TURNER, Stuart, Harold (Plasplugs Limited, Wetmore Road Burton-on-Trent, Staffordeshire DE14 1SD, GB)
HEPWORTH, Paul, Steabben (Stoneygate, Warwicks Bench Lane Guildford, Surrey GU1 3TP, GB)
TURNER, Stuart, Harold (Plasplugs Limited, Wetmore Road Burton-on-Trent, Staffordeshire DE14 1SD, GB)
CLAIMS:
1. A drill guide, for guiding a drill bit towards a predetermined drilling location on an object, comprising: a guide body defining an elongate bore for receiving a drill bit to be guided thereby, the guide body including a support surface which is securable to the object and at least one waste conduit formed in communication with the bore; and a collection member positioned relative to the or each waste conduit so as to, in-use, retain drilling debris expelled therethrough.
2. A drill guide according to Claim 1 wherein the collection member extends around an axis extending along the centre of the bore.
3. A drill guide according to Claim 2 wherein the collection member encloses the or each waste conduit.
4. A drill guide according to Claim 3 wherein the guide body includes a wall protruding therefrom so as to abut the collection member, the wall defining a collection recess for retaining drilling debris.
5. A drill guide according to any of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the collection member has a substantially circular cross-sectional profile.
6. A drill guide according to any preceding claim wherein the guide body and the collection member are separable from one another.
7. A drill guide according to Claim 6 wherein the guide body and the collection member include complementary interengaging formations, whereby one is securable to the other.
8. A drill guide according to any preceding claim wherein the or each waste conduit is also formed in communication with the support surface.
9. A drill guide according, to any preceding claim including five waste conduits equally spaced radially from one another' about an axis extending along ' the centre of the bore.
10. A drill guide according to any preceding claim further including at least ' one adhesive pad secured to the support surface, the or each adhesive pad being operable, in-use, to secure the drill guide to the object.
11. A drill guide according to any preceding claim wherein the guide body includes a plurality of indications for assisting a user in aligning the bore with the predetermined drilling location.
12. A drill guide according to any preceding claim wherein the collection member includes a transparent portion.
13. A drill guide apparatus, for guiding a drill bit towards a predetermined drilling location on an object, comprising: at least one a guide body defining an elongate bore for receiving a drill bit to be guided thereby, the guide body including a support surface which is securable to the object and at least one waste conduit formed in communication with the bore; and at least one collection member securable to the or each guide body in a position relative to the or each waste conduit such that, in-use, the collection member retains drilling debris expelled therethrough.
14. A drill guide generally as herein described, with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
15. A drill guide apparatus generally as herein described, with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. |
A DRILL GUIDE
AND A DRILL GUIDE APPARATUS
This invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to a drill guide and a drill guide apparatus,
When drilling an object, particularly a hard object such as a tile, it is difficult to ensure that drilling takes place in .a desired drilling location because the drill bit has a tendency to move across the surface of the object.
It is known to provide a drill guide which is securable to an object in order to guide a drill bit towards a predetermined drilling location.
However, a further problem when drilling is the creation of drilling debris which contaminates an area surrounding the drilling location and requires removal following completion of a drilling operation.
Therefore it is a general aim of the invention to facilitate the drilling of an object in a predetermined location while obviating the problems associated with the creation of drilhng debris.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a drill guide, for guiding a drill bit towards a predetermined drilling location on an object, comprising: ' • . a guide body defining an elongate bore for receiving a drill bit to be guided thereby, the guide body including a support surface which is securable to the object and at least one waste conduit formed in communication with the bore; and a collection member positioned relative to the or each waste conduit so as to, in-use, retain drilling debris expelled therethrough.
The inclusion of a collection member to retain drilling debris helps to minimise the spread of drilling debris to the area surrounding the drilling location and
provides a convenient way of removing the debris following completion of the drilling operation.
Conveniently the collection member extends around an axis extending along the centre of the bore. Such an arrangement helps to ensure retention of drilling debris regardless of the orientation of the drill guide on, e.g. a substantially vertically extending surface such as a wall.
Preferably the collection member encloses the or each waste conduit. This helps to ensure that all of the drilling debris is retained by the collection member.
Optionally the guide body includes a wall protruding therefrom so as to abut the collection member, the wall defining a collection recess for retaining drilling debris. The inclusion of a collection recess helps to retain the drilling debris when the drill guide is secured to, e.g. a substantially horizontally extending surface such as a floor.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the collection member has a substantially circular cross-sectional profile. Such a shape is readily manufacturable and is able to completely surround the or each waste conduit using a minimum amount of material, thereby helping to reduce manufacturing costs.
Conveniently the guide body and the collection member are " separable from one another. This allows a user to readily remove drilling debris from the collection member.
Preferably the guide body and the collection member include complementary interengaging formations, whereby one is securable to the other.
