FOLDABLE TABLE SAW EXTENSION ASSEMBLY
20210154755 · 2021-05-27
Inventors
Cpc classification
B23D45/06
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
Abstract
A table saw apparatus is disclosed that includes a main table saw base. A motorized rotatable blade can be disposed on the main table saw base. The table saw apparatus can include a table saw extension assembly. The table saw extension assembly can include at least one extension member, such as an extension rail, pivotally connected to the main table saw base, the at least one extension rail movable to an extended position such that the at least one extension rail extends laterally from the main table saw base, and at least one support leg pivotally connected to the at least one extension rail. The extension assembly disclosed can be retrofitted to existing table saws to provide a foldable laterally extending support assembly for the table saw.
Claims
1. A table saw apparatus comprising: a main table saw base; a motorized rotatable blade disposed on the main table saw base; and a table saw extension assembly including: at least one extension rail pivotally connected to the main table saw base, the at least one extension rail movable to an extended position such that the at least one extension rail extends laterally from the main table saw base; and at least one support leg pivotally connected to the at least one extension rail.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the rotatable blade rotates on the main table saw base along a rotational plane; the main table saw base includes two side rails extending in a lateral direction transverse to the rotational plane of the rotatable blade on opposing sides of the motorized saw blade; and the table saw extension assembly includes: two extension rails, each extension rail pivotally connected to a corresponding side rail of the main table saw base; and two support legs, each support leg pivotally connected to a corresponding extension rail.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the table saw extension assembly further comprises a cross support member extending between the two extension rails.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the extension rails includes a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end pivotally connected to the corresponding side rail, each of the support legs pivotally connected to the distal end of the corresponding extension rail.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the table saw extension assembly further comprises an extension table insert positionable between the two extension rails.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising one or more support brackets connected to the side rails and/or the extension rails, the extension table insert positionable on the one or more support brackets when the table insert is positioned between the two extension rails.
7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein when the extension rails are moved to the extended position, the extension rails have a flush orientation with corresponding side rails and the support legs are pivotable on corresponding extension rails to a vertical orientation.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the extension rails and the side rails each have a top surface, the top surfaces of corresponding extension rails and side rails having the flush orientation when the extension rails are in the extended position; and the apparatus further comprises a measuring element extending across the top surfaces of at least one side rail and the corresponding extension rail when the extension rail is in the extended position.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one support leg is a telescoping support leg including: a proximal support leg portion pivotally connected to the at least one extension rail; and a telescoping support leg portion translatable on the proximal support leg portion.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the support leg further comprises an adjustable foot member threadingly engaged with the telescoping support leg portion.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one extension rail includes a channel defined along a length of the extension rail; and the at least one support leg can be rotated relative to the at least one extension rail and be receivable in the channel of the at least one extension rail.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the main table saw base includes at least one side rail extending laterally on the main table saw base, the at least one extension rail pivotally connected to at least one side rail; when the at least one support leg is receivable in the channel of the at least one extension rail, the at least one extension rail can be rotated to abut against the at least one side rail.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a latch on the at least one extension rail operable to secure the at least one extension rail to the at least one side rail.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a magnet on the at least one extension rail for securing the at least one support leg to the at least one extension rail.
15. A table saw apparatus comprising: a main table saw base including: an upper work table; a motorized rotatable blade disposed on the main table saw base and extending through the upper work table, the rotatable blade rotating along a rotational plane; and a first side rail and a second side rail extending in a direction transverse to the rotational plane adjacent opposing edges of the upper work table, the first side rail having a first side rail end and the second side rail having a second side rail end; and a table saw extension assembly including: a first extension rail having a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end pivotally connected to the first end of the first side rail; a second extension rail having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end pivotally connected to the second end of the second side rail; a first support leg pivotally connected to the first distal end of the first extension rail; and a second support leg pivotally connected to the second distal end of the second extension rail.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: the first and second extension rails movable to an extended position wherein the first and second extension rails are collinear with the first and second side rails respectively; a cross support member extending between the first and second extension rails; and a table insert positionable between the first and second extension rails when the first and second extension rails are in the extended position with the table insert supported by the cross support member.
