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A guide (12) for setting the depth of cut of a rotary cutting tool, or other hand-held power tool, which automatically locks into a desired position to set the depth of a cut without requiring manual operation of a locking knob or similar structure. The depth guide is released from the locked positi

A guide (12) for setting the depth of cut of a rotary cutting tool, or other hand-held power tool, which automatically locks into a desired position to set the depth of a cut without requiring manual operation of a locking knob or similar structure. The depth guide is released from the locked position by actuation of a release switch (94). The depth guide includes a depth guide base (50), a depth guide shaft (52) attached to the depth guide base, and an automatic locking and release mechanism (54) coupled to the depth guide shaft. The automatic locking and release mechanism and depth guide shaft may be mounted in a handle (24) of the hand-held power tool, such as a detachable handle, for mounting the depth guide to the tool.

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1. A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:a depth guide base; a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and configured to move between an extended and retracted position; and an automatic locking and release mechanism adjacent to the depth guide shaft for automatically locki

1. A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:a depth guide base; a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and configured to move between an extended and retracted position; and an automatic locking and release mechanism adjacent to the depth guide shaft for automatically locking the depth guide shaft into a locked position when the depth guide shaft is moved into a desired position; wherein the automatic locking and release mechanism comprises a locking plate adjacent to the depth guide shaft, the locking plate including an aperture through which the depth guide shaft extends. 2. The depth guide of claim 1, further comprising means for biasing the depth guide shaft into an extended position when the depth guide shaft is released from the locked position.3. The depth guide of claim 2, wherein the means for biasing the depth guide shaft into the extended position includes a spring coupled to the depth guide shaft.4. The depth guide of claim 1, wherein the automatic locking mechanism automatically locks the depth guide shaft into a locked position by preventing movement of the depth guide shaft in the extending direction while allowing movement of the depth guide shaft in the retracting direction.5. The depth guide of claim 1, further comprising a release switch coupled to the automatic locking mechanism to release the depth guide shaft from the locked position when the release switch is activated.6. The depth guide of claim 5, further comprising a locking plate release element which engages the locking plate and is coupled to the release switch.7. The depth guide of claim 5, wherein the locking plate is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the depth guide shaft when the depth guide shaft is in the locked position.8. The depth guide of claim 1, further comprising a depth adjustment mechanism coupled to the depth guide shaft to prevent movement of the depth adjustment shaft in a retracting direction beyond a selected amount.9. The depth guide of claim 1, further comprising depth gradations marked on the depth guide shaft.10. The depth guide of claim 1, further comprising an edge guide coupled to the depth guide base.11. The depth guide of claim 10, wherein the edge guide includes a shaft and the depth guide base includes an aperture, the edge guide shaft being adapted to be received in the aperture of the depth guide base.12. A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:a depth guide base; a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and configured to move between an extended and retracted position; and an automatic locking and release mechanism adjacent to the depth guide shaft for automatically locking the depth guide shaft into a locked position when the death guide shaft is moved into a desired position; wherein the automatic locking and release mechanism comprises a locking plate adjacent to the depth guide shaft; and wherein the automatic locking and release mechanism is mounted in a hand-held power tool handle and the depth guide shaft extends from the hand-held power tool handle. 13. The depth guide of claim 12, wherein the hand-held power tool handle is attachable to and detachable from a hand-held power tool.14. A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:a depth guide base; a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and configured to move between an extended and retracted position; an automatic locking and release mechanism adjacent to the depth guide shaft for automatically locking the depth guide shaft into a locked position when the depth guide shaft is moved into a desired position; wherein the automatic locking and release mechanism comprises a locking plate adjacent to the depth guide shaft; further comprising a release switch coupled to the automatic locking mechanism to release the depth guide shaft from the locked position when the release switch is activated; and wherein friction between the locking plate and the depth guide shaft locks the depth guide shaft in the desired position. 