Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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P~TENT ~PPLIC~TION
M~LTI-POSITION~BLE, COLL~PSIBLE TOOL BENCH
B~CKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a multi-positionable,
collapsible tool bench for operationally storlng tools,
parts, and the like for a user working on machinery,
vehicles, and the like.
Tool benches and trays are indeed old in the art.
Inventors have designed various types and styles of tool
benches and trays to perform various tasks. New and
improved tool benches and trays are always in demand by
users of them. Known prior arts have not eliminated the
need for better tool benches and trays. One known prior
art is a PORT~BLE WORKBENCH, U.S. Patent No. 4,~64,548.
This invention has a combination tabletop/dual-screw vise
in which the ends of the vise screws are constr-ained
against both lateral and vertical movement. This
workbench includes pipe legs which are readily removeable
from leg sockets without fasteners. This workbench cannot
be raised or lowered, extended or retracted unlike the
present invention.
~ nother known prior art is a PORT~BLE LIGHT T~BLE,
U~S. Patent No. 5,083,241. This invention comprises-an
illuminated work area, an electrical extension cord
retractor, an electrical outlet strip, and a protective
wire screen. The table is moveable~ but the table surface
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is not adjustable, horizontally or vertically.
~ nother known prior art is a POSITION~BLE SERVICE
BENCH, U.S. Patent No. 5,116,264. This service bench
comprises a U-configured base, a vertical mast structure,
a winch mounted on the mast structure, a cable mounted to
an elevator assembly to raise or lower the tool tray, and
a light fixture located at an end of the tool tray. This
tool tray can be selectively raised and lowered as the
need arises, but it cannot be xtended to reach tight
quarters or conveniently retracted for easy storage of the
service bench. This invention is intended to be used for
heavy duty types of jobs.
,qnother known prior art is a FOLD~BLE WORKBENCH, U.S.
Patent No. 4,278,243. This invention comprises a work
table, leg assemblies, linkages to pivotally interconnect
pairs of legs to fold the workbench, and clamping vise
integral to the work table for securing a work article on
the table. This workbench can be conveniently folded when
not being used. However, this workbench cannot be raised
or lowered, extended or retracted to accommodate a user
working on top of equipment or the like.
~ nother known prior art is an ~DJUSTQBLE TOOL TR~Y,
.S. Patent No. 4,488,497. Thi~ tool tray comprises a
vertical upstanding support member with a ssries of spaced
diametr'ical holes through the sup~ort member for selective
vertical adjustment of a ~ray hingedly mounted to the
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vertical upstanding support member. This tool tray also
includes an electrical cord strung to the outside of the
vertical upstanding support member and connected to a pair
of electrical outlets mounted to an end of the tray for
energizing electrically-powered tools for use therewith.
the tray is foldable down unto the vertical upstanding
support member for convenient out-of-the-way storage of
the tool tray. This tool tray is positionable over a work
area, but the vertical upstanding support member is fixed
in a vertical upright position and cannot be horizontally
extended unlike the present invention. The horizontal
extension of the tool tray is restricted to the length of
the tray.
~ nother known prior art is a FOLD~BLE M~CHINIST'S
TOOL TR~Y, U.S. Patent No. 4,728,065. This invention
comprises a tray fixed in a horizontal position, mounted
on a telescoping vertical shaft attached to a base
assembly. The shaft is adjustable upwardly and downwardly
and is foldable unto the base assembly with the tray
remaining in a horizontal position, resting on the base
assembly. Unlike the present invention, the foldable
machinist's tool tray is not extendible horizontally and
vertically and has a horizontal reach which is restricted
to the length of the tray.
There are occasions when the noted above prior art
can not be effectively used because either the base unit
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cannot get close enough to the equipment to be of use to
the user or the horizontal reach of the tray is not long
enough for the user. There is a definite need for a new
multi-positionable, collapsible tool bench which overcomes
the problems noted above.
SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a
multi-positionable, collapsible tool bench which comprises
a wheeled tubular base assembly, a vertically upstanding
tubular support member, an adjustable tubular boom
assembly having a plurality of boom section members
hingedly connected, a plurality of adjustable locking
means comprising a plurality of ratchet and pawl members
attached to the hinge joints of the section members to
selectively adjust the position of each section member,
and a tray fixedly attached to the extension boom section
member and having a portion of the tray magnetized near an
edge thereof to adhere metallic parts and the like to the
tray. This collapsible tool bench is arranged so as to
form a continuous passage through the tubular structure
extending from the bottom of the base assembly to the
extension boom section member. This tool bench also has
an electric outlet strip attached to an edge of the tray
with the electric cord connected to the strip strung
through the continuous passage to protect the cord and to
conceal the cord so the user or a passerby don't trip over
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,
an exposed cord. Further, the vertically upstanding
support member has a top T-shaped section which
restrictively swivels about a bottom cylindrical section
to allow the user to swing the boom away to either side
without having to readjust the base assembly.
It is an object of this invention to produce a
multi-positionable, collapsible tool bench which can be
easily adjusted to any desired position, horizontal or
vertical or combinations thereof, for use in many
applications, common or unusual. The boom can be fully
extended vertically to heights not reachable by the prior
art having only the vertical upstanding support member
capable of being extended, with the . boom section
remaining generally horizontal.
~ nother object of this invention is to produce a
multi-positionable, collapsible tool bench which is
durable, light-weight, and not overly cumbersome like
other tool trays for easy operational use.
Further, another object of this invention is to
produce a multi-positionable, collapsible tool bench which
the boom member can be easily horizontally swung to either
side without having to move the base assembly to adjust
the positioning of the tool bench with the user having to
alight from atop the equipment to readjust the positioning
of the base assembly to use the tool bench.
~lso, another object of this invention is to produce
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a multi-positionable, collapsible tool bench which is
designed to conveniently reach upward and outward over
hard-to-get-to structures such as engine compartments of
trucks and will, as a result, minimize potential injury to
the user since the tool bench will support those objects
for which the user often has had to alight from the truck
to get~ which exposed the user to potential injury from
having to repeatedly climb upon and alight from the truck.
Yet, another object of this invention is to produce a
rnulti-positionable, collapsible tool bench which is
capable of taking many shapes and forms for many types of
applications, capable of being collapsed and folded to a
compact and convenient storable bench, and yet, capable of
supporting upto a hundred pounds on the tray.
Further objects and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent as the description proceeds
and when taken in conjunction with the accomparying
drawing wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DR~WING
FIG~ 1 is a perspective view of the tool bench with
the section members of the boom assembly swung u~wardly
and outwardly over an engine compartment of a vehicle ~ith
the extension section member remaining horizontal.
FIG~ 2 is a-perspective view of the tool bench with
much of the boom assembly except for the extension section
member vertically extended in alignment with the support
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member showing how it can be used to work high up.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool bench with
the section-members of the boom assembly swung downwardly
with the extension section remaining horizontal showing
how the tool bench can be used to work under a vehicle
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tool benoh with
the section members of the boom assembly folded unto the
support member for compactly storing the tool bench.
FIG. 5 is a section perspective view of the
adjustable locking means securely mounted to a hinged
joint of the tool bench.
fIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tool bench
without the tray showing the air line means and the
electric cord strung through the passage of the tool bench
and connected to an air line adapter disposed on the
extension section member and to a electric outlet strip
mounted on the extension section member respectively.
FIG. 7 is a section perspective view of the tool tra~
and of the extension section member showing the air line
adapter and the electric outlet strip mounted thereto as
viewed from below the tool tray.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the support member
and boom assembly mounted to a wheeled, adJustable table.
