The present invention generally relates to an adjustment assembly for a tool and more particularly to a marking gauge adjustment assembly.
Marking gauges are well known in the art of wood working. A marking gauge may be used to scribe or mark a line in a workpiece for cutting the workpiece along the scribed line. Conventional marking gauges include a stock or fence and a scribing bar that can be adjusted relative to the fence. Precise adjustment of the scribing bar in conventional marking gauges can be difficult as conventional gauges provide only ruler markings on the scribing bar that the user must rely on to position the bar with respect to the fence. Additionally, conventional marking gauges provide a single method of adjusting the scribing bar (i.e., manually sliding the bar with respect to the fence) which can impair a user's ability to precisely position the scribing bar.
In one aspect, a tool for acting on a workpiece generally comprises a body and an adjustable element movably attached to the body. A tool member on the adjustable element is disposed on the adjustable element to act on the workpiece. The adjustable element is configured to move between a plurality of predetermined adjustment positions to locate a portion of the adjustable element a selected distance from the body. The adjustable element is resiliently biased against movement out of the predetermined adjustment positions. A micro adjustment mechanism provides for micro adjustment of a position of the adjustable element relative to the body once the adjustable element is moved to a selected predetermined adjustment position. The micro adjustment mechanism is configured for moving the adjustable element to an intermediate adjustment position located between the selected predetermined adjustment position and an immediately adjacent predetermined adjustment position for precise position adjustment of the adjustable element.
In another aspect, a method of adjusting a position of an adjustable element of a tool generally comprises moving the adjustable element attached to a body of the tool between a plurality of predetermined adjustment positions to locate a portion of the adjustable element a selected distance from the body. The adjustable element is resiliently biased against movement out of the predetermined adjustment positions. The method further comprises moving the adjustable element with a micro adjustment mechanism of the tool providing for micro adjustment of a position of the adjustable element relative to the body once the adjustable element is moved to a selected predetermined adjustment position. The micro adjustment mechanism adjusts the adjustable element to an intermediate adjustment position located between the selected predetermined adjustment position and an immediately adjacent predetermined adjustment position for precise position adjustment of the adjustable element.
In yet another aspect, a marking gauge generally comprises a gauge body and a fence on the gauge body including an engagement surface for engaging an edge of a workpiece during use of the gauge. A guide shaft is movably attached to the gauge body. The guide shaft is configured to move between a plurality of predetermined adjustment positions to locate a distal end of the guide shaft a selected distance from the fence. The guide shaft is resiliently biased against movement out of the predetermined adjustment positions. A micro adjustment mechanism provides for micro adjustment of a position of the guide shaft relative to the gauge body once the guide shaft is moved to a selected predetermined adjustment position. The micro adjustment mechanism is configured for moving the guide shaft to an intermediate adjustment position located between the selected predetermined adjustment position and an immediately adjacent predetermined adjustment position for precise position adjustment of the guide shaft. A blade is attached to the guide shaft for scribing a line in the workpiece a distance from the edge of the workpiece corresponding to the precise position adjustment of the guide shaft when the fence is engaged with the edge of the workpiece and moved along the edge of the workpiece.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
While the adjustment features are shown incorporated into a marking gauge, it is envisioned that the adjustment features could be used in other tools and devices to quickly and precisely adjust portions of the tool/device. For instance, and without limitation, the adjustment features could be incorporated into a router table fence for adjusting a position of the fence on a worktable, or a jig for adjusting a position of a drill guide of the jig relative to a workpiece. The marking gauge 1 of the illustrated embodiment is primarily used for wood working. However, it is envisioned that other materials can be worked by this tool.
Referring to
Referring to
As a result of the fastener connection between the guide shaft 5 and the blade 7, and the threaded connection between the guide shaft and the stop 41, the components of the guide shaft assembly 37 are fixedly attached to each other such that they all move conjointly. The guide shaft assembly 37 is slideably received in the micro adjustment assembly 15 and the body 3 for moving the guide shaft 5 relative to the micro adjustment assembly and body. Each groove 45 in the guide shaft 5 corresponds to a predetermined adjustment position of the guide shaft assembly 37. As will be explained in greater detail below, sliding the guide shaft assembly 37 through the micro adjustment mechanism 15 and body 3 moves the guide shaft 5 between the predetermined macro adjustment positions.
