The present invention is directed to an instrument and method for determining and displaying the appropriate angle setting for a power miter saw for cutting miter ends and miter joints.
Most power miter saws sold today are fitted with miter saw gauges which display the angle of the miter cut. However, the markings and graduations on such miter saw gauges are often counterintuitive and very confusing for less experienced users and even for professional users. Finish carpenters, in particular, when installing crown molding or trim in a room, must make numerous double mitered joints where the walls meet at an angle. The miter angle is half of the angle of the required turn. For example, if molding must make a right angle, i.e., a 90° turn, each of the adjacent pieces is cut to a 45° angle where they are to be joined.
In practice, walls often meet at angles which are not perfectly 90°. For these situations, a popular current method for calculating the miter saw setting for the double miter cut involves the following steps:
a) Transferring (“picking up”) the actual angle between the two adjoining walls to a Sliding T-Bevel;
b) Laying the Sliding T-Bevel on top of a protractor, so as to measure the actual angle;
c) Subtracting the measured angle from 180°, then dividing the subtraction result by 2, to obtain the setting needed for the miter saw angle gauge.
For single miter cuts (such as the angled end cut required for the stair spindles), the calculation would be:
a) From the acute position of the spindle: miter saw setting=90° minus the measured angle;
b) From the obtuse position of the spindle: miter saw setting=the measured angle minus 90°.
The counterintuitive calculations described above are necessary because the value of the measured angle is different from the miter angle setting to be used on a miter saw. These calculations are challenging to even experienced craftsmen, often pushing users to resort to a process of trial and error in order to obtain the proper angle setting needed for the miter saw. Specialized digital angle measuring and calculating devices (to facilitate setting the proper miter saw angle for such miter cuts) are commercially available, however they are quite expensive.
There is an unmet need in the market for a simple and inexpensive device that could translate the actual angle between two adjoining walls (as picked up by a Sliding T-Bevel) directly into the proper angle setting for a power miter saw, without the need for calculations. It would also be very desirable for such a device to be useable for single miter cuts as well as for double miter joint cuts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,801 to Thibodeaux discloses a construction tool that is used to measure the relative angle between two lines or surfaces or between horizontal or vertical and such a line or surface. It also indicates roof pitch on a separate scale. Bubble type levels are included to orient the construction tool with respect to horizontal or vertical.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,649 to Ciavarella discloses an adjustable carpenter's square for use determining the relative angle between two lines or surfaces. The absolute angle between the two lines is indicated, and is viewed through opening 31.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,689 to Hiltz discloses a measuring and layout tool that has a plurality of levels therein and indicates the relative angle between two lines or surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,650 to Rawlings et al. discloses a multifunction level that again shows the relative angle between two lines or surfaces. This level can be locked at a particular angle, if desired, with the locking mechanism accessible from either side of the level, thus making it easier to use.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,735,185 to Naphtal discloses a protractor that is used to measure angles between two lines or surfaces. The angle of the protractor is lockable thereby also allowing it to be usable to recreate the angle in order to draw it accurately on paper or wherever. The angle is viewed through a magnifying bubble located above the scale.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,655,887 to Bailey discloses a protractor that may be used to very accurately measure angles between two lines or surfaces or to very accurately measure very small angles, and works in the following manner. As the blades 5 and 6 are moved angularly with respect to one another, gear teeth 9, which are part of ring 7 that is in turn attached to blade 5, cause the free turning gear 11 to rotate. Gear 11 is part of the plate 10 that is attached to blade 6. Gear 11 meshes with gear 12 and causes it to turn. Rigidly attached to gear 12 is plate 13. Plate 13 is caused to be angularly displaced at a much greater rate then the two blades 5 and 6 are separated at. This is because the ratio of the gear teeth on gears 9, 11 and cause gear 12 to move at an angular speed that is greater than gear 9.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,585,563 to Schlattau discloses a combination measuring instrument that measures the relative angle between two lines or surfaces, and provides a linear measuring scale, a means for measuring the outside diameter of an object, and also a scale that is used to measure the diameter of a bolt or a piece of wire. The scale for measuring a bolt or a piece of wire is an enlarged scale.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,550,755 to Steinle discloses an angulometer that is used to measure the relative angle between two lines or surfaces, including a magnifying lens to allow a very fine angular scale to be read easily.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,477 to Fincham et al. discloses a chalk line framing square that provides a device that is designed to aid in placing right angle intersecting chalk lines upon a floor so that tiles can be properly installed on the floor. It includes two arms that pivot with respect to one another and an angular scale that indicates the angle between the two arms.
The present invention responds to this unmet need in the market by introducing a simple and inexpensive protractor device, adapted to work with any standard Sliding T-Bevel so as to directly provide to users the proper miter saw setting for double miter joint cuts and for single miter cuts.
The protractor device of this invention is designed to work with standard size Sliding T-Bevels to enable the users to read directly the proper miter saw setting needed for the particular desired miter cut. One face of the protractor has specific markings indicating the setting for double miter joint cuts, while the reverse face of the protractor has specific markings indicating the setting for single miter cuts. A functional shape feature on the bottom part of the protractor ensures that the Sliding T-Bevel is always placed in the correct orientation on the protractor's face.
