The third surface  163  is the surface of the second arm  172  that is distal from the fourth surface  164 . The connector  173  attaches the first arm  171  to the second arm  172  such that: 1) the first arm  173  is perpendicular to the connector  173 ; and, 2) the second arm  172  is perpendicular to the connector  173 . The connector  173  forms the second surface  162  and the fifth surface  165 . The fifth surface  165  is the portion of the interior that connects the fourth surface  164  to the sixth surface  166 . The second surface  162  is the surface of the connector  173  that is distal from the fifth surface  165 . 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , the aperture  112  is a rectangular opening that is formed in the connector  173  from the second surface  162  through to the fifth surface  165 . The perimeter of the aperture  112  is formed to match one of several sizes of latch plates that are used to protect the lock or latch mechanism that is installed in the door slab  151 . The open area of the aperture  112  is used to guide a router, which is used to form a mortise which will receive the previously selected latch plate. The first guide hole  114  and the second guide hole  115  are openings that are formed in the first arm  171  of the clasp frame  111 . The positioning and use of the first guide hole  114  and the second guide hole  115  are discussed elsewhere in this disclosure. 
     The thumbscrew hole  113  is further formed with a reinforcing plate  116  and an interior screw thread  118 . The thumbscrew hole  113  is designed to receive the thumbscrew  103 . The use of the thumbscrew  103  is discussed elsewhere in this disclosure. As shown most clearly in  FIG. 3 , the reinforcing plate  116  is mounted in the center of the first surface  161 . The thumbscrew hole  113  is cylindrical opening that is formed at the center of the fourth surface  164  such that the thumbscrew hole  113  runs through the first arm  171 , through the center of the first surface  161  and continues through the reinforcing plate  116 . The thumbscrew hole  113  is further formed such that: 1) the center axis of thumbscrew hole  113  is perpendicular to the fourth surface  164 ; 2) the center axis of thumbscrew hole  113  is perpendicular to the first surface  161 ; 3) the center axis of thumbscrew hole  113  is perpendicular to the reinforcing plate  116 ; 4) the center axis of the thumbscrew hole  113  runs through the center of fourth surface  164 ; 5) the center axis of the thumbscrew hole  113  runs through the center of first surface  161 ; and, 6) the center axis of the thumbscrew hole  113  runs through the center of the reinforcing plate  116 . The purpose of the reinforcing plate  116  is to distribute the load created by the thumbscrew  103  over a larger surface area of the first arm  171 . The thumbscrew hole  113  is further formed with an interior screw thread  118 . 
     The purpose of the pressure plate  102  is to distribute the pressure of the thumbscrew  103  across a broader surface area of the door slab  151  during use. The thumbscrew  103  is discussed in more detail elsewhere in this disclosure. The pressure plate  102  is a rectangular plate that comprises a base plate  121 , a first guide post  122 , and a second guide post  123 . The base plate  121  is further defined with a seventh surface  167  and an eighth surface  168 . The dimensions of the base plate  121  are sized such that the base plate  121  will fit flush against the fourth surface  164  of the clasp frame  111 . 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 3 , the seventh surface  167  of the base plate  121  is fitted with a first guide post  122  and a second guide post  123 . The first guide post  122  is a first cylindrical shaft that projects perpendicularly away from the seventh surface  167 . The first guide post  122  is sized such that the first guide post  122  will fit through the first guide hole  114 . The second guide post  123  is a second cylindrical shaft that projects perpendicularly away from the seventh surface  167 . The second guide post  123  is sized such that the second guide post  123  will fit through the second guide hole  115 . The relative positions of the first guide post  122 , the second guide post  123 , the first guide hole  114 , and the second guide hole  115  are placed such that when the first guide post  122  is inserted through the first guide hole  114  and the second guide post  123  is inserted through the second guide hole  115  the seventh surface  167  of the base plate  121  will fit flush against the fourth surface  164  of the first arm  171  such that the perimeter of the seventh surface  167  corresponds to the perimeter of the fourth surface  164 . 
     The purpose of the thumbscrew  103  is to clamp the invention  100  in position around the edge  152  of the door slab  151  such that the aperture  112  can be used as a jig to allow a mortise to be routed in the edge  152  of the door slab  151 . The thumbscrew  103  is a commercially available thumbscrew that comprises a shaft  131 , a thumbwheel  132 , and an exterior screw thread  133 . The exterior screw thread  133  is formed on the shaft  131 . The shaft  131  and the exterior screw thread  133  are sized such that the thumbscrew  103  can be screwed into the thumbscrew hole  113 . The thumbwheel  132  is a disk that is mounted on the end of the shaft  131  such that the thumbscrew  103  can be tightened or loosened by hand as necessary. 
