Abstract:
A folding stand ( 1 ) for a cross-cut saw or the like, has an elongate carrying body ( 4 ) for a cross-cut saw, at the ends of which two legs ( 3 ) are hinged. The legs pivot from a storage position, in which they are placed parallel to the carrying body ( 4 ), into an operating position, in which they are placed in a trapezoidal position relative to each other. The cross-cut saw is detachably fixed to the carrying body ( 4 ). The carrying body ( 4 ) is configured as a frame ( 4 ), while the fixing device forms brackets ( 5, 5′, 5 ″) interacting with the frame.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
   The present application is a continuation in part of German patent application no. 10204417.1 filed on Jan. 30, 2002, and International application no. PCT/EP03/00773 filed on Jan. 27, 2003, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
   CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application relates to the following commonly-owned pending patent application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/118,606 filed on Apr. 29, 2005. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a folding stand. In embodiments, the present invention can be used for a cross-cut saw or the like. In an embodiment, the folding stand has an elongate carrying body which is intended for a cross-cut saw and on which two legs are articulated at each of the ends, it being possible for these legs to be pivoted from a storage position, in which they are located parallel to the carrying body, into a use position, in which they are located trapezoidally in relation to one another, and it being possible for the cross-cut saw to be mounted, in particular in a releasable manner, on the carrying body by securing means. 
   A folding cross-cut saw stand is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,903. The carrying body here is formed by a trapezoidal box which has in its interior, at each of its ends, articulations on which legs are secured, it being possible for these legs to be pivoted out into a use position, in which the legs are located trapezoidally in relation to one another, from a storage position, in which the legs have been pivoted into the box. In the use position, the carrying body is spaced apart from the underlying surface by a distance which is determined substantially by the length of the legs. The legs can latch with the carrying body in the storage position and in the use position. 
   A cross-cut saw may be fastened on the surface of the carrying body. 
   A similar stand is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,777. This stand also has a carrying body from which legs project trapezoidally in the use position. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It can be an advantage in embodiments of the invention to develop a stand in a straightforward manner in production terms. 
   In embodiments of the present invention, a folding stand has one or more of the following features, including a carrying body which is a frame and the securing means comprises brackets interacting with the frame. The frame may be a tubular frame which is formed by at least two tubes running parallel to one another. These tubes may have a quadrilateral profile. The tubes are connected to one another at their ends in each case by connecting components. These connecting components form cross-members which provide the pivot bearings for the legs. In the storage position, the legs, which are likewise formed by quadrilateral tubes, are located parallel to the tubes of the frame. The brackets, of which preferably two are provided, engage through the frame interspace by way of their clamping means, which may be screws. A pressure-exerting component in the form of a strip, which is disposed on the underside of the frame, can be braced against the bracket located on the frame surface. Like the pressure-exerting strip, the bracket is preferably formed by a punched and bent part. It is possible for the pressure-exerting strip to form a U-shaped component with U-crosspieces projecting into the frame interspace, in order thus to ensure that the bracket is fixed in position. The bracket may also have a crosspiece portion which projects into the frame interspace. This ensures that an engagement edge of the bracket, which is formed on the clamping side, runs substantially transversely to the direction in which the frame extends. This engagement edge can engage in a groove of the carrying plate which is to be secured on the top side of the frame, and on which the cross-cut saw can be mounted. The base of the cross-cut saw can preferably be fastened on two carrying plates. Each of these carrying plates can be secured on the frame by a bracket. As a result of the groove/engagement-edge guidance, the carrying plate can be displaced transversely to the direction in which the frame extends. The brackets themselves can be displaced in the direction in which the frame extends, so that it is possible for the entire