GB2429426A

GB2429426A - Adjustable holding device

Info

Publication number: GB2429426A
Application number: GB0517283A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan James Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-24
Filing date: 2005-08-24
Publication date: 2007-02-28
Also published as: GB0517283D0

Abstract

The device 10 for cutting mitres includes a first side wall 12 and a second, opposing side wall 14. The side walls are spaced apart by a base member 20. An adjustment means is used to vary the distance between the side walls via portions 22, 24 slidably mounted on guide member 30. The device may be a mitre box or an accessory for a mitre box. A second adjustment means may be provided to vary the height of the first side wall via portions 16, 18 slidably coupled by guide member 32. The device may additionally be used in a method of cutting a material including the steps of locating material within a mitre box at a desired axial location, clamping the material with the mitre device which is laterally connected to the mitre box, and cutting.

Description

1 Adjustable Holding Device 3 The present invention relates to adjustable

holding 4 devices for assisting in the cutting of an item. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention 6 relates to mitre devices for cutting coving material 7 and the like.

9 Many materials, such as those attached to an interior or exterior wall of buildings, require to 11 be cut to length. They may also require to be cut at 12 an angle, such as 450, so that the material forms a 13 continuous line even when it is attached to walls 14 which are perpendicular to each other. Such materials include coving, dado rails and picture 16 rails.

18 It is known to provide a mitre box which has two 19 opposing side walls connected at the bottom of each side wall by an integral base plate. Typically, the 21 mitre box comprises a U-shaped channel within which 22 a length of the material can be located. The side 1 walls have cut lines arranged either normal or at an 2 oblique angle, such as 45 , to the axis of the 3 material. A tool, such as a saw, can be located in 4 these cut lines for accurate cutting of the material.

7 Although these mitre boxes are supplied in a range 8 of different sizes, they are all integral units such 9 that the distance between the opposing side walls cannot be adjusted. This causes problems when a 11 length of material is to be cut which has a width 12 which is significantly shorter than the distance 13 between the side walls. Since the material is not 14 restrained along one of its longitudinal edges, the material is free to either twist or bend within the 16 mitre box. This can lead to an inaccurate cut and, 17 consequently, difficulty in joining two pieces of 18 the material.

According to a first aspect of the present invention 21 there is provided a mitre device having: 22 first and second opposing side walls which are 23 spaced apart by a base member; and 24 first adjustment means for varying the distance between the first and second side walls.

27 Preferably the device is a mitre box.

28 Alternatively, the device may be an accessory for a 29 mitre box. The device may include a clamp member for connecting to a mitre box. Alternatively, the 31 device may be an insert for a mitre box.

1 Preferably the first adjustment means is provided at 2 the base member. Preferably the base member 3 comprises a first and second portion, one or both of 4 the first ana second portions being slideably mounted on one or more guide members to provide the 6 adjustment means. Preferably one or both of the 7 first and second portions includes an aperture to 8 receive the guide member. Preferably two guide 9 members are provided. Preferably each guide member comprises a cylindrical shaft.

12 Preferably the first adjustment means includes first 13 locking means for fixing the distance between the 14 first and second side walls. Preferably the device includes first releasing means for releasing the 16 first locking means.

18 Preferably the device includes clamping means for 19 clamping a material to be cut. Preferably the first adjustment means provides the clamping means.

22 Preferably the first locking means comprises a 23 locking member receivable within a plurality of 24 recesses such that the distance between the first and second side walls may be varied in discrete 26 steps. Alternatively, the first locking means may 27 be adapted to engage with the guide member at any 28 position along its length to provide continuous 29 variation of the distance between the first and second side walls.

1 The device may include a plurality of cut lines on 2 the second side wall which correspond to a 3 particular cut line on the first side wall. This 4 allows alignment between the cut line on the first side wall and a corresponding cut line on the second 6 side wall when the distance between the two side 7 walls is adjusted.

