FR2523829A1 - Combined table, workbench and scaffolding - consists of two rectangular frames, with two legs, uprights and horizontal cross pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

The combined table, work bench or scaffolding comprises two separate, rectangular frames (1), each consisting of tubular vertical uprights (4) to which are fixed two horizontal cross-pieces, an upper (5) and a lower (6) one. An upper horizontal cross-piece (7) on each frame is joined to two vertical slides fitting into the two tubular uprights at the bottom of which are two movable legs. Each leg (3) comprises horizontal tubular sections (9) and reinforcements (13).

Description

 The present invention relates to a transformable assembly which can be used at will as a table, workbench or scaffolding.

 Currently known in the trade, to allow building activities or DIY, a number of devices or devices for working on the ground or at a certain height. Among these, we can cite trestles, ladders, scaffolding, workbenches, etc. All of these individually have a number of drawbacks. For example, wooden trestles have a certain amount of floor space, which is inconvenient when they are used to constitute a table, as well as for storage. The mason's trestles are too high for everyday use, they are heavy and can only be useful for masons. Known ladders generally only allow you to climb or access a high point, however, some articulated ladders can be transformed to form a scaffold of small width. In this case, the balance is unstable and working at height is not easy. The purpose of the scaffolding is to allow working at height, in acceptable conditions of safety and convenience, but it poses a problem with regard to storage after use. In addition, their use is infrequent, which means that the investment they represent is generally very high compared to the practical use made of it. Workbenches are static, heavy elements, which are generally permanently placed in a workshop and which cannot be easily moved around a workplace.

 The present invention aims to remedy all these drawbacks by providing a transformsble assembly of a particularly simple design, consisting of several elements which can be combined in different ways to assume the various functions required and a remarkably low cost price.

 To this end, this transformable assembly which can be used at will as a table, established or scaffolding, is characterized in that it comprises two independent rectangular frames each composed of two vertical tubular uprights and two upper and lower horizontal crosspieces fixed to the uprights, the upper crossmember being fixed to the uprights at a certain distance from their upper end ends so as to delimit an upper extreme section of each upright projecting above the upper crossmember, a height-adjustable riser for each frame comprising a crossmember upper horizontal connected, preferably by joints, to two vertical slides which can engage in the two tubular uprights of the frame, two removable feet for each frame which can be made integral with the lower parts of the tubular uprights by mutual embedding and each comprising a section horizontal tubular, and stiffening elements can be assembled, by mutual embottement, with the horizontal tubular sections of the feet of the two frames to ensure their rigid connection in the lower part.

 According to an additional characteristic of the invention when the transformable assembly is used as a workbench, the rigid connection of the two frames in the upper part is produced by a horizontal upper plate, in one piece or made up of several bastaings pa alleles and adjacent, resting on the upper crosspieces of the two frames and applied under pressure against the upper end sections of the rear frame uprights, respectively under the action of two horizontally acting presses mounted on the upper end sections of the front uprights of the two frames.

 The transformable assembly according to the invention makes it possible to pass quickly and simply, without using any tool, from use as a service table to scaffolding, passing through a workbench. All the components of the convertible assembly are removable and can be stored very easily, taking up very little space, which makes it possible, for example, to house them entirely in a small car trunk.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawing in which
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the transformable assembly according to the invention.

 Figures 2 and 3 are schematic perspective views illustrating the use of the transformable assembly as a service table.

 Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating other uses as a work floor.

 Figure 6 is a perspective view of a workbench made by the transformable assembly according to the invention.

 Figure 7 is a schematic profile view of the workbench.

 Figure 8 is a partial plan view of a press used for tightening the bastaings composing the upper plate.

 Figure 9 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the press.

 Figures 10, 11 and 12 are respectively elevation, plan and side views of a movable bracket forming part of a valet.

 Figure 13 is a schematic partial perspective view illustrating the mounting of a frame on casters.

 Figure 14 is a perspective view of a scaffolding made from the transformable assembly according to the invention.

 Figure 15 is an elevational view of an extension of the scaffolding and the lower part of an upright supporting a railing.

 Figure 16 is a perspective view illustrating the angled arrangement of the plinths of the scaffolding.

 Figure 17 is a perspective view of the upper part of a railing upright, and of the intermediate protection.

 Figure 18 is a perspective view of a frame made from stiffening elements.

