AU712043B2 - A workbench and various components therefor - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD PATENT 00 0 0*0 *0 0 0 0.

0 0 000 0000 0@ 00 0 Name of Applicant: Hendrik Anthonie VAN VLIET Actual Inventor: As Above Address for Service: 0'( Cuijr~w. o o 5gj~s4.~c j-z I/-ow 00 0 0 00 000S 0 0 00 0 00.0 0 0 .0 0

S

000000

S

CULLEN &C.

240 Queen Steet,

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1 isba 1 Qie. 400, -Awet~e~ka.

7 1j to, F IT r Cl.r Invention Title: A WORKBENCH AND VARIOUS COMPONENTS

THEREFOR

Details of Associated Provisional Application: No. PN5434 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:

I

This invention relates to a workbench and various components which may be fitted to the workbench and particularly relates to a workbench for use with electric tools such as circular saws, jigsaws, routers and the like.

Workbenches for electric power tools generally include a supporting framework which supports a workbench surface. The workbench further includes some form of arrangement for mounting electric tools relative to the workbench surface. Such workbenches are becoming extremely popular with home handymen.

1 anHowever, there are some disadvantages with current workbenches and the present invention has been developed to provide various arrangements and constructions which can generally increase the versatility and ease of use of workbenches.

One disadvantage with workbenches, and to mounting of power g tools in general, is the difficulty in mounting different types of power tools quickly and easily relative to the workbench surface and ensuring correct alignment of the cutting edge of the power tool.

One existing type of workbench known as the TritonTM workbench uses a sliding carriage assembly which slides along a pair of spaced horizontal guides. This allows the carriage to be manually moved horizontally between S 20 forward and rearward positions. The workbench surface can be mounted either S below or above the spaced guides. One disadvantage with the carriage assembly is its relative complexity in accommodating and mounting power tools of different types and sizes. Thus, it is considerably finicky to mount circular saws of different sizes or different makes.

Also, in many cutting operations, it is desirable to adjust the height of the cutting edge such that it can cut grooves or the like into a workpiece.

However, the carriage assembly described above is not provided with any means to adjust the height of the cutting edge relative to the workpiece. Although many electric tools, such as power saws, are themselves provided with height adjustment mechanisms, these are generally crude and when the power source is located underneath the workbench surface, it is extremely difficult to adjust the height of the power tool.

In one form, the present invention has developed an assembly whereby a tool, such as a power tool, can be secured more or less permanently to a simple mount which can be in the form of a plate, and where the mount can be easily locked into a height adjustment mechanism, such as a rise-and-fall unit.

Therefore, in one form, the invention resides in an apparatus for mounting tools such as power tools and enabling height adjustment of the power tool relative to a workbench platform, the apparatus comprising a mount to which a tool can be secured, means to pivotally secure the mount adjacent one of its ends relative to the workbench platform, a rise-and-fall unit secured relative to S. 10 the workbench platform and engageable with the mount to cause the mount to pivot between upper and lower position, and, control means to control movement So of the mount.

a The apparatus can be mounted to a workbench which typically S050 comprises a support frame assembly which can support the workbench platform.

The support frame assembly may comprise a plurality of upstanding legs and the workbench platform can be supported by a horizontal frame assembly fixed adjacent upper ends of the upstanding legs. In this manner, the workbench platform can be supported above a ground surface.

The workbench platform may be pivotally mounted to the support S 20 frame assembly such that it can pivot about 1800 to allow the bottom or S9 underneath surface of the workbench platform to be pivoted to an upper position thereby allowing ready access to any power tools mounted relative thereto. It is S preferred that the workbench is pivotally mounted adjacent its balance point, thereby allowing smooth rotation of the workbench about its pivot axis. The workbench may be releasably locked into a substantially horizontal position to prevent inadvertent pivoting movement.

