Support and guide

Abstract

A support cradle ( 11 ) adapted to support a tool ( 13 ) having a cutting element associated with a cutting face ( 15 ) at which the cutting element is accessible to a work piece, the cradle in use to be associated with guide ( 21 ) comprising a support face ( 23 ) and a guide face ( 25 ) which is to be coextensive with the support face, the cradle having a lower face ( 27 ) which is to be maintained in face to face relationship with the support face and a side face ( 29 ) which is to be maintained in face to face relationship with the guide face, the cradle configured to receive and support said tool such that the cutting face is located above the guide and is accessible across the guide face whereby with longitudinal movement of the cradle along the guide face the cutting element is caused to move in a path having a form corresponding to that of the guide face, clamping means ( 35 ) provided from the cradle and adapted to releasably engage and support the tool on the cradle such that the cutting element is held in fixed space relation to the guide face.

1 . A support cradle adapted to support a tool having a cutting element associated with a cutting face at which the cutting element is accessible to a work piece, the cradle in use to be associated with a guide comprising a support face and a guide face which is to be coextensive with the support face, the cradle having a lower face which is to be maintained in face to face relationship with the support face and a side face which is to be maintained in face to face relationship with the guide face, the cradle configured to receive and support said tool such that the cutting face is located above the guide and is accessible across the guide face whereby with longitudinal movement of the cradle along the guide face the cutting element is caused to move in a path having a form corresponding to that of the guide face, clamping means provided from the cradle and adapted to releasably engage and support the tool on the cradle such that the cutting element is held in fixed space relation to the guide face.  
   
   
       2 . A support cradle according to  claim 1  wherein the side face is located above the lower face.  
   
   
       3 . A support cradle according to  claim 2  wherein the side face extends upwardly from the lower face and is perpendicular to the support face.  
   
   
       4 . A support cradle according to any of the preceding claims wherein the lower face is provided with a set of first supports which are to support the lower face in spaced relation from the support face.  
   
   
       5 . A support cradle according to  claim 4  wherein the first supports are adapted to be slidably received on the support face.  
   
   
       6 . A support cradle according to  claim 4  or  claim 5  wherein the side face is provided with a set of second supports which are to support the side face from the guide face in spaced relation.  
   
   
       7 . A support cradle according to  claim 6  wherein the second supports are adapted to be slidably received over the guide face.  
   
   
       8 . A support cradle according to  claim 6  or  claim 7  wherein the guide face is profiled longitudinally to provide a non-linear support and the second supports engage the guide face to enable the cutting element to define a path of corresponding form to that of the guide face with relative longitudinal movement between the cradle and the guide.  
   
   
       9 . A support cradle according to any of  claims 6  to  8  wherein the second supports comprise at least one elongate element extending from the side face to be engageable at its outer end with the guide face.  
   
   
       10 . A support cradle according to any of the preceding claims wherein a support element is provided on the cradle, said support element being transversely spaced from the side face, the support element, in use, being engageable with an elongate guide element provided along the support face, said guide element being parallel to the guide face, the engagement between the support element and the guide element maintaining a spacing between the guide face and the side face throughout the range of longitudinal movement of the cradle with respect to the guide.  
   
   
       11 . A support cradle according to  claim 10  wherein engagement between the support element and the guide element further prevents relative displacement between the lower face and the support face in the region of the support element and guide element.  
   
   
       12 . A support cradle according to  claim 10  or  111  as dependent from any of  claims 6  to  9  wherein the engagement between the support element and guide element is adapted to enable the cradle to move transversely on the support surface as a result of transverse displacement of the second support members in their movement over the guide face.  
   
   
       13 . A support cradle according to any of  claims 10  to  12  wherein the support element is transversely displaceable with respect to the cradle.  
   
   
       14 . A support cradle according to any of the preceding claims wherein the clamping means comprises a guard which in use is supported to the side of the cutting face which is opposite the guide, said guard extending outwardly from the clamping means to overlie the space outward of the cutting face.  
   
   
       15 . A support cradle according to  claim 14  wherein the guard comprises a plate element.  
   
   
       16 . A support cradle according to  claim 14  or  claim 15  wherein the guard is transparent.  
   
   
       17 . A support cradle, according to any of the preceding claims, provided by an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being engageable with the guide and the upper portion adapted to support the tool, the upper portion being displaceable from the lower portion, locking means provided between the lower portion and the upper portion to lockingly retain the portions in fixed relation to each other.  
   
   
       18 . A support cradle according to  claim 17  wherein the portions are pivotally interconnected to enable the angular displacement of the cutting face relative to the guide face.  
   
   
       19 . A support cradle according to  claim 18  wherein the pivot axis is located proximate the side face and substantially parallel to the side face.  
   
   
       20 . A support cradle according to any of the preceding claims for which said tool is a hand planer.  
   
   
       21 . A support cradle according to any of  claims 1  to  19  for which said tool is a router.  
   
   
       22 . A guide, adapted to be used with a support cradle intended to support a tool having a cutting element associated with a cutting face at which the cutting element is accessible to a work piece, said guide comprising a support face and a guide face, which is perpendicular to the support face and having a longitudinal extent, the guide being adapted to receive the cradle such that a lower face of the cradle is in slidable face to face relationship with the support face and a side face of the cradle is in slidable face to face relationship with the guide face, the guide comprising a surface extending from the guide face in opposed relation to the support face, said surface being adapted to receive and support the work piece.  
   
   
       23 . A guide according to  claim 22  wherein the support face is provided with an elongate guide element which is in substantially parallel relationship with the guide face and which is engageable with a support element of the cradle, the engagement between the guide element and support element controlling displacement of the cradle laterally with respect to the guide face and/or the support face.  
   
   
       24 . A guide according to  claim 22  or  claim 23  wherein the surface is associated with a clamping means which is adapted to engage and retain a work piece in position on the surface.  
   
   
       25 . A guide according to any of  claims 22  to  24  wherein the surface is provided with one or more stop members which are capable of receiving and supporting the work piece on the surface to enable the work piece to be located in a desired position on the surface.  
   
   
       26 . A guide according to  claim 25  wherein the surface is provided with a plurality of stop members, said stop members being displaceable transversely relative to the guide face.  
   
   
       27 . A guide according to any of  claims 22  to  26  wherein the guide face is profiled longitudinally to provide a non-linear guide face.  
   
   
       28 . A guide according to  claim 25 , or any claim appended thereto, wherein at least one stop member comprises a support member which is rotatably supported on the stop member about an axis perpendicular to the surface and locking means provided between the stop member and the support member to retain the support member in a particular predetermined angular position relative to the guide face, said support member providing a support surface for the work piece on the surface.  
   
   
       29 . A guide according to any of  claims 22  to  28  wherein the surface is angularly displaceable relative to the guide face about an axis proximate and parallel to the guide face.  
   
   
       30 . A guide according to any of  claims 22  to  29  comprising a first support having a mounting adapted to receive an elongate member in parallel relation to the support surface, the surface of the elongate member comprising the guide face, the first support adapted to be able to rotate the elongate member about its central axis, the guide further comprising a second support having a mounting adapted to receive an elongate work piece in parallel relation to the elongate member, the second support adapted to be able to rotate the work piece about its central axis in correspondence with the elongate member.  
   
   
       31 . A support cradle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
   
   
       32 . A guide substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.