OET~ILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTI~N
Referring more particularly to the drawings in
~IGS. 1, ~, ~, 4, 5, ~, 7, and 8, the
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multi-positionable, collapsible tool bench 10 is
illustrated as having a base assembly 15 having a pair of
elongate longitudinal, generally horizontal members
16 and 17 laterally spaced from each other, a transverse
member 19 connected or welded to and traversing between
the laterally-spaced longitudinal members 16 and 17 near
an end of each thereof, a platform 23 having opposite ends
securely mounted or-welded to the longitudinal members 16
and 17 and having an end securely mounted or welded ~o the
transverse member 19, and caster-like wheels 20~, 20B,
20C, and 20D fixedly attached with set screws (not shown)
to the bottorn of the longitudinal members 16 and 17 near
the ends thereof, having a vertically upstanding tubular
support member 25 with a square mounting plate 25~ having
an aperture (not shown) therethrough and welded to a
bottom end 26~ of the support member 25, the mounting
plate 25~ being bolted to the platform 23 and the
transverse member 19 with the support member 25 extending
upwardly from the base assembly 15; a tubular boom
assembly 40 comprising two sections 50 and 60 hingedly
connected for relative swingable movement about their
respective hinged joints 51 and 61; a continuous passage
24 extending through the tubular c~nfiguration from near
the bottom end 26~ of the support member 25 to an
extension section member 60 of the boom assembly 4Q; an
air line 30 extending through the passage 24 and connected
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to an air line adapter coupler 31 mounted into a wall 72
of the extension section member oO of the boom assembly
40, an electric cord 35 strung through the passage exiting
a port 73 in the extension section member 60 and connected
to an electric outlet strip 36 mounted to the extension
section member 60, a tray 80 mounted with screws (not
shown) to the extension section member 60 with the tray 80
having a magnetic portion near an inside edge thereof to
attract and hold parts or the like to the tray 80. As a
modification, this tool bench 10 could include a drawer
(not shown) slidably mounted on two late.rally-spaced
slideways (not shown) extending beneath the tray 80.
This tool bench 10 is preferably constructed of all
lightweight steel or aluminum or a combination of steel or
aluminum with the boom assembly 40 essentially made from
PVC tubing.
~ s shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 the caster-like
wheels 20~-20D are fastened with set screws (not shown) to
the bottom of the longitudinal members 16-17, one near
each end thereof, for moving about the tool bench 10.
Further, the platform 23 can be used to conveniently
support a tool box or heavy power tools or the like.
~ s shown in FIG. 9, the base assembly 15 may
modifiedly comprise a table 16~ having a table top 16B and
four downwardly extending, generally vertical adjustable
telescoping legs 17~-D mounted on a quadrilateral shelf
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18~ with the caster-like wheels 20~-20D riveted to the
bottom of the shelf 18~ at the corners thereof, for
supporting tools, parts, or the like. The telescoping
legs 17A-D have a plurality of diametrical holes 19~ -
extending through the walls 17E of the legs and spaced
along the length of the legs 17~-D. Four pins 22~-D, one
for each leg, are slidably insertable ln the holes 19~ of
the legs for lockingly securing the legs 17A in a
selective vertical position to adjust the height of the
table top 16B. The vertical upstanding tubular support
member 25 is rémoveably mounted with the mounting plate
25~ to the table top 16B near an edge thereof.
~ s shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the vertical
upstanding tubular support member 25 comprises a tubular
top section 27 and a hollow cylindrical bottom section 28.