 The transformable assembly, the main votive elements of which are represented in FIG. 1, is produced from table pieces, of circular section oj preferably square or rectangular or any prismatic section, assembled together by welding or any other means of '' mechanical assembly, with or without additional rigid connection element. This set essentially comprises two identical frames 1 in the upper parts of which can be swung and fixed, at adjustable heights, risers 2 and which each rest on the ground by means of two removable feet 3. Each frame 1 constitutes, with its two lower legs 3, a trestle whose height can be adjusted by the riser 2 sliding vertically.

 Each frame 1 is made up of two uprights 4 assembled by two upper 5 and lower 6 horizontal crosspieces. These two crosspieces 5 and 6 are rigidly linked to the uprights 4 at a certain distance from their ends so as to leave free end sections of these uprights extending up and down.

 Each extension 2 comprises a horizontal crosspiece 7 of length equal to or preferably greater than the distance between the two uprights 4 of the frame 1 and to this horizontal crosspiece are preferably linked by articulations, two vertical slides 8, full or hollow, of which the external cross section corresponds substantially to the internal cross section of the tubular uprights 4. The connection between the cross member 7 and the couylisses 8 can be obtained by bolt passing through the riser, or axis and pins, circlips, etc. In this way the slides 8 can slide in the uprights 4 while being guided closely. The articulation between the slides 8 and the cross-member 7 allows a possible inclination of the riser 2, thus compensating for example the inclination of the ground on which the feet 3 rest.

 Each leg 3 has a horizontal tube section 9 to which are rigidly connected, in its middle, a vertical middle section 11 extending upwards, and, at its ends, two vertical shoes 12, extending downwards and which the foot 3 is supported on the ground. The shoes 12 are advantageously constituted by sections of tube.

 Each foot 3 is assembled with an upright 4 of the frame 1 by mutual embedding of the lower extreme section of the upright 4 and of the median vertical section 11 of the foot 3.

 The transformable assembly according to the invention further comprises stiffening elements 13 which are constituted by tubular sections having for example a length of one meter and whose external cross section corresponds to the internal cross section of the hori tonal tubular section 9 of each foot 3, so as to be able to engage closely in this section. These stiffening elements can be coupled coaxially with one another by means of tubular connecting sleeves 14 in which they are engaged and blocked. The blocking of the various tubular elements engaged in one another, whether it is the frame 1 engaged in the legs 3 or stiffening elements 13 in these same legs 3 and in the connecting sleeves 14, can be produced in any known manner by means of locking members such as pins passing through holes drilled in the various elements or else pressure screws 15 screwed into the wall of the external tubular element and the end of which bears on the internal element.

 In a particular embodiment of the invention, each frame 1 can have a height of 710mm and an interior width of 600mm, each leg 3 can have a width equal to 350mm, the maximum stroke of the extension can be 550 mm, with many fixed positions, depending on the drilling of the slides 8 or other locking system. The total height of the frame 1 and the feet 3 is thus 850 mm, height standardized for this kind of material, which gives a maximum height 1,400 mm when the extension 2 is in its highest position.

 Figures 2 to 5 illustrate various possible uses of the transformable assembly according to the invention, with or without the enhancement, the latter increasing the combinations therefore the capacities of the invention.

 2 shows a work table which is constituted by a plate 16 of one or more pieces resting on the risers 2 in the lower position on the two frames 1. These frames 1 rest on the ground by their feet 3 which are oriented perpendicularly in terms of frameworks. The frame 1, the extension 2 and the pair of feet 3 are used to form a trestle, the two trestles being able to be independent of each other, or connected by the system of a single or two stiffeners 13 depending on the case, this complement guaranteeing a stability of the combination.

 In the variant of use shown in FIG. 3, each frame 1 rests on the ground by a foot 3 perpendicular to the plane of the frame and another foot 3 contained in the plane of this frame. This arrangement makes it possible to accommodate the work table in a reduced space. Stability can be reinforced by the use of a stiffener 13 engaged in the feet 3 perpendicular to the frame.

 Such a work table is easily movable and its size can be adapted by the user, in the space available to him, for painting, gluing, mounting, maintenance. it can be used as a side table for an occasional meal, it has a very good balance and the trestles do not bother the guests.

 In FIG. 4, the transformable assembly is used to form a low work floor 17. This work floor consists of several bastaings 18, parallel and adjacent to each other, which extend horizontally and rest on the lower horizontal crosspieces 6 of the two opposite frames 1, ie a maximum of 600mm together.