The rise-and-fall unit may be secured to the underside of the workbench platform, and suitably the unit is rigidly mounted thereto by welding or other fixing method. The rise-and-fall unit may comprise a pair of spaced upstanding brackets which may extend substantially at right angles from the underneath surface of the workbench platform. The brackets may be welded or otherwise fixed to the workbench platform. The rise-and-fall unit may further include an engagement member to which the mount may engage with. The engagement member may be supported by one or both of the upstanding brackets and may be moveable relative to the upstanding brackets between an upper position adjacent an upper free end of the upstanding brackets and a lower position adjacent the meeting of the upstanding bracket with the workbench platform. It is preferred that the engagement member comprises a substantially horizontal cross-bar extending between the pair of spaced upstanding brackets. The cross-bar may include end projections or 1 protuberances which may pass through elongate slots in the upstanding brackets. In this manner, the cross-bar may slide along the slot between its upper and lower positions. Preferably, the cross-bar is prevented from being removed from the slot and this may be achieved by some form of locking member such as a split pin, nut or like member.

The control means may comprise a shaft or rod. The shaft or rod may be operable on the engagement member to move the engagement member between its upper and lower positions. The shaft or rod may be threaded and may pass through a fixed nut such that upon rotation of the threaded rod, the rod is extended or retracted. A handle, wheel or any other type of manuallygrippable member may be secured to the rod to facilitate its rotation.

S 20 The mount to which the tool can be secured may comprise a mounting plate. The mounting plate is suitably substantially planar and may include fixing means to allow a tool such as a power tool to be fixed to the mounting plate. The fixing means may comprise fasteners such as bolts or clamps to secure the power tool to the mounting plate. Preferably, the tool is secured to the mounting plate by a quick release coupling. The mounting plate may include an engagement means to engage with the engagement member on the rise-and-fall unit. The engagement means may comprise a bracket configured to be supported by the engagement member on the rise-and-fall unit.

Preferably, the bracket is also configured to allow it to be easily released from the engagement member on the rise-and-fall unit. The engagement means may be provided adjacent one end of the mounting plate and may comprise one or more substantially L-shaped brackets or flanges which can fit about the engagement member of the rise-and-fall unit. The other end of the mounting plate may include a pivot mount to allow the mounting plate to pivotally coupled to the underneath surface of the workbench platform. To allow the mounting plate to be quickly released, it is preferred that a releasable pivot pin is used and this may be in the form of a rod of shaft.

Another feature of workbenches is the wide use of a ripfence. The ripfence is a long straight member usually formed from steel or aluminium and which can be clamped to the workbench platform at various positions spaced from the power tool cutting edge. This allows material to be cut into precise n o 10 lengths or shapes.

For use with circular saws, the ripfence is required to be clamped exactly parallel to the plane of the circular saw blade. If this is not achieved, wood can be jammed between the ripfence and the circular saw blade and the cutting action will not be smooth and clean. Also, the ripfence should be able to be quickly and conveniently clamped and unclamped to allow it to be quickly repositioned with a minimum of fuss.

S 5 "In another form, the invention resides in a further improvement to a S. ripfence which is extremely easy to clamp and unclamp in a single operation.

0 Therefore, in another form the invention resides in a ripfence for a workbench, the ripfence having a base wall and at least one upstanding side wall adjacent an edge of the base wall, a first engagement member engageable with the workbench platform, and, a clamp assembly comprising a second engagement member engageable with the workbench platform, the second engageable member being moveable between a free position and a clamping position by a manually operable lever arm.

In this manner, the ripfence can be clamped or unclamped simply by rotation of the lever arm. This contrasts with existing ripfences wherein at least two spaced apart fasteners are required to clamp the ripfence to the workbench platform.

The ripfence is suitably substantially U-shaped in cross-section with the base wall comprising the connecting web of the U-shaped cross-section, and the upstanding side wall comprising one side wall of the U-shaped cross-

S.

