Alignment device and method for aligning guide rails for a woodworking tool

A woodworking utensil comprising:

• first and second guide rails each including a tool base guiding track having first and second lateral walls, with each of the first and second guide rails having an end, with the end of the first guide rail adapted to abut the end of the second guide rail, with the tool base guiding tracks of the first and second guide rails adapted to be slideably received in a channel of a base of a woodworking tool;
• an alignment device for aligning the first and second guide rails abutting end-to-end in a straight line, with the alignment device including:
• a body including a first lateral surface extending in a length direction, with the body slideably rested on the first and second guide rails abutting end-to-end, with the first lateral surface extending across the abutting ends of the first and second guide rails, with the second lateral wall of each of the first and second guide rails located between the first lateral wall of each of the first and second guide rails and the first lateral surface of the body in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction;
• and
• first and second clamping pads mounted on the body and spaced from each other in the length direction and on opposite sides of the abutting ends of the first and second guide rails, with each of the first and second clamping pads moveable between a clamping position and a non-clamping position, with the clamping position having a spacing to the first lateral surface in the width direction smaller than the non-clamping position;
• and
• at least one connector fixing the first and second guide rails in the straight line together,
• wherein the first clamping pad presses against the first lateral wall of the first guide rail to abut the second lateral wall of the first guide rail against the first lateral surface of the body with the first clamping pad in the clamping position, wherein the second clamping pad presses against the first lateral wall of the second guide rail to abut the second lateral wall of the second guide rail against the first lateral surface of the body with the second clamping pad in the clamping position, aligning the first lateral wall of the first guide rail with the first lateral wall of the second guide rail, and aligning the second lateral wall of the first guide rail with the second lateral wall of the second guide rail;
• and with the body further including a second lateral surface parallel to the first lateral surface and spaced from the first lateral surface in the width direction, with the first and second lateral surfaces defining a space therebetween, with each of the first and second clamping pads moveably received in the space, with the tool base guiding tracks of the first and second guide rails slideably received in the space, with the body slideable relative to the tool base guiding tracks of the first and second guide rails in the length direction with the first and second clamping pads in the non-clamping position.