Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Foldable Work Bench
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
'The present invention relates to a work bench that mounts to a vertical
surface and has
a substantially horizontal working position and a substantially vertical
stored position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The records of the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office disclose a
number of
patents related to wall mounted foldable work benches, including: U.S. Des
263,533
(Ferdinand et al 1982) entitled "Foldaway Workshop"; U.S. Des295,007 (Hardy et
al 1988)
entitled "Wall-mounted Foldable Work Bench"; U.S. 5,170,719 (Pestone 1992)
entitled
"Hideaway Work Bench"; U.S. 6,039>416 (Lambent 2000) entitled "Wall Mounted
Pivoting
Work Bench; and U.S. 6,786,162 (Volkmer et al 2004) entitled "Space-saver
Workbench".
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a foldable work bench
which
includes one of a table top or a table top support adapted to receive a table
top. The table top
or table top support has a front edge, a back edge and opposed side edges. At
least one
2 0 underlying support leg is provided having an upper end and a lower end.
The upper end of the
at least one support leg is being pivotally secured to the table top or table
top support for
pivotal movement about a first substantially horizontal pivot axis. Means are
provided for
pivotally mounting the lower end of the at least one support leg to a vertical
surface for
pivotal movement about a second substantially horizontal pivot axis. At least
one track is
2 5 provided which is adapted to be positioned vertically in substantially
parallel spaced relation
to the vertical surface. At least one travelling member is provided which is
adapted to travel
up and down the track. The at least one travelling member engages the back
edge and
facilitating movement of the table top from a working position in which the
table top is
substantially horizontal to a stored position in which the table top is
substantially vertical.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the
following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the
drawings are
for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit
the scope of the
invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a foldable work bench constructed in
accordance
with the teachings of invention, with the table top in a substantially
vertical stored position.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the foldable work bench illustrated in FIG.
1, with
the table top in a substantially horizontal working position.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the foldable work bench illustrated in FIG.
1, with
the table top shown in the process of being moved between the stored position
and the
working pasition.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the foldable work bench illustrated in FIG.
1, with
the table top shown in the process of being moved between the stored position
and the
working position.
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the foldable work bench illustrated in FIG.
1, with
the table top shown in the process of being moved between the stored position
and the
working position.
FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the foldable work bench illustrated in
FIG.1.
FIG. 7 is a detailed side elevation view of a alternative form of
reinforcement for the
2 0 underlying support leg of the work bench when in the working position.
FIG. 8 is a detailed side elevation view of a alternative manner reinforcing
the table
top of the work bench when in the working position.
2 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a foldable work bench generally identified by
reference
numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG.1 through 6.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
Referring to FIG. 2, work bench 10 includes a table top 12 having a top
surface 14. Table top 12 is secured to a table top support 11 having a front
edge I 6, a back
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edge 18 and opposed side edges 20. Refernng to FIG. 6, a pair of underlying
support legs 22
are provided. Referring to FIG. 2, each of support legs 22 has an upper end 24
and a lower
end 26. Upper end 24 of each of support legs 22 is pivotally secured to
opposed side edges 20
of table top support 11 adjacent to front edge 16, for pivotal movement about
a first
substantially horizontal pivot axis, represented by first pin connection 27. A
mounting bracket
28 is provided for pivotally mounting lower end 26 of each of support legs 22
to a vertical
surface, such as a wall 200, for pivotal movement about a second substantially
horizontal
pivot axis, represented by second pin connection 30. A lifting mechanism,
generally
identified by reference numeral 32, is provided which is adapted to be mounted
in
substantially parallel spaced relation to wall 200 and exert a vertical
lifting force parallel to
wall 200. Referring to FIG. 6, the preferred form of lifting mechanism 32
which has been
chosen for illustration is a vertically oriented screw 34 rotated by a motor
36. Referring to
FIG. 2, screw 34 has an upper end 38 and a lower end 40. An upper mounting
bracket 42 is
provided, which is adapted to mount upper end 38 of screw 34 to a vertical
surface, such as
wall 200. A lower mounting bracket 44 is provided, which is adapted to mount
lower end 40
of screw 34 to wall 200. A primary travelling member 46 is engaged with
threads on screw
34. When screw rotates in a first rotational direction, travelling member 46
travels toward
upper end 38 of screw 34. When screw 34 rotates in a second direction,
travelling member 46
travels toward lower end 40 of screw 34. The movement of travelling member 46
can best be
2 0 understood by comparing its position in FIG.1 to its position in FIG. 2,
and reviewing its
positioning in intermediate views provided by FIG. 3 through FIG. 5. Refernng
to FIG. I,
travelling member 46 is coupled by a pivotal link 48 to back edge 18 of table
top 12. Pivotal
link 48 is adapted for pivotal movement about a third substantially horizontal
pivot axis,
represented by third pin connection 50. As travelling member 46 moves up and
down screw
2 5 34, it moves table top 12 from a working position, in which top surface 14
is substantially
horizontal, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to a stored position, in which table
surface 14 is
substantially vertical, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, an
upper tool support 52 is
suspended from upper wall mount 42. Upper tool support 52 is maintained in a
substantially
vertical orientation by force of gravity. Referring to FIG. l, table top 12 is
concealed behind
3 0 upper tool support 52, when table top is in the stored position. Referring
to FIG. 3 through 5,
upper tool support 52 swings out of the way to accommodate movement of table
top l2, as
table top 12 moves between the working position and the stored position.