     To use the invention  100 , the pressure plate  102  is attached to the U Channel  101  by inserting the first guide post  122  through the first guide hole  114  and the second guide post  123  through the second guide hole  115 . The combination of the U channel  101  and the pressure plate  102  are positioned over the door slab  151  such that the door slab  151  is between eighth surface  168  of the pressure plate  102  and the sixth surface  166  of the second arm  172  in a manner that places the aperture  112  over the edge  152  of the door slab  151  in the position where the mortise is desired. The combination of the U channel  101  and the pressure plate  102  is held in position by screwing the thumbscrew  103  into the thumbscrew hole  113  until the thumbscrew  103  is pressing against the pressure plate  102 . The pressure of the thumbscrew  103  is distributed across pressure plate  102  is such a manner that the invention  100  is clamped to the door slab  151  without damaging the door slab  151 . 
     It shall be noted that the template  112  may be used in concert with a plurality of differently-sized template plates  177 . The plurality of differently-sized template plates  177  each include a second template  178  that works with the router to form the slot. The plurality of differently-sized template plates  177  includes a plurality of plate pins  179  that correspond with pin holes  180  provided on the second surface  162  of the U channel  101 . The pin holes  180  enable the plurality of plate pins  179  of a selected one of the plurality of differently-sized template plates  177  to be secured there against. The second template  178  may correspond with or have a smaller shape or size slot when used with a router. 
     It shall be noted that the plurality of plate pins  179  may be substituted with screws. Moreover, the pin holes  180  would need to be replaced with threaded holes to facilitate the connection with the screws. This is well known in the art. It shall be noted that the plurality of plate pins  179  may be referred to as a plurality of screws  179 . Moreover, the pin holes  180  would be referred to as screw holes  180 . 
     In a first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the U channel  101  and the pressure plate  102  are formed from metal. The first guide post  122  and the second guide post  123  are metal shafts that can be cast with the pressure plate  102  or that can be brazed or welded to the pressure plate  102 . Suitable metals include, but are not limited to, aluminum or steel. The thumbscrew  103  is commercially available. In a second potential embodiment of the disclosure, the U channel  101  and the pressure plate  102  are formed from molded plastic. The second potential embodiment of the disclosure is intended to be a single use and disposable product. Suitable plastics include, but are not limited to, high density polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is preferred. 
     The following definitions were used in this disclosure: 
     Center: As used in this disclosure, a center is a point that is: 1) the point within a circle that is equidistant from all the points of the circumference; 2) the point within a regular polygon that is equidistant from all the vertices of the regular polygon; 3) the point on a line that is equidistant from the ends of the line; or, 4) the point, pivot, or axis around which something revolves. 
     Center Axis: As used in this disclosure, the center axis is the axis of a cylinder or cone like structure. When the center axes of two cylinder or like structures share the same line they are said to be aligned. When the center axes of two cylinder like structures do not share the same line they are said to be offset. 
     Correspond: As used in this disclosure, the term correspond is used as a comparison between two or more objects wherein one or more properties shared by the two or more objects match, agree, or align within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. 
     Cylinder: As used in this disclosure, a cylinder is a geometric structure defined by two identical flat and parallel ends, also commonly referred to as bases, which are circular in shape and connected with a single curved surface wherein when the cross section of the cylinder remains the same from one end to another. The axis of the cylinder is formed by the straight line that connects the center of each of the two identical flat and parallel ends of the cylinder. In this disclosure, the term cylinder specifically means a right cylinder which is defined as a cylinder wherein the curved surface perpendicularly intersects with the two identical flat and parallel ends. 
     Exterior Screw Thread: An exterior screw thread is a ridge wrapped around the outer surface of a tube in the form of a helical structure that is used to convert rotational movement into linear movement. 
     Interior Screw Thread: An interior screw thread is a ridge wrapped around the inner surface of a tube in the form of a helical structure that is used to convert rotational movement into linear movement 
     Jig: As used in this disclosure, a jig is a device that is used for guiding a tool or for holding an object in place while it is being worked on by a tool or machine. 
     Mortise: As used in this disclosure, a mortise is a cavity formed in a material that is designed to receive a similarly shaped object such that the similarly shaped object is flush to the surface of the material. 
     Perimeter: As used in this disclosure, a perimeter is one or more curved or straight lines that bounds an enclosed area on a plane or surface. The perimeter of a circle is commonly referred to as a circumference. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.