Power tool support fixture

• US 7,290,574 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Credo Technology Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Credo Technology Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Baber, Brad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BENA B
• Application Number:
  US10/680,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 144/134.1, 144/135.2, 144/135.3, 144/136.95, 144/154.5, 144/48.5, 144/48.6, 409/182, 409/180, 409/181
• US Class Current: 144/135.2
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: B27C 5/10 Portable hand-operated wood-milling machines; Routers
• CPC Class Codes: B27C 9/005 portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/306496 with work follower
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/306608 End mill [e.g., router, etc.]

Abstract

A support fixture for a hand-held power tool includes a base plate and a guide plate assembly supported for movement relative to the base plate to bring the working end of the power tool into contact with a workpiece on which the base plate is supported. The guide plate assembly includes a tool support housing configured for supporting the body of the power tool, and an overthrow nut assembly for threaded engagement with a threaded portion of the power tool adjacent the working end of the tool. The fixture includes a guide bushing that is top-loaded into a bushing collar defined in the base plate, in which the guide bushing is configured to engage a template supported on the workpiece. A threaded plug holds the guide bushing within the bushing collar.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

a hand-held power tool including (i) a housing having an exterior threaded portion, and (ii) a drive spindle; and

a support apparatus including;

a base;

a vertical support member connected to said base;

a carriage movable in relation to said vertical support member, said carriage having a receptacle that defines an upper opening and a lower opening, said hand-held power tool being received within said receptacle so that a first portion of said hand-held power tool extends through said lower opening and a second portion of said hand-held power tool extends through said upper opening; and

a nut rotatably secured to said receptacle, said nut defining an internally threaded bore extending therethrough, and said internally threaded bore being positioned in alignment with said lower opening of said receptacle, and further said exterior threaded portion of said housing of said hand-held power tool being threadingly received within said internally threaded bore defined by said nut.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said upper opening possesses a first diameter,

said lower opening possesses a second diameter, and

said second diameter is less than said first diameter.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said nut includes an exterior polygonal drive surface.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said receptacle includes a sidewall vertically disposed between said upper opening and said lower opening, and

said sidewall has defined therein an access opening configured to allow a user'"'"'s finger to extend threrethrough to contact a locking mechanism of the hand-held power tool.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said support apparatus further includes a retainer member attached to said receptacle, wherein:

said retainer member defines a second bore aligned with said lower opening of said receptacle,

said nut includes (i) a first portion interposed between said receptacle and said retainer member, and (ii) a second portion that extends through said second bore, and

said second portion of said nut includes an exterior polygonal drive surface.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein:

said retainer member includes a plurality of arms,

said receptacle includes a plurality of slots defined therein, and

said plurality of arms respectively extend through said plurality of slots.

7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein:

said first portion of said nut includes a circumferential flange, and

said circumferential flange is interposed between said receptacle and said retainer member.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said support apparatus further includes:

a first hand grip attached to a first side of said carriage, and

a second hand grip attached to a second side of said carriage that is opposite said first side of said carriage.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said carriage is movable in relation to said vertical support member between an upper position and a lower position, and

said carriage is spring biased toward said upper position.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said support apparatus further includes a stop limit assembly attached to said carriage, wherein:

said stop limit assembly includes an elongate member having a lower end,

said lower end of said elongate member is spaced apart from said base when said carriage is located in said upper position, and

said lower end of said elongate member is positioned in contact with said base when said carriage is located in said lower position.

11. An assembly, comprising:

a hand-held power tool including (i) a housing having an exterior threaded portion, and (ii) a drive spindle; and

a support apparatus including;

a base;

a vertical support member connected to said base;

a carriage movable in relation to said vertical support member, said carriage having a receptacle that defines an upper opening and a lower opening, said receptacle being configured to receive said hand-held power tool so that a first portion of said hand-held power tool extends through said lower opening and a second portion of said hand-held power tool extends through said upper opening; and

an attachment member rotatably secured to said receptacle, said attachment member defining an internally threaded bore, and said internally threaded bore being (i) positioned in alignment with said lower opening of said receptacle, and (ii) positioned in mating relationship with said exterior threaded portion of said housing of said hand-held power tool.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein:

said receptacle includes a sidewall vertically disposed between said upper opening and said lower opening, and

said sidewall has defined therein an access opening configured to allow a user'"'"'s finger to extend threrethrough to contact a locking mechanism of the hand-held power tool.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said support apparatus further includes a retainer member attached to said receptacle, wherein:

said retainer member defines a second bore,

said attachment member includes (i) a first portion interposed between said receptacle and said retainer member, and (ii) a second portion that extends through said second bore, and

said second portion of said attachment member includes an exterior polygonal drive surface.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein:

said retainer member includes a plurality of arms,

said receptacle includes a plurality of slots defined therein, and

said plurality of arms respectively extend through said plurality of slots.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein:

said first portion of said attachment member includes a circumferential flange, and

said circumferential flange is interposed between said receptacle and said retainer member.

16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein:

said carriage is movable in relation to said vertical support member between a first position and a second position, and

said carriage is spring biased toward said first position.

17. An assembly, comprising:

a base;

a vertical member connected to said base;

a carriage movable in relation to said vertical support member, said carriage having a receptacle that defines an upper opening and a lower opening;

a hand-held power tool having (i) a housing including a threaded exterior portion, and (ii) a drive spindle, said hand-held power tool being positioned within said receptacle so that a first portion of said hand-held power tool extends through said lower opening and a second portion hand-held power tool extends through said upper opening; and

an attachment member rotatably secured to said receptacle, said attachment member having an internally threaded portion that defines a bore extending through said attachment member, said internally threaded portion being meshingly engaged with said threaded exterior portion of said hand-held power tool,

wherein at least a part of said drive spindle is interposed between said carriage and said base when said internally threaded portion of said attachment member is meshingly engaged with said threaded exterior portion of said hand-held power tool.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein:

said hand-held power tool further has a bit locking mechanism,

said receptacle includes a sidewall vertically disposed between said upper opening and said lower opening, and

said sidewall has defined therein an access opening configured to allow a user'"'"'s finger to extend threrethrough to contact said bit locking mechanism of said hand-held power tool.

19. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising a retainer member attached to said receptacle, wherein:

said retainer member defines a second bore,

said attachment member includes (i) a first portion interposed between said receptacle and said retainer member, and (ii) a second portion that extends through said second bore, and

said second portion of said attachment member includes an exterior polygonal drive surface.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein:

said retainer member includes a plurality of arms,

said receptacle includes a plurality of slots defined therein, and

said plurality of arms respectively extend through said plurality of slots.

21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein:

said first portion of said attachment member includes a circumferential flange, and

said circumferential flange is interposed between said receptacle and said retainer member.

22. The assembly of claim 17, wherein:

said carriage is movable in relation to said vertical support member between an upper position and a lower position, and

said carriage is spring biased toward said upper position.