0 0 00 *000 SbI 0e 0 0* section. The other side wall is a preferred feature as this can allow the ripfence to be used on either side of the power tool without needing to rotate the ripfence around 1800. The first engagement member may comprise a depending flange or hook which can hook over an edge of the workbench platform. The first engagement member is suitably rigidly fastened to the remaining portion of the ripfence and is immoveable. The first engagement member may be fastened to the base wall of the ripfence. The second engagement member may be slidably moveable between extended and retracted positions relative to the base wall of the ripfence. This can be achieved by providing a slot in the second engagement member through which a projection on the base wall of the ripfence can pass. The second engagement member is caused to move between its extended and retracted positions by the lever arm which may comprise an elongate arm member pivotally connected adjacent one end to the base wall of the ripfence, and including a connecting member connecting the second engagement member with the lever arm, the connecting member being connected to the lever arm between the pivot mounting and the free end of the lever arm. This type of arrangement can also be called an over-centre mechanism.

Another difficulty in sawing narrow strips of wood is that there is a tendency for the wood (or other material which is being sawed) to be lifted. This can cause the wood to break or split, and generally is undesirable.

To overcome this disadvantage, the invention also contemplates providing the ripfence with an arrangement which can hold down the wood (or other material) which is being cut. In this arrangement, the ripfence may be provided with a carriage member which may slide relative to the base wall or side wall of the ripfence in a longitudinal manner. The carriage member may support a wheel or slide extending from the ripfence and which can be pressed against the workpiece to prevent it from lifting. The wheel or slide may be mounted to an arm which itself may be adjustably mounted to the carriage member such that the wheel or slide can be positioned at various distances from the ripfence.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the wheel or slide (or other work-engaging member) is biased into engagement with the workpiece and this may be achieved by a biasing member. In an alternative version, the ripfence can have an upstanding member to which a rod can be adjustably clamped, the rod supporting the wheel or slide. Figures 13A 13C illustrate an embodiment of this version which is attached to the ripfence of Figures 14A -1 4B.

Another component which can be fitted to workbenches and which is widely used is a protractor. Protractors are used to allow workpieces to be cut at various angles. The protractor is normally mounted in a longitudinal slot on the workbench platform to allow it to slide past the circular saw or other power tool mounted on the workbench. The protractors can also pivot between various angles and this has been achieved by an arcuate slot provided in the protractor which a lock nut protrudes. Tightening of the lock nut will clamp the protractor in a desired angled position. However, a disadvantage with this existing system is that the lock nut itself also functions as a pointer from which the protractor angle can be calculated. This arrangement is, however, quite crude and does not lend itself to accurate determination of protractor angles.

Accuracy is required in many working situation and especially with manufacture °of picture frames. In another form, the invention resides in a protractor having a "pointer which is separate from the locking nut, thereby allowing greater accuracy to be obtained. This may be achieved by providing a protractor with a lower pivot coupling to pivotally couple the protractor to a workbench platform, a first arcuate slot spaced from the pivot point and in which a securing means such as a lock nut may be provided to clamp the protractor against pivoting movement, and a second arcuate slot spaced from the first arcuate slot and which is associated with a pointer and a scale to allow accurate settings of the protractor to be made.

Suitably, the protractor can also be slidably mounted in a slot in a workbench platform. Optionally, the first and second arcuate slots may include one or more stop members to stop pivoting of the protractor at desired angles. The stop member or members may be set at zero, forty-five and ninety degrees, which are the most common protractor settings. Thus, a person may quickly set the protractor at forty-five degrees without requiring careful and fiddly angle settings.

The protractor may include mounting means to allow a length setting device to be mounted to the protractor. In another form, there is provided a protractor I M 0 *r *6 *6 0 6 having length adjusting means to support the material to be cut. Figures 6A 6C illustrate an embodiment of this form of the invention. Figure 6D illustrates another version of the protractor.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates generally a workbench according to the invention.

Figure 1A illustrates a mount to which a tool can be secured.

Figure 2 illustrates the workbench of Figure 1 where the 10 workbench platform has been flipped 180o and which illustrates the rise-and-fall unit.

