GB1598445A - Workbench - Google Patents

Description

(54) WORKBENCH (71) We THE BLACK & DECKER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, a Corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland, United States of America, of 701 East Joppa Road, Towson, Baltimore, Maryland, 21204, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to workbenches.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a workbench includes a top structure having a working surface formed by a pair of spaced horizontal elongate beams and a pair of underlying transverse supports, the top structure being carried by a foldable under-structure which includes front and rear frames, each frame comprising a pair of legs and at least one inter-connecting bar, and each leg having a telescopic extension whereby, with the extensions withdrawn and extended respectively, the top structure can be maintained at lower and upper levels.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a workbench has a working surface formed by a pair of horizontal elongate, vice beams which are supported from below by a support structure, a pair of clamping screws for moving the vice beams together to clamp a workpiece therebetween, the clamping screws being spaced apart and generally parallel, and each engaging in a nut connected to a movable one of the vice beams, the connection between at least one nut and the movable vice beam allowing one clamping screw to be rotated at a dlfferent speed than the other clamping screw, the support structure including a pair of transverse supports underlying the vice bars and the support structure being carried by a foldable understructure which includes front and rear frames, each frame comprising a pair of legs and at least one interconnecting bar, and each leg having a telescopic extension whereby, with the extensions withdrawn and extended, respectively, the top structure can be maintained at lower and upper levels.

Each nut may be drivingly connected to the movable vice beam by at least one connection which includes a pin and slot, such that during operation of only one clamping screw, relative movement of the pin and slot occurs, and a vertical pin may be extended upwardly from each nut, at least one of the pins engaging in a transverse slot in a movable vice beam. Conveniently the slot may extend substantially parallel to the length ot the movable vice beam.

Reference is made to Applications 7094/77, 79.43863 (Serial Nos 1598443, 1598444) and 79.43865 (Serial No.

1598446) which contain the same disclosure as this application.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways but one specific embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a workbench according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a side elevation in the erect position; FIGURE 3 is a side elevation in the folded position; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of one end of the workbench with the second vice member removed; and FIGURE 5 is an under plan view of the second vice member.

The workbench as shown in the drawings includes a front fixed vice member 10, a rear movable vice member 11, and a supporting structure 13 which includes a front frame 14, a rear frame 16 and a pair of horizontal channel members 17 which support the vice members 10 and 11.

Each channel member 17 is provided at its front end with an end plate 19 which projects above the level of the channel member 17 and has bolted thereto the front vice member 10. The front vice member 10 is thus maintained in a fixed position relative to the supporting structure 13.

A feed screw 20 passes along the length of each channel member 17 and is supported at each end in front and rear bearing blocks 22, 23 which are secured in the channel member. The front end of the feed screw 20 passes through the front bearing block 22 and is provided with a handle 25 whereby the feed screw may be manually rotated.

Means, not shown is provided to fix each feed screw against axial movement.

Threaded to each feed screw 20 is a nut 26 having a stud 28 fixed thereto and extending upwards through a slot 29 in the upper surface of the channel member 17, (see Figure 4). Each nut 26 is prevented, by means not shown, from rotation so that when one of the handles 25 is operated, the corresponding nut 26 and stud 28 are caused to move horizontally along the channel member 17. The second vice member 11 rests, in use, upon the upper surface of the channel member 17 with the stud 28 loosely located in a blind hole 31 formed in the under surface thereof. The vice member 11 is therefore provided with two such blind holes one for the stud 28 of each channel member 17.As shown in Figure 5, one blind hole 31a is only just larger than the associated stud 28 while the other blind hole is in the form of a slot 3 it. This structure enables one feed screw to be operated without the other whereby wedge-shaped workpieces may be clamped between the vice members 10 and 11. Such operation forms the subject of Patent No. 1,267,032. Instead of the studs 28 being loosely received in the hole 31a and the slot 31b, they may extend into countersunk holes in the top of the bench and have screwthreaded ends to which securing nuts are attached, the nuts not being tightened to an extent which would prevent rotation with respect to the hole 3 1a and lateral shifting with respcet to the slot 31b.

Each channel member 17 is permanently pivoted to the front frame 14 of the support structure by means of a pivot 32. The rear frame 16 is releasably secured to each channel member 17 by means of a pin 34 formed at the top end of the rear frame engaging in a slot 35 formed in the channel member 17 and held in position by a retainnig screw 37 passing through the bearing block 23.

Release of the retaining screw 37 and removal of the pin 34 from the slot 35 enables the supporting structure to be collapsed.

As shown in Figure 1 the front and rear frames each comprise a pair of spaced waisted upright members 38 with upper and lower cross members 40, 41, respectively, therebetween. Each upright member 38 of the front frame is coupled to the corresponding upright member of the rear frame by a linkage structure which comprises a first link 43 pivoted to the front upright member, a second link 44 pivoted to the first link and to the rear upright member and a third link 46 pivoted to the second link 44 and to the front upper cross member. A spring 47 extending between the first and third members biases the linkage system into a collapsed position.

The erect position is defined by the abutment of a stop 50, positioned on the end of the first link beyond its pivot point with the second link, against the second link 44.

Each upright member 38 is provided at its lower end with adjustable feet 49 secured by screws 50 whereby the level of the working surface defined by the upper faces of the vice members 10 and 11 may be adjusted.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A workbench including a top structure having a working surface formed by a pair of spaced horizontal elongate beams and a pair of underlying transverse supports, the top structure being carried by a foldable under-structure which includes front and rear frames, each frame comprising a pair of legs and at least one interconnecting bar, and each leg having a telescopic extension whereby, with the extensions withdrawn and extended respectively, the top structure can be maintained at lower and upper levels.

