Adjustable Heel Member for Push Block Thickness Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior art push blocks with fixed or adjustable heel members fail to accommodate work pieces of varying thicknesses, leading to ineffective cutting and potential splintering or vibration issues during woodworking operations.

Innovation Solution

A selectively adjustable heel member mechanism that allows the heel member to be positioned at multiple points relative to the push block's bottom surface, using a fastener with a flange and compression spring to securely adjust and maintain the heel's position, ensuring proper engagement with the work piece's end or top surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed heel member is used, then the push block structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate work pieces of varying thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of varying work piece thicknessesVSAvoidheel member adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heel member is made adjustable through a mechanism that allows it to move between multiple positions along the push block body. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the heel member to adapt to different work piece thicknesses while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through straightforward adjustment components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position of the heel member can be changed to multiple discrete positions relative to the push block bottom surface. This parameter change allows the same push block to accommodate various work piece thicknesses by simply adjusting the heel member position, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a two-position adjustable heel member is used, then some thickness variation is accommodated, but it still cannot properly engage work pieces of all thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of varying work piece thicknessesVSAvoidengagement reliability with work piece

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is divided into multiple discrete positions rather than a continuous range. Each position corresponds to a specific work piece thickness category, providing reliable engagement for different thicknesses while maintaining simplicity in the adjustment mechanism design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heel member adjustment is implemented along the vertical dimension (height relative to bottom surface) rather than requiring complex lateral or rotational mechanisms. This dimensional approach allows multiple thickness accommodations through simple vertical positioning, improving both adaptability and engagement reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the heel member position is fixed, then the structure is stable, but it causes splintering and vibration during cutting of different thickness work pieces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesplintering and vibration during cuttingVSAvoidheel member adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism allows the operator to feedback the thickness of the work piece and相应 adjust the heel member position accordingly. This feedback loop eliminates splintering and vibration by ensuring proper engagement for each specific work piece thickness, while the mechanism itself remains relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable heel member position is set in advance before cutting to prevent splintering and vibration from occurring during the cutting process. By preliminarily adjusting the heel member to the correct position for the given work piece thickness, the harmful effects of splintering and vibration are prevented rather than corrected during cutting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise adjustment to accommodate different work piece thicknesses, minimizing splintering and vibration, and ensuring a stable cutting process by maintaining contact with both cut pieces, thus providing a more accurate and safer cutting experience.

Implementation Method 1

A biasing mechanism, such as a compression spring, is on the fastener shaft between the knob and fastener flange biasing the knob away from the heel member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10011037B2Selectively adjustable heel member for a push block and a push block with the same

Publication Date: 2018.07.03 WANG HENRY

AI summary

A heel member for a push block used with a woodworking apparatus comprises a side surface that is disposed substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the push block and is spaced apart from and end of the push block. A heel position adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the heel member to adjust the heel member and a bottom edge of the heel member to multiple selected positions relative to a bottom surface of the push block. The heel member may have an inclined surface abutting an incline surface at the end of the push block and female and male guides along both inclined surfaces in mating relationship.