GB2253180A - Sawhorse and toolbox assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A combined sawhorse and toolbox assembly comprises a hollow toolbox portion provided with a work top (1) and legs (3) displaceable between an operational and non-operational position wherein the legs (3) are telescopically retained within the body of the toolbox in their non-operational or operational positions by clamping members. <IMAGE>

Description

COMBEED SAWHORSE AND TOOLBOX ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a combined sawhorse and toolbox, which together with a similar assembly can be used as a trestle. The assembly is generally trapezoidal in vertical section and hinged along its lower edges, so that at least one of the elongate faces can hinge outwardly. Tools may be stored in the space formed in the trapezoidal shaped box in a series of interlocking trays which are exposed when the toolbox sides are opened, in the same way that expandable tool boxes of a generally rectilinear cross section are utilised.

It is a problem for the tradesman to combine safe storage for his equipment, ready accessibility of tools. correct orthopaedic working height, and ease of transport of equipment to the place of use, whilst simultaneously having ready access to a highly rugged and rigid structure to use as a work top or saw horse, and still easily be able to carry the same. Attempts have been made previously to address these problems as a whole rather than the piecemeal solutions readily available in tulle shape of individual toolboxes, separate trestles, etc.

One such attempt is apparent in US 3,851,756 (Brown) which provides a combined saw horse and toolbox. This provides, inter alia, for hinged collapsible legs, retained in position when not extended, by chains between the side of the tool box and the cross bracing strut of the legs. This has the effect of increasing the effective length of the tool box, a most undesirable feature when having to gain access to restricted working spaces. In addition, when the legs are in their extended position, they are held braced by a bar and two further chains. The present invention obviates the need for all these bracing mechanisms, whilst also giving robust stability since the legs are telescopically retained within the body of the toolbox. They may also be outwardly directed in two planes to give a greater degree of stability when extended.

Similarly, since the legs extend telescopically and independently of each other at the extreme corners of the toolbox, embodiments of the invention are considerably more stable than the hinged mechanism provided in US 3851756 (Brown), with interlinked legs, since the supports are further apart and more easily able to cope with the stresses and turning moment imposed by having to support long lengths of wood, for example. A further advantage of the present invention is that it is provided with a suitably shaped handle which serves also to hold the toolbox closed. The carlying handle of Brown doubles as a bracing strut for the legs once extended, which makes moving the toolbox more difficult during operation.

US 4596308 also provides a toolbox retained within a traditional sawhorse. The legs of this have to be bolted in place before use.

In the present invention, the toolbox can, of course, have a shape other than trapezoidal in vertical section. At each end of the trapezoidal sections is located a pair of downwardly directed telescopic legs which can be independently retracted within the body of the toolbox, or extended so that the toolbox forms a sawhorse. In the sawhorse mode, it will be appreciated that the toolbox is at a level at which tools can be readily reached. The arrangement also provides means for working with metal or wood at a convenient height. The degree of extension of the telescopic legs can be adjusted to take into account the preference for working height of the operative.With increasing concern being shown about the physiological and orthopaedic lumbar trauma, for example, which can follow prolonged use of tools at the incorrect height, as well as increased operator fatigue. the present invention displays significant advantages in safety and comfort in use over the known art.

The present invention therefore provides a combined sawhorse and toolbox assembly, comprising a hollow toolbox portion provided with legs displaceable between an operational and non-operation position, characterised in that the legs are telescopically retained within the body of the toolbox in their non-operational position, and in their operational position are so angled as to give maximum stability.

Since the legs are telescopically extensible, and since they are angled generally parallel to the sloping sides of the toolbox and at a suitable angle to the vertical commensurate with the optimal provision of a stable base, a longer non-extended leg length can be provided than allowed for by the length of the side of the toolbox. Clearly, this feature allows for either a smaller toolbox side for a given length of non-extended leg, that is, in the leg retracted condition, or vice versa. This has been found to give a greater degree of robustness and general stability to the invention.This is especially so since the telescopic leg housings locate and extend into the lower face of the work top, which gives extra rigidity and tends to direct distorting forces directly to the ground and not into the body of the assembly In another embodiment of the invention the telescopically extensible legs are adapted to provide the option of a predetermined number of preset heights of the sawhorse. This facilitates rapid and exactly identical extension of the legs1 for use, for example, where the floor surface is uniform and horizontal.

Clearly, where the floor surface is uneven or inclined, the facility provided by the invention for individual adjustment of leg extension permits the user to compensate for said irregularities and so more easily obtain the desired working position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper surface is provided with levelling means, for example two spirit levels, placed at right angles to each other, so that they are parallel to the sides of the toolbox.

Since the toolbox may readily be held in one hand, a clamping means may be released to allow extension of the legs and may be operated manually so that with upper surface at the required height, and with the spirit levels indicating horizontality, the legs automatically extend by gravity to maintain this condition, at which point they may be again damped in a desired configuration. The spirit levels may be removable to ensure that they do not become damaged during working operation, may be retained in a suitable housing, or may be countersunk.

The clamping means employed may be as subsequently described. This may equally be applied to each leg separately. Clearly, other means may be employed to clamp each leg, for example, by using a peg inserted through a suitably positioned hole in the body of the assembly to engage in the indents of the legs.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the telescopic legs are provided with internal springs to downwardly urge the legs upon release of the clamping means. The strength of the springs is such that, with the legs extended and contacting the ground, a measure of support is accorded to the assembly so that the levelling process may be more easily achieved.

A singular feature of this invention is that whilst it may equally be constructed of wood for simplicity and cheapness, it may also be constructed of metal so that it becomes more useful to those engaged in metal work, such as plumbers and fitters, etc. Further, it is less likely to present a fire hazard when a welding torch is being used, for example, whilst still retaining its ability to be infinitely adjustable for height.

In one embodiment of the toolbox, the trays for holding tools are cantilevered so that they may be pulled out whilst staying generally horizontal. Provision may also be made on the inner face of the side of the toolbox, for the retention of larger items, such as saws. Smaller items may be retained in draws or trays.

The toolbox may be provided with a work-top, in which is incised a longitudinal V-shape to retain workpieces in the longitudinal sense.

The present invention will now be described by way of illustration only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, and particularly Figure 1, wherein Figure 1 is a side and end view of one embodiment of the invention, showing the legs extended and the hinged door open; Figure 2 is a front view of the arrangement of Figure 1 and Figure 3 is an end view of the arrangement of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the clamping means.

The assembly comprises a work top (1), which may be of wood or metal, or some other substance. A longitudinal groove may be provided to act to retain workpieces. A levelling means (9) comprising two spirit levels set at right angles to each other are provided to establish horizontality. These may, of course, be cruciform, or rotatable within a housing. The levelling means is countersunk to obviate damage during operation, but it may equally well be removable, or be retained within a suitably resistant housing. A carrying handle (8) is provided which can be folded downwardly parallel to the sloping trapezoidal sides (2) when the work top is in use. The handle comprises two elements hinged on opposite sides of the toolbox, and may be provided with a padlock to prevent ingress, for example, and should be sufficiently robust for such purposes.

The end pieces (6) of the toolbox assembly are generally trapezoidal in shape and so positioned that the work top (1) extends sufficiently in relation to the trapezoidal end pieces (6) so that clamping means may be applied to retain workpieces immovable during operation. Adjacent each end, there are provided telescopic legs (3) retained within a housing (4). Said legs may be square or round in cross-section. The housings are located generally parallel to the sloping trapezoidal end pieces (6) but the upper ends which locate into recesses (13) in the work top (1) to provide greater strength and rigidity to the structure are inclined inwards along the elongate side to accord to the extended legs a wider base.The legs retained telescopically within the housings are retained in their operative or retracted positions by a clamping means, in accordance with Figure 4, located at the lower edge of the trapezoidal end pieces (6). This comprises a knurled knob (5) at the end of a coarse threaded screw element, which engages a similarly tapped assembly mounted on the surface of the trapezoidal side, and passes through a hole in the side to a shaped metal structure (12) positioned to damp the inner faces of the telescopic legs (3). This shaped robust metal structure (12) is retained at the end of the screw (11), so that on rotation of the knurled knob (5), the shaped metal structure is urged towards or away from the legs, thus releasing or clamping them. Suitable indents (7) in the legs are so dimensioned that the shaped metal structure (12) can locate in them.

