CA1063487A - Assembly and method for guiding a portable power saw - Google Patents

Abstract

ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR GUIDING A PORTABLE POWER SAW

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Assembly and method for guiding a portable power saw to make straight cuts in a workpiece is disclosed in which a reference edge is formed on a guidepiece held by the assembly. The reference edge is preferably formed by guiding the saw along a predetermined cutting path defined by the assembly to trim the guidepiece. To make a straight cut in a workpiece, the assembly is placed thereon with the reference edge defined by the guidepiece aligned along the line the cut is to be made and the power saw is guided by means of the assembly along the predetermined cutting path defined thereby.

Description

1~ti3~87 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

3 The present invention relates to the use of port~ble power saws.

Portable power saws are operable to efflrtlessly and rapidly 6 make clean cuts in wood and the like. Accordingly, such power saws 7 are commonly used in the construction of buildings, furniture and other 8 like applications. A disaclvantage with the use of portable power saws 9 is that d~e to the rapidity of their cutting actian, once a cut is started 10 there is no easy and safe way to compensate for any misalignment.
11 Further, portable power saws, once energized, represent very danger-12 ous instruments which can kill and dismember if not carefully 13 controlled.

Consequently, it is highly desirable that portable power saws be 16 accurately and safely guided along predetermined cutting paths when-17 ever used in order to avoid the occurrence of serious accidents and the 18 making of improperly aligned cuts.

.
.;.~ .

'. ~

. - . ~ - -: - - . , . . : . .

1063~7 1 SUMMA~Y OF THE ~NVENTION
3 It is an object of the present invention to provide 4 an improved assembly and method for guiding a portable power saw to make straight cuts in a workpiece.
7 It is ~urther an object of the present invention , 8 to provide an improved assembly and method for guiding a 9 portable power saw to make straight cuts in a workpiece characterized by employing a cuttable guidepiece which is 11 trimmed to define a reference edge which may be thereafter 12 used to align a predetermined cutting path defined by the 13 assembly with a selected line on a~workpiece along which a 14 cut is to be made.
16 In accomplishing these and other objects of the present i, 17 invention, there is provided in one embodiment a saw guide 18 assembly formed by housing structure; a planar guidepiece;
19 and a guideplate arranged for securement to the base of a portable power saw. A guide groove for slidably receiving the 21 guideplate is defined along the length of the housing top :
22 surface, and the guideplate preferably extends beyond the 23 base of the saw to which it is attached so that the guideplate 24 and groove may be slidably mated prior to movement of the saw into a cutting position.

27 A slot for receiving the planar guidepiece is defined 28 within the housing to open along one of the longitudinal

2~ sides of the housing.
, .. -,;1,-!

. . .

~063487 1 Mechanism is provided for securing the guidepiece in a 2 fixed position in the slot whereat it extends a selected

3 distance therefrom. A reference edge is formed on the guide-

4 piece in alignment with the cutting path defined by the saw guide assembly. This reference edge may be formed by guiding the saw 6 when energized along the predetermined cutting path defined by the 7 saw guide assembly to trim the guidepiece to form a reference 8 edge thereon aligned with the cutting path.

To make a straight cut in a workpiece, the saw guide 11 assembly is placed on the workpiece with the reference edge formed 12 on the guidepiece aligned along the line the cut is to be made, 13 and the power saw is guided by means of the saw guide assembly 14 along the predetermined cutting path defined ~hereby. The saw may be repeatably guided along this predetermined cutting path 16 of movement by sliding the guideplate through the guide groove.

18 In another embodiment provided,the saw guide assembly 19 has a selectively positionable guide bar mounted on its housing top surface instead of a guide groove formed therein. By sliding 21 the portable power saw along the housing top surface, with the 22 baseplate of the saw riding against the guide bar, a reference 23 edge may be cut on the planar guidepiece. The power saw may 24 be used with tiliS embodiment of saw guide assem~ly to make a straight cut in a workpiece by aligning the reference edge formed 26 on the guidepiece with the line along which the cut is to be 27 made and sliding the power saw along the housing top surface 28 with the saw baseplate riding against the guide bar. Additional 29 objects of the present invention reside in the construction of the embodiments of saw guide assembly hereinafter described in con-31 junction with the several drawings as well as in their method of 32 operation.

