WO2000035641A1

WO2000035641A1 - Board cutting apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2000035641A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/004187
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Andrew Walker
Original assignee: Paul Andrew Walker
Priority date: 1998-12-16
Filing date: 1999-12-16
Publication date: 2000-06-22
Also published as: AU1788900A

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for cutting boards (19) particularly plasterboard. A locating means (12) and a cutting device (20) are mounted on an elongate graduated spacer bar (11, 27). The locating member (12) forms a T-shape with the spacer bar (11) and has a groove (17) in which the edge (18) of the board (19) is received. At least one of the locating means (12) and the cutting device (20) is slidable on the spacer bar (11) to vary the distance between a cutting blade (25) and the edge (18) of the board (19), and can be locked in position using screws (15, 24). For circular cuts (38) a pivot member (30) having a pivot spike (35) provides the locating means (12) on the spacer bar (11).

Description

BOARD CUTTING APPARATUS

This invention relates to board cutting apparatus, and in particular to apparatus for the cutting of boards such as are used in the construction industry.

Builders regularly are required to cut boards such as plasterboard during the construction or refurbishment of properties. These boards tend to be supplied in large panels of a size such that, to cut a panel to a smaller width or length, for example, two people are required to hold a long straight edge at its ends in order that a cutting device can be drawn along the straight edge. This is inconvenient and time consuming. In addition, the making of curved cuts requires a completely different technique and different equipment.

It is an object of the invention to provide board cutting apparatus that can be readily used by one person. It is a supplementary object to provides board cutting apparatus that can be easily modified for the making of curved cuts.

The invention provides a board cutting apparatus comprising a spacer bar, locating means attached to the spacer bar, the locating means being adapted to contact a board, and a cutting device mounted on the spacer bar, at least one of the locating means and the cutting device being movable along the spacer bar so as to vary the spacing between the cutting device and the locating means.

The locating means may comprise an attachment member which is adapted to receive the edge of a board. The attachment member may extend laterally of the spacer bar. The locating means may comprise a pivot member adapted to be mounted on the spacer bar.

A board cutting apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise an elongate spacer bar, an elongate attachment member attached to the spacer bar and extending laterally thereof, the attachment member being adapted to receive the edge of a board, and a cutting device mounted on the spacer bar, at least one of the attachment member and the cutting device being movable along the spacer bar so as to vary the spacing between the cutting device and the attachment member.

The attachment member may have a board edge receiving groove extending longitudinally thereof along a face extending transversely of the spacer bar. The spacer bar may be disposed to extend laterally of the attachment member substantially centrally thereof. Preferably the spacer bar and the attachment member extend substantially at right angles to each other. The spacer bar may have measurement markings thereon. Preferably the cutting devices is movable along the spacer bar, in which case the spacer bar may pass through an aperture in the cutting device. The aperture in the cutting device may have a cross-section corresponding with that of the spacer bar. The cutting device may be provided with fastening means operable to locate it in position on the spacer bar. Alternatively or additionally, the attachment member may be movable along the spacer bar, and the spacer bar may pass through an aperture in the attachment member. The aperture in the attachment member may have a cross-section corresponding with that of the spacer bar. The attachment member may be provided with fastening means operable to locate it in position on the spacer bar.

The spacer bar may be rectangular, and preferably square, in cross-section. The spacer bar may be substantially 25mm square. The or each fastening means may comprise a screw mounted in the respective cutting device or attachment member and extending into the respective aperture therein.

The cutting device may comprise a cutter housing and a cutting blade mounted thereon to protrude beneath an underside thereof. The cutting blade may be detachably secured to the cutter housing.

The cutting blade may protrude between 1.5mm and 5mm.

The cutting device may be a cutting blade extending from the spacer bar.

The cutting device may have a handle thereon, and the attachment member may have a handle thereon. The or each handle may be formed on the respective fastening means.

The board cutting apparatus may comprise a pivot member adapted to be mounted on the spacer bar. The pivot member may comprise a pivot housing having a pivot spike depending from an underside thereof. The pivot member may have an aperture having a cross-section corresponding with that of the spacer bar. The pivot member may be provided with fastening means operable to secure it in position on the spacer bar, and the pivot member locating means may comprise a screw mounted in the pivot member and protruding into the aperture therein. The pivot member may have a handle thereon, and the pivot member handle may be formed on the pivot member fastening means .

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a board cutting apparatus in use in cutting a parallel straight edge board, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 adapted for making a circular cut .

