Patent US3860050A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3860050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sign-making method and apparatus
Assignee: Bellbanks Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-19
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for engraving signs and the like utilizes a technique wherein letters, numerals or other configurations are engraved in a workpiece without the necessity of first centering the workpiece, by progressively advancing the workpiece lengthwise through a guide path disposed beneath a template holder and successively placing desired templates in the holder as the workpiece is advanced thereunder. The guide path will accommodate boards of different widths and thicknesses and the holder is adapted to receive templates of different sizes according to the size of the sign to be formed. After the sign has been engraved, it is finished by painting the engraved face, then removing a thin layer of the engraved face so as to remove the paint from the surface, leaving only the engraved or inset portions painted.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald D Banks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:55
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44B; B44B3/00; B44B3/06; B44B3/066; B27; B27C; B27C5/00; B27C5/003; B44B3/001; B44B3/008; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/30084; Y10T409/301176; Y10T409/301624; Y10T409/302576; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for engraving letters or the like in a workpiece with a cutting tool having a cutting blade, the improvement comprising: a support frame disposed adjacent to one side of the workpiece with at least a portion thereof movable relative to the workpiece; at least one template each provided with a cut-out portion passing therethrough; a template holder attached to the support frame and extending away from the support frame in overlying relationship to the workpiece, said template holder including means providing for interchangeable insertion of different sized templates in different positions in the template holder; and guide means operative to guide the movement of the cutting tool along said cut-out portion of a template whereby a portion of the workpiece corresponding in configuration to the cut-out portion of the template can be cut in the workpiece by the cutting blade of the cutting tool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for engraving letters or the like in a workpiece with a cutting tool having a cutting blade, the improvement comprising: a support frame disposed adjacent to one side of the workpiece with at least a portion thereof movable relative to the workpiece; at least one template each provided with a cut-out portion passing therethrough; a template holder attached to the support frame and extending away from the support frame in overlying relationship to the workpiece, said template holder including means providing for interchangeable insertion of different sized templates in different positions in the template holder; and guide means operative to guide the movement of the cutting tool along said cut-out portion of a template whereby a portion of the workpiece corresponding in configuration to the cut-out portion of the template can be cut in the workpiece by the cutting blade of the cutting tool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said template holder includes inner frame members that are adapted to cooperate with the outer framework in retaining various sized templates in the template holder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said template holder has outer side frame members extending normally away from said support frame in spaced overlying relationship with the workpiece, and wherein said retention means comprises inwardly opening channels for slidably receiving side edges of the templates for retention thereof in parallel overlying relationship with the workpiece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
ThE apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support frame includes a base member and a slide member, the slide member being movable relative to the base member along said one side of the workpiece, and said template holder being attached to the slide member for movement therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further including set means selectively interconnecting the slide member and the base member for immobilizing the slide member relative to the base member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including a work table having an upper work surface and a front face, attachment means for securing said support frame to the front face of the work table such that the template holder extends outwardly over the work surface in parallel relation thereto, and workpiece guide means adjustably connected to the work table for defining a path on the work surface and adjacent to the support frame in which the workpiece is slidably disposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said support frame includes a base member attached to the front face of the work table and a slide member slidably connected to the base member for movement along said front face, set means selectively interconnecting the slide member and the base member for immobilizing the slide member relative to the base member, and clamp means on the slide member releasably engageable with the workpiece for immobilizing the workpiece relative to the slide member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further including vacuum means adjacent said work surface for withdrawing cuttings from the workpiece.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
341 words
An apparatus for engraving letters or the like in a workpiece comprising in combination, a work table having an upper flat work surface and a front face; a support frame mounted on the front face and having a base member and a slide member slidably connected to the base member; hinge means pivotally connecting the base member to the front face of the work table such that the support frame extends above the work surface a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the workpiece; set means selectively interconnecting the slide member and the base member for immobilizing the slide member relative to the base member; a workpiece guide adjustably connected to the work table for extension over the work surface and including a guide member disposed in parallel relation to the front face of the work table defining a path on the work surface and adjacent said front face in which the workpiece is slidably disposed; clamp means secured to said slide member and selectively engageable with the workpiece for immobilizing the workpiece relative to the slide member; a template holder having outer side members affixed at one end to and extending normally away from said slide member in overlying relationship with the workpiece, and an end frame member interconnecting the other ends of said side frame members, each of said side frame members and said end frame member having inwardly opening channels; template means having a cut-out portion passing therethrough and side edges adapted to be slidably retained in said channels whereby the template means is held in parallel overlying relationship with said workpiece; and a cutting tool with a cutter blade adapted to selectively extend through said cut-out portion of the template means into cutting engagement with the workpiece, said cutting tool having a guide bushing therein concentric with the cutter blade for guiding movement of the cutting tool along said cut-out portion of the template whereby a portion of the workpiece corresponding in configuration to the cut-out portion of the template can be cut in the workpiece.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
