GB2418882A

GB2418882A - An attachment for a workbench

Info

Publication number: GB2418882A
Application number: GB0422138A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Christopher Turpin; Janet Marie Turpin; Mark Turpin; Janet Turpin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-06
Filing date: 2004-10-06
Publication date: 2006-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2024-10-06
Also published as: GB2418882B; GB0422138D0

Abstract

An attachment for a portable work bench, of the type having a divided upper surface 4 ,7 whereby one half forms the moveable jaw of a vice, comprises one or more rails 9 that extend perpendicular to the rear edge of the vice jaw. Each rail bears an upright pillar 10, of adjustable position, to allow wide objects to be gripped. Objects may be gripped between the upright pillars and one or more moulded stops (8,Fig 2) inserted into a fixture on the movable vice jaw. The one or more rails may be stored underneath one of the surfaces of the workbench when not in use (Fig 5).

Description

24 1 8882 improvement to Portable Work Bench This invention relates to an

improvement to the utility of a portable work bench of the type having a divided upper surface whereby one half forms the moveable jaw of a vice.

A common feature of such devices is that the fixed jaw is Remountable and can be placed in 3 positions to give varying openings to the vice between 0 and 250mm. In addition the device is often accompanied by moulded stops, which can be placed in holes on the upper surface to allow the gripping of items up to 450mm wide. Such a device and gripping mechanism is the subject of EP0436500 and is sold worldwide under the trademark Workmate.

The utility of existing work benches is challenged when it becomes necessary to grip a wide flat object. Such situations are commonly encountered when cutting large sheet materials and when working on doors. In these situations it is helpful if the grip of the work bench can be extended to a dimension close to 1 metro.

The present invention is a device to extend the maximum width of grip of the work bench to permit the handling of wide flat objects. The invention comprises two rigid support rails that are preferably stowed beneath the fixed jaw or platen of the work bench vice. The support rails are equipped with cut-outs and features to permit the attachment of a rigid pillar, vertical to the support rail, which will protrude above the level of the work bench surface. In use the support rails are extended to be perpendicular to the rear edge of the fixed platen of the vice and the rigid pillar is inserted into a fixing hole or feature at a distance from the edge of the fixed platen suitable to the job at hand. The work piece is held between a moulded stop (of the type commonly supplied with work benches) inserted into the movable platen and the upright pillar. The object is held by tightening the movable platen of the vice in the normal way. The support rail and upright pillar result in a significant extension to the width that the work bench can grip, increasing this parameter from ca 450mm to approaching l OOOmm. For ease of stowage the support rail and the upright pillar can be designed such that one will fold into the other and store below the fixed platen of the work bench, when not in use. Such design is not essential to the present invention and the upright pillar can be stored completely separate from the support rail.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a work bench having the rigid supports extended and the upright pillars in position Figure 2 is a perspective view of the work bench in Figure 1 being used to hold a wide work piece Figure 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the rigid support and upright pillar giving details of one mechanism by Figure 4 is a side elevation sectional detail showing how the preferred embodiment of this example can be placed upright to provide the pillar but can also fold flat for stowage Figure 5 is a view of the fixed platen of the work bench from below showing how the support and pillars might be stowed when not in use.

The work bench shown in Figure 1 has a vice formed from the two halves of the upper work surface (4 and 7). The fixed platen 7 is located by means of a metal pin (19 in Figure 5) into one of three set location holes 6. Once installed in this way the fixed platen is no longer free to move but forms the static jaw of the vice. The moving jaw is formed by the front moving platen 4 which is operated by means of the two screw mechanisms 3. Both platens are equipped with holes designed to take moulded stops, 8 as shown in figure 2. These wedge stops are designed for gripping work pieces wider than the jaw opening and are described in EP0436500.

The extension rails of this invention are stowed when not in use beneath the fixed platen, 7 as is shown in Figure 5. The extension rails are retained beneath the platen by means of suitable catches 20, which may be magnetic in operation. The rails are extended by rotation about the bolt 22, which forms the single point of attachment of each rail to the platen 7. The rails are extended to be approximately perpendicular to the back edge of the fixed platen as is shown in Figure 1.

