Plunge router with an elastically mounted bushing

Abstract

A plunge router (10) is disclosed which has a base (12), a pair of laterally spaced apart columns (14, 16) and a motor housing assembly (18). The base (12) has a planar work engaging surface (22). Affixed to the base (12) are the laterally spaced columns (14,16) which extend perpendicular to the work engaging surface (22). The motor housing assembly (18) has a housing (24), preferably plastic, which supports a pair of bushings (46,48) which slide upon the columns (14,16) to permit the motor housing assembly (18) to move relative to the base (12). One of the bushings (46) is relatively securely held by the housing (24) while the other bushing (48) is elastically mounted relative to the housing (24) to enable limited movement of the bushing (48) relative to the housing (24). This mounting prevents binding between the bushings (46,48) and the columns (14,16) and accommodates production tolerances and variations and thermal expansions and contractions of the housing (24), the base (12) and columns (14,16). Preferably, the plunge router (10) includes an annular elastomeric member (78,80) interposed between the elastically mounted bushing (48) and the housing (24) to accommodate limited radial movement of the housing (24) relative to the bushing (48).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.