:. - -.
,J . . ' 1~63a~7 From one aspect thereof, the subiect invention resides in a saw guide assembly, comprising housing structure, means associated with said housing structure for guiding an asso-: ciated power saw along said housing structure in a straight . path with the saw blade of said power saw moving along a predetermined straight cutting path alongside said housing structure, a guidepiece having a longitudinal dimension, -said guidepiece being made of a material cuttable by said power saw to define a reference edge, and means associa~ed o with said housing structure for holding said guidepiece in a fixed position on said housing structure with ~he longi-tudinal dimension of said guidepiece substantially aligned with said cutting path, said holding means being adjustable . to selectively position said guidepiece across said cutting ., path whereby by making a cut along said cutting path with : . said power saw said guidepiece may be trimmed along its .~. longitudinal dimension to define a reference edge aligned with said cutting path usable for positioning sàid saw guide assembly on a workpiece.
. ~ From another aspect.thereof, the subject invention `. resides in a saw guide assembly, comprising means for repeatably guiding an associated power saw along a straight , cutting path, a guidepiece having a longitudinal dimension i for alignment along said straight cutting path and means for holding said guidepiece in a fixed aligned position ~, with said cutting path to define a reference edge aligned :~ with.said cutting path usable for positioning said saw guide :

., :: -, assembly on a workpiece, said holding means being adjust-able to selectively position said guidepiece across said cutting path whereby by making a cut along said cutting path with said power saw said guidepiece may be trimmed along its longitudinal dimension to define a reference edge aligned with said cutting path usable for positioning said saw guide assembly on a workpiece, said means for guiding an associated power saw being located on`said means . for holding said guidepiece and said guidepiece being free : t~ of said means for guiding an associated power saw.
: From a further aspect thereof, the subject invention resldes in a saw guide assembly, comprising housing structure ~ having substantially flat parallel upper and lower surfaces and longitudinally extending side edges, means associated with said housing structure for guiding an associated power saw along said housing structure in a straight path with :
the saw blade of said power saw moving along a predetermined straight cutting path alongside said housing structure, a :i guidepiece having a longitudinal dimension, said guidepiece being made of a material cuttable by said power saw to define a reference edge, said housing structure defining a slot of ' ! predetermined depth for receiving said guidepiece, said slot ., .
being a planar cavity opening in one of the longitudinal side edges of said housing structure, said slot being defined substantially parallel to said upper and:lower . surfaces of said housing structure and having its depth dimension extending transversely across said housing ~f structure, said guidepiece being a planar member dimensioned .li .

: ' , .. .

A: :
', ' ~Q63~87 for positioning in said slot to extend transversely from said housing structure, and means associated with said housing structure for releasably holding said guidepiece in a fixed position on said housing s~ructure with the longitudinal dimension of said guidepiece substantially aligned with said cutting path, said holding means being adjustable to sel~ectively position said guidepiece across said cutting path whereby by making a cut alorg said cutting path with said power saw said guidepiece may be ~D trimmed'along its longitudinal dimension to define a reference edge aligned with said cutting path usable for positioning said saw guide asser~ly on a workpiece.

.

.

~' /

~ .
, ~
~ ` . . . - . . .
-, .. , . ~ .

10~i3~

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS

3 Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating a saw 4 guide assembly according to the present invention along with an associated portable power saw.
7 Figure 3 is a top plan view of the saw guide assembly 8 of Figures 1 and 2 with the power saw itself removed from its 9 baseplate to illustrate the arrangement securing an associated guideplate to the saw baseplate.

12 Figure 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

14 Figure 5 is an end elevation view of the saw guide assembly of Figures 1 and 2 illustrating the cutting of a planar guide-16 piece to define a reference edge.

18 Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, perspective and end 19 elevation views of the saw guide assembly of Figures 1 and 2, illustrating the use thereof in making a straight cut in a workpiece.

22 Figure 8 is a side elevation view of an alternate arrangement 23 for securing a guideplate on the baseplate of the portable power ., .
24 saw of Figure 2.
l 25 ~1 26 Figure 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of saw ; 27 guide assembly according to the present invention.

29 Figure 10 is a view taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

.:, . .

. ~ .

DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED E:MBODIMENTS
2 .
3 Referring to the drawings in more det~il, there is shown 4 in Figures 1-7 a saw guide assembly ge;~erally identified by the numeral 10. The saw guide assembly 10 is formed by housing 6 structure 11; a planar guidepiece 12; and a guideplate or slide 7 13 arranged for securement to the base of a portable power 8 saw 14. .

