GB2292331A - Work devices and vices - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable work device has openable cover flaps 19 to expose a work surface 12. A hinged receptacle 14 can receive material from on the surface 12 for example arising from performing work on a work piece on the surface. The exterior of the device has a protection cushion layer to protect for example a table supporting the device 10. A vice 52 has a fixed jaw 54 and a floating jaw 57 and latches 63 can engage holding means in the form of washers 61a, 61b biassed by springs 60 on threaded rods 58. A clamp 70,72 can co-operate with stepped upper surfaces of the jaws. <IMAGE>

Description

WORK DEVICES AND VICES THIS INVENTION relates to work devices and vices.

According to one aspect of the invention a portable work device comprises means providing a working surface, and receptacle means for receiving material removed from on the working surface.

The receptacle means may comprise a trough extending along an edge of the working surface.

The receptacle means may have a removable liner.

The receptacle means may have an openable and closable outlet for material.

The device may include cover movable between a closed position covering the working surface and an open position exposing the working surface, the receptacle means being movable between a working and non-working position.

The cover in the closed position may cover the receptacle means in the non-working position.

The cover may comprise flaps hinged to the means proyiding the working surface, the flaps providing working surfaces in the open position.

The device may include a storage receptacle adjacent the working surface and covered by the cover in the closed position.

The storage receptacle may be removable.

The device may include a vice having first and second jaws, the second jaw being movable towards the first jaw, and latch means for holding the second jaw in clamping position.

According to another aspect of the invention, a vice has first and second jaws, the second jaw being movable towards the first jaw, and latch means for holding the second jaw in clamping position.

The latch means may comprise a latch member cooperable with a latch member holding means, the latch member holding means being adjustable with respect to the first jaw.

The latch member may be mounted on the second jaw.

There may be device means biassing the latch member holding means away from the first jaw.

The device may include a vice having first and second jaws, means for clamping the jaws against a workpiece, the clamping being provided by clamping screws movable against latches positioned as appropriate to the workpiece.

A device may include clamp means including clamp means carried by one or both jaws and co-operable with a jaw, the jaw or jaws being shaped to provide different sized gaps between the clamp means and the jaw.

The clamp means may be mounted on the jaw and the upper surface of the jaw is stepped.

The device may comprise protective material on external surfaces of the device, According to a further aspect of the invention a portable work device comprises means for providing a working surface, cover means movable between a closed position covering the working surface and an open position exposing the working surface, and protective material on external surfaces of the device.

All external surfaces may be provided by protective material.

The protective material may comprise resilient material. The invention may be performed in several ways and two specific embodiments with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with specific reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a workstation device part in collapsed or storage condition; Fig. 2 is a view from the right of Fig. 1, in a working condition; Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1, in section; Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 1 in storage condition part in section; Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the device; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a work assisting unit or jig; Figs. 7 to 10 are side views of Fig. 6; Figs. 11, 12 are enlarged views of part of the jig; Fig. 13 is a plan view of another device part in storage condition; Fig. 14 is a front view of Fig. 13 part in storage condition;; Fig. 15 is a view of part of the device showing a trough in two positions; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a vice part in section; and Fig. 17 is another section through part of the vice.

A portable workstation device 10 comprises a tray 11 containing a wooden, cork or other suitable work surface 12 provided with a flexible rubber or other similar resilient protective medium 13 underneath.

The tray 11 has a frontal hinged trough portion 14 which may be held in the working position Fig. 3 by locking levers 15 to act as a stop against a table 30 or other chosen support surface.

The frontal hinge section 14 may be provided with a removable liner 16 for easy disposal of residues swept from the working surface 12.

The device 10 may be provided with a separate removable receptacle section or portion 17 to contain tools and other loose materials.

The device 10 has a lid 18 which may be sectionally hinged to retain loose tools and materials when the workstation is in the collapsed or storage condition in which the trough 14 is hinged up (Fig. 4) and the lid 18 and flaps 19 are in the closed position.

The tray 11 is provided with hinged side flaps 19 which are moved aside in the working state and swung over to contain the closed lid 18 and the closed hinged debris section 14 in the collapsed, storage, configuration. The hinged side flaps 19 may be held in the storage position by a locking bar or similar system (not shown).

The workstation 10 may be provided with flexible retractable arms 20 to carry a lighting fitting and.or optical magnifier etc. not shown.

The workstation 10 may be provided with a pressure bar 21 containing lugs 22 to act as a location for a work assisting unit or jig 23. Alternative locating devices may be adopted such as pegs or grooves cut or moulded in the working surface 12.

Jig 23 may be provided with a holding cramp 24 or clamping wedges 25 to hold workpieces in a working position.

The portable workstation 10 is suitably protected to prevent damage to a supporting table or other firm standing support whilst providing a working area on surface 12 to be used in situations inimical to the deployment of detritus-producing activities as obtains in normally accepted workshop conditions such as model making and DIY repairs. A lockable hinged portion 14 is provided suitably protected to hold the workstation pressed against a supporting surface 30. An easily removable tray or liner 16 is provided for disposal of arisings and residues. Locators are provided for positioning and retaining one or more working jigs. A lid and fastenings are provided enabling the assembly to be collapsed and together with the tools and working jigs to be retained in a carrying or storage configuration.

The station 10 is a collapsible and portable device to provide a workshop facility in domestic and other non-workshop environments together with means for the easy disposal of residues or waste.

