This invention has been devised to provide a power tool mounting assembly whereby a power tool when mounted therein may perform a multiplicity of functions in an extremely simple and efficient manner and at the same time provides a mounting assembly which permits a power tool to carry out an increased number of functions which has not been possible with such assemblies as used hitherto.

In the following description the invention will be described with reference to a mounting assembly for a power saw. It is to be clearly understood however that the invention is described in this manner only by way of example. The - mounting assembly can be used for other implements such as routers and power drills.

According to the invention the mounting assembly permits the power tool, in this case a saw, to successfully perform a multiplicity of operations such as a drop saw, a radial saw, a docking saw, cross cut or a bench rip saw. The power tool may be adapted for cutting and machining wood, metal and ceramics as is well understood in the art and as previously indicated the mounting assembly considerably enlarges and simplifies the method of use of power tools particularly in relation to the making of complex angle cuts in the work piece being processed. It is a feature of

O

this invention that the mounting assembly according to one form of the invention is portable. It may be conveniently taken from location to location and readily adapted to accommodate any particular type

5 of power tool which it is desired to use in it.

The invention in one aspect resides in a power tool mounting assembly which comprises a ^" base plate having a radial arm pivotally connected to the underside thereof, the arm having a yoke member

10 _. fixed. thereto with a power tool support arm assembly fixed to a cross head which is pivotally supported in the yoke and in its operative position extending across said base plate above the radial arm and means on the support arm assembly to

15 detachably secure a power tool thereto.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the ⁰ mounting assembly according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the mounting assembly illustrated in Figure 1 showing in dotted outline the pivotal movement of the power tool mounting arm 5 and also illustrating part of a work bench; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;

O

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 3. 3 of F-igure

3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a further embodiment of the invention; 5 Figure 6 is a plan view of the mounting means illustrated in Figure 1 showing the use of outriggers whereby the conventional work bench illustrated in Figure 2 may be dispensed with;

Figure 7 is a plan view similar to Figure 5 but 10 illustrating the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and

Figure 8 is a part plan view illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2. The mounting means comprises a base plate 8 which is ^{' •} 15 semi-circular in plan view, A radial arm 9 terminating in a boss 10 is pivotally connected by pin 11 to the underside of the plate 8. The arm 9 lies closely adjacent to the underside of the plate 8 but is freely movable thereunder about its pivot 0 point. The arm 9 has an index member 12 includes a pointer 13 secured thereto. The pointer is juxtaposed a scale 14 on the upper surface of the plate. A screw 15 passes through the member 12 to bear against the plate 8 and so lock the arm 9 at 5 ^an Y desired angular position with reference to the scale 14.

The arm 9_ is provided with a circular tubular extension member 16 on which is positioned a yoke member designated generally by reference 17. This member is preferably formed in one piece, it includes two spaced arms 18 and 19 joined to a shank 20 which is provided with a bore 21 and a connecting slot 22. The yoke member is positioned on the extension 16 which passes through the bore 21 and is locked in a desired position by a nut and bolt combination 23 passing through a bore in the shank 20.

A power implement supporting arm assembly designated generally by the 'reference 24 is slidably supported on a cross head designated generally by the reference 25. The cross head has a body portion 26 provided with two spaced downwardly extending lugs 27 and 28 which are provided with bores 29 adapted to register with bores 30 in yoke member 17 whereby the cross head is pivotally supported in the member 17 by a pin or pins 31 which passes through the bores 29 and 30. A cross head 25 is also provided with a downwardly depending lug 32 which has a bolt 33 passing therethrough. The bolt is provided with a lock ^' nut 34 whereby the part may be locked at any desired position with reference to the shank 20.

The body portion 26 of the cross head is provided with a bore in which is slidably supported one limb 35 of the power implement support arm assembly 24. The other limb 36 of the assembly is connected to the arm 35 by two spaced transverse members 37 and 38 which may be integral with the limb 36 or permanently fixed thereto.

The members 37 and 38 are provided with bores which are connected by slots 39 and 40 to the free ends of such members. Bolts 41 and 42 pass through the members 37 and 38 whereby the limb 36 is adjustably connected with the limb 35. The limb 36 is additionally slidably connected with- the cross head 25 by a bracket 43 and bolt 44 as illustrated in Figure 1.

In addition to serving as a means of connecting one end of the limb 36 to the limb 35 the transverse member 37 also constitutes the first member of two clamping members, the second clamping member being identified by the reference 45. The clamping or transverse member 45 is provided with a bore through which passes the limb 35 the member 45 being rigidly clamped on the limb 35 by a nut and handle member 46. Each of the members 37 and 45 is provided with an inwardly facing flange 47 and 48, the free edge of which is serrated as indicated at 49 and 50.

A power operated implement in this cas-e a power saw is locked in position between the clamping members 37 and 45. It will be understood that the power implement may be of a wide variety of shapes and it does not form part of this invention. For this reason the saw 51 is only shown in outline. It will be appreciated that the transverse member 37 may be moved along the limb 35 so as to accommodate different sizes of power implements to be used with the assembly.

A counter weight or weights 52 is or are fixed to the transverse member 38 by studs and wing nuts 53 and 54. The weight of this member is of such magnitude as to normally cause the ^' power implement supporting member to assume the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 2. It is necessary so that the saw in its inoperative position does not obstruct access to the work bench 55 (see Figure 2) . In order to ^' control the movement of the saw guard 56 the guard 48 is connected to the cross head 25 by a tension spring 57, one end of which is fixed to a lug 58 secured to the saw guard 56 while the other end of which is fixed to the end of a vertical post 58 secured to the cross head 25.

