Abstract:
An adjustable work stand has fixed and hinged legs connected to a leg bracket, a table having a table bracket connected to a fulcrum in the leg bracket and fixed leg, a lock bolt in the hinged leg indexes both legs and the tables in several configurations including a plurality of table angles and a collapsed storage configuration, and a single actuator operates the lock bolts for any and all adjustments of the work stand and its mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention pertains to an adjustable work stand having a multiple position table and a construction which collapses, with a lock mechanism requiring the use of only one hand for release and/or lock of the table and for release and/or lock of the legs. The work stand is particularly well suited for body shop repair of vehicle panels. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     Adjustable work stands are old and well known. They are also quite usable for repair and refinishing of vehicle panels such as fenders, doors, tailgates and the like. 
     Specific examples of these work stands are the subject of the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 
     2904087: K. H. WALTHAU 
     4268020: A. E. WOOD 
     4501202: H. CORAZZA 
     4530492: R. L. BORK 
     4538796: G. L. STECK 
     4577843: D. R. MILWAIN 
     4676491: G. RADLOF 
     One of the major problems with these prior work stands is that they are difficult to operate and have several actuators and lock and adjusters. 
     Simplification of the adjustment mechanisms and operation is needed. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a new work stand having adjustability and collapsibility by a single actuator. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a new adjustable mechanism for the table and legs of a work stand. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a work stand with a single lock mechanism for both table adjustment and leg adjustment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An adjustable work stand has a fixed leg, a hinged leg, a leg bracket connected to both legs, a work table, a work table bracket connected by a fulcrum to the leg bracket, and a lock bolt engaging and locking together the hinged leg, leg bracket, a table bracket and therefore both legs and the table. 
     An adjustable work stand has pairs of fixed and hinged legs connected to a respective pair of leg brackets, a work table with a pair of table brackets mounted rotatably with respect to the legs, a transversely movable lock bolt in each hinged leg, and at least two lock abutments in each bracket that are engagable with a respective lock bolt. 
     An adjustable work stand has a pair of legs connected to each other by a hinge, a leg bracket, an adjustable position table atop of the legs, a table bracket fixed to and co-movable with the table, a lock bolt for engaging both the legs, leg bracket and table bracket, and a lock operator that will both lock and/or release the table and lock and/or release the legs. 
     A work stand mechanism has a leg bracket for first and second legs, a table bracket, a table fulcrum pin, a second leg portion, and a single lock bolt in the leg portion for locking the leg portion, the leg bracket and the table bracket together and providing adjustment of the table bracket to a different position. 
     Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is set forth and shown by way of illustrative example. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the work stand of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the workings and geometry of the structure of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 4 in an alternative storage configuration. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a work stand is provided as shown in FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 and as generally indicated by the numeral 10. The work stand 10 includes a first and relatively fixed leg 12, a second and relatively movable hinged leg 14, an adjustable work and/or load supporting table 16 which is shown in solid line in a normal horizontal altitude P1, but which is easily adjustable to any of alternative altitudes P2, P3, P4 as will be explained. A table and leg mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral 20, interconnects and fixes the positions of the legs 12, 14, and table 16 with respect to one another. 
     The table 16 is preferably a closed rectangular frame of square tubing upon which an appropriate table top (not shown) or work holders 18 can be mounted. Each of the legs 12, 14 is preferably a generally U-shaped member having right legs 12R, 14R and left legs 12L, 14L which are structurally interconnected by leg bases 12B, 14B. There is a complete right mechanism 20R and a complete mirror image left mechanism 20L. Both mechanisms are controlled by a single common actuator 22. 
     The most important part of this invention is the new mechanism 20 which enables adjustment of both the table 16 and the legs 12, 14 with one hand on the actuator 22 and the other hand on the table 16 or table load as the case may be. The mechanism 20 includes a leg bracket 24, a table bracket 26, and a lock bolt 28 which is connected to the common actuator 22. 
     As best shown in FIG. 3, the leg bracket 24 is a generally triangular shaped bracket having a truncated top 30. Along a flat fixed edge 32 are a pair of apertures 34, 36. Along a formed opposite edge is an outstop 38 formed by an inward extending flange. Adjacent the outstop 38 is a second pair of apertures 40, 42 which lie in a line 44 parallel to and spaced from the outstop 38. Apertures 40, 42 are closer together than the apertures 34, 36. Aperture 42 is the fulcrum aperture for the hinged leg 14 which has a top journal 46 which is bolted to aperture 42 to form the hinge joint between the leg bracket 24 and the hinged leg 14. Aperture 40 is a leg lock aperture for locking of the hinged leg 14 in a spread position for stable support and use of the work stand 10, as shown in FIG. 1. A leg storage lock aperture 48 is centrally located in the leg bracket 24. The storage lock aperture is located equivalent and on the same radius from the leg fulcrum aperture 42 as the leg lock aperture 40. 
     A line 50 drawn through apertures 42, 48 is parallel to a line 52 drawn through apertures 34, 36. Aperture 36 is the aperture for a combination table fulcrum pin and fixed leg bolt 54. 
     The table bracket 26 has a pair of fastener apertures 54 for fastening to the table 16. A table journal aperture 56 is centrally located in the bracket 26. A plurality of table position lock apertures 58A,B,C,d are located on a radius swing from the center-line of the journal aperture 56. The radius length is identical to the spacing between apertures 36 and 40 on the leg bracket 24. An arcuate slot 60 is located on a radius 62 which is identical to the spacing between apertures 36 and 42. A table storage lock aperture 64 is located from journal a56 a distance identical to the distance between apertures 36 and 48; the storage lock aperture 64 is located from end radius point 66 in slot 60 a distance identical to the spacing between apertures 42 and 48 on the leg bracket 24. 
     FIG. 4 best illustrates the operation and interrelating geometries of the work stand 10 and the mechanism 20. The work stand 10 is shown with the table fulcrum bolt 54 providing the hinge for the table 16, and a second bolt 68 providing with bolt 54, the fixed securement of the fixed leg 12 to the leg bracket 24. The hinged leg 14 is mounted on a leg fulcrum bolt 70 and the lock bolt 28 is registered with and is extending through lock apertures 40 and 58A with the table 16 rigidly positioned in P1. The hinged leg 14 is abutted against the outstop 38. By pulling actuator 22 with one hand, lock bolts 28 will be pulled inward out of lock apertures 58A and the table 16 can be moved independently of the legs from P1 to P2 wherein aperture 58B will register with lock bolt 28, and so on for positions P3 and P4. When the table 16 reaches either position P1 or P4, the ends of the arcuate slot 60 abut against the outer head of the leg fulcrum bolt and limit rotation of the table 16. 
     FIG. 5 shows the work stand 10 and mechanism 20 is an alternative storage position. The table 16, and hinged leg 14 are both parallel to the centrally located fixed leg 14. The lock bolt 28 is registered with and is extending through apertures 48 and 64. The leg fulcrum bolt 70 is aligned with end point 66 in the slot 66. 
     The table 16 and legs 12, 14 can both be adjusted upon one handed operation of the actuator 22 and the spring loaded lock bolts 28. The mechanism 20 and the work stand 10 are very positively held in a selected rigid configuration. 
     When the workstand 10 and mechanism 20 are deployed in the usable position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the legs 12, 14 and leg bracket 24 form a rigid and generally equilateral triangular configuration wherein the legs 12, 14 are spread out and away from each other. The legs 12, 14 are double held on each side of the workstand 10 firstly by the lock bolt 28 and secondly, by the outstop 38. Thus even if the lock bolts 28 are pulled out, the legs 12, 14 are still positively held by the outstops 28 and the workstand 10 remains stable. The table 16 is positively held in any one of positions P1, P2, P3, P4. Position P1 is a horizontal &#34;table&#34; position. Positions P2, P3, and P4 are &#34;easel&#34; positions, and position P4 is also an upright &#34;storage&#34; position when leg 14 is folded in as to the storage position shown in FIG. 5. 
     The workstand 10 and mechanism 20 hold the table 16 exceptionally rigid. Firstly, the table 16 is positionally locked on both sides, and the mechanical lock is at the fore-aft center of the table 16. The lock loads are then spread to the table frame 16 by the two table brackets 26 and spaced apart table fastener structures 54. Then, loading on the table 16 is directly applied firstly to both leg brackets 24 and then distributed to all four legs 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R rather than just to one leg as in the prior art. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the workstand 10 and mechanism 20, the arcuate slot 60 is replaced by outwardly formed arcuate pocket that also protectively covers the outward projection of the leg fulcrum bolt 70. While the pocket is not shown, it shares the same size, shape, location and function as the arcuate slot 60. 
     Although other advantages may be found and realized and various modifications may be suggested by those versed in the art, be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.