Patent Description:
The present disclosure is directed to a track saw with a self-adjusting rib-guide assembly and to a method of operating a self-adjusting rib-guide assembly of a track saw.

Circular saws may be configured to rotate a circular saw blade, which may be utilized to cut a workpiece. Handheld circular saws are one type of circular saw that generally is small, is portable, and/or is held and/or manipulated by a user when utilized to cut the workpiece. While convenient, handheld circular saws generally provide several distinct motional degrees of freedom, which must be carefully controlled by the user. As such, a quality of cut generated by a given handheld circular saw may depend strongly on a level of experience, expertise, dexterity, and/or strength of the user.

Track saws are a type of handheld circular saw that utilize a separate track, which may be clamped to the workpiece, to guide the track saw while the track saw is utilized to cut the workpiece. The clamped track constrains motion of the track saw, thereby permitting both novice and experienced users to produce higher quality and/or straighter cuts within the workpiece. While quite effective, track saws may rely upon relatively tight tolerances between the track saw and the track in order to produce precise cuts in the workpiece. Some track saws include a manual adjustment mechanism, which may be utilized to manually adjust the tolerances between the track saw and the track. However, the user may not always recognize that an adjustment should be made. In addition, variations in dimensions of the track may make it difficult, if not impossible, for the user to ensure a desired tolerance along an entirety of a cut, especially when the cut extends along a series of interconnected segments of the track. Thus, there exists a need for track saws with self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies and/or for methods of operating self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies.

A track saw according to the preamble of claim <NUM> and a method of operating a self-adjusting rib-guide assembly of a track saw according to the preamble of claim <NUM> are known from <CIT>.

According to the invention, a track saw defined by the features of claim <NUM>, and a method of operating a self-adjusting rib-guide assembly of a track saw, according to claim <NUM> are provided. Further preferred embodiments are defined by the features of the dependent claims.

<FIG> provide examples of track saws <NUM> and/or components thereof, according to the present disclosure. Elements that serve a similar, or at least substantially similar, purpose are labeled with like numbers in each of <FIG>, and these elements may not be discussed in detail herein with reference to each of <FIG>. Similarly, all elements may not be labeled in each of <FIG>, but reference numerals associated therewith may be utilized herein for consistency. Elements, components, and/or features that are discussed herein with reference to one or more of <FIG> may be included in and/or utilized with any of <FIG> without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In general, elements that are likely to be included in a particular embodiment are illustrated in solid lines, while elements that are optional are illustrated in dashed lines. However, elements that are shown in solid lines may not be essential to all embodiments and, in some embodiments, may be omitted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of examples of circular saws in the form of track saws <NUM> according to the present disclosure, while <FIG> are less schematic illustrations of an example of a track saw <NUM>, according to the present disclosure, that also is a plunge saw <NUM>. <FIG> are illustrations of a base plate <NUM> of a track saw <NUM> that includes a self-adjusting rib guide assembly <NUM>, according to the present disclosure. More specifically, <FIG> illustrates a top profile view of track saw <NUM>, and <FIG> illustrates a right side view of track saw <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a left side view of track saw <NUM> illustrating the track saw in a fully plunged orientation <NUM>, <FIG> illustrates the left side view of track saw <NUM> illustrating the track saw in a fully retracted orientation <NUM>, and <FIG> illustrates the left side view of <FIG> with several covers removed. <FIG> is a front view of track saw <NUM>, <FIG> is a rear view of track saw <NUM>, <FIG> is a top view of track saw <NUM>, and <FIG> is a bottom view of track saw <NUM>. <FIG> are schematic illustrations of examples of a region of base plates <NUM> of track saws <NUM> that include self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies <NUM>, according to the present disclosure, with the region of base plates <NUM> illustrated engaging with a schematically illustrated track <NUM>. <FIG> is a profile view illustrating an arbor-opposed side of an example of a base plate <NUM> that includes self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies <NUM>, according to the present disclosure, <FIG> is a transverse cross-sectional view of base plate <NUM> of <FIG> illustrating a guide roller <NUM> of the self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies in an extended state <NUM>, and <FIG> is a transverse cross-sectional view of the base plate of <FIG> illustrating guide roller <NUM> of the self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies in a retracted state <NUM>. Base plate <NUM> illustrated in the example of <FIG> may differ from, or include different structure than, base plates <NUM> illustrated in the example of <FIG>.