The base plate 8 is detachably secured to the work bench 55 by means (not shown) and a work

piece stop member 59 is fixed to the bench as is customary in the art, the bench being provided with pairs of legs 60 and 61 as illustrated in Figure 2. As the arm assembly 24 is pushed downwardly , over the work bench 55 the spring causes the guard 56 to rotate to a position where the teeth of the saw are exposed and when the arm assembly is raised as shown in Figure 2 the guard automaticlly moves to the closed position. It will be understood that the work bench does not form part of this invention and is illustrated solely for the sake of completeness of description.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the like parts are given the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 and 2. In this case the arm assembly 24 comprises channel member 62 having two longitudinally extending carriage housings 63 and 64 fixed thereto by means of bolts and nuts 65 and 66. Carriages 67 and 68 in the housings are adapted to travel on rails 69 and 70 fixed to the cross head 25 by screws 71 and 72. In this case the cross head is of slightly different configuration to the cross head illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It includes a rail supporting platform P with downwardly depending lugs 27 and 28, a screw 72 provided with a domed head 73 passes through the rail supporting platform P to

releasably engage the underside of the arm 62 to lock the arm in any desired longitudinal position relative to the rail supporting platform. The other integers of the cross bead are the same as in the Figures 1 and 2 emodiment and the cross head is secured to the yoke in the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

The channel member 62 has counter weights 52 fixed thereto and the other end of the arm has a transverse member 37 likewise fixed thereto. This member is provided with an extension 37a having a bore through which the limb 35 passes and the method of clamping a power tool in •the arm- is-the .same as described with reference to the previous embodiment.

It will be appreciated that the manner in which the yoke member 17 is mounted on the extension 16 permits the yoke to slide along the extension to provide additional flexibility in the distance of travel of the power tool in a working operation. More importantly the mounting permits the yoke to be rotated relative to the extension 16 to permit a power saw to cut at angles in addition to the vertical. In order to provide ease of operations in selecting the desired angle of cut a scale 74 is fixed to the extension 16 by a collar

OM

75. A grub screw 76 passing through the collar firmly attaches the collar and scale to the extension. A pointer 77 is fixed to the shank 20 whereby the angle of inclination of the yoke 17 to the extension 16 is easily determinable. It will be understood that the scale arrangement just described can be readily used on the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 5 illustrates an adaption for mounting the power tool whereby in the case of the embodiment illustrated the saw may. be readily changed from a cross/cut mode to a rip saw mode by transversing the saw through an angle of 90° in.its mounting. As in the case of the previous embodiments the same parts are identified by the same reference numerals. In the case of this arrangement a different method is used to mount the power saw in the support arm assembly. To this end the transverse member 37 does not have the outwardly facing flange 56 as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1.

Subject to this modification the transverse member is identical in all respects to that illustrated in Figure 1 and it is secured to the arm 35 in the same manner. The tranverse member 45 is removed from the arm 35 by manipulation of the nut 46 and the saw 48 is connected to the transverse member 37 by a

bracket designated generally by the reference 78. The bracket includes a ϋ-shaped portion 79 which is fitted over the end of the transverse member 37 with the limbs 80 and 81 of the member located on either side of the member 37 as illustrated. A pin 82 passes through the limbs and the transverse member 37.

The bracket 78 is provided with upwardly standing extension 82a which has a laterally extending extension piece 83 integral therewith. The extension 83 is provided with an arcuate slot 84 through which passes a stud 85 fixed to the saw housing. A boss 86 on the stud correctly positions the saw in.relation to the extension piece 83 and the saw is locked in position on the bracket by a nut 87. As it is essential that the saw be firmly clamped to the bracket the nut is provided with a lever extension 88 in order to ensure that proper tension is applied to the nut. The lever 88 also ensures that the saw can be rapidly changed from the cross cut to the rip saw mode as illustrated. Means (not shown) are provided to firmly clamp the saw in its mounting in either mode.

Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 1 and shows adaption whereby the apparatus can be used in conjunction with a lightly constructed work bench

or table 55. In ^' this case-outriggers 89 a-nd 90 are removably connected to the underside of the baseplate 8. These outriggers include legs (not shown) to engage the surface supporting the work bench or table.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the Figure 5 embodiment and also illustrates the use of outriggers.

Figure 8 illustrates a modification suitable for adapting the apparatus to an inexpensive drop saw mode. This particular adaption renders the ^' mounting means highly portable. In this case the work piece stop member is formed by an L-shaped member 91 which is supported on two cross arms 92 and 93 which are adapted to rest on a suitable

'support such as a table or work bench. The base plate 8 is secured to the underside of the member 91 and the arm 9 with the tubular extension 16 is secured to the base plate as previously described. The yoke member 17.with the cross head 25 having the arm 35 supported thereon is mounted on the extension 16 as before. The transverse or clamping members 37 and 45 are likewise mounted on the arm 35 as before but in this case the arm 36 is omitted and the structure of this embodiment is much lighter than that of the previous embodiments.

OM

Because of this -the counter weights 49 are not needed and the saw may be simply counter balanced by a spring 94 about the pin 31, one end of which is connected to the yoke member 17 and the other end of which is connected to the cross head 25.

The various embodiments describe and illustrate a power tool mounting assembly which is efficient, easily manufactured and enables power tools such as saws when mounted thereon to perform a multiplicity of functions which has not been possible with power tool mounting assemblies as manufactured hitherto.

It will be apparent that many minor modifications and variations to the assembly may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

O