 FIG. 5 illustrates an application in which the same floor 17 is distributed, at the request of the user, for example two bastaings 18 resting on the lower crossings 6 and the other two resting on the two upper cross members 5, forming a plane working high. The user can climb onto the low floor and work at height with the tools and other accessories carried by the high worktop. The use here of the extension 7 leads to placing this work plan high in any desired position, te-nantcompte the size of the user.

 We will now describe, with particular reference to FIGS. 6 to 13, an application of the transformable assembly according to the invention as a workbench. In this application, the feet 3 of a frame I are rigidly connected to the corresponding feet of the other frame 1 by means of two stiffeners 13 coaxially coupled by a connecting sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 is made integral with the one of the stiffeners 13 either by a pressure screw 15, or by a transverse pin 19 engaged in one of several holes drilled transversely in the sleeve 14 and the stiffener 13, and the other stiffener 13 is telescopically embedded in the sleeve 14 in which it is locked by means of a pressure screw 15.

 The upper tray of the workbench can be made in one piece but it is preferably made, for reasons of maneuverability, of four bastaings 18 resting on the upper crosspieces 5 of the frame 1. These bastaings can for example have a length by 2 meters and a cross section of 150 x 55 mm so that the worktop exceeds the uprights 4 by about 5mm. The bastaings 18 constituting the work plate are pressed against the upper end sections of the rear uprights 4 of the two frames 1, and this by means of two presses 21 mounted respectively on the upper end sections of the two front uprights 4 of these frames. Each press 21 comprises, as can best be seen in FIG. 8, a vertical tubular section 22, threaded on the upper end of the anterior upright 4 and to which a section of horizontal tube 23 is welded. On this section of tube 23 are welded on either side of the vertical section 22 and on the same face as the latter, two nuts 24 in which are engaged clamping screws 25 whose heads bear on the edge of the bastaing 18 immediately adjacent. It is understood that by rotating the screws 5 in the appropriate direction, the bastaing 18 is exerted a horizontal pressure in the direction of the rear upright 4. Conversely, since the screws 25 pass through the tube 23, the press 21 can advantageously be used as a stiffener in other circumstances, for example in the table position (fig. 2) under the plate 16, without disturbing users.

 Each press 21 can also be used to support a clamp 26 ensuring the blocking of a board or any other piece 30 against the edge of the bastaing 18 adjacent to the press 21, as illustrated in FIG. 8. This clamp seal 26 is integral with a bar 27 which is slidably engaged in the horizontal tubular section 23 of the press 21. The sliding allows positioning of the clamp in any place of the edge of the workbench.

 Figure 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment for quickly moving the clamp 26 in two directions respectively perpendicular and parallel to the edge of the bastaing 18, in order to immobilize a piece 28 relatively thick, for example square section. In this case, the transverse bar 27 with which the clamp 26 is secured is engaged in a sheath 29 on which two parallel transverse sleeves 31 are welded. These sleeves are slidably engaged respectively on two parallel bars 32 themselves welded on a second sleeve 33 parallel to sleeve 29. This sleeve 33 is in turn engaged on a bar 34 which may be a slide 8, a stiffener 13 or 43, housed in and supported by the horizontal tubular section 23 of the press 21, the sleeve 33 being carried by the external part of this bar 34. The whole of the clamp 26 and its support constituted by the parts 27, 29 and 31 can slide freely on the two parallel bars 32, which allows a quick approach of the part 28 to be immobilized. The tightening and then carried out, by means of the clamp 26, by bracing.

 FIG. 6 also illustrates the use of a vertical stiffening element 13 engaged and locked in a tubular upright 4 of a frame 1 to serve as support for a horizontal arm 35 at the end of which is mounted a vertical clamp 36 located above above the work surface. The arm 35 consists of a bar engaged in a horizontal sleeve 37 of a movable bracket 38 comprising a vertical sleeve 39 sliding on the vertical stiffener 13. Thus all the parts 13, 35, 36, 38 constitute a valet allowing 'immobilize, on the work platform, a horizontal board 41, as a result of the bracing which occurs as soon as the object 41 is tightened by means of the clamp 36. It is possible to apply this system by one of the four uprights, or two, or even four at the same time, thus opening up an appreciable area.