As illustrated collectively by <FIG>, track saws <NUM> include a motor <NUM> that includes a motor shaft <NUM> configured to rotate about a shaft axis of rotation <NUM>. Track saws <NUM> also include an arbor <NUM> configured to receive a torque from motor <NUM> when motor shaft <NUM> rotates about the shaft rotational axis. Receipt of the torque may cause arbor <NUM> to rotate about an arbor rotational axis <NUM>, which also may be referred to herein as and/or may be a circular saw rotational axis <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. As also illustrated in dashed lines in <FIG> and in solid lines in <FIG> and <FIG>, track saws <NUM> also may include a circular saw blade <NUM>. Circular saw blade <NUM>, when present, may be operatively attached to the track saw via arbor <NUM> and/or may be configured for rotational movement with the arbor. Rotation of circular saw blade <NUM> may facilitate cutting of a workpiece <NUM> with the circular saw blade, as schematically illustrated in <FIG>.

Track saws <NUM> may be any suitable type or style of track saw that is adapted, configured, designed, and/or constructed to utilize a circular saw blade <NUM> to cut the workpiece and/or that may utilize track <NUM> to improve a quality and/or precision of cuts produced within the workpiece. Examples of track saws <NUM> include track saws <NUM> in the form of a handheld track saw <NUM> and/or a plunge saw <NUM>. In some examples, track saws <NUM> may include structures and/or features from both of the above saws, and/or may incorporate functionality of both of the above saws. As an example, and as discussed in more detail herein, a given track saw <NUM> may be and/or may incorporate functionality of handheld track saw <NUM> and/or of plunge saw <NUM>. Track saws <NUM> according to the present disclosure thus may include one or more of the features disclosed herein, but track saws <NUM> are not required to include all of the features disclosed herein.

Motor <NUM> may include any suitable structure that may provide the motive force for rotation of motor shaft <NUM> and/or for actuation of circular saw blade <NUM>. Examples of motor <NUM> include an electric motor, an AC electric motor, a DC electric motor, a brushless DC motor, a variable-speed motor, and/or a single-speed motor.

As illustrated in dashed lines in <FIG> and in solid lines in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, track saws <NUM> may include a gripping region <NUM> that is configured to be gripped and/or held by a user during operation of the track saw. Gripping region <NUM>, when present, also may be referred to herein as and/or may be a handle, or hand grip.

As also illustrated in dashed lines in <FIG> and in solid lines in <FIG> and <FIG>, track saws <NUM> may include at least one switch <NUM>. Switch(es) <NUM>, when present, may be configured to be selectively actuated by the user of the track saw, such as to enable and/or permit electric current to be provided to at least one other component of the track saw and/or to permit powered operation of the at least one other component of the track saw. As examples, selective actuation of switch(es) <NUM> may be utilized to enable operation of a motor controller of the track saw, to selectively apply an electric current to motor <NUM>, to enable the motor controller to selectively apply the electric current to the motor, and/or to permit, or direct, the motor to provide the motive force for rotation of the motor shaft. In some examples, the electric current may be utilized to power, or to directly power, at least one other component of the track saw, such as motor <NUM>. In some such examples, the electric current also may be referred to herein as an electric power signal. In some examples, the electric current may be an electric data signal that is sent to at least one other component of the track saw, such as the motor controller of the track saw. In some such examples, the electric current also may be referred to herein as a data signal and/or as an electric data signal. Examples of switch <NUM> include an electrical switch, a normally open electrical switch, a momentary electrical switch, and/or a locking momentary electrical switch.

As also illustrated in solid lines in <FIG>, track saws <NUM> also include a workpiece support <NUM> in the form of a base plate <NUM>. Workpiece support <NUM> may be configured to support workpiece <NUM> and/or to position the track saw relative to the workpiece when the workpiece is cut or otherwise acted upon by the implement, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Track saws <NUM> may include any suitable power source, and corresponding power supply structures <NUM>, for powering motor <NUM>. Examples of the power supply structures include a power cord <NUM> and/or a battery <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

As also illustrated in dashed lines in <FIG> and in solid lines in <FIG>, track saws <NUM> may include a blade guard <NUM>. Blade guard <NUM>, when present, may be configured to cover, to house, and/or to contain at least a region of circular saw blade <NUM>, such as to prevent, or to decrease a potential for, contact between the user and the circular saw blade. In some examples of track saws <NUM>, blade guard <NUM> may include a retractable region <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. The retractable region may be configured to fold, rotate, and/or otherwise retract when the track saw is utilized to cut the workpiece. Retractable region <NUM> additionally or alternatively may be referred to as a retracting region <NUM> and/or a collapsing region <NUM>.

