Fixture for enabling marking and cutting a straight line

Claim 1

A device for guiding on a side edge and upper surface of a workpiece while marking and cutting the upper surface along a line, the device comprising: a guide having a side guide surface for engaging sliding contact with the side edge of the workpiece, and a top guide surface for engaging sliding contact with the upper surface of the workpiece, and a base surface for supporting a reel case of a reeled measuring tape, and a clamping means providing a movable clamping surface for contacting one side of the reel case of the measuring tape in parallel opposition to a fixed clamping surface for contacting a second, opposing side of the reel case, the clamping means being slidably engaged with the base surface of the guide for sliding adjustment to accommodate reel case widths over the range of approximately one-forth of an inch to approximately four inches, for holding the reel case in a fixed position on the base surface, such that the tape is approximately parallel to the upper surface of the workpiece, the tape having an engagement tongue protruding therefrom, the case having a reel lock for fixing the tape in a desired position extended from the case for engagement with a hand tool, such that the guide and the hand tool may be drawn in coordinated movement along the workpiece, the tool being maintained at a fixed distance from the side edge by the unreeled portion of the tape reel, and wherein the guide includes a first recess immediately below the reel case, for providing finger access to the engagement tongue to more easily extend the tape from the case, and wherein the fixed clamping surface includes a second recess for clearance of a belt clip attached to the reel case whereby the fixed clamping surface is able to contact the sidewall of the reel case while avoiding contact with the belt clip.

Claim 2

A device for guiding on a side edge and upper surface of a workpiece while marking and cutting the upper surface along a line, the device comprising: a guide having a side guide surface for engaging sliding contact with the side edge of the workpiece, and a top guide surface for engaging sliding contact with the upper surface of the workpiece, and a base surface for supporting a reel case of a reeled measuring tape, and a clamping means providing a movable clamping surface for contacting one side of the reel case of the measuring tape in parallel opposition to a fixed clamping surface for contacting a second, opposing side of the reel case, the clamping means being slidably engaged with the base surface of the guide for sliding adjustment to accommodate reel case widths over the range of approximately one-forth of an inch to approximately four inches, for holding the reel case in a fixed position on the base surface, such that the tape is approximately parallel to the upper surface of the workpiece, the tape having an engagement tongue protruding therefrom, the case having a reel lock for fixing the tape in a desired position extended from the case for engagement with a hand tool, such that the guide and the hand tool may be drawn in coordinated movement along the workpiece, the tool being maintained at a fixed distance from the side edge by the unreeled portion of the tape reel, and wherein the guide includes a first recess immediately below the reel case, for providing finger access to the engagement tongue to more easily extend the tape from the case, and wherein the fixed clamping surface includes a second recess for clearance of a belt clip attached to the reel case whereby the fixed clamping surface is able to contact the sidewall of the reel case while avoiding contact with the belt clip.