CIRCULAR SAW GUIDE AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

A circular saw guide is provided having an upper frame member with a plurality of angular indicia on an edge thereof. A lower frame member is pivotable relative to said the frame member. The upper surface of the lower frame member is adapted to receive a workpiece to be cut thereon. A pivot member is provided for selectively preventing or allowing pivoting of the lower frame member relative to the upper frame member. The upper surface of the upper frame member is adapted to guide the footplate of the circular saw. By pivoting the lower frame member relative to the upper frame member, the edge of the workpiece can be aligned with a desired indicia, which is indicative of the angle that the board will be cut. A method of cutting a workpiece at a desired angle is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A circular saw guide comprising: an upper frame member having a plurality of indicia on an edge thereof; a lower frame member pivotable relative to said upper frame member, said lower frame member having an upper surface thereon, said upper surface of said lower frame member adapted to receive a workpiece to be cut thereon; and a pivot member suitable for selectively preventing or allowing said lower frame member to pivot relative to said upper frame member.

2. The circular saw guide of claim 1, said upper frame member having an upper surface thereof, said upper surface of said upper frame member adapted to guide a footplate of a circular saw.

3. The circular saw guide of claim 1, said upper surface of said lower frame member having a vertical edge extending above said upper surface of said lower frame member, said vertical edge adapted to abut an edge of a workpiece to be cut.

4. The circular saw guide of claim 1, each of said upper frame member and said lower frame member having a plurality of legs.

5. The circular saw guide of claim 4, said pivot member comprising: one leg of said plurality of legs of said upper frame member, said one leg extending between said upper frame member and said lower frame member; and a locking mechanism positioned on a top of said one leg of said plurality of legs of said upper frame member.

6. The circular saw guide of claim 5, said locking mechanism comprising a screw.

7. The circular saw guide of claim 1, said plurality of indicia comprising a plurality of angular values.

8. The circular saw guide of claim 1, further comprising: an opening defined by said upper surface of said lower frame member and a lower surface of said upper frame member, said opening adapted for the workpiece to extend therethrough.

9. The circular saw guide of claim 1, further comprising: a spacer removably positioned on said upper surface of said lower frame member, said spacer adapted to raise the workpiece relative to said lower frame member.

10. The circular saw guide of claim 1, said lower frame member pivotable so as to be positioned below and in line with said upper frame member.

11. A guide for cutting angles on a workpiece with a circular saw, the workpiece having an edge, the guide comprising: a upper frame member having a plurality of indicia on a side thereof, said upper frame member having an upper surface and a lower surface thereon; a lower frame member having an upper surface thereon, said upper surface of said lower frame member suitable for placement of the workpiece, said lower frame member pivotable from a first position relative to said upper frame member to a second position relative to said upper frame member; and a passageway formed between said upper surface of said lower frame member and said lower surface of said upper frame member, said passageway adapted for positioning the workpiece, the edge of the workpiece being in alignment with a first indicia of said plurality of indicia when said lower frame member is in said first position relative to said upper frame member, the edge of the workpiece being in alignment with a second indicia of said plurality of indicia when said lower frame member is in said second position relative to said upper frame member.

12. The guide of claim 11, further comprising: a pivot member for selectively allowing or preventing said lower frame member from pivoting relative to said upper frame member.

13. The guide of claim 11, said plurality of indicia indicative of a cut angle of the workpiece.

14. The guide of claim 11, said lower frame member having a vertical edge extending upwardly from said upper surface of said lower frame member, said vertical edge adapted to abut the edge of the workpiece.

15. The guide of claim 11, each of said upper frame member and said lower frame member having a plurality of legs.

16. The guide of claim 11, further comprising: a spacer removably positioned on said upper surface of said lower frame member, said spacer adapted to raise the workpiece relative to said lower frame member.

17. A method of cutting a workpiece at a desired angle, the method comprising: providing a guide having a lower frame member pivotable relative to an upper frame member, the upper frame member having a plurality of angular indicia marked thereon; placing the workpiece on the lower frame member such that the workpiece extends under and past the upper frame member, an edge of the workpiece being in alignment with a first angular indicia of the plurality of angular indicia; pivoting the lower frame member relative to the upper frame member such that the edge of the workpiece is in alignment with a desired second angular indicia; and cutting the workpiece with a circular saw, a footplate of the circular saw being positioned on an upper surface of the upper frame member.

18. The method of claim 17, the guide having a pivot member with a locking mechanism thereon, said step of pivoting comprising: unlocking the locking mechanism so as to allow the lower frame member to pivot relative to the upper frame member; pivoting the lower frame member relative to the upper frame member; and locking the locking mechanism.

19. The method of claim 18, the locking mechanism being a screw.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: raising the workpiece relative to the lower frame member by placing a spacer on the upper surface of the lower frame member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art circular saw to be used with the circular saw guide of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the circular saw guide of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the circular saw guide of the present invention showing a workpiece being cut at a first angle.

[0040] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the circular saw guide of the present invention wherein the workpiece being cut at a second angle.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows an isolated view of the pivot member of the circular saw guide of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating how the blade of the circular saw cuts the various workpieces positioned on the circular saw guide of the present invention.

