Precision miter gauge

• US 20030015078A1
• Filed: 05/03/2000
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Design Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Design Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Taylor, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,672,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/437.2
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 25/10 Manually-operated feeding or pressing accessories, e.g. pushers
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 27/08 arranged adjustably, not limited to only one of the groups B27B27/02 - B27B27/06
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 27/10 Devices for moving or adjusting the guide fences or stops
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 5/023 the mitre angle being adjusted by positioning a workpiece relative to a fixed saw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6611 Having positive adjustment stop; e.g., link
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6612 Having position indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6657 Tool opposing pusher
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/727 With means to guide moving work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/863 Adjustable guide for traversing tool; e.g., radial saw guide or miter saw guide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8773 Bevel or miter cut

Abstract

The present invention provides a precision miter gauge for orienting and positioning a workpiece relative to a cutting tool. The miter gauge reduces positioning errors and improves repeatability. The miter gauge includes a base and a body pivotably connected to the base. A positioning edge of the body contains a plurality of teeth between which a positioning member connected to the base is inserted and locked in place. In this manner, relative movement of the positioning body relative to the base is inhibited.

Claims

1. An apparatus for orienting a workpiece on a working surface with respect to a cutting tool, said apparatus comprising:

a guide;

a base plate pivotably connected to said guide, said base plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said base plate positionable on said working surface with at least a portion of said lower surface of said base plate in facing relationship with at least a portion of said working surface;

a top plate having a lower surface, said top plate disposed on said base plate, at least a portion of said upper surface of said base plate in facing relationship with at least a portion of said lower surface of said top plate;

means for pivotably connecting said top plate to said base plate;

means for inhibiting movement of said top plate relative to said base plate; and

means for inhibiting movement of said base plate relative to said guide.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said top plate includes a positioning edge defining an arc about said means for pivotably connecting said top plate to said base plate.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of teeth disposed on said positioning edge, said plurality of teeth defining a plurality of notches between the teeth.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for inhibiting movement of said top plate relative to said base plate includes an interface element removably inserted into at least a portion of at least one notch of said plurality of notches, whereby movement of said top plate relative to said base plate is inhibited.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein one notch of said plurality of notches corresponds to an angular position of 22½

degrees of said top plate relative to said base plate.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said base plate includes a base plate positioning edge defining an arc about said means for pivotably connecting said top plate to said base plate.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of teeth disposed on said base plate positioning edge, said plurality of teeth defining a plurality of fine-positioning notches between the teeth.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for inhibiting movement of said base plate relative to said guide includes a fine-positioning interface element removably inserted into at least a portion of at least one notch of said plurality of fine-positioning notches, whereby movement of said base plate relative to said guide is inhibited.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said top plate includes an arcuate slot disposed therein and wherein said means for inhibiting movement of said top plate relative to said base plate includes a thumbscrew, said guide including a threaded hole for receiving said thumbscrew, wherein a portion of said thumbscrew passes through said arcuate slot and is threaded into said guide.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a flange connected to said top plate, said flange configured to attach a fence thereto.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a template disposed on said top plate, said template including markings according to angular positioning of said top plate relative to said base plate.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a fine-positioning template disposed on said base plate, said fine positioning template including markings according to angular positioning of said base plate relative to said guide.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said guide is configured to be inserted into a longitudinal slot disposed in said working surface.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said plurality of notches are spaced at intervals corresponding to one degree angular position increments of said positioning body relative to said guide.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said plurality of notches are spaced at intervals corresponding to five degree angular position increments of said positioning body relative to said guide.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein one notch of said plurality of notches corresponds to an angular position of 22½

degrees of said positioning body relative to said guide.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a flange connected to said positioning body, said flange configured to attach a fence thereto.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a template disposed on said positioning body, said template including markings according to angular positioning of said positioning body relative to said guide.

