Abstract:
A folding and self-locking sawhorse comprised of two frames connected by the tops ( 20 ) and the middle horizontal brace ( 24 ) to create a combination of two opposing forces which product a rigid sawhorse in the open position, but remains collapsible and folds for storage when the two forces are not in opposition. The sawhorse has a clamping top ( 20 ) top which can hold items with a compression force created by the expansion force induced by a folding hinged lever ( 26 ) against the two side frames. The clamping top ( 20 ) accepts tabletops ( 42 ) and other items ( 46 ) and the locking divergence of the legs ( 22 ) can be used to mate the sawhorse with a base ( 34 ) for better stability. An alternative embodiment of the locking foldable sawhorse ( 58 ) includes one or more beams ( 57 ) set upon a beam support structure ( 57   a ). The beam support structure ( 57   a ) includes two sets of two pivotally joined leg top connectors ( 69 ) that are attached to four corresponding top ends of four leg members ( 71 ) via rivets ( 61 ) forcibly inserted through orifices ( 62 ). The support structure ( 57   a ) further includes braces ( 63 ) joined to fiberglass legs ( 71 ) on each side of the structure ( 57   a ); and leg bottom connectors ( 65 ) attached to bottom ends of the leg members ( 71 ).

Description:
This is a Continuation-In-Part Application of prior application Ser. No. 09/851,932 which was filed on May 10, 2001, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to folding sawhorses, trestles, and the like, referred herein a sawhorses. The purpose of the invention provides for a sawhorse which self locks resulting in a sawhorse that is easy to use, can be made from standard off-the-shelf materials, is very stable without any specialized locking hardware, and has more functional uses than a standard sawhorse. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     A number of patents issued on various sawhorses relate, however none disclose the features of the present invention. Several disadvantages exist. One such disadvantage is the inability to self-lock without the addition of special hardware or specific manual procedures as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,385 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,765. 
     The invention uses opposing forces to provide a natural self-locking capability, induced by the opening and closing of the sawhorse. The resulting opposition of the two opposing forces produces a fixed and stable sawhorse when opened, without having to tighten or twist or adjust any specialized bolts, pins, ropes, chains or arms. 
     The ability to use of simple off-the-shelf hinges and screws in the invention make it easy and cheap to manufacture. 
     Another disadvantage illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,613 is the load-bearing requirements placed upon the hinges, which provide the folding capabilities. This invention places the load upon the main structure and only uses hinges mainly for positional alignment of the main structure resulting in a sawhorse, which can withstand heavy usage and loading without failures or excessive wearing of the hinges. 
     Many other sawhorses illustrate various designs for being foldable or collapsible. These designs require spring loaded bolts or hinges to induce the forces necessary to have the sawhorses close as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,429,765 and 4,620,613. This invention is collapsible without requiring springs and closes automatically upon the release of the opposing forces and lifted from the ground. 
     Another disadvantage illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,756,385, 2,825,606 and 4,620,613 is the ease of use. The present invention can be deployed using one hand and unemployed the same. This makes it easier to use and more convenient. There are no complicated actions or procedures needed to open and lock the invention as well as unlock and collapse the invention. In the unlocked state, the invention tends toward a folded position when carried. 
     A disadvantage illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,056 is the inability to provide a stable work surface free from falling due to drifts in load or work forces. The clamping action of the invention holds or grips materials placed in the jaws. A tabletop with two screws protruding at each end can easily be held by this invention, resulting in a sturdy worktable. The locking jaws make a functional holder. There are many uses for the holding capabilities such as holding a saw for sharpening. The invention can hold guides to ensure materials won&#39;t slip or move. The locking feature makes this invention resistant to the affects of unleveled work surfaces and the rigidity doesn&#39;t allow creeping. 
