Patent ID: 7246446

Claim:
An adjustable guide rail apparatus for a hand tool, for guiding the hand tool along an edge of a workpiece or the like when attached to the hand tool, the guide rail apparatus comprising: an elongated blade, a guide and a thumb-operable locking ratcheting apparatus; the guide being adapted for engaging the edge of the workpiece; and the elongated blade being adapted for fixed attachment to the hand tool, and operatively attached to the guide by the locking ratcheting apparatus; the locking ratcheting apparatus including a first series and a second series of teeth, with the first series of teeth being fixedly attached to the elongated blade, and the guide including a movable thumb-operable latch having the second series of teeth fixedly attached thereto in such a manner that the second series of teeth are selectively movable by the thumb-operable latch into and out of engagement with the first series of teeth on the elongated blade, for selectively preventing and allowing sliding movement of the elongated blade with respect to the guide; the thumb-operable latch being spring biased by a spring, to urge the second series of teeth on the thumb-operable latch into engagement with the first series of teeth on the blade when the thumb-operable latch is in a normally non-actuated position whereat thumb-pressure is not being exerted on the latch; the locking ratcheting apparatus having a slider and a cover operatively attached to the elongated blade and guide respectively; the slider being fixedly attached to the elongated blade and defining the first series of teeth; the guide and cover, in combination, defining a slot for sliding receipt therein of the slider; the cover including a portion thereof forming the movable thumb-operable latch.