The present invention generally relates to portable workbenches and more particularly to a portable, foldable workbench for use in painting.
In one form, the present teachings provide a paint station with a tray, which has a sloped portion extending upwardly from a paint well, and a cover that is removably coupled to the tray. The cover includes a raised portion that is disposed over the sloped portion of the tray when the cover is coupled to the tray. The cover defines a paint roller arm aperture that extends through the cover.
In another form, the present teachings provide a paint station with a worktable having a top surface with a roller tray recess and a pair of selectively extensible legs coupled to the worktable. Placement of the worktable in a work position with the legs in the extended position places the top surface at an elevation of at least 28 inches. Placement of the work table in a work position with the legs in the retracted position places the top surface at an elevation of between about 1 inch and about 8 inches
In a further form, the present teachings provide a paint station with a worktable having a top surface with a roller tray recess, a pair of selectively extended legs, a cover and a fastening means to releasably couple the cover to the worktable.
In yet another form, the present teachings provide a paint station with a work table, which has a top surface with a roller tray recess, and first and second legs coupled to the work table that are movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The first set of legs is disposed between the worktable and the second set of legs when the first and second sets of legs are positioned in the retracted position. A handle aperture, which is formed in the second set of legs, facilitates transport of the paint station with the worktable in a position generally perpendicular to an orientation of the worktable when the paint station is positioned in a work position.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
With reference to
The work table 12 may include a table structure 24 and one or more handles 26. The table structure 24 may include a roller tray recess 30, one or more paint can recesses 32, one or more tool holder recesses 34 and a storage compartment 38. The roller tray recess 30 includes a sloped bottom wall 40, a pair of side walls 42 and an end wall 44 that are configured to support a conventional disposable tray liner 46 when the tray liner 46 is disposed in the roller tray recess 30. The paint can recesses 32 may include a can receiving portion 50 and a paint channel 52 that is disposed about the can receiving portion 50.
The can receiving portion 50 is sized to receive therein a can 54 of paint or stain of a predetermined size. The can receiving portions 50 may be sized differently and in the example provided, are sized to receive a gallon can, a quart can and a half-pint can. Alternatively, the can receiving portion 50 of one or more of the paint can recesses 32 may be configured to receive several differently sized cans (i.e., a gallon can, a quart can or a half-pint can) or to receive a plurality of smaller cans (e.g., a gallon can, a quart can and one or more half-pint cans, or several of half-pint cans). The paint channel 52 extends about the perimeter of the can receiving portion 50 and serves as a gutter into which paint 58 that drips down the side of a paint can 54 in the paint can receiving portion 50 may drain.
The tool holder recesses 34 may include a plurality of apertures that are formed through the table structure 24 to receive therethrough a portion of an associated tool, for example the handle 60 of a paint brush 62 or the blade 64 of a screwdriver 66.
The storage compartment 38 may be a discrete unit that is received into a corresponding recess that is formed into the table structure 24 or may be formed directly into the table structure 24 as is shown. The storage compartment 38 may be sized to receive articles including brushes 62 and rollers 72 that have been used in a painting operation. The storage compartment 38 may be provided with one or more dividers 74 that may be employed to organize the contents of the storage compartment 38. A lid 76 may be employed to selectively close the storage compartment 38. The lid 76 may be removably coupled to the table structure 24, or hingedly coupled to the table structure 24. The lid 76 may sealingly engage the structure that forms the storage compartment 38 (i.e., the table structure 24 in the example provided) so that brushes 62 that are wet with paint may be stored in the storage compartment 38 for a relatively short term without the paint drying.
The handles 26 may be supported on legs 80, which extend from the opposite sides of the table structure 24, such that the handles 26 are offset from the table structure 24. The handles 26 may be removably coupled to an associated pair of the legs 80 and may be employed to hold a roll of material 82, such paper toweling, tack cloth, or plastic sheeting. The handle 26 may include a first handle portion 26a that is telescopically received into a second handle portion 26b. Each of the first and second handle portions 26a and 26b may include a relatively small diameter stem 86 that is received into an aperture 88 that is formed in an associated one of the legs 80. The first and second handle portions 26a and 26b may be coupled in any suitable manner that permits the first handle portion 26a to be telescoped into and out of the second handle portion 26b so that handle 26 may be removed from and installed to the legs 80. For example, a spring (not shown) may be employed to bias the first handle portion 26a outwardly of the second handle portion 26b or the first and second handle portions 26a and 26b may be threadably engaged to one another.
The legs 14 and 16 may be coupled to the worktable 12 and may include a pair of leg members 90 and a brace 92 that is disposed between the leg member 90. The leg members 90 may be pivotally coupled to auxiliary legs 94 that are coupled to the table structure 24 and which support the table structure 24 when the legs 14 and 16 are in a folded position. The leg members 90 of the first set of legs 14 may be pivotally coupled to the auxiliary legs 94 at a point that is relatively higher than that of the second set of legs 16 to permit the first set of legs 14 to nest between the work table 12 and the second set of legs 16 when the legs 14 and 16 are in a folded condition. A detent (not shown) may be employed when the legs 14 and 16 are in the extended and folded conditions to further resist undesired folding or unfolding of the legs 14 and 16.
The brace 92 is a panel that is disposed between and fixedly coupled to a pair of the leg members 90 and may include a plurality of holding features 100 that permit the brace 92 to store various tools and supplies. In the example provided, the holding features 100 are recesses or wells 102 into which the tools and supplies may be received in a snap-fit manner. The tools and supplies may include, for example, brushes 62, masking tape 104, a slotted screwdriver 106, a Phillips screwdriver 108, a putty knife 110, a utility knife 112, a paint can opener (not shown), a paint stirring stick (not shown), and/or a roller frame 114. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the paint station 10 may be marketed to potential purchasers with a set of tools 120 that may include some or all of the above-mentioned tools and supplies.