     A disadvantage illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos 6,021,866, 4,756,385, 4,620,613, 4,429,765, 4,319,663 and 2,825,606 is the restriction to using hand clamps for holding material. The designs of these prior an examples don&#39;t provide usable surface shapes for easily using hand clamps to hold work. This invention when in the locked position, maintains a rigid flat top allowing the easy use of commercially available clamps, 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present inventions a sawhorse comprising a trestle structure using two opposing forces to create a locking action made using standard off-the-shelf components where the invention acts like a fixed structured sawhorse while locked and a foldable sawhorse when not locked maximizing it&#39;s ease and diversity of use. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are: 
     (a) to provide a stable sawhorse that resist moving, closing, creeping or collapsing due to strain while in use; 
     (b) to provide a folding sawhorse which can be deployed with a single hand and single action and collapsed as easily for compact storage; 
     (c) to provide a sawhorse that gives excellent function without the need for nothing more also simple hinges with no spring loaded bolts or hinges, no ropes, chains or adjustment arms; 
     (d) to provide a sawhorse easily manufactured from standard off-the-shelf components and require a minimum amount of material; 
     (e) to provide a load bearing sawhorse, capable of handling heavy loading without deforming, loosing stability, shifting or causing excessive wear on components; 
     (f) to provide a sawhorse capable of retaining functionality when used on unleveled work surfaces; 
     (g) to provide a sawhorse where most load bearing forces are maintained by the main structural members and not the hinges used to allow folding; 
     (h) to provide a sawhorse based upon, opposing forces to make it a rigid sawhorse without wobble when in use and still be collapsible when not in use; 
     (i) to provide a sawhorse that is very light weight and easy to carry and move; 
     (j) to provide a sawhorse with alternative uses by incorporating a set of locking jaws capable of folding many different items or materials; 
     (k) to provide a sawhorse which can be used to provide a quick and easy assembly of a work surface which can combine with two sawhorses and provide a stable and locked surface that won&#39;t wobble of shift with use; 
     (l) to provide a sawhorse where changes in dimensions won&#39;t change the self locking character of the invention when differing sizes are desired; 
     (m) to provide a sawhorse which can lock into runners to provide resistance and stability to wind and can be used as a barricade or warning device, 
     (n) to provide easy use of guides to hold and maintain material being worked which are easy to position, change and remove. 
     (p) to provide a sawhorses which can be made of differing materials such as wood, molded plastic or metal and still operate with the same locking forces. 
     (p) to provide a sawhorse where clamps can be easily used to hold the work. 
     Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffices. 
     FIG. 1 a  shows a perspective view of the sawhorse. 
     FIG. 1 b  shows the top member of the sawhorse and the locking jaws. 
     FIG. 1 c  shows the locking hinged lever used to create all opposing force to the top member. 
     FIG. 1 d  shows a detail of the hinged lever. 
     FIG. 2 shows a side view of the sawhorse, which represents both sides since each side is identical. 
     FIG. 3 a  shows an end view of the sawhorse in the unlocked state. 
     FIG. 3 b  shows an end view of the sawhorse in the locked state. 
     FIG. 3 c  shows a detail view of the sawhorse hinge members joined to the longitudinal side member. 
     FIG. 3 d  shows a side view of the union of the sawhorse and a leg. 
     FIG. 4 shows a top view of the sawhorse. 
     FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the sawhorse. 
     FIG. 6 a  shows a perspective view of the union of the sawhorse and a base. 
     FIG. 6 b  shows a side view of the union of the sawhorse and a base. 
     FIG. 6 c  shows a side view of the union of the sawhorse and a base. 
     FIG. 6 d  shows the base and a protruding holding pin. 
     FIG. 7 a  shows an example of a rigid work surface used with two sawhorses to make a rigid and locked worktable. 
     FIG. 7 b  shows how a rigid surface is held by the top jaws of the sawhorse. 
     FIG. 8 shows an example using the sawhorse for holding a handsaw. 
     FIG. 9 a  shows an example of using guides for holding materials. 
     FIG. 9 b  shows the use of a hand clamp. 
     FIG. 10A is an end view of the spit beam in a locked position. 
     FIG. 10B is an end view of the hinged locking lever in an unlocked position. 
     FIG. 11A is an end view of the device with a safety line secured thereto in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 11B is a side view of the safety lines shown in FIG.  11 A. 
     FIG. 12 is an end view of a locking lever with a handle secured thereto in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 13A is a perspective view of an alternative design for a leg member in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 13B is a side view of the leg member of FIG.  13 A. 
     FIG. 14A is a perspective view of an alternative design of a locking foldable sawhorse in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 14B are two end views of two pivotally joined leg connectors shown in loaded and unloaded positions in accordance with the resent invention. 
     FIG. 14C is a perspective view of the leg connector of FIG.  14 B. 
     FIG. 14D is a perspective view of a single leg connector of FIG.  14 C. 