2. A workbench having a working surface formed by a pair of horizontal elongate vice beams which are supported from below by a support structure, a pair of clamping screws for moving the vice bars together to clamp a workpiece therebetween, the clamping screws being spaced apart and generally parallel, and each engaging in a nut connected to a movable one of the vice beams, the connection between at least one nut and the movable vice beam allowing one clamping screw to be rotated at a different speed than the other clamping screw, the support structure including a pair of transverse supports underlying the vice bars and the support structure being carried by a foldable under-structure which includes front and rear frames, each frame comprising a pair of legs and at least one interconnecting bar, and each leg having a telescopic extension whereby, with the extensions withdrawn and extended, respectively, the top structure can be maintained at lower and upper levels.

3. A workbench as claimed in Claim 2 in which each nut is drivingly connected to the movable vice beam by at least one connection which includes a pin and slot, such that during operation of only one clamping screw, relative movement of the pin and slot occurs.

4. A workbench as claimed in Claim 3

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 22, 23 which are secured in the channel member. The front end of the feed screw 20 passes through the front bearing block 22 and is provided with a handle 25 whereby the feed screw may be manually rotated. Means, not shown is provided to fix each feed screw against axial movement. Threaded to each feed screw 20 is a nut 26 having a stud 28 fixed thereto and extending upwards through a slot 29 in the upper surface of the channel member 17, (see Figure 4). Each nut 26 is prevented, by means not shown, from rotation so that when one of the handles 25 is operated, the corresponding nut 26 and stud 28 are caused to move horizontally along the channel member 17. The second vice member 11 rests, in use, upon the upper surface of the channel member 17 with the stud 28 loosely located in a blind hole 31 formed in the under surface thereof. The vice member 11 is therefore provided with two such blind holes one for the stud 28 of each channel member 17.As shown in Figure 5, one blind hole 31a is only just larger than the associated stud 28 while the other blind hole is in the form of a slot 3 it. This structure enables one feed screw to be operated without the other whereby wedge-shaped workpieces may be clamped between the vice members 10 and 11. Such operation forms the subject of Patent No. 1,267,032. Instead of the studs 28 being loosely received in the hole 31a and the slot 31b, they may extend into countersunk holes in the top of the bench and have screwthreaded ends to which securing nuts are attached, the nuts not being tightened to an extent which would prevent rotation with respect to the hole 3 1a and lateral shifting with respcet to the slot 31b. Each channel member 17 is permanently pivoted to the front frame 14 of the support structure by means of a pivot 32. The rear frame 16 is releasably secured to each channel member 17 by means of a pin 34 formed at the top end of the rear frame engaging in a slot 35 formed in the channel member 17 and held in position by a retainnig screw 37 passing through the bearing block 23. Release of the retaining screw 37 and removal of the pin 34 from the slot 35 enables the supporting structure to be collapsed. As shown in Figure 1 the front and rear frames each comprise a pair of spaced waisted upright members 38 with upper and lower cross members 40, 41, respectively, therebetween. Each upright member 38 of the front frame is coupled to the corresponding upright member of the rear frame by a linkage structure which comprises a first link 43 pivoted to the front upright member, a second link 44 pivoted to the first link and to the rear upright member and a third link 46 pivoted to the second link 44 and to the front upper cross member. A spring 47 extending between the first and third members biases the linkage system into a collapsed position. The erect position is defined by the abutment of a stop 50, positioned on the end of the first link beyond its pivot point with the second link, against the second link 44. Each upright member 38 is provided at its lower end with adjustable feet 49 secured by screws 50 whereby the level of the working surface defined by the upper faces of the vice members 10 and 11 may be adjusted. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A workbench including a top structure having a working surface formed by a pair of spaced horizontal elongate beams and a pair of underlying transverse supports, the top structure being carried by a foldable under-structure which includes front and rear frames, each frame comprising a pair of legs and at least one interconnecting bar, and each leg having a telescopic extension whereby, with the extensions withdrawn and extended respectively, the top structure can be maintained at lower and upper levels.

2. A workbench having a working surface formed by a pair of horizontal elongate vice beams which are supported from below by a support structure, a pair of clamping screws for moving the vice bars together to clamp a workpiece therebetween, the clamping screws being spaced apart and generally parallel, and each engaging in a nut connected to a movable one of the vice beams, the connection between at least one nut and the movable vice beam allowing one clamping screw to be rotated at a different speed than the other clamping screw, the support structure including a pair of transverse supports underlying the vice bars and the support structure being carried by a foldable under-structure which includes front and rear frames, each frame comprising a pair of legs and at least one interconnecting bar, and each leg having a telescopic extension whereby, with the extensions withdrawn and extended, respectively, the top structure can be maintained at lower and upper levels.

3. A workbench as claimed in Claim 2 in which each nut is drivingly connected to the movable vice beam by at least one connection which includes a pin and slot, such that during operation of only one clamping screw, relative movement of the pin and slot occurs.

4. A workbench as claimed in Claim 3

including a vertical pin extending upwards from each nut, at least one of the pins engaging in a transverse slot in a movable vice beam.

5. A workbench as claimed in Claim 4 in which the slot extends substantially parallel to the length of the movable vice beam.