Foldable workbench

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6769674
  • Patent Number
    6,769,674
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, May 15, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 3, 2004
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Hail, III; Joseph J.
    • Shanley; Daniel
    Agents
    • Rosenberg, Klein & Lee
Abstract
A foldable workbench comprises at least a foldable leg frame, two clamp assemblies, to angular control board, several angular regulators, several clamp boards and a flat workbench, in which two clamp assemblies are linked to the foldable leg frame. The adjusting holes of the angular control board are connected to one side of clamp assemblies. Several angular regulators are arranged at both ends of the clamp assemblies. In addition, several clamp boards are bolted on the angular regulators. The flat workbench is placed on the angle iron rake of the brace.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention relates to a foldable workbench, in particular, with a combined joint constructed by an angular control board and a pivot blade.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The prior art of the foldable workbench as shown in ROC Patent 396920 mainly comprises a base plate, a guide channel steel, a cutting bench and some tool kits. The base plate provides two rails along the sides. The guide channel steel with a deep channel straddles over the rails on the base plate. The cutting bench has several grooves on the surface and two inverted U grooves on the bottom. The inverted U groove is installed with a plurality of ball bearings and a lock bolt. The tool kits includes a guide strap, a guide board and a push board. The ball bearing carries and moves the cutting bench along the rails on the base plate, and the lock bolt fixes the cutting bench on the rail. The tool kit is changeable dependent on the size and character of the work piece. The obvious weaknesses are: the patent workbench is assembled of a plurality of grooved board. It occupies too much space while not in use, and it is time consuming to disassemble while not to use and assemble again while to use it. The tool kit depends on what the size or character of the work piece object is, in other word, there must make a great number of tool kits available for any size and any character of the work piece. More important, the patented workbench is suitable for flat process, not applicable to angular process.




It is visible that the patented workbench has much room for improvement.




The inventor have appreciated such weaknesses the patented workbench and have worked hard for years in studying how to improve it and come up this foldable workbench.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The main object of the invention is to provide a foldable workbench easy for storage.




Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable workbench requiring least space for storage.




Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable workbench in which the angular control board controls the change of work angles of the workbench.




Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable workbench in which the pivot plate adjusts the clamp face of the clamp plate, and the components required are reduced to the minimum.




The foldable workbench of the invention at least comprises:




A foldable leg frame, constituting two parallel foldable braces, one of the brace side is attached with an angle iron rack. The braces are connected with joint bolts.




Two clamp assembles arranged in parallel. Each clamp assembly has a worm gear passing through its interior. The worm gear has a crank handle at one end.




Two angular control boards. Each board has a guide slot communicated with a plurality of adjusting holes and round hole at one end.




Several angle regulators including a yoke, a slide, a spring retainer and a lock plate. The yoke has a slot. A lock bolt fastens one end of the lock plate and the yoke together and another lock bolt passes the other end of the lock plate, the slide, and the spring retainer and enters the slot of the yoke. Finally the slide lies on the rail.




Several clamp boards with a plurality of holes punched.




A piece of flat work board with a plurality of holes punched. The work board has two racks disposed on both sides.




Two clamp assemblies are bolted on the braces respectively, several angle regulators are attached to the ends of the clamp devices and several clamp boards are bolted to the clamp assemblies respectively. A bolt will enter the round hole on the angular control board and one end of the clamp assembly and lock to the angle iron of the brace. In general condition, the flat work board is place on the angle iron rack attached to the leg.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a stereo outlook of workbench of this invention.





FIG. 2

shows a disassembly of foldable leg frame of the workbench of the invention.





FIG. 3

shows a disassembly of clamp assembly of the workbench of the invention.





FIG. 4

is an amplified disassembly of the angular control board of workbench.





FIG. 5

is a stereo disassembly of the angular regulator of the workbench.





FIG. 6

is an outlook of the first embodiment of the workbench of the invention.





FIG. 7

is an outlook of the second embodiment of the workbench of the invention.