The device provides a working area to be used in situations inimical to the deployment of detritus producing activities such as model making and DIY equipment repairs. The device is particularly protected to avoid damage to a supporting table or other firm standing support.

The device may be suitably designed to be retained in the working position and can accommodate working tools and work assisting devices together with means for the collection and disposal of debris from the working surface.

The device may be provided with outlet sockets for power assisted tools, lighting etc.

The device is designed to collapse into a carrying or storage configuration.

In another arrangement the device 40 Figs. 13 to 17, the side flaps 19 when hinged up form the lid. The exterior surface of the device 40 may be provided with or by a protective cushioning layer 13.

The tray 11 has rear wall 42 and side walls 42a, flap 19 having a side wall 42b. The walls 42a, 42b are hinged at 46 along their full length as are front edge 43 of tray 11 and wall 44 of trough 14. Wall 44 forms the front wall in the collapsed condition.

The detritus can be moved or brushed off surface 12 over edge 43 to fall into trough 14.

The flaps 19 when open themselves provide working surfaces 19a which may be on a removable sheet.

The open-topped section 17 may be manually removed and replaced.

The bottom wall of the tray 11 receives a removable sheet 12 providing an upwardly facing working surface. The sheet 12 can be reversed to bring the underface to the top and the opposed faces can be different. For example, one surface may carry markings for sketching or drawing purposes and may incorporate an integral magnetic sheet enabling small movable magnets to be used to hold temporarily tracing sheets or other material.

The detritus tray 14 may have a hole in its lower wall 14b closed by a removable plug 14c for gravity removal of detritus.

The trough 14 has stde walls 14a and front and rear walls 14d, 44.

The wall 14b is uppermost in the collapsed condition.

The side walls 42a of tray 11 may have secured the to channels 50 with spaced apertures 51 which receive or selectively removably receive the ends of one or more cross bars for locating and holding a vice 52. Tbe vice 52 includes spaced flat plates 53 which can be used for locating the vice an working posltlon. Secured to the plates 53 Is a fixed jaw 54 provided a flat jew surface 55 cooperable with a jaw surface 56 on an adjustable jaw 57.

Ciamplng screws 58 exLend trough apertures in laws 54 and 57 and are threaded to engage fixed nuts 59a.

Alternate large and smallcr washers 61a, 61b and blassing springs 60 are provided over clamping screws 58.

Springs 60 blas washers 61a, (ilb. Jaw 57 can move over the washers, ant is initially moved towards the workpiece by hand.

Clarriping screws 58 operate against latches 63 engaging with washers 61a and 61b.

Bars 62 hold In place fnr pivotal movement latches 63 movable between open position 63a and closed position 63b; in the latter position the washers engage the latches. The latches 63 may be replaced by a flat removable cross plate engaging over the screws rods 58.

A rotatable hand lever 70 is selectively mountable in apertures 71 in the jaws and co-operates with a clamp plate 72 having a stepped lower clamping surface 73.

The upwardly facing surfaces 54a, 57a of the jaws 54, 57 are stepped to provide a number of flat surfaces of different depths below surface 73 to accommodate articles to be clamped of different thickness.

The faces 55, 56 may have V cut outs 80 to assist in gripping shaped articles.

The portable workstation device provides a working surface for use for example in schools or in a domestic setting.

The entire device may have a cushioned exterior surface to protect the support.

Claims (23)

1. A portable work device comprising means providing a working surface, and receptacle means for receiving material removed from on the working surface.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the receptacle means comprises a trough extending along an edge of the working surface.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the receptacle means has a removable liner.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the receptacle means has an openable and closable outlet for material.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, including a cover movable between a closed position covering the working surface and an open position exposing the working surface, the receptacle means being movable between a working and non-working position.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, in which the cover in the closed position covers the receptacle means in the non-working position.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, in which the cover comprises flaps hinged to the means providing the working surface, the flaps providing working surfaces in the open position.

8. A device as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 7, including a storage receptacle adjacent the working surface and covered by the cover in the closed position.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8, in which the storage receptacle is removable.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, including a vice having first and second jaws, the second jaw being movable towards the first jaw, and latch means for holding the second jaw in clamping position.

11. A vice having first and second jaws, the second jaw being movable towards the first jaw, and latch means for holding the second jaw in clamping position.

12. A device or vice as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, in which the latch means comprises a latch member co-operable with a latch member holding means, the latch member holding means being adjustable with respect to the first jaw.

13. A device or vice as claimed in Claim 12, in which the latch member is mounted on the second jaw.

14. A device or vice as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, including means biassing the latch member holding means away from the first jaw.

15. A device or vice as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, including a vice having first and second jaws, means for clamping the jaws against a workpiece, the clamping being provided by clamping screws movable against latches positioned as appropriate to the workpiece.

16. A device or vice as claimed in any of Claim 10 to 15, including clamp means carried by one or both jaws and co-operable with a jaw, the jaw or jaws being shaped to provide different sized gaps between the clamp means and the jaw.

17. A device or vice as claimed in Claim 16, in which the clamp means is mounted on the jaw and the upper surface of the jaw is stepped.

18. A device or vice as claimed in any preceding claim comprising protective material on external surfaces of the device.

19. A portable work device comprising means for providing a working surface, cover means movable between a closed position covering the working surface and an open position exposing the working surface, and protective material on external surfaces of the device.

20. A device or vice as claimed in Claim 18 or Claim 19, in which all external surfaces are provided by protective material.

21. A device or vice as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 20, in which the protective material comprises resilient material.

22. A portable work device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

23. A vice substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.