A CUTTING GUIDE

Abstract

A cutting guide comprising: a substantially planar plate with a lip arranged to extend orthogonally from the plate along at least one edge of the plate. Two or more slots are provided to guide a cutting blade. An entrance to at least one of the slots on an outer face of the lip tapers to guide the cutting blade into the slot and wherein a portion of an inner face of the lip that corresponds to the slot is shaped to define a corner in which material to be cut is positioned.

Claims

1. A cutting guide comprising: a substantially planar plate with a lip arranged to extend orthogonally from the plate along at least one edge of the plate; a plurality of slots is formed in the plate and extend through the lip for guiding a cutting blade; wherein an entrance to at least one of the slots on an outer face of the lip tapers to guide the cutting blade into the slot; and wherein a portion of an inner face of the lip is shaped to define a notch in which material to be cut is positioned.

2. The cutting guide according to claim 1 wherein the lip extends along two edges of the plate to define a 90° internal corner.

3. The cutting guide according to claim 1 wherein the notch on an inner face of the lip is 90° and the slot is arranged centrally to enable a 45° cut to be made.

4. The cutting guide according to claim 1 wherein an upper face of the plate has incremental markings to enable cutting of the material to pre-set lengths.

5. The cutting guide according to claim 1 wherein an upper face of the plate has incremental markings to enable cutting of the material to pre-set angles.

6. The cutting guide according to claim 1 wherein a first slot is of a first width and a second slot is of a second width.

7. The cutting guide according to claim 1 wherein a first slot is of a first length and a second slot is of a second length.

8. The cutting guide according to claim 1 including a securing means to secure the guide to a surface.

9. The cutting guide according to claim 8 wherein the securing means comprises a plurality of barbs extending from the lower face.

10. The cutting guide according to claim 8 wherein the plate includes securing holes that pass through the plate.

11. The cutting guide according to claim 1 wherein a lower face of the plate includes supporting ribs.

12. The cutting guide according to claim 1 wherein the height of the lip that extends from the top face of the plate is substantially the same height as the thickness of the plate.

13. The cutting guide according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the slots extends along the top face by a length that is greater than the height the lip extends from the top face.

14. A cutting tool includes the cutting guide according to claim 1 includes a handle.

15. (canceled)

16. The cutting tool according to claim 15 has six sides.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0034] FIG. 1A shows a top view of a first embodiment of the cutting guide;

[0035] FIG. 1B shows a cross section of the first embodiment of the cutting guide;

[0036] FIG. 10 shows a side profile of the first embodiment of the cutting guide;

[0037] FIG. 1D shows an isometric view of the first embodiment of the cutting guide

[0038] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the cutting guide;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the cutting guide;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a third embodiment of the cutting guide;

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the cutting guide shown in FIG. 4;

[0042] FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the cutting guide; and

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the cutting guide shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGS.

[0044] With reference to the embodiments shown in the figures there are shown four embodiments 99, 199, 299, 399 of the cutting guide.

[0045] Each guide has a planar plate 30 with a lip 40. The planar plate has six sides, having the shape of half an octagon. The main lip 40 is along the longest edge.

[0046] Two other edges 31 of the plate 30 extend perpendicular from the longest edge with the main lip 40, and two further sides 32 extend diagonally away from the perpendicular edges 31 to a short straight edge 33 that is parallel to the main lip 40 (see FIG. 1A).

[0047] In the first embodiment a second lip 45 extends part way along one of the perpendicular edges 31 (see FIG. 1A). The main lip 40 and second lip 45 join to define a 90° corner.

[0048] The lips 40, 45 extend orthogonally from the plate 30 creating an upstanding edge 30 against which items to be cut are positioned against.

[0049] One or more slots 8, 9 passes through the lip 40 and the plate 30. Slots are not shown passing through the second lip 45, however it is appreciated that slots may be provided on this edge.

[0050] An upper surface of the plate 30 has markings 20 for measurements associated with one or more slots 8, 9.

[0051] In the first, second and third embodiments, 99, 199, 299 the plate 30 has a lower face securing means 10 in the form of raised and lowered surface that defines barbs that are adapted to dig into the ground when placed on a soft surface such as grass or soil.

