Collapsible mobile work bench and tool support stand

Abstract

A collapsible mobile bench has a work surface that has opposed ends and a middle section. The opposed ends are wider than the middle section. The middle section is adapted to receive a tool. The work surface is adjustable between collapsed and raised positions, with the work surface being positionable at infinite positions between the collapsed and raised positions. A set of wheels are mounted to the work surface for transportation of the work bench. The work surface can be used as a work bench or a tool support and collapsed for transport and raised to a desired height for use.

Claims

1. A collapsible mobile bench comprising: a work surface; each side of said work surface includes a moveable platform that can be raised with respect to the work surface; handles attached to said work surface, said handles including a trigger for controlling the height of said work surface; first and second arms journaled to said work surface, said arms being rotatable between a collapsed position and a fully extended position; a control box containing at least a main and secondary shaft upon which said first and second arms are journaled; support legs journaled upon said control box; said trigger operatively engaging said first and second arms to control the rotation of said arms between said collapsed positions and fully extended positions: said arms are journaled upon main and secondary shafts within said control box and freely rotate about said main and secondary shafts; a rod mounted within slots in said work surface, a locking bar controlled by said trigger in said handle, said trigger controlling the position of arms.

2. The collapsible mobile bench of claim 1, wherein said moveable platform is mounted to said work surface through links.

3. The collapsible mobile bench of claim 2, wherein said links form a parallelogram so that the platform moves upward and parallel to work surface.

4. The collapsible mobile bench of claim 1, wherein said platform can slide with respect to said work surface, such that said platform can be raised to the height of a tool base surface of a tool mounted to said surface and can be slid to adjacent the tool base surface, thereby forming a continuous work surface between the two surfaces and the tool base surface.

5. The collapsible workbench of claim 1, further including wheels.

6. The collapsible workbench of claim 1, wherein said work surface has opposed ends and a middle section, said opposed ends being wider than said middle section, said middle section being adapted to receive a tool.

7. A collapsible mobile bench comprising: a work surface; said work surface having opposed ends and a middle section, said opposed ends being wider than said middle section, said middle section being adapted to receive a tool; said opposed ends of said work surface includes a moveable platform that can be raised with respect to the work surface said moveable platform is mounted to said work surface through links, said links form a parallelogram so that the platform moves upward and parallel to work surface; said work surface being adjustable between collapsed and raised positions, said work surface being positionable at infinite positions between said collapsed and raised positions; a set of wheels mounted to said work surface for transportation of said work bench; handles attached to said work surface, said handles including a trigger for controlling the height of said work surface; first and second arms journaled to said work surface, said arms being rotatable between a collapsed position and a fully extended position; a control box containing at least a main and secondary shaft upon which said first and second arms are journaled; support legs journaled upon said control box; said trigger operatively engaging said first and second arms to control the rotation of said arms between said collapsed positions and fully extended positions said arms are journaled upon main and secondary shafts within said control box and freely rotate about said main and secondary shafts; a rod mounted within slots in said work surface: a locking bar controlled by said trigger in said handle, said trigger controlling the position of arms: whereby said work surface can be used as a work bench or a tool support and collapsed for transport and raised to a desired height for use.

8. The collapsible mobile bench of claim 7, wherein said platform can slide with respect to said work surface, such that said platform can be raised to the height of a tool base surface of a tool mounted to said surface and can be slid to adjacent the tool base surface, thereby forming a continuous work surface between the two surfaces and the tool base surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible mobile work bench and tool support stand of the present invention in the collapsed position.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible mobile work bench and tool support stand of the present invention between the raised and collapsed position.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the collapsible mobile work bench and tool support stand of the present invention in the raised position with the movable platforms raised and illustrating the mounting of a tool.

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the control system of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the control system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) The collapsible mobile workbench of the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1. The workbench 10 has a single plane work surface 12 that allows the operator to use the workbench when a tool is not installed. The workbench 10 has handles 14 that allow the workbench to be moved upon wheels 20 and to allow the workbench to deploy the support frame 16 through control box 18.

(7) These and other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description are described below.