17. An extension assembly apparatus for a table saw having a motorized rotatable blade and first and second side rails extending on opposing sides of the rotatable blade in a lateral direction, the extension assembly apparatus comprising: a first extension rail having a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end pivotally connectable to the first side rail; a second extension rail having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end pivotally connectable to the second side rail, wherein the first and second extension rails are movable to an extended position such that the first and second extension rails are in a flush orientation with the first and second side rails respectively; a first support leg pivotally connected to the first distal end of the first extension rail; a second support leg pivotally connected to the second distal end of the second extension rail; and a cross support member extending between the first and second extension rails.
18. The extension assembly apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a hinge assembly on the proximal end of each extension rail for pivotally connecting the proximal end of each extension rail to a corresponding side rail of the table saw.
19. The extension assembly apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a table insert positionable between the first and second extension rails, the cross support member supporting the table insert when the first and second extension rails are pivotally connected to the first and second side rails of the table saw respectively and the first and second extension rails are in the extended position.
20. The extension assembly of claim 17, wherein: the first extension rail includes a first channel and the first support leg can be receivable in the first channel; and the second extension rail includes a second channel and the second support leg can be receivable in the second channel.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.
[0030] In the drawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, for the sake of clarity. In addition, positional terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “side,” “top,” “bottom,” etc. refer to the apparatus when in the orientation shown in the drawing. A person of skill in the art will recognize that the apparatus can assume different orientations when in use.
[0031] As shown in
[0032] The table saw apparatus 10 can include a table saw extension assembly 20. The table saw extension assembly 20 can include at least one extension rail 22 pivotally connected to the main table saw base 12, the at least one extension rail 22 movable to an extended position (as shown in
[0033] From the stored position shown in
[0034] In some embodiments, the rotatable blade 18 rotates on the main table saw base 12 along a rotational plane 26. The main table saw base 12 include a first side rail 28 and a second side rail 30, each side rail 28 and 30 extending in a lateral direction transverse to the rotational plane 26 of the rotatable blade 18 on opposing sides of the motorized rotatable blade 18, or along opposing edges of the upper work table 14. In
[0035] Referring now to
[0036] In some embodiments, the table saw extension assembly 20 can include a cross support member 36 extending between the two extension rails 28 and 30. The cross support member 36 can provide stability between the two extension rails 22 and 32 when the extension rails 22, 32 and the extension assembly 20 are in the extended position and during movement of the extension assembly 20 between the extended and a stored or lowered position.
[0037] The table saw extension assembly 20 can further include an extension table insert 40 positionable between the two extension rails 22 and 32, as shown in
[0038] In some embodiments, the apparatus 10 can further include a plurality of table insert support brackets 42 positioned to support the table insert 40 in a flush orientation with the upper work table 14. The table insert support brackets 42 can be connected or formed on one or more of the upper work table 14, the side rails 28, 30, the rail extensions 22 and 32, and/or the cross support member 36 in various embodiments. In some embodiments, as shown in
[0039] In some embodiments, the table insert 40 can simply rest or be placed on the table insert support brackets 42, such that when it is desired for the extension table assembly 20 to be returned to the stored position, the table insert 40 can quickly and conveniently be lifted upward and removed from the support brackets 42. The support legs 24 and 34 and the extension rails 22 and 32 can then be folded as described herein to return the extension assembly to the storage position shown in
[0040] Referring now to
[0041] Referring now to
[0042] Referring now to
[0043] In some embodiments, each support leg 24 and 34 can also include an adjustable foot 68 threadingly engaged with the telescoping support leg portion 62. As such, in some embodiments, the height or length of the support legs 24 and 34 can be coarsely adjusted via the telescoping support leg portion 62 and also finely adjusted via the adjustable foot 68. Such adjustment mechanisms on the support legs 24 and 34 can help balance support legs 24 and 34 and the extension assembly 20 when ground or floor surfaces are uneven.