     FIG. 14E is an end view of a locking lever included in the device of FIG.  14 A. 
     FIG. 14F is a perspective view of the left portion of the locking lever of FIG.  14 E. 
     FIG. 14G is a perspective view of a mating connector which ties the locking lever to a horizontal brace. 
     FIG. 14H is a different perspective view of the mating connector of FIG.  14 G. 
     FIG. 14I is a perspective view of a leg bottom connector. 
    
    
     SOME REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       20  Elongated split beam 
       21  Grove 
       22  Vertical member leg 
       23  Beveled edge 
       24  Horizontal member brace 
       25  Beveled edge 
       26  Hinged locking lever 
       28  Hinge 
       30  Small hinge 
       32  Screw 
       34  Base 
       36  Hole 
       37  Holding pin 
       40  Holder attached to base 
       42  Rigid table surface 
       44  Long screw 
       46  Hand saw 
       48  Flat elongated plate 
       50  Clamp 
     DESCRIPTION—FIGS.  1 ,  1 A,  1 B,  1 D,  2 ,  3 A,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D—PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the sawhorse of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1A (Perspective View), FIG. 1B (Perspective of top member  20 ) and FIG. 1C (locking lever  26 ). The sawhorse has two symmetrical sides connected by attachment by the top member  20  as illustrated by FIG. 1B and a locking lever  26  illustrated by FIG.  1 C. The top member  20  illustrated in FIG. 1B provides one of the opposing forces while the locking lever  26  shown by FIG. 1C provides a second opposing force necessary to create a rigid locked condition as illustrated by FIG.  1 D. The top member  20  acid locking lever  26  each have beveled edges to eliminate pinching while still providing a mating surface necessary for creating the opposing forces. 
     The top member  20  has two symmetrical parts connected and held by two pivot hinges  28 . The opening and closing of the top member  20  allows the folding and unfolding of the two sides and limits the pivotal movement of the aides in the open position. The pivoting action of the locking lever  26  is provided by three hinges as illustrated by FIG.  1 C and FIG.  1 D. 
     The locking ever  26  abuts a horizontal member  24  illustrated by FIG.  3 C. FIG. 3A illustrates the unlocked position of the sawhorse and FIG. 3B shows the locked position. FIG. 3A illustrates the unlocked position of the locking lever  26  and the opened position of the top member  20  whereby the sawhorse pivots to a closed position upon being lifted from a surface. FIG. 3B shows the locked position of member  26  and the closed position of the top member  20  which creates the counter balance of the two opposing forces exerted by the top member  20  and the locking member  26 . 
     The side of the sawhorse is comprised of two vertical members  22  and one horizontal brace  24  and the two vertical members are attached to the hinged top members  20  as illustrate in FIG.  2  and attached to the looking lever  26  at the midpoint of the horizontal brace  24  as illustrated by FIG.  3 C. 
     The side vertical members  22  abut the top member in the groove  21  on the underside of the top member  20  illustrated by FIG.  3 D. The horizontal brace  24  is attached to each of the two side vertical members  22  at each end illustrated in FIG.  2 . The horizontal brace  24  and the vertical side member  22  can be the same thickness and width as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The locking lever  26  can be the same thickness and width as illustrated in FIG.  1 A. 
     FIGS.  3 A,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D—ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS 
     Another embodiment is shown the FIGS. 3C and 3D. The loading of the present invention by placing a load on the top member  20  is maintained by the vertical side members  23  instead of the pivot points. As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the hinges  28  and  30  at the pivot points of this invention-serve to maintain position of the members and not to bear the loads placed upon the top member  20 . The load bearing characteristics (if the invention is maximized since the loading is supported directly by the vertical members  22 . 
     In the open and locked position as illustrated by FIG. 3 b , the invention remains rigid and inflexible due to the compression force of the top member  20  opposing the expansion force of the locking lever  26 . The sawhorse remains fixed and rigid while in use exhibiting the same steadiness seen in a non-foldable sawhorse. 
