FR2794392A1 - PERFECTED FOLDING BENCH - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding workbench comprises a work and / or clamping table (10) connected to a collapsible supporting structure (12), which can be selectively brought either to an unfolded position (working position) or to a folded position (working position). storage) and which incorporates, as a structural element, a storage box (14) in which the plate (10) and the structure (12) are able to be retracted at least in part in the folded position. The storage box (14) may further include bins (46, 48, 50) for storing tools.

Description

The invention relates to folding workbenches,

  also called portable workbenches, intended more particularly for

domestic uses.

  It relates in particular to a folding workbench of the type comprising a work and / or clamping table connected to a

  folding support structure, which can be brought selectively-

  either in an unfolded position (working position),

  either in a folded position (storage position).

  Workbenches of this type are already known in which the plate is generally equipped with clamping means, such as for example elongated beams forming the jaws of a vice, and capable of being brought closer or apart.

  mutually by cranks or the like.

  Such workbenches have the advantage of being easily transformed to pass from one to the other from their working position to their storage position. In the working position they can be used as a normal workbench while in the storage position they can be

  stored in a space of low volume.

  This is the reason why these workbenches have been very successful with individuals, DIY enthusiasts or not,

  with limited space for their DIY activities-

  ge. However, it has been observed that these workbenches are not always easily transportable, especially in their folded storage position, and that moreover their structure

  offers unused dead spaces.

  In addition, when a user wishes to use his workbench, he must be able to have a certain number of tools, which are generally stored in one or more tool boxes which he must also

transport with the workbench.

  In addition, these tool boxes take up extra space.

  side or not next to the workbench when folded.

  The object of the invention is in particular to overcome the drawbacks

mentioned above.

  It aims in particular to offer a perfect folding bench

  which is more easily transportable than known folding workbenches, and which is moreover likely to provide

storage volumes.

  To this end, the invention provides a folding workbench of the type defined in the introduction, in which the folding supporting structure integrates, as a structural element, a storage box in which the tray and the structure are able to retract to the less in part in the

folded position.

  Thus, in the unfolded position, the workbench can be used normally, the storage box constituting an element of

the supporting structure.

  In the folded position, the tray retracts into the storage box, at the same time as the rest of the supporting structure, to form an assembly having

  the appearance of a box or the like, which can be carried

  easily tucked away and easily stored in a small volume.

  This storage case can accommodate either only the tray and the rest of the supporting structure, or other

  extra things, like tools, for example.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage box is capable of constituting, in the unfolded position, a first upright articulated to the tray, while it

  is provided a second amount also articulated to the plate.

  To provide better stability, it is preferable that the storage box and the second upright are also articulated with a spacer. In this way, the tray, the storage box, the second upright and the spacer form an articulated structure with four elements in which the elements are substantially parallel two by two in the unfolded position and substantially parallel

  them in the folded position.

  In particular, in the unfolded position, the plate and the spacer are substantially parallel to each other and therefore in a horizontal position, while the storage box and the second upright are substantially parallel

  between them and in a substantially vertical position.

  In this preferred embodiment, it is advantageous that the tray has a first end connected by first articulation means to an upper end of the body (considered in a standing position) and a second bent end connected by second means of articulation at an upper end of the second upright, while the spacer comprises a first bent end connected by third articulation means to a lower end of the body (considered in the standing position) and a second bent end connected by

  fourth means of articulation at a lower end

  of the second amount, said first means of articulation

  tion, second means of articulation, third means

  articulation and fourth articulation means defined-

  sant four parallel axes of articulation respectively

between them.

  Advantageously, the second end of the tray is bent

  substantially at right angles, the first end of the

  the height rod is bent substantially at right angles and the second

  end of the spacer is bent at an obtuse angle.

  The presence of these bent ends allows the elements of the supporting structure to extend parallel to each other

in the folded position.

  Advantageously, each of the first articulation means, second articulation means, third articulation means and fourth articulation means is double and comprises two

spaced coaxial joints.

  Thus, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate is connected, on the one hand, to two walls spaced from the body respectively by two first coaxial joints and, on the other hand, to two beams spaced from the second upright by two second coaxial joints, while the spacer comprises two spaced beams connected, on the one hand, to the two walls spaced from the body by two third coaxial joints and, on the other hand, to the two beams of the second upright by two fourth coaxial joints. According to another characteristic of the invention, the storage box comprises a bottom wall which, in the unfolded position, is able to rest on the ground, while the second upright is equipped with feet which, in the unfolded position, are suitable for resting on the ground to form the seat of the workbench

  together with the bottom wall of the storage box

  is lying. Preferably, transport wheels are carried by the bottom wall of the storage box, which facilitates the

  transport of the workbench in the folded position.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the feet of the second upright are pivotable and movable between a retracted position facilitating their insertion in the storage box in the folded position of the carrying structure and a deployed position suitable for widening the seat

  of the workbench in the unfolded position of the supporting structure

  se. According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the storage box comprises a first compartment suitable for accommodating the tray and the supporting structure in the folded position and a second compartment forming storage for tools, accessories and the like. Advantageously, the second compartment is divided into storage bins. According to another characteristic of the invention, the storage case comprises at least one electrical connector suitable for being connected to the mains by an electrical cable, as well as a set of electrical sockets, capable of receiving the

  connection of one or more portable electric machines.

  The workbench tray advantageously comprises two clamping beams, forming vice jaws, at least one of which is movable, as well as control means with retractable cranks for bringing said two together or apart.

beams.

  In the following description, made only as

  example, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a front view of a folding workbench according to the invention shown in the unfolded position; - Figure 2 is a side view corresponding to Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a partial top view corresponding to Figure 1; - Figure 4 is a front view similar to Figure 1, the workbench being shown in the folded position; - Figure 5 is a side view corresponding to Figure 4; and - Figures 6A to 6G are front views of the folding workbench showing successive positions of the workbench from the folded storage position (Figure 6A) to the position

working unfolded (figure 6G).

  Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 3 which show a folding workbench according to the invention which comprises a work and / or clamping table 10 connected to a foldable support structure 12. This structure 12 comprises a storage box 14 forming integral part of the structure and constituting a first upright, a second upright 16 and a

spacer 18.

  The plate 10 comprises two support beams 20 parallel to each other and connected to each other by two crossbeams 22 (FIG. 3) to define a frame which supports a fixed clamping beam 24 and a movable clamping beam 26, the latter being suitable for sliding on the two sleepers. These clamping beams 24 and 26 are arranged flat and horizontal and they form the two jaws of a vice; These two beams can be brought together or separated from each other under the action of two threaded rods 28 (FIG. 3) capable of being driven in rotation, independently of one another, by two cranks 30 provided with retractable handles. Each of the worms 28 cooperates with a

  tapped block 31 (Figure 2) secured to the movable beam 26.

  The general structure of such a clamping plate, with two elongated beams forming a vice, which can be placed in

  parallel positions or not, is in itself known.

  The support beams 20 of the plate 10 have a first end 32 connected by first articulations 34 to an upper end of the body 14 shown in position

standing (Figures 1 to 3).

  The joints 34 are double and coaxial and carried respectively by two spaced vertical walls 36 of the storage box 14. Each of these walls 36 has a reinforcing leg 38 (Figure 1) which may or may not be integrated into the wall. This leg extends from the upper end of the storage box to its lower end. The two legs 38, which are parallel to each other, thus extend to a bottom wall 40 of the

  box 14, which is suitable for resting on the ground.

  The storage box 14 is made of a resistant material, for example a plastic material of the ABS type.

  or a metallic material such as an aluminum alloy

  nium. In addition, the storage box 14 includes an open face 42 which extends vertically in the standing position of the box 14 (Figure 1). This open face is intended for

  accommodate the tray 10 as well as the upright 16 and the

  height rod 18 in the folded position of the workbench, as will be seen below. The storage box 14 has an opposite face 44 which also extends vertically in the

  upright position of the storage box (Figure 1).

  The storage box 14 has openings made in the vertical face 44 to accommodate different trays or storage drawers. In the example, there is a tray 46 placed in the upper part and suitable for receiving, for example, hand tools, a tray 48 placed below and intended to receive, for example, portable electric devices and a tray 50 placed in lower part and intended to accommodate a set of electrical sockets 52. The latter are intended to be supplied by an electrical cable 53 preferably arranged around a reel, and suitable for being connected to the electrical sector by an electrical connector 55. The sockets electric 52, advantageously three in number, can receive the connection of one or more electric portable machines. Bins 46 and 48 are

  preferably completely extractable.

  The storage box 14 further comprises an upper wall 54 provided at its upper part with a locking member 56 mounted pivoting about an axis 58 (Figure 1)

  and whose function will be explained later.

  Thus, the storage case 14 constitutes in itself an element of the carrying structure 12 and it allows more

  contain different mechanical or electrical tools.

  Each of the support beams 20 of the plate 10 has a second end 60, bent at a right angle, and connected by two second coaxial joints 62 at one end

amount 16.

  The upright 16 is essentially composed of two vertical beams 64 connected by a horizontal crosspiece 66 for

  define an H-structure (Figure 2).