9 Preferably indicating means are provided to indicate the distance between the first and second side 11 walls. Preferably the indicating means comprises 12 markings provided at the guide member. Preferably 13 indicating means are provided at the plurality of 14 cut lines on the second side wall. Preferably indicating means are provided at the guide member 16 which correspond to the indicating means are 17 provided at the plurality of cut lines on the second 18 side wall.

Preferably the second side wall has a height which 21 is substantially less than that of the first side 22 wall.

24 Preferably the device includes second adjustment means for varying the height of the first side wall.

27 Preferably the first side wall comprises a first and 28 second portion, one or both of the first and second 29 portions being slideably mounted on one or more guide members to provide the second adjustment 31 means. Preferably one or both of the first and 32 second portions includes an aperture to receive the 1 guide member. Preferably two guide members are 2 provided. Preferably each guide member comprises a 3 cylindrical shaft.

Preferably the second adjustment means includes 6 second locking means for fixing the distance between 7 the first and second portions of the first side 8 wall. Preferably the device includes second 9 releasing means for releasing the second locking means.

12 According to a second aspect of the present 13 invention there is provided a mitre tool comprising: 14 a mitre box; a mitre device according to the first aspect of 16 the invention; and 17 connection means connecting the mitre box and 18 the mitre device.

Preferably the connection means is adapted to 21 laterally connect the mitre box to the mitre device.

22 The connection means may comprise a clamp provided 23 at the mitre device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention 26 there is provided a method of cutting a material 27 comprising the steps of: 28 locating the material within a mitre box at a 29 desired axial location; clamping the material using a mitre device 31 which is laterally connected to the mitre box; and 32 cutting the material.

2 Preferably the method includes clamping the material 3 such that it is restrained along a substantial 4 portion of at least one longitudinal edge of the material.

7 An embodiment of the present invention will now be 8 described, by way of example only, with reference to 9 the accompanying drawings, in which: 11 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mitre box

12 according to the prior art;

14 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mitre box of Fig. 1 including a coving material about to be cut; 17 Fig. 3 is an end view of the mitre box and coving 18 material of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a mitre device 21 according to a first embodiment of the present 22 invention; 24 Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mitre device of Fig. 4 with a mitre box connected; 27 Fig. 6 is a front view of the mitre device of Fig. 28 4; Figs. 7 (a) and (b) are sectional and non-sectional 31 end views of the mitre device of Fig. 4 respectively 1 with the adjustment means at an intermediate 2 position; 4 Figs. 8 (a) and (b) are sectional and non-sectional end views of the mitre device of Fig. 4 with the 6 adjustment means at an extended position; 8 Fig. 9 is a detailed view of a portion of the 9 adjustment means of the mitre device of Fig. 4; 11 Fig. 10 is a detailed view of the locking and 12 releasing means of the mitre device of Fig. 4; 14 Fig. 11 is a detailed view of the releasing means of the mitre device of Fig. 4; 17 Fig. 12 (a) and (b) are sectional and non-sectional 18 end views of a mitre device according to a second 19 aspect of the present invention with the adjustment means at an intermediate position; 22 Fig. 13 (a) and (b) are sectional and non-sectional 23 end views of the mitre device of Fig. 12 with the 24 adjustment means at an intermediate position; 26 Fig. 14 is a plan view of the mitre device of Fig. 27 12; 29 Fig. 15 is a detailed plan view of a portion of the mitre device of Fig. 12; and 1 Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the mitre device of 2 Fig. 12.

4 Pigs. 1 to 3 show a mitre box 100 according to the

prior art. The mitre box 100 has two opposing side

6 walls 102, 104 and an integral base plate 106.

7 These walls define a channel 108 within which a 8 material such as a coving material 120 can be 9 located. Cut lines 110 are provided at the side walls 102, 104 for guiding a saw 130 when cutting 11 the material. A gap 112 may exist between one 12 longitudinal edge 122 of the coving 120 and one of 13 the side walls 102. This can result in inaccurate 14 cutting due to twisting or bending of the coving 120.

