A portable sawhorse which comprises first and second beam sections which are pivotally connected together to form a storage housing, first and second leg assemblies at respective distal ends of said first and second beam sections, said first and second leg assemblies being pivotally connected so as to be storable within said beam sections, and reinforcing members extending between first and second leg assemblies to stabilize the same when in an opened condition.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sawhorses and more particularly, relates to a sawhorse which can be knocked down and wherein a portion of the sawhorse forms a storage case for the remaining components to render the sawhorse portable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sawhorses are well known in the art and a basic model of the same includes a pair of legs at each end of a beam or support member. The beam or support member provides the working surface. One of the more common uses of sawhorses is to support building materials during construction. Thus, the building material can be placed on the beams or support members of a pair of sawhorses which are spaced apart with the two support members or beams being parallel. The work material is placed on top of the beams or support members thus allowing the user ready access to the building material for cutting, planing, painting, etc.

As aforementioned, the basic sawhorse has been known in the art for many years and generally comprises a wood structure. A disadvantage of such a traditional sawhorse is that it is bulky and therefore requires significant space for storage and transport. Furthermore, they are somewhat awkward to handle.

The prior art has taught the use of various types of collapsible or foldable sawhorses. However, they frequently require significant time to set up and are relatively expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sawhorse wherein the sawhorse is collapsible and occupies a minimum amount of space.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sawhorse which is sturdy and can be readily transported.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable sawhorse comprising a first beam section and a second beam section, the first and second beam sections being pivotally connected together, a first leg assembly at a distal end of the first beam section and a second leg assembly at a distal end of the second beam section, each of the first and second leg assemblies having first and second legs extending downwardly, the first and second legs being pivotally connected, reinforcing means extending between the first and second leg assemblies to stabilize the leg assemblies when in an open position.

The beam sections preferably are substantially identical and of an equal size. Each beam section will have a top wall and a pair of sidewalls to form a generally U-shaped configuration. It is between the sidewalls of the beam sections that the remaining components of the sawhorse are stored when the sawhorse is in a collapsed position. To this end, the beam sections are preferably hinged together and there is provided means for securing the beam sections together when in a knocked down condition. Conveniently, a handle may be provided at one end of one of the beam sections or alternatively, along a sidewall thereof.

Preferably, the sawhorse of the present invention is formed of a suitable metallic material, many of which are well known in the art including aluminum, alloys thereof, steel, alloys thereof, etc. Naturally, certain plastic materials can also be utilized. The leg assemblies preferably each comprise first and second legs. Each of the legs preferably has a telescopic arrangement such that they are adjustable in length with suitable means for retaining the leg sections in a desired position. The use of telescopic legs allows the easy storage of the same.

The arrangement of each leg is such that it is hinged at its securement point both that the leg may extend outwardly in a triangular configuration as is well known in the art and also to fold within the respective beam section.

When in an assembled condition, means for retaining the legs in a stable condition are provided and this may conveniently comprise a hinge member extending between the legs.

For additional stability, there is also preferably provided a lower reinforcing assembly extending between the legs/hinges.

The sawhorse also conveniently includes further reinforcing means which may comprise either cables or solid members extending between a lower central point and the ends of the beam sections and leg assemblies. To this end, preferably there is provided a downwardly extending central post which, at its lower end, will allow for attachment of the reinforcing means. As aforementioned, either solid telescopic/hinged arrangements may be used or flexible cables. In the instance of flexible cables, a preferred arrangement includes the use of tensioning means for maintaining the cables in a taut condition. Such tensioning means can include spring or elastic members or an equivalent structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in a greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated inFIG. 2a fully assembled sawhorse according to one embodiment of the present invention and which sawhorse is generally designated by reference numeral10.

Sawhorse10includes a beam which consists of two half members—a right half16and a left half12. As each half beam16,12is substantially identical and forms a single beam when assembled, only one will be described in detail herein. Half beam16is formed in a generally U-shaped configuration and has a first sidewall18, a second sidewall20, and a top wall22. Provided at each end are end caps24,26. Half beams16,21are connected by a hinge19.

A pair of leg assemblies are provided with only one such assembly being described herein. The second leg assembly is substantially identical and reference numerals with a prime are utilized for similar components. A first leg assembly generally designated by reference numeral25comprises first and second legs28and30, each having a leg extension28a,30arespectively. A retaining pin27is provided for securing the leg extensions28a,30ain position as is well known in the art. Rubber end caps35are provided on leg extensions28a,30a. A hinge member33extends between legs28,30and which hinge member, comprises a first hinge element32and a second hinge element34. First hinge element32is connected at pivot point36to leg30while second hinge element34is connected at pivot point38to leg28. First hinge element32and second hinge element34are connected together at a pivot point40.

