Self-adjusting pocket hole jig system

Abstract

A self-adjusting pocket hole jig system is presented having a base, an upright assembly operably connected to the base, a clamping assembly, operably connected to the upright assembly, a handle operably connected to the clamping assembly, and a drill guide assembly operably connected to the clamping assembly. The drill guide assembly is configured and arranged to move along the upright assembly between an unclamped position and a clamped position in response to movement of the handle. Movement of the handle simultaneously adjusts the height of the drill guide assembly as well as facilitates clamping of the drill guide assembly for workpieces of various thicknesses.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pocket hole jig system, comprising;
 a base;   an upright assembly operably connected to the base;   a clamping assembly operably connected to the upright assembly;   a handle operably connected to the clamping assembly;   wherein the handle is moveable between a raised position and a lowered position;   a drill guide assembly;   the drill guide assembly operably connected to the clamping assembly;   a drill guide block;   the drill guide block configured to operably connect to, and be removed from, the drill guide assembly;   wherein the drill guide block has a clamping face;   wherein the drill guide block has a plurality of drill guides having corresponding bores that intersect the clamping face.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  1 , wherein the base has a lower portion and a backstop, wherein the backstop is positioned opposite the upright assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  1 , wherein the upright assembly extends upward and away from the base at an angle such that, when the drill guide block is attached to the drill guide assembly, the drill guide block moves downward and forward toward a workpiece when the handle is moved from a raised position to a lowered position. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  1 , wherein a workpiece is clamped between a backstop of the base and the clamping face of the drill guide block. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  1 , wherein the drill guide block has connection features and the drill guide assembly has connection features; wherein the connection features of the drill guide block are configured to engage the connection features of the drill guide assembly to facilitate installation of the drill guide block on the drill guide assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  1 , wherein the drill guide block has connection features; wherein the connection features of the drill guide block are one or more recesses. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  1 , wherein the drill guide assembly has connection features; wherein the connection features of the drill guide assembly are one or more projections connected to spring loaded buttons. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  1 , wherein the drill guide block has connection features and the drill guide assembly has connection features;
 wherein the connection features of the drill guide block are one or more recesses and the connection features of the drill guide assembly are one or more projections;   wherein the connection features of the drill guide block are configured to engage the connection features of the drill guide assembly;   wherein the connection features of the drill guide assembly are spring biased;   wherein when the spring bias of the connection features of the drill guide assembly are compressed they release the connection features of the drill guide block allowing the drill guide block to be removed.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  1 , further comprising a clamp force adjustment mechanism operably connected with the clamping assembly, wherein the clamp force adjustment mechanism adjusts clamping pressure applied on a workpiece. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  1 , wherein the clamping assembly includes a linkage assembly that clamps a workpiece in an over-center condition. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  1 , further comprising a return spring wherein the return spring facilitates automatic return of the drill guide assembly to the unclamped position. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  1 , wherein the drill guide assembly includes an opening that receives a dust collection member that facilitates removal of woodchips, dust and debris generated during drilling. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  1 , wherein the user moves the handle to adjust the height of the drill guide block, based on thickness of a workpiece, as well as to clamp the workpiece. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  1 , wherein movement of the handle from the raised position to the lowered position automatically lowers the drill guide block to the appropriate height for workpieces of different thicknesses. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  1 , wherein movement of the handle from the raised position to the lowered position automatically moves the drill guide block to a corresponding forward position for a workpiece based on thickness of the workpiece. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  1 , wherein movement of the handle from the raised position to the lowered position automatically applies approximately a set clamping pressure on workpieces of different thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  1 , wherein the handle moves in a single plane to facilitate clamping as well as unclamping of the workpiece. 
     
     
         18 . They system of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a backstop and the backstop includes a grip pad. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  1 , wherein the base has a backstop and the backstop includes a grip pad;
 wherein the grip pad of the backstop is comprised of a compressible material having a high coefficient of friction.   
     
     
         20 . A pocket hole jig system, comprising;
 a base;   an upright assembly operably connected to the base;   a clamping assembly operably connected to the upright assembly;   a handle operably connected to the clamping assembly;   wherein the handle is moveable between a raised position and a lowered position;   a drill guide assembly;   the drill guide assembly operably connected to the clamping assembly;   the drill guide assembly having one or more connection features;   a drill guide block;   the drill guide block operably connected to the drill guide assembly;   the drill guide block having a clamping face;   the drill guide block having one or more generally cylindrical bores;   the drill guide block having one or more connection features;   wherein the one or more connection features of the drill guide block are configured to engage the one or more connection features of the drill guide assembly;   wherein the connection features of the drill guide block are recesses;   wherein the connection features of the drill guide assembly are projections connected to spring biased members;   wherein when the one or more connection features of the drill guide assembly are pressed, they release the one or more connection features of the drill guide block allowing the drill guide block to be removed.   
     
