Table saws with safety systems and systems to mount and index attachments

• US 8,505,424 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Gass, Stephen F., Fulmer, J. David, Fanning, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Laura M.
• Application Number:
  US12/927,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20110126682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 831/02, 838/20, 831/021, 834/78, 838/23, 834/402, 835/44, 834/772, 83D/IG.1, 403/DIG.4, 144/307, 144/308, 1442511-2513, 144/278.1, 269229-236
• US Class Current: 83/102.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/067 the saw blade being adjustable according to depth or angle of cut
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/02 for circular saws
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/08 Accessories for keeping open the saw kerf, e.g. riving knives or wedge plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49959 Nonresilient fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2077 By kerf entering guide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/704 With work-support and means to vary relationship between tool and work support
• 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 83/7705 Adjustable angular relationship
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7793 Means to rotate or oscillate tool

Abstract

Table saws and table saws designed to implement safety systems that detect contact between a person and a dangerous portion of the saw are disclosed. Table saw components, mounting systems for table saws, and table saw attachments are also disclosed. One embodiment may include a first clamp surface, a second clamp surface spaced apart from the first clamp surface so that a base portion of a riving knife or splitter can be placed between the clamp surfaces with the opposing sides of the base portion generally parallel to the first and second clamp surfaces.

Claims

1. A table saw comprising:

a table defining a work surface, where the table includes an opening;

a generally planar, circular blade configured to extend at least partially above the work surface through the opening;

a motor to drive the blade;

a riving knife or splitter having a substantially planar base portion with opposing sides;

an elevation carriage supporting the blade and configured to move to change the elevation of the blade relative to the work surface with the blade at a specific angular orientation relative to the work surface;

a mounting system configured to hold the riving knife or splitter adjacent the blade with the opposing sides of the base portion substantially parallel to the plane of the blade;

where the mounting system is supported to move with the elevation carriage;

where the mounting system includes a clamping structure adapted to open and to close;

where the clamping structure includes a first clamp surface, a second clamp surface spaced apart from the first clamp surface to accommodate the base portion between the clamp surfaces with the opposing sides of the base portion generally adjacent the first and second clamp surfaces, a handle adapted to pivot around an axis below the work surface between a first position where the clamping structure is open and a second position where the clamping structure is closed, a cam surface configured to convert pivotal motion of the handle into generally linear motion of at least one clamp surface toward the other clamp surface, the cam surface having an end, and a detent adjacent the end of the cam surface and configured to prevent unintentional opening of the clamping structure;

where pivoting the handle from the first position to the second position causes at least one clamp surface to move toward the other and clamp the opposing sides of the base portion;

where the handle can be pivoted by hand from one of the first position and second position to the other without using tools and without having to pivot the handle more than one full revolution;

where the handle is constrained from pivoting through more than one full revolution;

where the first and second clamp surfaces are below the work surface; and

where the handle and opening in the table are configured so that a user can access the handle by reaching a hand through the opening.

2. A method of installing a riving knife or splitter in a table saw, where the table saw comprises a table defining a work surface, an opening in the table, and a generally planar, circular blade configured to extend at least partially above the work surface through the opening, and where the riving knife or splitter has a base portion with opposing sides substantially parallel to the plane of the bade, and where the table saw also has a clamping structure adapted to clamp the opposing sides of the base portion, and where the clamping structure includes first and second clamping surfaces, a handle adapted to pivot around an axis below the work surface between a first position where the clamping structure is open and a second position where the clamping structure is closed, a cam surface configured to convert pivotal motion of the handle into generally linear motion of at least one clamp surface toward the other clamp surface the cam surface having an end, and a detent adjacent the end of the cam surface and configured to prevent unintentional opening of the clamping structure, the method comprising:

providing a riving knife or splitter having a base portion with opposing sides;

positioning the handle in the first position where the clamping structure is open;

positioning the base portion of the riving knife or splitter between the first and second clamping surfaces with the opposing sides of the base portion substantially parallel the plane of the blade;

grasping the handle by reaching through the opening in the table; and

pivoting the handle by hand through less than 360-degrees to the second position where the clamping structure is closed and where the detent prevents unintentional opening of the clamping structure.