The top section 27 has a crosspiece coupler tube member 27
affixed or welded perpendicular to the top section 27 at a
top end thereof. The crosspiece member 27 forms generally
a T shape with the top section 27. ~ continuous passage
24 extends through the bottom of the bottom section 28 and
through the crosspiece coupler tube member 27. The
diameter of the top section 27 is approximate to the
inside diameter of the bottom section 28 and is generally
swivelably mounted through the top end 27~ of the bottom
section 28. ~ short coupler tube (not shown) having a
diameter approximate to the inside diameter of the bottom
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section 28 and having a finger-like projection (not shown)
integrally and axially extending therefrom is securely
mounted or tack welded inside the bottom section 28 near
the bottom end thereof to prevent the crosspiece member
27B from engaging the bottom section 28 and to restrict
the swivel movement of the top section 27 relative to the
base assembly 15 to approximately 180 degrees. As shown
in FIG. 1, a swivel restrictor member 22 having a threaded
cylindrical body and a T handle at one end for rotating
the swivel restrictor member 22, is threaded in through
the wall of the bottom section 28 to adjustably engage the
top section 27 to appreciably restrict the top section 27
from swiveling within the bottom section 28 and about the
vertical axis of the bottom section 28. The bottom end
(not shown) of the top section 27, opposite the crosspiecs
member 27B terminates in the bottom section 28 and rests
on the coupler tube ~not shown3. Further, the bottom
section 28 has a pair of ports 28A and 28B extending
therethrough near the bottom end 27A thereof. A steering
rod member 18 is welded or fixedly attached perpendicular
~nd at its central portion to the bottom section 27 near
the top of the bottom section 27. The steering rod member
18 can be grasped by a user to maneuver the tool bench 10
for applicable use.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3~ 4, and 5, the
anchoring section member 50 of the boom assembly 40
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comprises a first pair of U-shaped tube members 52 and 53
arranged in a generally rectangular configuration to
effectively resist twisting of the boom assembly 40 and
resist torsional forces effected from swiveling the boom
assembly 40 relative to the base assembly means. A brace
member 49 traverses between the first two U-shaped tube
members 52 and 53 and has opposite ends riveted to the
first two U-shaped tube members to provide strength to the
boom assembly 40 and to help resist torsional or twisting
forces as the tool bench 10 is maneuvered The anchoring
section member 50 has a first~ end 54 hingedly connected
to the support member 25. The first pair of U-shaped tube
members 52 and 53 have first end wing ends 52A-53A and
s~cond end wing ends 528-53B at their ends. The first end
wing ends 52A and 53A of the first two U-shaped tube
members 52 and 53 comprise the first end 54 of the
anchoring section 50 and are coupled together with the T
crosspiece coupler tube 27B of the top section 27 of the
support member 25. The T crosspiece coupler tube 27B has
enlarged or flared ends 87-88 for rotatably and engageably
receiving the ends of the first end wing ends 52A and 53A,
which are slidably and rotatably mounted in the T
crosspiece coupler tube 27B. The anchoring section member
50 further has a. second end 55 comprising the secondend
wing ends 52B and 53B of the first U-shaped tube members
52 and 53.
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~ s shown in FIG. 2, the boom assembly 40 further has
an extension section member 60 having an elongate
cylindrical tube member 62 with a first and second
crosspiece coupling members 63 and 64 having longitudinal
axes generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
the cylindrical tube member 62. The first and second
crosspiece members 63 and 64 are fixedly attached or
welded at opposite ends of the cylindrical tube member 62
to generally form a double T member 66. Thesecond end
wing ends 52B and 53B at the secQndend 55 of the
section member 50 are coupled together by the first
crosspiece coupling member 63. The first crosspiece
coupling member 63 has enlarged or flared ends 89-90 for
engageably receiving the ends of the secondend wing ends
52B and 53B, for rotation therein. The second crosspiece
coupling tube member 64 is welded to or fixedly attached
to first end wing ends 75~-76~ of a second pair of
U-shaped tube members 75-76 of the extension section 60.
rhe second crosspiece member 64 has enlarged or flared
ends 91-92 to engagedly and securely receive the ends of
the first end wing ends 75~-76~. The second pair of
U-shaped tube members 75-76 are arranged in a plane with
the double T member 66 and have secondend wing ends
75B-76B interconnected with a short coupler tube 79 having
enlarged or flared ends 93-94 to engageably and securely
receive thesecond end wing ends 75B-76B. Thesecond end
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wing ends 75B-76B form a second end 78 of the extension
section 60. The tubular structure of the extension
section 60 is arranged in a generally planar square
configuration for supporting a tray 80 which is detachably
mounted with sheet metal screws (not shown) upon the
second U-shaped tube members 75-76. The tray 80 has an
upstanding ridge 86 about the perimeter thereof to
substantially prevent parts and the like from falling off
the tray 80. ~ portion of the tray 80 near the ridge 86
on one end of the tray 80 is magnetized to attract and
hold parts on the tray 80 and to prevent parts and the
like from moving about the tray surface and to guard
against a user accidentally losing the parts or the like.
