AIR REST BUTTON

Abstract

An air rest button system comprising a body element and a plunger element configured to accept a rest button. The plunger element generally is configured to be inserted into a base in the top of the body element. The plunger element in turn has a bore or hole therein configured to receiving an air rest button, which may be substituted for other air rest buttons, facilitating the modularity of the present system.

Claims

1. An air rest button system comprising: a body element comprising a top side having axial body bore disposed therein and an opposing bottom side having an axial channel disposed therein; and a plunger element sized and shaped to slide into said axial body bore, said plunger element comprising a top side having an axial plunger bore disposed therein and configured to accept a rest button.

2. The air rest button system of claim 1, further comprising an air supply in fluid communication with said axial channel.

3. The air rest button system of claim 2, further comprising a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said air supply.

4. The air rest button system of claim 1, wherein said axial body bore is generally cylindrical.

5. The air rest button system of claim 1, where said plunger element is generally cylindrical.

6. The air rest button system of claim 1, wherein said top side of said body element further comprises a rim circumscribing said axial body bore and protruding radially towards a center axis thereof.

7. The air rest button system of claim 6, further comprising a gasket sized and shaped for disposition in said axial body bore above the top of said plunger element and below the underside of said rim.

8. The air rest button system of claim 7, wherein said plunger element comprises a first radius at about a midpoint between said bottom and said top of said plunger element, and a second radius at said top of said plunger element, said second radius being smaller than said first radius and configured to accommodate said gasket disposed between said plunger element and said bore.

9. The air rest button system of claim 6, wherein the radius of said rim is less than the radius of said axial body bore.

10. A method for converting a rest button to an air rest button for holding workpiece for machining: providing a rest button; providing a body element comprising a top side having axial body bore disposed therein and an opposing bottom side having an axial channel disposed therein; providing a plunger element sized and shaped to slide into said axial body bore, said plunger element comprising a top side having an axial plunger bore disposed therein and configured to accept said rest button; installing said body element in a machining base; installing said plunger element in said installed axial body bore; installing said rest button in said installed axial plunger bore; and using said installed rest button, holding a workpiece for machining.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing an air supply in fluid communication with said axial channel; providing a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said air supply; providing a vent in said axial body bore; with said air supply, supplying air to said channel from an air source; said supplied air flowing from said channel to said axial bore and from said axial bore to the atmosphere through said vent; in said holding step, depressing said plunger element to inhibit air flow to said vent; accumulating pressure in said air supply; and with said pressure sensor, detecting said accumulated air pressure.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said top side of said body element further comprises a rim circumscribing said axial body bore and protruding radially towards a center axis thereof;

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing a gasket; and after said installing said plunger step, installing said gasket above the top of said installed plunger element and below the underside of said rim.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said plunger element comprises a first radius at about a midpoint between said bottom and said top of said plunger element, and a second radius at said top of said plunger element, said second radius being smaller than said first radius and configured to accommodate said gasket disposed between said plunger element and said bore.

15. A system for interchangeably using a plurality of rest buttons with a single air rest button system comprising: a body element comprising a top side having axial body bore disposed therein and an opposing bottom side having an axial channel disposed therein; a first plunger element sized and shaped to slide into said axial body bore, said first plunger element comprising a top side having an axial plunger bore disposed therein configured to accept a rest button having a threaded attaching element having a first thread configuration; and a second plunger element sized and shaped to slide into said axial body bore, said second plunger element comprising a top side having a second axial plunger bore disposed therein configured to accept a rest button having a threaded attaching element having a second thread configuration different from said first thread configuration.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said top side of said body element further comprises a rim circumscribing said axial body bore and protruding radially towards a center axis thereof.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a gasket sized and shaped for disposition in said axial body bore above the top of said first plunger element or said second plunger element, and below the underside of said rim.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said first plunger element and said second plunger element each comprise a first radius at about a midpoint between said bottom and said top and a second radius at said top, said second radius being smaller than said first radius and configured to accommodate said gasket disposed between said each first and second plunger element and said bore.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the radius of said rim is less than the radius of said axial body bore.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least a first rest button having a threaded end having said first thread configuration and at least a second rest button having a threaded end having said second thread configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIGS. 1A and 1B depict schematic diagrams of air rest button systems according to the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 2A depicts an isometric view of an assembled air rest button system according to the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 2B depicts a cross-sectional view of the air rest button system of FIG. 2A.

[0030] FIG. 3A depicts a side elevation view of an embodiment of an alternative embodiment of an air rest button system according to the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 3B depicts an exploded view of an air rest button system depicted in FIG. 3A.

[0032] FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an air rest button system according to the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 5 depicts a cross-sectional view of an embodiment an air rest button system according to the present disclosure in use with a work piece.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0034] The following detailed description and disclosure illustrates by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the disclosed systems and methods, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the disclosed systems and methods. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosures, it is intended that all matter contained in the description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0035] At a high level, described herein is an air rest button system comprising a body element (201) and a plunger element (203) configured to accept a rest button. The plunger element (203) generally is configured to be inserted into a base (213) in the top of the body element (201). The plunger element (203) in turn has a bore or hole (211) therein configured to receiving an air rest button, which may be substituted for other air rest buttons, facilitating the modularity of the present system. These and other elements are described in further detail herein.

[0036] In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of an air rest button system is provided. In the depicted embodiment, one or more air rest button systems (101) are connected to an air source (107) via an air supply (105). The air supply is typically in the form of an airtight or nearly airtight supply line (105). The air rest button systems (101) are also connected via the air supply (105) to an air pressure sensing device (103). FIG. 1A depicts the assembly using a plurality of air rest button systems (101) arranged in parallel. FIG. 1B depicts a plurality of air rest button systems arranged in serial.

[0037] FIG. 2B depicts an isometric cutaway diagram of an air rest button system (101) according to the present disclosure. In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 2B, the body element (201) comprises a top portion (219) and a bottom portion (221) rigidly attached thereto. The depicted top portion (219) is a generally cylindrical element surrounding or defining a hollow and generally cylindrical interior bore (213). The depicted bottom portion (221) is a threaded element configured for screwing into a fixturing plate or other machining surface. A channel (217) is disposed axially in the body element (201) and provides a fluid communication path from the bottom (231) of the bottom portion (221) through the bottom portion (221) and to the bottom of the bore (213). The depicted vent (211) is disposed near the bottom (232) of the bore (213). In the depicted embodiment, the radius of the bottom portion (221) is smaller than that of the top portion (219) to accommodate the radius of the plunger element (203). This is a design choice based upon manufacturing needs and intended use and, as can be seen in the depicted embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the body element (201) need not have two components at all and may be comprised of a construction of generally uniform radius.

[0038] The dimensions of the bore (213) are configured to correspond to the dimensions of the plunger element (203). As can be seen, when the body element (201) is installed in a fixture, air supplied to bottom (233) of the body element (201) passes through the channel (217) and applies pressure to the bottom (231) of the plunger element (203). In this configuration, as further described elsewhere herein, the pressure of the air applied to the bottom (231) of the plunger element (203) will tend to push the plunger element (231) out of the bore (213). This can cause the plunger element (203) to be propelled out of the body element (201). To retain the plunger element (203), the top (231) of the body element (201) may comprise an annular rim or lip (235) projecting a protruding radially inward towards the central axis of the body element (201). This lip (235) is configured to inhibit the plunger element (203) from exiting the bore (213) entirely. In an embodiment, a gasket, ring or seal (205) may be inserted between the top of the plunger element (203) and the underside of the lip (235). This provides both an improved air seal, while also cushioning the plunger element (203). When installed in the body element (201), the plunger element (203) is moveable along the axis of the body element (201). As described herein, the plunger element (203) moves in accordance with the supply of air pressure via channel (217).

[0039] The system (101) is used by installing the body element (201) into a fixture (109), installing the plunger element (203) within the bore (213), and optionally installing the seal (205) between the top of the plunger element (203) and the rim (235). An air supply (105) is then attached to the fixture (109) or to a nipple (207) or other connecting means at the bottom (233) of the body element (201) as described elsewhere herein.

[0040] Next, a rest button is inserted into the plunger bore (211). In this fashion, a plurality of rest buttons may be used as air rest buttons in conjunction with the present apparatus. This allows general purpose rest buttons to be converted into air rest buttons without requiring special purpose hardware for each individual rest button.

