Router jig for forming corners on decorative molding

Abstract

The router jig of this invention uses a preformed negative form of the decorative molding as a guide which directs a router having a straight router bit along the end of a piece of the molding to appropriately form the end for an inside corner. The router jig includes a generally rectangular frame having a router support tray which is slidable relative to the frame. A slot is formed through one side wall of frame. A biased guide pin is connected to the router support tray and is accommodated within the slot of the frame. In use, a router is placed onto the router base and in contact with the guide pin which is extending through the slot. The opposite end of the guide pin is placed in contact with the negative form. With a piece of molding clamped under the frame, the router is turned on and slid with the router base perpendicularly across the molding. As the router is slid relative to the frame and molding, the guide pin is guided along the negative form. Contact between the negative form, the guide pin and the router causes the router to follow the path of the negative form and route a similar profile onto the end of the piece of molding.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A jig for guiding a powered router and router bit across a piece of wood to form an irregular end thereon, said jig including, 
 a frame    a router support tray carried by said frame, wherein said router support tray is slidable relative to said frame from a first position toward a second position,    a guide pin carried by said router support tray having one end configured for contact with a peripheral edge of a powered router,    said guide pin extending through a slot in said frame, and    a form connected adjacent to said frame in alignment with said slot such that a second end of said pin slidingly contacts in interior surface of the form.    
     
     
         2 . The jig of    claim 1    wherein said frame includes a pair of parallel channels on opposing side walls, said router support tray being positioned within said channels and slidable within said channels relative to said frame.  
     
     
         3 . The jig of    claim 1    wherein the router support tray includes a central opening therein for accommodating a router bit therethrough.  
     
     
         4 . The jig of    claim 1    wherein the router support tray is generally rectangular.  
     
     
         5 . The jig of    claim 1    wherein said guide pin carried by said router support tray is biased away from said form.  
     
     
         6 . The jig of    claim 2    wherein said pair of parallel channels in said frame are offset from one another relative to a vertical axis of said frame such that said router support plate is positioned at an angle relative to the vertical axis of said frame.  
     
     
         7 . A jig for guiding a powered router and router bit across a piece of wood to form an irregular end thereon, said jig including, 
 a frame having a pair of parallel channels on opposing side walls,    a generally rectangular router support tray having a central opening therein for accommodating a router bit therethrough, said router support tray being carried by said frame and extending into and between said channels wherein said router support tray is slidable within said channels relative to said frame from a first position toward a second position,    a guide pin carried by said router support tray having one end configured for contact with a peripheral edge of a powered router,    said guide pin extending through a slot in said frame, and    a form connected adjacent to said frame in alignment with said slot such that a second end of said pin slidingly contacts in interior surface of the form,    wherein said guide pin carried by said router support tray is biased away from said form.    
     
     
         8 . The jig of    claim 7    wherein said pair of parallel channels in said frame are offset from one another relative to a vertical axis of said frame such that said router support plate is positioned at an angle relative to the vertical axis of said frame.  
     
     
         9 . A method of forming an irregular end in a piece of decorative molding for forming an inside corner with a similar piece of decorative molding, said method including the steps of: 
 forming a negative form of said decorative molding wherein said form includes an interior surface which is a negative of an exterior surface of the decorative molding;    providing a router frame    providing a router support tray carried by said frame, wherein said router support tray is slidable relative to said frame from a first position toward a second position,    providing a guide pin carried by said router support tray having one end configured for contact with a peripheral edge of a powered router, said guide pin extending through a slot in said frame,    providing a negative form connected adjacent to said frame in alignment with said slot such that a second end of said pin slidingly contacts in interior surface of the form,    placing a router onto said router support tray such that a router bit extends through a central opening in said router support tray,    placing a piece of decorative molding in said router jig such that a portion of said molding is in alignment with said router bit, said decorative molding having an exterior surface substantially matching the interior surface of said negative form,    rotating said router bit and sliding said router support tray and router relative to said frame from a first position spaced from a lateral edge of said molding toward a second position on an opposite edge of said decorative molding,    wherein as said router and support tray is slid in a first direction from said first position toward said second position, said guide pin is positioned between the interior surface of the negative form and a peripheral edge of the router, said guide pin follows the interior surface of said negative form as said support tray and router are slid from the first position toward the second position to cause said router to slide relative to said router support tray in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.