Figures 2A 2E show different views of the workbench.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a mount to which a tool such as a power tool can be secured.

15 Figure 4 illustrates in part how the mount of Figure 3 can be coupled to the rise-and-fall unit as illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 5 illustrates a ripfence according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a protractor according to the embodiment of the 20 6 r invention.

6t 0 Figures 6A 6C illustrate a protractor according to another embodiment of the invention and which has length adjusting means.

Figure 6D illustrates a protractor according to a further embodiment of the invention which also has length adjusting means but where the protractor is semi-circular.

Figures 7A 7C illustrate a wood guide.

Figure 8 illustrates a further ripfence.

Figure 9 illustrates a further wood guide.

Figure 10 shows a saw cover.

Figure 11 shows a wood guide for router work.

Figure 11A illustrates a wood guide according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 B illustrates a wood guide according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 12 shows a work bench according to the invention generally similar to Figure 1 but now illustrating the overhanging platform.

Figures 13A 13C illustrate attachments which are attachable to a ripfence illustrated in Figures 14A- 14B.

Figures 14A 14B illustrate a ripfence to which the attachments of Figures 13A- 13C can be attached.

1b Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a workbench Workbench 10 is substantially rectangular in configuration and comprises four upstanding legs 11 to which an upper horizontal rectangular supporting framework 12 can be fitted. Braces can be provided to strengthen the frame *°o assembly. A lower horizontal rectangular frame assembly 15 is also provided for added strength. The workbench may include front and rear end panels 16 (only front panel 16 shown). Upper horizontal frame assembly 12 can pivotally support a workbench platform 17 which is in the form of a planar rectangular sheet.

:°:-Workbench platform 17 is pivotally mounted to frame assembly 12 through pivot S-pins 18, thereby allowing it to pivotally move 1800 about a horizontal axis, thereby allowing the top surface and the underneath surface to be accessible.

This can be facilitated by allowing the platform 17 to initially slide for a short distance to unlock the platform and then turning it upside down. Figure 12 illustrates a platform 17 which overlies the top of the frame assembly. The height of legs 11 must be sufficient to allow workbench platform 17 to rotate without scraping the ground surface. Workbench platform 17 may include a pair of spaced longitudinal slots 19 in which a protractor may fit as shall be described in greater detail below and further may include a removable central portion Removable central portion 20 may include a plate member having a slot 21 passing therethrough, the slot being dimensioned to allow a saw blade, router blade or like member to pass therethrough. Plate member 20 is recessed into workbench platform 17 to provide a flush surface and various different types of plate members 20A having various slot configurations 21A can be provided depending on the type of power tool to be used. Thus, slot 21 may be of various lengths or widths depending on the size of a circular saw to be used or, alternatively, may be circular in design for use with a router or jigsaw.

Workbench 10 may further include U-shaped brackets 22 adjacent each side of workbench platform 17 and to these brackets may be pivotally mounted extension tables. The extension tables, when not in use, may fold to a vertical position and can be raised to a horizontal position when required.

Workbench platform 17 can be locked against rotation by a pin lock or other type of fastening member.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4, there is illustrated the workbench of 10 Figure 1 wherein the workbench platform 17 has been rotated to expose the underneath surface 23. To underneath surface 23 is rigidly fixed a rise-and-fall unit 24. Rise-and-fall unit 24 comprises a pair of spaced upstanding brackets having lower ends spot-welded to underneath surface 23 (25 comprise metal sheets). Between upstanding brackets 25 is located an engagement member in the form of a cross-bar 26. Cross-bar 26 is straight and is of rectangular crosssection and extends between brackets 25. The end faces of cross-bar 26 include projections 27 which pass through slots 28 provided in each upstanding bracket 25. A wing nut 29 is provided on projections 27 to prevent cross-bar 26 from being released from upstanding brackets 25. By passing along slots 28, S 20 cross-bar 26 can pass between an upper position (not illustrated) and a lower position (illustrated in Figure Cross-bar 26 can be moved between these two positions by a control means in the form of a threaded rod 30, one of which 31 is fitted to cross-bar 26. Threaded rod 30 passes through a complementary threaded opening 31 in an upper transverse member 32 which connects upper portions of bracket 25. The upper end of threaded bar 30 includes a manuallyrotatable handle' 33. It can be seen that upon rotation of handle 33, threaded shaft 30 causes cross-bar 26 to move between its upper and lower positions.