[0043] FIGS. 7 and 8 show an embodiment of the present invention wherein a spacer is provided for positioning on the lower frame member of the circular saw guide of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, there shown a perspective view of a prior art circular saw 10, as may be used with the circular saw guide of the present invention. The circular saw 10 has an upper guard 12 and a lower guard 14 surrounding a blade 16. The blade 16 is driven by encased motor 18. Handles 20 and 22 allow the user to guide and activate the circular saw 10. A footplate 24 helps guide the circular saw along the workpiece that is being cut. The footplate 24 importantly has a flat lower surface. The motor 18 of the circular saw 10 is by far the heaviest portion of the circular saw 10. Thus, the center of gravity of the circular saw 10 is located in the area of the motor 18.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 2, there shown a perspective view of the circular saw guide 30 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, it can be seen how the circular saw guide 30 has a lower frame member 32 and an upper frame member 34. The lower frame member 32 is pivotable about a pivot 36 relative to the upper frame member 34.

[0046] The lower frame member 32 has an upper surface 38, which is suitable for placement of a workpiece which the user wants to cut. A plurality of openings 40 are preferably formed through the lower frame member 32, which lessen the weight and increase the portability of the circular saw guide 30 of the present invention. A plurality of legs 42 are shown as supporting the lower frame member 32 above the surface therebelow. One of the legs 42 is positioned below a pivot member 44.

[0047] The lower frame member 32 preferably has a vertical edge or guide 46 along one end thereof. As will be shown in subsequent figures, an edge of the workpiece abuts the vertical edge or guide 46.

[0048] Similarly, the upper frame member 34 has an upper surface 48. The upper surface 48 is suitable for the footplate 24 of the circular saw 10 to be guided upon. As was the case of the lower frame member 32, the upper frame member 34 preferably has a plurality of openings 50 formed therethrough. A plurality of legs 52 are shown as supporting the upper frame member relative to the surface below and relative to the lower frame member 32.

[0049] A vertical edge or guide 55 is shown on the upper surface 48 of the upper frame member 34. The vertical edge 55 is suitable for abutting against a side of the footplate 24 of the circular saw 10.

[0050] Importantly, in FIG. 2, it can be seen how there are plurality of indicia 54 marked or formed on the side of the upper frame member 34. The plurality of indicia 54 show the desired cut angles for the circular saw cutting guide 30 of the present invention. Preferably, the cutting angles range from 0° (i.e., the rightmost indicia 54) to 60° (i.e. the leftmost indicia 54). By pivoting or rotating the lower frame member 32 relative to the upper frame member 34, the user can select, based on the indicia 54, which angle he or she desires to cut the workpiece. This process will be shown in subsequent figures. In addition to miter cuts, the circular saw cutting guide 30 facilitates bevel cuts from 0 to 45°.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows an upper perspective view of the circular saw cutting guide 30 of the present invention, wherein a workpiece is positioned thereon. The workpiece 56 is illustrated in broken lines. In FIG. 3, it can be seen how the lower frame member 32 is at an angle of essentially 90° relative to the upper frame member 34. As such, when the workpiece 56 is positioned on the lower frame member 32, and extends through and outwardly from the upper frame member 34, the edge of the workpiece 56 along the plane of the vertical edge 46 of the lower frame member 32 is at a first indicia 58 of the plurality of indicia 54. In this case, the first indicia 58 would indicate a 0° cut. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the workpiece 56 is held in place relative to the lower frame member 32 by being pushed against the vertical edge or guide 46.

[0052] FIG. 3 also shows how the circular saw 10 is used to cut the workpiece 56. In FIG. 3, it can be seen how the leftmost edge of the footplate 24 of the circular saw 10 is positioned against the vertical edge or guide 55 of the upper frame member 34. The motor 18 and center of gravity of the circular saw 10 is thus positioned over the upper surface of the upper frame member 34. The blade 16 of the circular saw 10 moves along the edge of the upper frame member 34 opposite the vertical edge or guide 55, until it encounters the workpiece 56 and the cut is made. Circular saws of the prior art and those that are commercially available are generally of a similar size. The width W as shown in FIG. 3 is dictated by the width of the circular saw 10. The circular saw guide 30 utilizes the center of gravity of the circular saw 10 such that the upper frame member 34 supports the weight of the circular saw 10 and a guide for the opposite side of the circular saw 10 (adjacent the blade) is not necessary.

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates the circular saw guide 10 wherein the lower frame member 32 can be pivoted relative to the upper frame member 34. When the lower frame member 32 is pivoted or rotated outwardly relative to the upper frame member 34, a workpiece 56 positioned on the lower frame member 32 is at an angle relative to the upper frame member 34. In FIG. 4, it can be seen how the edge of the workpiece 56 which abuts the vertical edge 46 of the lower frame member 32 is now at a second indicia 60 of the plurality of indicia 54. The angle of the cut shown in FIG. 4 is approximately 45°.