Optionally the or each waste conduit is also formed in communication with the support surface. This helps to aid the transfer of drilling debris from the predetermined drilling location to the collection member.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention the drill guide includes five waste conduits equally spaced radially from, one another about an axis extending along the centre of the bore. Such an arrangement helps to ensure adequate transfer of drilling debris from the bore to the collection member regardless of the orientation of the drilling guide.
Conveniently the drill guide further includes at least one adhesive pad secured to the support surface, the or each adhesive pad being operable, in-use, to secure the drill guide to the object.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the guide body includes a plurality of indications for assisting a user in aligning the bore with the predetermined drilling location.
Optionally the collection member includes a transparent portion. This allows a user to readily see when the collection member needs emptying of clrilling debris.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a drill guide apparatus, for guiding a drill bit towards a predetermined drilling location on an object, comprising: at least one a guide body defining an elongate bore for receiving a drill bit to be guided thereby, the guide body including a support surface which is securable to the object and at least one waste conduit formed in communication with the bore; and at least one collection member securable to the or each guide body in a position relative to the or each waste conduit such that, in-use, the collection member retains drilhng debris expelled therethrough.
The second aspect of the invention shares the advantages of the first aspect of the invention.
There now follows a brief description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the accompanying • drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a drill guide according to a first embodiment of the invention; ' .
Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the drill guide shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows a rear elevational view of the drill guide shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 shows an elevational view from one side of the drill guide shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 5 shows a front elevational view of the drill guide shown in Figure l; . .
A drill guide according to a first embodiment of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The drill guide 10 includes a guide body 12 and a collection member 14. In the embodiment shown the collection member 14 is made from a transparent material.
The guide body 12 defines an elongate bore 16 for receiving a drill bit (not shown) to be guided thereby. In the embodiment shown the bore 16 is substantially cylindrical, although bores having a different cross-sectional profile are also ■ possible.
The guide body 12 includes a support surface 18 which, in-use, is securable to an ' object. In the embodiment shown the guide body 12 includes five waste conduits 20, each of which is formed in communication with the bore 16 and the support surface 18. The waste conduits 20 have an elongate cross-sectional profile and are equally spaced radially from one another about an axis 22 extending along the centre of the bore 16. Other embodiments of the invention may have differing numbers, shapes and relative arrangements of waste conduit.
In the embodiment shown, the collection member 14 extends around the axis 22 and encloses each of the five waste conduits 20. The collection member 14 has a
substantially circular cross-sectional profile which is open at a first end 24 and closed at a second end 26 except for a annular aperture 28. The annular aperture 28 is spaced inwards from the closed, second end 26 and defines a first interengaging formation 30. Other shapes of collection member 14 and first interengaging formation 30, as well as arrangements thereof are also possible.
The guide body 12 and the collection member 14 are separable from one another.
The guide body 12 includes five, second interengaging formations 32, each located adjacent to a respective waste conduit 20. Other numbers and arrangements of second interengaging formation 32 are also possible.
The first and second interengaging formations 30, 32 are complimentary such that in cooperation they are able to secure the guide body 12 and the collection member 14 to one another.
The guide body also includes a wall 34 protruding therefrom. In the embodiment shown, the wall 34 is substantially cylindrical and abuts the first end 24 of the collection member 14. The wall 34 defines a collection recess 36.
The drill guide 10 also includes an adhesive pad 38 which is secured, preferably by an adhesive, to the support surface 18. The adhesive pad 38 may include a removable backing (not shown) which is removable in use so as to expose a surface of the adhesive pad 38. The adhesive pad 38 shown includes an aperture 40 which allows the waste conduits 20 to remain exposed when the adhesive pad 38 is secured to the support surface 18, as shown in Figure 3.
Four indications 42 are included on the guide body 12 which assist a user in aligning the bore 16 with a predetermined drilling location. The guide body may also, optionally include an indicator 44 which provides a user with information relating to the diameter of drill bit that is usable with the drill guide 10.
A user may use the drill guide 10 for drilling in a surface having any orientation.
The user secures the drill guide 10 to the drilling. surface, e.g/a wall or floor, using the adhesive pad 38, so as to align the bore 16 with a predetermined drilling location (not shown).
While drilling in. the predetermined drilling location the debris created thereby passes through each waste conduit 20 and is retained by the collection member 14.
Following completion of the drilling operation, the user may remove the drill ' guide. 10 from the drilling surface before separating the guide body 12 and collection member 14 so as to empty the drilling debris in, e.g. a waste bin.
Alternatively, on completion of drilling in a substantially horizontally extending surface such as a floor, the user may separate the guide body 12 and the collection member 14. The collection recess 36 holds the retained drilling debris which a user may then remove, or empty into, e.g. a waste bin following removal of the guide body 12 from the drilling surface.