Drill center guide

Abstract

A device that fits over the end of a drill bit to enable the user to center the bit over a predetermined location, usually made with a center punch drill rig. The device slips over the end of the drill bit and has a pointed end for locational purposes. The device can be inexpensively manufactured in plastic, aluminum, or steel as needed for durability and cost effectiveness.

Description

DRILL CENTER GUIDECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 63 / 471,856, filed on June 8, 2023, the entire of which is incorporated herein by this reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] The disclosure relates generally to drills, drills bits, and other similar devices, and more particularly, to the presence and incorporation of an alighnment apparatous that attaches to such devices.

[0003] Machinistic procedure requiring aligning a drill bit to a particular location prior to drilling. Typically, the method for alignment among machinists is to to use various bits of wood or metal to line up the drill press. Then, prior to drilling, the wood or metal is replace by a drill bit. This method can be very time consuming and the method is not reliable to get consistent accurate results.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A first aspect of the disclosure provides for a device that can be used to center a drill bit, by using it to align a drill bit to a center punch, scribe line, or other marking on a drilling surface.

[0005] A second aspect of the disclosure provides the method for using this device to align a drill bit to a center punch, scribe line, or other marking on a drilling surface.

[0006] A third aspect of the disclosure provides a method for using this device to create a center punch or other marking on a drilling surface.

[0007] The illustrative aspects of the present disclosure are designed to solve the problems herein described and / or other problems not discussed.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiement of the body of the drill bitalignment device configured to fit around a cylindrical bit.

[0009] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiement of the body of the drill bit alignment device configured to fit around a cylindrical drill bit.

[0010] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiement of the upper portion of the drill bit alignment device configured to fit around a cylindrical drill bit.

[0011] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a method of aliging the device around a cylindrical bit.

[0012] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an embodiement of the drill bit alignment device fitted about a cylindrical drill bit.

[0013] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a method of aliging the device around a cylindrical bit with a pointed tip.

[0014] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of an embodiement of the drill bit alignment device fitted about a second cylindrical drill bit with a pointed tip.

[0015] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an embodiement of the body of the drill bit alignment device configured to fit around a flat drill bit.

[0016] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of an embodiement of the body of a drill bit alignment device fitted about a flat drill bit.

[0017] FIG. 10 shows the upper perspective view of an embodiement of the upper portion of the drill bit alignment device configured to fit around a flat drill bit.

[0018] FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of a method of aliging the device around a flat drill bit.

[0019] FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of an embodiement of the drill bit alignment device fitted about a flat drill bit.

[0020] FIG. 13 shows a method of using the device to align the drill bit to a marking on a desired drilling durface.

[0021] FIG. 14 shows a method of using the device to creat a mark on the surface of a dersired drilling location.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] As an initial matter, in order to clearly describe the current disclosure it will become necessary' to select certain terminology' when referring to and describing relevant components within the disclosure. When doing this, if possible, common industry' terminology will be used and employed in a manner consistent with its accepted meaning. Unless otherwise stated, such terminology should be given a broad interpretation consistent with the context of the present application and the scope of the appended claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that often a particular component may be referred to using several different or overlapping terms. What may be described herein as being a single part may' include and be referenced in another context as consisting of multiple components. Alternatively, what may be described herein as including multiple components may' be referred to elsewhere as a single part.

[0023] As discussed herein, the disclosure relates generally to drill bit alignement device, and more particularly, to a and a method for using this device to align a drill bit to a drilling surface and a method for using the device to mark a drilling service.

[0024] These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 1-14. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0025] Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1-5 show a perspective view of an embodiement of the body of the drill bit alignment device configured to fit substantially around a cylindrical drill bit.

[0026] FIG. 1, shows first an embodiement of the body of the drill bit alignment deviced, generally designated 100, including the upper portion 110, the lower portion 120, and the exterior surface of the body 130. The upper portion 110 contains the opening 150 to the interior cavity (not shown in FIG. 1), which is spherical in shape in order to fit around a cynlindrical bit(not shown in FIG. 1). The pointed tip 140 is affixed to the lower portion 120 of the body 100.

[0027] The exterior 130 of the decive may be comprised of any rigid material including metal, plastic, three-deminsionally printed materials or any combination of the three.

[0028] FIG. 2 pertains to the inverior cavity 160 of the body 100 show n in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 depicts the interior cavity 160 of and embodiment the body 100 configured to fit around a cynlidrical drill bit. The intrior cavity 160 of the body 100 of this embodiement is cynlidrical in shape.

[0029] FIG. 3 further depicts the upper portion 110 of the body 100 of this emobodiement of the device. FIG. 3 shows the opening 150 to the interior cavity 160 of the body of the device. For this embodiement of the device, the opening 150 on the upper portion 110 of the body 100 is spherical in shape. The diameter of the opening 150 cannot exceed the diameter of the upper portion 110 of the body 100.