~The housing structure 11 has top surface 20, bottom sur-11 face 21J and longitudinally extending side edges 22 and 23. The 12 housing 11 may be formed of any suitable material, such as 13 plastis, and preferably is of a substantially flat, rectangular 14 shape. A uniformly shaped guide groove 24 is defined along the length of the housing 11 between its ends 25 and 26. The guide 16 groove 24 has open ends, preferably a substantially U-shaped 17 cross section, and extends parallel and adjacent to the housing 18 longitudinally extending side edge 23.

The guide groove 24 is dimensioned for sl idably 21 receiving the guideplate 13 mounted on the portable power 22 saw 14. The guideplate 13 is a longitudinally extending rec-23 tangularly shaped substantially planar member having a 24 substantially U-shaped cross section.

,,~
r `'' ~ ,' ' ~ - _ __, The guideplate 13 is secured on the baseplate 30 of the power saw 2 14 to extend forwardly and rearwardly a predetermined distance there--3 from with its U-shaped cross section in inverted relationship to the 4 guide groove 24. The guideplate 13 is secured on the power saw base-plate 30 in a substantially parallel disposition to the longitudinal axis 6 of the power saw 14 and is appropriately posit~oned laterally thereon so 7 that with the guideplate 13 slidably mated with the guide groove 24, the 8 circular saw blade 31 is positioned a predetermined distance outside of 9 the longitudinal housing edge 23.
11 The guideplate 13 may be secured to the saw baseplate 30 in any suitable manner. One suitable manner is shown in Figures 1--7. As 13 there shown, wing nuts 32 are secured through aligned holes and slots 14 33O The holes and slots are located respectively in the saw baseplate 30 and the guideplate 13.

17 Another suitable method for securing the slide 13 on the saw base-18 plate 30 is shown in Figure 8. As there shown, adjustable clamp 19 structure, generally identified by the numeral 34, is secured by screws ^l 35 to the guideplate 13. The adjustable clamp structure 34 is made up 21 of fixedly positioned pieces 36 and 37, which are held in place by the 22 screws 35, and moveable clamp member 38~ Clamp member 38 may be 23 selectively advanced toward or away from the saw baseplate 30 by turn-24 ing in the appropriate sense the screw 39 threaded through the upwardly .j 25 extending portion 40 of the member 36~

- . .

, .

. .. :, - . , 10634t37 1 In operation, the saw guideplate 13 is secured on the saw 2 baseplate 30 by turning the screw 39 to advance the clamp 38 3 against the adjacent upturned edge 41 of the saw base 30. There-4 by, clamp 38 along with the stop 42 formed on the fixed member 37 operate to hold the guideplate 13 clamped in place on the saw 6 baseplate 30 against the baseplate upturned edges 41.

8 A slot S0 for receiving the planar guidepiece 12 is defined 9 within the housing 11 to open along housing longitudinal side 23.
The slot 50 is defined as a rectangular cavity which has a depth 11 dimension extending transversely to the housing 11 and substan-12 tially equal to housing width. The guidepiece insert 12 may be 13 made of any suitable material, preferably masonite, and is a 14 rectangularly shaped member appropriately dirnensioned for being fitted within the slot 50. The guidepiece insert 12 is 16 free of the saw guiding means.
~t 17 In Figure 1, the guidepiece 12 is illustrated being inserted 18 in the slot S0. The guidepiece 12 is inserted in the slot 50 to ex-19 ~ tend from the housing side edge 23 a predetermined distance and is clamped in place by tightening clamping mechanism.
21 Clamping mechanism is shown in Figures 3 and ~ in the form of 22 a screw 51 which may be tightened to force the corrugations ,~
23 52a on a moveable member 52 against one of the end edges of the .~ .
2L~ guidepiece 12. Corrugations 50a are formed on the opposite housing side edge defining the slot 50. Screw Sl, when tightened, 26 exerts a pressure on corrugated moveable member 52 to press 27 the corrugations 52a thereof against guidepiece insert 12.
28 Insert 12, in turn, presses against the corrugated innerside 50a 29 of housing 11.

:, ... . .