  The bent ends 60 of the support beam 20 are articulated respectively to the two vertical beams 64 by

  the two coaxial joints 62 (Figure 2).

  The spacer 18 itself is made up of two parallel elements 68 each comprising a first end 70 bent at a right angle and a second end 72 bent in

  forming an obtuse angle, in the example close to 135.

  The two bent ends 70 are articulated respectively by third articulations 74 at the lower end of the storage box 14, that is to say respectively at the two walls 36. The two articulations 74 are coaxial and carried respectively by the two legs 38 of the box

  storage, in the lower part of this box.

  The two bent ends 72 are connected respectively by two fourth coaxial joints 76 to the beams 64 of the upright 16, at their lower end. Between the two joints 76 is also provided a horizontal crosspiece 78 (Figure 2) which is also part of the second upright 16

  and which is parallel to the crosspiece 66.

  The second upright 16 is further equipped with two retractable legs 80, provided respectively at the two ends of the cross-member 78 and capable of pivoting each around a vertical axis (the body being in the upright position). These feet are intended to rest on the ground to form the seat of the workbench, in cooperation with the bottom wall 40 of the storage box 14. The feet 80 can pivot between a deployed position (shown in solid lines in the figure 2) to widen the seat of the workbench and a retracted position (shown in broken lines in Figure 2) to facilitate storage of the workbench in the box, as

we will see it later.

  Furthermore, the storage case 14 comprises two transport wheels 82 embedded at least partially in the bottom wall 40 and located at the junction of this bottom wall

with the open face 42.

  The double joints 34, 62, 74 and 76 define axes which are parallel to each other and which, in the position

  Figures 1 to 3 are horizontal.

  In the unfolded position of the workbench, the four double

  the above articulations constitute the vertices of a quadri-

  latère which approaches the shape of a square. The support beams of the tray 10 as well as the elements 68 of the spacer 18 are articulated to the walls 36 of the storage box, on the inside of the latter, so as to be able to fold up and retract at least partially at inside the box

  storage, as we will see later.

  The storage box defines a first compartment 84 (FIG. 1), located on the side of the open face 42 and suitable for accommodating the plate 10 and the supporting structure 12 in

folded position (Figures 4 and 5).

  In the folded position (Figures 4 and 5), the plate 10, as well as the upright 16 and the spacer 18 are retracted inside the storage box, the plate 10 closing the open face 42. In this position, the clamping beams are directed towards the outside of the storage box and in a substantially vertical position. Because the support beam of the plate 10 has a bent end 60 and that the spacer 18 has two bent ends 70 and 72, the support beam 20, the upright 16 and the spacer 18 extend in substantially parallel planes as seen in Figure 4, which provides a picked up structure, in which the elements of the structure are mainly arranged along the walls 36

  of the storage box and inside it.

  It should be noted that the open face 42 could be closed by a removable or pivoting wall so as to completely hide the plate 10 in the folded position of the workbench. We will now describe with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6G the

  different stages of unfolding the workbench.

  In the position of Figure 6A, the workbench is completely folded into the storage box, the locking member

  56 being in the locked or closed position.

  In the position of Figure 6B, the locking member is open, which allows the unfolding of the workbench. First of all, as shown in FIG. 6C, the plate 10 is pivoted around the articulations 34, the upright 16 remaining in a position substantially parallel to the plate 10. Then, we continue to raise the plate to bring it into a position inclined, while spreading the upright 16 from the plate 10 by pivoting around the joints 62 and at the same time

  time pivot down the spacer 18 around the articu-

  lations 74. Then, the plate is pivoted downwards to bring it first into the position of FIG. 6E and then into the position of FIG. 6F in which the feet 80 come to touch the ground. Then simply rotate these feet outward to move them from their retracted position to their extended position, in order to widen

the seat of the workbench.

  ll To move the workbench from its unfolded position to its folded position, simply perform the operations above

described, but in reverse.

  The joints of the workbench can be of the self-locking type or it is also possible to provide means of

  particular locking or knee pads.

  When the workbench is in its folded position, it constitutes a storage box which takes the place of a suitcase and can be easily transported and stored in a standing or lying position. The wheels 82 facilitate the transport of the body. It is possible to predict by

  example one or more handles to facilitate these operations

tions.

  The workbench of the invention can be produced in different dimensions, the plate 10 having to define a work surface located at a height of the order of 70 cm to 80 cm by

report to the ground.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and extends to other variants. Thus, it will be understood that the storage box and the carrying structure, as well as the tray are susceptible

many variations.