Referring to FIG. 2,
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a lower tool support 54 is suspended from upper end 24 of support legs 22. As
can be seen
from a review of FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, lower tool support 54 is maintained in
a
substantially vertical orientation by force of gravity, during movement of
support legs 22.
Referring to FIG. 6, for added strength, is preferred that a brace 56 be
extended between
support legs 22. It is also preferred that a pair of guides, generally
identified by reference
numeral 58, be provided. The preferred form of guide, as illustrated, are
guide rods 60
positioned in parallel spaced relation to wall 200 on either side of screw 34.
Overlying guide
rods 60 are secondary travelling members in the form of guide sleeves 62.
Guide sleeves 62
are pivotally connected to back edge 18 of table top 12 with a pivotal
connection (now
shown) identical to that on travelling member 46. Guide sleeves 62 slide along
guide rods 60
to guide movement of table top 12 between the working position and the stored
position.
Operation:
The use and operation of wall mounted foldable work bench 10, will now be
described with reference to FIG. 1 through 6, Referring to FIG.1, when work
bench 10 is
not in use, table top 12 is maintained in the stored position, with top
surface in a substantially
vertical orientation, as illustrated. When in this stored position, tools (not
shown) are stored
2 0 out of the way by securing them to face 53 of upper tool support 52 and
face 55 of lower tool
support 54. The manner of detachably securing tools to such a surface as face
53 and face 55,
is well known in the art and, for that reason, will not be further described.
When work bench
10 is required, motor 36 is activated to rotate screw 34 in the second
direction. Referring to
FIG. 3 through FIG. 5, as screw 34 is rotated in the second direction,
travelling member 46
2 S travels toward lower end 40 of screw 34, carrying back edge 18 of table
top 12 with it.
Travelling member 46 continues its travel, until it reaches the substantially
horizontal
working position illustrated in FIG. Z. The travel of travelling member 46 can
be controlled
manually by holding down a control button or can be controlled through the use
of limit
switches. As both modes of operation are well known, they will not be further
described. The
3 0 movement between the stored position and the working position, is
accommodated by the
various pivotal connections. As table top 12 is lowered or raised, pivotal
movement must
occur between table top support 11 and upper end 24 of support legs 22 at
first substantially
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horizontal pivot axis, represented by first pin connection 27. Pivotal
movement must also
occur between mounting bracket 28 and lower end of 26 of support legs 22 at a
second
substantially horizontal pivot axis, represented by second pin connection 30.
As travelling
member 46 moves pivotal movement must occur between travelling member 46 and
back
edge 18 of table top support 11, at a third substantially horizontal pivot
axis, represented by
third pin connection 50. It must be noted, that tools do not have to be
removed from either
upper tool support 52 or lower tool support 54 during this movement. Referring
to FIG. 1
through FIG. 5, upper tool support 52 and lower tool support 54 maintain a
substantially
vertical orientation, by force of gravity, during movement of table top 12.
Upper support 52
pivots out of the way, as required, to accommodate movement of table top 12.
When work on
work bench 10 is completed, top surface l4 is cleared in preparation of the
return of table top
l2 to the stored position. Motor 36 is activated to rotate screw 34 in the
first direction. As
screw rotates in the first rotational direction, travelling member 46 travels
toward upper end
38 of screw 34, carrying back edge 18 of table top 12 with it. 'This movement
can be
followed by reviewing in reverse order FIG. 3 through FIG. 5. Travelling
member 46
eventually will arrive back in the stored position, illustrated in FIG. I.
Refernng to FIG. 6, in
order to ensure smooth movement and adequate support, it is preferred that
movement be
guided by guides 58. With guides 58, guide sleeves 62 slide along guide rods
60 to guide
movement of table top 12 between the working position and the stored position.
The greater
2 0 the weight carried by table top 12 during movement, the greater the
importance of guides 58.
For example, it is not uncommon for a vice to be mounted on a work bench. The
presence of
a vice adds weight to only a portion of the work bench, causing a weight
imbalance. This
could cause a twisting and binding of table top during movement, in the
absence of guides 58.
Similar comments can be made with respect to weight placed upon work bench
during use.
There are further steps which can be taken to increase the stability of work
bench 10;
- Angle of underlying support leg: Referring to FIG. 2, it is preferred that
underlying
support leg 22 assume a 45 degree angle when in the working position. Although
3 0 other angles will work adequately, a 45 degree angle provides the greatest
strength
and stability.
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- Use of engagement shoulders: Referring to FIG. 7, it is preferred that
engagement
shoulders 23 be provided which engage each end of support leg 22 when in the
working position.
- Use of a locking receiver: Referring to FIG. 8, table top support 1 I is
made from
angle iron. A lower edge 70 of table top support 11 is received in a slotted
receiver 72
and is maintained in engagement with slotted receiver 72 by screw 34.
In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting
sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context
clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made
to the
illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
