AU4203901A - Marking jig for workpieces - Google Patents

Description

I -U P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "MARKING JIG FOR WORKPIECES" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:

II

2 THIS INVENTION relates to a marking jig for workpieces.

The invention is particularly suitable for, but not limited to, marking two or more parallel lines on a workpiece.

A wide range of marking jigs for panels and other workpieces are available and examples are disclosed in AU-A- 69117/87 H. MEAD); AU-B-81143/91 (624061) (F.

TARGARONA); and AU-A-84097/91 STRAUSS).

Cabinet makers, carpenters, sheet metal workers and other tradesmen commonly have the requirement to mark two or 10 more lines parallel to one or more sides and/or ends of panels or other workpieces. For example, a marking jig which could mark parallel lines defining the sides and ends of holes to be cut in the top panels of cupboards to receive sinks or workstations would be advantageous. At present, each line marking the side or end of such holes must be marked individually, and there is potential for, eg., the sides of a hole to be marked in a non-parallel configuration.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a marking jig for workpieces which enables at least two parallel lines to be marked simultaneously.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide such a jig where the respective distance of each line from a side or end of the workpiece can easily be set.

It is a further preferred object of the present invention to provide such a jig which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture; and which is easy to use.

Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

In a broad aspect, the present invention resides in a marking jig for a workpiece including: a base member having a guide face engageable with the workpiece; an arm extending from the base member (optionally) substantially laterally (or perpendicular) to the guide face; 10 at least two marker holders movably mounted on the *arm; and measurement means on the arm operable to indicate the respective distances of the marker holders from the guide face 000003 Preferably, the base member is a block of metal, plastics or timber) having an elongate guide face along one side of the block.

The block may be hollow to receive one or more of the line markers, to be fitted to the marker holders, when the line markers are not in use. The block may also be provided with a pencil sharpener.

The arm may be formed integrally with, or be fixed securely to, the base member. Alternatively, the arm may be hingedly mounted on, or connected to, the base member and a graduated scale may be provided to indicate the angular relationship therebetween. The arm may be selectively lockable at a range of angles, eg., (in 15* steps) relative to the base member. The arm may be of substantially inverted U-section or has a pair of substantially Ior H-sections interconnected.

Preferably, an elongate slot is provided in the arm and the marker holders are slidably engaged in the slot.

Preferably, the marker holders have a substantially vertical bore (in use) adapted to receive the body or barrel of a line marker; and preferably, releasable clamp means are provided to 10 releasably secure the line markers in the line holders.

The marker holders may be frictionally engaged with the arm; or may be provided with releasable clamp or lock means to releasably clamp or lock the marker holders to the arm at desired .ooooi ***distances from the guide face.

Alternatively, the line markers may be substituted by S cutting blades for plasterboard such as "Gyprock" (trade mark)) mounted on support posts engageable in the marker holders.

ooooo ~In a further alternative, the marker holders and line markers may be substituted by cutter holders and cutter blades.

The measurement means preferably include tape measure means and/or graduated markings on the upper face of the arm (preferably along each side of the slot) to enable the spacing of the marker holders (and thereby the lines drawn by the line markers) to be accurately set relative to the guide face.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the marking jig configured to draw two parallel lines on a panel; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the marking jig; and FIG. 3 is a part-sectional side view of the jig.

The marking jig 10 of the present invention is adapted to be used with a workpiece 100, eg., the top panel of a cupboard, 10 where parallel lines 101 and 102 are to be marked relative to a front *o.o* edge 103 of the workpiece.

The marking jig 10 has a base member 11 defined by a rectangular block an aluminium extrusion) having a guide face 12.

ooo* An arm 13 extends laterally from the base member 11, perpendicular to the guide face 12 and has an elongate slot 14 in which are slidably mounted a pair of marker holders 15, 16.

:OOOi Preferably, frictional engagement between the marker holders 15, 16 and the sides of the slot 14 (and/or the upper and lower faces of the arm 13) enables the marker holders 15, 16 to be located at preset locations along the arm 13 at predetermined distances from the guide face 12). Alternatively, releasable clamp or lock means (not shown) may be provided to selectively clamp or lock the marker holders 15, 16 to the arm 13.

