AU4453899A - Drill positioning assembly - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: DRILL POSITIONING ASSEMBLY Applicant: Manfred Daniel Shores The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 Document8 DRILL POSITIONING ASSEMBLY The present invention is directed to a drill positioning assembly and the parts of that assembly.

In the manufacture of book cases, cabinets, wardrobes and the like, it is often necessary to drill one or more holes along the edge of a material at certain locations to receive dowels or screws. It is very important that the holes be drilled exactly at the desired locations otherwise the construction of the bookcase, cabinet etc will be adversely effected. To determine the correct drilling locations, a ruler can be used to measure various distances from an edge of the material and the locations can be marked using pencil or the like. However this method of determining the correct location of the drilling holes requires the user to carefully measure all distances and ensure that the ruler is properly aligned against the edges of the material to be drilled. Any inaccuracies in measurement can result in the drilling holes being made at the wrong locations.

The present invention seeks to overcome these difficulties by providing a drill positioning assembly that is simple to use and can be used to accurately locate where holes should be drilled in the material without the use of a ruler.

Further, by using different locating means that form part of the assembly, holes 20 can be drilled into a material at various angles.

Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention is directed to a drill positioning assembly including: a guide member for locating on a face of a material to be drilled, said guide member having one or more apertures located therein for indicating where the material is to be drilled, each aperture being suitable for receiving and guiding a drill bit; and one or more separate locating means attachable to said guide member to locate said guide member in relation to an edge of the material.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide member is a guide rod having a square or rectangular profile. When laid on a surface of a material to be drilled, the face of the guide rod in contact with the material is designated the lower face and the opposite face is designated the upper face. The one or more apertures C:\WlNWORDALISONXSPECISHORES.DOC for receiving the drill bit extend from the upper face through to the lower face.

The faces of the guide rod extending between the upper and lower faces are designated the side faces.

It is preferred that the guide rod have a plurality of apertures for receiving a drill bit and adjacent apertures are spaced either 16, 32 or 64 millimetres apart.

Distances of 16 mm or multiples thereof are commonly used in the carpentry trade. Thus, these distances are adopted in the present device.

It is preferred that the device have one or more bushes for fitting in the one or more apertures. Each bush has a circular body having an outer diameter slightly less than the diameter of an aperture. An enlarged head is located at one end of the circular body, said head having a flange to abut the upper face of the guide rod when the bush is located in an aperture. Each bush has a passage of a :i certain diameter to accommodate drill bits of matching diameters. By locating a bush into an aperture, the effective size of the aperture can be reduced to match the size of the drill bit.

Where the guide rod is positioned on a surface to be drilled, it may be desirable to clamp the guide rod to the surface. Repeated contact by a clamp *ol* with the guide rod may cause damage to the guide rod. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment a spacing means is provided for attachment to the guide 20 rod. The spacing means provides a contact surface which can be contacted by :e i one portion of the clamp and thereby prevent the clamp being in direct contact with the guide rod. In a preferred embodiment, the spacing means is a circular body of slightly less diameter than the diameter of an aperture in the guide rod and having a head of larger diameter located at one end of the circular body. The body is located in an aperture and the head brought into abutment with the upper face of the guide rod. The head provides a contact surface which may be contacted by a clamp.

The locating means is preferably attachable to a side face of the guide rod.

More preferably, the locating means includes a first portion which is brought into abutment with the side face of the guide rod, and a second portion extending from the first portion which can be brought into abutment with a side of a material adjacent to the side that is to be drilled.

C:\WlNWORDOALISON SPECISHORES.DOC In one embodiment, the first and second portions of the locating means are co-linear. More preferably, the locating means has a length greater than the height of the guide rod. Accordingly, when such a means is brought into contact with a side face of the guide rod, the first portion contacts the guide rod and the second portion extends beyond the side face and a 90 degree angle is formed between the locating means and lower face of the guide rod. In this embodiment the locating means and guide rod assembly can be located on an edge of a material having a 90 degree angle. The second portion of the locating means is brought into abutment with the side of the material and thereby aligns the guide 10 rod along the edge of the material and locates the guide rod a desired distance from that edge.

Preferably, the locating means has alternate sides which can be brought ,:i o into abutment with a guide rod and material to be drilled and on at least one side the first and second portions are offset with respect to each other so that the guide rod is not placed flush with an edge of the material to be drilled.