 To allow the horizontal arm 35 to pivot around the vertical stiffening element 13, it is necessary that the movable bracket 38 comprises a vertical sleeve 39 of internal circular cross-section sufficiently large to allow rotation around the stiffener 13. The bracket mobile 38 can advantageously be produced from known elements ensuring greater precision in the rotation function and a better yield of the positioning at any height on the vertical stiffener 13.

 Figure 7 illustrates another possible use of the clamp 26 for mounting or bonding. In this case, the transverse bar 27 of which it is integral is simply engaged in the upper end of an anterior upright 4 of a frame 1, so that the clamp 26 is found to extend horizontally, above of the work plate formed by the bastaings 18, in the direction of the other upright 4. This upright can be extended upwards by a stiffening element 13 serving to support the part on which the clamp 26 exerts horizontal pressure .

 It can be seen from the foregoing description that the tightening of the bastaings 18 constituting the work platform, between the two presses 21 carried by the anterior uprights 4 and the upper end sections of the posterior uprights 4, on the one hand, and the rigid connection made between the two frames 1, in the lower part, by the internal diary of the horizontal stiffeners 13 and of the coupling sleeves 15 on the other hand, make it possible to constitute a perfectly rigid workbench resistant to the horizontal forces exerted on the work platform during various operations, and tending to cause a deformation of the paral lelogram base thus formed.

 According to an alternative embodiment, one of the frames 1 can be carried by swivel casters 42, as shown in FIG. 13. This arrangement makes it possible to easily move the workbench from one place to another. In this case, a complementary transverse stiffener 43 may be provided between the two supports 44 of the rollers 42, to increase the rigidity at this point, because the swivel casters 42 offset the fulcrum of each leg 3 of the frame, d 'ob possible deformation during use.

 We will now describe, with reference to Figures 14 to 17, an application of the transformable assembly according to the invention as scaffolding.

 The scaffolding shown in FIG. 14 is in fact constituted by the workbench shown in FIG. 6, in addition using the risers 2 in the extreme upper position. On the crosspieces 7 of the two risers 2 are placed the four bastaings 18 constituting the work floor.

This floor is thus 1.40 m from the ground, as we saw previously. This height is very satisfactory for all common indoor or outdoor work.

 The stability of the entire scaffolding can be reinforced by using four stiffening elements 13 coaxially aligned in pairs and arranged in a cross as shown in FIG. 14. The stiffening elements 13 of each pair are coupled together, at the l 'one of their ends, via a connecting sleeve 14 and they are connected, at their other ends, respectively to the cross member 7 of a riser 2 and to cross it below 6 of the opposite frame 1. This connection can be achieved by any suitable means using pressure screws or other fixing members.

 The safety of the scaffolding is ensured by means of four uprights 45 constituted by sections of tube identical to the stiffeners 13. These four uprights 45 are respectively fixed to the upper end parts of the vertical bars 8 of each riser 2, via d 'A support 46. This support 46 comprises two vertical sleeves connected together by an emu, intended to escape the articulation between the cross-member 7 and the slide 8, namely a first sleeve 47 threaded on the slide 8 of the extension 2 and maintained in the upper extreme position on this slide by a lower pin 48 engaged in a hole drilled in the slide 8, and a second sleeve 49 in which is engaged a sleeve 50 which receives the lower end of the upright 45, this upright being maintained by a pin 51 engaged in a hole drilled in the upright 45. At its upper part each upright 45 receives a sleeve 54 comprising two ears 52, of rectangular shapes, elongated v ertically, perpendicular to each other, and in which the ends of the longitudinal rail 53 and transverse rail 55 are engaged respectively. The same plinth protection is provided by elements 53 and 55 engaged in ears 52 which include the 50 lower sleeves.

Each of the guard rails 53, 55 is advantageously constituted by plastic barrier elements which are in pieces of one meter in length and assembled in pairs. These plastic barrier elements are hollow, which allows them to be accommodated easily inside, during transport, all the stiffeners 13 and the uprights 45. Halfway up, and to finally meet safety standards in the circumstance, pins engaged in the uprights 45 receive, for example, the attachment links of a belt or any other safety system 56.

 FIG. 18 illustrates a particular application made by means of four stiffening elements 13 according to the invention assembled together to form a rectangular rectangular frame of variable size in both directions, by means of appropriate angle connecting devices, such as the sleeves 54, 50, press 21. Two clamps 26 are mounted at the location of two neighboring vertices of the rectangular frame thus formed, extending parallel to each other, over two opposite sides of the frame constituted by two stiffening elements.