15. A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:a handle; a depth guide base; a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and received in the handle; and a locking element provided in the handle for securing the depth guide shaft in a locked position when the depth guide shaft is moved to a desired position, the locking element including an aperture through which the depth guide shaft extends. 16. The depth guide of claim 15, wherein the handle is attachable to and detachable from a hand-held power tool.17. The depth guide of claim 15, wherein the depth guide shaft extends substantially perpendicular from the depth guide base.18. The depth guide of claim 15, wherein the depth guide shaft is mounted for sliding movement in the handle.19. The depth guide of claim 18, wherein a portion of the locking element adjacent to the aperture engages the depth guide shaft when the depth guide shaft is secured in the locked position.20. The depth guide of claim 15, further comprising a release switch coupled to the handle and a locking element release element which engages the locking element and is coupled to the release switch.21. The depth guide of claim 15, wherein the locking element is not substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the depth guide shaft when the depth guide shaft is in the locked position.22. The depth guide of claim 15, wherein the aperture in the locking element is configured for allowing sliding movement of the depth guide shaft when the locking element is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the depth guide shaft.23. The depth guide of claim 15, further comprising a carrier within the handle for receiving the depth guide shaft.24. The depth guide of claim 15, further comprising at least one bushing provided in the handle and around the depth guide shaft whereby the depth guide shaft is supported for sliding movement in the handle.25. The depth guide of claim 15, further comprising means for biasing the depth guide shaft into an extended position when the depth guide shaft is released from the locked position.26. The depth guide of claim 25, wherein the means for biasing the depth guide shaft into the extended position includes a spring coupled to the depth guide shaft.27. The depth guide of claim 15, further comprising a depth adjustment mechanism whereby movement of the depth guide shaft in a retracting direction beyond a selected amount is prevented.28. The depth guide of claim 27, wherein the depth adjustment mechanism includes a threaded element provided in the handle and extending therefrom and a depth adjustment stop coupled to the depth guide shaft that contacts the threaded element when the depth guide shaft is moved in a retracting direction to prevent movement of the depth guide shaft.29. The depth guide of claim 28, wherein the depth adjustment stop includes a plurality of platforms, each of the platforms having a different height, wherein the depth guide stop is configured to allow alignment of at least one of the platforms with the threaded element.30. The depth guide of claim 29, wherein the depth adjustment stop includes a screw threaded into an aperture formed in at least one of the platforms.31. The depth guide of claim 15, further comprising a dust collector attached to the depth guide base.32. The depth guide of claim 15, further comprising an edge guide attached to the depth guide base.33. A depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:a handle configured for removable attachment to a hand-held power tool; a depth guide base; a depth guide shaft coupled to the depth guide base and configured for sliding movement within the handle; and a locking plate provided within the handle for automatically locking the depth guide shaft in a locked position, the depth guide shaft adjacent to at least a portion of the locking plate. 34. The depth guide of claim 33, wherein the handle includes a cam lock for securing the handle to a hand-held power tool.35. The depth guide of claim 33, further comprising a carrier included in the handle for receiving the depth guide shaft.36. The depth guide of claim 35, wherein the carrier is integrally formed in the handle.37. The depth guide of claim 33, wherein the locking plate locks the depth guide shaft in a locked position when the depth guide shaft is moved to a desired position.38. The depth guide of claim 33, further comprising a release switch coupled to the locking plate for releasing the depth guide shaft from the locked position when the release switch is actuated.39. The depth guide of claim 38, wherein the locking plate comprises an aperture through which the depth guide shaft extends and an extension for engaging a locking plate release element coupled to the release switch.40. The depth guide of claim 33, wherein at least a portion of the locking plate contacts the depth guide shaft in the locked position.41. The depth guide of claim 33, wherein the depth guide shaft may slide freely when the locking plate is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the depth guide shaft.42. The depth guide of claim 33, wherein the locking plate is inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of the depth guide shaft in the locked position.43. The depth guide of claim 33, further comprising a depth guide stop provided on at least one of the depth guide shaft and the depth guide base.44. The depth guide of claim 43, wherein the depth guide stop comprises a rotating member having a plurality of posts, the posts having differing heights.45. The depth guide of claim 43, further comprising a depth