     The present invention is easy to deploy by the simple looking of the locking lever while remaining light and easy to carry and store as illustrated by FIG.  3 A and FIG.  3 B. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Folding sawhorses are used as warning or barricade devices. The present invention can be used as a barricade or warning device and with the addition of a base as illustrated in FIG. 6 a . The base provides additional stability. The same locking feature used to deploy the sawhorse will also attach it to a base  34 , 40  while the base and sawhorse remain easy to transport and store. The mating of the sawhorse vertical member  22  and the base are shown by FIG. 6 b  where a pin  38  protruding from the base fits into a hole  36  placed near the bottom of the sawhorse&#39;s vertical members  22 . FIG. 6 c  shows the bottom of the vertical member  22  with hole  36  for accepting the pin  38  from the base. FIG. 6 d  shows the base member with the pin  36  used to ensure the vertical members of the sawhorse remain mated to the bases. 
     Also, this embodiment using the sawhorse with a base member overcomes the problems encounter when working on ground surfaces which are too wet or unleveled. 
     Another alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 7 a  showing the use of two sawhorses and a rigid top surface  42  to assemble a table. The table surface attaches to the sawhorses using four countersunk screws  44  as depicted FIG. 7 b . Since the sawhorse&#39;s top member  20  compresses, the screws are held securely and two locked sawhorses and the top  42  become a fixed and rigid worktable. 
     This invention&#39;s locking jaws in the top member  20  provides compression and holding capability when the sawhorse is in the locked position. The jaws of the top member  20  act as a clamp and hold items placed between the jaws. FIG. 8 illustrates the use of the sawhorse as a holder for working on materials placed in the jaws. FIG. 8 shows the use of the sawhorse to hold a hand saw  46  for sharpening. 
     Many of the sawhorses made that are foldable don&#39;t provide a top member where guides or clamps can&#39;t be easily employed. In the locked position this invention&#39;s top member  20  provides a shape making it easy to employ a guide or clamp as illustrated in FIG. 9 a  for employing guides and FIG. 9 b  for employing a clamp. 
     FIG. 9 a  shows how the locking jaws can accept thin plates as guides  48 , which keep materials from slipping. The guides  48  can be adjusted by unlocking the sawhorses locking lever  26  and repositioning. 
     Advantages 
     From the description above, a number of advantages of my foldable locking sawhorse become evident; 
     (a) A sawhorse that is easy to build with a minimum of components, but still provides a foldable sawhorse, which is convenient to use and store. Under load the sawhorse design places most the load upon the members and not the connecting mechanisms such as the hinges and screws. 
     (b) The sawhorse remains rigid while in use as if it were a fixed structure providing a steady sawhorse due to the use of two opposing forces to induce a counterbalance of locking forces. 
     (c) The lightweight design makes to sawhorse easily transportable or carried and the construction material can vary from wood, plastic, metal or a combination of the three without losing the benefit of the interlocking forces. 
     (d) The sawhorse&#39;s design gives it easy adaptation to other uses such as a traffic-warning device or to support a work surface. 
     (e) The holding capabilities of the sawhorse allow many more uses for holding work. 
     (f) Once locked into position, the sawhorse will remain fixed and rigid not allowing loading changes to cause shifting or wobbling. 
     OPERATIONS—FIGS.  3 A,  3 B,  6 A,  7 A,  8 ,  10 A and  10 B 
     The manner of using the sawhorse is identical to using a sawhorse constructed with fixed rigid members that is not foldable. Namely, the sawhorse is opened upon being carried to a location by gently squeezing the top member  20  and dropping the sawhorse into place (FIG.  3 A). The sawhorse is made rigid by pressing down on the locking lever  26  until horizontal (FIG.  3 B). When in the horizontal position, the locking lever  26  remains looked due to the opposing force on it exerted by the top member  20 . 
     While in the locked position, the sawhorse can be used or moved as if moving a rigid non-foldable sawhorse. 
     To remove the sawhorse from a work location, one first pushes up on the locking lever  26  to unlock the rigid locked state and picks the sawhorse from the ground by the top member  20  which causes the sawhorse to automatically go to a folded position. 
     The sawhorse used as warning or barricade device by the addition of a base  34  to the vertical members  22  shown in FIG. 6A is accomplished by opening the sawhorse while on two bases. The pins  38  of the bases fit into the holes of the vertical members  22  and the bases are then connected to the sawhorse. When the sawhorse locks, the bases remain attached until the sawhorse in unlocked. The pins  38  ensure the mating of the sawhorse and bases remain attached when the sawhorse is moved while in the locked position. 