[0030] FIGS. 4-7 pertain to the method of aligning the body 100 of the device around a cylindrical drill bit. FIG. 4 shows how to align a clyndrical drill bit 190 to the opening 150 of the upper portion 110 of this embodiement. The upper portion 110 can then be slid over a cylindrical bit 190 until the pointed tip 140 of the lower portion 120 of the body 100 is directly beneath the drilling point 180 of the a cylindrical drill bit 190.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows an embodiement of the device where the the interior cavity 160 is configured to hold the point 191 of the pointed tip 140 directly beneath the drilling point 185 of a cylindrical drill bit 190 when the body 100 is fitted about the cylindrical drill bit 190.

[0032] Altemativiley, the drill bit 200 may be cyldrical with a pointed tip as depicted in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows how to align a clyndrical drill bit with a pointed tip 200 to the opening 150 of the upper portion 110 of this embodiement. The upper portion 110 can then be slid over a cylindrical bit with a pointed tip 200 until the pointed tip 140 is directly beneath the drilling point 180 of the a cylindrical drill bit with a pointed tip 200.

[0033] FIG. 7 pertains to the emobdiement of the device configured to fit around a clyndrical bit with a pointed tip 200. In this embodiements, the pointed tip 140 is directly beneath the drilling point 180 of a cyndrical drill bit with a pointed tip 200.Another embodiement of the body 100 of the drill bit alignment device is shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows first an embodiement of the body 100 of the drill bit alignment deviced, configured to fit substantially around a flat drill bit, including the upper portion 110, the lower portion 120, and the exterior surface of the body 130. The upper portion 110 contains the opening 160 to the interior cavity (not shown in FIG. 8), which is rectangular in shape in order to fit substantially around a flat drill bit (not shown in FIG. 8). The pointed tip 140 is affixed to the low er portion 120 of the body 100.

[0034] FIG. 9 pertains to an embodiement of the interior cavity 180 of the device where the inverior cavity 180 is configured to fit substantially around a flat drill bit. The intrior cavity 180 of the body 100 of this embodiement is rectangular in shape to fit around a flat drill bit. Additionally, the bottom of the cavity 181 is configured to fit around the pointed tips (not shown in FIG. 9) at the bottom of a flat drill bit.FIG. 10 further depicts the upper portion 110 of the body 100 of an emobodiement of the device configured to fit substantially around a flat drill bit. FIG. 10 show s the opening 170 to the interior cavity 180 of the body of the device. For this embodiement of the device, the opening 170 on the upper portion 110 of the body 100 is rectangular in shape. Neither the lenth nor the width of the opening 170 can exceed the diameter of the upper portion 110 of the body 100.

[0035] FIGS. 11-12 pertain to the method of aligning the body 100 of the device around a flat drill bit. FIG. 11 shows how to align a flail drill bit 210 to the opening 170 of the upper portion 110 of this embodiement. The upper portion 110 can then be slid over a flat drill bit 210 until the pointed tip 140 of the lower portion 120 of the body 100 is directly beneath the drilling point 220 of a flat drill bit 210.

[0036] FIG. 12 shows an embodiement of the device where the the interior cavity7180 is configured to hold the point of the pointed tip 140 directly beneath the drilling point 220 of a flat drill bit 210 when the body 100 is fitted substantially about the flat drill bit 210.

[0037] FIG. 13 decpicts the method of aligning the point of the pointed tip 140 of the lower portion 120 of the body 100 of an embodiement of the device with a point 230 to be drilled on a surface 240 by the cylindrical or flat drill bit 190, 200, 210. This method further includes lowering the pointed tip 140 on the exterior surface 130 of the lower portion 120 of the body 100 of the device over a point 230 to be drilled on a surface 240 until the pointed tip 140 on the exterior surface 130 of the lower portion 120 of the body 100 of the device touches the surface 240 to be drilled on.

[0038] FIG. 14 depicts the method for marking the surface 240 by applying force 250 to the drill bit 190, 200 or 210, thereby creating a mark 260 on the desired surface 240.To remove the device off of a cylndciral drill bit 190, a cynldrical drill bit with a pointed tip 200, a flat drill bit 210, or any other drill bit the device has been configured to fit, slide the opening 150 or 160 of the upper portion 110 of the body 100 of the device off of the drill bit 190, 200 or 210

[0039] The foregoing drawings show some of the processing associated according to several embodiments of this disclosure. In this regard, each drawing or block within a flow diagram of the drawings represents a process associated with embodiments of the method described. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the acts noted in the drawings or blocks may occur out of the order noted in the figure or, for example, may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or in the reverse order, depending upon the act involved. Also, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional blocks that describe the processing may be added.

[0040] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodimentsonly and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and / or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not.

