Patent Application
20210283798
The present disclosure relates generally to saw fences. In particular, auxiliary saw fences are described.
Fences are commonly used with different types of saws to support workpieces being cut by the saw. A fence on a miter saw, for example, supports a workpiece transverse to a saw blade as the saw blade cuts the workpiece to a desired angle and length. This application will focus on fences for miter saws and will simply refer to these items as fences and saws for brevity.
Known fences are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing fences have a wide gap near the saw blade. The wide gap creates a safety hazard and reduces cut accuracy.
Conventional fences create a safety hazard in multiple respects. For example, the wide gap can result in fragments of the workpiece being ejected at high speed away from the saw blade and dying freely. The free-flying fragments can injure the user of the saw or damage nearby objects.
Attempting to cut small workpieces with a conventional fence is another source of potential danger. A wide fence gap near a saw blade when cutting a narrow workpiece results in a relatively large percent of the workpiece being unsupported by the fence. The reduced support can cause the workpiece to be violently pulled or jerked by the saw blade. Enhancing the danger is the fact that a user's fingers holding the workpiece against a conventional fence are close to the saw blade on account of the workpiece being narrow. The proximity of the user's fingers and the tendency for poorly supported workpieces to be pulled towards the spinning blade creates a significant risk of seriously injuring the user by his or her fingers getting sucked into the cutting blade.
The wide gap of conventional fences can reduce the accuracy of cuts by poorly supporting workpieces near the saw blade. This problem is exacerbated when cutting narrow workpieces since the gap of conventional fences leaves a substantial portion of the workpiece unsupported. Insufficiently supported workpieces tend to jostle and shift when cut by the saw blade, which moves them out of position and reduces the accuracy of the cut.
Thus, there exists a need for improvements to existing fences that address the shortcomings of conventional fences. Examples of new and useful auxiliary fences addressing the needs existing in the field are discussed below.
The present disclosure is directed to auxiliary fences tor a saw including a saw blade and a primary fence. The auxiliary fence includes a fixed plate and a moveable plate. The fixed plate is removably coupled to the primary fence. The moveable plate is moveably coupled to the fixed plate. The moveable plate extends between a trailing end and a leading end longitudinally opposite the trailing end. The leading end is disposed proximate a cutting path of the saw. The trailing end is disposed distal the cutting path. The moveable plate is configured to move to selectively adjust the spacing between the leading end and the cutting path.
The disclosed auxiliary fences will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.
Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various auxiliary fences are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.
Definitions
The following definitions apply herein, unless otherwise indicated.
“Substantially” means to be more-or-less conforming to the particular dimension, range, shape, concept, or other aspect modified by the term, such that a feature or component need not conform exactly. For example, a “substantially cylindrical” object means that the object resembles a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from a true cylinder.
“Comprising,” “including,” and “having” (and conjugations thereof) are used interchangeably to mean including but not necessarily limited to, and are open-ended terms not intended to exclude additional elements or method steps not expressly recited.
Terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used to distinguish or identify various members of a group, or the like, and are not intended to denote a serial, chronological, or numerical limitation.
“Coupled” means connected, either permanently or releasably, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components.
Auxiliary Saw Fences
With reference to the figures, auxiliary saw fences will now be described. The auxiliary fences discussed herein function to support workpieces being cut by a saw. The auxiliary fences discussed below further function to support fence extensions to enable longer workpieces to be supported.
The reader will appreciate from the figures and description below that the presently disclosed auxiliary fences address many of the shortcomings of conventional fences. For example, the auxiliary fences disclosed herein reduce the effective gap near the saw blade to address the problems associated with the wide gaps that result from conventional fences. As a result, the auxiliary fences significantly reduce the safety hazards of conventional fences. The auxiliary fences also significantly increase the cut accuracy that would otherwise not be possible with conventional fences.
The auxiliary fences discussed below improve safety by guarding against workpiece fragments ejecting at high speed away from the saw blade. Reducing or eliminating free-flying fragments reduces the potential for such fragments to injure the user of the saw or to damage nearby objects.
Another improvement over conventional fences is that the auxiliary fences described herein make cutting narrow workpieces safer. Reducing the effective gap near a saw blade when cutting a narrow workpiece increases the percentage of the workpiece that is supported. Increasing how much of the workpiece is supported reduces the risk of the saw blade violently pulling or jerking the workpiece. Avoiding the workpiece being pulled or jerked by the saw blade reduces the risk of the user's fingers getting sucked into the cutting blade.
The auxiliary fences discussed below also improve the accuracy of cuts by better supporting workpieces near the saw blade. This improvement is especially apparent when cutting narrow workpieces since the gap of conventional fences leaves a substantial portion of the workpiece unsupported. The presently disclosed auxiliary fences support narrow workpieces sufficiently to significantly reduce or eliminate the workpieces jostling and shifting when cut by the saw blade. Thus, the auxiliary fences described herein help maintain the workpieces in a desired position to improve the accuracy of the cut.
Contextual Details
Ancillary features relevant to the auxiliary fences described herein will first be described to provide context and to aid the discussion of the auxiliary fences.
Saw
The auxiliary fence examples discussed in this application are configured to be used with a saw. As one example of a saw,
The saw may be any currently known or later developed type of saw. The reader will appreciate that a variety of saw types exist and could be used in place of the saw shown in the figures. In addition to the types of saws existing currently, it is contemplated that the auxiliary fences described herein could be used with new types of saws developed in the future.
The size of the saw may be varied as needed for a given application. In some examples, the saw is larger relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. In other examples, the saw is smaller relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. Further, the reader should understand that the saw and the other components may all be larger or smaller than described herein while maintaining their relative proportions.
Saw Blade
The reader can see in
The saw blade may be any currently known or later developed type of saw blade. The reader will appreciate that a variety of saw blade types exist and could be used in place of the saw blade shown in the figures. In addition to the types of saw blades existing currently, it is contemplated that the auxiliary fences described herein could be used with new types of saw blades developed in the future.
The size of the saw blade may be varied as needed for a given application. In some examples, the saw blade is larger relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. In other examples, the saw blade is smaller relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. Further, the reader should understand that the saw blade and the other components may all be larger or smaller than described herein while maintaining their relative proportions.
Primary Fence
Primary fence 103 functions to support a workpiece. In particular, primary fence 103 supports a workpiece in a position where the workpiece is disposed in cutting path 105 to be cut by saw blade 102. As shown in
The primary fence may be any currently known or later developed type of saw fence. The reader will appreciate that a variety of saw fence types exist and could be used in place of the primary fence shown in the figures. In addition to the types of saw fences existing currently, it is contemplated that the auxiliary fences described herein could be used with new types of saw fences developed in the future.
The size of the primary fence may be varied as needed for a given application. In some examples, the primary fence is larger relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. In other examples, the primary fence is smaller relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. Further, the reader should understand that the primary fence and the other components may all be larger or smaller than described herein while maintaining their relative proportions.
Auxiliary Fence Embodiment 1
With reference to
Fixed Plate
The role of fixed plate 106 is to couple auxiliary fence 100 to primary fence 103 and to support moveable plate 107. With reference to
The reader can see in
As shown in
The size of the fixed plate may be varied as needed for a given application. In some examples, the fixed plate is larger relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. In other examples, the fixed plate is smaller relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. Further, the reader should understand that the fixed plate and the other components may all be larger or smaller than described herein while maintaining their relative proportions.
In the present example, the fixed plate is composed of a phenolic sheet material. However, the fixed plate may be composed of any currently known or later developed material suitable for the applications described herein for which it is used. Suitable materials include metals, polymers, ceramics, wood, and composite materials.
Moveable Plate
Moveable plate 107 functions to move to different positions relative to fixed plate 106 to accommodate different cutting paths and to support the workpiece close to where saw blade 102 will extend along a selected cutting path. Moveable plate 107 also functions to shield the user and surroundings from workpiece fragments ejected by saw blade 102.
As depicted in
The reader can see in
As shown in
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As shown in
With reference to
The size of the slots may be varied as needed for a given application. In some examples, the slots are larger relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. In other examples, the slots are smaller relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. Further, the reader should understand that the slots and the other components may all be larger or smaller than described herein while maintaining their relative proportions.
As depicted in
As depicted in
In the present example, the moveable plate is composed of a phenolic sheet material. However, the moveable plate may be composed of any currently known or later developed material suitable for the applications described herein for which it is used. Suitable materials include metals, polymers, ceramics, wood, and composite materials.
The size of the moveable plate may be varied as needed for a given application. In some examples, the moveable plate is larger relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. In other examples, the moveable plate is smaller relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. Further, the reader should understand that the moveable plate and the other components may all be larger or smaller than described herein while maintaining their relative proportions.
Guide Marks
As shown in
As depicted in
The number of guide marks in the auxiliary fence may be selected to meet the needs of a given application. The reader should appreciate that the number of guide marks may be different in other examples than is shown in the figures. For instance, some auxiliary fence examples include additional or fewer guide marks than described in the present example.
The guide mark may be any currently known or later developed type of guide mark. The reader will appreciate that a variety of guide mark types exist and could be used in place of the guide mark shown in the figures. In addition to the types of guide marks existing currently, it is contemplated that the auxiliary fences described herein could incorporate new types of guide marks developed in the future.
Link Plates
The role of link plates 110 and 142 are to selectively couple extension member 111 to auxiliary fence 100. Fence extension member 111 serves to extend the length over which auxiliary fence 100 may support a workpiece. As depicted in
The size of the link plates may be varied as needed for a given application. In some examples, the link plates are larger relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. In other examples, the link plates are smaller relative to the other components than depicted in the figures. Further, the reader should understand that the link plates and the other components may all be larger or smaller than described herein while maintaining their relative proportions.
In the present example, the link plates are composed of phenolic sheet material. However, the link plates may be composed of any currently known or later developed material suitable for the applications described herein for which it is used. Suitable materials include metals, polymers, ceramics, wood, and composite materials.
Shafts
The role of the shafts is to couple moveable plate 107 to fixed plate 106 and to moveably support moveable plate 107. The third shaft and fourth shaft 129 are configured the same as first shaft 113 and second shaft 115, respectively.
With reference to
The number of shafts in the auxiliary fence may be selected to meet the needs of a given application. The reader should appreciate that the number of shafts may be different in other examples than is shown in the figures. For instance, some auxiliary fence examples include additional or fewer shafts than described in the present example.
The shafts may be any currently known or later developed type of shaft. The reader will appreciate that a variety of shaft types exist and could be used in place of the shafts shown in the figures. In addition to the types of shafts existing currently, it is contemplated that the auxiliary fences described herein could incorporate new types of shafts developed in the future.
The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.