     
         21 . A pocket hole jig system, comprising;
 a base;   an upright assembly operably connected to the base;   a clamping assembly operably connected to the upright assembly;   a handle operably connected to the clamping assembly;   wherein the handle is moveable between a raised position and a lowered position;   a drill guide assembly operably connected to the clamping assembly;   the drill guide assembly having one or more connection features;   a drill guide block;   the drill guide block having generally cylindrical bores;   the drill guide block having one or more connection features;   wherein the one or more connection features of the drill guide block are configured to engage the one or more connection features of the drill guide assembly and thereby facilitate installation and removal of the drill guide block;   wherein when the drill guide block is attached to the drill guide assembly, movement of the handle from the raised position to the lowered position adjusts the height of the drill guide block and drill guide assembly to facilitate clamping of workpieces of various thicknesses.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  21 , wherein when the drill guide block is attached to the drill guide assembly, movement of the handle from the raised position to the lowered position locks drill guide block and drill guide assembly in position to complete a clamping process. 
     
     
         23 . A method of forming pocket holes, the steps comprising;
 providing a pocket hole jig having a base with a lower portion and a backstop, an upright assembly operably connected to the base, a clamping assembly operably connected to the upright assembly, a drill guide assembly operably connected to the clamping assembly, a drill guide block, and a handle operably connected to the clamping assembly;   installing the drill guide block onto the drill guide assembly;   placing a workpiece having a thickness between the backstop of the base and the drill guide assembly;   moving the handle from an unclamped position to a clamped position thereby causing the drill guide assembly to move along the upright assembly downward and toward the workpiece and the backstop until the drill guide assembly operatively engages the workpiece at which point the clamping assembly clamps the workpiece between the backstop and the drill guide assembly.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  23 , further comprising the step of drilling at least one pocket hole in the workpiece by inserting a drill bit through a bore of the drill guide block in the drill guide assembly after the workpiece is clamped. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  23 , further comprising the steps of:
 drilling at least one pocket hole in the workpiece by inserting a drill bit through a bore of the drill guide block in the drill guide assembly after the workpiece is clamped;   moving the handle from a clamped position to an unclamped position after at least one pocket hole is drilled in the workpiece thereby causing the drill guide assembly to move along the upright assembly upward and away from the workpiece and the backstop thereby disengaging the workpiece.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  23 , further comprising the steps of:
 drilling at least one pocket hole in the workpiece by inserting a drill bit through a bore of the drill guide block in the drill guide assembly after the workpiece is clamped;   unclamping the workpiece after the at least one pocket hole is drilled in the workpiece by moving the handle from a clamped position to an unclamped position thereby causing the drill guide assembly to move along the upright assembly upward and away from the workpiece and the backstop.   
     
     
         27 . A method of forming pocket holes, the steps comprising;
 providing a pocket hole jig having a base with a lower portion and a backstop, an upright assembly operably connected to the base, a clamping assembly operably connected to the upright assembly, a drill guide assembly operably connected to the clamping assembly, and a handle operably connected to the clamping assembly;   placing a workpiece having a thickness between the backstop of the base and the drill guide assembly;   moving the handle from an unclamped position to a clamped position thereby causing the drill guide assembly to move along the upright assembly downward and toward the workpiece and the backstop until the drill guide assembly engages the workpiece at which point the clamping assembly clamps the workpiece between the backstop and the drill guide assembly.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  27 , further comprising the step of drilling at least one pocket hole in the workpiece by inserting a drill bit through a bore of a drill guide in the drill guide assembly after the workpiece is clamped. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  27 , further comprising the steps of:
 drilling at least one pocket hole in the workpiece by inserting a drill bit through a bore of a drill guide in the drill guide assembly after the workpiece is clamped;   moving the handle from a clamped position to an unclamped position after at least one pocket hole is drilled in the workpiece thereby causing the drill guide assembly to move along the upright assembly upward and away from the workpiece and the backstop thereby disengaging the workpiece.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  27 , further comprising the steps of:
 drilling at least one pocket hole in the workpiece by inserting a drill bit through a bore of a drill guide in the drill guide assembly after the workpiece is clamped;   unclamping the workpiece after at least one pocket hole is drilled in the workpiece by moving the handle from a clamped position to an unclamped position thereby causing the drill guide assembly to move along the upright assembly upward and away from the workpiece and the backstop.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  27 , wherein the unclamped position of the handle is a raised position. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  27 , wherein the clamped position of the handle is a lowered position. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  27 , wherein clamping of the workpiece requires only movement of the handle by the user. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  27 , wherein the clamping assembly automatically adjusts to various workpiece thicknesses. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  27 , wherein when the workpiece is clamped, the clamping assembly is in an over-center condition.