Method and appartus for adjustable gauge block
AssigneeWoodpeckers, LLC
InventorKody M. Urig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable gauge block that may be quickly adjusted to a desired height and then dialed in to a precision measurement that can replace a set of gauge blocks. The adjustable gauge block of the present disclosure may be further used as a repeatable and precise physical reference to set tool depths and heights. The adjustable gauge block of the present disclosure may be utilized as a physical reference to set drill press bit depths, table saw blade heights, router table bit heights, and the like. Additionally, the adjustable gauge block of the present disclosure may be utilized to check uniformity of thickness along an edge of a piece of stock.
Claims20
An adjustable gauge block comprising:
- a triangular base defining a central channel in a top surface thereof;
- a slider assembly having a reference plate on a first end thereof, the slider assembly carried by the base and slidably engaged within the central channel thereof;
- a quick adjustment button operably connected to the slider assembly;
- a threaded rod within the central channel of the base operable to engage a flange of the quick adjustment button;
- a slider plate of the slider assembly operable to engage the threaded rod;
- and
- an adjustment knob operable to move the slider plate into engagement and out of engagement with the threaded rod;
- wherein the quick adjustment button is movable from a first position wherein the flange thereof is engaged with the threaded rod and the slider assembly is prevented from movement relative to the base and a second position wherein the flange is disengaged from the threaded rod and the slider assembly is movable relative to the base.
A method of measuring a height above a surface comprising:
- placing a base of an adjustable gauge block on a work surface from which the height is to be measured;
- disengaging a slider plate of a slider assembly of the adjustable gauge block from a threaded rod within a central channel defined in the base via rotation of an adjustment knob in operable communication with the slider plate;
- moving the slider assembly of the adjustable gauge block from a first position wherein a bottom surface of a reference plate on the slider assembly is coplanar with a bottom of the base to a second position wherein the bottom surface of the reference plate is substantially parallel to and above the bottom of the base;
- re-engaging the slider plate of the slider assembly with the threaded rod via the adjustment knob;
- and
- determining the height of the bottom surface of the reference plate relative to the work surface with a scale on a top surface of the base of the adjustable gauge block based on the position of an edge of the slider assembly relative to the scale.
An adjustable gauge block comprising:
- a triangular base defining a central channel in a top surface thereof;
- a slider assembly having a reference plate on a first end thereof, the slider assembly carried by the base and slidably engaged within the central channel thereof;
- a quick adjustment button operably connected to the slider assembly;
- a threaded rod within the central channel of the base operable to engage a flange of the quick adjustment button;
- a reference plate flange extending beyond at least one side of the base, the flange having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- a first scale corresponding to the position of the top surface of the reference plate flange relative to the work surface;
- and
- a second scale corresponding to the position of the bottom surface of the reference plate flange relative to the work surface;
- wherein the quick adjustment button is movable from a first position wherein the flange thereof is engaged with the threaded rod and the slider assembly is prevented from movement relative to the base and a second position wherein the flange is disengaged from the threaded rod and the slider assembly is movable relative to the base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.