As a result of these actions, insert 12 is firmly locked in 2 place. ~dditionally, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, screws 53 3 may be tightened in holes 54 as an added clamping mechanism 4 to bear down on the top surface of the guidepiece 50, thereby to clamp it tightly in place. The inclusion of the screws 53 6 with their associated holes 54 may not be desired in all in-7 stances, and accordingly may be omitted as appropriate.

9 The guidepiece 12 is clamped in place in the slot 50 with its outer edge extending across the predetermined cutting path 11 defined by the saw guide assembly 10. Thereby, by moving the 12 power saw 1~ along this predetermined cutting path by sliding the 13 guideplate 13 through the guide groove 24, the guidepiece insert 14 12 is cut to define a reference edge 55. 'rhe cutting of this re-ference edge is shown in Figure 5. It is noted that prior to cutting 16 the reference edge 55 the angular orientation of the power saw blade 17 31 should be properly set by means of the angular adjustment 18 mechanism S6 contained on the power saw 14.

Once the guidepiece 12 has been cut to define the reference 21 edge 55, the assembly 11 is positioned on a workpiece 60 to be 22 cut with reference edge 55 aligned along the selected line on the 23 workpiece 60 along which a cut is to be made. The assembly 11 24 is shown so positioned in Figure 6 making a cut in the workpiece 60. The workpiece 60 is positioned on a work table 61 and the :, 26 housing 11 is positioned on the workpiece 60.

28 It is noted to prevent slippage o~ the housing 11 during the 29 CUttillg of the reference edge 55 or the making of a straight cut on a workpiece that a non-slipping material 62, such as natural cork or 31 neoprene cork, is secured on the lower surface 21 of the housing 32 structure 11.
- L~ -Also, it is noted to permit accurate alignment of the reference 2 edge 55 with a line along which a straight cut is to be made that the 3 distance between the reference edge 55 and the bottom surface of the 4 housing 11 should be as small as possible. Further, it is desirable that the reference edge 55 extend, as illustrated, substantialty the entire 6 length of the housing 11 so as to fully utilize the length of the assembly - 7 housing 11.

9 Thus, an assennbly and method has been provided for making straight cuts on a workpiece. It is noted that the straight cuts may be 11 made on the workpiece 60 independently of the outer peripheral edges of 12 the workpiece, that is to say the outer peripheral edges of the workpiece 13 are not needed as references. The line on which the straight cut is to `d 14 be made in the workpiece 60 may be scribed thereon or simply indicated thereon by two points. The guidepiece reference edge 55 is aligned 16 along this line where the cut is to be made and the power saw is guided 17 by the saw guide assembly 10 in the -manner illustrated in Figure 7 to 18 make a straight cut.
.

., ~ ¦
'1 ; .
., .; ,~ . .
-- ~, _ .
;
: .

1 Referring to Figures 9 and 10, another embodiment of 2 saw guide assembly 10' is there shown associated with portable 3 power saw 14'. The assembly 10 and saw 14 are generally 4 similar in construction and operation to the above-described assembly 10 and saw 14. Accordingly, corresponding parts of 6 each are identified by the same numerals used in Figures 1-8 7 with a prime added.
9 The assembly 10' differs from the assembly 10 by having a selectively positionable guide bar 63 for guiding the path of ` 11 movement of the power saw 14' instead of the above-described 12 guide groove 24 and cooperating guide plate 13. The guide bar 13 63 is straight longitudinal member dimensioned to extend from one 14 end 25' of the housing 11 to its other end 26'. The bar 63 . .
preferably has a right angled cross-section made up of mutually 16 perpendicular portions 63a and 63b. The bar 63 is shown positioned 17 with its portion 63a resting on the housing top surface 20-' 18 and its portion 63b positioned towards the housing edge 21-'.
19 The portion 63b defines a guide surface which extends upwardly in a substantially parallel disposition to the housing edge 21 21'.

