DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HOLDING A TOOL BIT

• US 20130219692A1
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sjoerd Anne Van Valkenburg
• Original Assignee: Sjoerd Anne Van Valkenburg
• Inventors: Van Valkenburg, Sjoerd Anne
• Granted Patent: US 9,517,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/559
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2210/244 Milling cutters comprised of disc-shaped modules or multiple disc-like cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2260/08 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 5/10 Shank-type cutters, i.e. with an integral shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/00 Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04; specially adapted to machine tools B23Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/006 Supporting devices for clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/04 with pivoted jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/103 with a hinge
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 9/02 without sliding or pivotal connections, e.g. tweezers, onepiece tongs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17145 Ball or roller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 Disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49822 by applying force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49824 to elastically deform work part or connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49998 Work holding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53961 with work-holder for assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/95 with tool-retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/953 Clamping jaws

Abstract

A device and method for holding a bit for a tool. The holding device, which is secured to a support surface, includes a housing having a base, a first leg and a second leg. A slot is defined between the first and second legs and the shank of the bit is received through one of a plurality of differently dimensioned apertures defined along the slot between the first and second legs. An adjustment assembly is engaged with the first and second legs and is movable to a first position to clamp the shank in the selected aperture; and is movable to a second position to release the shank. When the adjustment assembly is moved from the second position to the first position, a free end of the second leg bends toward the first leg, thereby reducing the diameter of the aperture within which the shank is received.

Claims

1. A device for holding a bit for a tool comprising:

a housing including;

a base adapted to be secured to a support surface;

a first leg and a second leg extending outwardly from the base in generally the same direction;

a slot defined between the first and second legs and wherein a region of the slot is adapted to receive a portion of a shank of the bit therethrough, said slot having a width; and

an adjustment assembly engageable with the first and second legs and being movable between a first position and a second position; and

when the adjustment assembly is in the first position the shank of the bit is clamped in the region of the slot, and when the adjustment assembly is in the second position, the shank is not clamped in the region of the slot.

2. The holding device as defined in claim 1, wherein movement of the adjustment assembly from the second position to the first position causes a portion of the second leg to move toward the first leg, thereby reducing the width of the region of the slot;

and movement of the adjustment assembly from the first position to the second position causes the portion of the second leg to move away from the first leg, thereby increasing the width of the region of the slot.

3. The holding device as defined in claim 2, wherein the portion of the second leg bends toward the first leg when the adjustment assembly is moved from the second position to the first position.

4. The holding device as defined in claim 2, wherein the second leg is disposed substantially parallel to the first leg when the adjustment assembly is in the second position;

and the second leg is disposed at an angle relative to the first leg when the adjustment assembly is in the first position.

5. The holding device as defined in claim 1, wherein the slot is bounded by an interior surface of the first leg and an opposed interior surface of the second leg;

and the region of the slot adapted to receive the portion of the shank therein includes;

a first curved recess defined in the interior surface of the first leg; and

a second curved recess defined in the interior surface of the second leg opposite the first curved recess;

said first and second curved recesses and the width of the slot therebetween defining a first aperture in the housing.

6. The holding device as defined in claim 5, wherein the first aperture is of a first diameter that approximates a diameter of the shank of the bit when the adjustment assembly is in the first position;

and the first aperture is of a second diameter that is larger than the shank of the bit when the adjustment assembly is in the second position.

7. The holding device as defined in claim 5, further comprising:

a third curved recess defined in the interior surface of the first leg adjacent the first curved recess; and

a fourth curved recess defined in the interior surface of the second leg opposite the third curved recess and adjacent the second curved recess;

wherein said third and fourth curved recesses and the width of the slot therebetween define a second aperture in the housing; and

wherein the housing is adapted to receive the shank of a bit in one or the other of the first and second apertures.

8. The holding device as defined in claim 7, wherein the first aperture is of a first diameter and the second aperture is of a second diameter, and the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

9. The holding device as defined in claim 8, wherein the adjustment assembly is adjustable to reduce either of the first and second diameters to approximate a diameter of the shank of the bit when the adjustment assembly is moved from the second position to the first position.

10. The holding device as defined in claim 1, wherein the adjustment assembly engages a free end of the first leg and a free end of the second leg.

11. The holding device as defined in claim 10, wherein the first and second legs extend longitudinally outwardly from the base;

and movement of the adjustment assembly from the second position to the first position causes the free end of the second leg to move laterally toward the free end of the first leg.

12. The holding device as defined in claim 11, wherein the first leg has a first end that is integral with the base and the second leg has a first end that is integral with the base;

wherein the slot originates between the first ends of the first and second legs and terminates between the free ends of the first and second legs; and

wherein the width of the slot between the first ends is of a substantially constant size when the adjustment assembly is moved between the first and second positions.

13. The holding device as defined in claim 12, wherein the width of the slot between the free ends of the first and second legs changes when the adjustment assembly is moved between the first and second positions.

14. The holding device as defined in claim 1, wherein the adjustment assembly comprises a fastener which extends between the first and second legs;

and the fastener is rotatable in a first direction to draw the portion of the second leg toward the first leg; and

the fastener is rotatable in a second direction to allow the portion of the second leg to move away from the first leg.

15. The holding device as defined in claim 14, wherein a free end of the first leg defines a first hole therethrough, and a free end of the second leg defines a second hole therethrough;

and the first and second holes are substantially laterally aligned with each other; and

wherein the fastener is received through the first and second holes.

16. The holding device as defined in claim 15, wherein a terminal region of the fastener is externally threaded and an interior surface of the free end of the first leg which defines the first hole is internally threaded;

and the threaded terminal region of the fastener threadably engages in the threaded first hole.

17. The holding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a first aperture defined in the base region and extending between an upper and lower surface of the housing;

a second aperture defined in a free end of the first leg and extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the housing; and

a pair of fasteners, each fastener being received through one of the first and second apertures and adapted to fixedly secure the housing to the support surface.

18. The holding device as defined in claim 1, wherein the base, the first leg and the second leg are all disposed in the same plane.

19. A method of holding a router bit;

said method comprising the steps of;

securing a holding device to a support surface;

inserting a shank of the router bit into one of a plurality of different diameter apertures in the holding device;

moving a free end of a second leg of the holding device toward a free end of a first leg of the holding device to clamp the shank in the selected one of the apertures.

20. The method as defined in claim 19, further comprising holding a first end of the second leg substantially stationary with respect to a first end of the first leg while moving the free end of the second leg toward or away from the free end of the first leg.

21. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein the step of moving the free end of the second leg includes moving the free end of the second leg laterally toward the free end of the first leg.

22. The method as defined in claim 21, further comprising the step of securing the first leg to the support surface prior to moving the second leg toward the first leg.

23. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein the step of moving the free end of the second leg toward the free end of the first leg includes bending the second leg out of parallel arrangement with respect to the first leg.

24. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein the step of moving the free end of the second leg includes the step of:

rotating a fastener which extends between the free ends of the first and second legs in a first direction; and

reducing the diameter of the selected one of the apertures to a diameter that is substantially complementary to an exterior diameter of the shank of the bit.