Table saw throat plates and table saws including the same

• US 9,878,380 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Inventors: Gass, Stephen F., Fulmer, J. David, Fanning, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alie, Ghassem
• Application Number:
  US15/362,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 834713, 83581, 834711, 834771, 8369851, 83472, 83473, 83477, 834687, 83466, 83 52, 83 218, 834772, 83478, 834402, 144 11, 1442861, 1442865, 220 35, 295 57, 295 25, 2952565, 4034051, 4034081, 4034091
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/025 of tables
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/08 of devices for bringing the circular saw blade to the workpiece or removing same therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/24 arranged to disable the operating means for the cutting member
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 13/14 Braking devices specially designed for band sawing machines, e.g. acting after damage of the band saw blade
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/38 Devices for braking the circular saw blade or the saw spindle; Devices for damping vibrations of the circular saw blade, e.g. silencing B23D47/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/00 Safety guards or devices specially adapted for wood saws; Auxiliary devices facilitating proper operation of wood saws
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/02 for circular saws
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/06 for band or strap saws
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/12 with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine F16P3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/14 the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/148 using capacitive technology
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/081 With randomly actuated stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/088 Responsive to tool detector or work-feed-means detector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/089 Responsive to tool characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/091 Responsive to work sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/162 : With control means responsive to replaceable or selectable information program
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/175 : With condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/178 : Responsive to work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/541 : Actuation of tool controlled in response to work-sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/613 : Work guard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7693 : Tool moved relative to work-support during cutting
• 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 83/7734 : With guard for tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7788 : Tool carrier oscillated or rotated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/85 : Signal; e.g., alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8773 : Bevel or miter cut

Abstract

Throat plates for table saws and table saws are disclosed. In some embodiments, the throat plates and/or saws have at least one securement mechanism 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 has 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. An insert for use with a table saw, the insert comprising:

a main body having a rear portion, an underside, a perimeter, and a first threaded bore in the underside of the rear portion; and

a first retainer, where the first retainer has a threaded shaft with two ends, where one of the two ends is threaded into the first threaded bore, where the other of the two ends has a first head, where the first head has a laterally projecting first contact surface, where the first contact surface is positioned to extend under and thereby overlap at least a part of the table saw under the rear portion of the insert when the insert is installed in the table saw, where the first contact surface extends under the table saw without the first retainer having to be rotated when the insert is installed in the table saw, and where the first contact surface helps to prevent the rear portion of the insert from raising up during use.

2. The insert of claim 1, where the first contact surface is a first contact ledge.

3. The insert of claim 1, where the insert includes a second threaded bore in the underside of the rear portion, and a second retainer, where the second retainer has a threaded shaft with two ends, where one of the two ends is threaded into the second threaded bore, where the other of the two ends has a second head, where the second head has a laterally projecting second contact surface, where the second contact surface is positioned to extend under and thereby overlap at least a part of the table saw under the rear portion of the insert when the insert is installed in the table saw, where the second contact surface extends under the table saw without the second retainer having to be rotated when the insert is installed in the table saw, and where the second contact surface helps to prevent the rear portion of the insert from raising up during use.

4. The insert of claim 3, where the second contact surface is a second contact ledge.

5. The insert of claim 3, where the main body has a right side, a left side, a front portion connecting the right and left sides, and a region between the right and left sides through which a blade may extend, and where the first contact surface is on one of the right and left sides and the second contact surface is on the other of the right and left sides.

6. The insert of claim 5, where the first and second contact surfaces are contact ledges.

7. The insert of claim 3, where the main body has a right side, a left side, a front portion connecting the right and left sides, and a gap at the rear portion between the right and left sides, and where the first and second heads abut parts of the table saw when the insert is installed in the table saw to prevent the right and left sides from moving toward each other.

8. The insert of claim 1, where the main body has a right side, a left side, a front portion connecting the right and left sides, and a gap at the rear portion between the right and left sides.

9. The insert of claim 8, where the main body does not connect the right and left sides at the rear portion.

10. The insert of claim 8, where the main body has a region between the right and left sides through which a blade may extend.

11. The insert of claim 1, where the main body has a top surface, and where the insert further comprises at least one hole in the top surface through which the position of the first contact surface can be adjusted.

12. The insert of claim 1, where the first retainer can be threaded into the first threaded bore in selective amounts to adjust the height of the rear portion relative to the table when the insert is installed in the table saw.

16. The insert of claim 1, further comprising a screw threaded into a socket on the main body, where the screw has a head, and where the first contact surface is part of the head.

13. An insert for use with a table saw, the insert comprising:

a main body having a rear portion, an underside, a perimeter, and a gap extending from the perimeter of the main body to divide the rear portion into first and second spaced-apart members;

a first contact surface positioned in the rear portion of the main body, on the first spaced-apart member, within the perimeter, and adjacent the underside;

a second contact surface positioned in the rear portion of the main body, on the second spaced-apart member, within the perimeter, and adjacent the underside;

where the first and second contact surfaces are positioned to extend under and thereby overlap parts of the table saw under the rear portion of the insert when the insert is installed in the table saw to prevent the first and second spaced-apart members from raising up during use.

14. The insert of claim 13, where the first and second contact surfaces maintain the first and second spaced-apart members apart when the insert is installed in the table saw.

15. The insert of claim 13, where the first and second contact surfaces are contact ledges.