Gear cutting – milling – or planing – Milling – Process
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-10
2001-06-26
Briggs, William (Department: 3723)
Gear cutting, milling, or planing
Milling
Process
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250859
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to power tools for wood working. More particularly, the present invention relates to template guide mounting systems for routers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A router is a versatile power tool adapted to perform a variety of functions such as making grooves in wood, trimming or shaping edges, and making joints. A typical router includes an electric motor contained within a motor housing. The electric motor is operatively coupled to a collet configured for selectively retaining one of a plurality of cutting blades or bits. The router also includes a sub-base which is connected to the housing. The sub-base can be adjusted relative to the motor housing such that a bit retained in the collet can be set to project a desired distance through the sub-base. By activating the motor with the bit projecting through the sub-base, the router is adapted to perform routing functions on a work piece. The depth of cut provided by the router can be varied by altering the distance the cutting bit projects through the router sub-base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention relates generally to a dust-collection system for use with a router. The dust-collection system includes a router sub-base adapted for connection to the router. The router sub-base defines an opening configured to provide clearance for a cutting tool of the router. The dust-collection system also includes a lower vacuum flowpath arranged and configured to evacuated dust from beneath the opening of the router sub-base. The dust-collection system further includes an upper vacuum flowpath positioned above the lower vacuum flowpath. The upper vacuum flowpath is arranged and configured to evacuate dust from within the opening defined by the router sub-base.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a dust-collection system including a router sub-base that defines an evacuation channel configured for evacuating dust from the region proximate a collet opening defined by the sub-base. An upper evacuation conduit is in fluid communication with the evacuation channel. A top cover forms a partially enclosed upper vacuum chamber that is located above the collet opening of the router sub-base. Additionally, a bottom cover forms a partially enclosed lower vacuum chamber located below the collet opening of the router sub-base. A lower evacuation conduit is in fluid communication with the lower vacuum chamber. The upper and lower evacuation conduits are adapted for connection to one or more vacuum sources.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a template guide mounting system and method that allow a template guide to be quickly and precisely aligned with a router bit.
The various aspects of the present invention provide a wood dust-collection system capable of capturing a large percentage of the dust generated by a router. Consequently, the present invention helps to reduce clean-up times and generate a more healthy work environment. Additionally, the present invention is designed to accommodate the various functions for which a router is typically used. For example, the present invention provides upper and lower vacuum systems that are particularly effective for collecting dust generated by routing functions performed along the edge of a work piece such as decorative edging and rabbiting. Additionally, for routing applications that are performed completely over a work piece, such as cutting a groove or dado, the bottom vacuum system can be removed such that dust evacuation is performed solely by the upper vacuum system. Such versatility is particularly suited for power tools such as routers, which have a variety of diverse uses. The present invention also provides a dust-collection system that can easily be used with existing router designs.
A variety of additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1899883 (1933-02-01), Sacrey
patent: 5016691 (1991-05-01), Bernier
patent: 5285831 (1994-02-01), Woolgar
patent: 5685675 (1997-11-01), Beekman
patent: 5725038 (1998-03-01), Tucker et al.
patent: 5909987 (1999-06-01), Coffey et al.
Spielman, P., “Router Jigs & Techniques,”Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., Front cover, Copyright page and pp. 74-76 (1988).
Bosten Donald R.
Cooper Randy G.
McNeal Waymon L.
Stolzer James T.
Briggs William
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Porter-Cable/Delta
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