     In FIG. 7A, the drawing shows how two sawhorses can hold a rigid surface to create a worktable. The rigid table  42  is placed on two unlock sawhorses with the screws  44  protruding from the tabletop fitting between the jaws of the sawhorses top members  20 . The locking levers  26  of the sawhorses are pushed down and the two sawhorses lock onto the screws  44  holding the tabletop  42 . The three lock together and provide a stable worktable. 
     The sawhorse becomes a valuable tool for holding work or work tools when needed. FIG. 8 shows an example of a handsaw  46  being held by the sawhorse. The sawhorse can hold other items as it does the handsaw  46 . 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the locking feature of this invention can easily transform a foldable sawhorse in a rigid sawhorse simply and efficiently by using the application of two opposing forces. In addition, one can see that this invention remains rigid and won&#39;t wobble while in the open lacked position, yet allows one to employ the sawhorse with little procedure or difficulty. Furthermore, the locking foldable sawhorse has the additional advantages in that 
     it permits it&#39;s user to easily carry and deploy using a single hand without the need for excessive procedures for set up and use, 
     it maintains a fixed rigid form while in use just like a non-foldable unit, yet remains lightweight, strong and foldable, 
     it allows heavy loading of the structure without deforming due to the design&#39;s use of the main structural member abutments for load bearing instead of the folding devices, 
     it permits the use of the sawhorse for use as a barricade or warning device with or without the addition of it base member. The open locked position of the sawhorse makes it resistant to wind or position changes, 
     it permits the use of the sawhorse and base to overcome the problems associated with working on wet or unleveled ground, 
     it permits the use of the sawhorse as a platform for creating a rigid worktable using the locking ability of the top member for attaching to a tabletop, 
     it allows the user to employ the sawhorse as a clamp for holding materials or tools. 
     It permits the use of guides and hand clamps to hold materials by insertion into the jaws or by applying clamps directly to the top of the sawhorse. 
     In operation, a locking foldable sawhorse device  10  is carried in a folded position by an individual to a job site whereupon opposing legs  22  of the device  10  are separated until opposing jaw members  12  of the top member  20  or elongated split beam engage thereby originating the device  10  in an “opened” position. The device  10  is stabilized and “locked” by forcibly positioning a locking lever  26  such that opposing side walls  14  of the locking lever  26  engage as illustrated in FIG.  11 ). In the locked position, the lever  26  is prevented from “folding” downward to form a “V” configuration due to the lower hinge  30  holding the two side walls  14  of the two portions of the lever  26  together thereby using the abutting side walls  14  to limit downward movement and allow only upward movement of the lever  26  from the locked position. Thus, the present device  10  is differentiated from the prior art devices that utilize bracing members that collapse either upward or downward and are at best limited in a downward direction by adjacent members of the prior art device such as the step or rung of a ladder placed proximate to and beneath a bi-directional, movable brace. 
     When relatively “light” loads are set upon an elongated split beam  20 , the legs  22  may be joined to opposing planar side walls  15  of the beam  20  via screws or similar attaching means. The side walls  15  forming a right angle with corresponding planar bottom walls  16  of the beam. Alternatively, the side walls  15  may be inclined such that an acute angle is formed with the bottom walls  16  thereby configuring the legs  22  so that bottom end portions  8  that engage the ground are separated a greater distance than top end portions  19  to provide a stable base for the device  10 . When the device  10  is used to support relatively “heavy” loads, the stability of the device  10  is increased by including a groove  21  in each side wall  15  of the beam  20 . The groove  21  provides a support wall  17  and a connection wall  18  that form an obtuse angle. The walls  17  and  18  cooperatively engage top end portions  19  of the legs  22  as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 3D, whereby the legs  22  are angled with respect to the upper surface of the beam  20 , and the legs  22  support the beam  20  via an end wall  13  that engages the support wall  17 , and a side wall  11  that engages and is joined to the connection wall  18 . 