The boom assembly 40 may be modified to include
additional sections hingedly attached at their opposite
ends to the anchoring section 50 and the extension section
The support member 25 and the boom assembly 15 are
connected to form at least one continuous passage 24
through the entire tubular structure. The passage 24
essentially extends from near the bottom end 26~ of the
support member 25 through the tubular structure to the
extension section member 60. ~s shown in FIG. 8, an air
line 30 is inserted through the passage 24 and has one end
threaded into one end of a first elbow member 37 mounted
inside the coupler member 79 at thesecondend 78 of the
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extension section 60 and has its other end threaded into
an end of a second elbow member 38 mounted inside the
bottom section 27 of the support member 25 substantially
in alignment with the port 28~. ~n air line adapter
coupler 31 is mounted to and extends through the wall 72
of the coupler member 79 and is threaded to the other end
of the first elbow member 37 and extends outwardly
generally in the plane of the extension section member 60,
for detachable connection to an air line attachment or the
like. ~n air line adapter plug member 33 is securely
mounted in the port 28~ in the support member 25 and is
securely threaded to the other end of the second elbow
member 38. ~n air compressor or supply (not shown) is
connectable to the air line plug 33, allowing the user to
have ready access to compressed air should the user n~ed
air for any means including clearing dirt from the engine
compartment or providing compressed air to use impact
tools. The air line 30 extending through the passage 24
is concealed and hidden from the user so that the user
won'-t accidentally trip over the air line 30 during the
use of the tool bench 10.
~ s shown in FIG. 8, an electric cord 35 extends in
through one of the ports 28B in the support member 25 and
extends through the passage 24 from near the bottom end
26~ of the support-member 25 to the extension section
member 60 and is attached to a junction box (not shown)
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which is connected to an electric outlet strip 36 securely
mounted with sheet metal screws (not shown) to the wall of
one second pair of U-shaped tube members 75 beneath an end
of the tray 80. The electric cord 35 is effectively
concealed and hidden so that the user won't trip over the
electric cord 35. The electric outlet strip,36 permits
the user to have electric power means readily available
nearby should the user need to power electric devices to
effectively do his/her work without having to string an
extension cord to an electric outlet mounted to a wall or
to string additional cords for each electric device used.
~ s shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, two adjustable
locking means comprising preferably two ratchet wheels
100-101 and spring-loaded pawls 102-103 are mounted to the
hinged joints 51 and 61 of the tool bench 10, one at each
joint. Effectively, at each hinged joint, the ratchet
wheel is circumferentially and securely mounted or welded
about the coupler tube member near an end thereof. The
pawls 102-103 are pivotally mounted with pins 104-105 to
block members 111 fixedly attached or welded to the tops
of pipe clamps 106-107 each being fixedly attached with a
pair of straight bolts 98 about the wing ends of the
U-shaped tube member 53 of the innermost section 50, and
are engagedly biased with springs 95 and 96 to the notches
109 between the teeth 108 of the ratchet wheels to
selectively, lockingly secure the section members 50 and
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60 of the boom assembly 40 at desired positions and to
prevent downward or upward swinging of the section members
50 and 60 to undesirable positions. The springs 95 and 96
have one end clipped to the pawls 102-103 just above the
pivot point of the pawls 102-103 and the other end
attached to or clipped about one of the elongate bolts at
each hinged joint to bias the pawls 102-103 to the notches
109 between the teeth 108. The pipe clamps 106-107 each
comprise a pair of brackets 110 having arcuate ends
cooperatively contoured to fit and clamp about the wing
ends of the U-shaped tube member 53. The brackets 110 are
fastened about the U-shaped tube member 53 with elongate
bolts 98 and nuts (not shown). The spring-loaded pawls
102-103 are positioned with ends of the pawls 102-103
effectively biasing or engaging between the teeth 108 of
the ratchet wheels 100-101 and with the opposite ends of
the pawls 102-103 extending conveniently outwardly away
from the ratchet wheels 100-101 for accessible use by a
user to release or disengage the pawls 102-103 from the
ratchet wheels 100-101 for positioning the section members
50 and 60 of the boom assembly 40 about the hinged joints
51 and 61. Further, the longitudinal axes of the pawls
102-103 are substantially in alignment with the
circumferential.edges of the respective ratchet wheels
1 00- 1 0 1 .
