GB2164599A

GB2164599A - Mounting of a container on a work bench

Info

Publication number: GB2164599A
Application number: GB08424011A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Thomas Gibbs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-09-21
Filing date: 1984-09-21
Publication date: 1986-03-26
Also published as: GB8424011D0

Abstract

A container such as the tool box 22 is provided which is easily mounted on a portable work bench. The tool box has projecting flanges 24, 25 which are inserted into inwardly directed channels formed on the work bench underframe. Alternatively the tool box is releasably mounted on a panel 11 having opposed edges 12, 13 engaged in the inwardly directed channels of the under frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvement in or relating to a tool box arrangement The present invention relates to a tool box arrangement and more particularly relates to a tool box arrangement that may be suitable for use with a portable work bench.

In recent years it has been common for workmen to use a portable work bench, enabling work to be carried out "on site". When such a work bench is utilised the workmen must carry his tools with him, and often the only place to rest the tools is on the floor.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a container assembly to be mounted in position on a portable work bench having two elongate members that act as the jaws of a vice supported by a framework that incorporates two spaced apart inwardly facing substantially "U" section channel members located beneath the members that constitute the jaws of the vice, said container assembly comprising a container for containing tools or the like and means engageable with said inwardly directed channels releasably to support the container in a position on said portable work bench beneath the level of the elongate members that constitute the jaws of the vice.

Preferably the container assembly comprises a container releasably mounted on a panel, the panel being dimensioned to be slidingly received within said elongate channel.

Conveniently the container is provided with a portion adapted to extend over and releasably engage the upper edge of said panel.

Alternatively said container is provided with a plurality of protruding studs adapted to be engaged in slots substantially of key-hole configuration formed in said panel.

In one embodiment said panel is securely affixed to the framework of said work bench.

Preferably the container is provided with two integrally formed flanges, said flanges being oppositely directed and being dimensioned to be slidingly received within the said inwardly directed channels of the work bench.

Conveniently said flanges constitute extensions of one longitudinal side wall of the container.

The container may be provided with a carrying handle, a flange defining a plurality of apertures to accommodate screwdrivers, chisels or the like, and/or receptacles for receiving screw, nuts and bolts or the like.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a work bench, said work bench comprising a framework supporting a pair of elongate members which are movable to operate as the jaws for a vice, said work bench having a container releasably mounted thereon for retaining tools or the like.

Preferably the work bench has a panel formed integrally with or rigidly secured to the supporting frame work, the container being releasably mountable on said panel.

Conveniently the tool box is provided with a plurality of protruding studs engageable with a corresponding plurality of key hole slots formed in said panel.

Alternatively the container is associated with flange means that are slidingly received within two opposed inwardly facing substantially "U" sectioned channels that form part of said formwork.

In one embodiment said flange means are constitiuted by flanges formed integrally with the toolbox.

In another embodiment the flange means are defined by a panel on which the toolbox is releasably mounted.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable work bench, Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a board or panel to be mounted in position on the work bench, Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a tool box mounted on the board or panel of Figure 2, Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 3 illustrating the structure more clearly, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tool box which may be mounted on the work bench of Figure 1, Figure 6 is a front plan view of a plate that can be mounted on the work bench of Figure 1, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tool box which can be mounted on the plate shown in Figure 6.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a portable work bench that is commoniy utilised in this country at the present time. The work bench 1 incorporates a framework 2 which supports two elongate wooden members 3, 4 which are mounted for relative movement in a horizontal plane to act as a vice.

Movement of the elongate members 3, 4 is controlled by means of handles 5, 6.

The supporting framework includes, as can be seen from Figure 1, two deverging "U-sectioned" channels 7, 8. These channels are located adjacent one side of the elongate members 3, 4 when the members are in the closed position. A corresponding pair of members only one of which (9) can be seen is provided at the other side of the illustrated arrangement. The arms of the "U" channels 7, 8 face inwardly towards each other. A horizontal member 10 extends between the channels 7, 8 at a distance below the upper end thereof.

Figure 2 illustrates a panel 11 which may be fabricated from chipboard or the like. The panel has diverging sidewalls 12, 13 and is also provided with two notches or recesses 14, 15 in the upper edge thereof. The panel 11 so dimensioned that it may be slidingiy inserted into the above-described channels 7, 8 (or the equivalent channels provided on the other side of the illustrated apparatus).

When the panel is inserted in position the lower most edge 16 of the panel will engage the horizontal member 10, and thus the panel is securely mounted in position with the side edges 12, 13 thereof snugly received within the channels 7, 8.

A receptacle 17 is provided as shown in Figures 3 and 4, which may be mounted on the panel. The receptacle 17 includes a rectangular container portion 18, one side wall of which is provided, at its upper edge, with a rearwardly extending arcuate portion 19. At the ends of the arcuate portion 19 transverse walls 20, 21 are provided, and the receptacle 17 may be mounted on the panel 11 with the transverse walls 20 received within the notches 14, 15, and the container portion 18 resting against the front face of the panel, whilst the rearwardly extending arcuate portion engages the central region of the upper edge of the panel. When the receptacle has been mounted in position in this way tools or other items to be used may be inserted into the receptacle.

The arrangement is dimensioned such that when the above described components are in position on the work bench the wooden members 3, 4 can be moved horizontally and will freely pass over the described items. Thus operation of the work bench is not hindered in any way, but a person using the work bench is provided with a receptacle in which he can temporarily retain his tools.