adjustment mechanism coupled to the handle for engaging the depth guide stop.46. The depth guide of claim 33, further comprising at least one spring for biasing the handle in an extended direction.47. The depth guide of claim 46, wherein the depth guide shaft includes a hollow center portion and the at least one spring extends through the hollow center portion and couples with a pin coupled to the depth guide shaft.48. The depth guide of claim 33, further comprising an edge guide attached to the depth guide base.49. The depth guide of claim 33, further comprising a dust collector attached to the depth guide base.50. An automatic-locking depth guide for a hand-held power tool, comprising:a handle for a hand-held power tool; a release switch coupled to the handle; a depth guide base; a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base and mounted in the hand-held power tool handle such that the depth guide shaft extends from the hand-held power tool handle; and a depth guide locking mechanism contained within the handle, the locking mechanism including a locking plate, the locking plate comprising an aperture through which the depth guide shaft extends and an extension for engaging a release element coupled to the release switch. 51. The depth guide of claim 50, wherein the handle is removably attached to a hand-held power tool.52. The depth guide of claim 51, further comprising at least one spring for biasing the handle in an extended direction.53. The depth guide of claim 52, wherein the depth guide shaft includes a hollow center portion and the spring extends through the hollow center portion and couples with a pin in the depth guide shaft.54. The depth guide of claim 50, wherein the handle includes a cam lock for securing the handle to a hand-held power tool.55. The depth guide of claim 50, wherein the depth guide base extends perpendicularly from the depth guide shaft.56. The depth guide of claim 50, further comprising a carrier included in the handle for receiving the depth guide shaft.57. The depth guide of claim 56, wherein the carrier is integrally formed in the handle.58. The depth guide of claim 50, wherein the locking mechanism locks the depth guide shaft in a locked position when the depth guide shaft is moved to a desired position.59. The depth guide of claim 58, wherein the release switch releases the depth guide shaft from the locked position when actuated.60. The depth guide of claim 50, wherein a portion of the locking plate engages the depth guide shaft when the depth guide is in a locked position.61. The depth guide of claim 50, wherein the depth guide shaft may slide freely when the locking plate is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the depth guide shaft.62. The depth guide of claim 50, wherein the locking plate is inclined in relation to the depth guide shaft when the depth guide is in a locked position.63. The depth guide of claim 50, further comprising a depth guide stop coupled to the depth guide shaft.64. The depth guide of claim 63, wherein the depth guide stop comprises a rotating member having a plurality of posts, the posts having differing heights.65. The depth guide of claim 64, further comprising a depth adjustment screw coupled to the handle for engaging the depth guide stop.66. The depth guide of claim 50, further comprising an edge guide attached to the depth guide base.67. The depth guide of claim 50, further comprising a dust collector attached to the depth guide base.68. A hand-held power tool, comprising:a motor housing for containing a hand-held power tool motor; a depth guide attached to the motor housing, the depth guide configured for automatically locking the position of the depth guide when the depth guide is moved to a desired position; a depth guide shaft configured for sliding movement within the depth guide; and a locking plate including an aperture for receiving the depth guide shaft and for engaging the depth guide shaft to lock the position of the depth guide shaft. 69. The hand-held power tool of claim 68, wherein the depth guide is removably attached to the motor housing.70. The hand-held power tool of claim 68, wherein the depth guide is removably attached to the motor housing by a screw fastener.71. The hand-held power tool of claim 68, further comprising a release switch for releasing the depth guide from a locked position.72. The hand-held power tool of claim 71, wherein the locking plate is provided within the depth guide.73. The hand-held power tool of claim 68, wherein the locking plate is provided within the depth guide.74. The hand-held power tool of claim 68, wherein the depth guide shaft may travel freely through the aperture when the locking plate is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the depth guide shaft.75. The hand-held power tool of claim 68, wherein at least a portion of the locking plate engages the depth guide shaft when the locking plate is inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the depth guide shaft.76. The hand-held power tool of claim 68, further comprising a torsion spring for biasing the locking plate in an inclined position relative to a longitudinal axis of the depth guide shaft.77. The hand-held power tool of claim 68, wherein the locking plate further comprises an extension, the extension coupled to a release switch for releasing the depth guide from a locked position.78. The hand-held power tool of claim 68, further comprising at least one of an edge guide, a dust collector, and a depth guide stop coupled to the depth guide.