FIG. 8

is an outlook of the third embodiment of the workbench of the invention.





FIG. 9

shows a workbench in folded arrangement.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




As shown in

FIGS. 1

,


2


,


3


,


4


and


5


, the foldable workbench of the invention mainly comprises the following.




A foldable leg frame


1


constitutes two parallel foldable braces


11


, each brace


11


is made of a channel tube


111


with one end connected to a center leg


112


and other end to a short leg


113


both by a lock bolt


7


. The center hole of the channel tube


111


is connected to a center leg


112


. One piece of the pivot plate


114


is provided with one end to link with a short leg


113


, an angle iron rack


115


and a center leg


112


. An angle iron rack


115


is mounted on the side of the foldable brace


11


. A hook


116


is employed to bind the center leg


112


and the short leg


113


together. The angle iron rack


115


has a long wall


1151


and short side


1152


. The lower part of the center leg


112


of one brace


11


is linked with the lower part of the center leg


112


of the counter part brace


11


by a connector


12


.




Two pieces of clamp assembly


2


are in parallel arrangement and composed of a section of channel tube


21


with an opening


211


at one end to receive worm gear


22


and a crank handle


23


. The channel tube


21


has a guide slot


212


on the top.




Two angular control boards


3


, each board has a long guide groove


31


, a plurality of adjustment holes


32


drilled along the guide groove


31


and a round hole


33


at the end.




Several angular regulators


4


, each comprises a yoke


41


, a slide


42


, a spring retainer


43


and a lock plate


44


. The yoke


41


has a guide slot


411


and a guide slot


412


. The slide


42


is a piece of channel tube with lock holes


421


on both ends. The spring retainer


43


consists of a cylinder


431


with a lug


4311


on one end and a cavity


4312


to receive a press unit


433


and a spring


432


. The lock plate


44


has four transverse lugs


441


and lock holes


4411


and four downward lugs


442


and lock holes


4421


. One lock bolt


7


will enter and lock together the lock hole


4421


on the lock plate


44


, the lock hole


421


on the slide


42


and the guide slot


412


on the yoke


41


. Another lock bolt


7


will link the lock hole


4421


, the lock hole


421


on the slide


42


, and the guide slot


412


on the yoke


41


and keep the cylinder


431


, press unit


433


and spring


432


within the inside of the two yoke


41


walls.




Several clamp boards


5


with a plurality of holes


51


punched for receiving a support


52


.




A flat work board


6


with a plurality of holes


61


punched. The work board


6


has racks


62


extended from both sides of the work board


6


, and the distance between these two racks


62


equals to the short side


1152


of the angle iron rack


115


.




Two clamp assemblies


2


are bolted to the channel tubes


111


on the fordable leg frame


1


. Several angular regulators


4


are attached to ends of the clamp assemblies


2


. The angular regulator


4


adjacent to the crank handle


23


of the clamp assembly


2


is bolted to the clamp assembly


2


. Another angular regulator


4


is fastened on the lock bolt


221


. The lock bolt


221


further enters the guide slot


212


and fixes the worm gear


22


. The angle control boards


3


are disposed on the sides of the clamp assemblies


2


and are locked by a lock bolt


34


through the round holes


33


to the channel tube


111


of the foldable brace


11


. Several clamp boards


5


are bolted to the lug holes


4411


on the lock plate


44


. The flat work board


6


lies on the angle iron rack


115


.




As shown in

FIGS. 6

,


7


,


8


and


9


, the work piece is placed between two clamp board


5


, by turning the crank handle


23


which drives the worm gear


22


and the angular regulator


4


to secure the proper working position. In case it requires a wider working area on the workbench, take up the flat work board


6


from the angle iron rack


115


and place it on the channel tube


21


of the clamp assembly


2


, then turn the crank handle


23


to gain proper hold of the flat work board


6


. In addition, it allows the lock bolt


34


to be moved along the adjustment holes


32


along the guide groove


31


on the angular control board


3


, the clamp assembly


2


will form another angle as the foldable leg frame


1


changes position along the pivot of the lock bolt


7


. When the spring


432


of the spring retainer


43


is pressed to disengage the inner wall of the yoke


41


, the spring retainer


43


is permitted to move along the guide slot


411


, so the angular regulator


4


will make angle change in the clamp board


5


. While not in use, the channel tube


111


of the foldable leg frame


1


is allowed to fold up along the pivot of the lock bolt


7


.