In some examples, and as discussed, track saws <NUM> may be (i.e., include structures and features of) a plunge saw <NUM>. In examples of track saws <NUM> that are or include the functionality of plunge saw <NUM>, arbor <NUM> may be configured to move relative to workpiece support <NUM>, such as to selectively vary a region of circular saw blade <NUM> that projects from the workpiece support and/or to selectively vary a depth-of-cut of the track saw. For example, arbor <NUM> may be configured to pivot relative to workpiece support <NUM>, as illustrated by the transition between the configuration that is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, and the configuration that is illustrated in <FIG>.

As a more specific example, workpiece support <NUM> may include and/or be base plate <NUM>, which may define an arbor-facing side <NUM> and an arbor-opposed side <NUM>. Arbor <NUM> may be operatively attached to arbor-facing side <NUM> of base plate <NUM> with, via, and/or utilizing a base plate pivot <NUM>. Stated another way, arbor-facing side <NUM> of base plate <NUM> may face toward arbor <NUM>. In such examples, arbor <NUM> and base plate <NUM> may be configured to rotate, relative to one another, about base plate pivot <NUM>, such as to selectively vary a region <NUM> of circular saw blade <NUM> that extends on arbor-opposed side <NUM> of the base plate, as perhaps best illustrated by the transition from the configuration that is illustrated in <FIG>, which illustrates a fully plunged orientation <NUM>, to the configuration that is illustrated in <FIG>, which illustrates a fully retracted orientation <NUM>. Stated another way, arbor <NUM> may be configured to pivot relative to workpiece support <NUM> throughout a range of relative orientations, or relative angles, that may be bounded by the fully plunged orientation and the fully retracted orientation. For each relative orientation in this range of relative orientations, circular saw blade <NUM> may extend on arbor-opposed side <NUM> by a corresponding amount, thereby providing a corresponding maximum depth-of-cut for the track saw.

Base plate <NUM> of track saws <NUM> includes a rib-receiving channel <NUM>, which is configured to receive a raised elongate rib <NUM> of a track <NUM>, as perhaps best illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. Track <NUM> also may be referred to herein as an elongate track <NUM> and may be formed from one or more elongate track segments, or track sections, <NUM>, which may be operatively attached to one another to define any suitable track length. During operation of track saws <NUM>, track <NUM> may be operatively attached, or clamped, to workpiece <NUM> such that an edge of the track corresponds to a desired cut line for the track saw. Subsequently, the track saw may be positioned, relative to the track, such that raised elongate rib <NUM> is positioned within rib-receiving channel <NUM>; and the track saw then may be translated along at least a fraction of the length of the elongate track, thereby producing a straight cut along the desired cut line.

<FIG> emphasize rib guide assemblies <NUM> in the form of self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies <NUM>, according to the present disclosure. <FIG> may include and/or be more detailed and/or specific views of components, regions, and/or features of track saws <NUM>, according to the present disclosure, such as track saws <NUM> of <FIG>. With this in mind, any of the structures, functions, and/or features that are disclosed herein with reference to any one of <FIG> may be included in and/or utilized with any other of <FIG>.

As discussed, track saws <NUM> include workpiece support <NUM> in the form of base plate <NUM> that includes rib-receiving channel <NUM>, which is configured to receive a raised elongate rib <NUM> of a track <NUM>. Rib-receiving channel <NUM> extends from arbor-opposed side <NUM> of base plate <NUM> and/or into the base plate. As perhaps best illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, rib-receiving channel <NUM> may extend between a leading edge <NUM> of base plate <NUM> and a trailing edge <NUM> of the base plate. Additionally or alternatively, rib-receiving channel <NUM> may extend parallel, or at least substantially parallel, to a planar blade surface <NUM> of circular saw blade <NUM> and/or may extend perpendicular to an axis of rotation <NUM> of the circular saw blade, as perhaps best illustrated in <FIG>.

