GB2110155A

GB2110155A - Portable work bench

Info

Publication number: GB2110155A
Application number: GB08135314A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas Robert David Frost; Alan Howard Vokes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-24
Filing date: 1981-11-24
Publication date: 1983-06-15
Also published as: GB2110155B

Abstract

A work bench for use 'on site' by engineers consists of a self-contained unit comprising a main bench plate 1, supporting frame 3, stabiliser feet 4 and a connecting strut 10, 11 for joining the supporting frame to the main bench plate. In it's working mode the bench is an inverted triangular frame located and supported by a vehicle tow-bar and feet situated at the base of the frame. The bench is taken from the vehicle in a collapsed and portable state located on the vehicles two-bar and positioned vertically so that the stabilisers hold the main frame firmly. Once this is achieve the main plate is swung upwards until it lies approximately horizontally and the supporting strut positioned and secured such as to maintain the bench configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Specification for site engineer's portable bench The Site Engineer's Portable Bench is a collapsible device which may be carried around in a service van ready for providing a basic workshop facility "on site" for maintenance repair and installation work.

By classification the invention comes under the headings of:- Workbenches, Maintenance Equipment, Workshop Accessories and Work Holding Attachments. It is technically a supporting platform or table for carrying any of a number of work holding attachments such as a standard vice. Alternatively, it may be used for mounting a cutting machine, machine tool or fixture to suit the intended requirement.

There are a number of items which fall into the same categary as the invention all satisfying a basic requirement to provide a rigid working platform upon which to perform work operations. Some of these are in the D.l.Y. field and therefore are to be found more often in domestic use. Examples of these are portable self contained free-standing benches and combinations of bench and work holding devices which clamp or fix to or between walls.

At the other end of the scale and possessing considerable sophistication is the mobile services or workshop which basically a trailer containing equipment for work holding, cutting, forming etcetera.

However, this is not the group to which the invention belongs. Equally the invention does not belong to the group previously described - in fact falls somewhere in between both groups- being much closer in actual fact to the D.l.Y. type of portable bench.

At the outset the inventors made a number of enquiries with potential users and established that there was no purpose designed equipment for the application. With the prerequisite of the equipment being easily collapsible, portable, of convenient proportions and having all the other desirable attributes the development was instigated. This led to the production of a prototype from which by incorporating a number of improvements the present version has resulted. The main innovative advantage is that the equipment may be accommodated by and located on standard attachments i.e. on a tow bar which the majority of service vans have or as an alternative configuration of the invention location could be on the back door hinges and once the bench has been located within a short space of time the main plate '1' with whatever device it has mounted can be erected ready for use.

For the preferred type as illustrated in FIGs. 1 and 2the bench would first be in the portable state wherebythe main frame '3' plate 'I' links'10' and '12', and plane of the foot '4' would all be parallel to one another. Then the first stage in assembling the bench would be to locate the hitch '2' onto the towbar and skid the foot '4' along the ground until the frame '3' became vertical. This would be followed by pulling and extending the plate land links until the configuration in FIG. 2 was achieved and locating fastener '7'.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the invention in the service or working mode with the towing hitch '2' located and the foot '4' pressing on the ground. For collapsing the equipment after use the chain dotted lines indicate the direction in which the main moving parts would travel i.e. plate 'I' links '10' and '12' and foot '4'.

The arrangement illustrated in FIGs 1 and 2 is a preferred practical version of a number of possible variations for satisfying the application. It consists of a member so positioned as to form basically a three-sided structure with one side '3' acting as a column supported and aligned by a hitch '2' and a foot '4' transmitting its reaction through the stabiliser and plunger unit '5,6'. The other sides comprise the main bench plate 'I', which provides the platform for mounting the work-holding attachment and two links '10' and '12'.

When it is desired to use the bench, invariably the unit will be in the collapsed state. It will be positioned so that the hitch '2' locates on the ball of the towbar with the main frame '3' angled forward towards the vehicle (if the items '5' and '6' are of the spinning action type). Then the main frame is pulled until it lies vertically causing the foot '4' to slide and compress the plungers '6' against the spring loaded units'5' and in turn partially loading the vehicle suspension.

