Joinery Jig

Abstract

A joinery jig comprising a body and a plurality of spacers, wherein the body defines (i) a first straight slot, a second straight slot and an angled slot, wherein the angled slot connects the first straight slot to the second straight slot to define an elongate angled channel; (ii) a plurality of datum alignment elements aligned with the angled slot, wherein each datum alignment element is spaced from a reference point of the angled slot by a pre-determined distance; and (iii) at least one spacer receiving aperture; and wherein the number of spacers is equal to the number of datum alignment elements and each spacer includes a body having a dimension which is equal to the pre-determined distance defined between a respective one of the datum alignment elements and the reference point of the angled slot; and wherein each spacer includes a body portion which fits within the or one of the spacer receiving apertures.

Claims

1. A joinery jig comprising a body and a plurality of spacers, wherein the body defines (i) a first straight slot, a second straight slot and an angled slot, wherein the angled slot connects the first straight slot to the second straight slot to define an elongate angled channel; (ii) a plurality of datum alignment elements aligned with the angled slot, wherein each datum alignment element is spaced from a reference point of the angled slot by a pre-determined distance; and (iii) at least one spacer receiving aperture; and wherein the number of spacers is equal to the number of datum alignment elements and each spacer includes a body having a dimension which is equal to the pre-determined distance defined between a respective one of the datum alignment elements and the reference point of the angled slot; and wherein each spacer includes a body portion which fits within the or one of the spacer receiving apertures.

2. A joinery jig according to claim 1, wherein the jig comprises a pair of spacers for each datum alignment element, wherein the spacers of each pair of spacers include a body having a dimension which is equal to the pre-determined distance defined between a respective one of the datum alignment elements and the reference point of the angled slot.

3. A joinery jig according to claim 1, wherein the datum alignment elements comprise indicia carried by a window defined by the joinery jig body.

4. A joinery jig according to claim 3, wherein the window includes a transparent window insert and the indicia are formed on the transparent window insert.

5. A joinery jig according to claim 1, wherein the jig further includes a pivot element that is locatable within the second straight slot and which permits the jig body to rotate about the pivot element.

6. A joinery jig according to claim 5, wherein the pivot element may be releasably locked relative to the body portion which defines the second straight slot.

7. A joinery jig according to claim 1, wherein the jig includes a router guide that is slidably coupled to the elongate angled channel.

8. A joinery jig according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first body portion, a second body portion and one or more coupling elements, wherein the coupling elements detachably couple the second body portion to the first body portion.

9. A joinery jig according to claim 8, wherein the first body portion defines the second straight slot, the angled slot and a first portion of the first straight slot; and the second body portion defines a second portion of the first straight slot, wherein the first and second portions of the first straight slot are aligned when the second body portion is coupled to the first body portion.

10. A joinery jig according to claim 8, wherein the body comprises a first body portion, an upper second body portion, a lower second body portion, a third body portion, a first coupling arrangement comprising two or more first coupling elements, and a second coupling arrangement comprising two or more second coupling elements; wherein the first coupling arrangement detachably couples the upper and lower second body portions to the first body portion, and the second coupling arrangement couples the third body portion to the upper and lower second body portions.

11. A joinery jig according to claim 10, wherein the first body portion defines the second straight slot, the angled slot and a first portion of the first straight slot; the upper and lower second body portions between them define a second portion of the first straight slot; and the third body portion defines a third portion of the first straight slot; wherein the first, second and third portions of the first straight slot are aligned when the upper and lower second body portions are coupled to the first body portion, and the third body portion is coupled to the upper and lower second body portions.

12. A joinery jig according to claim 1, wherein the jig further includes one or more clamp elements and the body includes one or more clamp recesses, wherein the clamp includes a body portion which is located within a respective one of the clamp recesses such that the body portion is flush with or recessed from an upwardly facing surface of the body.

Description

[0031] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a joinery jig according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIG. 2a is an exploded view of the jig shown in FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 2b is an exploded view of second configuration of the jig shown in FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 2c is an exploded view of a third configuration of the jig shown in FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through a coupling element of the jig;

[0037] FIG. 4a is a plan view of the joinery jig including a pivot block located in the second slot;

[0038] FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view through a pivot block forming part of the joinery jig shown in FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 5a is a view of the joinery jig shown in FIG. 1 arranged for a male mitre cut; and

[0040] FIG. 5b is a view of the joinery jig shown in FIG. 1 arranged for a female mitre cut.

[0041] For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “width”, etc. refer to the orientation of the components as found in the example when installed for normal use as shown in the Figures.

[0042] FIGS. 1 and 2a show a joinery jig 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. The jig comprises a first end component 4, a second end component 6, a first pair of intermediate components 8a, 8b, and a second pair of intermediate components 10a, 10b. Together, the components 4, 6, 8a, 8b, 10a, 10b form a planar jig body.

[0043] The first end component 4 defines therein a second straight slot 12, an angled slot 14 and a first portion of a first straight slot 16. The slots 12, 14, 16 defined by the first end component 4 are through slots that extend through the jig body.

[0044] The first end component 4 also defines a window 18 within which is located a transparent perspex insert. The Perspex insert carries a plurality of indicia 20a-20d which are in the form of straight lines arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the jig 2. In other words, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first slot 16. Each of the lines 20a-20d are spaced a pre-determined distance from a reference point of the angled slot 14.

[0045] A standard fixing bolt slot 22 is defined by the first end component 4. The skilled person will appreciate that such slots are commonplace on joinery jigs and are used to cut channels in the underside of work pieces to allow a first work piece to be secured to a second work piece.