At the upper end, legs28,30are mounted within a leg mounting member41and are pivotable therein. In turn, leg mounting assembly41is hingedly connected by means of hinge43to beam right half16to allow storage of assembly41and legs28,30.

A lower reinforcing assembly43extends between hinges32,34and32′,34′. Lower reinforcing bar43may be telescopic in nature or alternatively, as shown may consist of a plurality of sections44joined together.

As may be seen in aFIG. 2, there is provided a center post46located at the point of a juncture of right half16and left half12. A plate48forms a part of center post46and to which plate there is secured a plurality of cables.

Plate48is screw threadably engaged with center post46and thus the position of plate can be changed. Also, post46is hingedly connected at its base and thus can be folded over into either right half16or left half12.

A first cable52extends between the plate48and hinge assembly32,34with a second cable extending between plate48and hinge assembly32′,34′. An upper cable56extends between plate48and the distal end of beam right half16. In one embodiment of the invention, a further cable may be provided and which cable (not shown) would extend between plate48and lower right reinforcing bar44or alternatively, between plate48and the floor or substrate on which the sawhorse is placed.

A second upper cable58extends between plate48and the distal end of beam left half12. Naturally, some of the individual cables could be combined as a single cable.

For ease of carrying, a handle62is provided at one end thereof. A guide member64is provided for guiding beam left half12and beam right half16together when placing the sawhorse in knocked down storage configuration. A locking member or arrangement (not shown) may be provided for securing the half beams together.

As may be seen inFIGS. 3 and 7, the components fold inwardly to be stored within each of the half beams. The half beams12,16can then be folded together and secured.

The above arrangement provides an extremely compact package and two of the sawhorses can be stored in a standard tool box.

Referring now toFIGS. 8 to 12, there is illustrated a further embodiment of a sawhorse according to the present invention and which sawhorse is generally designated by reference numeral110.

Sawhorse110, as in the previously described embodiment, includes a left hand beam112and a right hand beam114. There is also provided a first leg assembly generally designated by reference numeral116and a second leg assembly generally designated by reference numeral118. Since the sawhorse is substantially symmetrical about a center line, only one portion will be described in detail herein.

As may be seen inFIG. 9, first leg assembly116is comprised of a pair of telescopic sections as described in the previous embodiment. However, hinge member120is formed of a single element and is, at one end, hinged to a bracket122and at the other end, to a bracket124, and which bracket124is slidably mounted on the leg. Retainer pins126for the telescopic legs are provided.

Sawhorse110includes a center post128and to which is connected, at its lower end, a lower reinforcing assembly130. Lower reinforcing assembly130includes a central portion132hingedly connected at hinge point134to center post128. Central portion132has, at either end thereof, an extension136which is designed to fit within a pair of end portions138. In turn, end portions138include an end section139designed to engage within a bracket140in a screw threaded manner.

On center post128, there is provided an eye hook142. A cable144extends between eye hook142and bracket140.

There is also provided a bracket146on the inside of right hand beam114with a cable148extending between bracket146and eye hook142. A tensioning spring152is connected between a further eye hook150on right hand beam114and cable148. In this respect, spring152has an eye154formed at one end thereof such that spring152may slide along cable148. Similarly, a spring156is connected, at one end, to bracket146and at the other end to cable144. Again spring156has an eye158formed at one end thereof.

As was the case in the previously described embodiments, sawhorse110may be provided with a handle160for transport thereof.

In the embodiment ofFIGS. 13 to 17, there is illustrated a sawhorse168similar to that of sawhorse110and thus only the differences will be described herein.

Sawhorse168has a center post170with a connecting plate172located at a distal end thereof. Upper reinforcing assembly generally designated by reference numeral174includes a pair of telescopic members176,178. Upper member176is connected to the beam at upper attachment point180with retainer pins182functioning to maintain upper member176and lower member178in a desired position.

A lower reinforcing assembly184comprises a first member186and a second member188hingedly connected at hinge pin190. First member186is connected to connecting plate172while second member188is connected to bracket192.

As shown in the arrangement ofFIG. 18, there is provided a modified beam portion16″ having a first sidewall18″, a second sidewall28″ and an upper wall22″. A groove19″ is provided within sidewall18″ and a groove21″ is provided within sidewall20″. Grooves19″ and21″ may be used to receive a member which will be supported by top wall22″. Thus, a single sawhorse may be utilized to support, for example, a substrate which is secured in position. Such could be useful for supporting certain power tools and the like. Other grooves could also be provided in an extruded beam such as an inverted T shaped recess in upper wall22″.

It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.