# US 5,704,263 A · Saw guide apparatus and method

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- Number: US 5,704,263 A
- Document ID: US5704263A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/498,999
- Filed: 1995-07-06
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1995-07-06
- Inventors: Edward William Swanberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704263A

## CPC

- B25H 1/0078: {Guiding devices for hand tools}
- B23Q 9/0042: {the guide means being fixed only on the workpiece}
- B25H 7/02: Plates having a flat surface
- Y10T 83/04: Processes
- Y10T 83/0605: Cut advances across work surface
- Y10T 83/68: Entirely work supported
- Y10T 83/8773: Bevel or miter cut
- B25H: WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT, e.g. FOR MARKING-OUT WORK; STORAGE MEANS FOR WORKSHOPS (storing or packaging B65)
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A saw guide is provided for use with a hand held circular power saw thereby enabling a user to selectively cut either a 90 or 45 degree cut through a construction member such as a 2.times.4. The saw guide is adapted to be used with either a 2.times.4, 2.times.6, 2.times.8, 2.times.10, or a 2.times.12. The saw guide has a first saw guide edge, a second saw guide edge and a wood guide edge. The saw guide also has two adjustable pencil guide edges which are internal to the saw guide. The pencil guide edges are situated so that they are parallel to the first and second saw guide edges. The pencil guide edges are movably mounted within the saw guide so that they can be adjusted so to the width of a given power saw's foot. This allows the user to automatically account for this foot width when using the saw guide to cut a desired length of construction member. The saw guide also is designed to allow the user to easily clamp it to a board. Thus, the user does not have to use one hand to keep the saw guide in place. Both the user's hands leave free to control the board and the saw.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of using a power hand saw having a circular saw blade that is offset a given distance from an edge of a foot member to selectively saw a 90-degree cut in a construction member, comprising the steps of:
providing a saw guide that is shaped as a right triangle, said saw guide having (1) a 90-degree saw guide edge, (2) a wood guide having arms which form a T-shape on the guide, said wood guide edge meeting said 90-degree saw guide edge at a right angle and is adapted to physically engage a side of a construction member to be cut, (3) an angled saw guide edge, (4) a movable 90-degree marker surface that is mounted within said right triangle, extends parallel to said 90-degree saw guide edge, and is adjustable so as to position said 90-degree marker surface said given saw blade distance from said 90-degree saw guide edge, and (5) an angled marker surface that is mounted within said right triangle, extends parallel to said angled saw guide edge, and is adjustable so as to position said angled marker surface said given saw blade distance from said angled saw guide edge;
adjusting the 90-degree marker surface parallel to the 90-degree saw guide edge so that said 90-degree marker surface is said given saw blade distance from the 90-degree saw guide edge;
providing a first mark on said construction member to identify a desired location of a desired cut;
positioning said saw guide at a first position with said wood guide edge on one side surface of said construction member, and with the 90-degree saw guide edge coincident with said first mark,
providing a second mark on said construction member coincident with the 90-degree marker surface parallel to the 90-degree saw guide;
moving said saw guide to a second position with said wood guide edge on one side surface of said construction member, and with said 90-degree saw guide edge coincident with said second mark; and
using said hand saw to saw the desired cut in said construction member as said edge of said foot member is guided by said 90-degree saw guide edge.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, including the steps of:
providing a clamping means to clamp said saw guide to said construction member with said saw guide in said second position.

### Claim 3

A method of using a power hand saw having a circular saw blade that is offset a given distance from an edge of a foot member to selectively saw an angled cut in a construction member, comprising the steps of:
providing a saw guide that is shaped as a right triangle, said saw guide having (1) a 90-degree saw guide edge, (2) a wood guide having arms which form a T-shape on the guide, said wood guide edge meeting said 90-degree saw guide edge at a right angle and is adapted to physically engage a side of a construction member to be cut, (3) an angled saw guide edge, (4) a movable 90-degree marker surface that is mounted within said right triangle, extends parallel to said 90-degree saw guide edge, and is adjustable so as to position said 90-degree marker surface said given saw blade distance from said 90-degree saw guide edge, and (5) an angled marker surface that is mounted within said right triangle, extends parallel to said angled saw guide edge, and is adjustable so as to position said marker surface said given saw blade distance from said angled saw guide edge;
adjusting the angled marker surface parallel to the angled saw guide edge so that said angled marker surface is said given saw blade distance from the angled saw guide edge;
providing a first mark on said construction member to identify a desired location of a desired cut;
positioning said saw guide at a first position with said wood guide edge on one side surface of said construction member, and with the angled saw guide edge coincident with said first mark,
providing a second mark on said construction member coincident with the angled marker surface parallel to the angled saw guide;
moving said saw guide to a second position with said wood guide edge on one side surface of said construction member, and angled saw guide edge coincident with said second mark; and
using said hand saw to saw the angled cut in said construction member as said edge of said foot member is guided by said angled saw guide edge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, including the steps of:
providing a clamping means to clamp said saw guide to said construction member with said saw guide in the second position.