Comparing with the prior art of the foldable workbench, the foldable workbench discovered in the invention dominates the following merits:




1. The foldable workbench is easy to fold for storage.




2. The foldable workbench after folded occupies the least space.




3. The angular control board provides an easy adjustment of working angle for the workbench to suit the work piece.




4. The angular regulator is employed to minimize the parts requirements.




Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A foldable workbench, comprising:a foldable leg frame constituting two foldable braces, each brace having a channel tube with one end connected to a center leg and another end to a short leg, a center hole of said channel tube connected to a center leg, an angle iron rack mounted on a side of said brace, a lower part of said center leg of one brace linked with a lower part of said center leg of a counter part brace by a connector; two pieces of clamp assembly in parallel arrangement and including a section of said channel tube with an opening at one end to receive a worm gear and a crank handle, said channel tube having a guide slot on top; two angular control boards, each board having a guide groove, a plurality of adjustment holes drilled along the guide groove and a round hole at an end of said angular control board; a plurality of angular regulators, each comprising a yoke, a slide, a spring retainer and a lock plate; a plurality of clamp boards with a plurality of holes punched; a flat work board with a plurality of holes punched, having racks extended from both sides at a proper place; two clamp assemblies bolted to said channel tube on said foldable leg frame, said angular regulators attached to said clamp assemblies, one of said angular regulators adjacent to said crank handle of each said clamp assembly bolted to said clamp assembly, another angular regulator fastened on a lock bolt, said lock bolt further entering a guide slot of said clamp assembly and fixing said worm gear, said clamp boards bolted on said angular regulators to be angularly adjustable relative to said clamp assemblies, and said flat work board lying on said angle iron rack of said foldable brace.
  • 2. The foldable workbench of claim 1, wherein a pivot plate links with a lower part of said center leg and a lower part of said short leg, a hook unites said center leg and said short leg together.
  • 3. The foldable workbench of claims 1 or 2, wherein said angle iron rack has a vertical wall with one end linked to said short leg and another end to said center leg.
  • 4. The foldable workbench of claim 1, wherein said angle iron rack is employed to receive said flat work board.
  • 5. The foldable workbench of claim 1, wherein said round hole on said angle control board is used to link to one side of said clamp assembly.
  • 6. The foldable workbench of claim 1, wherein said angle control board is locked by a lock bolt to said channel tube of said foldable brace.
  • 7. The foldable workbench of claim 1, wherein said clamp boards and said flat work board have a plurality of holes for support.
  • 8. The foldable workbench of claim 1, wherein said angular regulator has a yoke with a guide slot and a round hole.
  • 9. The foldable workbench of claim 1, wherein a slide of said angular regulator is a channel tube with lock holes on both ends.
  • 10. The foldable workbench of claims 1, wherein a lock plate of said angular regulator has transverse lugs with holes and downward lugs with holes for connection.
  • 11. The foldable workbench of claims 8, 9, or 10, wherein a lock hole at one end of said lock plate is pivoted with a guide slot of said yoke, a lock hole at another end of said lock plate is pivoted with a lock hole of said slide, another end of said slide is mounted on a lock hole with a spring retainer, said spring retainer is fixed on said yoke through a guide at a side of said yoke with a press unit and a spring, said press unit is fixed inside a cavity of a cylinder with one end of said spring, said cylinder is fixed at another side of said slide with a lug, whereby said spring pushes said press unit and cylinder aside and supports inner walls of said yoke.
  • 12. The foldable workbench of claim 1, wherein said clamp board is fastened on lock holes of said lock plate by bolts.
