Work holders – Relatively movable jaws – With means to fasten holder to support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-01
2001-09-11
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Work holders
Relatively movable jaws
With means to fasten holder to support
C269S900000, C269S901000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286824
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally in the field of worktables and in paticular it is concerned with such a portable and collapsible worktable.
The term“worktable” as used hereinafter in the specification and claims refers also to“work benches”.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A myriad of worktables available on the market and many patents are directed to various such worktables, most of which typically comprise a work surface (worktable) and a support structure which in many cases is collapsible.
A variety of patents are concerned with different aspects of the support structure and their collapsing whilst other patents are directed to features of the worktable and different accessories therefor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel worktable which is easily assembled on a support structure and easily removed therefrom for transport and storage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a workable mountable on a sawhorse, the sawhorse comprising two frames articulated to one another along a longitudinal top axis, and a top bar having two side faces extending parallel to said longitudinal axis; the workable comprising a top bar receiving member and at least one work plate articulated thereto; said top bar receiving member comprises a receiving portion fitted for snugly receiving the top bar and at least at one support leg for supporting the at least one work plate at a substantially horizontal position.
The sawhorse as referred to herein in the specification and claims may be a fixed structure or of the type which is collapsible and comprises a pair of side frames which are pivotable about the longitudinal axis and have an operative position wherein the frames diverge at their lower ends for increasing stability, and a collapsed state in which the support frames are essentially parallel with one another for transport and storage.
The top bar of the sawhorse may be integral with the support frames or may be attached thereto (fixedly or removably) and has the purpose of supporting a workpiece while being worked, e.g. lumber, pipes, etc. or a plate of material supported over two such sawhorses serving as a table.
Typically, the top bar generally has a rectangular cross-sectional shape though it may be formed with different grooves and openings for the purpose of supporting workpieces. For example, there may be provided a longitudinal V-like groove or other openings for receiving fixtures, etc.
According to one preferred embodiment the workable comprises two work plates pivotally hinged to the top bar receiving member along axes parallel to a longitudinal axis of the top bar receiving member. Still preferably, the worktable has an operative state wherein the top surface of the work plates extend flush with a top surface of the top bar receiving member, and a collapsed state in which, preferably, the work plates are pivoted about the top bar receiving member into overlapping with one another.
In order to firmly support the work plates, the support leg is articulated at one end thereof to the worktable and has a second end adapted for engagement with a portion of the frame of the sawhorse. Preferably, each work plate is supported by two support legs.
In accordance with a preferred design of the invention the sport legs are swingably articulated at the first end to the respective work plate and preferably the support legs are retained at their collapsed se by a locking arrangement which typically is a snap-lock engagement.
In accordance with a particular and preferred design of the invention, the support legs are swingable between an operative state in which they project downwardly from the work plate, and a collapsed state in which they extend parallel to an edge of the respective work plate.
Preferably the support legs are formed at their second end with a surface for bearing against a corresponding surface at the portion of the respective sawhorse frame. Still preferably, the support legs are formed at their second end with a first engaging member for engagement with a corresponding second engaging member at the portion of the sawhorse frame. By one particular example, the first engaging member is a projection and the second engaging member is a corresponding opening. Removing the worktable from the sawhorse is possible only upon disengaging the first engaging members from the corresponding second engaging members.
In accordance with one desired embodiment, the top bar receiving member is fitted with a vice, the vice comprising an adjusting screw manipulable by a handle, a first jaw, and second jaw facing the first jaw and being displaceable along an axis of said adjusting screw, said screw extending within the top bar receiving member.
One or both of the work plates may be integrally formed with a storage compartment fitted with a closable lid. Such a compartment may be useful for storage of a variety of articles such as, for example screws, nails, drill bits, etc. Furthermore, at least one of the at least one work plates is formed with a plurality of apertures for removably receiving a variety of fixture elements. Such elements may be accessory jaws for the vice, fixed jaws etc. Such elements may be stored within the Storage compartment or within suitable apertures formed at the bottom surface of the work plates.
Preferably the worktable comprises a locking arrangement for securing the work plates in the collapsed state.
In accordance with a preferred design, the top bar receiving portion has a rectangular cross-section with two side walls sized for tightly bearing against the corresponding side faces of the top bar. The extent to which the top bar is received within the receiving portion is controlled by an arrangement according to which the side walls of the top bar receiving portion each, have a bottom edge fitted for bearing against corresponding shoulders laterally projecting from the top bar.
The worktable and the top bar receiving member may be longer than the top bar of the sawhorse. Accordingly, and the top bar receiving portion may be fited with walls conforming the length of the receiving portion with the length of the top bar.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2707663 (1955-05-01), Wickel
patent: 4089522 (1978-05-01), Rock
patent: 4625951 (1986-12-01), Yang
patent: 5105862 (1992-04-01), Skinner et al.
patent: 5535847 (1996-07-01), DuRapau
Kenyon & Kenyon
Keter Plastic Ltd.
Watson Robert C.
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