Track saws <NUM> also include at least one rib-guide assembly <NUM>, and in some examples at least two rib-guide assemblies <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, which at least partially define rib-receiving channel <NUM>. Rib-guide assemblies <NUM> may be positioned on a blade-opposed side <NUM> of rib-receiving channel <NUM>. When base plate <NUM> includes at least two rib-guide assemblies <NUM>, a leading rib-guide assembly <NUM> may be positioned proximate a leading edge <NUM> of base plate <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, a trailing rib-guide assembly <NUM> may be positioned proximate a trailing edge <NUM> of the base plate.

Self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies <NUM>, according to the present disclosure, automatically adjust for, self-adjust for, and/or accommodate variations in, or a range of, a raised rib transverse width <NUM> of raised elongate rib <NUM> of track <NUM>, or track segments <NUM> thereof, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. More specifically, self-adjusting rib guide assemblies <NUM> are configured to automatically maintain a desired amount of clearance, tolerance, and/or contact between track saw <NUM> and raised elongate rib <NUM> over a range of raised rib transverse widths <NUM>. This may include automatically maintaining the desired clearance, tolerance, and/or contact for variation in raised rib transverse width <NUM> between different tracks <NUM> and/or automatically maintaining the desired clearance, tolerance, and/or contact for variation in raised rib transverse width <NUM> along the length of a single, or a given, raised elongate rib <NUM> of a single, or a given, track <NUM>, such as while the track saw is operatively translated along the length of the single track <NUM> and/or utilized to cut the workpiece. This may contrast to conventional track saws that, as discussed herein, may include and/or utilize a manual adjustment mechanism that is incapable of automatically accounting, or adjusting, for changes in raised rib transverse width <NUM>.

Stated another way, self-adjusting rib-guide assembly <NUM> may be configured to automatically adjust a transverse width <NUM>, a minimum transverse width, and/or a transverse cross-sectional area of a region of a rib-receiving channel that is defined by the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly, such as to accommodate the range of raised rib transverse widths. This is illustrated by the transition between the configurations that are illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and the configurations that are illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

As examples, self-adjusting rib-guide assembly <NUM> may be configured to automatically adjust for the range of raised rib transverse widths that varies by a threshold rib width variance. Examples of the threshold rib width variance include at least <NUM> millimeters (mm), at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at most <NUM>, at most <NUM>, at most <NUM>, at most <NUM>, at most <NUM>, at most <NUM>, at most <NUM>, at most <NUM>, and/or at most <NUM>.

This automatic adjustment may be accomplished in any suitable manner. As an example, a portion and/or region of self-adjusting rib-guide assembly <NUM> may be configured to automatically move, relative to a remainder of track saw <NUM>, responsive to a contact force between the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly and the raised elongate rib. This may include automatic motion to accommodate, or adjust for, raised rib transverse width <NUM> of raised elongate rib <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the portion and/or region of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly may be biased to remain in contact with the raised elongate rib to accommodate, or adjust for, variations in raised rib transverse width <NUM>. This adjustment is illustrated by the transition of self-adjusting rib-guide assembly <NUM> from the configuration that is illustrated in <FIG>, in which the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly accommodates a relatively narrower raised rib transverse width <NUM>, to the configuration that is illustrated in <FIG>, in which the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly has moved to the left to accommodate a relatively narrower raised rib transverse width <NUM>.

According to the invention, and as perhaps best illustrated in <FIG>, self-adjusting rib-guide assembly <NUM> includes a roller shaft <NUM>, a guide roller <NUM>, and a biasing mechanism <NUM>. Roller shaft <NUM> may include and/or be a cylindrical, or an elongate cylindrical, roller shaft. Guide roller <NUM> is configured to rotate about roller shaft <NUM>, such as during motion of track saw <NUM> relative to the track. Guide roller <NUM> is also configured to operatively translate along, or along a length of, roller shaft <NUM> between an extended state <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, and a retracted state <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Extended state <NUM> may define a minimum, or a minimum value of, transverse width <NUM>, while retracted state <NUM> may define a maximum, or a maximum value of, transverse width <NUM>.