The invention provided herein gives a person working with wall trim (such as chair rail, cove molding, crown molding, base board and other joinery) as well as with non-decorative trim installations such as hand rail, spindles, flooring, aerospace applications and other situations where angles have to be taken from a surface or an edge and measured for a subsequent operation, a scale that reads directly the miter angle setting for use on a miter saw having an angle scale incorporated thereon.
According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, a protractor is provided that has a half-circle disk with angle scale measurements scribed thereon. The protractor also has a tab jutting out from the bottom edge, which tab serves to ensure that a Sliding T-Bevel is always placed properly on the face of the protractor so as to read the proper setting needed for the miter saw. To further guide the user in proper placement of the Sliding T-Bevel relative to the protractor, instructional wording or pictograms may be provided on the face or at certain points along the bottom edge of the protractor, to indicate the proper place where the Sliding T-Bevel should engage the protractor (for example, inscriptions such as “place the Sliding T-Bevel here” or a tiny picture showing a Sliding T-Bevel correctly positioned on the protractor).
Alternative embodiments of this invention may have the two quarter-circle portions (of the overall half-circle disk) transposed slightly apart, to allow a raised member to be positioned in the central vertical surface gap thus created, on one or both faces of the protractor. The role of such raised member(s) is to further guide the proper positioning of the T-Bevel relative to the protractor, ensuring an accurate angle reading.
According to a preferred embodiment of this invention the protractor has two faces, which can be accessed simply by flipping over the protractor. One face of the protractor has the miter saw angle settings for single miter cuts, while the other face of the protractor has the miter saw angle settings for the cut needed for double miter joints. In alternative embodiments of this invention, single-faced protractors (with one scale for either single miter cuts or for double miter joint cuts) can be sold individually, or in sets of two, or combined on one face.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, functionality, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the following drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:
To clarify the terms used herein:
a) A single miter cut is just one angled cut to one workpiece. A single miter cut is made for one workpiece to fit to an angle. A cross-cut is an example of a single miter cut.
b) A double miter joint is formed when two parts must join to form a corner; to achieve this, each of the two pieces must be miter cut to an equal miter angle.
Referring now to the invention in more detail,
A tab 2 is extending down from the bottom edge 5 of the protractor, which tab 2 serves to ensure that a Sliding T-Bevel is always placed properly on the face of the protractor so as to read the proper saw setting needed for the desired miter saw cut. The width of the tab 2 is smaller than the width of the bottom edge 5.
Also seen in
As seen in
Also seen in
As seen in
The raised member 6 does not extend below the horizontal line 4 on the protractor. The raised member 6 intersects with the horizontal line 4 at two points which correspond exactly with the two origins 3a and 3b. As a result of this positioning, the raised member 6 offers (for possible abutting engagement) two raised edges 6a and 6b, oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the protractor and corresponding exactly with the two origins 3a and 3b. The functional result of such structure is that any other straight edge, if laid onto the protractor, parallel to the plane of the protractor and abutting against one of the raised edges 6a or 6b, will be perfectly and automatically aligned with the origins 3a or 3b, reducing the need for an user to manually effect such alignment.
For an accurate angle reading according to this embodiment, the user simply positions the handle of the T-Bevel abutting (and flush with) the bottom edge 5 of the protractor, while bringing either edge of the blade of the T-Bevel to rest against the raised edges 6a or 6b of the raised member 6; the proper saw setting can then be read where the same edge of the blade of the T-Bevel intersects the angle-graduated dial.
As seen in
Method of Use
To use this invention, a handyman would need first to determine what kind of miter cut is needed (double miter joint cut, or single miter cut) and then choose the appropriate face of the protractor from which to make the reading (either the face shown in
For a double miter joint cut, the user needs then to measure the angle at the corner between the two adjoining walls, by placing the Sliding T-Bevel along the adjoining walls in the corner, making sure the sides of the Sliding T-Bevel are aligned to the sides of the corner. Subsequent tightening of the thumb nut will allow the Sliding T-Bevel to retain the transferred angle even after removal from the corner.
For a single miter cut, the user sets the angle of the Sliding T-Bevel to the existing angle and parallel with the material to be cut.
The next step involves the placement of the Sliding T-Bevel onto the appropriate face of the protractor from which to make the reading (either on the face marked “SINGLE MITER”, as shown in
In the example illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
To use the embodiment of the invention depicted in
The embodiment of the invention depicted in
As to their construction, the embodiments of this invention, as shown in
The present invention also includes any possible additional variants of the embodiment depicted in
The advantages of various embodiments of the present invention include, without limitation, being inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, being able to work with Sliding T-Bevels (and with other tools of the same functionality as Sliding T-Bevels) and being able to directly provide the proper saw setting needed for the desired miter saw cut.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/261,851, filed Dec. 1, 2015, entitled “Angle Finder Protractor”, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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1368857 | Ernest | Feb 1921 | A |
1549271 | Gust | Aug 1925 | A |
1550755 | Steinle | Aug 1925 | A |
1576800 | Tibony | Mar 1926 | A |
1585563 | Schlattau | May 1926 | A |
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1733477 | Votey | Oct 1929 | A |
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5189804 | Ostachowski | Mar 1993 | A |
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20120096725 | Pinal | Apr 2012 | A1 |
20170153101 | Ostachowski | Jun 2017 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20190277614 A1 | Sep 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62261851 | Dec 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15361483 | Nov 2016 | US |
Child | 16422018 | US |