Push block for a woodworking apparatus
AssigneeMicro Jig, Inc.
InventorHenry WANG
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A push block for a woodworking tool comprises at least heel member at an end of the push block and the heel member is passively actuatable to an extended position to engage a trailing end surface of a work piece to advance the work piece by a working element. The push block also includes a wall member along a first side of the push block to serve as a barrier between a cutting element and an operator's hand. In addition, the push block includes a handle that is disposed obliquely relative to first and second sides and a longitudinal axis of the push block.
Claims18
A push block for advancing a work piece on a cutting apparatus, comprising:
- a main body portion having a generally flat bottom surface for engaging a surface of a work piece, a top surface, a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end, and the longitudinal axis is parallel to a direction of travel of the push block on the cutting apparatus;
- a handle, disposed between the first and second end, extending outward from the top surface of the main body portion;
- at least one heel member attached to the push block at the first end or second end of the main body portion, and the at least one heel member pivots from a retracted position to an extended position in the absence of an external force other than gravity, and in the extended position the heel member has a surface that is disposed at an angle relative to the bottom surface of the main body portion to engage a trailing end surface of the work piece.
The push block of claim 8 wherein the retracted position is a first retracted position and the push block further comprising a locking mechanism for at least one of the heel members wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first lip on a surface of the slot and a second lip on the heel member that engages the first lip when heel member is pivoted to or past the retracted position.
A push block for advancing a work piece on a cutting apparatus, comprising:
- a main body portion having a generally flat bottom surface for engaging a surface of a work piece, a top surface, a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end, and the longitudinal axis is parallel to a direction of travel of the push block on the cutting apparatus;
- a handle extending outward from the top surface of the main body portion;
- a first pair of heel members pivotally attached to the push block at the first end of the main body portion, and each first heel member pivots between an extended position to engage a surface of a work piece and a retracted position;
- a second pair of heel members pivotally attached to the push block at the second end of the main body portion, and each second heel member pivots between an extended position to engage a surface of a work piece and a retracted position;
- and,
- wherein each heel member pivots from the retracted position to the extended position in the absence of an external force other than gravity.
The push block of claim 13 wherein the work piece to be cut has a periphery including a leading end that is advanced past a cutting element of the cutting apparatus before a trailing end of the work piece passes the cutting element and the one or both of the heel members of the first or second pair heel members engages a surface of the work piece at the trailing end, and the handle has a base portion attached to the main body portion toward the trailing end of the work piece and is disposed within the periphery of the work piece when the work piece is advanced past the cutting element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.