The holder 18 may be employed to hold a disposable trash bag 130 such that the opening 132 of the trash bag 130 is readily accessible to the user of the paint station 10. The holder 18 may include a frame 140 and a plurality of clip members 142 that are removably coupled to the frame 140 about its perimeter. The frame 140 may be formed of a wire or band of a self-supporting material (e.g., spring steel or plastic) and may be coupled to the work table 12 so as to be movable between a deployed condition, which is shown in
To provide improved portability, the paint station 10 may further include a handle 150 that is formed into the work table 12 or one or both sets of legs 14 and 16. In the example provided, the handle 150 includes a recessed area 152, which is formed into the work table 12, and a grip 154 that is formed into a rim 156 that extends about the perimeter of the table structure 24. The recessed area 152 is configured to receive therein the user's thumb 158 so that the grip 154 is able to support the tehnar eminence 160 of the user's hand 162. Alternatively, the handle may be D-shaped and may be coupled to an edge of the worktable 12 or to one or both of the legs 14 and 16.
With reference to
The worktable 12a may be formed of a material that is resistant to the adhesion of paint, such as polypropylene, and may include a roller tray recess 30a, a paint can recess 32a and one or more accessory recesses 34a. The roller tray recess 30a may be generally rectangular in shape and may be sized to receive the tray assembly 200 therein. In the example shown the roller tray recess 30a has a generally flat bottom, but other configurations, such as a partially sloped bottom such as that described above in conjunction with the paint station 10 of
The accessory recesses 34a may be configured in any desired manner to hold tools (not shown), materials and/or work-site items (e.g., outlet and switch covers, hardware), for example. The accessory recesses 34a may be configured to receive therein disposable plastic containers, such as GLADWARE® containers that are marketed by The Clorox Company.
Optionally, the worktable 12a may include a disposable bag holder 18a, which may be constructed in any appropriate manner to releasably engage a disposable bag. In the example provided, the holder 18a includes a pair of clips 18a′ that may be integrally formed with the worktable 12a and which may be configured to engage the handles H of a conventional polyethylene “t-shirt” bag B (i.e., plastic grocery bag). In the particular example provided, a groove G is disposed about a portion of the clip 18a′ and is configured to receive therein a portion of the handle H of the bag B.
The first and second sets of legs 14a and 16a may be pivotally coupled to the worktable 12a and may be moved between an extended position, which is illustrated in
Optionally, placement of the legs 14a and 16a into the retracted position permits the paint station 10a to be used at a different elevation (as compared to the elevation that is provided when the legs 14a and 16a are in the extended position), which may be appropriate when the paint station 10a is placed on another structure, such as a counter top, a table top or a desk top. For example, placement of the legs 14a and 16a into the extended position may place the work table 12a at an elevation of at least 28 inches when the work table 12a is in a work position (i.e., facing upwardly as shown in
Returning to
With additional reference to
With reference to
Additionally, the legs 14a and 16a may include a recess 240 that is positioned proximate the worktable 12a that permits one or more users to grasp the opposite ends of the worktable 12a and lift the paint station 10a as shown in
With reference to
The cover 252 is configured to overlie the tray 250. Optionally, the cover 252 may engage the tray 250 in a snap-lock manner. The cover 252 is generally flat, with the exception of a raised portion 270 that is located directly over the first sloped portion 260 when the cover 252 overlies the tray 250. When the cover 252 overlies the tray 250, the raised portion 270 may be spaced apart from the first sloped portion by a distance that permits the roller 278 of the roller applicator 272 to reside therein at a location that does not position the roller 278 in the first well 262. With a roller applicator 272 positioned between the first sloped portion 260 and the raised portion 270, the arm 274 of the roller applicator 272 extends outwardly of the tray assembly 200 through a roller arm aperture, such as a slot or notch 276 in the cover 252. Configuration in this manner permits the roller 278 of the roller applicator 272 to be positioned on the first sloped portion 260 for short-term storage (e.g., overnight). We have found that the connection between the tray 250 and the cover 252 need not be “air tight” to prevent the skinning-over of the paint in the first and second wells 262 and 266, but rather skinning-over of the paint is prevented so long as the tray 250 is substantially covered and air cannot readily flow over the paint in the tray 250.
The paint station 10a may include some means, such as a snap-fit connection, fasteners, clamps, Velcro®, etc. to retain the tray assembly 200 in the roller tray recess 30a. With additional reference to
Although the paint station 10a has been described as employing a tray assembly with a cover, it will be appreciated from this disclosure that the cover 252 may be configured for use directly with the work table (e.g., a work table having a roller tray recess 30 of the type illustrated in
While the worktable 12a has been illustrated and described as having a roller tray recess 30a with a substantially flat surface (which permits the tray assembly 200 to be selectively positioned facing either side of the worktable 12a), those of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that the roller tray recess 30a may be configured somewhat differently. For example, the roller tray recess 30a may be configured with a sloped lower surface that is configured to support a commercially available disposable tray liner. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the roller tray recess 30a (and the tray assembly 200, if provided) may be sized or shaped differently from that which is illustrated in the attached drawings. For example, the roller tray recess 30a and the tray assembly 200 may be generally square in shape, thereby permitting the tray assembly 200 to be selectively oriented to either side or end of the worktable 12a as desired.
While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/536,242 entitled “Paint Station” and filed Jan. 13, 2004.
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