Straight edge guide

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12172259-B2
Application number	US-202017078864-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2020
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Dec 24, 2024
Grant date	Dec 24, 2024

Abstract

A straight edge guide system is presented that makes clamping of a workpiece faster and easier. The straight edge guide system includes a guide member that extends a length from a first end to a second end. A clamp member is connected to the first end of the guide member and includes a compressible bias member therein. An adjustable stop member is connected to the guide member that moves between a locked position and a free position. When the adjustable stop member is in the free position, the adjustable stop member slides along the length of the guide member. When the straight edge guide system is placed on top of a workpiece, the workpiece is clamped under spring bias force between the clamp member and the stop member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A straight edge guide system, comprising:
a guide member;
the guide member extending a length from a first end to a second end;
the guide member having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a clamp member;
the clamp member operably connected to the guide member;
a stop member;
the stop member operably connected to the guide member;
the stop member having a front surface;
wherein the stop member is configured to tilt relative to the upper surface of the guide member between a free position and a locked position;
wherein the front surface of the stop member extends at a first angle relative to the upper surface of the guide member when the stop member is in the free position;
wherein the front surface of the stop member extends at a second angle relative to the upper surface of the guide member when the stop member is in the locked position;
wherein the stop member is configured to slide along a length of the guide member when the stop member is in the free position;
wherein when the guide member is placed on an upper surface of a workpiece, the clamp member is configured to apply a first bias force to a first edge of the workpiece and the stop member is configured to tilt to the locked position, engage a second edge of the workpiece, which is opposite the first edge, and apply a second bias force in opposing direction to the first bias force, thereby clamping the workpiece between the clamp member and the stop member;
a first blade offset member;
wherein the first blade offset member is movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
wherein the first blade offset member has a stop feature;
wherein the stop feature is configured to connect with the first blade offset member;
wherein the stop feature is repositionable along the first blade offset member;
wherein the stop feature includes a lock member configured to secure the stop feature in a desired position along the first blade offset member to set a distance that the first blade offset member can be extended to when in the extended position;
wherein while the stop feature is secured to the first blade offset member in the desired position, the stop feature is configured to:
move with the first blade offset member, when the first blade offset member is moved between the extended position and the retracted position, and
physically engage the guide member or a structure operably connected thereto to restrict the distance that the first blade offset member may be moved from the retracted position.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cutting tool;
the cutting tool having a blade;
the blade of the cutting tool configured to cut the workpiece along a cut line;
the cutting tool aligned with the guide member;
the first blade offset member operatively connected to the clamp member;
the first blade offset member having a body that slides inward and outward from the clamp member between an extended position and a retracted position;
wherein when the body of the first blade offset member is in the extended position, the body of the first blade offset member identifies the location of the cut line of the cutting tool;
wherein when the body of the first blade offset member is in the retracted position, the body of the first blade offset member is out of the way of the blade of the cutting tool;
wherein when the guide member is placed on an upper surface of the workpiece, the body of the first blade offset member is moved to the extended position thereby identifying the cut line of the cutting tool.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second blade offset member;
the second blade offset member operatively connected to the stop member;
the second blade offset member having a body that slides inward and outward from the stop member between an extended position and a retracted position;
wherein when the body of the second blade offset member is in the extended position, the body of the second blade offset member identifies the location of the cut line of the cutting tool;
wherein when the body of the second blade offset member is in the retracted position, the body of the second blade offset member is out of the way of the blade of the cutting tool.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the first blade offset member is connected adjacent the first end of the guide member;
wherein the lock member is a set screw.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the first blade offset member is configured to be aligned adjacent a front edge of the workpiece.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second blade offset member having a body that extends outward from the second blade offset member;
wherein the second blade offset member is configured to be aligned adjacent a rear edge of the workpiece.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cutting tool;
the cutting tool having a blade;
the cutting tool having a baseplate;
wherein an edge of the guide member is configured to contact and guide a side of the baseplate of the cutting tool.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cutting tool;
the cutting tool having a blade;
the cutting tool having a baseplate;
wherein when the guide member is clamped onto the workpiece, the guide member guides the baseplate of the cutting tool while the cutting tool performs a cutting operation on the workpiece.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the clamp member includes at least one spring.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece is clamped between the clamp member and the stop member when a user pulls an end of the guide member while the user slides the stop member toward the workpiece and toward the clamp member.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stop member slides along a slot in the guide member.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein when the stop member is in the free position the front surface of the stop member is tilted toward the workpiece.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein when the stop member is in the locked position the front surface of the stop member extends in a perpendicular manner to a length of the guide member.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the guide member having a center guide;
the stop member having at least one grip member;
wherein the at least one grip member engages the center guide of the guide member when the stop member is in the locked position, thereby holding the stop member in the locked position.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the guide member having a center guide and the stop member having at least one grip member that engages the center guide of the guide member when the stop member is in the locked position, wherein the grip member has a coefficient of friction that is higher than the coefficient of friction of other portions of the stop member.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first angle at which the front surface of the stop member extends relative to the upper surface of the guide member is an acute angle and the second angle is greater than the first angle.

17. A straight edge guide system, comprising:
a guide member;
the guide member having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a clamp member;
the clamp member connected to the guide member;
a stop member;
the stop member connected to the guide member;
the stop member having a front surface;
wherein the stop member is configured to tilt relative to the upper surface of the guide member between a free position and a locked position;
wherein the front surface

Assignees

• Kreg Enterprises Inc

Inventors

• Hoff Elliot
• Eilts Paul
• Ewoldt Christian
• Choi Kevin
• Peterson Stacy

Classifications

• B23D47/02

  of frames; of guiding arrangements for work-table or saw-carrier · CPC title

• B27B9/04 Primary

  Guiding equipment, e.g. for cutting panels {(circular sawing machines for dividing plates in parts of determined size, e.g. panels B27B5/06)} · CPC title

• B23Q9/0042 Primary

  the guide means being fixed only on the workpiece · CPC title