[0041] The air supply (105) may be connected to the air rest button system (101) in a number of ways. In FIG. 3A, for example, the air supply (105) is connected to a nipple element (107) attached to a bottom end of the body (201). By contrast, in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 3B, the air supply (105) comprises a channel into a chamber (215) disposed beneath the body (201). In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 3B, air enters the chamber (215) via the air supply (105) and from there passes through a channel (217) disposed in the bottom (233) of the body element (201). The depicted channel (217) is in fluid communication with the chamber (215) and the bore (213) extending downward into the body element (201) from the top (234) of the body element (201). As can be seen in the depicted embodiments of FIGS. 2B and 3B, when the plunger element (203) is inserted into the bore (213), the plunger element (203) and the bore (213) are sized and shaped so that the bottom (231) of the plunger element (203) and the bottom (233) of the bore (213) form a chamber (229). In the depicted embodiments, this chamber (229) is in fluid communication with the air supply (105) via the channel (217). This allows air flow from the air supply (105) to pass through the channel (217) and accumulate in the chamber (229). As air accumulates in the chamber (229), the pressure applies upward force to the plunger (203), urging the plunger (203) towards the top (234) of the body element (201). From there, the air escapes the chamber (229) via a vent (211). After a time, this results in pressure equalization on the air supply (105), which can be detected by the pressure sensor (103).

[0042] The depicted vent (211) is a lateral channel in fluid communication with the chamber (229) and the atmosphere. As can be seen in the depicted embodiments of FIGS. 2B and 3B, the size and shape of the bore (213) and the bottom (231) of the plunger element (203) are mutually configured so that when the plunger element (203) is at its downward-most extent in the bore (213), at least a portion of the bottom (231) of the plunger element (203) contacts the bottom (232) of the bore (213) to form an air tight (or nearly air tight) ring or seal, inhibiting air in the chamber (229) from escaping via the vent (211). When the accumulated air pressure in the chamber (229) is effective to raise the plunger element (203), a fluid pathway from the chamber (229) to the vent (211) is opened, and air may escape. In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 2B, the chamber (229) is almost non-existent, essentially comprising the space directly beneath the bottom (231) of the plunger element (203), whereas in FIG. 3B, a small chamber (229) is formed beneath the bottom (231) of the plunger element (203) and the bottom (232) of the bore (213). These are design choices, and the functional behavior of the devices are similar.

[0043] In the depicted embodiments of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, and 4, the plunger element (203) comprises a plunger bore (211) extending downward into the body of the plunger element (203) from the top thereof, and configured to accept a rest button. The depicted plunger element (203) is a generally cylindrical element having a rounded bottom (231) and a generally flat opposing top surface, with the plunger bore (211) extending axially into the plunger element (203) from the top. The depicted plunger bore (211) is not a through bore, but rather terminates at a point between the top and bottom (231) of the plunger element (203). The depicted plunger bore (211) of FIGS. 2A and 2B is threaded, allowing a rest button to be screwed into the plunger element (203). Other means and methods of inserting and connecting a rest button to the plunger element (203) will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art. By way of example and not limitation, the air rest button may be pressed into the plunger.

[0044] When a rest button is inserted into plunger bore (211) and positioned, the plunger element (203) is forced downward toward the distal end of the body element (201). This in turn causes the bottom (231) to partially or entirely block the path of the air to the vent (211). This in turn causes air pressure to accumulate in the chamber (229) and air supply (105), which is detectable by the pressure sensor (103). The installer can monitor the pressure sensor (103) to confirm that the rest button is properly positioned.

[0045] FIG. 5 depicts an side elevation view of an embodiment of an air rest button system (101) according to the present disclosure holding a work piece in place. In the depicted embodiment, two different air rest button systems (101) are installed in a work surface or fixturing surface (501). For each, a body element (201) is inserted into a receiving cavity in the surface (501), a plunger element (203) is inserted into the body element (201) as described elsewhere herein, and a rest button (503) is inserted into the plunger element (203) as described elsewhere herein. A workpiece (505) is then affixed to the rest button (503) in the conventional manner known in the art.

[0046] While the invention has been disclosed in conjunction with a description of certain embodiments, including those that are currently believed to be the preferred embodiments, the detailed description is intended to be illustrative and should not be understood to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, embodiments other than those described in detail herein are encompassed by the present invention. Modifications and variations of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.