Brackets 25 have rearwardly extending tail portions 35. The free end of tail portions 35 are provided with a pivot mount 36 having a bore extending therethrough to accommodate a releasable pivot pin 37. Pin 37 is in the form of a rod which can be passed through mount 36 and locked by a turning action.

To the rise-and-fall unit as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, can be 9 9 S. .9 .9r

S.

.9

B

4 fitted a mount 40 as illustrated with reference to Figure 3. Mount 40 comprises a planar sheet of metal and is substantially rectangular when viewed in plan.

Mount 40 has a rear end 41 which is provided with a pair of upstanding pivot mounts 42 through which pivot pin 37 (see Figure 2) can pass. In this manner, this end 41 of mount 40 can be pivotally connected relative to workbench platform 17. The other end 43 of mount 40 is provided with a pair of upstanding inverted L-shaped brackets 44 which are dimensioned to pass over crossmember 26 as illustrated in Figure 2. A pointer 45 can be used to assist the positioning. To minimise sideways movement, front end 43 also includes a pair 10 of upstanding fins 46 which pass through narrow slots (46A) in cross-member 26.

Mount 40 may further include any number of holes or clamps to allow a power tool to be fitted to mount 40. Mount 40 also includes an opening 47 to allow the saw blade, router tip or the like to pass through mount 40 when the tool is fitted thereto. Obviously, opening 47 may vary depending on the type 15 of tool to be used and may comprise an elongate slot as illustrated in Figure 3 for use with circular saws or a generally circular opening (not illustrated) when mount 40 is used to mount a router. The arrangement is such that the power tool is more or less always secured to mount 40 and thus that various different mounts 40 are provided for various different power tools. As mount 40 is very cheap to manufacture, it is not envisaged that purchasing a number of such mounts will be a problem.

Once mount 40 has been attached to the rise-and-fall unit as illustrated in Figure 2, handle 33 can be rotated to raise or lower cross-bar 26 and thus to pivotally move mount 40 between upper and lower positions. As a consequence, the circular saw, router or other power tool mounted to mount can be raised and lowered relative to workbench platform 17. The tools are quickly releasable from the rise-and-fall units and requires only that pivot pin 37 is initially removed. Thereafter, the power tool and mount 40 can be slid backwards to release bracket 44 from cross-member 26 and then another power tool can be fitted if desired.

Figure 5 illustrates a ripfence according to the invention. The ripfence is formed from a substantially U-shaped material and is formed with a base wall 50 and a pair of upstanding side walls 51, 52 extending at right angles from opposed sides of base wall 50. One end the ripfence 52 is fitted with a first engagement member 54 which is in the form of a depending hook and which is rigidly attached to base wall 50 of the ripfence. The other end of ripfence 53 is provided with a second engagement member 55 which is also in the form of a hook but which can move between an extended position relative to the end of ripfence 53 and a retracted position. The second engagement member may comprise a plate 56 having a slot therein 57 through which a pin 58 may pass, 1 the pin being attached to base wall 50. Pin 58 may have a thickened end portion o 0 to prevent plate 56 from being removed from the ripfence. Plate 56 is connected to a connecting member 59 which itself is connected to a lever 60. Lever comprises an arm having a lower end 61 pivotally connected to base wall 50 and an upper free end 62. Connecting member 59 is connected to lever intermediate free end 62 and pivot mounting 61. It can be seen that operation of lever 60 will cause retraction of the second engagement member 55 which in turn will cause ripfence 53 to be securely clamped adjacent edges 63 of workbench S0 platform 17.