In another embodiment, the second portion of the locating means extends at an angle to the first portion. Preferably, the second portion extends at an angle of 45 degrees to the first portion. In use, the second portion is brought into contact with a side of the material. The guide rod is then positioned at an angle to an adjacent side of the material. Alternatively, if the first and second sides of the material to be drilled are located at an angle corresponding to the angle between the first and second portions of the locating means, the lower face of the guide rod will be brought into contact with the angled face of the material to be drilled.

It is also preferred that the locating means includes one or more shoulders for contacting either of the upper and lower faces of the guide rod when the locating means is brought into abutment with the guide rod. The shoulders give rise to a contact fit with the guide rod, thereby assisting the attachment of the locating means to the guide rod.

In a further preferred embodiment the second portion of the substantially straight and angled locating means provides an area which can be contacted by a C:\WlNWORDALISONSPECI'SHORES.DOC clamp. The clamp contacts the locating means and the material to be drilled to hold the assembly in place.

In an alternative embodiment, the locating means is attachable to the side face of the guide rod, but does not have a second portion which abuts the material to be drilled. In this embodiment the guide rod with locating means attached is placed on the face of the material to be drilled. The locating means may be aligned along the edge of the material and thus spaces the guide rod from the edge. By varying the width of such a locating means, the distance of the guide rod from the edge of the material can be altered.

It is preferred that the assembly include fastening means to fasten the locating means to the guide rod. In one embodiment an aperture is located in the locating means and one or more apertures are located in the guide rod and extend across the width of the guide rod from one side face of the guide rod to the other. When the locating means is located adjacent the side face of the guide S S~ S 15 rod, these apertures may be aligned to permit an elongate member, such as a bolt or similar means to be passed through the aligned apertures. It is also preferred to use a nut and washer with this bolt. It is further preferred that the ,apertures extending across the width of the guide rod are off set with respect to the one or more apertures extending from the upper face to the lower face of the guide rod which are for receiving a drill bit.

It is preferred to provide an end stop on the guide rod so that the end of the guide rod can be aligned with an end of a material to be drilled. The end stop may be formed by a plate of greater dimension than the cross sectional area of an end of the guide rod so that when attached to the end of the guide rod it extends beyond the perimeter of this end. When so attached, the end plate can be brought into abutment with the end of a material and thereby align the guide rod with respect to the end of the material. It is also preferred to provide attachment means as noted above to attach the end plate to the guide rod.

In another embodiment the present application is directed to the guide rod itself. Accordingly, the application is directed to a drilling guide rod for locating on a face of a material to be drilled, said guide rod having a rectangular crosssection, opposing upper and lower faces and opposing side faces, one or more

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6 apertures extending from the upper face to the lower face indicating where the material is to be drilled, each aperture being suitable for receiving and guiding a drill bit, and one or more apertures extending from one side face to the opposing side face for receiving an elongate member to fasten a locating means to the guide rod. Preferably the guide rod has one or more of the preferred features as described above.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the locating means itself. Accordingly, the application is directed to a guide member for use with a drilling guide rod having a rectangular cross-section, upper and lower faces 10 and opposing side faces, said guide member having a first portion for abutment with one side face of the guide rod and a second portion extending from said first portion for abutting a side of a material to be drilled to align the guide rod with the material. Preferably the locating means has one or more of the preferred features as described above.

The invention shall now be described with reference to the following figures which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1A is a top view of a guide rod of this invention.

•....*Figure 1B is a side view of the guide rod of Figure 1A.

Figure 2A is a top view of a variation of a guide rod of this invention.

20 Figure 2B is a side view of the guide rod of Figure 2A.

Figure 2C is an end view of the guide rod of Figure 2A.

Figure 3 is a side view of a bush.

Figure 4 is a side view of a spacing means.

Figure 5 is a front view of an end stop.

Figures 6A-E show side and front views of various locating means.

Figures 7A-E show placement of an assembly of this invention against a material to be drilled Figures 8A-C show the use of this assembly Turning to Figure 1A, it shows the top view of a guide rod 1 having an upper face 2 and side faces 3. Extending from the upper face 2 to a lower face (not shown) are a series of apertures 4. The apertures are spaced apart by distances of 16 mm or variations of this distance (ie 32 and 64 mm). The total C: WNWORDIALISONSPECIXSHORES.DDC length of the rod is 735 mm. The guide rod 1 has ends 5. Located in one end is an aperture 5A. The guide rod 1 has a square profile of 16 mm by 16 mm.

Figure 1B shows a side view of guide rod 1. In this Figure, the lower side 6 of the guide rod can be seen. Extending from one side face 3 to an opposite side face 3 are a series of apertures 7.