### Claim 5

A saw guide comprising:
a unitary rigid member shaped in the form of a right triangle having first and second generally parallel and flat planar surfaces that are spaced a first given distance apart;
said member having a first saw guide edge extending generally perpendicular to said first and second surfaces;
said member having a wood guide edge extending generally perpendicular to said first and second surfaces, said wood guide edge having a length;
said first saw guide edge and said wood guide edge meeting to form a right angle;
said member having a second saw guide edge extending generally perpendicular to said first and second surfaces and meeting said first saw guide edge and said wood guide edge so as to form a triangle therewith;
said wood guide edge having arms extending generally perpendicular from said first and second surfaces along the length of said wood guide edge;
a first manually adjustable marker guide movably mounted within said member;
said first marker guide having a 90-degree marker surface that extends generally parallel to said first saw guide edge and generally perpendicular to said first and second surfaces;
said first marker guide being constructed and arranged so as to not extend beyond said first and second planar surfaces;
said 90-degree marker surface being adapted to be positioned a second given distance from said first saw guide edge as measured generally parallel to said first and second surfaces; and
a second manually adjustable marker guide movably mounted within said member;
said second marker guide having a second marker surface that extends generally parallel to said second saw guide edge and generally perpendicular to said first and second surfaces; and
said second marker surface being adapted to be positioned said second given distance from said second saw guide edge as measured generally parallel to said first and second surfaces.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The saw guide of claim 5, wherein:
said first given distance is about 3/8 inch;
said first saw guide edge is about 101/40 inch long;
said wood guide edge is about 101/4 inch long; and said arms extending about 5/8 of an inch beyond the first and second surfaces; and
said second saw guide edge is about 145/8 inch long.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The saw guide of claim 6, wherein said arms are about 3/8-inch thick.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The saw guide of claim 7, wherein said member is made from a material selected from the material group consisting of plastic, brass, aluminum, and an aluminum alloy.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The saw guide of claim 8, wherein said first and second marker guides are made from a material selected from the material group consisting of plastic, brass, aluminum, and an aluminum alloy.

