Workpiece positioning tool and method using same

• US 5,855,073 A
• Filed: 09/19/1995
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wy-Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: James E. Boelling
• Inventors: Boelling, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baxter, Gwendolyn
• Application Number:
  US08/530,765
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.1, 248/221.1, 248/235, 248/243, 248/250, 248/205.3, 108/180, 108/192, 108/193, 33/645, 33/533, 33/474, 33/481, 33/613, 33/646, 33/648, 52/562, 52/127.2, 52/127.5, 269/41, 269/242
• US Class Current: 33/533
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/061 Cantilever brackets
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/00 Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers bolt tensioners B25B29/02

Abstract

An L-shaped positioning tool is I-shaped in cross section, including inner and outer flanges on a centrally positioned stem, with aligned slots being formed in the edges of the flanges to receive screws and a screwdriver for fastening the positioning tool to a workpiece. Alternatively the positioning tool may be temporarily fastened to a workpiece through the use of a strip of material having adhesive on opposite faces. After the workpieces have been fastened together, the positioning tool is removed from the first workpiece by the adhesive being softened through application of heat or a solvent.

Claims

1. A workpiece positioning tool comprising a one piece L-shaped member having first and second leg portions extending at right angles to each other, and said L-shaped member being I-shaped in cross-section and including a stem portion centrally disposed between oppositely disposed laterally extending inner and outer flanges, said inner and outer flanges of each of said first and second leg portions having flat surfaces being parallel to each other, each of said inner and outer flanges having oppositely disposed side edges with said stem portion being centered between said side edges, said flat surfaces of said inner flanges extending at right angles to each other and defining an open area there between, and said outer flanges on said first and second leg portions are interconnected by a beveled flange.

2. The workpiece positioning tool of claim 1 and said oppositely disposed laterally extending inner and outer flanges include aligned slots extending laterally inwardly from said side edges whereby a fastening element may be positioned in one slot and operated by a tool extending through the slot aligned with said one slot.

3. The workpiece positioning tool of claim 1 wherein said inner flanges on said first and second leg portions have adjacent ends which terminate in spaced apart relationship to form a recess therebetween.

4. The workpiece positioning tool of claim 1 wherein said outer flanges on said first and second leg portions have adjacent ends which terminate in spaced apart relationship.

5. The workpiece positioning tool of claim 1 wherein adhesive is provided on the flat surface of one of said inner and outer flanges for securing said tool to a workpiece.

6. The workpiece positioning tool of claim 1 wherein said flat surfaces on said inner and outer flanges on each of said first and second leg portions are continuously flat along their entire length for workpieces to be positioned at right angles to each other against said continuous flat surfaces of said inner and outer flanges.

7. The method of assembling a pair of workpieces in a right angle relationship including the steps of,

providing a positioning tool comprising a one piece L-shaped member having first and second leg portions extending at right angles to each other, and said L-shaped member being I-shaped in cross-section and including a stem portion centrally disposed between oppositely disposed laterally extending inner and outer flanges, said inner and outer flanges of each of said first and second leg portions having flat surfaces being parallel to each other, each of said inner and outer flanges having oppositely disposed side edges with said stem portion being centered between said side edges, and said flat surfaces of said inner flanges extending at right angles to each other and defining an open area there between one of said flat surfaces including adhesive,

positioning one leg with its inner or outer surface having adhesive against one of said pair of work pieces to hold it in a fixed relationship to said positioning tool,

positioning the other of said pair of workpieces against the second leg portion of said tool,

securing said other of said pair of workpieces to said second leg portion of said tool in a position relative to said first work piece such that said first and second workpieces can be directly fastened together,

fastening said first and second workpieces directly together while secured to the first and second legs of said tool, and

disconnecting said interconnected pair of workpieces from the first and second legs of said tool.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of disconnecting said interconnected pair of workpieces from said first and second legs of said tool includes using a solvent on said adhesive connecting said one leg to said one workpiece.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of disconnecting said interconnected pair of workpieces from said first and second legs of said tool includes applying heat to said adhesive connecting said one leg to said one workpiece.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein one of said inner or outer surfaces of said first and second leg portions having adhesive does so by a tape of double adhesive being applied between said one surface and said one of said pair of workpieces.

11. The method of assembling a pair of workpieces in a right angle relationship including the steps of,

providing a positioning tool comprising a one piece L-shaped member having first and second leg portions extending at right angles to each other, and said L-shaped member being I-shaped in cross-section and including a stem portion centrally disposed between oppositely disposed laterally extending inner and outer flanges, said inner and outer flanges of each of said first and second leg portions having continuous flat surfaces being parallel to each other, each of said inner and outer flanges having oppositely disposed side edges with said stem portion being centered between said side edges, and said flat surfaces of said inner flanges extending at right angles to each other and defining an open area there between,

positioning said first leg portion with its outer surface against one of said pair of work pieces,

fastening said outer surface of said first of said tool to said one of said pair of workpieces to hold it in a fixed relationship to said positioning tool,

positioning the other of said pair of workpieces against said outer surface of said second leg portion of said tool,

securing said other of said pair of workpieces to said outer surface of said second leg portion of said tool in a position relative to said first workpiece such that said first and second workpieces can be directly fastened together,

fastening said first and second workpieces directly together while secured to the first and said outer surface of said second legs of said tool, and

disconnecting said interconnected pair of workpieces from said outer surface of said first and second leg portions of said tool.

12. The workpiece positioning tool of claim 11 wherein said step of fastening of said first leg portion of said tool to said one of said pair of workpieces is done by use of a clamp which engages said first leg portion of said tool and said one of said pair of workpieces.

13. The workpiece positioning tool of claim 12 wherein said step of fastening of said first leg portion of said tool to said one of said pair of workpieces is done by use of a screw which engages said first leg portion of said tool and said one of said pair of workpieces.

14. A workpiece positioning tool comprising a one piece L-shaped member having first and second leg portions extending at right angles to each other, and said L-shaped member being I-shaped in cross-section and including a stem portion centrally disposed between oppositely disposed laterally extending inner and outer flanges, said inner and outer flanges of each of said first and second leg portions having flat surfaces being parallel to each other, each of said inner and outer flanges having oppositely disposed side edges with said stem portion being centered between said side edges, said flat surfaces of said inner flanges extending at right angles to each other and defining an open area there between, and said oppositely disposed laterally extending inner and outer flanges on each leg portion including aligned slots extending laterally inwardly from said side edges whereby a fastening element may be positioned in one slot and operated by a tool extending through the slot aligned with said one slot.