Adjustable work stand

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.

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.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a work stand is 
provided as shown in FIGS. 1 & 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 "table" position. Positions 
P2, P3, and P4 are "easel" positions, and position P4 is also an upright 
"storage" 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.