Abstract:
A folding table comprising a substantially planar surface, said surface having an elongated slot disposed through the planar surface for receiving a cutting edge of a hand-operated power tool; said planar surface supported by at least two front vertical members interconnected by at least one cross member, and at least two rear vertical members interconnected by at least one cross member; at least two side cross-members interconnecting the front and rear vertical members, said side cross-members hinged to allow for folding the table; and a tool carriage coupled to a lever said lever connected to a foot pedal such that depressing the foot pedal raises or lowers the tool carriage, wherein a hand-operated power tool is mounted in the tool carriage such that the lever moves the tool carriage towards the planer surface extending the cutting edge through the elongated slot in the planar surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to portable worktables and more particularly to a folding worktable with a power tool mounted below the table surface. 
         [0002]    Mobile workers are required to carry all the requisite tools to a job site in order to complete the job. For construction workers, this often requires carrying numerous powered hand tools and, on occasion, larger and heavier tools such as table saws. The larger, heavier tools entail additional labor for both transport and setup. Having numerous expensive tools on-site places the worker at risk of theft or other loss of his tools from the job site or from the work vehicle. A portable table is needed which operates as a workbench by allowing numerous and varied powered hand tools to be operated from or on it. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Disclosed herein is a folding portable table comprising a substantially planar surface, said surface having a top face and a bottom face and an elongated slot disposed through the planar surface for receiving a cutting edge of a hand-operated power tool; said planar surface to be supported by at least two front vertical members interconnected by at least one cross member, and at least two rear vertical members interconnected by at least one cross member; at least two side cross-members interconnecting the front and rear vertical members, said side cross-members hinged to allow for folding the table and a tool carriage coupled to a lever such that the tool carriage moves towards, or away from, the planar surface controlled by the lever, said lever connected to a foot pedal such that depressing the foot pedal raises or lowers the tool carriage; an electrical switch disposed on the table for coupling electricity to the hand-operated power tool depending on the position of the switch; a fastener for locking a power switch on the hand-operated tool into the “on” position, wherein a hand-operated power tool is mounted in the tool carriage such that the cutting edge of the tool is disposed towards the slot and the lever moves the tool carriage towards the planer surface and which extends the cutting edge through the elongated slot in the planar surface. 
         [0004]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with its additional objectives and advantages, will be best understood when the following description of specific embodiments is read with the accompanying drawings present and in full view. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment according to the current disclosure. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of one embodiment according to the current disclosure using a hand-operated reciprocating saw. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of one embodiment according to the current disclosure showing a reciprocating saw in an elevated position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of one embodiment according to the current disclosure showing a reciprocating saw in an elevated position and having vertical supports connected to the table-top. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not, in itself, dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment according to the current disclosure. In  FIG. 1  a substantially flat planar surface or table top  110  is supported by four legs or vertical members ( 112  through  118 ). The left side legs  112  and  114  are pivotably connected to an articulated cross member  124 . A hinge assembly  125  in the articulated cross member  124  allows the legs  112  and  114  to be brought closer together. The right side legs  116  and  118  are pivotably connected to an articulated cross member  126 . A hinge assembly  127  in the articulated cross member  126  allows the legs  116  and  118  to be brought closer together. 
         [0011]    A tool carriage comprised of a tool base  128 , a vertical support  134  and articulated locking arms  130  and  132  is coupled to a lever  136  such that the tool carriage can be raised, or lowered, depending on the position of lever  136 . The tool carriage provides for receiving a portable power tool (not shown) and securing it in to the carriage using the articulated locking arms  130  and  132 . The locking arms  130  and  132  are fastened with a fastener (not shown). This disclosure allows for a power tool disposed in the tool carriage to be raised towards the table top  110  by the action of lever  136 . The power tool&#39;s operating edge, for example a saw blade, will then extend through a slot  120  in the table  110  and enable the user to cut on the table. 
         [0012]    In the  FIG. 1  a foot pedal  138  is connected to level  136  for control of the tool carriage. The lever  136  is pivotably mounted to a cross member  140  which in turn is connected to the cross-members  125  and  126 . One having skill in the art will appreciate that a variety of tools with cutting edges may be mounted in the tool carriage such that numerous common power tools may be used with the current embodiment. Note also that the lever action may be designed to accomplish identical results when using any of the available locations for the pivot point and the foot pedal  138 . Note also that the cutting guard  142  and slot  120  may be positioned at any of the available places on the table top  110  to effectuate any of the available types of cutting surfaces. 
         [0013]    The current embodiment allows for a variety of types of hand-operated power tools to be mounted in the tool carriage. The design which allows a variety of tools to be used with the power tool table eliminates or reduces the need for mobile workers to carry multiple tables for one need or for specific needs lightens the burden on the worker while also saving each worker the significant monetary outlays associated with purchasing, transporting, and setting up multiple tables. Another advantage of the current disclosure is ease-of-use when cutting through materials of various thicknesses because the extension of a cutting blade can be controlled dynamically by the user while performing the operation. 
         [0014]    References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure or characteristic. Note also that such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art to effect such feature, structure or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not such other embodiments are explicitly described. Parts of the description are presented using terminology commonly employed by those of ordinary skill in the art to convey the substance of their work to others who are, likewise, of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of one embodiment according to the current disclosure using a hand-operated reciprocating saw. In the  FIG. 2 , a hand-operated reciprocating power saw  250  is mounted in the tool carriage such that an upper arm  231  and a lower arm  230  secure the reciprocating saw in place. In the  FIG. 2  a substantially flat surface or table top  210  is supported by four legs or vertical members ( 212  and  214 ). The left-side legs  212  and  214  are pivotably connected to an articulated cross member  224 . A hinge assembly  225  in the articulated cross-member  224  allows the legs  212  and  214  to be brought closer together. 
         [0016]    A tool carriage comprised of a tool base (not shown), a vertical support  234  and articulated locking arms  230  and  231  is coupled to a lever  236  such that the tool carriage can be raised or lower depending on the position of lever  236 . The tool carriage provides for receiving a portable power tool  250  such as a reciprocating saw and securing it to the tool carriage using the articulated locking arms  230  and  231 . The locking arms  230  and  231  are fastened with a fastener (not shown). This disclosure allows for a power tool disposed in the tool carriage to be raised towards the table  210  by the action of lever  236 . The power tool&#39;s operating edge, for example, saw blade  252  will then extend through a slot (not shown) in the table  210  allowing the user to secure the saw in place while operating the tool. The lever  236  is further attached to a foot pedal  238  allowing a user to raise and lower the tool carriage while working at the table. 
         [0017]    A power switch  256  is connected to the table  210  and disposed along the underside such that a user can reach it will standing at the table. A power cord from the power tool  258  connects to the power switch  256 , said power switch  256  being further connected to an electrical outlet for providing power to the switch. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of one embodiment according to the current disclosure showing a reciprocating saw in an elevated position. In the figure, a hand-operated reciprocating power saw  350  is mounted in the tool carriage such that an upper arm  331  and a lower arm  330  secure the reciprocating saw in place. In the figure a substantially flat surface or table top  310  is supported by four legs or vertical members ( 312  and  314 ). The left side legs  312  and  314  are pivotably connected to an articulated cross member  324 . A hinge assembly  325  in the articulated cross member  324  allows the legs  312  and  314  to be brought closer together. 
         [0019]    A tool carriage comprised of a tool base  328 , a vertical support  334  and articulated locking arms  330  and  331  is coupled to a lever  336  such that the tool carriage can be raised or lower depending on the position of lever  336 . The tool carriage provides for receiving a portable power tool  350  such as a reciprocating saw and securing it in to the tool carriage using the articulated locking arms  330  and  331 . The locking arms  330  and  331  are fastened with a fastener (not shown). This disclosure allows for a power tool disposed in the tool carriage to be raised towards the table  310  by the action of lever  336 . The power tool&#39;s operating edge, for example, saw blade  352  will then extend through a slot in the table top  310  as shown, thus allowing a user to secure the saw in place while operating the tool. The lever  336  is further attached to a foot pedal  338  allowing a user to raise and lower the tool carriage while working at the table. 
         [0020]    A power switch  356  is connected to the table top  310  and disposed along the underside such that a user can reach it will standing at the table. A power cord from the power tool  358  connects to the power switch  356 , said power switch  356  being further connected to an electrical outlet for providing power to the switch. In this embodiment a fastener such as a strap or clamp  358  is attached over the operation switch of the reciprocating saw  350  to hold the trigger of the reciprocating saw in the “on” position. This allows for the power tool to be operated by power switch  356  even though the power tool  350  may not have a locking trigger mechanism. It also provides a means for control of the power tool while the operator stands at the table. Note also that a lever locking mechanism (not shown) may be employed to hold the lever in place during operation. 
         [0021]    One having skill in the art will appreciate that many differing type of hand-operated power tools may be mounted to the table described above. The tool carriage may be constructed to accommodate a variety of shaped tools from numerous manufacturers. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of one embodiment according to the current disclosure showing a reciprocating saw in an elevated position and having vertical supports connected to the table top. In the  FIG. 4 , a hand-operated reciprocating power saw  450  is mounted in the tool carriage such that an upper arm  431  and a lower arm  430  secure the reciprocating saw in place. In the  FIG. 4  a substantially flat surface or table top  410  is supported by four legs or vertical members ( 412  and  414 ). The left side legs  412  and  414  are pivotably connected to an articulated cross member  424 . A hinge assembly  425  in the articulated cross member  424  allows the legs  412  and  414  to be brought closer together. 
         [0023]    A tool carriage comprised of a tool base  428 , a vertical support  434  and articulated locking arms  430  and  431  is coupled to a lever  436  such that the tool carriage can be raised or lower depending on the position of lever  436 . In this embodiment the tool carriage is slidably coupled to the vertical support  434  such that the tool carriage is guided towards the table top  410 , the vertical support  434  being connected to the table top  410  and to a support member (not shown). The tool carriage provides for the reception of a portable power tool  450  such as a reciprocating saw and securing it in to the tool carriage using the articulated locking arms  430  and  431 . The locking arms  430  and  431  are fastened with a fastener (not shown). This disclosure allows for a power tool disposed in the tool carriage to be raised towards the table  410  by the action of lever  436 . The power tool&#39;s operating edge, for example, saw blade  452  will then extend through a slot in the table top  410  as shown, thereby allowing a user to secure the saw in place while operating the tool. The lever  436  is further attached to a foot pedal  438  allowing an operator to raise and/or lower the tool carriage while working at the table. 
         [0024]    A power switch  456  is connected to the table top  410  and disposed along the underside such that a user can reach it will standing at the table. A power cord from the power tool  458  connects to the power switch  456 , said power switch  456  being further connected to an electrical outlet for providing power to the switch. A strap  458  is attached over the operation switch of the reciprocating saw  450  to hold the trigger of the reciprocating saw in the on position. This allows for the power tool to be operated by power switch  456  even though the power tool  450  may not have a locking trigger mechanism thus providing for control of the power tool while standing at the table. Also a lever locking mechanism (not shown) may be employed to hold the lever in place during operation. 
         [0025]    The above illustration provides many different embodiments or embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims. 
         [0026]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.