  • 13. A foldable workbench comprising:a foldable leg frame constituting two foldable braces, each brace having a channel tube with one end connected to a center leg and another end to a short leg with a bolt, a center hole of said channel tube connected to a center leg, an angle iron rack mounted on a side of said brace, a lower part of said center leg of one brace linked with a lower part of said center leg of a counter part brace by a connector; two pieces of clamp assembly in parallel arrangement and including a section of said channel tube with an opening at one end to receive a worm gear and a crank handle, said channel tube having a guide slot on top; two angular control boards, each board having a guide groove, a plurality of adjustment holes drilled along the guide groove and a round hole at an end of said angular control board; a plurality of angular regulators, each comprising a yoke, a slide, a spring retainer and a lock plate; a plurality of clamp boards with a plurality of holes punched; a flat work board with a plurality of holes punched, having racks extended from both sides at a proper place; two clamp assemblies bolted to said channel tube on said foldable leg frame, said angular regulators attached to said clamp assemblies, one of said angular regulators adjacent to said crank handle of each said clamp assembly bolted to said clamp assembly, another angular regulator fastened on a lock bolt, said lock bolt further entering a guide slot of said clamp assembly and fixing said worm gear, said clamp boards bolted on at least one said angular regulator, and said flat work board lying on said angle iron rack of said foldable brace; wherein a spring retainer consists of a cylinder with a lug on one end and a cavity to receive a press unit and a spring.
  • 14. The foldable workbench of claim 13, wherein a lock hole at one end of said lock plate is pivoted with a guide slot of said yoke, a lock hole at another end of said lock plate is pivoted with a lock hole of said slide, another end of said slide is mounted on a lock hole with a spring retainer, said spring retainer is fixed on said yoke through a guide at a side of said yoke with a press unit and a spring, said press unit is fixed inside a cavity of a cylinder with one end of said spring, said cylinder is fixed at another side of said slide with a lug, whereby said spring pushes said press unit and cylinder aside and supports inner walls of said yoke.
  • 15. A foldable workbench comprising:a foldable leg frame constituting two foldable braces, each brace having a channel tube with one end connected to a center leg and another end to a short leg with a bolt, a center hole of said channel tube connected to a center leg, an angle iron rack mounted on a side of said brace, a lower part of said center leg of one brace linked with a lower part of said center leg of a counter part brace by a connector; two pieces of clamp assembly in parallel arrangement and including a section of said channel tube with an opening at one end to receive a worm gear and a crank handle, said channel tube having a guide slot on top; two angular control boards, each board having a guide groove, a plurality of adjustment holes drilled along the guide groove and a round hole at an end of said angular control board; a plurality of angular regulators, each comprising a yoke, a slide, a spring retainer and a lock plate; a plurality of clamp boards with a plurality of holes punched; a flat work board with a plurality of holes punched, having racks extended from both sides at a proper place; two clamp assemblies bolted to said channel tube on said foldable leg frame, said angular regulators attached to said clamp assemblies, one of said angular regulators adjacent to said crank handle of each said clamp assembly bolted to said clamp assembly, another angular regulator fastened on a lock bolt, said lock bolt further entering a guide slot of said clamp assembly and fixing said worm gear, said clamp boards bolted on at least one said angular regulator, and said flat work board lying on said angle iron rack of said foldable brace; wherein said angular regulator has a yoke with a guide slot and a round hole; wherein a lock hole at one end of said lock plate is pivoted with a guide slot of said yoke, a lock hole at another end of said lock plate is pivoted with a lock hole of said slide, another end of said slide is mounted on a lock hole with a spring retainer, said spring retainer is fixed on said yoke through a guide at a side of said yoke with a press unit and a spring, said press unit is fixed inside a cavity of a cylinder with one end of said spring, said cylinder is fixed at another side of said slide with a lug, whereby said spring pushes said press unit and cylinder aside and supports inner walls of said yoke.
