Cutting tool assembly

Abstract

A cutting tool assembly can include a handheld and non-planar electromechanical cutting device. The handheld and non-planar electromechanical cutting device can include a handle portion, a driving motor, a switch, and a rotatable shaft projecting out of the handle portion and configured to receive a cutting disc. The rotatable shaft can be driven by the driving motor. The cutting tool assembly can also include a first post extending from a first lateral side of the handle portion and a second post extending from a second lateral side of the handle portion. The cutting tool assembly can also include a base plate having a first channel and a second channel. The channels can be sized to receive the posts for sliding engagement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cutting tool assembly comprising:
 a handheld and non-planar electromechanical cutting device having:
 a handle portion extending along a first longitudinal axis, 
 a driving motor at least partially disposed in said handle portion, 
 a switch operable to selectively activate said driving motor and positioned on said handle portion such that a user's hand can engage the switch while grasping said handle portion and at least partially encircling said driving motor, and 
 a rotatable shaft projecting out of said handle portion and configured to receive a cutting disc, said rotatable shaft driven by said driving motor and extending along a second longitudinal axis transverse to said first longitudinal axis; 
   a first post extending from a first lateral side of said handle portion along a third longitudinal axis transverse to said first longitudinal axis and parallel to said second longitudinal axis;   a second post extending from a second lateral side of said handle portion along said third longitudinal axis; and   a base plate having:
 a first channel with a first bottom and first and second side walls extending from opposite sides of said first bottom to a first open top, said first open top sized to receive said first post, said first channel sized such that said first post is slidable and guided in pivoting movement about said third longitudinal axis by said first channel, and 
 a second channel with a second bottom and third and fourth side walls extending from opposite sides of said second bottom to a second open top, said second open top sized to receive said second post, said second channel sized such that said second post is slidable and guided in pivoting movement about said third longitudinal axis by said second channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cutting disc mounted on said rotatable shaft wherein said cutting disc is an abrasive cutting disc having a thickness of between 0.030 inch and 0.050 inch. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein said cutting tool assembly is further defined as being capable of cutting work-pieces having a width equal to and less than one and one-half inches. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a clamp mounted on said base plate to selectively clamp a work-piece. 
 
     
     
         5 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 4  wherein said clamp is further defined as be pivotally mounted on said base plate and moveable between a plurality of positions. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein said third longitudinal axis is further defined as spaced from said first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first and second posts are further defined as integrally-formed with respect to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein said handle portion further comprises:
 a gripping portion having a cross-section that is symmetrical about said first longitudinal axis; and 
 an anchor portion disposed along said first longitudinal axis between said gripping portion and said rotatable shaft and having a cross-section that is symmetrical about said first longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
         9 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 8  wherein said anchor portion is attached to said gripping portion. 
     
     
         10 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 8  wherein said first post and said second post extend from said anchor portion. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a biasing device extending between said anchor portion and said base plate. 
 
     
     
         12 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one enclosure engaged with said base plate to selectively block at least a portion of one of said first channel. 
 
     
     
         13 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 12  wherein:
 said base plate further comprises a threaded aperture proximate to said first channel and extending transverse to said third longitudinal axis; and 
 said at least one enclosure is further defined as a fastener having a threaded shank portion and a head portion, wherein said threaded shank portion is received in said threaded aperture and said head portion extends over said first open top. 
 
     
     
         14 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 13  wherein said at least one enclosure is further defined as a wing screw. 
     
     
         15 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 14  wherein a length of said threaded shank portion is less than a diameter of said head portion. 
     
     
         16 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 12  wherein said at least one enclosure is further defined as a clip pivotally engaged with said base plate and moveable between at least two positions including a first position overlapping at least a portion of said first open top and a second position spaced from said first position and spaced from said at least a portion of said first open top. 
     
     
         17 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 said handle portion is pivotal relative to said base plate between first and second orientations spaced from one another about said third longitudinal axis; and 
 said cutting tool assembly further comprises a biasing device operably positioned between said handle portion and said base plate and biasing said handle portion to said first orientation. 
 
     
     
         18 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 17  wherein said biasing device is further defined as selectively engageable with one of said base plate and said handle portion and fixedly engaged with the other of said base plate and said handle portion. 
     
     
         19 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 18  wherein said biasing device further comprises:
 a spring fixedly engaged with said other of said base plate and said handle portion; and 
 a first pin fixedly engaged with said spring, wherein said one of said base plate and said handle portion further comprises a pin aperture, said first pin selectively engageable in said pin aperture. 
 
     
     
         20 . The cutting tool assembly of  claim 19  wherein said spring passes through a portion of said handle portion.