# US 8,539,689 B2 · Guide rail for a hand-held power tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,689 B2 - Document ID: US8539689B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/102,128 - Filed: 2011-05-06 - Published: 2011-11-10 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-07 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Aldo Di Nicolantonio; Andre Hoffmann - Inventors: Aldo Di Nicolantonio; Andre Hoffmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539689B2 ## CPC - B25H 1/0078: {Guiding devices for hand tools} - Y10T 83/8878: Guide - B25H: WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT, e.g. FOR MARKING-OUT WORK; STORAGE MEANS FOR WORKSHOPS (storing or packaging B65) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A guide rail for a hand-held power tool includes at least two rail elements, which are to be joined together to form a common rail and which are held on one another by means of a releasable connecting device. The connecting device includes a joint device, by means of which the individual rails can be pivoted between a folded-together non-functioning position and a functioning position that lies in a common plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guide rail for a hand-held power tool comprising: a first rail element including a first top face and a first bottom face; a second rail element including a second top face and a second bottom face; a releasable connecting device configured to join the first and second rail elements together, the releasable connecting device including a joint device so that the first and second rail elements are pivotable between (i) a folded-together non-functioning position in which the first top face of the first rail element is positioned over the second top face of the second rail element, and (ii) a functioning position in which the first top face of the first rail element and the second top face of the second rail element lie in a common plane; and a latching device movable with respect to the first and second rail elements between a first latching position and a second latching position, wherein, when the latching device is located in the first latching position, the first rail element is fixed in relation to the second rail element, and wherein, when the latching device is located in the second latching position, the first and second rail elements are movable between the folded-together non-functioning position and the functioning position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the latching device includes a displaceable locking bar positionable in (i) the first latching position to fix the first rail element in relation to the second rail element and (ii) the second latching position so that first and second rail elements are movable between the folded-together non-functioning position and the functioning position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the latching device is a constituent part of the joint device, the latching device being positionable in (i) the first latching position to fix the first rail element in relation to the second rail element and (ii) the second latching position so that first and second rail elements are movable between the folded-together non-functioning position and the functioning position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the joint device comprises two slide strips and an intermediate joint unit that is pivotally connected to the slide strips, the slide strips being displaceably received in the first and second rail elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the joint device comprises a respective hinge on each rail element, the respective hinges being configured to be pivotally coupled to a joint piece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The guide rail according to claim 5, wherein the respective hinges have a shaft receiver for a joint shaft on the joint piece. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The guide rail according to claim 5, wherein the respective hinges are components that are separate from the first and second rail elements and are inserted in end-face recesses defined in the rail elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The guide rail according to claim 5, wherein at least one hinge of the joint device has two shaft receivers configured with an offset. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The guide rail according to claim 5, wherein the joint piece has a joint shaft at respective ends thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The guide rail according to claim 9, wherein the respective hinges have a shaft receiver configured to receive one of the joint shafts of the joint piece. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The guide rail according to claim 10, wherein the joint device is configured to be adjustable in length. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The guide rail according to claim 11, wherein at least one hinge of the joint device has two shaft receivers configured with an offset. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The guide rail according to claim 12, wherein the length of the joint device is adjustable between (i) a non-functioning length defined when the joint shaft of the joint device is positioned in the shaft receiver nearest the end face of the hinge and (ii) a functioning length defined when the joint shaft of the joint device is positioned in the shaft receiver farthest from the end face of the hinge, the non-functioning length being greater than the functioning length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The guide rail according to claim 13, wherein the joint device is in its non-functioning length when the first and second rail elements are in the folded-together non-functioning position and the joint device is in its functioning length when the first and second rail elements are in the functioning position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the joint device is configured to be adjustable in length. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein: the first rail element defines a first guide groove, the second rail element defines a second guide groove, when the first and second rail elements are positioned in the folded-together non-functioning position, the first guide groove is positioned over the second guide groove, and when the first and second rail elements are positioned in the functioning position, the first guide grove is aligned with the second guide groove.