Jig and template apparatus and method for preparing a corner insert for a laminated plastic countertop
OwnerFred Godfrey Kleininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for preparing an inside diagonal corner insert to a laminated plastic countertop surface. The diagonal corner insert transects the inside corner of the countertop and permits the countertop to accommodate a rotatable shelf apparatus thereunder. Dimensionally corresponding female and male templates are provided so that a cutting tool guided by the templates will produce a corresponding male insert for the void created in the countertop with the female template. The countertop and template are advantageously secured in an easily accessible position by a jig apparatus which utilizes pneumatic pistons for securing both the workpiece and the templates.
Claims23
Apparatus for preparing an insert to the inside corner of a workpiece fabricated from two elements joined at a miter, comprising:
- a female template for guiding a cutting tool in cutting a female segment from the inside corner of the workpiece;
- a male template for guiding a cutting tool in cutting a male insert dimensionally corresponding to at least a portion of the periphery of the void created by removal of the female segment;
- and
- a jig comprising a framework including a scaffold and means for holding the workpiece, female template, and male template securely on the scaffold.
A female template for removing a segment from an inside corner of a workpiece fabricated from two members joined at an angle, the female template comprising:
- a base plate having a first arm and a second arm joined to form a cutting angle;
- a first cutting tool support plate mounted on the first arm so as to extend into the included angle defined between the first and second arms;
- a second cutting tool support plate mounted on the second arm so as to extend into the included angle defined between the second arm and the first arm, the first and second support plates cooperating with the arms of the base plate to define sides of an open polygon;
- and
- guide means mounted upon the base plate and support plates at a spaced distance from the inside cutting angle for guiding a cutting tool over a precision path in cutting the segment from the workpiece.
A male template for preparing an insert for placement in an inside corner of a workpiece fabricated from two members joined at an angle, the male template comprising:
- a cutting tool guide bar;
- and
- a male base plate comprising at least one insert slot adjacent and parallel one edge of the base plate, a guide bar insert configured to be telescopically received in the slot, the cutting tool guide bar being adjustably mounted to the guide bar insert.
An apparatus for preparing a female segment for removal from an inside corner of a workpiece fabricated from two members joined at an angle and for preparing a male insert for replacing the female segment, said male insert having a corresponding periphery so as to provide an enlarged surface for the workpiece by transecting a portion of the inside angle of the workpiece with a portion of the male segment, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a female template for preparing the workpiece to receive a male insert, the female template comprising:
- a base plate having a first arm and a second arm joined at an angle;
- an array of cutting tool guide bars mounted on the female template to accommodate precision cutting of the workpiece;
- and
- (b) a male template comprising:
- a polygonal base plate having at least one inside angle which dimensionally corresponds to the angle formed by the first and second arms of the female template;
- and
- an array of cutting tool guide bars mounted upon the base plate for regulating movement of a cutting tool along the periphery of the base plate;
- and
- (c) jig means for:
- (1) temporarily securing the female template to the workpiece in the vicinity of the inside angle thereof, and (2) temporarily securing the male template to a workpiece segment;
- and
- means for releasing the male and female template from the respective workpieces after each has been cut in accordance with the path defined by the guide bars on the corresponding base plates.
A jig for releasably securing the corner portion of a laminated countertop, the jig comprising:
- at least two generally vertical columns spaced one from the other;
- a scaffold mounted upon each column intermediate the length thereof, each scaffold comprising a countertop-receiving support and a projecting anvil spaced from the support, the scaffold on the one column being oriented with respect to the scaffold on the other column so as to receive the weight of the corner portion of the countertop thereupon;
- and
- a support bracket rigidly secured to each column near the upper end thereof, each support bracket rotatably carrying a downwardly acting piston, each piston being selectively rotated into alignment with corresponding anvils and into a folded position permitting free access to the scaffold and means for reciprocating the piston downwardly to secure a workpiece tightly against the anvils and upwardly to release the workpiece from the scaffold.
A method for fabricating a corner insert for a countertop formed by intersection of two countertop segments joined together at a miter, the method comprising the steps of:
- temporarily securing a female template on the inside corner of the joined countertop segments;
- guiding a cutting tool along the periphery of the female template as said tool cuts a segment from the inside corner of said joined countertop segments, thereby creating a void at the inside corner of the joined countertop segments;
- temporarily securing a male template to a second workpiece;
- guiding the cutting tool along the periphery of the male template as said tool cuts a segment from the second workpiece, thereby obtaining a male insert for the void created at the inside corner of the joined countertop segments;
- placing the male insert in the void;
- and securing the male insert into position.
A method of preparing a countertop workpiece having a male insert therein comprising the steps of:
- selecting a template generally corresponding in size and shape with the male insert;
- mounting guide bars on the template and adjusting the guide bars to a predetermined cutting tool so that the tool, when guided by the guide bars will make a precision cut of predetermined size corresponding to the insert;
- providing a stop on the underside of the template, and selecting the location of the stop to define the depth of the precision cut into the workpiece when the stop is urged against the edge of the countertop workpiece;
- and
- cutting the countertop workpiece and guiding the movement of the cutting tool around a portion of the periphery of the template by urging the cutting tool against the guide bars.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.