cross-cut saw not just to be removed from the frame, but also to be adjusted on the frame in the manner of a compound table. The frame preferably has two tubes which are located one beside the other, and are preferably even in contact, in which draw-out extensions are inserted. These extensions may be as long as the tubes accommodating them, so that telescopic association is possible. The extensions can be fixed in their respective extended positions. Clamping screws, for example, are provided for this purpose. In each case one workpiece support is located at the end of the extension. These workpiece supports are height-adjustable. For this purpose, a tubular guide portion is provided at the end of the tubular extension, a tubular portion of the workpiece carrier being inserted in this guide portion, and it likewise being possible for this workpiece carrier to be secured to the guide by means of a clamping screw. The free end of the supporting tube carries a shoulder which is formed by a sheet-metal component bent in a U-shaped manner. The portion of this shoulder on which the workpiece comes to rest is rounded. There is T-shaped association with the supporting tube. The T-shaped sheet-metal component can be pivoted stiffly over a small region about its securing pin in relation to the supporting tube. The supporting tube has an opening into which an angled, strong wire is inserted. The rotary position of the wire is predetermined as a result of the wire being flattened on one side and of a corresponding configuration of the opening and/or of a clamping screw which acts against the flattened portion. A free portion of the wire forms a length/width stop. This free portion projects beyond the supporting shoulder, which carries the workpiece. The free end can be displaced transversely to the direction in which the extension extends and can be fixed in position by the said screw. Further workpiece carriers can also be located at the end of the carrying body. Like the workpiece carriers described above, they may be secured to a tube. They are then secured to a frame-forming tube. For this purpose, a portion of the tube in question can project beyond the cross-member. The legs may be height-adjustable. For this purpose, it is possible for extensions to be drawn telescopically out of the legs. Furthermore, it is provided that at least one pair of legs carries rollers which, in the use position, are spaced apart from the set-down surface and, in the storage position, are oriented downward, so that the folded cross-cut saw stand can be transported via the rollers. The legs can latch in the region of their rotary bearings both in the storage position and in the use position. Spring-activated latching protuberances are provided for this purpose, these being formed by the ends of latching pins which are inserted in a spring-biased state in bores of the tubular leg and have their heads entering into latching cutouts of the cross-members. 
   Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained hereinbelow with reference to accompanying figures, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective illustration of the exemplary embodiment of the invention, 
       FIG. 2  shows an enlarged detail of the region designated II in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 3  shows the exemplary embodiment in elevation, 
       FIG. 4  shows the exemplary embodiment in a side view from the left according to  FIG. 3 , 
       FIG. 5  shows the exemplary embodiment in a side view from the right in  FIG. 3 , 
       FIG. 6  shows a plan view, 
       FIG. 7  shows a bottom view, 
       FIG. 8  shows the exemplary embodiment in the folded state, 
       FIG. 9  shows an enlarged illustration of the detail IX from  FIG. 3 , 
       FIG. 10  shows a section along line X-X in  FIG. 9 , 
       FIG. 11  shows an illustration according to  FIG. 9  in a pivoted position, 
       FIG. 12  shows an illustration according to  FIG. 11  in a further-pivoted position, 
       FIG. 13  shows an enlarged illustration of the detail designated XIII in  FIG. 6 , and 
       FIG. 14  shows a section along line XIV-XIV in  FIG. 13 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The cross-cut saw stand  1  serves for accommodating a cross-cut saw or the like. For this purpose, the stand  1  has a carrying body  4  which is formed by a frame. The frame surface is located in a horizontal plane. One or more carrying plates  6  or tool mounting base may be positioned on the frame, which is formed substantially by two tubes  2 ,  2 ′ and  2 ″. In the exemplary embodiment, two carrying plates  6  rest on the frame. 
   The base of a cross-cut saw can be mounted securely on the carrying plates  6 , for which purpose the base is connected, for example by screws, to the carrying plates. It is thus possible to use the cross-cut saw both together with the stand  1 , if it is fastened on the carrying plates, and without the stand  1 , for example on the floor. 
