GB2419085A

GB2419085A - Double leg for a trestle

Info

Publication number: GB2419085A
Application number: GB0520769A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Bruce Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-13
Filing date: 2005-10-13
Publication date: 2006-04-19
Also published as: GB0422712D0; GB0520769D0

Abstract

A trestle comprises a pair of double legs 10, 10' and a wooden beam 20. Each double leg for a trestle comprises a collar 13 into which the beam can be slid and a pair of legs 11, 12 attached to the collar. The collar and legs are preferably of steel with the legs welded to the collar. The collar is preferably of an upturned and squared open C section. Preferably, the beam is thicker than the height of the collar and has a pair of slots 21 at each end into which the top flanges of the collars will fit.

Description

Trestles s The present invention relates to trestles.

In essence, a trestle is a support comprising a horizontal beam supported by two pairs of diverging legs, a pair at each end. Trestles find a wide variety of uses (including as sawhorses and work-benches), both individually and as a pair sup o porting a table top or the like.

Traditionally, a trestle is constructed of wood, with the legs permanently fixed to the beam; carpenters were expected to knock up a couple for their own use on each new job of any significance. For many years, however they have is been regarded as more permanent than that, and are often made of metal rather than wood. As relatively permanent devices, they are carried around from place to place and need to be stored when not in use. A rigid trestle is fairly large and cumbersome, and many forms of folding or collapsible trestle have therefore been developed.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an Improved t'onn of collapsible trestle.

Accordingly the present invention provides a double leg for a trestle, com s posing a collar into which a wooden beam can be slid and a pair of legs attached to the collar. The collar and legs are preferably of steel with the legs welded to the collar. The collar is preferably of an upturned and squared open C section The invention also provides a pair of such double legs and an associated beam Preferably, the beam is thicker than the height of the collar and has a pair of slots so at each end Into which the top flanges of the collars will fit c 2 e A trestle embodying the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the drawing, which is a diagrammatic partial per- spective view of the trestle.

Referring to the drawing, the trestle consists of two double legs or inverted V frames 10, 10' and a beam 20. The two ends of the beam are Identical, and the two double legs are also identical (but facing opposite ways).

Double leg 10 consists of two legs 1 1 and 12 welded to a collar 13. Each lo leg consists is formed from angle iron which is about 50 mm on each side. A foot 14 is welded to the bottom end of each leg to lie flat against flat growled and spread the load The distance between the feet is conveniently about 450 mm, and tle collar Is conveniently about 800 mm off the ground, although a range of different sizes may be used, and/or the legs may be made adjustable In length A strength s ening strut 18 Is preferably provided at a low level between the legs. The legs are preferably angled outwardly, ie away from the other double leg 10'. Tle legs may be tapered towards the ground If desired.

The collar has the sectional shape of an upturned and open squared C com o prosing a base portion 15 (conveniently about lOO mm long), two side portions 15 (conveniently about 40 mm high), and two upper flanges 16 as shown (conve nently about 20 mm wide). If the trestle is to be used primarily as one of a pair, the base 1 S of the collar can conveniently be about 100 mm wide; if it is to be used primarily as a single element for standing on or as a workbench, it is prefrahly :s substantially wider, eg around 200 to 300 mm. The legs, collar, and feet may all conveniently be about 2 mm thick.

The beam 20 is of wood or similar material, and of any convenient length eg 1000 to 2000 mm. The width of the beam matches the inside width of the so collar 12, to form a reasonably snug fit In the collar. The height of the beam Is significantly larger than the inside height of the collar 12. To enable the beam to c a a e 3 e engage with the collar, two grooves or slots 21 are formed in the beam, so that the upper flanges 17 of the collar can enter these grooves and the beam can slide mto the collar The grooves are located on the beam such that when the beam Is engaged with the collar, the underside of the beam rests on the base 15 of the collar, so that any load placed on the beam is transmitted primarily to the base of the collar.

I'he length of the slots 21 is preferably substantially longer than the length of the collar, so that the end of the beam projects significantly from the collar when engaged with the collar. This means that if the end of the beam becomes damaged, a short length may be cut off without reducing the engagement of the beam with the collar.

The trestle may be readily disassembled by simply sliding the collars of the Is double legs off the beam. Although the beam and double legs are reasonably large, the beam has no sideways extensions and presents no difficulties for storage.

The double legs require adequate width as well as length of their storage space but since they also have no extensions or projections, they also can be stored rela.- tively easily. The beam and double legs are all robust with no hinges, pivots, or so moving parts which might be liable to damage Assembly of the trestle involves merely fitting the two double legs to the ends of the beam, producing an extremely robust result. The length of the slots m the beam, and the angling of the legs of the double legs, results in very great stab' lity; If desired, however' holes (not shown) may be provided through the collars and the ends of the beam to allow the double legs to be bolted to the beam

Claims

r #he C. C Claims 1 A double leg (10) for a trestle, comprising a

collar (13) into which a wooden beam (20) can be slid and a pair of legs (11, 12) attached to the collar.
2 A double leg according to claim 1 of steel with the legs welded to the collar.
3 A double leg according to either previous claim wherein the collar is of a.n upturned and squared open C section.
4 A trestle comprising a pair of double legs according to any previous clang is and an associated beam.
A trestle according to claim 4 wherein the beam is thicker than the height of the collar and has a pair of slots (2] ) at each end into which the top flanges of the collars will fit.
6 Any feature of novelty or combination thereof within the meaning ol Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).