### Claim 10

A manually operable saw guide for use with a power hand saw to selectively saw either a 90-degree cut or a 45-degree cut through a construction material member selected from the group consisting of 2.times.4, 2.times.6 and 2.times.8, the hand saw having a planar and rectangular foot member through which a circular saw blade extends generally perpendicular to the plane of the foot member, the saw blade being positioned parallel to one edge of the foot member and being spaced a given distance from said one edge, the saw guide comprising:
a unitary and rigid member shaped in the form of a right triangle having first and second generally parallel, flat, and triangular shaped surfaces;
said member having a 90-degree saw guide edge extending generally perpendicular between said first and second surfaces;
said member having a wood guide edge;
said wood guide edge having arms extending generally perpendicular between and extending beyond said first and second surfaces and adapted to physically engage one 2-inch side of the construction material member;
said 90-degree saw guide edge and said wood guide edge meeting to form a substantially right angle;
said member having a 45-degree saw guide edge extending generally perpendicular between said first and second surfaces and meeting said 90-degree saw guide edge and said wood guide edge so as to form a 45-degree right triangle therewith;
a 90-degree manually-adjustable marker guide movably mounted in said member;
said 90-degree marker guide having a marker surface that extends generally parallel to said 90-degree saw guide edge and generally perpendicular to said first and second surfaces;
said 90-degree marker guide being constructed and arranged so as to not extend beyond said first and second surfaces;
said 90-degree marker guide being adapted to position said marker surface said given saw distance from said 90-degree saw guide edge; and
a 45-degree manually-adjustable marker guide movably mounted in said member;
said 45-degree marker guide having a 45-degree marker surface that extends generally parallel to said 45-degree saw guide edge and generally perpendicular to said first and second surfaces;
said 45-degree marker guide being constructed and arranged so as to not extend beyond said first and second surfaces; and
said 45-degree marker guide being adapted to position said 45 degree marker surface said given saw distance from said 45-degree saw guide edge.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The saw guide of claim 10 further comprising:
a first linear array of nail holes formed in said member, said first array of nail holes being formed at an angle to said wood guide edge and at about 31/2 inches from said wood guide edge such that at least one of said first array of nail holes is adapted to be aligned with a 2-inch edge of a 2.times.4 whose opposing 2-inch edge engages said wood guide edge, thereby enabling a nail to be placed through a hole in said first array and functionally engage said 2.times.4;
a second linear array of nail holes formed in said member, said second array of nail holes being formed at an angle to said wood guide edge and at about 51/2 inches from said wood guide edge such that at least one of said second array of nail holes is adapted to be aligned with a 2-inch edge of a 2.times.6 whose opposing 2-inch edge engages said wood guide edge, thereby enabling a nail to be placed through a hole in said second array and functionally engage said 2.times.6; and
a third linear array of nail holes formed in said member, said third array of nail holes being formed at an angle to said wood guide edge and at about 71/4 inches from said wood guide edge such that at least one of said third array of nail holes is adapted to be aligned with a 2-inch edge of a 2.times.8 whose opposing 2-inch edge engages said wood guide edge, thereby enabling a nail to be placed through a hole in said third array and functionally engage said 2.times.8.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The saw guide of claim 11, wherein:
said first and second surfaces are spaced about 3/8-inch apart;
said 90-degree saw guide edge is about 101/4-inch long;
said wood guide edge is about 101/4 inch long;
said arms having a length extending beyond said first and second surface about 5/8-inch; and
said 45-degree saw guide edge is about 145/8-inch long.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The saw guide of claim 12, wherein said arms are about 3/8 inch thick.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The saw guide of claim 13, wherein said member is made from a material selected from the material group consisting of plastic, brass aluminum, and an aluminum alloy.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The saw guide of claim 14, wherein said two marker guides made from a material selected from the material group plastic, brass, aluminum, and aluminum alloy.

### Claim 16

A manually operable saw guide for use with a power hand saw having a circular saw blade that is offset a given distance from and is parallel to a linear edge of a foot member, the saw guide being usable to selectively saw either a 90-degree cut or an angled cut through sawable materials, the saw guide comprising:
a rigid and planar member shaped as a right triangle;
said member having a 90-degree saw guide edge;
said member having a wood guide edge that meets said 90-degree saw guide edge at a right angle;
said wood guide edge having arms that extend generally perpendicular from said member and is adapted to physically engage a linear side of a 4-inch wide sawable material, a linear side of a 6-inch wide sawable material, or a linear side of an 8-inch wide sawable material;
said member having an angled saw guide edge;
said member having a 90-degree manually adjustable pencil guide movably mounted in said member and having a first pencil guide surface that extends parallel to said 90-degree saw guide edge and is positioned said given saw blade distance from said 90-degree saw guide edge; and
said member having an angled manually adjustable pencil guide movably mounted in said member and having a second pencil guide surface that extends parallel to said angled saw guide edge and is positioned said given saw blade distance from said angled saw guide edge.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The saw guide of claim 16, wherein said sawable material is selected from the group consisting of 2.times.4, 2.times.6, and 2.times.8, said saw guide further comprising:
a first linear array of holes formed in said member, said first hole array being formed at an angle to said wood guide edge such that at least one of said first holes aligns with a first edge of a 2.times.4 whose second 2-inch edge engages said wood guide edge;
a second linear array of holes formed in said member, said second hole array being formed at an angle to said wood guide edge and at a second distance from said wood guide edge such that at least one of said second nail holes aligns with a first 2-inch edge of a 2.times.6 whose second 2-inch edge engages said wood guide edge; and
a third linear array of holes formed in said member, said third hole array being formed at an angle to said wood guide edge and a third distance from said wood guide edge such that at least one of said third holes aligns with a first 2-inch edge of a 2.times.8 whose second 2-inch edge engages said wood guide edge.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The saw guide of claim 17, wherein:
said saw guide is about 3/8-inch thick; and
said 90-degree saw guide edge and and said wood guide edge are both about 101/4-inch long and said angled saw guide edge is about 145/8 inch long.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The saw guide of claim 18, wherein said arms are about 3/8 inch thick.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The saw guide of claim 19, wherein said member is made from a material selected from the material group consisting of plastic, brass, aluminum, and an aluminum alloy.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The saw guide of claim 20, wherein said pencil guides are made of a material selected from the group plastic brass, aluminum, and an aluminum alloy.