23 A transversely extending guide bar adjustment slot 64 24 is formed through the surface 20' of the housing 11' adjacent each end thereof. The slots 64 extend parallel to the housing 26 edges 25-', 26' and open in cavities or openings 69 formed by 27 the housing 11. Fastening means in the form of wing nuts 65 28 and bolts 66 are employed to secure the guide bar 63 in place 29 on the housing surface 20'.
'`1 -: .
"' ' ' 1~

106;~7 1 The bolts 66 extend upwardly through the slots 64 2 into and through holes 68 formed in the ends of the guide bar 3 portion 63a. By threading the wing nuts 65 on the bolts ~ 66 and tightening them thereon, the guide bar 63 may be selectively clamped or secured in the position in which it 6 is adjusted on the housing 11'.
8 With the guide bar 63 clamped in a fixed position, 9 and the guidepiece insert 12' secured in place, the saw 14' may be used to cut a reference edge on the insert 12' by guiding the 11 saw baseplate 30' along the housing surface 20' with the straight 12 baseplate inner edge 67 riding against the straight guide bar 13 portion 63b. Once the reference edge is cut on the insert 12', 14 the housing 11' may be used with the saw 14' in the manner hereinbefore described to make straight cuts on a workpiece.

17 It is noted that the specific power saw used with the 18 assemblies 10 or 10' may be changed. However, each time the 19 power saw used is changed or the angle of its blade is changed, a new reference edge should be trimmed on the guidepiece 12 or 21 12'. It is also noted that instead of cutting or trimming 22 the guidepiece to form the reference edge that in instances 23 the referencç edge thereon could be formed by inserting the .-;
24 guidepiece in the slot 50 or 50' and then adjusting its position outwardly therefrom to a location where its outer edge lies 26 parallel to and a selected distance apart from the path of 27 travel of the saw blade. Clamping the guidepiece in such a 28 position would clamp its outer edge in a reference position 29 so that its outer edge could be used as a reference edge.

:

~063~37 .
1 A shim could be used between the $aw blade and the 2 outer edge of the guidepiece when setting the reference edge 3 in this manner. It is noted that each time the guidepiece ; 4 is retrimmed in order to define a new reference edge very

- 5 little of the material need be used. Further, by making the

6 guidepiece of a relatively durable material, such as masonite,

7 the guide edge may be used over and over again for a considerable

8 period of time without being substantially damaged.
. 9 Although the invention has herein been shown and de-11 scribed in what is conceived to be the most practical and pre-12 ferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be 13 made therefrom within the scope of this invention.

... .
~ .

s, ,, .
't,'l , .......................................................................... .
, ., ;' _ ' . ~ . .
,,~

.,~ .
~, .
., .

;,1 .

, --xyz-- -- 1~-- .
~.

.j . :

Claims (14)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A saw guide assembly, comprising:
housing structure;
means associated with said housing structure for guiding an associated power saw along said housing structure in a straight path with the saw blade of said power saw moving along a predetermined straight cutting path alongside said housing structure;
a guidepiece having a longitudinal dimension, said guidepiece being made of a material cuttable by said power saw to define a reference edge; and means associated with said housing structure for holding said guidepiece in a fixed position on said housing structure with the longitud-inal dimension of said guidepiece substantially aligned with said cutting path, said holding means being adjustable to selectively position said guidepiece across said cutting path whereby by making a cut along said cutting path with said power saw said guidepiece may be trimmed along its longitudinal dimension to define a reference edge aligned with said cutting path usable for positioning said saw guide assembly on a work-piece.

2. The invention defined in Claim 1, wherein said means for guiding an associated power saw along said housing structure in a straight path comprises a guide groove and mating guide structure.

3. The invention defined in Claim 2, wherein:
said guide groove is formed in the upper surface of said housing structure to extend longitudinally therealong; and said mating guide structure is securable to the base of said associated power saw in a predetermined position relative to the saw blade of said power saw.

4. The invention defined in Claim 3, wherein:
said guide groove has a substantially U-shaped cross-section; and said mating structure is a planar member having a substan-tially U-shaped cross-section in inverted relationship to said guide groove.

5. The invention defined in Claim 4, wherein:
said guide groove is open on its ends; and said mating guide structure extends forwardly and rearwardly beyond the base of said associated power saw to ensure proper guidance of said associated power saw during insertion and removal of said guide structure into and from said guide groove.

6. The invention defined in Claim 1, wherein:
said housing structure defines a slot of predetermined depth for receiving said guidepiece; and said means for holding said guidepiece in a fixed position are clamping means having corrugated clamping sur-faces.

