초록 ▼

A wheeled guide assembly for use with cut providing tools includes a base portion having a first end and a second end, and rockable between either of a first position, enabling straight-line cuts to be made, and a second position enabling controlled curved-line cuts. The base portion includes a plur

A wheeled guide assembly for use with cut providing tools includes a base portion having a first end and a second end, and rockable between either of a first position, enabling straight-line cuts to be made, and a second position enabling controlled curved-line cuts. The base portion includes a plurality of wheels, with at least two pivot wheels, at least one fixed wheel, and at least one steerable wheel provided. The wheels are rollably coupled to the base portion and or a housing of the cut providing tool, such that the cut providing tool may be readily and easily rocked by the user into either the first position or the second position, as needed. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A wheeled guide assembly for use with cut providing tools, comprising: a) a base portion having a first end and a second end, and rockable between either of a first position, enabling substantially straight-line cuts, and a second position, enabling controlled curved-line cut

What is claimed is: 1. A wheeled guide assembly for use with cut providing tools, comprising: a) a base portion having a first end and a second end, and rockable between either of a first position, enabling substantially straight-line cuts, and a second position, enabling controlled curved-line cuts; b) a plurality of rollably coupled wheels, including: i) at least two pivot wheels axially aligned and mounted on opposite sides of the base portion, at a selected location between the first end and the second end of the base portion; ii) at least one fixed wheel coupled to one of the first end or the second end of the base portion; and iii) at least one steerable wheel that is rotatably coupled to the base portion at an end opposite to the fixed wheels and structured to enable an operator to rotate the steerable wheel about a vertical axis, for making operator controlled curved-line cuts; c) with the base portion structured for coupling to a cut providing tool and rockable into either the first position or the second position, wherein: i) when in the first position the wheeled guide assembly rolls upon the pivot wheels and the fixed wheels encouraging a substantially straight-line motion, and thereby enabling substantially straight-line cuts to be made with the cut providing tool; and ii) when in the second position the wheeled guide assembly rolls upon the pivot wheels and the at least one steerable wheel supporting a non-linear motion, which is controllable by an operator, for selectively providing non-linear curved-line cuts. 2. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein a horizontal rolling axle of the pivot wheels is vertically aligned with at least one of: a) a rotational axis of a rotating cutting member of the cut providing tool; and b) a vertical cutting axis of a cutting member; c) with the vertical aligning enabling controlled curved-line cuts having a minimized additional cut width. 3. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the cut providing tool is a circular saw, coupled to the base portion with a horizontally oriented rotating shaft of a motor of the circular saw vertically aligned with and above the axle of the pivot wheels. 4. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the base portion is provided by a substantially flattened plate structure, with a single steerable wheel coupled to the base portion by way of a support member, with the support member fixed at a second end of the base portion, which is opposite to the end wherein the fixed wheels are coupled. 5. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 4, further including a steering mechanism structured having: a) the support member coupled to the second end of the base portion and extended outwardly therefrom; b) a vertically oriented steering shaft that is rotatably mounted to a distal end of the support member such that the steering shaft may be rotated about a vertical longitudinal axis of the steering shaft; c) a wheel support, with the steerable wheel rollably fixed to the wheel support, and with the wheel support further fixedly coupled to an end of the steering shaft, so that when the steering shaft is rotated about the vertical longitudinal axis thereof, the wheel support is rotated and the angle of the steerable wheel is altered accordingly; and d) an operator grasping portion fixedly coupled to an end opposite to the end wherein the wheel support portion is coupled; e) with the steering mechanism structured such that an operator may grasp and operate the grasping portion to rotatably alter the angle and the rolling direction of the steerable wheel, and thereby alter a curvature of curved-line cuts. 6. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the steering mechanism further includes a means for maintaining an operator selected angular setting of the steerable wheel. 7. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base portion is rotatably coupled to a selected end of the cut providing tool, such that the base portion may be rotated substantially 270 degrees about an axis of the rotatable coupling so as to position the base portion substantially behind the cut providing tool, where the base portion and attached steering mechanism is securable in an out-of-the-way stowed position, enabling a cut providing tool coupled to the base portion to make a substantially closer cut when approaching an obstruction. 8. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 7, further including a drop wheel assembly that is fixable to an end of the cut providing tool opposite to the end that is rotatably coupled to the base portion, with the drop wheel assembly comprising: a) a T-channel portion substantially vertically fixed to the cut providing tool proximate to the cutting member of the cut providing tool; b) a T-bar member sized and structured to be inserted into, and slidably coupled within the T-channel portion enabling the vertical position of the T-bar member to be adjusted; c) at least one drop wheel, rollably fixed to a lower first end of the T-bar member; and d) locking means structured to secure the T-bar member at a selected vertical position, such that the at least one drop wheel is employable in aiding an operator in making cuts that are providable much closer to the obstruction than would be possible rolling upon the pivot wheels. 9. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 7, further including a latching mechanism having portions coupled to a bottom of the base portion and a rear facing surface of the cut providing tool, and included for maintaining the base portion in the stowed position. 10. A wheeled guide assembly for use under and as a rollable support carrier of a cut providing tool, for enabling the cut providing tool to be employed for making one or more cuts upon a selected hard surface, the guide assembly comprising: a) a base portion provided as a rigid and flattened plate structure, with the base portion having a first end and a second end, and structured for having a cut providing tool coupled thereupon; b) with the base portion further structured for rocking between one of a straight-rolling first rolling position and a selectively curved-rolling second position; c) a first plurality of axially aligned, spaced, and rollable pivot wheels, which are axially aligned and rollably coupled to opposite sides of the base portion at a location substantially between the first end and the second end; d) a second plurality of axially aligned fixed wheels that are axially aligned and rollably coupled to the base portion at one of the first end and the second end; e) a steerable wheel assembly coupled to the base portion at an end opposite to the end that the fixed wheels are coupled, with the steerable wheel assembly including a rotatably mounted and steerable wheel; f) with the steerable wheel arranged for engaging and rolling upon a surface being cut for enabling an operator to selectively alter an angle between a longitudinal axis of the base portion and the rolling direction of the wheeled guide assembly; g) with the pivot wheels axially coupled to the base portion such that a rolling surface of the pivot wheels extends below and at least partially through a plane established by considering only a plurality of rolling surfaces of the fixed wheels and the steerable wheel, and thereby structured for being rocked into either one of: i) a first rolling position selectable by an operator such that the guide assembly rolls upon the pivot wheels and the fixed wheels encouraging a substantially linear rolling motion, thereby enabling a cut providing tool coupled to the guide assembly to provide straight cuts; and ii) a second rolling position selectable by an operator such that the guide assembly rolls upon the pivot wheels and the steerable wheel, thereby enabling a cut providing tool coupled to the guide assembly to provide curved, non-linear cuts; and h) with an axle of the pivot wheels structured positioned so as to be substantially vertically aligned with a rotational cutting axis of the cut providing tool. 11. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 10, wherein the vertical alignment is between the axially aligned pivot wheels and one of: a) a rotational center of a disk shaped cutting blade of the cut providing tool; b) a vertical axis of a reciprocating rectilinear elongated saw blade; and c) a vertical rotational axis of a routing bit. 12. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the base portion is rotatably coupled to a selected end of the cut providing tool, such that the base portion may be rotated substantially 270 degrees about the rotatable coupling so as to position the base portion substantially behind the cut providing tool, and securable in an out-of-the-way stowed position, enabling a cut providing tool coupled to the base portion to make a substantially closer cut to an obstruction. 13. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 12, further including a drop wheel assembly, comprising: a) a T-channel portion substantially vertically fixed to the cut providing tool proximate to the cutting member of the cut providing tool; b) a T-bar member sized and structured to be inserted into, and slidably coupled to the T-channel portion enabling the vertical position of the T-bar member to be adjusted; c) at least one drop wheel, rollably fixed to the T-bar member for contacting a surface being cut, such that the front end of the wheeled guide assembly is supported upon the drop wheel; d) a threaded locking bolt member structured to secure the T-bar member at a selected vertical position, such that the at least one drop wheel is employable in aiding an operator in making cuts that are providable much closer to the obstruction than would be possible rolling upon the pivot wheels. 14. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 13, further including a latching mechanism having portions coupled to a bottom of the base portion and a rear facing surface of the cut providing tool. 15. The wheeled guide assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the latching mechanism includes at least one magnet fixed to at least one of: a) a rear location of the cut providing tool; and b) the bottom of the base portion. 16. A wheeled cut providing tool structured to selectively provide straight-line cuts and curved-line cuts, as required, the wheeled cut providing tool comprising: a) a cut providing tool structured having a housing containing a motor with a rotating shaft of the motor coupled to drive a cutting member of the cut providing tool; b) a substantially flattened base portion having a first end and a second end, with the cut providing tool fixedly coupled to the base portion; c) a plurality of rollably mounted, fixed orientation wheels that are coupled to the base portion, including: i) a plurality of pivot wheels axially mounted to the base portion at a selected location between the first end and the second end of the base portion, with the pivot wheels having an outer wheel surface extending a pre-determined distance below a plate portion of the base portion; and ii) a plurality of fixed wheels, axially mounted to the base portion proximate to an end of the base portion; and d) a steerable wheel assembly fixedly coupled to the base portion at an end opposite to the fixed wheels, and structured having a rotatably mounted steerable wheel provided for selectively altering an angle between a longitudinal axis of the base portion and the rolling direction of the steerable wheel; e) with the fixed wheels and the steerable wheels, each having an outer wheel surface establishing a plane, wherein the outer wheel surface of the pivot wheels, which extend the pre-determined distance below a plate portion of the base portion, also extend through the plane established by the fixed and steerable wheel surfaces, such that the wheeled cut providing tool is rockable into either a first position or a second position, wherein: i) when in the first position the wheeled cut providing tool rolls upon the pivot wheels and the fixed wheels encouraging a substantially straight-line motion, and thereby encouraging a substantially straight-line cutting by the cut providing tool; and ii) when rocked in the second position the wheeled cut providing tool rolls upon the pivot wheels and the steerable wheel supporting a non-linear motion, which is controllable by an operator, thereby enabling a substantially non-linear motion, and thereby enabling a substantially non-linear cutting by the cut providing tool. 17. The wheeled cut providing tool in accordance with claim 16, wherein a horizontal axle of the pivot wheels is in vertical alignment, and positioned below at least one of: a) a horizontal rotational axis of a vertically oriented cutting member; and b) a rotational axis of a cutting blade, such that the axle of the pivot wheels and the rotational axis of the cutting blade are in spaced parallel relationship and vertically offset a fixed vertical distance; c) with the vertical alignment of axle of the pivot wheels and a rotating axis of the cutting member enabling controlled-depth curved-line cuts having a minimized additional cut width. 18. The wheeled cut providing tool in accordance with claim 17, wherein the cut providing tool is a circular saw, coupled to the base portion with the rotating shaft of a motor of the circular saw spaced and vertically aligned above the axle of the pivot wheels. 19. The wheeled cut providing tool in accordance with claim 16, wherein the base portion is rotatably coupled to a selected end of the cut providing tool, such that the base portion may be rotated substantially 270 degrees about the rotatable coupling so as to position the base portion substantially behind the cut providing tool, where the base portion and attached steering mechanism are securable in an out-of-the-way stowed position, enabling a cut providing tool coupled to the base portion to make a substantially closer cuts when approaching an obstruction. 20. The wheeled cut providing tool in accordance with claim 16, wherein the steerable wheel assembly includes: a) a support member coupled to a second end of the base portion and extended outwardly therefrom; b) a vertically oriented steering shaft that is rotatably mounted to a distal end of the support member such that the steering shaft may be rotated about a vertical longitudinal axis of the steering shaft; c) a wheel support portion, with the steerable wheel rollably coupled to the wheel support portion, while the wheel support portion is further coupled to a lower end of the steering shaft, such that when the steering shaft is rotated about the vertical longitudinally axis, the rolling direction of the steerable wheel is altered; and d) an operator grasping portion fixedly coupled to an upper end of the steering shaft; e) with the steering mechanism structured such that an operator may grasp the operator grasping portion to rotatably alter a selected steerable wheel angular setting, and thereby alter the curvature of a curved-line cut, even while the curved-line cut is being made.