Claims (10)

 1.- Convertible assembly that can be used at will as a table, workbench or scaffold, characterized in that it comprises two independent rectangular frames (1) each composed of two vertical tubular uprights (4) and two upper horizontal crosspieces (5) and lower (6) fixed to the uprights, the upper crosspiece (5) being fixed to the uprights (4) at a certain distance from their upper ends so as to delimit an upper end section of each upright (4) projecting above the upper crossmember (5), an extension (2) adjustable in height for each frame (1) comprising an upper horizontal crossmember (7) connected, preferably, by articulations, to two vertical slides which can engage in the two tubular uprights (4) of the frame (1), two removable feet (3) for each frame (1) which can be made integral with the lower parts of the tubular uprights (4) by mutual embedding and each comprising a tubular section re horizontal (9), and stiffening elements (13) can be assembled, by mutual embottement, with the horizontal tubular sections (9) of the feet (3) of the two frames (1) to ensure their rigid connection in the lower part.  2.- Convertible assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each leg (3) has a vertical middle section (11) extending upward, ensuring the connection with the frame (1) by mutual embedding of the lower end section an upright (4), and, at its ends, two vertical shoes (12) extending downward and by which the foot (3) is supported on the ground.  3.- transformable assembly according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the stiffening elements (13) are constituted by tubular sections whose external cross section corresponds to the internal cross section of the horizontal tubular section (9) of each foot (3), so as to be able to engage closely in this section, the stiffening elements (13) being able to be axially coupled together by means of tubular connecting sleeves (14) in which they are engaged and locked .  4.- transformable assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, used as a workbench, characterized in that the rigid connection of the two frames (1) in the upper part is produced by a horizontal upper plate, of a single piece or made up of several parallel and adjacent bastaings (18), resting on the upper crosspieces (3) of the two frames (1) and applied under pressure against the upper end sections of the rear uprights (4) of the frames (1), respectively under the action of two presses (21) with horizontal action mounted on the upper end sections of the front uprights (4) of the two frames (1).  5.- transformable assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that each press (21) comprises a vertical tubular section (22) threaded on the upper end of the front upright (4) and to which is welded a section of horizontal tube ( 23) and on this section of tube (23) are welded, on either side of the vertical section (22) and on the same face as the latter, two nuts (24) in which are engaged clamping screws ( 25) whose heads are supported on the edge of the upper plate (18).  6.- transformable assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the press (21) serves as a support for a bar (27) which is slidably engaged in the horizontal tubular section (23) of the press (21) and the end of which is mounted a clamp extending in the direction of the edge of the upper plate (18), and anywhere along this edge.  7.- Convertible assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the press (21) serves as a support for a clamp (26) which can be moved in two directions respectively perpendicular and parallel to the edge of the plate (18), the clamp -joint (26) being integral with a bar (27) which is engaged in a sleeve (29) on which are welded two parallel transverse sleeves (31) which slide respectively on two parallel bars (32) themselves welded transversely on a second sleeve (33) parallel to the first sleeve (29), this sleeve (33) being in turn engaged on a bar (34) housed in and supported by the horizontal tubular section (23) of the press (21).  8.- transformable assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that a tubular stiffening element (13) is engaged and locked in a tubular upright (4) of a frame (1) to serve as a support to a horizontal arm (35) at the end of which is mounted a vertical clamp (36) located above the plate (18), this arm (35) being constituted by a bar engaged in a horizontal sleeve (37) a movable square (38) comprising a vertical sleeve (39) sliding on the vertical stiffener (13) and having a circular internal cross section sufficiently large to allow rotation around the stiffener (13).  9.- transformable assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that one of the frames (1) is carried by swivel casters (42), an additional transverse stiffener (43) being possibly provided between the two supports (44) for the rollers (42).  10.- transformable assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, used as scaffolding characterized in that it comprises four stiffening elements (13) aligned coaxially in pairs and arranged in a cross, the stiffening elements (13) of each pair being coupled together, at one of their ends, by means of a connecting sleeve (14) and being connected, at their other ends, respectively to the crosspiece (7) - of an extension (2) immobilized in the upper position on a frame (1) and at the bottom crossmember (6) of the opposite frame (1), the work floor consisting of bastaings (18) placed on the two risers (2) and that uprights (45) are fixed to the upper ends of the vertical bars (8) of the risers (2), these uprights supporting guard rails (53) and possibly other protective elements such as plinths and / or intermediate protection.