7. The invention defined in Claim 6, wherein:
said housing structure has substantially flat parallel upper and lower surfaces and has longitudinally extending side edges;
said slot is a planar cavity opening in one of the longitudinal side edges of said housing structure, said slot being defined substantially parallel to said upper and lower surfaces of said housing structure and having its depth dimension extending transversely across said housing structure; and said guidepiece is a planar member dimensioned for positioning in said slot to extend transversely from said housing structure.

8. The invention defined in Claim 7, wherein said means for guiding an associated power saw along said housing structure in a straight path comprises:
a guide groove formed in the upper surface of said housing structure to extend longitudinally therealong, said guide groove having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and being open on its ends; and mating guide structure, said mating guide structure being securable to the base of said associated power saw in a predetermined position relative to the saw blade of said power saw, said mating guide structure being a planar member having a substantially U-shaped cross-section in inverted relationship relative to said guide groove which extends forwardly and rearwardly beyond the base of said associated power saw to ensure proper guidance of said associated power saw during insertion and removal of said guide structure into and from said guide groove;
and wherein:
the tower surface of said housing structure is formed as a non-slipping surface to prevent slippage of said assembly on a workpiece or work table.

9. The invention defined in Claim 1, wherein said means for guiding an associated power saw along said housing structure in a straight path comprises a selectively positionable guide bar mounted on said housing structure.

10. The invention defined in Claim 9, wherein said guide bar is mounted on said housing structure by means of fasteners which may be selectively tightened to secure said guide bar in a fixed position thereon, said housing structure having guide bar adjustment slots formed therein, said fasteners being associated with and selectively movable along said adjust-ment slots to permit selective positioning of said guide bar on said housing structure.

11. The invention defined in Claim 1, wherein said housing structure has a slot for slidably receiving said guidepiece, with said guidepiece extending transversely from said housing structure.

12. A saw guide assembly, comprising:
means for repeatably guiding an associated power saw along a straight cutting path;
a guidepiece having a longitudinal dimension for alignment along said straight cutting path; and means for holding said guidepiece in a fixed aligned position with said cutting path to define a reference edge aligned with said cutting path usable for positioning said saw guide assembly on a workpiece, said holding means being adjustable to selectively position said guidepiece across said cutting path whereby by making a cut along said cutting path with said power saw said guidepiece may be trimmed along its longitudinal dimension to define a reference edge aligned with said cutting path usable for positioning said saw guide assembly on a workpiece;
said means for guiding an associated power saw being located on said means for holding said guidepiece and said guidepiece being free of said means for guiding an associated power saw.

13. A saw guide assembly, comprising:
housing structure having substantially flat parallel upper and lower surfaces and longitudinally extending side edges;
means associated with said housing structure for guiding an associated power saw along said housing structure in a straight path with the saw blade of said power saw moving along a predetermined straight cutting path alongside said housing structure;
a guidepiece having a longitudinal dimension, said guidepiece being made of a material cuttable by said power saw to define a reference edge;
said housing structure defining a slot of prede-termined depth for receiving said guidepiece, said slot being a planar cavity opening in one of the longi-tudinal side edges of said housing structure, said slot being defined substantially parallel to said upper and lower surfaces of said housing structure and having its depth dimension extending transversely across said housing structure;
said guidepiece being a planar member dimensioned for positioning in said slot to extend transversely from said housing structure; and means associated with said housing structure for releaseably holding said guidepiece in a fixed position on said housing structure with the longitudinal dimension of said guidepiece substantially aligned with said cutting path, said holding means being adjustable to selectively position said guidepiece across said cutting path whereby by making a cut along said cutting path with said power saw said guidepiece may be trimmed along its longitudinal dimension to define a reference edge aligned with said cutting path usable for positioning said saw guide assembly on a workpiece.

14. The invention defined in Claim 13, wherein said means for guiding an associated power saw along said housing structure in a structure in a straight path comprises:
a guide groove formed in the upper surface of said housing structure to extend longitudinally therealong, said guide groove having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and being open on its ends; and mating guide structure, said mating guide structure being securable to the base of said associated power saw in a predetermined position relative to the saw blade of said power saw, said mating guide structure being a planar member having a substantially U-shaped cross-section in inverted relationship relative to said guide groove which extends forwardly and rearwardly beyond the base of said associated power saw to ensure proper guidance of said associated power saw during insertion and removal of said guide structure into and from said guide groove; and wherein:
the lower surface of said housing structure is formed as a non-slipping surface to prevent slippage of said assembly on a workpiece or work table.