17 Figs. 4 to 11 show a first embodiment of a mitre 18 device 10 according to the invention. The device 19 has a first 12 and second 14 side wall, the walls opposing each other, and a base member 20. The base 21 member 20 comprises a first 22 and second 24 22 portion. The first and second portions 22, 24 are 23 slideably mounted on a guide member in the form of a 24 cylindrical shaft 30. Sliding of the first and second portions 22, 24 alters the distance between 26 the first and second side walls 12, 14 and so 27 provides first adjustment means.

29 The height of the second side wall 14 is substantially less than that of the first side wall 31 12 and this provides improved access when locating 32 the coving 120 in the mitre device 10. However, it 1 is to be appreciated that the height of each of the 2 first and second side wails may be the same.

4 The first side wall 12 also comprises a first 16 and second 18 portion which are slideably coupled by a 6 guide member 32. This provides second adjustment 7 means for varying the height of the first side wall 8 12.

As shown in Fig. 9, the shaft 30 includes a number 11 of recesses 40 which are engageable with a locking 12 pin 42 and this is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The 13 recesses 40 are typically provided at 5 mm intervals 14 and therefore the distance between the first and second side walls 12, 14 can be varied in discrete 16 steps. The locking pin 42 is biased towards the 17 recesses 40 by two springs 44 to provide first 18 locking means. First releasing means, in the form 19 of a slideable button 46, is provided so that the locking pin 42 can be disengaged from one of the 21 recesses 40 by sliding a locking pin mounting 22 bracket 48 against the actions of the springs 44.

24 It is to be appreciated that other forms of adjustment means, locking means and releasing means 26 may be used.

28 The shaft 30 may include indicating means in the 29 form of distance markings to show the distance between the first and second side walls 12, 14.

1 The mitre device of the first embodiment of the 2 invention provides an accessory which may be used 3 with a mitre box 100, as shown in Fig. 5. The mitre 4 box 100 can be connected to an end of the mitre device 10 such as using a clamp (not shown) provided 6 at the mitre device 10. It will be appreciated that 7 other means for connecting the mitre box 100 and 8 mitre device 10 are possible.

The mitre device 10 includes apertures 50 through 11 which fasteners can be located for fastening the 12 device 10 to a work bench or the like.

14 In use, the coving 120 is placed upon the base member 20 between the first and second side walls 16 12, 14 and also extends into the channel defined by 17 the mitre box 100. Axially, the coving is located 18 such that the portion to be cut corresponds with the 19 relevant cut line. The distance between the first and second side walls 12, 14 can then be adjusted so 21 that there is substantially no gap between the 22 coving and the second side 14. The coving 120 is 23 therefore restrained along a significant portion of 24 both longitudinal edges. The coving 120 may now be accurately cut by guiding a saw within the cut lines 26 110 of the mitre box 100. It is also to be 27 appreciated that the coving 120 is effectively 28 clamped within the mitre device 10 and this inhibits 29 movement of the coving 120 during cutting.

1 Figs. 12 to 16 show a second embodiment of the 2 invention. Like components are given like reference 3 numerals.

In this embodiment, the first and second side walls 6 12, 14 each comprise a single portion. There is 7 therefore no second adjustment means. Also, the 8 first and second side walls 12, 14 are integral with 9 the first and second portions 22, 24 of the base member respectively. As before, the first and 11 second portions 22, 24 are slidably mounted to a 12 shaft 30 to provide first adjustment means.

14 The second embodiment allows the device 10 to be used as a mitre box, rather than an accessory for a 16 mitre box. Cut lines 50, 52 are provided as for a 17 conventional mitre box 100. This embodiment of the 18 invention also provides the advantage that the 19 coving is fully restrained such that the accuracy of cutting is improved.

22 In this embodiment, a plurality of cut lines 52 are 23 provided on the second side wall 14. Each of these 24 cut lines 52 correspond to a cut line 50 on the first side wall when the first and second side wall 26 are a particular distance apart. This allows 27 alignment between the cut line 50 on the first side 28 wall 12 and a corresponding cut line 52 on the 29 second side wall 14 when the distance between the two side walls is adjusted.

