Workpiece-holding tools and techniques

• US 10,646,973 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fireball Tool Works, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fireball Tool Works, LLC
• Inventors: Marburger, Jason A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W
• Application Number:
  US15/707,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20180161946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 33573, 33645, 228 491
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/0443 Jigs
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/005 Guides for workpieces
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/186 Aligning devices

Abstract

Workpiece-holding tools and techniques are described. Workpiece-holding tools and techniques are usable to ensure consistent and durable alignment of various workpieces while providing access for performing attachment techniques thereon. In one example, the workpiece-holding tool is configured to allow objects to be held or removably affixed to an alignment surface. Holding objects with the workpiece-holding tool ensures that the alignment of objects with an alignment surface does not change while a user is operating upon a workpiece, e.g., as by joining aligned objects together, without interfering or obstructing access to the objects. The ability to hold objects is enhanced by the inclusion of cutouts that provide increased access to interior surfaces of the workpiece-holding tool, such as to increase the area available for use of clamps or other fastening devices.

Claims

1. A portable, workpiece-holding tool comprising:

a first side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by a plurality of side surfaces;

a second side panel joined to the first side panel, the second side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by respective side surfaces;

a diaphragm connected to at least portions of the interior surface of the first side panel, the diaphragm including at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the first side panel and at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the second side panel, each cutout configured to permit a workpiece to be clamped to and held against an interior surface or an exterior surface of the respective side panel to which the opening of the at least one cutout is adjacent.

2. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 1, further comprising a third side panel joined to the second side panel and forming an angle therewith, the third side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by respective side surfaces.

3. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 2, wherein a third cutout of the plurality of cutouts has an opening adjacent and bounded by the third side panel.

4. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 1, further comprising multiple additional side panels joined either directly or indirectly to the first and second side panels to form an interior region within which the diaphragm is disposed, each of the multiple additional side panels having respective interior and exterior surfaces, the diaphragm being connected to at least portions of the interior surfaces of each of the multiple additional side panels at respective connection angles.

5. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 4, wherein the diaphragm includes multiple additional cutouts each respectively corresponding to one of the multiple additional side panels.

6. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 5, wherein each cutout has an opening that faces away from an adjacent cutout.

7. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm has a master cutout having an opening that is generally unbounded by any of the side panels.

8. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 7, wherein each cutout has a footprint, and the footprint corresponding to the master cutout is larger than any other footprint.

9. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm includes at least two cutouts corresponding to the first side panel and at least two cutouts corresponding to the second side panel.

10. A portable, workpiece-holding tool comprising:

a diaphragm having at least two cutouts; and

at least two edge panels connected to the diaphragm, each respective edge panel including an alignment surface and a clamping surface, the alignment surface and the clamping surface each being generally perpendicular to the diaphragm, each of the at least two cutouts corresponding to a respective one of the at least two edge panels and aligned to expose a portion of the respective clamping surface.

11. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 10, wherein each respective cutout has an opening adjacent and bounded by the respective edge panel.

12. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 10, further comprising a third edge panel having respective alignment and clamping surfaces.

13. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 12, wherein the diaphragm includes a plurality of cutouts, and each respective edge panel of the plurality of edge panels corresponds to at least one respective cutout of the plurality of cutouts.

14. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 10, wherein the at least two edge panels includes a first edge panel and a second edge panel joined to the first side panel.

15. A portable, workpiece-holding tool comprising:

a first side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by a plurality of side surfaces;

a second side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by a plurality of side surfaces;

a third side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by a plurality of side surfaces;

a diaphragm connected to at least portions of the interior surface of each of the first, second, and third side panels, the diaphragm including at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the first side panel, at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the second side panel, and at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the third side panel, each respective cutout configured to permit a workpiece to be clamped to and held against an interior surface or an exterior surface of the respective side panel to which the opening of the respective cutout is adjacent.

16. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 15, wherein the at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the first side panel includes at least two cutouts each having a respective opening adjacent and bounded by the first side panel.

17. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 16, wherein the at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the second side panel includes at least two cutouts each having a respective opening adjacent and bounded by the second side panel.

18. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 15, further comprising a fourth side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by a plurality of side surfaces, and wherein the diaphragm further includes at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the fourth side panel.

19. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 18, further comprising:

a fifth side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by a plurality of side surfaces, wherein the diaphragm further includes at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the fifth side panel;

a sixth side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by a plurality of side surfaces, and wherein the diaphragm further includes at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the sixth side panel; and

a seventh side panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface connected by a plurality of side surfaces, and wherein the diaphragm further includes at least one cutout having an opening adjacent and bounded by the seventh side panel.

20. The portable, workpiece-holding tool of claim 15, wherein each respective interior and exterior surface is generally perpendicular to the diaphragm.