The upright support pillar, 1 O. of this embodiment is designed to stow beneath the fixed platen, 7, and is shown in sectional detail in the stowed position in figure 4C.

While stowed the pillar is retained in position by the engagement of the through rod, 15, into one of the grooves, 14, cut on the underside of the support rail, 9. The pillar is erected by rotation as shown in Figure 4B. At a rotation of approximately 45 from the stowed position the pillar is free to move along the support rail and can be positioned in a location suitable to the width of the job at hand. The pillar is locked in position as shown in Figure 4A. The through rod, 15, again engages in one of the grooves, 14, and the rectangular pin, 18, engages into one of the slots, 13, in the upper face of the support rail. Once engaged in this way the pillar is firmly held in an upright position, perpendicular to the support rail. The pillar is prevented from further rotation by the through rod, 15, and is prevented from further movement along the rail by both the through rod, 15 and the rectangular pin, 18.

The upright pillar is shaped to incorporate flat faces, 12, which are at the same height as the upper surface of the work table and are preferably coated with a soft facing such as rubber. The upright pillar is also shaped to incorporate flat faces 11 which form the extended vice jaws. The faces are preferably coated with a soft facing such as rubber and are preferably of an area of 3 cm2 or greater to prevent damage to the edges of objects during operation.

The wide object to be held, 16, is placed against the moulded stops, 8, and then lowered to sit on the flat face, 12, of the upright pillar. The pillar having been so placed as to be slightly more than the width of the object from the moulded stop. The movable platen is tightened by means of the two screw handles, 3, to grip the wide object between the moulded stops, 8, and the gripping face, 11, of the upright pillar, 10.

On conclusion of the operation the object is removed by slackening the grip using screw handles, 3, and lifting the object away from the extension rail, using the moveable platen as a support.

The upright pillar is stowed as in figure 4C and the extension rails rotated into their stowed position beneath the fixed platen of the work bench.

For stability it is important that the centre of gravity of the work bench and the object held does not lie above a point outside of the area bounded by the four feet, 1. This limits the maximum useful length of the extension rods, 9, to approximately 0.6m and most preferably to less than 0.45m. Fortunately this is also a suitable size for comfortable accommodation beneath the fixed platen, 7.

Where wide objects are accommodated the stability of the work bench can be improved by the placement of the operators foot on the foot step, 2.

Claims

Claims I claim 1. A mechanism for enhancing the utility of a work bench by

extending the maximum grip width of the jaws by means of one or more extension rails (9) bearing an upright pillar ( 10), the rails extend perpendicular to the rear edge of the stationary vice platen whilst the upright pillar extends vertically from the rail to protrude above the level of the work surface defined by the vice platens.

2. An invention as in claim 1 where the object to be gripped is held between the upright pillar (10) and a moulded stop (8) inserted into the surface of the moveable vice platen.

3. An invention as in claims 1 and 2 where the upright pillar is detachable from the support rail and can be located in varying positions along the rail.

4. An invention as in claims 1 to 3 whereby the erected pillar is held firmly vertical by the design of certain fixtures.

5. An invention as in claims I to 4 whereby the upright pillar and support are robust enough to act as a vice jaw against the action of the movable platen of the work bench.

6. An invention as in claim 1 to 5 where the work bench is equipped with extension rails fixed to the underside of the work surface by a mechanism such that the rail can be rotated into position.

7. An invention as claim I to 6 where the support rails are stowed underneath one of the surfaces of the workbench when not in use.

X. An invention as in claims 1 to 7 where the rails are stowed under the fixed jaw of the vice 9. An invention as in claims 1 to 8 where the pillar is designed to be stowed with the support rail, beneath the work bench surface, when not in use.

10. An invention as in claims 1 to 9 whereby the erected support pillar is equipped with flat horizontal faces at the same height as the work bench surface and designed to support objects in a flat orientation.

11. An invention as in claims 1 to 10 whereby the support pillar has vertical flat faces that are designed to act in concert with a moulded stop on the moveable surface of the workbench so as to effect a gripping action.