[0041] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:(1) A drill bit alignnment device, comprising: a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an exterior surface thereof, the body further including an interior cavity configured to fit about a cylindrical drill bit, the cylindrical drill bit having a drilling point thereof; and a pointed tip including a point thereof, the pointed tip on the exterior surface of the lower portion of the body, wherein the interior cavity further configured to hold the point of the pointed tip directly beneath the drilling point of a cylindrical drill bit when the body is fitted about the cylindrical drill bit.(2) The device of claim 1, wherein the exterior of the body is cylindrical.(3) The device of claim 2, wherein the pointed tip includes a conical taper to the point.(4) The device of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a semi-rigid material.(5) The device of claim 1, further including a drill press and wherein the drill bit is attached to the drill press .(6) The device of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the device contains an opening to the interior cavity of the device.(7) The device of claim 6, wherin the opening is configured such that it fits substantially around thecylindrical drill bit.(8) The device of claim 1, wherein the interior cavity within the body of the device is configured to fit around the cylindircal drill bit.(9) A method of aligning a drill bit, drill press, milling machine, handheld drill, or any similar machine comprising a drill bit. with a drilling point, comprising:placing a drill bit alignment device on a cylindrical or flat drill bit, the device having a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an exterior surface thereof, the body further including an interior cavity configured to fit about a cylindrical or flat drill bit having a drilling point, and the body further including a pointed tip including a point thereof, the upper portion of the device containing an opening to the interior cavity', the opening configured to fit about a flat or cylindrical drill bit, the pointed tip on the exterior surface of the lower portion of the body, wherein the interior cavity' further configured to hold the point of the pointed tip directly beneath the drilling point of a cylindrical drill bit when the body is fitted about the cylindrical drill bit; aligning the pointed tip with a point to be drilled on a surface by the cylindrical or flat bit; and removing the alignment device from the cylindrical or flat drill bit.(10) The method of Claim 9, wherein placing a drill bit alignment device on a cylndircal or flat drill bit comprises: affixing the opening of the upper portion of the alignment device around a cylindrical drill bit.(11) The method of Claim 10. wherein placing the drill bit alignment device on a cylindrical or flat drill bit further comprises: sliding the opening of the upper portion of the device over the cylindrical drill bit until the drilling point touches the pointed tip.(12) The method of Claim 9, wherein aligning the pointed tip with a point to be drilled on a surface by the cylindrical or flat bit comprises: lowering the pointed tip on the exterior surface of the lower portion of the device over a pointto be drilled on a surface until the pointed tip on the exterior surface of the lower portion of the device touches the point.(13) The method of Claim 9, wherin removing the alignment device from the cylindrical comprises: sliding the opening of the upper portion of the device off of the cylindrical drill bit.(14) A method of creating a center punch on a drilling surface, comprising: aligning a drill bithaving a drilling point over a surface to be drilled; aligning the pointed tip of a drill bit alignment device with the drilling point over the surface to be drilled; marking the surface at the point of alignment of the drilling point and pointed tip; and removing the alignment device from the cylindrical or flat drill bit.(15) The method of Claim 14, wherein aligning a drill bit comprises: placing the drill bit alignment device on a cylindrical drill bit, the device having a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an exterior surface thereof, the body further including an interior cavity configured to fit about a cylindrical or flat drill bit having a drilling point, and the body further including a pointed tip including a point thereof, the upper portion of the device containing an opening to the interior cavity, the opening configured to fit about a flat or cylindrical drill bit, the pointed tip on the exterior surface of the lower portion of the body, wherein the interior cavity further configured to hold the point of the pointed tip directly beneath the drilling point of a cylindrical drill bit when the body is fitted about the cylindrical drill bit.(16) The method of Claim 15. wherein placing a drill bit alignment device on a cylndircal drill bit comprises: affixing the opening of the upper portion of the alignment device about the cylindrical drill bit.(17) The method of Claim 15. wherin placing the drill bit alignment device on a cylindrical drill bit further comprises:sliding the opening of the upper portion of the device over the cylindrical drill bit until the drilling point of cylindrical drill bit reaches a bottom of the interior cavity of the body of the device.(18) The method of Claim 14. wherein aligning the pointed tip with a surface to be drilled on by the cylindrical bit comprises: lowering the pointed tip on the exterior surface of the lower portion of the device over a pointto be drilled on a surfaceuntil the pointed tip on the exterior surface of the lower portion of the device touches the surface to be drilled on.(19) The method of Claim 14, wherein marking the surface to be drilled on comprises: applying force to the drill bit, thereby creating a mark on the desired surface.(20) The method of Claim 19, wherein removing the alignment device from the cylindrical or flat drill bit comprises: raising the pointed tip of the exterior surface of the lower portion of the device off of the surface to be drilled on; and removing the device from the drill bit.

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