(8) With reference to FIG. 2, the workbench 10 is illustrated between the collapsed position and the raised position. The handles 14 include triggers 15 to control the position of the work bench 10. In the first embodiment, the triggers 15 are squeezed to engage the control box 18. The control box 18 contains for example a gearbox that interconnects the members of the support frame 16 and allows it to rotate between the raised and collapsed positions. As illustrated, the members of the support frame 16 include wheel supports 22, and support legs 24. Support arms 26 and 28 extend from the control box 18 to the work surface 12. The arms 26 and 28 are journaled upon shafts in the control box 18 and mounted to the interior of the work surface 12. The work surface 12 can be raised to any desired level between collapsed and fully raised. The arms 26 and 28 are raised together to maintain the work surface 12 parallel at any desired height. Once the desired height is obtained, the triggers 15 are released to maintain that desired position.

(9) With reference to FIG. 4, a schematic of the interior of the control box 18 is illustrated. The control box 18 includes a main shaft 40 having a control gear 42 mounted upon the shaft 40. A locking finger 43 connected to the trigger 15 through a control wire 45 engages the gear 42 to lock the gear 42 in place or release the gear 42. The control wire 45 is snaked through the arms 26 and 28 in the disclosed embodiment. The control wire 45 connected to the trigger 15 can be engaged and disengaged to control the rotation of the shaft 40. The arms 28 are mounted to the shaft 40 and there position is determined by the position of the shaft 40. The shaft 40 is journaled in opposed bearings 46 mounted to the control box 18. Although not shown, the shaft 40 can be spring loaded to allow for automatic raising or collapsing with biased resistance in the opposite direction.

(10) Mounted within the control box are pawls 48 which engage gears 50 mounted on the legs 24. The pawls 48 act as a ratchet to control the position of the legs 24. The legs 26 are mounted on shafts (not shown) within the control box 18 and are journaled upon these shafts. In the disclosed embodiment, the legs 26 freely rotate upon the shaft. The pawls 48 control the position of the legs 26.

(11) To raise or lower the work bench 10, the trigger 15 connected to the control wire 45 when engaged releases the locking finger 43 allowing the shaft 40 to rotate. Rotation of shaft 40 causes support arms 28 to raise or lower to any desired position. The support arms 26 are journaled upon shafts (not shown) mounted within the control box 18 and are free to move in response to the movement of arms 28. In this way, the work surface 12 remains horizontal. When the desired height of the work surface 12 is obtained, the trigger 15 is released and the gear 42 is engaged by the locking finger 43. The support leg 24 is positioned by the operator stepping on the support leg connecting bar 55 and ratchetting the support legs gear 50 against the pawl 48.

(12) With reference to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the height control feature of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the arms 26 and 28 are journaled upon shaft 40 within the control box 18 and freely rotate about the shafts. The opposite ends of the arms 28 are journaled upon a rod 55 that is mounted within slots 60 formed in opposing interior sides of the workbench 10. A locking bar 57 is controlled by the trigger 15 in the handle 14. The trigger 15 can raise and lower the locking bar 57 to control the position of the arms 28 and as a result the position of the arms 26. In the preferred embodiment, the locking bar 57 is spring loaded into the locked position.

(13) With reference to FIG. 3, a tool 30 is shown mounted to the workbench 10. In the disclosed embodiment, the work surface 12 is generally shaped as an hourglass, with the opposed ends being wider than the middle. The middle is narrower to accommodate quick mounts 31 attached to a tool. Quick mounts 31 are used to quickly mount the tool to the work surface 12 of the workbench 10.

(14) Each side of the work surface includes a moveable platform 32 that can be raised with respect to the work surface 12 through links 34. In the disclosed embodiment, the links 34 form a parallelogram so that the platform 32 moves upward and parallel to the work surface 12. The platform 32 can also slide with respect to the tool 30 mounted to the work surface 12. In this way, the platform 32 can be raised to the height of the tool base surface 36 of the tool mounted to the surface 12 and can be slid to adjacent the tool base surface 36. By allowing the surface 32 to be adjusted both vertically and horizontally with respect to the tool base surface 36, a continuous work surface can be formed between the two surfaces 32 and the tool base surface 36.

(15) The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.