Biasing mechanism <NUM> may be configured to bias guide roller <NUM> toward and/or to extended state <NUM>. However, insertion of a raised elongate rib, which has a transverse width that is greater than the minimum transverse width that is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, may urge guide roller <NUM> toward retracted state <NUM>, thereby adjusting, or automatically adjusting, transverse width <NUM>. Biasing mechanism <NUM> also may urge guide roller <NUM> to extend and/or may permit the guide roller to retract, along a length of roller shaft <NUM>, responsive to variation in raised rib transverse width <NUM> of a region of track <NUM> that contacts guide roller <NUM>, such as may occur during translation of track saw <NUM> along the length of raised elongate rib <NUM> and/or during operative use of the track saw to cut the workpiece. Stated another way, biasing mechanism <NUM> may urge guide roller <NUM> to remain in contact with raised elongate rib <NUM>, thereby increasing transverse width <NUM> responsive to a decrease in raised rib transverse width <NUM> and/or decreasing transverse width <NUM> responsive to an increase in raised rib transverse width <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, and upon removal of raised elongate rib <NUM> from rib-receiving channel <NUM>, biasing mechanism <NUM> may urge guide roller <NUM> toward and/or to the extended state.

To facilitate the above-described functionality, guide roller <NUM> may include and/or be a tapered guide roller and/or an at least partially conic guide roller. Additionally or alternatively, guide roller <NUM> may taper toward arbor-opposed side <NUM> of base plate <NUM>. Stated another way, a width of guide roller <NUM> may increase in a direction that extends from arbor-opposed side <NUM> and toward arbor-facing side <NUM>.

A taper angle <NUM> for this taper, which is illustrated in <FIG>, may have any suitable value. Examples of the taper angle include angles of at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at least <NUM> degrees, at most <NUM> degrees, at most <NUM> degrees, at most <NUM> degrees, at most <NUM> degrees, at most <NUM> degrees, at most <NUM> degrees, at most <NUM> degrees, and/or at most <NUM> degrees. A specific taper angle may be selected and/or based upon a strength, a restoring force, and/or a bias force applied to guide roller <NUM> by biasing mechanism <NUM>, with lower angles being associated with weaker bias forces and greater angles being associated with stronger bias forces. The taper angle may open toward arbor-opposed side <NUM> of base plate <NUM>, as also illustrated in <FIG>.

Guide roller <NUM> may have, define, and/or include a central opening <NUM>. Roller shaft <NUM> may extend within and/or through the central opening. Guide roller <NUM> may be formed and/or defined from any suitable guide roller material and/or materials. Examples of the guide roller material include a resilient material, a polymeric material, a polyurethane, and/or combinations thereof.

Biasing mechanism <NUM> may include and/or may be formed from any suitable material and/or materials. Examples of biasing mechanism <NUM> include a resilient material, a spring, and/or a coil spring.

In some examples of track saws <NUM>, and as illustrated in <FIG>, track saws <NUM> and/or rib-guide assemblies <NUM> thereof also may include a manual adjustment mechanism <NUM>. Manual adjustment mechanism <NUM>, when present, may be configured to be actuated, by the user of the track saw, to manually adjust the transverse width of a corresponding region of rib-receiving channel <NUM>. In some examples, manual adjustment mechanism <NUM> may be distinct, spaced apart, and/or separate from self-adjusting rib-guide assembly <NUM>. In some such examples, the corresponding region of the rib-receiving channel may differ from the region of the rib-receiving channel that is adjusted by the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly. In some examples, the manual adjustment mechanism may form a portion of and/or may interact with self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies <NUM>. In some such examples, the corresponding region of the rib-receiving channel may be the same as the region of the rib-receiving channel that is adjusted by the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly. In some such examples, the manual adjustment mechanism may be configured to adjust, such as to widen and/or narrow, the range of raised rib transverse widths <NUM> that may be accommodated, or adjusted for, by self-adjusting rib-guide assembly <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart depicting examples of methods <NUM> of operating self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies, according to the present disclosure, such as self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>. Methods <NUM> include operating and/or adjusting the self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies to automatically adjust for, or to automatically accommodate, a range of raised rib transverse widths of a raised elongate rib of a track that may be utilized with the track saw. Examples of the track saw are disclosed herein with reference to track saws <NUM>. Examples of the track are disclosed herein with reference to tracks <NUM>. Examples of the raised elongate rib are disclosed herein with reference to raised elongate ribs <NUM>.