   The carrying plates  6  are fixed on the carrying body  4  by brackets  5 . For this purpose, each of the two carrying plates  6  has a groove  9  running transversely to the longitudinal extent of the carrying body  4 . An engagement edge  10  of the bracket  5 , which is formed as a punched and bent part, engages in this groove  9 . This ensures that the carrying plate  6  can be displaced transversely when the bracket  5  is released. On the other hand, the bracket  5  can be guided in the frame  4  transversely to the direction in which the groove  9  extends. For this purpose, the bracket  5 , which is substantially trapezoidal, has a rear crosspiece  5 ′ which, although still resting on the frame legs  2 , continues centrally into a narrower crosspiece portion  5 ″ which engages in the frame interspace  8 . The abutment of bracket  5  is provided by a pressure-exerting strip  7 , which presses from beneath against the frame legs  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″. The pressure-exerting strip  7  is also formed as a punched and bent part. The pressure-exerting strip  7  has a substantially U-shaped profile, the two U-crosspieces projecting into the frame interspace  8  and having a width which corresponds to the clear width between the frame legs  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″. The pressure-exerting strip  7  is connected to the bracket  5  via a clamping screw (not illustrated in the drawings). The clamping screw engages through the bracket approximately centrally, that is between the crosspiece  5 ′, which rests in certain regions on the frame leg  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″, and the engagement edge  10 , so that the necessary retaining force can be applied. 
   The two frame legs  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″ are connected to one another by cross-members  18 . The cross-members  18  are located at the respective ends of the frame leg  2 , which is formed by a quadrilateral tube. 
   The frame leg which is spaced apart from the frame leg  2  by the frame interspace  8  is formed by two parallel tubes  2 ′,  2 ″ in contact with one another. These two tubes contain extensions  12  which, like the tubes holding them, have a quadrilateral profile. The extensions  12  can be drawn out of the tubes  2 ′,  2 ″ and fixed in these positions by clamping screws (not illustrated). 
   At the respective end, each extension  12  carries a tube portion  13  with a vertically running axis. This tube portion  13  forms a support carrier. A tubular workpiece support carrier  14  is inserted in this support carrier  13 . A U-profiled metal sheet is located at the upper end of the workpiece support carrier  14 . This U-profiled metal sheet forms a workpiece carrier  22 , the upper edge of which forms a rounded carrying shoulder  16 . The height of the carrying shoulder  16  can be produced by vertical displacement of the workpiece support carrier  14  in the support carrier  13 . Here too, a clamping screw (not illustrated) can provide an arresting action. The U-profiled metal sheet  22  is connected to the workpiece support carrier  14  by means of a connecting screw, so that it is possible to adjust the tilting position of the carrying shoulder  16  within a small range. The tilting displacement takes place stiffly. 
   The workpiece support carrier  14  contains an opening in the horizontal direction. A stiff wire  15  which is bent twice through 90° in each case is inserted into this opening. In order to fix the rotary position of the wire, the end of the latter which is inserted into the opening of the workpiece support carrier has a flattened portion, against which a clamping screw can be clamped. For fixing the rotation, the corresponding opening may also have a contour adapted to the cross-sectional profile of the wire. A portion of the wire  15  projects beyond the carrying shoulder  16  and forms a stop for the workpiece. This stop  15  can perform both the function of a length stop and the function of a width stop, depending on the horizontal position in which it is secured by displacement of the non-round wire portion inserted into the opening of the workpiece support carrier  14 . The length adjustment of the stop  15  takes place by displacement of the extension  12  in the tube  2 ′,  2 ″ which carries it. 
   Further workpiece supports are located at the ends of the respective tubes  2 ′,  2 ″, these further workpiece supports likewise being associated with a support carrier  13  in a height-adjustable manner by a workpiece support carrier  14  and, in a previously described manner, having a U-profile with a rounded crosspiece as carrying shoulder  16 . 
   The cross-members  18 , which are formed by punched and bent parts, form pivot bearings for the legs  3 . In the use position, which is shown for example in  FIG. 1 , the legs  3  have been pivoted out, so that they are located trapezoidally in relation to one another. The length of the legs  3  is less than the distance by which the two cross-members  18  are spaced apart from one another. The cross-members  18  each form leg fastenings  19 , which each have a rotary bearing  11  about which in each case a leg  3  can be pivoted. The arrangement of the rotary bearings  11  is selected such that the legs  3 , in the folded state, can assume a position in which they are parallel to one another (see  FIG. 8 ). The legs  3  are latched in the respective operating positions, that is to say in the use position ( FIG. 1 ) and the storage position ( FIG. 8 ), by a latching protuberance  23 , which is formed by the end of a pin  24 . The pin  24  is associated with the leg  3  and can be displaced out of a latching opening  25 ,  25 ′ by pressure counter to the force of a spring  27 . The latching pin  24  is retained in its spring-biased position by a split pin  26 . 
