GB2401819A

GB2401819A - A portable woodworking bench

Info

Publication number: GB2401819A
Application number: GB0311382A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Lorner
Original assignee: JACOBS JUNE ELIZABETH
Current assignee: JACOBS, JUNE E
Priority date: 2003-05-17
Filing date: 2003-05-17
Publication date: 2004-11-24
Also published as: WO2004101230A3; WO2004101230A2; GB0311382D0; GB2401819A8

Abstract

A portable woodworking bench comprises a clamp member 15 attached to a central board member 2. The central board member may be provided with a recess though which the foot of an operator can be placed, and where the application of foot pressure to the central board provides a clamping force to a workpiece held by the clamp member. A pair of cradles (7, 8, fig 1) may be attached to the legs on one side of the bench, and wedges (9, 10, fig 1) held in guides may be used to clamp panels and doors. A jig (6, fig 5) may be placed over the top of the clamp member having horizontally disposed sliding wedges.

Description

240181 9

Portable woodworking bench - Description.

The invention relates to a portable woodworking aid.

This portable work bench was conceived and built as an alternative to other equipment of this type currently available. It has a different, simpler, method of operation to steady and clamp timber, doors or board material to be sawn, planed or otherwise altered, that is not reliant upon screw clamps. It has an overall height of 630mm, a length of 710mm and measures 410mm at the base with the legs spread outwards for use.

According to the invention the main feature is a full length clamp lying flush to the bench top (1) attached to a centre board (2) that, when raised, serves to clamp larger sections of timber (3) by the simple expedient of foot pressure that also has the effect of steadying the bench when in use.

The other features utilise the very simple principle of wedging rather than by use of screw clamps and the specific features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows: Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 Side and end view of the bench with cradles folded and extended respectively.

Figure 2 Oblique view of the bench with main clamp in use Figure 3 Oblique view of the bench with cradles extended.

Figure 4 Oblique view of the bench with cradles supporting panel of material.

Figure 5 Top view of detachable jig.

Figure 6 View of the bench inverted for carriage.

Figure 1 shows the bench on the end and side whilst not in use with its main features and accessories [large cradles (7) and (8) shown hinged outwards for use] Operation 1. - Clamping lengths of timber for cross cutting with hand or circular saws.

Figure 2 shows how the main clamp works. The piece of timber to be sawn (3) is positioned and held rigidly beneath the horizontal board (1) that is raised and is itself attached to a vertical centre board (2) shaped as can be seen, to allow the operative to place one foot on the bottom rail thus performing a dual function of providing a comfortable position in which the bring the saw to bear on the timber, and also holding the timber with considerable downward force, and also with the added advantage of the clamping load being evenly distributed along the length and width of the sawn timber. It is not even necessary to steady the bench with the other hand in order to use the saw, and it is also possible to accommodate much larger sections of timber.

When not in use the horizontal clamp lies flush with the top of the bench and this illustration also shows the holes (14) into which the dowels of the detachable jig (6) [shown alongside] would fit. l

Operation 2 - Working on edges of large panels as for example doors or sheets of material.

In Figure 3, the cradles (7) and (8) that fold parallel to the bench have been swung out into position with the guided wedges (9) and (10) shown ready to drop in behind the panel/door, etc. to be worked upon. These large wedges have the effect of securely fixing the workplace throughout its length rather than only at one end. This avoids the need to use scrap pieces of timber beneath the door, etc. to keep it clear of the floor and avoid damaging the opposite edge. Note that the guides are notched at the top to provide a means of securing the wedges whilst the panel or sheet of material is positioned in the cradles. Figure 4 shows a panel (11) in position securely held by the wedges that have been slid down the guides from their holding position with the detachable jig that is not required for this operation detached from the top clamp.

Operation 3 - Clamping smaller sections of timber for planing, etc. Figure 5 shows an overhead view of the jig (6) fixed to the top surface of the bench showing the horizontally tapered guides (12) and the wedges (13) clamping a piece of sawn timber (14) by way of an example. The two sliding wedges are moved along the tapered guides to securely clamp materials of varying thicknesses and lengths quickly and easily so that operations such as planing, cutting, and shaping using hand or power tools can take place.

As earlier described, the clamp assembly itself is fixed on to the top surface of the horizontal main clamping board when this is not in use, using dowels socketed into pre-drilled holes (15) as shown in the Figure 2.

The wedges easily and solidly secure on or more pieces of timber without having to use screw clamps and, when the weight of the plane is applied to the top surface, there is no gap through which the workplace can slide as with other portable work benches and the arrangement is especially useful for planing two or more pieces to exactly the same dimensions.

The drillings (15) on the top surface of the bench as described above to receive the projecting dowels of the jig attachment can also be used to secure items of equipment as for example mitre saws or power tools such as chop saws.

Figure 6 shows the bench folded and inverted when the bottom rail of the centre board makes a convenient means of carrying the bench. Folding the bench is affected by lifting out the main clamp from the body of the bench until it clears the lower guide (4) that contains two slots, one to accommodate the vertical centre board when the bench is folded, and one when opened outwards for use. The leg assemblies are hinged and pivot about point (5).

Finally, this prototype is made from wood but it is anticipated that any production model may be refined, and manufactured using metal and plastic materials.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A portable woodworking bench that has a clamp attached to a centre board that allows easy and effective means of securing timber sections primarily for sawing, but also for performing operations associated with shaping or joining individual pieces.

2. A bench as in Claim 1 where the centreboard is provided with a recess used in the first instance as a footrest doubling as a means of steadying the bench, securely clamping the workplace, and following inversion, as a means of transporting the bench.

3. A bench as in Claim 1 that has two cradles attached to the legs on one side of the bench that, when folded outwards and used in conjunction with specially designed wedges running in guides can be used to securely clamp large panels of materials (doors, etc.) for the purpose of shaping, planing or other operations.

4. A bench as in Claim 1 that has a separate and additional top jig attaching to the top work surface that allows easy clamping of smaller board sections, planks of wood, etc. either singly or in multiple by means of guided horizontally opposed sliding wedges for the purpose of planing to achieve exactly similar dimensions if necessary, and/or performance of other shaping or sanding operations.

5. A bench as in all the proceeding claims that is capable of being folded and inverted for carriage.

6. A bench as in all proceeding claims that is made either from wood or a combination of metal and plastic.