  • 16. A foldable workbench comprising:a foldable leg frame constituting two foldable braces, each brace having a channel tube with one end connected to a center leg and another end to a short leg with a bolt, a center hole of said channel tube connected to a center leg, an angle iron rack mounted on a side of said brace, a lower part of said center leg of one brace linked with a lower part of said center leg of a counter part brace by a connector; two pieces of clamp assembly in parallel arrangement and including a section of said channel tube with an opening at one end to receive a worm gear and a crank handle, said channel tube having a guide slot on top; two angular control boards, each board having a guide groove, a plurality of adjustment holes drilled along the guide groove and a round hole at an end of said angular control board; a plurality of angular regulators, each comprising a yoke, a slide, a spring retainer and a lock plate; a plurality of clamp boards with a plurality of holes punched; a flat work board with a plurality of holes punched, having racks extended from both sides at a proper place; two clamp assemblies bolted to said channel tube on said foldable leg frame, said angular regulators attached to said clamp assemblies, one of said angular regulators adjacent to said crank handle of each said clamp assembly bolted to said clamp assembly, another angular regulator fastened on a lock bolt, said lock bolt further entering a guide slot of said clamp assembly and fixing said worm gear, said clamp boards bolted on at least one said angular regulator, and said flat work board lying on said angle iron rack of said foldable brace; wherein a slide of said angular regulator is a channel tube with lock holes on both ends; wherein a lock hole at one end of said lock plate is pivoted with a guide slot of said yoke, a lock hole at another end of said lock plate is pivoted with a lock hole of said slide, another end of said slide is mounted on a lock hole with a spring retainer, said spring retainer is fixed on said yoke through a guide at a side of said yoke with a press unit and a spring, said press unit is fixed inside a cavity of a cylinder with one end of said spring, said cylinder is fixed at another side of said slide with a lug, whereby said spring pushes said press unit and cylinder aside and supports inner walls of said yoke.
  • 17. A foldable workbench comprising:a foldable leg frame constituting two foldable braces, each brace having a channel tube with one end connected to a center leg and another end to a short leg with a bolt, a center hole of said channel tube connected to a center leg, an angle iron rack mounted on a side of said brace, a lower part of said center leg of one brace linked with a lower part of said center leg of a counter part brace by a connector; two pieces of clamp assembly in parallel arrangement and including a section of said channel tube with an opening at one end to receive a worm gear and a crank handle, said channel tube having a guide slot on top; two angular control boards, each board having a guide groove, a plurality of adjustment holes drilled along the guide groove and a round hole at an end of said angular control board; a plurality of angular regulators, each comprising a yoke, a slide, a spring retainer and a lock plate; a plurality of clamp boards with a plurality of holes punched; a flat work board with a plurality of holes punched, having racks extended from both sides at a proper place; two clamp assemblies bolted to said channel tube on said foldable leg frame, said angular regulators attached to said clamp assemblies, one of said angular regulators adjacent to said crank handle of each said clamp assembly bolted to said clamp assembly, another angular regulator fastened on a lock bolt, said lock bolt further entering a guide slot of said clamp assembly and fixing said worm gear, said clamp boards bolted on at least one said angular regulator, and said flat work board lying on said angle iron rack of said foldable brace; wherein a lock plate of said angular regulator has transverse lugs with holes and downward lugs with holes for connection; wherein a lock hole at one end of said lock plate is pivoted with a guide slot of said yoke, a lock hole at another end of said lock plate is pivoted with a lock hole of said slide, another end of said slide is mounted on a lock hole with a spring retainer, said spring retainer is fixed on said yoke through a guide at a side of said yoke with a press unit and a spring, said press unit is fixed inside a cavity of a cylinder with one end of said spring, said cylinder is fixed at another side of said slide with a lug, whereby said spring pushes said press unit and cylinder aside and supports inner walls of said yoke.
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Number Name Date Kind
D256533 Alessio Aug 1980 S
4278243 Alessio Jul 1981 A
4909491 Cheng Mar 1990 A
6113088 Gakhar et al. Sep 2000 A
D448948 Wolff Oct 2001 S