[0046] A pair of first spacer receiving holes 24a, 24b are provided along a first axis which is perpendicular to the first slot 16. Additionally, a pair of second spacer receiving holes 26a, 26b are provided along an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first slot 16.

[0047] Finally, the first end component 4 defines a recessed clamp slot 28 which is configured to receive therein a clamp element (not shown) which is used to clamp the jig 2 to a work piece.

[0048] The first pair of intermediate components 8a, 8b comprise an upper first intermediate component 8a and a lower first intermediate component 8b. The upper and lower first intermediate components 8a, 8b are coupled to the first end component by respective fixing plates 30, which are described in more detail below. The first pair of intermediate components 8a, 8b define between them a second portion 32 of the first slot 16.

[0049] Additionally, the upper first intermediate component 8a defines a handle portion 34, two recessed clamp slots 36, 38, and a hinge cutting aperture 40.

[0050] The lower first intermediate component 8b defines two standard fixing bolt slots 42, 44, and two recessed clamp slots 46, 48. In addition, the lower first intermediate component 8b defines a third spacer receiving hole 26c.

[0051] The second pair of intermediate components 10a, 10b comprise an upper second intermediate component 10a and a lower second intermediate component 10b. The upper and lower first intermediate components 10a, 10b are coupled to the first pair of intermediate components 8a, 8b by respective fixing plates 30. The first pair of intermediate components 10a, 10b define between them a third portion 50 of the first slot 16.

[0052] The upper second intermediate component 10a is a planar sheet. The lower second intermediate component 10b defines a fourth spacer receiving hole 26d.

[0053] The second end component 6 is coupled to the second pair of intermediate components 10a, 10b by respective fixing plates 30. The second end component 6 defines a fourth portion 52 of the first slot 16, which is closed at one end (the end opposite to the angled slot 14).

[0054] The second end component 6 further defines a fifth spacer receiving hole 26e, which is aligned with the spacer receiving holes 26a-26d. The spacer receiving holes 26a-26e are arranged along an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first slot 16. It also defines a pair of first spacer receiving holes 24c, 24d, which are provided along an axis which is perpendicular to the first slot 16.

[0055] Finally, the second end component 6 defines a further recessed clamp slot 56.

[0056] FIG. 2a shows an exploded view of the joinery jig 2 in a first configuration which includes all of the components 4, 6, 8a, 8b, 10a, 10b described above.

[0057] FIG. 2b shows an alternative configuration in which the second intermediate components 10a, 10b have been omitted and the second end component 6 has been coupled to the first intermediate components 8a, 8b via the fixing plates 30.

[0058] FIG. 2c shows a further alternative configuration in which the second end component 6 has been coupled directly to the first end component 4 via the fixing plates 30.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view through one of the fixing elements 30. The fixing element 30 comprises a disc-shaped body 60 and a screw fixing 62 comprising a shaft 62a, a threaded portion 62b and a head 64. The fixing element bodies 60 are fixed on their left hand side (as shown in the figures) to a respective one of the components 4, 6, 8a, 8b, 10a, 10b and project from the right hand sides of the respective components. The left hand ends of the components 4, 6, 8a, 8b, 10a, 10b define a slot to receive the projecting right hand side portion of the disc body 60 and a recessed screw hole 66 to receive the screw fixing 62. The screw hole includes a threaded portion 66a which threadedly receives the screw thread 62b. When secured, the head portion 64 of the screw fixing is recessed below the upper surface of the respective component 4, 6, 8a, 8b, 10a, 10b.

[0060] As the fixing elements 30 project from the right hand side of each component and the left hand side of the components define the disc body receiving slots and screw holes 66, the different configurations shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are readily provided.

[0061] FIG. 4a shows the joinery jig 2 with a pivot block 70 located within the second slot 12. One corner 72 of the pivot block contacts a work piece 1a and acts as a fulcrum about which the jig 2 may be rotated such that the first slot 16 and the second slot 12 are also rotated relative to the work piece 1a. This permits two work pieces to be coupled together at angles other than 90°.

[0062] FIG. 4b shows the pivot block 70 in more detail. The pivot block 70 comprises a lower block 74, an upper block 76 and a screw fixing 78. The lower block 74 defines a threaded bore 80 which receives a threaded portion of the screw fixing 78 for threaded engagement. The upper block defines a through hole 82 through which the screw fixing 78 passes without engagement.

[0063] Both the upper and lower blocks 74, 76 define a recessed channel into which a part of the first end component body 4 may be located, such that the pivot block 70 may be clamped to that part of the first component body 4. Thus, the pivot block 70 may be located in the desired position abutting a work piece and then clamped in that position relative to the first end component 4.

[0064] FIGS. 5a and 5b show the joinery jig 2 located in position on respective work pieces 1a, 1b to cut the desired mitres.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 5a, a 24 mm bevel has been selected and the joinery jig 2 is spaced from a datum edge 94 of the work piece 1a by a pair of 24 mm spacers 96a, 96b located in the pair of first spacer receiving holes 24a, 24b in order to form a male mitre.

[0066] FIG. 5b shows the arrangement for forming a corresponding 24 mm female mitre on the second work piece 1b. In this case, a line 98 corresponding to the datum edge 94 is marked on the second work piece 1b. This line 98 is aligned with the 24 mm indicia line 20c carried by the window 18. This aligns a first dimension of the jig 2 with the same datum line 94 as for the male cut. The second dimension of the jig 2 is aligned with the work piece 1b via three 24 mm spacers 100 located in three of the spacer receiving holes 26a-26e.

[0067] The skilled person appreciates how to use the joinery jig once it has been located in the desired location for forming the desired mitres.