Referring to Figure 8, within ripfence 53 is provided a sliding 20ocarriage 65. Sliding carriage 65 comprises a base plate 66 having opposed ends 67, 68 and including slots 69, 70 through which projections 71, 72 may pass, the projections being fastened to base wall 50. This allows carriage member 65 to be slidably moved relative to base wall 50 by a distance determined by the length of slot 69, 70. Projection 72 is a lock nut which upon tightening can clamp carriage member 65 against movement. Carriage member 65 supports a workpiece engagement member which in the embodiment comprises a rotating wheel 75. Wheel 75 is rotatably mounted to shaft 76. In this manner, the degree of extension of wheel 75 from ripfence 53 can be adjusted. Wheel 75 is biased into engagement with a workpiece by a biasing means in the form of an adjustable spring 78. Wheel 75 is attached to a vertical bar 77 having a slot therein 77A. A horizontal bar (not shown) can adjustably attach to slot 77A. The bar is attached to ripfence 53 via clamp 77B.

A further ripfence can be provided where the rotating wheel and shaft can move vertically along an upright member which has one end located in the main body of the ripfence.

Figures 13A 13C illustrate a top, side and rear view of an attachment which can be fitted to a ripfence illustrated in Figures 14A 14B as front and side views.

Attachment 200 is a wheel assembly which functions to hold wood onto the workbench platform 17 when being cut by the saw. That is, the wood passes underneath wheel 201. Wheel 201 (this could also be a slide) is 1 rotatably attached to an axle 202 and axle 202 is slidingly received within a hollow cylindrical collar 203. Collar 203 is firmly attached (typically by a spotweld) to a slide 204 and slide 204 can slide up and down along a metal Ushaped slotted guide 205. The slot 206 allows a clamping nut 207 to clamp slide 204 against guide 205 in any desirable position. Thus, wheel 201 can be adjusted in height from the top of the platform 17 to allow for various thickness of wood or other material to be cut.

Figures 14A 14B illustrate a ripfence 209 which has a quick S- clamping action 208 similar to that described above. Ripfence 209 has a pair of spaced apart metal plates 210 to which the extending lip 211 (see Figure 138) of attachment 200 can be attached.

9, 09 S 20 Figure 6 illustrates a protractor according to an embodiment of the S" invention. Protractor 80 is formed from a plate material and is slidably coupled within slots 19 on workbench platform 17 (see also Figure Protractor 80 is pivotally mounted to slot 19 through a pivot pin 82 which comprises a lock nut.

Spaced from pivot pin 82 is a first arcuate slot 83 and spaced from first arcuate slot is a second arcuate slot 84. Through arcuate slot 83 projects a lock nut 84A which upon tightening can clamp protractor 80 against pivoting movement.

Arcuate slot 84 can be associated with a protractor scale (not shown) and a pointer 85. Arcuate slot 84 may further include stop members 86 which can be positioned to provide particularly desirable angle settings such as 450 and 900.

The arcuate slots can of course be longer such that the protractor can move from 0 to 900 without having to reverse the protractor. Protractor 80 is further provided with mounting means 87 to accommodate a length setting rod 88.

Length setting rod 88 may include a threaded end 89 which can threadingly engage within a complementary thread within mounting means 87.

Figures 6A 6C illustrate a protractor according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, protractor 215 has two arcuate slots 216, 217 through which pins pass. On the outside two walls of protractor 215 is a raised channel section 218 which is better illustrated in Figure 6A.

Inside section 218 is a pair of guides 219 to which extension pieces (not shown) can be fitted to adjust the length setting.