Whilst the tool box described above is very simple, the tool box may be provided with various features such as a carrying handle, receptacles for screws, a lid, or the like.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention which generally corresponds to the embodiment described above, but in this embodiment the components that engage the channels 7, 8, are formed integrally with the rest of the tool box. Thus Figure 5 illustrates a tool box 22 which is of generally rectangular configuration, and the rear wall 23 of the tool box, (in the orientation shown in Figure 5) is extended beyond the transverse sidewalls to form two protruding flanges 24, 25. The flanges are dimensioned to be slidingly received within the channels 7, 8 (or the corresponding channels on the other side of the work bench) and thus it will be appreciated that when the flanges 24, 25 are located in position the tool box will be supported on the work bench in an accessible position which does not hinder the operation of the work bench.The tool box, illustrated in Figure 5, is shown as having various features which, whilst of value, may be considered to be optional.

For example, the box is provided with a portion defining a plurality of recesses 26 which may be used to house screws, nails, nuts-and-bolts or the like. Also the box is provided with an inwardly directed flange 27 provided with a plurality of apertures 28 therein which may be used to accommodate screwdrivers, chisels or the like. The box is shown as being provided with a pivotally mounted carrying handle 29 to facilitate transportation of the box and, although not illustrated, the box may be provided with a lid or other closure.

Figure 6 illustrates a further panel 30 which has exterior dimensions very similar to those of the above-described panel 11. The panel 30 may be made of sheet metal. The panel 30 can thus be received within the open channels 7, 8 as described above although it may be possible for the panel 30 to be securely fixed to the work bench, for example by welding or by otherwise being formed integrally with the supporting framework of the work bench. The panel 30 is provided with three apertures 31 each provided with a relatively large opening at the top thereof, and a downwardly extending slot portion. The apertures may thus be considered to be substantially of keyhole-slot configuration.

Figure 7 illustrates a tool box 32 which has many of the features illustrated in Figure 5, which are identified by the same reference numerals and thus are not described in detail. However, in this embodiment, one wall of the tool box is provided with three protruding studs 33, each stud having a relatively large head and a relatively narrow shank.

It will be appreciated that the heads of the studs 33 may be inserted through the round portions of the apertures 31, and then the tool box may be lowered slightly, the shanks of the studs 33 then being received in the slot portions of the apertures 31, the tool box then being retained in position on the plate 30.

In all the above described embodiments the tool box may easily be mounted on and dismounted from the work bench. Thus the work bench and toolbox can be transported to a site, the work bench may be erected, and the tooibox may be mounted in position on either side of the work bench, but out of the way of the jaws of the vice.

The assembly can be easily disassembled when the jib is completed. A bracket may be provided which enable the toolbox to be mounted on a wail when it is not in use.

It is to be understood that the above description is merely given by way of example, and shows various ways in which a container for tools may be releasably mounted on a workbench of the type illustrated in Figure 1. Whilst various designs of tool box have been illustrated it is to be understood that many modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A container assembly to be mounted in position on a portable work bench having two elongate members that act as the jaws of a vice supported by a framework that incorporates two spaced apart inwardly facing substantially "U" section channel members located beneath the members that constitute the jaws of the vice, said container assembly comprising a container for containing tools or the like and means engageable with said inwardly directed channels releasably to support the container in a position on said portable work bench beneath the level of the elongate members that constitute the jaws of the vice.

2. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein the container assembly comprises a con tainer releasably mounted on a panel, the panel being dimensioned to be slidingly received within said elongate channel.

3. A container assembly according to claim 2 wherein the container is provided with a portion adapted to extend over and releasably engage the upper edge of said panel.

4. A container assembly according to claim 2 wherein said container is provided with a plurality of protruding studs adapted to be engaged in slots substantially of key-hole configuration formed in said panel.

5. A container assembly according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein said panel is securely affixed to the framework of said work bench.

6. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein the container is provided with two integrally formed flanges, said flanges being oppositely directed and being dimensioned to be slidingly received within the said inwardly directed channels of the work bench.

7. A container assembly according to claim 6 wherein said flanges constitute extensions of one longitudinal side wall of the container.

8. A container assembly according to any one of the preceding claims provided with a carrying handle.

9. A container assembly according to any one of the preceding claims provided with a flange defining a plurality of apertures to accommodate screwdrivers, chisels or the like.

10. A container assembly according to any one of the preceding claims provided with receptacles for receiving screws, nuts and bolts or the like.

11. A work bench, said work bench comprising a framework supporting a pair of elongate members which are movable to operate as the jaws for a vice, said work bench having a container releasably mounted thereon for retaining tools or the like.

12. A work bench according to claim 11 wherein the work bench has a panel formed integrally with or rigidly secured to the supporting frame work, the container being releasably mountable on said panel.

13. A work bench according to claim 12 wherein the tool box is provided with a plurality of protruding studs engageable with a corresponding plurality of key hole slots formed in said panel.

14. A work bench according to claim 11 wherein the container is associated with flange means that are slidingly received within two opposed inwardly facing substantially "U" sectioned channels that form part of said formwork.

15. A work bench according to claim 14 wherein said flange means are constituted by flanges formed integrally with the toolbox.

16. A work bench according to claim 14 wherein the flange means are defined by a panel on which the toolbox is releasably mounted.

17. A container assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A container assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A container assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A work bench in combination with a container for tools substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A work bench in combination with a container for tools substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A work bench in combination with a container for tools substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

23. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.