Abstract:
A power tool workstation for mounting one of a series of different power tools includes a top plate with a flanged opening therein for receipt of an insert upon which any one of a number of power tools is mounted.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    In the principal aspect the present invention relates to a power tool workstation construction and, more particularly, to a modular tool work station capable of receiving and mounting any one of a series of distinct tools, most especially, power tools.  
           [0002]    Woodworking shops as well as home hobbyists typically use a variety of woodworking tools such as routers, band saws, drill presses, planers, table saws, vices, and the like. Most often each of these separate tools are permanently mounted on their own support table or bench. The worker or craftsman will then move the various work pieces to the bench or station where the desired tool is located. Often however, there is restricted space for placement of work benches or stations and, typically, some equipment or power tools are needed only on certain, minimal occasions. Further, with respect to such tools it is desirable to insure minimum dust pollution while at the same time providing a sturdy support or bench for the work tool. Additionally, the cost of a separate workbench for each tool can be excessive. Finally, many workbenches for each of a number of separate tools may have a different height thus requiring the worker to adjust the height of the workbench or the tool in some manner as the worker moves from station to station. That is, worker comfort is facilitated by maintaining the separate tools at a generally constant height or work level. Further, it is often desirable to move the tools. Most workbenches are not easily movable. Also, with most workbenches it is difficult to replace or remove the tool for repair or service.  
           [0003]    With the aforesaid needs and desires in mind, the present invention was developed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Briefly, the present invention comprises a power tool workstation construction that is used for mounting any one of the series of distinct tools or power tools. The workstation includes a rectangular, parallelepiped, sheet metal cabinet or base having an open top with a special tool support plate fixed or attached to the open top. Wheels are provided along one side of the cabinet at the floor level so that the cabinet may be tilted and easily moved. The tool support plate, affixed to the open top of the cabinet, overlaps or extends beyond the edges of the cabinet or base to facilitate lifting, tilting and moving of the cabinet. The cabinet includes a front door for access to the contents and for access to a dustbin that is positioned beneath the open top and accessible to a dust exhaust discharge system. The tool support plate includes an opening or passageway with a flange for support of an insert panel or insert. A separate tool is mounted on each separate insert and the insert may then be positioned in the opening in a tool support plate of a bench or work station. Because the inserts for the support plate are equally sized, any one of a number of separate tools may be supported and used in combination with the workstation. The insert rests on the flange in the opening and a fastening mechanism retains the insert and the tool attached thereto on the support plate. With this construction any one of a number of tools may be mounted, each on a separate insert, and each maintained in a storage cabinet to be available for placement on the support plate. Because the inserts for the support plate are equally sized, any one of a number of separate power tools may be supported and used in combination with the workstation. The insert may, itself, include a removable insert plate for mounting, by way of example, a router wherein the router blade would project upwardly through the insert plate with the router itself positioned within the interior of the cabinet. Optional table top extensions which include a horizontal support bracket and a vertical support leg may be attached to the main workstation cabinet to provide an additional work surface on either side of the workstation. Typically the corners of the support plate of the workstation are radiased or chamfered for purposes of safety. Differently shaped and sized work plates may be attached to the top of the cabinet. For example, a corner cabinet construction with an angled sided support plate may be provided.  
           [0005]    Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved power tool support cabinet construction.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a power tool support construction which is capable of supporting any one of a number of distinct power tools.  
           [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide an economical, rugged, easily assembled, easily transported workstation for power tools, which is stable, yet capable of movement.  
           [0008]    These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]    In the detailed description, which follows reference, will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the improved workstation of the present invention in combination with a power tool;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the workstation of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a workstation having a support plate constructed for use with a router;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a supplemental support platform extender or extension for use in combination with a workstation of the type shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a workstation having an alternative style support plate mounted thereon for use in a corner;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a storage cabinet for use in combination with the work station of the present invention wherein the storage cabinet is constructed to receive and support multiple power tools and other tools mounted on separate support plate inserts; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is an isometric view illustrating the backside of the workstation of FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    The workstation of the invention is comprised of a rectangular, parallelepiped sheet metal cabinet  8  which includes a front side or panel  10 , a first lateral side panel  12 , a second lateral side panel  14 , and a back panel  16 . The panels  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16  define a rectangular parallelepiped cabinet with an open front to which a hinged door  18  is preferably attached. A bottom panel  20  reinforces the connected side panels  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 . The first lateral side panel  12  includes first and second wheels  24  and  26  attached thereto. Affixed to the bottom panel  20  on each of the bottom corners of the cabinet is an adjustable foot, for example foot  28 , which may be used to adjust the height of the cabinet.  
         [0018]    The top of the cabinet is open. Attached to the open top of the cabinet is a tool support plate  30 . The support plate  30  is typically a wood or composite material rather then a metal material inasmuch as the plate  30  may be drilled with holes for attachment for a power tool such as the circular saw  32  in FIG. 1. Preferably, the plate  30  has a generally rectangular shape as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, for example, and is preferably in the range of ½ to 1 inch thick.  
         [0019]    In the preferred embodiment, the plate  30  includes a rectangular or four-sided insert  34  on which a tool is mounted. The insert  34  rests on a flange  36  defined in and extending around the periphery of a congruent opening  38  in the plate  30 . The opening  38  typically is four sided or rectangular in shape and the flange  36  is likewise four sided or rectangular to thereby support the congruent insert  34 . Manually actuated fasteners  40  and  42  are provided to retain the insert  34  in place in the opening  38  on the flange  36 . The insert  34  has a thickness, which renders the top of the insert  34  coplanar with the top of plate  30  when placed in the opening  38 . This is the preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0020]    The insert  34 , as well as the plate  30 , are typically fabricated from wood, or composite material which may be drilled or otherwise worked in order to facilitate attachment of a power tool and in order to provide openings therethrough for passage of dust to a bin  44  within the interior of the cabinet. The bin  44  is attached by means of a flexible hose  46  to a dust recovery system of the type typically found in wood shops and the like.  
         [0021]    The insert  34  may itself include a further auxiliary panel insert  50  for support of a tool such as a router thereon, or alternatively the plate  30  may include a special panel insert  52  with a centered opening  54  therethrough. A router (not shown) could then be mounted on the underside of the panel insert  52  with a router blade extending through the opening  54  for exposure to work a work piece passing over the surface of the plate  30  and panel insert  52 .  
         [0022]    As depicted in FIG. 6 a number of separate power tools and other tools such as a vice, drill press, etc. may each be mounted on a separate insert  34  and stored on separate shelves of a cabinet  60 . The cabinet  60  is typically an open sided cabinet with multiple spaced horizontal shelves  61 . Access to the tools stored in the cabinet is thus rendered easy and the tool desired for use in combination with a workstation may be easily removed for placement in the congruent opening  38  of plate  30 . Sawdust or other material resulting from a power tool operation can then be collected in the bin  44 , for example, and directed through a tube  46  to the work shop exhaust system and dust collection system.  
         [0023]    Preferably the plate  30  extends beyond the edges of the cabinet defined by the panels  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16 . This provides a handhold for tilting of the cabinet when movement of the cabinet is desired. Additionally, this provides for protection of the worker that is using the tool and also provides improved access around the sides of the cabinet. Further, since the corners  33 ,  34  of the plate  30  are radiused or chamfered, a worker will not be exposed to a sharp corner when moving about the circumference of the workstation as the tool at the station is being used.  
         [0024]    The shape of the plate  30  may be varied in other respects to accommodate needs of the workstation operator and the tool room in which the work stations are situated. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a specially configured plate  35  is designed to permit placement of a workstation cabinet in a corner. Thus the plate  35  includes five sides with the backsides  64  and  66  at right angles for placement in a corner. The front side  68  is parallel to the cabinet front panel and the lateral sides  70  and  72  of plate  35  define an angle so that an adjacent rectangular work station plate  30  will fit against the side.  
         [0025]    Latch  42  typically comprises a rotatable stem  43  mounted in plate  30  with a projecting lug  45  for holding insert  34  in place upon rotation by griping handle  47 .  
         [0026]    Further features of the modular cabinets include a plate  30  or insert  34  which includes a pattern of passages or openings  79  to facilitate collection of sawdust, grit and shavings in a dust collection bin on the inside of the cabinet from a sander, for example, or a drill. Additionally, the openings  80  may receive dogs or stops that maintain a work piece. Thus, an insert  34  may include a pattern of openings or recesses for mounting work piece dogs or stops  82  which are adjustable.  
         [0027]    The storage cabinet  60  may or may not include access doors. Storage cabinet  60  may include adjustable shelves or opposed support flange members  85  in FIG. 6 for support of inserts  34  with a tool mounted thereon. The storage cabinet and a plurality of cabinets  8  in combination with inserts  34  may be arrayed in a workroom in a desired and efficient array which is adjustable inasmuch as the cabinets  8  are mounted on wheels and the inserts  34  with assorted tools may all be moved easily.  
         [0028]    As depicted in FIG. 4, a supplemental work support stand  90  may be attached to a cabinet  8  by bolting support arms  92  to the top bolt openings  94  of cabinet  8 . The stand  90  thus includes a vertical leg  96 , horizontal arms  92  and a top work platform  98 .  
         [0029]    Various modifications of the construction may be implemented. That is, the height of the sheet metal cabinet may be varied. The arrangement and position of doors and shelves may be varied. The particular plate fastener such as fasteners  40  and  42  may be varied. Thus the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.