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is show a board cutting apparatus 10 having a spacer bar 11 having a square cross- section, for example 25m square. Mounted on the spacer bar 11, near one end thereof, is an elongate attachment member 12. The attachment member 12 has a square section aperture 13 in which the spacer bar 11 is a sliding fit. A handle 14 is fitted to the attachment member 12 and serves to turn a fastening screw 15 which extends through the attachment member 12 into the aperture 13 to securely locate the attachment member in any desired position along the spacer bar 11. The aperture 13 is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the attachment member 12 so that the attachment member 12 and spacer bar 11 extend substantially at right angles to each other. Also the aperture 13 is substantially centrally disposed longitudinally of the attachment member 12 so that the attachment member 12 and the spacer bar 11 are formed in a T-shape. In one of the faces 15 which extends longitudinally of the attachment member 12 and transversely of the spacer bar 11 is a groove 17 into which an edge 18 of a board 19 (shown in broken lines) is received. This serves to locate the board cutting apparatus 10 relative to the edge 18 and allow sliding movement of the cutting apparatus 10 parallel to that edge 18.

Mounted on the spacer bar 11, spaced from the attachment member 12, is a cutting device 20. The cutting device 20 comprises a housing 21 which has an aperture 22 of corresponding shape and dimensions to aperture 13 so that the housing 21 is a sliding fit on the spacer bar 11. A handle 23 and fastening screw 24, corresponding with handle 14 and fastening screw 15 on the attachment member 12, are fitted to the housing 21 to locate the cutting device 20 on the spacer bar 11. Detachably secured to the housing 21 is a cutting blade 25 which extends below the undersurface 26 of the housing 21 by between 1.5mm and 5mm. On the spacer bar 11 are measurement markings 27 to facilitate determination of the spacing of the cutting blade 25 from the edge 18 of the board 19.

In the use, one or both of the cutting device 20 and the attachment member 12 are moved along the spacer bar 11 to positions giving the required spacing of the cutting blade 25 from the base of the groove 17. The board cutting apparatus 10 is then placed on the board 19 with the edge 18 received in the groove 17, and the blade 25 resting on the board 19. By gripping the handle 14, 23, the board cutting apparatus 10 may be moved in a direction parallel with the edge 18 to effect a cut 28. In the case of plasterboard, the cut 28 will penetrate the outer covering on the upper surface so that the board 19 can be 'snapped' along the line of the cut 28 and a simple cutting of the outer covering on the bottom surface with a knife will complete the cutting of the board 19. Alternatively, the board 19 could be turned over a second cut 28 made in the opposite surface before 'snapping' the board 19.

Referring now to Fig. 2 there is shown the board cutting apparatus 10 adapted to make circular cuts. In this configuration, the attachment member 12 has been removed from the spacer bar and replaced by a pivot member 30. The pivot member 30 comprises a housing 31 which has an aperture 32 of corresponding shape and dimensions to aperture 13 so that the housing 31 is a sliding fit on the spacer bar 11. A handle 33 and fastening screw 34, corresponding with handle 14 and fastening screw 15 on the attachment member 12, are fitted to the housing 31 to locate the pivot member 30 on the spacer bar 11. Secured to the housing 31 is a pivot spike 35 which extends below the undersurface 36 of the housing 31.