[0054] When the user decides to make a 45° cut, the pivot member 44 is loosened allowing for pivoting of the lower frame member 32 relative to the upper frame member 34. The lower frame member 32 is then pivoted until the leftmost edge of the workpiece 56 intersects the desired indicia 54. The pivot member is then tightened to secure the upper frame member 34 in a position relative to the lower frame member 32, at the desired indicia. The cut can then be made in accurate and quick manner.

[0055] FIG. 4 also shows how the lower frame member 32 can that be pivoted inwardly and stowed beneath the upper frame member 34. This allows for the circular saw guide 30 of the present invention to be very portable, easy to use, and easy to store.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows an isolated view of the pivot 36. In FIG. 5, it can be seen how the pivot 36 has a screw 62 within a recess 64. The screw 62 can be any type of screw can be easily tightened and loosened. For example, the screw 62 could be an Allen screw.

[0057] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating how the circular saw guide 30 of the present invention ensures a clean cut regardless of the size of the workpiece. FIG. 6 shows the blade 16 of the circular saw 10. For the best and cleanest cut, ideally that the blade 16 extends between ⅛ and ¼ inch below the bottom of the workpiece. This distance is based upon the common depth of the teeth T of the blade 16. FIG. 6 shows three different sized workpieces W1, W2 and W3. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the blade 6 is held in a constant vertical position because the footplate 24 abuts the top surface 48 of the upper frame member 34. The upper frame member 34 is held a constant distance D from the lower frame member 32. Because the workpieces are positioned on the upper surface 38 of the lower frame member 32, the bottom of each of the workpiece is at a specific vertical position relative to the blade 16, regardless of the size of the workpiece. The isolated view in FIG. 6 shows the teeth T of the saw blade 16 extending between ⅛ and ¼ inch below the bottom surface 66 of the workpieces W1, W2 and W3.

[0058] FIG. 6 illustrates the ease of obtaining a quality cut as compared to prior art methods where in an angle is simply marked on the workpiece, and the workpiece is cut on a table with a circular saw. In such a case, the teeth of the circular saw would be much lower relative to the workpiece for a smaller piece of wood (for example, a 1×4 board), relative to the depth of the teeth when a large piece of wood is cut (for example, a 2×4 board).

[0059] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there shown an embodiment of the present invention wherein the circular saw guide 70 has an upper frame member 74 a lower frame member 72. As shown in previous embodiments, the upper frame member 74 is pivotable relative to lower frame member 72. The circular saw guide 70 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 operates in the same manner as the previously described embodiments.

[0060] Importantly, in FIGS. 7 and 8 it can be seen how there is a spacer 76 which is suitable for removably positioning on the lower frame member 72. FIG. 8 shows the spacer 76 positioned on the lower frame member 72. As most circular saws are able to cut to a depth of 1.875 inches while at 45°, the spacer 76 allows for positioning the wood closer to the upper frame member 78 thus allowing bevel cuts of 45° or less. The spacer 76 of the circular saw guide 70 is easily positioned and removable from the circular saw guide 70, and does not interfere with the storage of the circular saw guide 70.

[0061] In FIGS. 7 and 8, it can also be seen how the upper frame member 74 has a depth or thickness 78, which is thinner than the thickness shown in the previous embodiments. By reducing the thickness 78, the wood being cut can be positioned as close to the circular saw blade as possible. The relatively thin thickness 78 allows for more a versatile circular saw guide.

[0062] A method of cutting a workpiece at a desired angle is also disclosed. The method comprises: providing a guide having a lower frame member pivotable relative to an upper frame member, the upper frame member having a plurality of angular indicia marked thereon; placing the workpiece on the lower frame member such that the workpiece extends under and past the upper frame member, an edge of the workpiece being in alignment with a first angular indicia of the plurality of angular indicia; pivoting the lower frame member relative to the upper frame member such that the edge of the workpiece is in alignment with a desired second angular indicia; and cutting the workpiece with a circular saw, a footplate of the circular saw being positioned on an upper surface of the upper frame member. The guide in the method of the present invention may have a pivot member with a locking mechanism thereon. The step of pivoting may comprise: unlocking the locking mechanism so as to allow the lower frame member to pivot relative to the upper frame member; pivoting the lower frame member relative to the upper frame member; and locking the locking mechanism.

[0063] The method of the present invention may also include the step of: raising the workpiece relative to the lower frame member by placing a spacer on the upper surface of the lower frame member.

[0064] The circular saw cutting guide and method of the present invention is ideal for homeowners who do not wish to purchase an expensive compound or miter saw due either to the expense or the cumbersome nature of such a saw. The circular saw guide of the present invention allows the homeowner to use his or her own circular saw to make precise cuts. The circular saw guide of the present invention is also ideal for use by contractors at job sites, particularly when a contractor must visit a job site, but would rather not transport the cumbersome miter compound saw.

[0065] The circular saw cutting guide of the present invention is also safer to use as compared to prior art methods using saw horses or the cantilever technique. With the saw horse method, the blade can become pinched. In the case of the cantilever technique, the cut piece of wood can easily fall onto the foot of the person operating the saw, causing injury.

[0066] The foregoing disclosure and description of the present invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.