Further, other modifications of the adjustable
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locking means include using hydraulic ram assemblies each
comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a shaft for controlled
reciprocal movement therein to control the rotation of the
section members about their respective hinged joints, or
using worm gears each comprising a pair of cooperating
gears to lockingly secure the section members 50 and 60,
or using retractable sliding pin devices each comprising a
sprocket wheel and a pair of retractable pins biased in
between the sprockets of the wheel to lockingly secure the
respective section members.
Each section member of the boom assembly 40
effectively rotates or swings about its respective first
end hinged joint. Each section member of the boom
assembly 40 can be effectively rotated independently of
the other section members. This tool bench 10 is
adjustable to any desirable extension and heiyht (i.e.,
horizontally and vertically) limited only by the
dimensions of the boom assembly 40 and support member 25.
~s viewed on a three dimensional Cartesian coordinate
system, the tray 80 is positionable at any point on the
coordinate system. For example, as illustrated in FIG. l,
a user working in the-engine compartment near the inside
firewall of a vehicle can effectively position each
section member of the boom assembly 40 so that the tray 80
extends to near the firewall of the vehicle for easy
access by a user.
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To adjust the boom assembly, the user rotates the
individual section members of the boom assembly 40 to the
desired positions using the ratchet wheel and pawl
mechanism to lockingly secure the section members 50 and
60 once they are positioned. To adjust the positioning of
the boom assembly 40 and the section members 50 and 60,
the user applies force to the ends opposite the
-teeth-engaging ends of the pawls 102-103 to disengage the
pawls 102-103 from between the teeth of the ratchet wheels
100-101, permitting the section members 50 and 60 to
freely rotate about their respective hinged joints. To
effectively adjust the boom assembly 40 to the desired
position, the user should preferably adjust each section
member of the boom assembly 40 individually with the
anchoring section member 50 being adjusted first and the
extension section member 60 last.
The user disengages the pawl 102 from the ratchet
wheel 100 and rotates or swings the anchoring section
member 50 to a desired extension and height and then
releases the pawl 102, allowing the pawl 102 to spring
back into engagement with a notch 109 between the teeth
108 of the ratchet wheel 100, locking the anchoring
section member 50 at the desired position about the hinged
joint 51~ The user should preferably adjust the other
section members in a likewise manner with the extension
section member 60 being preferably positioned with the
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tray 80 being generally horizontal for supporting tools
and the like. ~s a modification to the ratchet and pawl
mechanism, the ratchet wheels 100-101 and the pawls
102-103 may be protected with covers (not shown) which
enclose the ratchet wheels 100-101 and the pawls 102-103
- to guard against the user accidentally getting his/her
fingers pinched between the ratchet wheels 100-101 and the
pawls 102-103. The covers (not shown) may be hingedly
attached with pins (not shown) to the clamp members
106-107.
The tool bench 10 has many applications. For
example, as shown in FIG. 2, the tool bench 10 can be
effectively used to support buckets, tools, or the like
while the user is standing on a ladder working on a
structure such as a house or the like. The user can
effectively extend the boom assembly 40 vertically with
the extension. section member 60 being positioned generally
horizontal to support the buckets, tools or the like.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, if the user wants to use the
tool bench 10 while lying on his/her back working beneath
a vehicle, the user can effectively adjust the boom
assembly 40 to position the section members 50 and 60
downwardly near the surface of the ground with the
extensio~ section member 60 remaining generally horizontal
to support tools and parts or the like.
~s illustrated in FIG. 4, the tool bench 10 is
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20a
foldable and collapsible for effective and easy storage. The section members 50
and 60 of the boom assembly 40 are collapsible and foldable upon each other or
the support member 15. The section members 50 and 60 are easily foldable
vertically for effectively compacting the tool bench 10 for easy storage in small
5 places.
Various changes and departures may be made to the invention without
departing from the scope and spirit thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended that
the invention be limited to that specifically described in the specification or as
illusl-ated in the drawings but only as set forth in the claims.