In use, one or both of the cutting device 20 and the pivot member 30 are moved along the spacer bar 11 to positions giving the required spacing of the cutting blade 25 from the pivot spike 35. The board cutting apparatus 10 is then placed on the board 19 with the pivot spike 35 inserted into the board 19 at the desired pivot point 37, and the blade 25 resting on the board 19. By gripping the handles 33, 23, the board cutting apparatus 10 may be rotated about the pivot point 37 to effect a circular cut 38. To produce an arch, two straight cuts 28, performed as described with respect to Fig. 1 are combined with a semi-circular cut 38 as described with respect to Fig. 2. Alternative embodiments of board cutting apparatus will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. For example, the spacer bar 11 may be of other cross-sections such as triangular or T-shaped, or may be circular with a flat, groove or rib extending along the spacer bar 11, with the apertures 13, 22 being of corresponding cross- section. Instead, of the apertures 13, 22, T-shaped or dovetail slots may be provided in the attachment member 12, the cutter housing 21 and the pivot housing 31. If either the attachment member 12 or the cutting device 20 is not movable along the spacer bar 11, it may be formed integrally therewith. Particularly if either the attachment member 12 or the cutting device 20 is not movable along the spacer bar 11, the markings 27 on the spacer bar 11 may include numerals to indicate the distance of the cutter blade 25 from the edge 18 of the board 19 or the pivot point 37. Instead of the straight blade 25 illustrated fixedly secured to the cutter housing 21, a circular blade may be rotatably mounted on the cutter housing 21 so as to rotate as the board cutting apparatus 20 is moved over the surface of the board 19. The handles 14, 23 may be separate from the locating screws 15, 24 which would then have their own handling portions, e.g. knurled or winged heads. Instead of the locating screws 15, 24 the attachment member 12 and housing 21 may be provided with protrusions into the apertures 13, 22 which engage recesses in the spacer bar 11 to locate the attachment member 12 and housing 21 on the spacer bar 11, the recesses having predetermined spacings to determine the spacing of the cutter 25 and the edge 18 or pivot point 37. Such protrusions may be resiliently biased into the apertures 13, 22. By means of the invention, the cutting of boards as used in the construction industry, such as plaster board, is easily and conveniently performed by one person. The cutting can be performed accurately and repeatably. Strips from 18mm to 600mm in width can be readily cut from full-size boards of 0.5mm to 25mm in thickness. In addition, circles from 37mm to 1500mm diameter can also be cut easily and quickly, as well as arches of similar widths.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s) . The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A board cutting apparatus comprising a spacer bar, locating means mounted on the spacer bar, the locating means being adapted to contact a board, and a cutting device mounted on the spacer bar, at least one of the locating means and the cutting device being movable along the spacer bar so as to vary the spacing between the cutting device and the locating means.

2. A board cutting apparatus according to Claim 31, wherein the locating means comprises an attachment member being adapted to receive the edge of a board.

3. A board cutting apparatus according to Claim 32, wherein the attachment member extends laterally of the spacer bar.

4. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an elongate spacer bar, an elongate attachment member attached to the spacer bar and extending laterally thereof, the attachment member being adapted to receive the edge of a board, and a cutting device mounted on the spacer bar, at least one of the attachment member and the cutting device being movable along the space bar so as to vary the spacing between the cutting device and the attachment member.

5. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein the attachment member has a board edge receiving grove extending longitudinally thereof along a face extending transversely of the spacer bar. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein the spacer bar is disposed to extend laterally of the attachment member substantially centrally thereof.

A board cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein the spacer bar and the attachment member extend substantially at right angles to each other.

!. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer bar has measurement markings thereon.

9. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting device is movable along the spacer bar.

10. A board cutting apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the spacer bar passes through an aperture in the cutting device.

11. A board cutting apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein the aperture in the cutting device has a cross-section corresponding with that of the spacer bar.

12. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 9 -11, wherein, the cutting device is provided with fastening means operable to locate it in position on the spacer bar.

13. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locating means is movable along the spacer bar.

14. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 10 or 32, wherein the spacer bar passes through an aperture in the locating means.

15. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the aperture in the locating means has a cross-section corresponding with that of the spacer bar.

16. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 13-15, wherein the locating means is provided with fastening means operable to locate it in position on the space bar.

17. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer bar is rectangular in cross-section.

18. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the spacer bar is square in cross-section.

19. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the spacer bar is substantially 25mm square.

20. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 16, wherein the fastening means comprises a screw mounted in the respective cutting device or locating means and extending into the respective aperture therein.

21. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting device comprises a cutter housing and a cutting blade mounted thereon to protrude beneath an underside thereof.

22. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the cutting blade is detachably secured to the cutter housing.

23. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 1-20, wherein the cutting device is a cutting blade extending from the spacer bar.

24. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 21, 22 or 23, wherein the cutting blade protrudes between 1.5mm and 3mm.

25. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 1-22, or 24, wherein the cutting device has a handle thereon.

26. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locating means has a handle thereon.

27. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 25 or claim 26 when dependent on claim 20, wherein the handle is formed on the respective fastening means .

28. A board cutting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising a pivot member adapted to be mounted on the spacer bar.

29. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locating means comprising a pivot member adapted to be mounted on the spacer bar.

30. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the pivot member comprises a pivot housing having a pivot spike depending from an underside thereof .

31. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 28, 29 or claim 30, wherein the pivot member has an aperture therein having a cross-section corresponding with that of the spacer bar.

32. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the pivot member is provided with fastening means operable to secure it in position on the spacer bar.

33. A board cutting apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the pivot member fastening means comprises a screw mounted in the pivot member and protruding into the aperture therein.

34. A board cutting apparatus to claim 32 or claim 33, wherein the pivot member has a handle thereon.

35. A board cutting apparatus to claim 34, wherein the pivot member handle is formed on the pivot member fastening means.

6. A board cutting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings .