Patent Application
20060219074
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a work table and, more particularly, to a work table including a support surface that is movable in a cutting direction with respect to a cutting blade mounted to the work table.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional work tables typically include a stationary, rotatable cutting blade mounted with respect to a fixed support surface of the work table. A work piece is moved along a length of the support surface towards the cutting blade in order to cut the work piece, as desired. Several problems and/or shortcomings are associated with these conventional work tables. For example, it is difficult to hold or secure the work piece as the work piece is moved towards the cutting blade. Thus, as the work piece is moved towards the cutting blade, the work piece may shift or move away from the desired cutting line, resulting in an inaccurate cut.
It is one object of this invention to provide an improved work table having a support surface with a work area for supporting a work piece, such as a wood, metal, stone or tile work piece.
It is another object of this invention to provide a work table having a support surface that is movable in a cutting direction with respect to a cutting blade for accurately cutting the work piece.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a work table having a support surface that is slidably movable in the cutting direction along a length of a guide element extending along a base of the work table for accurately cutting the work piece.
The above and other objects of the invention can be attained through a work table including a base forming a slot on a top surface of the base. A rotatable cutting blade is mounted to and/or disposed within the base, with at least a portion of the cutting blade extending through the slot. Preferably, a height of the cutting blade that extends through the slot is adjustable, as well as a cutting angle of the cutting blade with respect to the top surface of the base and/or a work area defined by a support surface. The cutting blade is operatively coupled to a motor housed within the base. The motor is in operational communication with the rotatable cutting blade to effectively rotate the cutting blade.
The work table preferably includes a guide element positioned with respect to the top surface. The support surface includes or defines a work area that supports a work piece. The support surface also forms a passage aligned with the cutting blade along a cutting line. The support surface is movable in a cutting direction along a length of the guide element and with respect to the cutting blade. The guide element preferably includes at least one guide bar mounted with respect to the top surface and a support bar positioned with respect to each guide bar. The support bar is positionable within a cooperating channel formed in the support surface. The support bar is slidably movable with respect to the guide bar and the support surface is slidably movable with respect to the support bar.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the work table includes a first guide bar that is positioned with respect to a first side of the cutting blade and extends between a first end portion of the base and a second end portion of the base. The first guide bar is parallel with the cutting blade. A first support bar is positionable about the first guide bar, for example in a telescoping relationship, and slidably movable along a length of the first guide bar with respect to the cutting blade. A second guide bar is positioned with respect to a second side of the cutting blade and extends between a first end portion of the base and a second end portion of the base. The second guide bar is also parallel with the cutting blade. A second support bar is positionable about the first guide bar, for example in a telescoping relationship, and slidably movable along a length of the second guide bar with respect to the cutting blade. The support surface forms a first channel positionable about the first support bar, for example in a telescoping relationship, and a second channel positionable about the second support bar, for example in a telescoping relationship. The support surface is slidably movable along a length of each of the first support bar and the second support bar with respect to the cutting blade.
The work table may also include a track formed at a first side portion and/or a second side portion of the base. A corresponding edge portion of the support surface is slidably mounted within the track to guide the support surface in the cutting direction with respect to the cutting blade. Preferably, at least one roller element, such as a roller, a wheel or a bearing, is rotatably or slidably mounted to each edge portion and positionable within the corresponding track. The work table may also include a stop bar that extends along at least a portion of a width of the support surface. The stop bar is preferably positioned perpendicular to the cutting direction and provides support for the work piece as the work piece is cut. A water tray is preferably positioned within the base and connected with respect to the support surface. The water tray forms or defines a reservoir that contains a cooling fluid, such as water, to cool the cutting blade as the cutting blade rotates through the base during operation of the work table.
Other objects and advantages of this invention are apparent to those skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended claims and drawings.
Referring to
A rotatable cutting blade 19 is mounted to and/or disposed within base 12. Cutting blade 19 may be any suitable cutting blade known to those skilled in the art and chosen according to the work piece material to be cut using work table 10. Further, cutting blade 19 may have any suitable diameter. As shown in
A motor 20 is housed within base 12 and in operational communication with rotatable cutting blade 19. Motor 20 may be any suitable motor that supplies sufficient power effective to rotate cutting blade 19 at a desired speed and/or with a desired torque.
Referring to
Preferably, work table 10 includes a guide element 32 positioned with respect to top surface 14. Support surface 24 is movable in the cutting direction along a length of guide element 32 and with respect to cutting blade 19. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, guide element 32 includes at least one guide bar 34 mounted with respect to top surface 14. Support surface 24 is mountable with respect to each guide bar 34 and slidably movable in the cutting direction along a length of guide bars 34. As shown in
Support bar 40 is positioned with respect to each guide bar 34 and positionable within a corresponding or cooperating channel 42 formed in support surface 24. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, support bar 40 is slidably movable with respect to guide bar 34 and support surface 24 is slidably movable with respect to support bar 40. Preferably, an outer periphery 36 of guide bar 34 corresponds to a surface of support bar 40 forming a bore 46 within which guide bar 34 is positionable. Additionally, an outer periphery 47 of support bar 40 preferably corresponds to an inner surface 48 of channel 42 within which support bar 40 is positionable. For example, in one preferred embodiment of this invention, support bar 40 is positionable in a telescoping relationship about corresponding guide bar 34 and is slidably movable along a length of guide bar 34 with respect to cutting blade 19. Further, support bar 40 is positionable within channel 42 such that channel 42 is positioned in a telescoping relationship about support bar 40. Support surface 24 is slidably movable along a length of support bar 40 with respect to cutting blade 19.
The term “telescoping relationship” refers to the cooperation of two members or elements, such as a guide bar 34 and a corresponding support bar 40 and/or a support bar 40 and a corresponding channel 42 formed in support surface 24, wherein a first member or element is positionable within a second member or element and slidably movable within the second member or element between a retracted position and an extended position.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, as shown in
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a track 50 is formed in or connected to first side portion 17 and/or on second side portion 18 of base 12. A first edge portion 52 of support surface 24 is slidably mounted with respect to or within track 50 formed in or connected to first side portion 17 and a second edge portion 53 of support surface 24 is slidably mounted within track 50 formed in or connected to second edge portion 53 to guide support surface 24 in the cutting direction with respect to cutting blade 19. Preferably, at least one roller element 55, such as a roller, a wheel or a bearing, is rotatably or slidably mounted to edge portion 52 and/or edge portion 53 and positionable within track 50. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, track 50 includes or forms a lip or ledge 60 along a length of track 50 which contacts and/or supports roller element 55 as support surface 24 is moved with respect to cutting blade 19.
As shown in
Work table 10 may also include a water tray 80 connected with respect to top surface 14 of base 12, as shown in
The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element, part, step, component, or ingredient which is not specifically disclosed herein.
While in the foregoing detailed description this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.