[0052] Preferably the cutting guides 99, 199, 299, 399 are formed from a single moulding made from robust synthetic plastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

[0053] In the first, second and third embodiments 99, 199, 299 the height of the lip 40 that extends from the upper surface of the plate 30 is substantially the same as the thickness of the plate 30.

[0054] In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lip 40 is more than the thickness of the plate 30.

[0055] In all embodiments shown, the slots extend through the lip 40 and through part of the plate 30. Each slot is longer than the height of the lip from the top face.

[0056] A handle 7 is provided by an elongate hole through the plate which is parallel to the lip 40. The handle 7 is provided adjacent to the upper shorter edge 33.

[0057] Two mounting holes 5 are provided through the plate 30. The mounting holes 5 provide 25 holes vertically through the plate 30, providing a means to engage a subordinate structure or surface of a subordinate structure, such as a bench or surface of a machine or to add clamps, clips etc.

[0058] The first embodiment 99 has 6 mounting holes that are arranged either side of the 30 handle 7. The second, third and fourth embodiments 199, 299, 399 each have two mounting holes 5.

[0059] The barbs 10 shown in the first, second and third embodiments 99, 199, 299 are arranged to extend downwards from outer edges of the plate. The barbs 10 are 35 substantially triangular portions that have a tip that engages with and digs into the ground in order to fix the guide in position.

[0060] The first embodiment 99 has two barbs 10 on the longest edge, three barbs on each perpendicular edge 31, two barbs on each diagonal edge 32 and one barb on the edge 33 parallel to the longest edge with the main lip 40.

[0061] The first embodiment 99 has two barbs 10 on the longest edge, three barbs on each perpendicular edge, two barbs on each diagonal edge and one barb on the edge parallel to the longest edge.

[0062] The second embodiment 199 has two barbs 10 on the longest edge, three barbs on each perpendicular edge, four barbs on each diagonal edge and one barb on the edge parallel to the longest edge. With reference to the second embodiment the embodiment comprises barbs with flattened points, which may be envisaged to be more secure on a hard subordinate surface.

[0063] The third embodiment 299 has two barbs 10 on the longest edge, two barbs on each perpendicular edge, three barbs on each diagonal edge and one barb on the edge parallel to the longest edge.

[0064] The fourth embodiment 399 has no barbs on the lower surface of the plate.

[0065] In all embodiments the main lip 40 has a central slot 8, and two side slots 9, dividing the longest edge into four sections. The sections to either side of the central slot 8 each have a single barb 10. The outer sections do not have a barb 10.

[0066] With reference to the first embodiment 99 (see FIG. 1A) slots 9A and 8 are of the same length and slot 9B is shorter. The shorter slot 9B has a plurality of measurements 20 that assist with positioning the item to be cut so that it can be cut to a desired length.

[0067] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 7 the slots 8, 9 extend along the plate 2, 3. The central slot 8 has a greater depth 2 than the side slots 9 that have a smaller depth 3.

[0068] On a lower surface of the first, second and third embodiments 99, 199, 299 are ribs 12 to strengthen the plate 30.

[0069] In the second embodiment (see FIG. 3) the ribs are connected to triangular braces 11. The braced ribs are provided adjacent to the slots 18 and to the barbs 10.

[0070] Ribs 12 connect to the mounting holes 15 and handle 17. Ribs 12 and/or triangular braces 12 are connected to cylindrical posts 19 that extend vertically.

[0071] The central slot 8 has side walls on an inner and outer face of the lip that are at 45° in relation to the slot. When viewed from above (see FIG. 1A) the lip walls are opposed triangular points facing each other to either side of the slot. These angled walls define a tapered entrance 8A on the outer face of the lip 40A and a notch 80 on an inner face of the lip 40B that enables angled cuts to be accomplished at the central slot.

[0072] In the second and third embodiments 199, 299 a semicircle of markings 20 is arranged to extend around the slots 8, 9 from the lip 40, with incremental markings, including at 50° s and 90° s degrees to the lip.

[0073] With reference to the fourth embodiment the plate 30 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 comprises a thin solid plate 30, which is better suited to placement on a flat subordinate surface such as a work bench. The mounting holes 5 may be used to secure the embodiment flat onto a subordinate surface such as a wooden board.

[0074] The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.