Figures 2A and 2B show a variation in the guide rod 1 shown in Figures 1A and lB. The variation is in the length of the guide rod 1. In Figures 2A and 2B, the guide rod is 215 mm in length. Again in Figures 2A and 2B, the apertures 4 are spaced apart by multiples of 16 mm.

Figure 2C is a view of an end 5 of guide rods 1 of Figures 1A and 1B and 2A and 2B. Aperture 5A can be seen in end Figure 3 shows a side view of a bush 8 for use with the guide rod 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The bush 8 has cylindrical body 9 having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of apertures 4. Located at one end of the cylindrical 15 body 9 is enlarged head 10 having abutment flange 11. Extending through the a ao length of bush 8 is aperture 12.

~Figure 4 shows a side view of a spacing means 13. The spacing means 13 has cylindrical body 14 of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of apertures 4. At one end of spacing means 13 there is enlarged head 15. The upper surface of enlarged head 15 is a contacting surface designated 16.

Figure 5 shows a front view of an end stop 17. End stop 17 is a plate like member having an area greater than the cross sectional area of end 5 of guide rod 1. Located in approximately the centre of end stop 17 is aperture 18.

Figure 6A shows a side view of a substantially straight side locating means 19A. The locating means 19A has a guide rod abutting portion 20 and material abutting portion 21. Sides of means 19A are designated A and B.

Figure 6B shows a variation 19B of the locating means 19A shown in Figure 6A. The locating guide 19B in Figure 6B differs from the locating means 19A in Figure 6A in respect of the configuration of the sides A and B of abutment portions 20 and 21. The reasons for these differences will become more apparent when the function of these locating means is illustrated in further detail in Figures 7A-E.

C:\W1NWORDALISONSPECISHORES.DOC It is noted that in Figures 6A and 6B, guide rod abutment portion 20 of each means 19A and B includes shoulders 22. Locating means 19A also has shoulder 23 on side B.

Figure 6C shows a front view of side A of both means 19A and B. In Figure 6C aperture 24 which extends through means 19A and B is illustrated.

Figure 6D is a side view of angled side locating means 25. It has guide rod abutting portion 26 and arms 27 extending from guide rod abutting portion 26 at an angle of 45 degrees as identified in the Figure. It also has shoulders 22.

Figure 6E is a front view of locating means 25. It illustrates an aperture 28 which extends all the way through means Figure 7A shows the assembly 30 of this invention formed by guide rod 1 and locating means 19A. The assembly 30 is shown placed against a material 29 having a thickness of 14.mm. The guide rod 1 has a width of 16 mm. On side A of locating means 19A the abutting portion 20 is recessed with respect to the 15 abutting portion 21 by 1 mm. Thus, when side A of locating means 19A is brought into abutment with a side face 3 of guide rod 1 and a side 29A of material 29, the locating means 19A locates the guide rod 1 along the side 29B of material 29 so that the guide rod 1 overhangs the material 29 by 1 mm on each side.

Accordingly, each aperture 4 in the guide rod 1 is located along the centre line of the side 29B, allowing the operator to drill a series of holes along this centre line.

It can be further seen in Figure 7A that shoulders 22 of means 19A contact the upper and lower faces 2 and 6 of guide rod 1 respectively to assist the fitting of means 19A to guide rod 1.

Figure 7B also shows the assembly 30 of this invention formed by locating means 19A and guide rod 1, however in this embodiment the side B of locating means 19A is abutting rod 1. On side B abutting portion 21 is recessed with respect to abutting portion 20 by 1 mm. Side B of means 19A is brought into abutment with side face 3 of guide rod 1 and side 29A of material 29. Material 29 has a thickness of 18 mm and the rod 1 has a width of 16 mm. Accordingly, the guide rod 1 is aligned by means 19A along the side 29B of material 29 so that apertures 4 extend along the centre of the side 29B and the operator can drill a C:\WINWORD LISONISPECIXSHORESDOC 9 series of holes along the centre line. In this Figure it is seen that shoulder 23 is also brought into contact with the side 29B of material 29.

Figure 7C shows an assembly 30 of this invention formed by a guide rod 1 having means 19B attached to it. On side A of locating means 19B, abutting portion 20 is recessed with respect to abutting portion 21 by 2 mm. Side A of means 19B is in contact with the side 3 of guide rod 1 and side 29A of material The material 29 has a diameter of 12 mm and the rod has a width of 16 mm.

Accordingly, the means 19B locates the rod 1 along the side 29B so that the rod 1 overhangs the material 29 by 2 mm on each side and the apertures 4 in guide rod 1 are positioned along the centre of side 29B of material 29. It is further S illustrated in this Figure that shoulders 22 contact upper and lower sides 2 and 6 of guide rod 1 and thereby assist in the fit of means 19B to guide rod 1.

~Figure 7D shows the assembly 30 formed by guide rod 1 and locating means 19B, however in this embodiment side B of means 19B is in abutment with 15 side 3 of guide rod 1 and side 29A of material 29. On side B, abutting portion and abutting portion 21 lie in the same plane. In this Figure, the material 29 has a width of 16 mm which is the width of guide rod 1. Accordingly, the locating means 19B aligns the guide rod 1 along side 29B so that the apertures 4 are aligned along the centre line of side 29B of material 29.

Figure 7E shows an assembly 30 of this invention formed by angled locating means 25 attached to guide rod 1. Guide rod abutting portion 26 of means 25 is brought into abutment with side 3 of guide rod 1 and material abutting portion 27 of means 25 is brought into abutment with side 29A of material 29. Shoulders 22 contact the upper and lower sides 2 and 6 of rod 1 which assists the attachment of means 25 to rod 1. It can be seen in the Figure that the side 29B of material 29 is located at an angle of 45 degrees to side 29A of the material. The configuration of means 25 aligns the rod 1 along the edge 29B of the material 29 so that the rod 1 is flush with the edge 29B. The operator can then drill a hole in edge 29B at the location of each aperture 4.

Figure 8A shows that the assembly 30 of this invention located on material 29 to be drilled. Guide rod 1 is placed on side 29B. To the sides 3 of guide rod 1, there is affixed locating means 19B. Each means 19B is affixed to guide rod 1 by

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bolt 31 which passes through aperture 24 of means 19B and an aperture 7 of guide rod 1. To fasten bolt 31 in position there is provided wing nut 32 and washers 33. When each means 19B is attached to guide rod 1, each means 19B allows the user to position the guide rod 1 in relation to the edge formed by side 29A and side 29B of material 29. Means 19B also provides a point at which a clamp 34 can be used to hold the assembly 30 in position. Located at end 5 of guide rod 1 is end plate 17 which is attached to guide rod 1 via screw 35. The end plate 17 permits the user to align the end 5 of guide rod 1 with an end of the material 29. Also shown in Figure 8A is a bush 8 for location in an aperture 4 of 10 guide rod 1.

S" Turning to Figure 8B, this Figure shows the assembly 30 positioned along o: a side 29B of material 29 which is located at 45 degrees to a side 29A of the material. Attached to side 3 of guide rod 1 is angled locating means 25. The arm 27 of means 25 is brought into abutment with side 29A of material 29. This 15 permits lower surface 6 of guide rod 1 to be brought into abutment with side 29B of material 29. A clamp 34 also contacts arm 27 of means 25 to hold the assembly 30 in position against material 29. The assembly shown in Figure 8B also includes a bush 8 and end plate 17.

Figure 8C shows the assembly 30 of this invention located on material 29 to position a plurality of drilled holes along the side 29A of the material 29.

Locating means 19B is attached to side 3 of guide rod 1. The plate 19B is also brought into abutment with side 29B of material 29. This permits the guide rod 1 to be aligned along the edge between sides 29A and 29B and from a desired distance from this edge. Spacing means 13 is fitted to guide rod 1 by the location of body portion 14 of each spacing means 13 in an aperture 4 of guide rod 1. A clamp 34 can then contact contacting surface 16 of spacing means 13 and the material 29 to hold the assembly 30 in position. Again the assembly shown in Figure 8C includes an end plate 17 so that the end 5 of guide rod 1 can be aligned along the end of material 29.

From figures 8A-8C it will be appreciated that the assembly of this invention can be used in numerous applications. For example, when fitting a door hinge to a door, usually two holes must be drilled at a certain distance from the

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11 edge of the door to receive the screws that fasten the hinge to the door. The assembly can be used to locate the correct positions for these holes. When drawer runners are fixed to a side of a drawer, a row of holes is required along a side of the drawer and the assembly of this invention can be used to locate the position of these holes. When two sheets of material are joined together at degrees or other angles, one method of joining is to locate holes in each sheet of material for receiving a piece of dowel. The assembly of this invention permits the holes to be placed in each sheet at the correct location.