Figure 6C illustrates a material clamp for a protractor. The clamp 220 clamps to the top lip of section 218 and has a plate member 221 which can be adjusted in length and clamped in place by a clamp nut 222. On the end of Splate member 221 is a material clamp 223.

i° Figure 6D illustrates another type of protractor 225 which is characterised by being semi-circular in design. The protractor has an arcuate slot 226 which accommodates a lock nut 227, with another pivot lock nut 228 being provided on the forward end of the protractor. The protractor sits flat on A the platform 17 of the workbench with Figure 6D being a top plan view. The front 104V i liedge of the protractor has an upstanding lip 229 against which the piece of wood or other material which is to be cut is placed. Behind lip 229 is a channel 230 in S 20 which a metal rod can be clamped or placed to support a longer work piece. The rod is not illustrated but is not dissimilar to the rod 88 illustrated in Figure 6.

Another component according to the invention may comprise a device to bias a workpiece (such as cut wood etc) against a ripfence. This device may comprise a body 100 (see Figure 9) which can be clamped to the work bench platform. This may be achieved by a clamp similar to that of the ripfence. Body 100 may be telescopically attached to extension piece 101 which can be moved between extended and retracted positions. A contact member which can be in the form of a wheel is mounted to extension piece. The contact member may be biased to press against a piece of wood and thus prevent the wood from being lifted.

Figures 11 A 11B illustrate two further separate embodiment of a work piece biasing device and which biases the material to be cut against the ripfence.

Figure 11A is not dissimilar to the device illustrated in Figure 11 except that spring 115 has been omitted. The device of Figure 11A has a body 235 typically formed from metal which terminates in a pair of spaced apart wheels 236 which contact the material to be cut. An exhaust duct 237 is provided which can attach to a vacuum cleaner or other suction device to suck wood shavings from the material to be cut. Body 235 is adjustably clamped to a clamp assembly which is basically the same as that illustrated in Figure 9. The clamp assembly has a clamping attachment 238 which clamps to platform 17, S 10 and an extension piece 239 into which body 235 can fit, with body 235 having a slot 240 through which a lock nut 241 can pass to clamp body 235 to clamping assembly 238.

Figure 11B illustrates a similar arrangement where a single wheel 242 is provided instead of the dual wheels 236 and where there is no exhaust duct.

Figure 10 shows a metal riving knife 100 and saw cover 102, 103 So ,,assembly with an insert plate 104.

Figure 11 shows a wood guide for router work. The guide 110 can be fitted to part 101. Guide 110 has a chamber 111 having an exit 112 to which 20 a vacuum hose can be attached. The lower portion 113 has wheels 114 and is

OO.

S" spring biased by spring 115. Outer housing 116 is attached to a cross bar (not shown).

Wheels 114 pass over the material to be routed, the material being positioned on top of the workbench platform and underneath the wheels 114.

The lower portion telescopes within outer housing 116.

Figures 2A 2E show top and four side views of the workbench. A sawdust drawer 120 is provided with a handle 121, on-off switch 122, and power inlet switch 123. A sliding side door 124 is provided.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A ripfence for use with a workbench, the ripfence having a base wall and at least one upstanding side wall, a first engagement member engageable with the workbench platform, and a clamp assembly to releasably clamp the ripfence to the workbench, the clamp assembly comprising a second engagement member engageable with the workbench platform, the second engagement member being moveable between a free position and a workbench clamping position by a manually operable lever arm.

2. The ripfence of claim 1, wherein the ripfence is elongate and substantially U-shaped in cross section.

3. The ripfence of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the engagement members are hooks which hook over an edge in the workbench platform.

4. The ripfence of any one of claims 1 3, wherein the first engagement member is rigidly fixed to the remainder of the ripfence, and the second engagement member is slidably moveable between clamping and free positions, the second engagement member being attached to a connecting member which is connected to the lever arm between the free end of the lever arm and the pivot mount point of the lever arm. 20

5. A ripfence substantially as hereinbefore described with S reference to the accompanying examples. DATED this 30 th day of August 1999 HENDRIK ANTHONIE VAN VLIET By his Patent Attorneys 25 CULLEN CO. *9 9 9 9~l