Once this has been achieved the main plate '1' which is hinged to the main frame '3' by the fasteners '8' is lifted until it reaches the horizontal position. This motion causes the links '10' and '12' to swivel about the hinged fasteners '9', '11' and '14' until the axes of '10' and '12' and the centres of '9', '11' and '14' are all in line. At this point the restraining stop '13' is engaged and the linkage assembly secured by locating the fastener '7'.

On carrying out this final action, the bench with whatever work attachment it has mounted is ready for use.

Further to the foregoing providing an adequate description of the invention's use it will suffice to provide only those additional details which describe the construction. The main plate material would be plain or ridged steel with brackets welded on at the hinge points. For the main frame the material is likely to be rectangular hollow section-or rolled steel angle. Brackets for mounting the hitch (which could be detachable} are likely to consist of rolled section or R.H.S. At the iower end of the frame the units '5' and '6' are constructed of bar, tubular and box sections. The foot would be of chequer plate with pieces of plate or flat bar at the mounting points.

Links would be from fiat bar or R.H.S. with fasteners consisting of ordinary nuts and bolts and countersunk headed types.

1. The invention is a work bench having a basic plate for mounting a work-holding device or other attachment but differing in that it is both collapsible and anchored to a vehicle. For the preferred type and any similar configuration, i.e. a basic three-sided construction comprising the bench plate, main vertical frame and bracing strut or linkage the locating and supporting action is achieved by fixed or detachable towing hitch and a stabiliserfoot Load

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Specification for site engineer's portable bench The Site Engineer's Portable Bench is a collapsible device which may be carried around in a service van ready for providing a basic workshop facility "on site" for maintenance repair and installation work. By classification the invention comes under the headings of:- Workbenches, Maintenance Equipment, Workshop Accessories and Work Holding Attachments. It is technically a supporting platform or table for carrying any of a number of work holding attachments such as a standard vice. Alternatively, it may be used for mounting a cutting machine, machine tool or fixture to suit the intended requirement. There are a number of items which fall into the same categary as the invention all satisfying a basic requirement to provide a rigid working platform upon which to perform work operations. Some of these are in the D.l.Y. field and therefore are to be found more often in domestic use. Examples of these are portable self contained free-standing benches and combinations of bench and work holding devices which clamp or fix to or between walls. At the other end of the scale and possessing considerable sophistication is the mobile services or workshop which basically a trailer containing equipment for work holding, cutting, forming etcetera. However, this is not the group to which the invention belongs. Equally the invention does not belong to the group previously described - in fact falls somewhere in between both groups- being much closer in actual fact to the D.l.Y. type of portable bench. At the outset the inventors made a number of enquiries with potential users and established that there was no purpose designed equipment for the application. With the prerequisite of the equipment being easily collapsible, portable, of convenient proportions and having all the other desirable attributes the development was instigated. This led to the production of a prototype from which by incorporating a number of improvements the present version has resulted. The main innovative advantage is that the equipment may be accommodated by and located on standard attachments i.e. on a tow bar which the majority of service vans have or as an alternative configuration of the invention location could be on the back door hinges and once the bench has been located within a short space of time the main plate '1' with whatever device it has mounted can be erected ready for use. For the preferred type as illustrated in FIGs. 1 and 2the bench would first be in the portable state wherebythe main frame '3' plate 'I' links'10' and '12', and plane of the foot '4' would all be parallel to one another. Then the first stage in assembling the bench would be to locate the hitch '2' onto the towbar and skid the foot '4' along the ground until the frame '3' became vertical. This would be followed by pulling and extending the plate land links until the configuration in FIG. 2 was achieved and locating fastener '7'. Figs. 1 and 2 show the invention in the service or working mode with the towing hitch '2' located and the foot '4' pressing on the ground. For collapsing the equipment after use the chain dotted lines indicate the direction in which the main moving parts would travel i.e. plate 'I' links '10' and '12' and foot '4'. The arrangement illustrated in FIGs 1 and 2 is a preferred practical version of a number of possible variations for satisfying the application. It consists of a member so positioned as to form basically a three-sided structure with one side '3' acting as a column supported and aligned by a hitch '2' and a foot '4' transmitting its reaction through the stabiliser and plunger unit '5,6'. The other sides comprise the main bench plate 'I', which provides the platform for mounting the work-holding attachment and two links '10' and '12'. When it is desired to use the bench, invariably the unit will be in the collapsed state. It will be positioned so that the hitch '2' locates on the ball of the towbar with the main frame '3' angled forward towards the vehicle (if the items '5' and '6' are of the spinning action type). Then the main frame is pulled until it lies vertically causing the foot '4' to slide and compress the plungers '6' against the spring loaded units'5' and in turn partially loading the vehicle suspension. Once this has been achieved the main plate '1' which is hinged to the main frame '3' by the fasteners '8' is lifted until it reaches the horizontal position. This motion causes the links '10' and '12' to swivel about the hinged fasteners '9', '11' and '14' until the axes of '10' and '12' and the centres of '9', '11' and '14' are all in line. At this point the restraining stop '13' is engaged and the linkage assembly secured by locating the fastener '7'. On carrying out this final action, the bench with whatever work attachment it has mounted is ready for use. Further to the foregoing providing an adequate description of the invention's use it will suffice to provide only those additional details which describe the construction. The main plate material would be plain or ridged steel with brackets welded on at the hinge points. For the main frame the material is likely to be rectangular hollow section-or rolled steel angle. Brackets for mounting the hitch (which could be detachable} are likely to consist of rolled section or R.H.S. At the iower end of the frame the units '5' and '6' are constructed of bar, tubular and box sections. The foot would be of chequer plate with pieces of plate or flat bar at the mounting points. Links would be from fiat bar or R.H.S. with fasteners consisting of ordinary nuts and bolts and countersunk headed types. CLAIMS

