Cutlery – Cutting tools – Saw
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-06
2001-02-27
Payer, Hwei-Siu (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Cutting tools
Saw
C030S376000, C083S574000, C083S745000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192592
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of chainsaw attachments and more particularly to a cutting guide device adapted for selective, releasable attachment to a chainsaw, which enables a workpiece to be safely and precisely cut.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The construction of dwellings utilizing logs stacked upon one another is popularly practised in regions where timber is available. Hand-held chainsaws have proven to be well-suited for carrying out the rough cutting operations required in this type of construction, such as the felling of trees and cutting is of same to length, and are widely used therefor. However, it is also necessary that openings be provided in stacked-log structures, so as to enable the insertion of doors or windows therein. Hand-held chainsaws are known to have been used for these purposes, but it has proven difficult for hand-held chainsaws to be manually-directed with the necessary level of precision required to produce aesthetically-pleasing openings within which doors or windows may be readily inserted and mounted. Moreover, even for highly-skilled chainsaw operators, handling mishaps are inevitable, which can require the costly replacement of timber, and also hold the potential of causing serious injury to the operator of the chainsaw and/or to bystanders.
Chainsaw guides are known in the art, particularly for use in the processing of logs into dimensional lumber, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,759 (Aderneck), issued Oct. 16, 1984. The Aderneck patent discloses a chainsaw guide attachment comprising a rigid guide channel, a threaded cylinder attached to the guide channel, a threaded shaft mechanically engaged within the threaded cylinder, and a clamp attached to the threaded shaft and adapted to grip a conventional hand-held chainsaw. The clamp comprises twin set screws and a hardened backing plate between which the cutting bar of the chainsaw may be positioned. In preparation for use, the operator is required only to clamp the attachment to the chainsaw by manipulation of the set screws against the cutting blade, and fasten a guide rail, such as a common 2″×4″ wooden stud, to the log. Thereafter, the guide channel may be fitted upon the guide rail, and the chainsaw be caused to cut the log by pivotal rotation of the threaded shaft in the threaded cylinder; once such pivotal rotation is completed, the guide channel may be repositioned on the guide rail, and the process repeated along the entire length to be cut.
The twin set screws and hardened backing plate of the Aderneck attachment which effect the gripping of the chainsaw have been known to cause damage to chainsaw guide bars in use, but otherwise, attachments of this type have generally proven useful for the rough-cutting of logs into dimensional lumber, such as is required for framing purposes. However, the Aderneck attachment suffers in several aspects when employed in the provision of openings in stacked log structures. Firstly, due to the utilisation of the threaded shaft and cylinder pivot assembly in the Aderneck attachment, the displacement of the chainsaw relative to the guide channel varies during rotation of the chainsaw. This variance results in lateral movement of the chainsaw blade during cutting, thereby producing a contoured cut surface which is poorly suited for the mounting of door or window frames thereupon and which may require subsequent shimming, sanding or planing. Moreover, the cut edge produced is jagged and aesthetically unpleasing. As well, as conventional chainsaws are not adapted for lateral blade movement, the aforementioned variance results in unnecessarily high levels of operator effort being required to effect pivotal rotation, which is further accentuated by the frictional forces resident in the pivot assembly itself, and by the absence of means to retain the chainsaw against the structure; the requirement that the operator physically support the chainsaw and guide attachment during operation, coupled with the high effort levels required to effect pivotal rotation of the chainsaw during operation, results in high levels of operator fatigue, leading to handling mishaps, property damage and operator injury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to overcome, inter alia, the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a cutting guide device adapted for selective, releasable attachment to a chainsaw, which enables an operator to safely provide an opening in a stacked-log structure.
It is a further object of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a cutting guide device which satisfies the aforementioned objects and which does not require the operator to support the chainsaw and cutting guide device during operation.
It is a further object of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a cutting guide device which satisfies the aforementioned objects and which does not require the operator to exert unnecessarily high levels of effort during operation.
It is a further object of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a cutting guide device which satisfies the aforementioned objects and which provides an aesthetically pleasing opening that is well-suited for the mounting of door or window frames thereupon.
It is a further object of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a cutting guide device which satisfies the aforementioned objects and which is economical to manufacture and yet precise and robust in operation.
It is yet a further object of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a cutting guide device which satisfies the aforementioned objects and which does not damage the guide bar of the attached chainsaw.
These and other objects are addressed by the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cutting guide device which is adapted for use with a chainsaw and a workpiece having a substantially vertical face to be cut, said chainsaw being of the type having a motor housing portion, a substantially planar guide bar portion rigidly projecting from the motor housing portion and a cutting chain portion surrounding a perimeter of the guide bar portion. The cutting guide device comprises a rail means adapted for selective, removable, rigid attachment to the vertical face of the workpiece. The rail means defines a vertical translational axis when operatively attached to the face as aforesaid. A carriage means is also provided, and is mounted on the rail means for constrained translational movement parallel to the vertical translational axis. A turret means is attached to the carriage means for translational movement therewith and is adapted for pivotal rotation relative to the carriage means about a horizontal pivot axis disposed normal to the vertical translational axis. A chainsaw gripping means adapted to selectively, rigidly grip the chainsaw by the guide bar portion thereof with a cutting plane defined by the guide bar portion being vertically oriented and normal to the horizontal pivot axis, is also disclosed. The chainsaw gripping means is mounted on the turret means for rotation therewith, while gripping said chainsaw as aforesaid, between a raised position, whereat the guide bar portion and cutting chain portion are disposed frontwardly from said face, and a lowered position, whereat said guide bar portion and cutting chain portion intersect said face in cutting relation, thereby to cut said workpiece along the cutting plane.
According to another aspect of the invention, the horizontal pivot axis is preferably substantially parallel to a mounting plane defined by the face of the workpiece.
According to another aspect of the invention, the chainsaw gripping means is preferably adapted to selectively, rigidly grip the chainsaw as aforesaid with the cutting plane defined by the guide bar portion oriented substantially normal to the mounting plane defined by the face of the workpiece.
Accordi
Hofbauer Patrick J.
Payer Hwei-Siu
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