  It is essential that the storage box is an integral part of the supporting structure. It is possible, as in the previous embodiment, to ensure that the storage box constitutes a vertical upright of the carrying structure. However, it could be envisaged to remove the spacer 18 and to provide stabilization means connecting the plate 10 to the storage box

14 and the amount 16.

  It is also possible to use the storage box as a horizontal base resting on the ground, the tray can then be connected to the storage box by

amounts or the like.

  Also, the connecting means between the plate and the other elements of the structure, including the storage box, may include articulation means, and

sliding means.

  This provides a folding workbench, also forming a storage box, which can be easily transported and stored,

occupying a minimum volume.

Claims (14)

Claims   1. Folding workbench comprising a work and / or clamping plate (10) connected to a folding support structure (12), which can be brought selectively either into an unfolded position (working position) or into a folded position (position ), characterized in that the collapsible supporting structure (12) incorporates, as a structural element, a storage box (14) in which the plate (10) and the structure (12) are suitable for at least partially retract into the folded position.   2. Folding workbench according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage box (14) is capable of constituting, in the unfolded position, a first upright articulated to the plate (10), while there is provided a second upright (16 ) also articulated to the plate (10).   3. Folding workbench according to claim 2, characterized in that the storage box (14) and the second upright (16) are further articulated to a spacer (18) so that the tray (10), the storage box (14), the second upright (16) and the spacer (18) form an articulated structure with four elements in which the elements are substantially   parallel two by two in the unfolded and sensitive position-   mutually parallel in the folded position.   4. Folding workbench according to claim 3, characterized in that the plate (10) has a first end (32) connected by first articulation means (34) to a   upper end of the storage box (14) (consider   in a standing position) and a second bent end (60) connected by second articulation means (62) to an upper end of the second upright (16), and in that the spacer (18) comprises a first end angled (70) connected by third articulation means (74) to a lower end of the storage box (14) (considered in the standing position) and a second angled end (72) connected by fourth articulation means (76) at a lower end of the second upright (16), said first articulation means (34), second articulation means (62), third articulation means (74) and fourth articulation means (76) defining respectively four axes of articulation parallel to each other.   5. Folding workbench according to claim 3, characterized in that the second end (60) of the plate (10) is bent substantially at right angles, the first end (70) of the spacer (18) is bent substantially at right angles and the second end (72) of the spacer (78) is bent following an obtuse angel.   6. Folding workbench according to one of claims 4 and 5,   characterized in that each of the first means of articulation   tion (34), second means of articulation (62), third   articulation means (74) and fourth articulation means   tion (76) is double and includes two spaced coaxial joints.   7. Folding workbench according to one of claims 4 to 6,   characterized in that the plate (10) is connected, on the one hand, to two spaced walls (36) of the storage box (14) respectively by two first coaxial joints (34) and, on the other hand, to two spaced beams (64) of the second upright (16) by two second coaxial joints (62), and in that the spacer (18) comprises two spaced beams (68) connected, on the one hand, to the two spaced walls (36 ) of the storage box (14) by two third coaxial articulations (74) and, on the other hand, to the two beams (64) of the second upright (16) by two fourth articulations coaxial (76).   8. Folding workbench according to one of claims 2 to 7,   characterized in that the storage box (14) comprises a bottom wall (40) which, in the unfolded position, is able to rest on the ground and in that the second upright (16) is equipped with feet (80) which, in the unfolded position, are clean   to rest on the ground to form the seat of the joint workbench-   with the bottom wall of the storage box. 9. Folding workbench according to claim 8, characterized in that transport wheels (82) are embedded in the   bottom wall (40) of the storage box (14).   10. Folding workbench according to one of claims 8 and 9,   characterized in that the feet (80) of the second upright (16) are pivotable and movable between a retracted position facilitating their insertion into the storage box (14) in the folded position of the support structure (12) and a clean deployed position to broaden the foundation of the workbench in   the unfolded position of the supporting structure.   11. Folding workbench according to one of claims 1 to 10,   characterized in that the storage box (14) comprises a first compartment (84) suitable for accommodating the plate (10) and the carrying structure (12) in the folded position and a second compartment forming storage for tools, accessories and the like.   12. Folding workbench according to claim 11, characterized in that the second compartment is divided into storage bins (46, 48, 50).   13. Folding workbench according to one of claims 1 to 12,   characterized in that the storage box (14) comprises at least one electrical outlet (52) suitable for being connected to the sector by an electric cable.   14. Folding workbench according to one of claims 1 to 13,   characterized in that the plate (10) comprises two clamping beams (24, 26) forming the jaws of a vice, at least one of which is movable, as well as control means with retractable cranks (30) for bringing together or dismiss mutually said beams.