Woodworking – Workbench – Of special shape or structure
Reexamination Certificate
1996-05-13
2001-03-06
Bray, W. Donald (Department: 3725)
Woodworking
Workbench
Of special shape or structure
C144S307000, C144S286100, C269S027000, C269S032000, C269S2890MR
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196285
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a work bench top constructed of lumber preferably of a hardwood species and of a thickness to provide the strength and rigidity required for heavy duty work bench use. This work bench has a full length front portion that is an integral part of the bench top and which when pulled by an arrangement of cable and pulleys and hydraulic power to the larger part of the work top bench creates a full length vise or clamping action. This bench is also equipped with a mechanism for the instant release of the vise and clamping action.
BACKGROUND ART
U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,386 issued May 29, 1979 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,435 are portable work benches having clamping action using two threaded rods with crank handles to furnish the clamping power. In each of these benches each threaded rod must be operated independently to secure the jaw opening that is of uniform width or varies from one longitudinal end to the other. In my bench, because of the cable and pulley arrangement, the jaw opening conforms automatically to the workpiece whether tapered or of uniform width or thickness. The patented benches with their threaded rod mechanism, folding legs, and light construction members appear designed for light duty applications. In contrast, this invention is completely assembled, made preferably of dimension lumber and has powerful hydraulic clamping or vise action. The bench top can be taken to construction sites and placed upon saw horses or other supports for one the job use. The bench top can with equal propriety be installed permanently on a work bench base constructed to a user's specifications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a work bench top made preferably of dimension lumber. An integral part of this top is the movable front piece which is attached to the main portion of the top by steel cable and also held in place by two wood guides installed on the underside of the front piece and guide brackets installed on the underside of the larger portion of the top. The bench top can be constructed in various widths and lengths. The cable attached to the eye bolts in the front piece of the top is routed through two pulleys mounted on the underside and to the rear of the top and through a third pulley mounted to a metal block which is mounted to the top of the piston or ram of a hydraulic jack. A metal guide rode is attached to the opposite end of the metal block on which a compression spring is installed. When the jack valve is closed and the jack operated the metal block moves forward tightening the cable attached to the front section eye bolts and routed through the pulleys on the underside of the top. This cable tightening pulls the front section of the top into the main part of the top creating a clamping or vise action. The two sections of the work bench top have thus become the jaws of a full length bench top vise with extraordinary holding power. When the jack valve is opened the return spring which was compressed in the closing action returns the jack piston to the closed position and allows the front piece of the bench to open to a width of approximately 2¼″. This measurement can be changed by adjusting the length of the cable and the total length of the hydraulic piston by the use of a different jack or hydraulic pump and rod combination. If the vise is to be used to secure material wider or thicker than the opening provided this is accomplished by the use of bench dogs. The space provided between the wood guides attached to the underside of the front section of the top and the guide brackets attached to the underside of the main or larger section of the bench top allows the front section to be opened at an angle creating a vise or clamping jaw opening having a different width at one longitudinal end of the clamping jaw than the other. This along with the cable moving freely as installed on the pulleys as previously described allows the vise to tighten securely to tapered workpieces as well as to workpieces of uniform thickness or width. Workpieces of a tubular configuration or other configurations can be easily clamped by inserting bench dogs in both sections of the top.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4154435 (1979-05-01), Alessio
patent: 4155386 (1979-05-01), Alessio
patent: 4375827 (1983-03-01), Ignjatic
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