1 Indicating means is provided to assist in selecting 2 the correct one of the plurality of cut lines 52.

3 The indicating means comprises numbering 60 of each 4 of the plurality of cut lines. A corresponding number (not shown) is also provided at the guide 6 member 30.

8 In use, the coving 120 is placed upon the base 9 member 20 between the first and second side walls 12, 14. Axially, the coving is located such that 11 the portion to be cut corresponds with the relevant 12 cut lines 50, 52 of the device 10. The distance 13 between the first and second side walls 12, 14 is 14 then adjusted so that there is substantially no gap between the coving and the second side 14. The 16 coving 120 is therefore restrained along a 17 significant portion of both longitudinal edges.

19 The user reads the number given at the guide member 30. A saw is located within the cut line 50 on the 21 first side wall 12 and also the cut line 52 of the 22 second side wall 14 which has the same value as the 23 one presented on the guide member 30. The coving 24 120 may now be accurately cut.

26 Various modifications and improvements can be made 27 without departing from the scope of the present 28 invention.

Claims

1 CLAIMS 3 1. A mitre device comprising: 4 first and second opposing side

walls which are spaced apart by a base member; and 6 first adjustment means for varying the distance 7 between the first and second side walls.

9 2. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device is a mitre box.

12 3. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein 13 the device is an accessory for a mitre box.

4. A mitre device as claimed in any preceding 16 claim, wherein the first adjustment means is 17 provided at the base member.

19 5. A mitre device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base member comprises a first and 21 second portion, one or both of the first and second 22 portions being slideably mounted on one or more 23 guide members to provide the adjustment means.

6. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein 26 one or both of the first and second portions 27 includes an aperture to receive the guide member.

29 7. A mitre device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first adjustment means includes 31 first locking means for fixing the distance between 32 the first and second side walls.

2 8. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 7, including 3 first releasing means for releasing the first 4 locking means.

6 9. A mitre device as claimed in any preceding 7 claim, including clamping means for clamping a 8 material to be cut.

10. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein 11 the first adjustment means provides the clamping 12 means.

14 11. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein the first locking means comprises a locking 16 member receivable within a plurality of recesses 17 such that the distance between the first and second 18 side walls may be varied in discrete steps.

12. A mitre device as claimed in any preceding 21 claim, including a plurality of cut lines on the 22 second side wall which correspond to a particular 23 cut line on the first side wall.

13. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 12, 26 including first indicating means provided at the 27 guide member.

29 14. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 13, including second indicating means provided at the 31 plurality of cut lines on the second side wall.

1 15. A mitre device as claimed in any preceding 2 claim, wherein the second side wall has a height 3 which is substantially less than that of the first 4 side wall.

6 16. A mitre device as claimed in any preceding 7 claim, including second adjustment means for varying 8 the height of the first side wall.

17. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 16, wherein 11 the first side wall comprises a first and second 12 portion, one or both of the first and second 13 portions being slideably mounted on one or more 14 guide members to provide the second adjustment means.

17 18. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 17, wherein 18 the second adjustment means includes second locking 19 means for fixing the distance between the first and second portions of the first side wall.

22 19. A mitre device as claimed in Claim 18, wherein 23 the device includes second releasing means for 24 releasing the second locking means.

26 20. A mitre tool comprising: 27 a mitre box; 28 a mitre device according to any preceding 29 claim; and connection means connecting the mitre box and 31 the mitre device.

1 21. A mitre tool as claimed in Claim 20, wherein 2 the connection means is adapted to laterally connect 3 the mitre box to the mitre device.

22. A mitre tool as claimed in Claim 20 or 21, 6 wherein the connection means comprises a clamp 7 provided at the mitre device.

9 23. A method of cutting a material comprising the steps of: 11 locating the material within a mitre box at a 12 desired axial location; 13 clamping the material using a mitre device 14 which is laterally connected to the mitre box; and cutting the material.

17 24. A method as claimed in Claim 23, including 18 clamping the material such that it is restrained 19 along a substantial portion of at least one longitudinal edge of the material.