1. The invention is a work bench having a basic plate for mounting a work-holding device or other attachment but differing in that it is both collapsible and anchored to a vehicle. For the preferred type and any similar configuration, i.e. a basic three-sided construction comprising the bench plate, main vertical frame and bracing strut or linkage the locating and supporting action is achieved by fixed or detachable towing hitch and a stabiliserfoot Load ing on one or more feet through either sprung plungers, screw-jacks, rackets or toggle type de vices. In order to acheive the configuration for use or enable the equipment to be collapsed one or more members are necessary to form a third side connecting the opposite ends of the main plate and frame which are hinged together.The invention is characterised by an practical combination of members or links which enable the equipment to undergo mechanism or similar action whilst erected for use or collapsed afterwards. Equally the double link arrangement joining the main bench plate and main frame could be aremovable single piece. If further stability is required for heavier loads than normal, an additional foot may be situated at the front of the main plate i.e. remote from the main frame and hitch attachment end.

2. In an alternative form to that of Claim 1, the tow bar mounting would be retained but the position of the support foot would be changed. This would be situated at the front and most likely at the end of one leg of a scissor frame which would support the bench-piate and probably be screw-adiusted. In this case an additional bracket or stabilising bracket would be required to enable sufficient reaction under the one or more support feet and to prevent side-swing about the tow bar ball. Again the invention would be characterised by it's collapsible and portable facility in addition to serving it's main purpose. As a further extension of a linkage or mechanism principle it could be so arranged as to include either or both the towing hitch and support feet as part of the mechanism.

3. To augment the CLAIMS 1 and 2 the preliminary and alternative type will be included. This conforms to the same requirements as the general specification in that it's main function is that of a bench and being portable. However with this type the means of location on the vehicle is either brackets on the sides of a van or its floor or on the back door hinges. The configuration here differs to the types described in CLAIMS 1 and 2 generally because the equipment does not require pre-loading by jacking-up the vehicle suspension. With this type the main mounting frame is a transverse beam with afixing device at each end and a means of adjustment for width. Somewhere near to the middle of the beam there are two holes - one for a fixed pivot and the other for location. The main top plate is attached at these points such that it's plane is parallel to the beam axis and when in use it lies at right angles to the axis of the beam. Towards the front of the top plate there is a support foot which extends to the ground and is located in position.

When the bench is collapsed the beam is detached from it's location points, the main plate is swung so that it is in line and parallel with the beam and the support foot is lifted and tucked up underneath the top plate. Once all of these are in line locating pins are repositioned so as to prevent the folded unit coming apart.