341 words
An apparatus for engraving letters or the like in a workpiece comprising in combination, a work table having an upper flat work surface and a front face; a support frame mounted on the front face and having a base member and a slide member slidably connected to the base member; hinge means pivotally connecting the base member to the front face of the work table such that the support frame extends above the work surface a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the workpiece; set means selectively interconnecting the slide member and the base member for immobilizing the slide member relative to the base member; a workpiece guide adjustably connected to the work table for extension over the work surface and including a guide member disposed in parallel relation to the front face of the work table defining a path on the work surface and adjacent said front face in which the workpiece is slidably disposed; clamp means secured to said slide member and selectively engageable with the workpiece for immobilizing the workpiece relative to the slide member; a template holder having outer side members affixed at one end to and extending normally away from said slide member in overlying relationship with the workpiece, and an end frame member interconnecting the other ends of said side frame members, each of said side frame members and said end frame member having inwardly opening channels; template means having a cut-out portion passing therethrough and side edges adapted to be slidably retained in said channels whereby the template means is held in parallel overlying relationship with said workpiece; and a cutting tool with a cutter blade adapted to selectively extend through said cut-out portion of the template means into cutting engagement with the workpiece, said cutting tool having a guide bushing therein concentric with the cutter blade for guiding movement of the cutting tool along said cut-out portion of the template whereby a portion of the workpiece corresponding in configuration to the cut-out portion of the template can be cut in the workpiece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said template means is at least one-half inch thick, said cutting tool has a base plate engageable with the top surface of the template means, said guide bushing extends away from the undersurface of the base plate at least one-half inch, said cutting blade is rotatable and extends at least one-half incH away from the guide bushing, and said template means is spaced approximately one-eighth inch from the work surface so that the cutting blade is adapted to make a cut approximately one-half inch deep in the workpiece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cutting tool has a base plate with an undersurface engageable with the top surface of the template, said cutter blade is rotatable and extends downwardly through said base plate and further including a guide bushing mounted in said base plate in concentric relation to said cutter blade, said guide bushing having a sleeve portion surrounding said cutter blade and extending away from said base plate along a portion of the length of said cutter blade.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further including releasable attachment means interconnecting said guide bushing and said base plate so that the guide bushing can be removed from the base plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said base plate comprises a relatively flat and circular planar member concentric with said cutter blade and having an arcuate portion thereof removed whereby said cutting blade is visible from above the base plate through said removed portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said template comprises a square molded plastic body having a flat upper surface and a recessed lower surface, said cut-out portion passing through the body and defining the configuration desired to be cut in the underlying workpiece, and ribbing extending downwardly from the flat upper surface around the periphery of the body and along each side of the cut-out portion to reinforce the body so that it serves as a rigid support for the cutting tool while the cutting tool is cutting the associated configuration in the workpiece.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
137 words
In apparatus for engraving elongated workpieces with engraving means, the combination of: a template holder having an outer framework adapted to releasably retain a template therein; support means for supporting the template holder in overlying relationship with the template; a template releasably inserted in said template holder having a cut-out portion therethrough corresponding in configuration to the configuration to be engraved in the workpiece, with the engraving means operative to pass downwardly through the cut-out portion of the template and into engagement with the workpiece; workpiece guide means adjustably connected to the work table for defining a guide path on the work surface and adjacent to the support frame in which the workpiece is slidably disposed for longitudinal advancement of the workpiece beneath the template holder; and means for immobilizing the workpiece relative to the template holder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
137 words
In apparatus for engraving elongated workpieces with engraving means, the combination of: a template holder having an outer framework adapted to releasably retain a template therein; support means for supporting the template holder in overlying relationship with the template; a template releasably inserted in said template holder having a cut-out portion therethrough corresponding in configuration to the configuration to be engraved in the workpiece, with the engraving means operative to pass downwardly through the cut-out portion of the template and into engagement with the workpiece; workpiece guide means adjustably connected to the work table for defining a guide path on the work surface and adjacent to the support frame in which the workpiece is slidably disposed for longitudinal advancement of the workpiece beneath the template holder; and means for immobilizing the workpiece relative to the template holder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
In the apparatus of claim 15, said template holder having straight parallel side frame members and an end frame member normal to and interconnecting corresponding ends of the side frame members, each of said side frame members having a horizontal inwardly opening channel adapted to slidably receive a side edge of said template so as to retain the template between said side frame members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
In the apparatus of claim 16, further including a pair of inner frame members parallel to and positioned between said side frame members, each of said inner frame members having a horizontal channel adapted to receive a side edge of said template and opening toward the closest side frame member to cooperate with the side frame member in establishing retention means for supporting the template.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
In the apparatus of claim 17, further including means for retaining the template holder in parallel overlying relationship with the face of the workpiece which is to be engraved.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |