Multifunction workstation

A linear actuator to provide the moving force for adjustable furniture, such as beds, chairs or tables. The linear actuator includes a drive assembly, rigid arm, and linkage assembly. The rigid arm includes a pusher block with one or more attachment means where the linkage assembly is attached.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure reveals a multifunction workstation with a plurality of trays that are magnetically attachable, and with a plurality of tools that are also attachable. Where the plurality of trays are interchangeable depending on the project, and are designed to hold supplies and tools so that they are easily accessible, and where the plurality of tools consist of such items as a magnifying glass, a vice, or a light source, to aid with work.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior art of multifunction workstation reveal work stations with interchangeable trays but does not reveal where the trays are magnetically attachable to the workstations.

The present disclosure reveals a multifunction workstation with a plurality of trays that are magnetically attachable, and with a plurality of tools that are also attachable. Where the plurality of trays are designed to hold supplies and tools so that they are easily accessible and interchangeable depending on the project and where the plurality of tools consist of such items as a magnifying glass, a vice, or a light source, to aid with work. Several attempts have been made to develop a multifunction workstation but all involve a system distinct from the present disclosure.

In U.S. Pat. No. 8,690,134, Saam, discloses an equipment support rack assembly on wheels, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,157, Weaver upstanding vertical post with a handle at one end and a base member at the other, with a receptacle between for holding tools and supplies and slots to fit tools into, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,277, Meinhardt discloses a tool caddy that includes a circular base on a lazy susan bearing, with a collection of slots and compartments for fitting tools and supplies into, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 7,584,973, Brager discloses a portable tool tree on wheels with a locking cover, where once the cover is removed, a collection of levels, each with slots for holding tools, and where the central axle assembly is extendable, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,737, Garrett discloses a workstation includes an adjustable height, various types of holding and support attachments for the object which is being worked on and which allows the object to be at many different angles, an attached light, and a magnifying glass, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,505, Loewert discloses a workstation with modular elements for storing components, with a work zone and transfer zone, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,865, Alcaia et al discloses a mobile art table with room for a work space and storage, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,459, Garrett discloses a workstation includes an adjustable height, various types of holding and support attachments for the object which is being worked on and which allows the object to be at many different angles, an attached light, and a magnifying glass, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,304, Little discloses a base assembly comprises a collection of holes for holding tools as well as an attachment for holding a vise that would hold the fly which is being worked on, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,130, Smay et al discloses a support apparatus for arts and crafts projects comprising a base plate, a vertical dowel with holes into which pegs of various length and utility can be inserted, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,601, Vass discloses a worktable with an attached viceclamp to allow the user to work on a variety of different equipment and tools, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,211, Adams, Jr discloses a mobile, adjustable workstation that allows for multiple levels and multiple attachments, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,154, Jenkins discloses a cabinet with multiple drawers and a flip top for storage and when the flip top is down, the work bench provides a place to work, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,497, Bevans discloses a mobile tool tray that is adjustable in height, with a single tray, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,555, Adams discloses a workstation comprises a base plate with a vertical shaft extending from the workstation, with attachable trays for holding supplies and tools, and a work area with a vice feature. Also included is an arm for additional illumination. However, Adams does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,264, Kretzmeir discloses a Comprises a clamp that is attachable to a table. From the clamp, a vertical shaft is extended. Attachable trays can be fit onto the shaft for holding tools, at the top of the shaft is a means of attaching a vise for holding an object such as a fly. However, Kretzmeir does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,956, Hargrove discloses a mobile workstation with an additional tray that acts to hold tools and supplies, where the base has wheels and from the base a shaft is extended that holds the work space and tray, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,120,571, Reichenstein discloses a fly tying station that comprises a base and a rod that extends from the base. A collection of arms can be attached to the rod including one for holding a vise and a magnifying glass. Also included is a tray for holding supplies. However, Reichenstein does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multi-function workstation that provides a work surface upon which to work while also providing easy access to necessary materials through the use of a plurality of trays that are interchangeable, where the multi-function work station can be used for such tasks as tying flies, designing jewelry, or assembling or repairing projects. The multifunction workstation comprises a base with a center rod extending up from the base, as well as a plurality of shelves attached to the center rod, a plurality of trays, and a plurality of attachment points. Each of the plurality of trays are detachable from any of the plurality of shelves. The plurality of trays are also designed to have a plurality of functional components such as a flat surface, a bobbin holder, a closeable compartment, a shallow pan, a feather holder, where a feather holder is a mesh screen wherein the holes are small enough to prevent a feather from easily passing through but large enough for the feather to be pulled through when desired to be removed, a slot for inserting a tool, or a waste receptacle to make a workstation that also provides easy access to supplies. The attachment points allow the attachment of a plurality of tools to aid in working on projects.

In one preferred embodiment of the multifunction workspace, the multifunction workspace involves a base, center rod and only one of the plurality of shelves, the shelf. In this instance, the work surface that comprises the top portion of the shelf provides the user with an area to work. A plurality of trays can then be attached to the shelf and the plurality of functional components give easy access to the user of the items the user needs to construct his project.

In a second preferred embodiment of the multifunction workspace, the multifunction workspace involves a base, center rod and a plurality of shelves. In this instance, a plurality of trays can be attached to the plurality of shelves to store the components the worker may need to construct a project. Any one of the plurality of trays can then be easily removed from the second preferred embodiment of the multifunction workspace and attached to the first preferred embodiment of the multifunction workspace or the user can use the top most work surface on this preferred embodiment as a workspace.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A multifunction workstation1that provides a work surface upon which to work while also providing easy access to necessary materials through the use of a plurality of trays2that are magnetically attached and interchangeable, where the multi-function work station can be used for such tasks as tying flies, designing jewelry, or assembling or repairing projects. The multifunction workstation1comprises a base3, a center rod4, a plurality of shelves5, a plurality of trays2, and a plurality of attachment points6.

Each of the plurality of shelves5comprises two layers, an upper layer7and a lower layer8where the top portion of the upper layer7is a work surface9, and the lower layer8comprises a plate10capable of having a plurality of magnets attach and detach. The bottom portion of the upper layer7is attached to the top portion of the lower layer8such that the exposed surfaces comprise the work surface9and the bottom portion of the lower layer8. Each of said plurality of shelves5has a center hole11through lower layer8and through the upper layer7, such that said center hole11passes through the center of the lower layer8and the center of the upper layer7.

Each of said plurality of trays2has an outer portion12and an inner portion13, where the inner portion13comprises a base layer14and a plurality of magnets15attached to said base layer14such that, when the base layer14is placed against the bottom portion of the lower layer8of one of the plurality of shelves5the plurality of magnets15act to attach the base layer14to the bottom portion of the lower layer8of the plurality of shelves5. Once the base layer14is attached to bottom portion of the lower layer8of one of the plurality of shelves5, the top portion of the outer portion12is co-planar with the work surface9of the plurality of shelves5to which it is attached. A plurality of trays2can be attached to one of the plurality of shelves5such that the plurality of trays2can completely and continuously surround the one of the plurality of trays2. The plurality of trays2also comprise a plurality of functional components16including at least one of a flat surface17, a bobbin holder18, a closeable compartment19, a shallow pan20, a feather holder21, where a feather holder is a mesh screen wherein the holes are small enough to prevent a feather from easily passing through but large enough for the feather to be pulled through when desired to be removed, a slot22for inserting a tool, or a waste receptacle23.

The structure of the multifunction workstation1involves the center rod4being attached to and extending vertically from the base3, where at least one of the plurality of shelves5is attached to the center rod4by the center rod4passing through the center hole11in the center of each plurality of shelves5, where there is an attaching means24attached to each of the plurality of shelves5to hold each of the plurality of shelves5to the center rod4. The plurality of trays2can be interchangeably attached and removed from the plurality of shelves5. One method of attachment of the plurality of trays2to the plurality of shelves5involves the use of the plurality of magnets15by themselves.

A second method of attaching any of the plurality of trays2to the plurality of shelves5involves a plurality of support holes25along the outside edge26of any one of the plurality of shelves5and a plurality of attachment means27extending from the inside edge28of any of the outer portion12of the plurality of trays2. The plurality of attachment means27extend from said inside edge28such that, when any one of said plurality of trays2is placed against the bottom portion of the lower layer8of one of the plurality of shelves5, the plurality of attachment means27align with the plurality of support holes25and the plurality of attachment means27are fitted into the plurality of support holes25such that an additional method is now added to support each of the plurality to trays2to any of the plurality of shelves5.

A third method of attaching any of the plurality of trays2to the plurality of shelves5involves a tong and grove means wherein a tong portion36is along the outside edge26of any one of the plurality of shelves5and a grove portion37extends from the inside edge28of any of the outer portion12of the plurality of trays2. The grove portion37is along said inside edge28such that, when any one of said plurality of trays2is placed against the bottom portion of the lower layer8of one of the plurality of shelves5, the grove portion37aligns with the tong portion36and the tong portion36is fitted into the grove portion37such that an additional method is now added to support each of the plurality to trays2to any of the plurality of shelves5.

The plurality of attachment points6are located on at least one of the base3, the center rod4, or any one of the plurality of shelves5. To any of the plurality of attachment points6, a plurality of tools29can be attached. This plurality of tools29includes at least one of magnifying glass30, a light source31, a vice32, or a spindle33.

In the first preferred embodiment34of the multifunction workstation1, the multifunction workstation1involves a base3, center rod4and only one of the plurality of shelves5, the shelf34. In this instance, the work surface9that comprises the top portion of the shelf34provides the user with an area to work. A plurality of trays2can then be attached to the shelf34and the plurality of functional components16give easy access to the user of the items the user needs to construct his project.

In a second preferred embodiment35of the multifunction workstation1, the multifunction workstation1involves a base3, center rod4and a plurality of shelves5. In this instance, a plurality of trays2can be attached to the plurality of shelves5to store the components the worker may need to construct a project. Any one of the plurality of trays2can then be easily removed from the second preferred embodiment of the multifunction workstation1and attached to the first preferred embodiment of the multifunction workstation1or the user can use the top most work surface9on this preferred embodiment as a workspace.