The present invention provides a drill positioning assembly that is easy to 10 use and can be used to position the drill locations on a material without the need to make any measurements. The assembly includes a number of locating means to locate the assembly along or away from the edge of a material to be drilled and permit the assembly to be used on materials having 90 degree edges and other angled edges including those having a 45 degree angle.

It should be understood that various modifications and variations can be made to this invention without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

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Claims (18)

1. A drill positioning assembly including: a guide member for locating on a face of a material to be drilled, said guide member having one or more apertures located therein for indicating where the material is to be drilled, each aperture being suitable for receiving and guiding a drilling bit, and one or more separate locating members attachable to said 10 guide member to locate said guide member in relation to an edge of the material. A drill positioning assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the guide member is a rod having a rectangular cross-section and opposing upper and 15 lower faces and opposing side faces, said one or more apertures extending from said upper face to said lower face.

3. A drill positioning assembly according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein each locating means includes a first portion for abutment with one side face of the 0 00 guide rod and a second portion extending from said first portion for abutment with a side of the material to be drilled to align the guide rod with the material.

4. The drill positioning assembly according to Claim 3 wherein the locating means includes one or more shoulders for contacting either said upper and lower faces of said rod when said locating means is brought into abutment with said rod. The drill positioning assembly according to Claims 3 or 4 wherein said second portion extends at an angle to said first portion.

6. The drill positioning assembly according to either Claims 3 or 4 wherein said second portion is co-linear with said first portion. C:\WINWORD\ALISON\SPECI\SHORES.DOC 13

7. The drill positioning assembly according to Claim 6 wherein said locating means has alternative sides for abutment with said guide rod and material, said first and second portions on at least one side being offset with respect to each other.

8. The drill positioning assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 including fastening means to fasten the locating means to the guide rod.

9. The drill positioning assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the locating means has an aperture extending through it and the guide rod has one or more apertures extending from one side face to the opposing side face, the said fastening means including an elongate body for extending through the aperture in the locating means and one of the apertures in the guide rod to 15 fasten the locating means to the guide rod. 0'0**10. A drilling guide rod for locating on a face of a material to be drilled, S* said guide rod having a rectangular cross-section, opposing upper and lower faces and opposing side faces, one or more apertures extending from the upper 20 face to the lower face indicating where the material is to be drilled, each aperture being suitable for receiving and guiding a drill bit, and one or more apertures extending from one side face to the opposing side face for receiving an elongate member to fasten a locating means to the guide rod.

11. A drilling guide rod according to Claim 10 having a plurality of apertures extending from the upper face to the lower face, each aperture spaced apart from an adjacent aperture by a distance of 16 mm or a multiple of 16 mm.

12. The drilling guide rod according to any one of Claims 10 or 11 wherein the one or more apertures extending from the upper face to the lower face are offset with respect to the one or more apertures extending from the side face to opposing side face. C:\WINORDALISONSPECISHORES.DOC 14

13. The drilling guide rod according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 having an aperture located in one end thereof for receiving an elongate fastening means to fasten an end plate to the guide rod.

14. A guide member for use with a drilling guide rod having a rectangular cross-section, upper and lower faces and opposing side faces, said guide member having a first portion for abutment with one side face of the guide rod and a second portion extending from said first portion for abutting a side of a g• 10 material to be drilled to align the guide rod with the material.

15. The locating means according to Claim 14 having one or more 9 shoulders for contacting either of the upper or lower faces of the guide rod to assist the abutment of the locating means with said rod.

16. The locating means according to Claims 14 or 15 wherein the second portion extends at an angle to said first portion.

17. The guide member according to Claims 14 or 15 wherein the second portion is co-linear with said first portion.

18. The guide member according to Claim 17 wherein said locating means has alternate sides for abutment with the guide rod and material, said first and second portions on at least one side being offset with respect to each other.

19. The guide member according to any one of Claims 14 to 18 including an aperture for receiving an elongate fastening means. A drill positioning assembly substantially as hereinbefore described as illustrated in any one of the figures. C:\WINWORD LISONMSPECISHORESOOC

21. A drilling guide rod substantially as hereinbefore, described as illustrated in any one of the figures 1lA, 1lB, 2A-C, 7A-E and 8A-C.

22. A locating means substantially as hereinbefore described as illustrated in any one of figures 6A-E, 7A-E and 8A-C. DATED: 18 August 1999 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: MANFRED DANIEL SHORES C:\WNWORD ALISONXSPECIXSHORES.DOC