[0044] As shown in
[0045] In some embodiments, the extension rail 22 can include a latch 72 on the at least one extension rail 22 operable to secure the at least one extension rail 22 to the at least one side rail 28. In some embodiments, the lower end of the side rail 28 can include a latch aperture 74 that can receive a portion of the latch 72 to secure the extension rail 22 to the side rail 28. In some embodiments, the latch 72 can be a spring biased latch member that can be pivotally connected to the extension rail 22 and biased in an engagement position via a torsion spring 76 or any suitable biasing mechanism. The latch 72 can include an inclined engagement surface 78 that can be oriented to engage the side rail 28 as the extension rail 22 is pivoted up toward the side rail 28. The inclined engagement surface 78 can force the latch 72 to pivot on the extension rail 22 until the latch 72 clears the side rail 28, wherein the latch 72 is biased back toward the engagement position to engage the latch 72 with the side rail 28 and secure the extension rail 22 to the side rail 28. A release tab 80 on the latch 72 can be manually depressed to pivot the latch 72 on the extension rail 22 and release the extension rail 22 from the side rail 28 when the operator desires to use the extension assembly 20. Any suitable securing mechanism can be utilized to secure the extension rail 22 to the side rail 28, including but not limited to, magnets, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, straps, etc.
[0046] Referring again to
[0047] In some embodiments, side rails 28 and 30 and upper work table 14 can extend beyond the base housing 16 of the main table saw base 12. In such embodiments, a cross support member 36 can be positioned along the first and second extension rails 22 and 32 such that the distance between the cross support member 36 to the proximal ends 22a and 32a of the extension rails 22 and 32 is less than the distance which the side rails 28 and 30 extend past the base housing 16. As such, when the extension rails 22 and 32 are pivoted or folded to a position beneath the side rails 28 and 30 respectively, the cross support member 36 does not interfere with the base housing 16.
[0048] While
[0049] In some embodiments, the support legs 24 and 34 can be securable to corresponding extension rails 22 and 32 to maintain the support legs 24 and 34 in a folded or stored position with respect to corresponding extension rails 22 and 32. As shown in
[0050] Referring again to
[0051] In some embodiments, the extension assembly apparatus 20 can further include a hinge assembly 90 on the proximal end 22a and 32a of each extension rail 22 and 32 for pivotally connecting the proximal end 22a and 32a of each extension rail 22 and 32 to a corresponding side rail 28 and 30 of the table saw 10. The hinge assembly 90 can include pivotally connected flanges 92, one flange fixedly connected to the extension rail 22 and the other flange fixedly connectable to the corresponding side rail 28 via any suitable fastening mechanism, including but limited to, welding, adhesion, bolting, screwing, riveting, etc.
[0052] The extension assembly apparatus 20 can further include a table insert 40 positionable between the first and second extension rails 22 and 32, the cross support member 36 supporting the table insert 40 when the first and second extension rails are pivotally connected to the first and second side rails 28 and 30 of the table saw 10 respectively and the first and second extension rails 22 and 32 are in the extended position. The table insert 40 can rest on the cross support member 36 directly or can be rest on support brackets extending from the cross support member 36.
[0053] In some embodiments, the first extension rail 22 can include a first channel 70 and the first support leg 24 can be receivable in the first channel 70, and the second extension rail 32 can include a second channel 82 and the second support leg 34 can be receivable in the second channel 82.
[0054] The table saw apparatuses and extension assemblies disclosed herein can help provide the ability to extend the side rails 28 and 30 on a table saw 10 or a surface that supports the fence assembly 48 as it slides down the extension rails 22 and 32. This provides added versatility for use in different environments. The table saw apparatus 10 can have extension rails 22 and 32 which can be pivotally connected to and thus foldable with respect to a main table saw base 12. The extension rails 22 and 32 can be folded out, and support legs 24 and 34 can be pivotally connected to corresponding extension rails 22 and 32 and can extend downward to support the extension rails 22 and 32 and a table insert 40 positioned between the extension rails 22 and 32 when the extension rails 22 and 32 are in an extended position. When fully extended, extension rails 22 and 32 can be inline and level with the top of the main table saw side rails 28 and 30 and the support legs 24 and 34 can be oriented at a 90-degree angle with respect to the extension rails 22 and 32.
[0055] Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Foldable Table Saw Extension Assembly, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention.