Woodworking – Workbench
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-23
2001-06-05
Bray, W. Donald (Department: 3725)
Woodworking
Workbench
C108S069000, C144S286500, C144S287000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240987
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tool supporting device and more particularly to a portable device arranged to support tools thereon.
BACKGROUND
When working with power tools, for example power saws and routers, it is often desirable to support the tools and related work materials on a bench or table in a workshop. These tables however are generally not portable and of no use when away from the workshop. The use of a portable workbench or table is occasionally used for assisting in supporting materials when working on a job site away from a workshop, however, these portable devices are often large and awkward in size and do not provide a suitable supporting surface for supporting both tools and work materials thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,053 to Robison and U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,651 to Carmon et al each provide a portable tool and work supporting device. Each device includes a housing supported on collapsible legs and having multiple attachments mounted thereon. Both devices however are significant in size and complexity such that the devices are awkward to manipulate between a collapsed position and a supporting position for supporting the materials thereon.
The present invention is concerned with certain improvements to portable tool supporting devices.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is provided a tool supporting device comprising:
a first pair of elongate legs mounted parallel and spaced apart from each other, each leg having a ground engaging end and a supporting end;
a second pair of elongate legs mounted parallel and spaced apart from each other, each leg having a ground engaging end and a supporting end, the second pair of legs being pivotally coupled to the first pair of legs between respective ends of both pairs wherein the second pair of legs is laterally offset from the first pair of legs such that the legs are pivotal between a collapsed position wherein the legs are substantially parallel and adjacent to each other and a supporting position wherein the supporting and ground engaging ends of the respective first and second pairs of legs are spaced apart from each other; and
a main supporting surface extending longitudinally between respective first and seconds ends thereof, the supporting surface being pivotally mounted at the first end on the first pair of legs adjacent the supporting end thereof and being selectively coupled at the second end on the second pair of legs adjacent the supporting end thereof in the supporting position, the supporting surface being located between the legs of each of the first and second pairs of legs such that when the second end of the supporting surface is released from the second pair of legs, the supporting surface is pivotal into the collapsed position wherein the legs extend longitudinally along respective sides of the supporting surface within a substantially common plane therewith.
The use of a supporting surface having legs mounted along respective sides thereof forms a substantially flat structure which is simple in construction and occupies minimal space in a collapsed position. The flat design further permits a pair of auxiliary supporting surfaces to be coupled thereto and positioned adjacent the respective top and bottom faces of main supporting surface in the collapsed position.
The first pair of elongate legs are preferably spaced inwardly from the second pair of elongate legs such that the supporting surface is received therebetween in the collapsed position.
A pair of wheels is preferably mounted adjacent the supporting end of one of the pairs of legs for engaging the ground in the collapsed position.
There may be provided a wheel mount mounting the wheels thereon wherein the wheel mount is mounted on one of the pairs of legs and extends outwardly therefrom at a position spaced inwardly from the supporting end of the legs such that the wheels do not extend past the supporting surface in the supporting position.
There may be provided an adjustable mount on the supporting surface such that the supporting surface is adjustable in length whereby adjustment of a length of the supporting surface will correspondingly adjust a height of the legs supporting the supporting surface thereon.
The supporting surface preferably comprises a first portion telescopically received within a second portion thereof and the adjustable mount comprises a locking member which is received through co-operating apertures in the first and second portions such that the locking member restricts relative movement therebetween.
A pivot shaft is preferably mounted on the supporting end of the first pair of legs to extend therebetween and wherein the first end of the supporting surface comprises a tubular member arranged to receive the pivot shaft therethrough such that the supporting surface is rotatable about the pivot shaft.
There may be provided a cross member mounted between the legs of the second pair of legs adjacent the supporting end thereof and wherein there is provided at least one hook member mounted on the second end of the supporting surface arranged to receive the cross member therein in the supporting position for selectively coupling the supporting surface to the second pair of legs.
The supporting surface may be supported at respective ends on the first and second pairs of legs respectively by a collar slidably mounted on each leg and wherein there is provided a locking member for securing each collar in place such that a height of the frame is adjustable.
There may be provided a cross member mounted between the legs of one of the pairs, the cross member being mounted perpendicularly to the legs for supporting a reel thereon such that the reel is rotatably mounted thereon between the legs.
A curved portion is preferably located at a ground engaging end of each leg for sliding movement along the ground as the legs are displaced between the collapsed and supporting positions.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool supporting device comprising:
a first pair of elongate legs mounted parallel and spaced apart from each other, each leg having a ground engaging end and a supporting end;
a second pair of elongate legs mounted parallel and spaced apart from each other, each leg having a ground engaging end and a supporting end, the second pair of legs being pivotally coupled to the first pair of legs between respective ends of both pairs wherein the second pair of legs is laterally offset from the first pair of legs such that the legs are pivotal between a collapsed position wherein the legs are substantially parallel and adjacent to each other and a supporting position wherein the supporting and ground engaging ends of the respective first and second pairs of legs are spaced apart from each other;
a main supporting surface extending longitudinally between respective first and seconds ends thereof, the supporting surface being pivotally mounted at the first end on the first pair of legs adjacent the supporting end thereof and being selectively coupled at the second end on the second pair of legs adjacent the supporting end thereof in the supporting position, the supporting surface being located between the legs of each of the first and second pairs of legs such that when the second end of the supporting surface is released from the second pair of legs, the supporting surface is pivotal into the collapsed position wherein the legs extend longitudinally along respective sides of the supporting surface within a substantially common plane therewith;
an auxiliary supporting surface pivotally mounted at an inner end thereof adjacent the supporting end of one of the pairs of legs and extending outwardly to a free end thereof, the inner end of the auxiliary supporting surface being offset from the supporting end of the pairs of legs such that the auxiliary support surface is pivotal to extend parallel and adjacent to the main supporting surface in the collapsed position; and
an auxiliary leg pivotally mounted on the free end of the auxiliary supporting surface being arranged t
Bray W. Donald
Jacobson & Johnson
LandOfFree
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