Cutting – With work immobilizer – Means to clamp work
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-26
2003-03-11
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
With work immobilizer
Means to clamp work
C083S467100, C144S136950, C144S137000, C144S144100, C144S253100, C144S286500, C144S307000, C269S305000, C269S236000, C269S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06530302
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of woodworking and cabinetry, and more specifically to a system of fixtures for fabricating various cabinet components therewith. The present system may also be used for forming components for picture and bulletin board framing and construction as well.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various fixtures have been developed in the past, for aligning and temporarily securing materials for cutting and/or other work thereon. Most such devices are relatively generalized, and do not provide for holding specific pieces (e. g., cabinet door, frame, and/or wall components) at specific angles and/or orientations for routing and other cutting operations. While certain fixtures developed in the past may be useful for cabinetmaking, picture framing, and the like, generally speaking, they require excessive adjustment for such workpieces and are not well adapted for use in cutting and forming all of the various components required.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for a system of fixtures for aligning and temporarily clamping various cabinetry and framing workpieces, for cutting, routing, and other work thereon. The present system provides a table which is particularly useful in the finishing of cabinet door and door frame components, and which is also useful in forming smaller frame components used in the construction of framed articles such as picture frames, bulletin boards, etc. Another table of the present system provides for aligning and temporarily securing larger panels for cutting operations and shelf support installation, as used in the construction of cabinet walls and the like.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 822,330 issued on Jun. 5, 1906 to Benton Wilson, titled “Saw Table For Curved Work,” describes a table including a pair of curved tracks or guides thereon, with a mating carriage which slides along the tracks of the table. The table is secured to a band saw, and the workpiece is secured to the carriage. The carriage is then guided along the curved tracks, with the band saw producing a curved cut in the material. The Wilson table and carriage are relatively limited in comparison to the present invention, as the Wilson device cannot provide for butt and miter cuts and joints, routing of edges and surfaces of material, making “biscuit” cuts for tongue and groove assemblies, etc., all of which are provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,454 issued on May 10, 1977 to Martin Bredvik, titled “Universal Self-Aligning Locator,” describes a table having a series of T-slots therein, with a series of adjustably positionable devices installable in the tracks. No fences are provided for securing a workpiece along the side or edge of the table for working with a router or the like, as provided by the present invention. Moreover, while the position of the holding devices may be adjusted as desired in the Bredvik table, no cam action or other force multiplying means is used to provide a more secure grip for an article held therein, whereas the cams used to lock the position of a workpiece on the present fixtures, result in a much more secure installation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,572 issued on Dec. 4, 1979 to Charles A. Pennington, titled “Device For Scoring Wood Panels Prior To Sawing,” describes a guide bar which is securable to a panel to be cut, with a set of scoring knives extending from the guide bar. The knives are drawn over the surface of the panel to be cut, thereby making a scoring cut on each side of the kerf to be cut by the saw and reducing or precluding splintering along the cut edges. The Pennington device is not a table, but rather a device which secures to a flat panel for cutting the panel. Accordingly, Pennington cannot provide a series of cam clamps and fences for aligning workpieces for cutting, routing, and other operations, as provided by the present cabinetmaking system invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,021 issued on Jan. 9, 1990 to Jeffrey A. Sanderson, titled “Variable Angle Saw Guide Apparatus,” describes a table or plate having a plurality of alignment holes therein, along which a movable fence may be installed at various angles to the edges of the table. A hold down device is also provided, but the Sanderson hold down passes across the workpiece, rather than clamping the workpiece between opposed plural clamps, as in the present invention. The Sanderson device is not adaptable for use in forming cabinet or framing components, as such components are generally routed along at least one edge thereof for decorative or other purposes. As the Sanderson clamp extends across the workpiece, it precludes the passage of a routing tool along one edge of the workpiece.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,802 issued on Mar. 19, 1996 to Rainer Haberle, titled “Workpiece-Holding System,” describes a work table having a series of T slots formed therein, with a number of axially mounted clamps which are adjustably installable along the T slots. Each of the clamps is in the form of an irregular polygon, with one of the faces bearing against the workpiece. The relatively limited number of bearing faces provided by the polygons, limits the clamping pressure which may be applied. The present invention uses eccentric circular shapes for the locking clamps, which allows pressure to be adjusted to any practicable degree desired. More importantly, Haberle does not disclose any form of fence or guide for positioning a workpiece for edge routing, forming biscuit cuts, making butt or miter end cuts, as provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,559 issued on Aug. 13, 1996 to Siegfried Thiele et al., titled “Workpiece Abutment For Machine Tools,” describes a fixture having a two position adjustable fence, for positioning a workpiece on a circular saw table or the like. The Thiele et al. device is not a table or work surface, as in the two embodiments of the present invention. Rather, the Thiele et al. device must be secured to the work table in order to serve as a workpiece guide or positioner. Thiele et al. do not disclose any means of positioning a workpiece for edge routing, making biscuit cuts, or miter cuts in larger or smaller stock, which features are a part of the present cabinetmaking system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,230 issued on Nov. 12, 1996 to Giuseppe Lambertini, titled “Device For Blocking A Piece On A Support Plane Like A Table For Operating Machines,” describes an eccentric type clamp wherein the central eccentric is turned by a specially adapted wrench. One or more of the Lambertini clamps may be adjustably installed on a work table by means of T slots formed in the surface of the table. The Lambertini clamps differ from those used with the present invention in that the present clamps comprise eccentric circular cams which are tightened by handles extending radially therefrom. More importantly, Lambertini does not provide any lateral fences for positioning a workpiece therealong for routing and other operations, as provided by the present cabinetmaking system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,472 issued on Mar. 31, 1998 to Brian Praye, titled “Gypsum Wallboard Scoring Tool,” describes a modified T-square having a guide channel installed thereon. A cutter assembly secures within the track, but when pressure is applied to the cutter, it is locked immovably in place in the channel. The T-square head is then moved along the edge of the panel, with the blade of the cutter assembly scoring the panel parallel to the reference edge. Praye does not provide a work table, but rather uses the wallboard sheet as a table or guide for his scoring tool. Accordingly, no means of adjustably securing a workpiece to a table, nor for holding such a workpiece for routing or other edge work, is disclosed by Pray.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,300 issued on Oct. 6, 1998 to the present inventor, titled “Woodworking Jig,” describes a single table or fixture adapted for making cuts i
Choi Stephen
Litman Richard C.
Shoap Allan N.
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