13. An apparatus for orienting a workpiece on a working surface with respect to a cutting tool, said apparatus comprising:

a guide;

a positioning body pivotably connected to said guide, said positioning body having a positioning edge;

a plurality of teeth disposed on said positioning edge, said plurality of teeth defining a plurality of notches between the teeth; and

a positioning member pivotably connected to said guide about a substantially vertical axis, said positioning member including an interface element removably inserted into at least a portion of at least one notch of said plurality of notches, whereby movement of said positioning body relative to said guide is inhibited.

20. An apparatus for orienting a workpiece with respect to a cutting tool, said apparatus comprising:

a guide;

a base having a slot of predetermined length disposed therein;

a first connection means for pivotably connecting said base to said guide;

a second connection means for connecting said base to said guide, said second connection means including a shaft passing through said slot to limit rotation of said base relative to said guide according to the length of said slot;

a positioning body pivotably connected to said base; and

means for inhibiting movement of said positioning body relative to said base.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said second connection means includes a push knob for moving the apparatus relative to the cutting tool.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said positioning body includes a positioning edge.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22 further comprising a plurality of teeth disposed on said positioning edge, said plurality of teeth defining a plurality of notches between the teeth.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said means for inhibiting movement of said positioning body relative to said base includes an interface element removably inserted into at least a portion of at least one notch of said plurality of notches, whereby movement of said positioning body relative to said base is inhibited.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said plurality of notches are spaced at intervals corresponding to one degree angular position increments of said positioning body relative to said base.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein one notch of said plurality of notches corresponds to an angular position of 22½

degrees of said positioning body relative to said base.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said positioning body includes an arcuate slot disposed therein and wherein said means for inhibiting movement of said positioning body relative to said base includes a thumbscrew, said base further including a threaded hole for receiving said thumbscrew, and wherein a portion of said thumbscrew passes through said arcuate slot and is threaded into said threaded hole.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 further comprising a flange connected to said positioning body, said flange configured to attach a fence thereto.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 further comprising a template disposed on said positioning body, said template including markings according to angular positioning of said positioning body relative to said base.

30. An apparatus for orienting a workpiece on a working surface with respect to a cutting tool, said apparatus comprising:

a guide;

a base pivotably connected to said guide at a pivot location, said base having a first positioning edge;

a first plurality of teeth disposed on said first positioning edge, said first plurality of teeth defining a first plurality of notches between the teeth;

a positioning member connected to said guide, said positioning member including an interface element removably inserted into at least a portion of at least one notch of said first plurality of notches on said first positioning edge;

a positioning body pivotably connected to said base, said positioning body having a second positioning edge;

a second plurality of teeth disposed on said second positioning edge, said second plurality of teeth defining a second plurality of notches between the teeth; and

a positioning member connected to said base, said positioning member including an interface element removably inserted into at least a portion of at least one notch of said second plurality of notches on said second positioning edge, whereby movement of said positioning body relative to said base is inhibited.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said positioning edge defines an arc about said pivot location.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said guide is configured to be inserted into a longitudinal slot disposed in said working surface.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said second plurality of notches are angularly spaced at intervals that are larger than the angular spacing intervals for said first plurality of notches.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 further comprising a flange connected to said positioning body, said flange configured to attach a fence thereto.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 further comprising a template disposed on said positioning body, said template including markings according to angular positioning of said positioning body relative to said base.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 further comprising a template disposed on said base, said template including markings according to angular positioning of said base relative to said guide.

37. An apparatus for orienting a workpiece with respect to a cutting tool, said apparatus comprising:

a base plate having an upper surface;

a pivotable body pivotably connected to said base, said pivotable body having a positioning edge, said positioning edge containing a plurality of teeth defining a plurality of notches between the teeth;

an indexing marker disposed on said upper surface, a portion of said marker extending outwardly from said positioning edge, a portion of said marker visible within a portion of one of said plurality of notches for angular positions of said pivotable body other than angular positions corresponding to direct alignment of said marker and the peak of one of said plurality of teeth; and

means for inhibiting movement of said pivotable body relative to said base plate.