Methods <NUM> include positioning the raised elongate rib at <NUM> and establishing a contact force at <NUM>. Methods <NUM> also include moving a portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly at <NUM> and may include cutting a workpiece at <NUM>.

Positioning the raised elongate rib at <NUM> includes positioning the raised elongate rib within a rib-receiving channel of a base plate of the track saw. In some examples, the positioning at <NUM> may include engaging the raised elongate rib with at least a portion of the rib-receiving channel, operatively engaging the raised elongate rib with at least a portion of the rib-receiving channel, and/or establishing physical contact between the raised elongate rib and at least a portion of the rib-receiving channel. In some examples, the positioning at <NUM> may include engaging the raised elongate rib with at least the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly, operatively engaging the raised elongate rib with at least the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly, and/or establishing physical contact between the raised elongate rib and at least the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly.

Establishing the contact force at <NUM> includes producing, generating, and/or establishing the contact force between the raised elongate rib and the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly. The establishing at <NUM> may be during, responsive to, and/or a result of the positioning at <NUM>, such as via contact, or direct physical contact, between the raised elongate rib and the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the establishing at <NUM> may include maintaining the contact force as the user pushes the track saw along the length of the track.

Moving the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly at <NUM> may include moving at least the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly relative to a remainder of the track saw, such as while raised elongate rib is positioned within the rib-receiving channel and/or while the self-adjusting rib guide assembly is in contact with the raised elongate rib. This may include moving the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly to adjust for, to accommodate, and/or to permit the rib-receiving channel to receive the raised elongate rib of the track. The moving at <NUM> may be during, responsive to, and/or a result of the contact force established during the establishing at <NUM>.

The moving at <NUM> may be accomplished in any suitable manner. As an example, the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly may include a guide roller, such as guide roller <NUM>. In some such examples, the establishing at <NUM> may include establishing the contact force between the raised elongate rib and the guide roller, and the moving at <NUM> may include moving the guide roller. In some such examples, the guide roller may include and/or be a tapered guide roller that defines a tapered region, and the moving at <NUM> may include changing a portion of the tapered region that contacts the raised elongate rib. In some such examples, the guide roller may define an axis of symmetry, and the moving at <NUM> may include operatively translating the guide roller along the axis of symmetry.

According to the invention the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly includes a roller shaft, and the guide roller is configured to operatively rotate about the roller shaft. The moving at <NUM> includes operatively translating the guide roller along, along at least a fraction of a length of, and/or along an elongate axis of the roller shaft.

The self-adjusting rib-guide assembly includes a biasing mechanism. In some such examples, the moving at <NUM> may include compressing the biasing mechanism. In a more specific example, the guide roller may be configured to operatively translate along the roller shaft and/or between an extended state and a retracted state, such as may be responsive to the contact force, to variations in the contact force, and/or to variations in the transverse width of the raised elongate rib. The extended state may define a minimum transverse width of a region of the rib-receiving channel that is at least partially defined by the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly, and the retracted state may define a maximum transverse width of the region of the rib-receiving channel that is at least partially defined by the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly. In some such examples, the biasing mechanism may be configured to bias, or to urge, the guide roller toward the extended state. In some such examples, the moving at <NUM> includes moving the guide roller at least partially toward the retracted state, such as via overcoming a bias force of the biasing mechanism with the contact force.

Cutting the workpiece at <NUM> may include cutting the workpiece with, via, and/or utilizing the track saw. The cutting at <NUM> may include cutting the workpiece by operatively translating the track saw along a length of the raised elongate rib, such as to permit the track and/or the raised elongate rib to at least partially guide and/or direct the track saw during the cutting at <NUM>.

Methods <NUM> may include performing the moving at <NUM> concurrently with and/or responsive to the cutting at <NUM>. Stated another way, the moving at <NUM> may include automatically moving the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly relative to the remainder of the track saw to maintain contact between the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly and the raised elongate rib, to maintain the contact force between the raised elongate rib and the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly, to maintain the contact force within a predetermined contact force range, and/or to maintain a desired tolerance between the track saw and the track via operative engagement between the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly and the raised elongate rib. This may include maintaining during and/or despite variation in the raised rib transverse width of a region of the raised elongate rib that contacts, or is in contact with, the portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly.