Referring to
A tubular dial 63 is received around the link member 51 and is fixedly attached to the link member by a set screw 65 preventing relative rotation between the dial and the link member. The tubular dial 63 is positioned around the link member 51 by seating a distal end of the dial against the collar 57 on the link member. The set screw 65 is threaded into a side of the dial 63 and engages the link member 51 in the recessed portion 59 fixedly attaching the dial to the link member. In this position, the proximal ends of the dial 63 and link member 51 are generally flush with each other.
A tubular retainer 67 comprises external threads 69 at a distal end of the retainer that engage the internal threads 55 at the proximal end of the link member 51. The retainer 67 further includes a shoulder 71 near the distal end of the retainer and an annular wall 73 at the proximal end of the retainer. A ring member 75 is disposed in a circumferential recess in an outer surface of the dial 63 between the dial and an inner surface of the body 3. Ring member 75 fills a gap between the outer surface of the dial 63 and the inner surface of the body 3 and keeps the dial spaced from the body so the body and dial do not wear from contacting each other during use of the gauge 1.
A tubular mount 77 includes external threads 79 spaced from a distal end of the mount by an unthreaded end portion 81. The external threads 79 engage internal threads 83 on the retainer 67 to attach the mount to the retainer. An opening 85 in a side of the retainer 67 receives a set screw 87 for engaging the end portion 81 of the mount 77 to prevent relative rotation between the retainer and the mount. As a result of the threaded connections between the link member 51, retainer 67, and mount 77, and the set screws 65, 87 attaching the dial 63 to the link member, and the retainer to the mount, the components of the micro adjustment mechanism 15 are all fixedly attached to each other such that they move conjointly with each other. Thus, rotation of the mount 77 causes conjoint rotation of the link member 51 which causes the external threads 53 on the link member to move along the internal threads 61 on the body 3 resulting in the axial movement of the micro adjustment mechanism 15 relative to the body 3. Further, the tubular construction of the components of the micro adjustment mechanism 15 allow the mechanism to receive the guide shaft 5 of the guide shaft assembly 37 and permit sliding movement of the guide shaft through the mechanism.
The tubular mount 77 has an opening 89 in a side of the mount. The opening 89 is sized to partially house a spring 91 and detent ball 93. The annular wall 73 of the retainer 67 defines a cup that receives a portion of the tubular mount 77 including the opening 89. As a result, spring 91 bears against an inner surface of the annular wall 73 and biases the detent 93 into contact with the guide shaft 5. As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
To perform the macro adjustment of the gauge 1, the guide shaft 5 is slid through the tubular components of the micro adjustment mechanism 15. As the guide shaft 5 is slid through the micro adjustment mechanism 15, the detent 93 removably engages the grooves 45 in the guide shaft releasably securing the guide shaft in position relative to the body 3. Sliding the guide shaft assembly 37 to the left, as shown from the perspective of
Broadly, registration of the detent 93 with a groove 45 corresponds to a predetermined adjustment position of the guide shaft assembly 37. The grooves 45 are spaced ½ inch away from each other so a user can adjust the position of the guide shaft assembly 37 in ½ inch increments. For example, as shown in
If it is desired, the micro adjustment mechanism 15 may then be rotated to further adjust the guide shaft assembly 37 relative to the body 3 to a position between two adjacent predetermined (½ inch) adjustment positions (grooves 45). In one embodiment, the pitch of the threaded connection between the body 3 and the micro adjustment mechanism 15 is configured such that one full rotation of the micro adjustment mechanism advances the micro adjustment mechanism 1/16th of an inch relative to the body. Referring to
In a first intermediate adjustment position (
In a second intermediate adjustment position (
In a third intermediate adjustment position (
Referring to
Once the marking gauge 1 is adjusted to the final adjustment position, the gauge can be used to scribe the line L in the side S of the workpiece WP by contacting the engagement surface 13 of the fence 11 with the edge E of the workpiece and sliding the fence along the edge (
Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20170106528 A1 | Apr 2017 | US |