GB2197818A - Folding workbench - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding workbench comprises two parts, each part comprising a top beam (10, 11) and a pair of legs (16) fixed to the top beam and normally splayed outwards in use. Folding stays (24, 26) conned the opposed legs (16) of the two parts. The two parts are movable by the freedom of motion permitted by the stays from a first position in which the top beams are in side-by-side abutting engagement to a folded position in which the respective top beams (10, 11) are in an at least partly overlapping, overlying relationship and the legs of the respective parts are substantially contained within an extension of the overall width of the two top beams. In order to locate and hold the top beams (10, 11) in their side-by-side position in use, the one top beam (10) is provided with holes (20) which receive detents (18) spaced along the other beam (11). <IMAGE>

Description

FOLDING WORKBENCH SPECIFICATION This invention relates to folding workbenches, and is more particularly concerned with workbenches designed for use as a builder's stool or carpenter's stool.

Various designs of folding workbench are known, but the conventional standard builder's stool or carpenter's stool has remained unchanged. Such a stool consists of a rectangular solid top beam supported by four splayed legs set at a fixed angle to the top beam and immovable relative to the top beam. Although such a stool performs its basic functions as a workbench, trestle or support very well, its shape, and in particular its splayed legs, makes it very difficult to transport easily from place to place. It is awkward or impossible to load such a stool into the boot of a saloon car, and even with an estate car or van problems arise, particularly if other goods are to be transported as well or if more than one stool is to be moved at the same time.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid problems associated with the conventional builder's stool by giving it the capability of being folded.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a folding workbench comprising two parts, each part comprising a top piece defining a work surface and a pair of legs fixed to the top piece and angled outwardly from the top piece to support the workbench, and folding connector means between the opposed legs of said two parts, wherein the two parts are movable by the freedom of motion permitted by the connector means from a first position in which the respective top pieces are in side-by-side abutting engagement to a second position in which the respective top pieces are pulled spaced apart, and from said second position to a third position in which the respective top pieces are in an at least partly overlapping, overlying relationship and the legs of the respective parts are substantially within an extension of the overall width of the two top pieces.

Preferably, the two top pieces are provided with interengaging means to locate the top pieces and prevent relative movement therebetween when the two top parts are in said first position. The interengaging means may comprise detents on one of said top pieces and detent-receiving holes in the other top piece.

The folding connector means between each pair of opposed legs preferably comprises a pair of arms which are each pivotally connected adjacent to one end to a respective one of said opposed legs and which are pivotally connected to each other. Preferably, the pivotal connection of the two arms to each other is at a point which is spaced from the mid-point between the pivotal connections to the legs.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, one presently preferred embodiment of workbench in accordance with the invention will now be described b way of example and wflth reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the workbench in the "in use" position; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the workbench of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the workbench of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2; Figs. 5A and 5B are side and plan views respectively of one of the folding stays of the workbench shown in Fig. 1; and, Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the workbench of Fig. 1 in its "folded" position.

The folding workbench, which is here shown as a builder's stool, comprises a pair of top beams 10 and 11 which each comprise a top rail 12 and a removable and replaceable surface strip 14. The surface strips 14 can be secured to the top rails 12 by screws for example. Each top beam 10, 11 is fitted with a pair of legs 16 adjacent to the ends of the beam. Each leg 16 is fixed immovably to the respective beam and is splayed out at an angle, as is clear from the drawings, so that the bench is stable when in use.

As can be seen most clearly from Figs. 4 and 6, the two top beams 10 and 11 are provided with interengaging means which locate the two beams relative to one another and which prevent relative movement of one beam with respect to the other when the two beams are in side-by-side abutting relationship as shown in Fig. 1.

The interengaging means is here shown as comprising a number of dowel pegs 18 fitted into the side face of the top beam 11, and the same number of bushes 20 recessed into the opposing face of the other beam 10.

The workbench shown in the drawings is provided with four of these dowel pegs and bushes spaced along the length of the bench. Nylon dowel pegs 18 and copper bushes 20 have been found to be particularly suitable.

The opposing legs 16 at each end of the workbench are connected together by respective folding stays indicated generally at 22. Each of these folding stays 22 comprises a pair of arms 24, 26, as shown most clearly in Figs. 5A and 5B. Each arm 24, 26 is pivotally connected adjacent to its outer end by a screw or the like through a hole 27 in the respective arms to the outside face of one of the legs 16. The one, longer arm 26 is cranked so that it overlaps the other, shorter arm 24, and the two arms are then provided with a rivet 28 therethrough in the area of overlap, but permitting the arms to pivot about this rivet 28. The cranked arm 26 is provided with an inturned end portion 30 which locates in a groove in the other arm 24 and which serves as a stop to prevent the arms folding downwards.It will be noted that the pivot point 28 between the two arms 24 and 26 is not central between the legs 16 but is displaced offcentre. This is to assist the desired folding movement of the workbench.

In its working position as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the workbench has the top beams in side-by-side abutting relationship in order to provide a firm work surface. When it is desired to fold the workbench for transportation, the two top beams 10 and 11 are grasped manually and pulled apart to separate the dowel pegs 18 from the bushes 20. Then, with continued folding movement of the stays 22, and because the one arm 26 of each stay is longer than the other arm 24, the two halves of ehe workbench cam we folded into the position shown in wig. vs In t;s position the two tap beams 10 and 11 are in an at least partly overlapping, overlying relationship and the legs 16 are no longer splayed out but are substantially contained within an extension of the overall width of the two top beams. In other words, the overall width dimension of the two opposing legs is no greater than the overall width of the two top beams where the legs are attached to them. In this folded position the workbench is then much more easily transportable and occupies substantially less space than in its working position. In its folded position the workbench is also much more easily stored.

The folding workbench of the present invention can be made in either wood or metal or in a combination of such materials. Parts of the workbench could alternatively be made of plastics materials.

Claims (8)

1. A folding workbench comprising two parts, each paFt comprising a top piece defining a work surface and a pair of legs fixed to the top piece and angled outwardly from the top piece to support the workbench, and folding connector means between the opposed legs of said two parts, wherein the two parts are movable by the freedom of motion permitted by the connector means from a first position in which the respective top pieces are in side-by-side abutting engagement to a second position in which the respective top pieces are pulled spaced apart, and from said second position to a third position in which the respective top pieces are in an at least partly overlapping, overlying relationship and the legs of the respective parts are substantially contained within an extension of the overall width of the two top pieces.

2. A workbench as claimed in claim 1, in which the two top pieces are provided with interengaging means to locate the top pieces and prevent relative movement therebetween when the two parts are in said first position.

3. A workbench as claimed in claim 2, in which the interengaging means comprise detents on one of said top pieces and detentorece ving holes In the other top pIece.

4. A workbench as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the folding connector means between each pair of opposed legs comprises a pair of arms which are each pivotally connected adjacent to one end to a respective one of said opposed legs and which are pivotally connected to each other.

5. A workbench as claimed in claim 4, in which the pivotal connection of the two arms to each other is at a point which is spaced from the mid-point between the pivotal connections to the legs.

6. A workbench as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the two arms are of unequal length.

7. A workbench as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each top piece comprises a beam having a removable and replaceable surface strip secured to the top thereof.

8. A folding workbench substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.