In the present disclosure, several of the illustrative, non-exclusive examples have been discussed and/or presented in the context of flow diagrams, or flow charts, in which the methods are shown and described as a series of blocks, or steps. Unless specifically set forth in the accompanying description, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the order of the blocks may vary from the illustrated order in the flow diagram, including with two or more of the blocks (or steps) occurring in a different order and/or concurrently.

As used herein, the term "and/or" placed between a first entity and a second entity means one of (<NUM>) the first entity, (<NUM>) the second entity, and (<NUM>) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entities listed with "and/or" should be construed in the same manner, i.e., "one or more" of the entities so conjoined. Other entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and/or B," when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising" may refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other entities). These entities may refer to elements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values, and the like.

As used herein, the phrase "at least one," in reference to a list of one or more entities should be understood to mean at least one entity selected from any one or more of the entities in the list of entities, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every entity specifically listed within the list of entities and not excluding any combinations of entities in the list of entities. This definition also allows that entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified within the list of entities to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B," or, equivalently "at least one of A and/or B") may refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other entities). In other words, the phrases "at least one," "one or more," and "and/or" are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions "at least one of A, B, and C," "at least one of A, B, or C," "one or more of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, or C," and "A, B, and/or C" may mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, A, B, and C together, and optionally any of the above in combination with at least one other entity.

As used herein the terms "adapted" and "configured" mean that the element, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intended to perform a given function.

As used herein, the phrase, "for example," the phrase, "as an example," and/or simply the term "example," when used with reference to one or more components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according to the present disclosure, are intended to convey that the described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/or method is an illustrative, non-exclusive example of components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according to the present disclosure. Thus, the described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/or method is not intended to be limiting, required, or exclusive/exhaustive; and other components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, including structurally and/or functionally similar and/or equivalent components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

As used herein, "at least substantially," when modifying a degree or relationship, may include not only the recited "substantial" degree or relationship, but also the full extent of the recited degree or relationship. A substantial amount of a recited degree or relationship may include at least <NUM>% of the recited degree or relationship. For example, an object that is at least substantially formed from a material includes objects for which at least <NUM>% of the objects are formed from the material and also includes objects that are completely formed from the material. As another example, a first length that is at least substantially as long as a second length includes first lengths that are within <NUM>% of the second length and also includes first lengths that are as long as the second length.

Claim 1:
A track saw (<NUM>), comprising:
a motor (<NUM>) including a motor shaft (<NUM>) configured to rotate about a shaft rotational axis;
an arbor (<NUM>) configured to attach a circular saw blade (<NUM>) to the track saw (<NUM>) and to receive a torque from the motor (<NUM>) when the motor shaft (<NUM>) rotates about the shaft rotational axis;
a base plate (<NUM>) that defines an arbor-facing side (<NUM>) and an arbor-opposed side (<NUM>), wherein the arbor-facing side (<NUM>) of the base plate (<NUM>) faces toward the arbor (<NUM>), wherein the base plate (<NUM>) includes:
(i) a rib-receiving channel (<NUM>) defined on the arbor-opposed side (<NUM>) of the base plate (<NUM>) and configured to receive a raised elongate rib (<NUM>) of a track (<NUM>); and
(ii) a self-adjusting rib-guide assembly (<NUM>) that at least partially defines the rib-receiving channel (<NUM>), wherein the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly (<NUM>) is configured to automatically adjust for a range of raised rib transverse widths (<NUM>),
wherein the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly (<NUM>) includes a roller shaft (<NUM>), a guide roller (<NUM>), and a biasing mechanism (<NUM>),
wherein the guide roller (<NUM>) is configured to operatively rotate about the roller shaft (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the guide roller (<NUM>) is configured to operatively translate along the roller shaft (<NUM>) between an extended state (<NUM>), which defines a minimum transverse width of a region of the rib-receiving (<NUM>) channel that is at least partially defined by the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly (<NUM>), and a retracted state (<NUM>), which defines a maximum transverse width of the region of the rib-receiving channel (<NUM>) that is at least partially defined by the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly (<NUM>).