The sloping trapezoidal openable flap sides (2) of the toolbox assembly are hinged at their lower edges (10). Clearly one or both sides may be hinged.

With the handle retracted, the trapezoidal sides can be opened. On the inner face of these sides, retaining means are provided to secure larger tools, such a saws, clamps, etc. In the hollow interior of the toolbox, an upper cantilevered tray (14) is provided, pivoted about bearers located on the inner faces of the trapezoidal end pieces (6). Similarly, a drawer (15) is provided, with bearers similarly located. It will be appreciated that the degree to which the leg housings (4) are inclined away from the trapezoidal end pieces limits the length of the drawer and tray, but not the depth.

In operation, the combined toolbox and sawhorse assembly is held in the hand and levelled using the levelling means (9) in the upper surface of the work top. The knurled knob (5) of the clamping means is released allowing the legs (7) to extend to the ground. At a suitable degree of extension, the knurled knob (5) is twisted to damp both the legs at the one end. With that end now supported by the telescopic legs (7) in their clamped condition, the clamping means at the other end is released, and with horizontality observed, the extended legs at the second end are clamped in position.

Clearly, since the legs extend independently of each other, and are sufficiently robustly retained within their housings to provide great rigidity, uneven surfaces present no problem. On even surfaces, such as concrete floors, the indents (7) in the legs (3) make it easy to set up the work top in horizontality, since any of the indents can be selected to provide a horizotal work top at a predetermined height. Equally, since the housings (4) extend into the lower side of the work top, and abut therein against the relatively massive structure of the work top, forces resulting from heavy blows and shocks tend to dissipate directly down the robust legs (3). This has the effect of such forces not tending to distort the assembly, which can thus be made of lighter material than would otherwise be justified. This makes transport of the assembly with tools contained therein, a less demanding process.

It will be appreciated that since the legs extend downwardly and outwardly because of the inclination of the housings (4) within the assembly, large turning moments occasioned by the attachment of lengthy planks, for example, to the work top do not tend to overturn the assembly so readily.

Although this inclination inwards of the upper ends of the housings does detract from the length available for drawers and trays, it has been found that this slight inconvenience is more than compensated for by the extreme rigidity and ruggedness of the assembly, the legs of which need no bracing elements.

The present invention relates, therefore, to a combined saw horse, and toolbox assembly and to a method of levelling same.

Claims (6)

1. A combined sawhorse and toolbox assembly, comprising a hollow toolbox portion provided with legs displaceable between an operational and non-operation position, characterised in that the legs are telescopically retained within the body of the toolbox in their non-operational position, and in their operational position are so angled as to give maximum stability.

2. A combined sawhorse and toolbox assembly in accordance With Claim 1, characterised in that the degree of extension of the legs may be controlled to give a variable working height.

3. A combined sawhorse and toolbox assembly according to either preceding Claim, characterised in that a levelling means is provided to enable the upper surface of the assembly to be positioned in a predetermined orientation.

4. A combined sawhorse and toolbox assembly according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that each telescopic leg is provided with one or more stops intermediate their length to interengage with corresponding members in the assembly to provide a predetermined extension to the length of each leg.

5. A combined sawhorse and toolbox assembly according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that the telescopic legs are provided with an internal spring of sufficient strength. with clamping means which when released, urge said legs into contact with the ground and to provide a measure of support to the body of the assembly whilst the required orientation of the work top is achieved when the clamping means are engaged.

6. A method of establishing a level work top over uneven ground, said work top being associated with telescopically operable legs adjacent each end of the top, said legs being readily secured in the operational or at-rest positions, which method comprises retaining the top in a predetermined orientation relative to the uneven ground, releasing a first leg or legs at a first end of the top, securing these in a position to maintain the said predetermined orientation, releasing the second leg or legs at a second end, and securing these in a position to preserve the said predetermined orientation.