Automatic locking depth guide for cutting tools and the like

A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:

• a depth guide base;
• a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and configured to move between an extended and retracted position;
• and
• an automatic locking and release mechanism adjacent to the depth guide shaft for automatically locking the depth guide shaft into a locked position when the death guide shaft is moved into a desired position;
• wherein the automatic locking and release mechanism comprises a locking plate adjacent to the depth guide shaft;
• and
• wherein the automatic locking and release mechanism is mounted in a hand-held power tool handle and the depth guide shaft extends from the hand-held power tool handle.

A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:

• a depth guide base;
• a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and configured to move between an extended and retracted position;
• an automatic locking and release mechanism adjacent to the depth guide shaft for automatically locking the depth guide shaft into a locked position when the depth guide shaft is moved into a desired position;
• wherein the automatic locking and release mechanism comprises a locking plate adjacent to the depth guide shaft;
• further comprising a release switch coupled to the automatic locking mechanism to release the depth guide shaft from the locked position when the release switch is activated;
• and
• wherein friction between the locking plate and the depth guide shaft locks the depth guide shaft in the desired position.

A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:

• a handle;
• a depth guide base;
• a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and received in the handle;
• and
• a locking element provided in the handle for securing the depth guide shaft in a locked position when the depth guide shaft is moved to a desired position, the locking element including an aperture through which the depth guide shaft extends.

A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:

• a handle configured for removable attachment to a hand-held power tool;
• a depth guide base;
• a depth guide shaft coupled to the depth guide base and configured for sliding movement within the handle;
• and
• a locking plate provided within the handle for automatically locking the depth guide shaft in a locked position, the depth guide shaft adjacent to at least a portion of the locking plate.

An automatic-locking depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:

• a handle for a hand-held power tool;
• a release switch coupled to the handle;
• a depth guide base;
• a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and mounted in the hand-held power tool handle such that the depth guide shaft extends from the hand-held power tool handle;
• and
• a depth guide locking mechanism contained within the handle, the locking mechanism including a locking plate, the locking plate comprising an aperture through which the depth guide shaft extends and an extension for engaging a release element coupled to the release switch.

A hand-held power tool, comprising:

• a motor housing for containing a hand-held power tool motor;
• a depth guide attached to the motor housing, the depth guide configured for automatically locking the position of the depth guide when the depth guide is moved to a desired position;
• a depth guide shaft configured for sliding movement within the depth guide;
• and
• a locking plate including an aperture for receiving the depth guide shaft and for engaging the depth guide shaft to lock the position of the depth guide shaft.