GB2225263A

GB2225263A - Device and method for preventing tool damage to a workpiece

Info

Publication number: GB2225263A
Application number: GB8923133A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Austin Parsons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-15
Filing date: 1989-10-13
Publication date: 1990-05-30
Also published as: GB8824193D0; GB8923133D0

Abstract

To protect a workpiece from tool damage e.g. by a drill or screwdriver, a transparent tube 10 having an annular, resilient, anti-friction pad 11 at its end is held against the workpiece around a location where the tool is to be used. The tube 10 enables the tool to be maintained at the desired location during an operation on the workpiece. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE AND METhOD FOR PREVENTING TOOL DAMAGE TO A WORKPIECE This invention relates to a device and method of protecting a workpiece from tool damage and has for its object to mitigate the risk of damage to a workpiece, eg a work surface, by a tool used, for example, for drilling or for insertion of a screw into the workpiece.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of protecting a workpiece from tool damage comprising passing a work-engaging portion of a tool through a tubular element, and maintaining said tubular element against said workpiece so as to direct said work-engaging portion to a desired location.

Preferably, the tubular element has an annular, resilient anti-friction pad at an end thereof which is engaged with said workpiece. Most preferably, the tubular element is transparent so that the work-engaging portion of the tool can be viewed through the wall of the tubular element.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device constructed and adapted for use in the method of the present invention, said device comprising a tubular element which is adapted to engage against a workpiece around a location at which a tool is to be used, said tubular element preferably having an annular, resilient, anti-friction pad at its workpiece-engaging end. The tubular element is preferably formed of a transparent material.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a device for carrying out the method of the present invention, and Figs. 2 to 7 are views showing modifications.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the device comprises a tube 10 of circular cross-section which is formed of a relatively rigid transparent plastics material. An annular, resilient, anti-friction pad 11 is secured to one end of the tube 10. In this embodiment, the pad 11 is formed of rubber and has an outer diameter which exceeds that of the tube 10. In use, the tube 10 is'held against a work surface 13 around a location 14 at which a screw 15 is to be secured. The diameter of the tube 10 is chosen so that the blade of a screw driver (not shown) can be passed along the tube to engage in the slotted head of the screw. The screw can then be tightened by rotation of the screw driver whilst the tube 10 is held firmly in position so that the risk of the screw driver blade slipping and damaging the workpiece is mitigated.

Fig. 2 shows a modification wherein the pad 11 is externally chamfered.

Fig. 3 shows a modification where the pad 11 is flush with the tube 10, thus permitting use in a confined area.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification where the area of contact between the pad 11 and tube 10 is increased to ensure a firmer connection.

Fig. 5 shows a similar modification in relation to the embodiment of Fig. 2.

Figs 6 and 7 show a further modification where the pad 11 is extended substantially upwardly and outwardly to provide a stable structure with a firm connection to the tube 10.

The device described above can be used for mitigating damage due to wandering" of a rotary drill bit. The diameter of the tube 10 can be chosen to suit the particular requirements and it is envisaged that a range of tube diameters and lengths may be provided to suit a variety of different applications.

Typically, the tube has a length of 45 mm and an internal diameter of 12 mm.

The transparent nature of the tube permits easy viewing of that part of the tool which is within the tube. If desired, information or advertising matter may be provided on the tube.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of protecting a workpiece from tool damage comprising passing a work-engaging portion of a tool through a tubular element, and maintaining said tubular element against said workpiece so as to direct said work-engaging portion to a desired location.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular element has an annular, resilient anti-friction pad at the end of the tubular element which is engaged against the workpiece.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said tubular element is transparent.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1, or Fig.

2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4 or Fig. 5, or Figs 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A device constructed and adapted for use in the method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said device comprises a tubular element which is adapted to engage against a workpiece around a location at which a tool is to be used.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said tubular element has an annular, resilient, anti-friction pad at its end which is adapted to engage the workpiece in use.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1, or Fig.

2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4, or Fig. 5, or Figs. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.