Each marker holder 15, 16 has a co-axial vertical bore 17 dimensioned to receive the barrel or body 21 of a line marker 20. A locking screw 19 extends into the bore 18 to releasably lock the line marker 2- in the marker holder 15, 16. The line markers 20 are set so that their tips 22 engage the top face of the panel 100 to form the lines 101, 102.

The distance of the liner 101, 102 from the front edge 103 of the workpiece 100 is measured from the measuring tapes and/or graduated markings 30, 31 provided along each side of the 10 slot 14.

.0 The operation of the jig 10 is as follows.

g:oo o o.

.:°The guide face 12 is placed against the front edge 103 of the workpiece 100 and the line markers 20 are fitted to the marker a ~holders 15, 16.

The marker holders 15, 16 are moved along the slot 14 until the tips 22 of the line markers 20 are set the desired distance from the front edge 103.

*As the base member 11 is moved along the front edge 103, the line markers 20 draw the lines 101, 102.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that three or more marker holders/line markers may be provided on the jig eg., to mark out two parallel slots to be cut in the workpiece 100.

The jig provides a simple, efficient means to mark out two (or more) parallel lines on the workpiece.

While the arm 13 has been described and illustrated as extending laterally from the base member 11, perpendicular to the guide face 12, it will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the arm 13 may be hingedly mounted on the base member 11 and be swivelled to vary the angle between the arm 13 and the guide face 12. A graduated scale (not shown) eg., on the base member 11, can display angular relationship between the arm 13 and the guide face 12. A releasable pin (not shown) engageable in holes, or a tooth and 10 pawl assembly, can releasably lock the arm 13 in a range of preset angles, eg., 15', 30', 450, 600, 750, 90', etc. (in, eg., 15' steps) relative to the guide face 12.

The line markers 20 may be replaced by cutter blades •o.ooi (not shown) having support posts engageable in the marker holders 15, 16, the cutter blades being able to cut, eg., thin plywood, plasterboard, fabric, plaster sheet or the like.

Alternatively, the marker holders 15, 16 and line markers could be replaced by cutter holders and cutter blades.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. A marking jig for a workpiece including: a base member having a guide face engageable with the workpiece; an arm extending from the base member (optionally) substantially laterally, or perpendicular, to the guide face; at least two marker holders movably mounted on the arm; and measurement means on the arm operable to indicate the 10 respective distances of the marker holders from the guide face.

2. A jig as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: the base member is a block of metal, plastics or timber, having an elongate guide face along one side of the block. oooe°

3. A jig as claimed in Claim 1 wherein: the block si hollow to receive one or more of the line S. markers, to be fitted to the marker holders, when the line markers are not in use.

4. A jig as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein: the block is provided with a pencil sharpener.

5. A jig as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein: formed integrally with, or fixed securely to, the base member.

6. A jig as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein: the arm is hingedly mounted on, or connected to, the base member and a graduated scale is provided to indicate the angular relationship therebetween.

7. A jig as claimed in Claim 6 wherein: the arm is selectively lockable at a range of angles, in 150 steps, relative to the base member.

8. A jig as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7 wherein: the arm is of substantially inverted U-section or has a pair of substantially I- or H-sections interconnected.

9. A jig as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein: an elongate slot is provided in the arm and the marker holders are slidably engaged in the slot.

10. A jig as claimed in any one of Claims 1ito 9 wherein: the marker holders have a substantially vertical bore (in use) adapted to receive the body or barrel of a line marker; and releasable clamp means are provided to releasably secure the line markers in the line holders.

11. A jig as claimed in Claim 10 wherein: the marker holders are frictionally engaged with the arm; or are provided with releasable clamp or lock means to releasably clamp or lock the marker holders to the arm at desired distances from the guide face.

12. A jig as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11 wherein: the line markers are substituted by cutting blades mounted on support posts engageable in the marker holders.

13. A jig as claimed in Claim 10 wherein: the marker holders and line markers are substituted by cutter holders and cutter blades.

14. A jig as claimed in Claim 5 wherein: the measurement means include tape measure means and/or graduated markings on the upper face of the arm to enable the spacing of the marker holders (and thereby the lines drawn by the line markers) to be accurately set relative to the guide face. A marking jig for a workpiece substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10 DATED this first day of May 2001. "LAWRENCE STRANO By his Patent Attorneys FISHER ADAMS KELLY