Table saw throat plates and table saws including the same

• US 20060219076A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Fanning, David A., Gass, Stephen F., Fulmer, J. David
• Application Number:
  US11/395,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20060219076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/471.300
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/02 of frames; of guiding arrangements for work-table or saw-carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/025 of tables
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/732 With guard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7697 Tool angularly adjustable relative to work-support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7726 By movement of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/773 Work-support includes passageway for tool [e.g., slotted table]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7734 With guard for tool

Abstract

Throat plates for table saws and table saws including the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the throat plates and/or saws include at least one securement mechanism adapted to secure and prevent inadvertent removal of the throat plate from the throat of the saw. In some embodiments, at least one of the securement mechanisms also provides a height adjustment mechanism and/or prevents vertical removal of the throat plate. In some embodiments, the throat plate includes an accessory mounting port that provides a portal for accessories, including safety accessories, to extend through the plate from beneath the table of the saw. In some embodiments, the port extends from the plate'"'"'s outer perimeter to divide the plate'"'"'s rear end portion into a pair of spaced-apart members. In some embodiments, these members are independently secured to the table saw and retained apart from each other by one or more of the securement mechanisms.

Claims

1. A table saw comprising:

a blade;

a motor adapted to drive the blade;

a table defining a work surface;

an opening in the table through which the blade is selectively raised and lowered;

a throat plate configured to be removably positioned within the opening;

a slot in the throat plate through which the blade can extend from beneath the table, where the slot has a width;

an accessory mounting port extending through the throat plate to provide an opening for a table saw accessory to extend through the throat plate from beneath the table, where the accessory mounting port has a width greater than the width of the slot; and

an accessory mount positioned beneath the table and configured to hold the accessory so the accessory can extend through the accessory mounting port in the throat plate.

2. The table saw of claim 1, where the slot is preformed in the throat plate to accommodate the blade.

3. The table saw of claim 1, where the slot is cut in the throat plate by the blade.

4. The table saw of claim 1, where the blade is adapted to tilt relative to the table, and where the slot is configured to provide clearance when the blade tilts.

5. The table saw of claim 4, where the throat plate has a thickness defined by a top and a bottom, where the slot extends through the throat plate from the bottom to the top, where the slot at the top of the throat plate has a width, where the slot at the bottom of the throat plate has a width, and where the width of the slot at the bottom of the throat plate is greater than the width of the slot at the top of the throat plate.

6. The table saw of claim 1, where the slot has two side walls and where one of the side walls is chamfered.

7. The table saw of claim 6, where the side wall that is chamfered provides clearance for the blade to tilt to the left from the perspective of a person standing in front of the saw.

8. The table saw of claim 6, where the side wall that is chamfered provides clearance for the blade to tilt to the right from the perspective of a person standing in front of the saw.

9. The table saw of claim 1, where the slot has two side walls and where both of the side walls are chamfered.

10. The table saw of claim 1, where the accessory mounting port is configured to provide clearance for an accessory mounted in the accessory mount to tilt relative to the table.

11. The table saw of claim 10, where the throat plate has a thickness defined by a top and a bottom, where the accessory mounting port extends through the throat plate from the bottom to the top, where the accessory mounting port at the top of the throat plate has a width, where the accessory mounting port at the bottom of the throat plate has a width, and where the width of the accessory mounting port at the bottom of the throat plate is greater than the width of the accessory mounting port at the top of the throat plate.

12. The table saw of claim 1, where the accessory mounting port has two side walls and where one of the side walls is chamfered.

13. The table saw of claim 12, where the side wall that is chamfered provides clearance for the blade to tilt to the left from the perspective of a person standing in front of the saw.

14. The table saw of claim 12, where the side wall that is chamfered provides clearance for the blade to tilt to the right from the perspective of a person standing in front of the saw.

15. The table saw of claim 1, where the accessory mounting port has two side walls and where both of the side walls are chamfered.

16. The table saw of claim 1, where the throat plate has a front end region and a rear end region, where the slot extends from the front end region toward the rear end region, and where the accessory mounting port is a continuation of the slot into the rear end region.

17. The table saw of claim 1, where the throat plate is a zero-clearance throat plate.

18. The table saw of claim 1, where the throat plate includes a perimeter and where the accessory mounting port intersects with the perimeter of the throat plate.

19. The table saw of claim 1, where the throat plate includes a perimeter and where the accessory mounting port does not intersect with the perimeter of the throat plate.

20. The table saw of claim 1, where the accessory mounting port intersects with the slot.