   As can be gathered from  FIG. 10 , the pivot axis of the rotary bearing  11  runs obliquely in relation to the horizontal. The pivot axis  11  is formed, on the one hand, by the cross-member  18 , or by the leg fastening  19  formed thereby, and, on the other hand, by an inner bearing plate  28 , which is likewise formed by a punched and bent part and is located in the inner cavity of the cross-member  18 . 
   One of the two pairs of legs associated with a cross-member  18  in each case has running wheels  21 , which are mounted on the respective leg  3  by a fork  20 . In the elevated, use position, the running wheels  21  are spaced apart from the underlying surface. In the folded position ( FIG. 8 ), the folded cross-cut saw stand can be transported via these running rollers  21 . 
   The legs  3  are height-adjustable. For this purpose, the legs  3  have inner extension portions. The legs  3 , like the frame legs  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″, are formed by tubes, namely quadrilateral tubes, and have inner tubes for extension purposes. The inner tubes are fixed to the outer tubes by clamping screws (not illustrated). 
   The apparatus also functions as follows. 
   In the storage position, the legs  3  are folded up. They are located parallel to one another and parallel to the frame legs  2 . By virtue of the latching protuberances  23  being subjected to pressure actuation, these protuberances can be displaced out of the latching cutouts  25 ′. The legs  3  can thus be pivoted until the latching protuberances  23  engage in the latching cutouts  25 . This operation is carried out for all four legs  3  until the use position illustrated in  FIG. 1  has been reached. The cross-cut saw screwed onto the carrying plates  6  can be mounted on the frame together with the carrying plates  6 . The brackets  5  provide for the arresting action. Precision adjustment of the position of the cross-cut saw (not illustrated) can take place in that the carrying plates  6 , on the one hand, are displaced in the frame interspace  8 , together with the brackets  5 , in the direction in which the carrying body  4  extends and, on the other hand, transversely to the carrying plates  6 . 
   The height position of the carrying shoulders  16  can be adjusted in the above described manner to the level of the cross-cut saw stand, so that all the carrying shoulders  16  are aligned horizontally with the surface of the cross-cut saw stand. 
   Reference number  29  illustrates internally threaded screw-in openings in the leg  3 . Clamping screws can be screwed into these screw-in openings  29 . The end surfaces of the clamping screws press against inner tubes, which can thus be fixed. This makes the height adjustment possible. 
   It is also possible in this way to secure the extensions  12  in the tubular frames  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″. This can be gathered from  FIG. 14  in particular. The internal thread into which a clamping screw  31  can be screwed is formed here by a nut  32  welded onto the tube  2 ′. 
   In order to prevent the extension  12  from being drawn all the way out of the tube  2 ′, a latching device  30 ,  33 ,  34  is provided. This comprises a latching stub  30  which is seated at the end of a leaf spring  33 , which is bent in a U-shaped manner. This leaf spring  33  is pushed into the end portion of the quadrilateral tube which forms the extension  12 . In this case, the latching stub  30  projects through an opening  35  in the extension  12 . The latching stub  30  can latch with the tubular-frame leg  2 ′ by penetrating into an opening  34  there. In order to release the latching, an external pressure has to be exerted on the latching stub  30 . The latching stub is thus displaced out of the opening  34 . If this is accompanied by the extension  12  being displaced linearly within the tubular leg  2 ′, then the latching stub  30  engages against the inner wall of the tubular-frame leg  2 ′. 
   In the same way, it is also possible to provide for latching on the legs  3 , in order to prevent the inner tubes from being drawn all the way out of the legs. 
   All features disclosed are (in themselves) pertinent to the invention. The disclosure content of the associated priority documents (copy of the prior application) is hereby also included in full in the disclosure of the application, also for the purpose of incorporating features of these documents in claims of the present application. 
   It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.