     A table may be fabricated from two locking foldable sawhorse devices  10  and a rigid surface  42  such a plywood. The surface  42  is secured to the devices  10  by countersinking screws  44  through the surface  42 ; the screws  44  ultimately being secured between opposing jaw members  12  of the device  10 . When a relatively “light” load is placed upon the surface  42 , the screws  44  need only be “pinched” between the jaw members  12 . The inherent flexibility of the materials (wood, fiberglass, plastics and some metals) used to fabricate the device, allow the locking lever  26  to be positioned such that the side walls  14  of the locking lever  26  engage thereby locking the position of the device  10 , while allowing the jaws members  12  of the beam  20  to remain separated a distance corresponding to the diameter of the screws  44 . Although the top portion of the beam  20  supporting the surface  42  will form an inverted “V” when taking a side elevation view of the device  10 , sufficient stability will be provided due to the locked lever  26  and a relatively small distance separating the jaw members  12  due to the screws  44  having a small diameter. Should a relatively “heavy” load be placed upon the surface  42 , threaded recesses  45  would be provided that would removably receive the screws  44  therein to allow the jaw members  12  of the beam  20  to engage thereby providing a beam  20  with a planar top portion to support the surface  42 , and providing a device  10  having increased stability to withstand the heavier load. 
     The inherent flexibility of the device  10  and the pinching feature of the jaw members  12  of the beam  20  may be utilized to hold relatively “thin” objects therebetween. For example, a hand saw  46  requiring sharpening could be positioned between the jaw members  12 , then locked in position by the locking lever  26  with sufficient stability to allow sharpening tools to be forcibly applied to the hand saw  46 . Further, flat plates  48  may be locked between the jaws  12  to maintain the position of a workpiece  52 , such as a board or pipe, upon the beam  20 . Also, a clamp  50  may be included to further stabilize the workpiece  52  upon the beam  20  as illustrated in FIG.  9 B. When utilizing the clamp  50 , the beam  20  should have a planar top surface which correspondingly requires the jaw members  12  to be positioned together. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the device  10  is alternatively designed to include a safety line  54  attached to the horizontal member brace  24  via the small hinges  30  that join the hinged locking lever  26  to the member brace  24 . The safety line  54  may be fabricated from a myriad of materials including but not limited to nylon, polyester strapping, steel cable or nylon cord—the preferred material. The line  54  ensures that the legs  22  will not spread beyond a predetermined limit the thereby protecting the locking lever  26  from being over extended and forcibly removing the hinges  30  from the brace  24 . The safety line  54  protects the locking lever  26  without interfering with the operation of the lever  26  due to the hinges  30  collapsing the lever  26  away from the safety line  54 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12, the locking lever  26  of the device  10  is depicted with a handle  55  attached to one side of the lever  26  to allow an user to lock and unlock the lever  26  without the risk of the user&#39;s fingers being “pinched” between the cooperatively engaged side walls  14  of the lever  26  as the legs  22  of the device  10  are spread apart or brought together during normal operation. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 13A and 13B, the elongated split beam  20  of the device  10  is depicted with an alternatively designed leg  22 . Instead of a groove  21  in the beam  20  forming support and connection walls  17  and  18  which join to form an obtuse angle that cooperatively receives a top end  19  of the leg  22 , a recess  56  is provided in the top end  19  of the leg  22 . The recess  56  includes a connection wall  56   a  and a support wall  56   b  which are configured to form an obtuse angle. The connection wall  56   a  engages the side wall  15  of the beam  20  while the support wall  56   b  engages the bottom wall  16  of the beam  20 . The top end  19  of the leg  22  is secured to the beam  20  via screws  32  inserted through the top end  19  and continuing perpendicularly through the connection wall  56   a  while engaged with the side wall  15 , and extending into the beam  20  a distance sufficient to provide stability to the assembled device  10  when a load is set thereupon. 
     Referring to FIGS. 14A-14I, an alternative sawhorse  58  is depicted that includes one or more removable beams  57  set upon a beam support structure  57   a . The beams  57  and support structure  57   a  may be fabricated from a myriad of materials including but not limited to wood, metal, fiberglass and plastic. The preferred material of fabrication for the beams  57  is wood. The preferred material of fabrication for the support structure  57   a  is fiberglass channel joined together with metal. The support structure  57   a  includes two sets of two pivotally joined leg top connectors  69  that are attached to four corresponding top ends of four leg members  71  via rivets  61  forcibly inserted through orifices  62 . The support structure  57   a  further includes metal, horizontal braces  63  joined to mid-portions of adjacently positioned fiberglass legs  71  on each side of the structure  57   a , and metal leg bottom connectors  65  attached to bottom ends of the four leg members  71  via rivets  61  forcibly inserted through orifices  62 . The support structure is attached to the beams  57  via screws  32  through orifices  59  in connectors  69 . 
     The leg top connectors  69  are relatively “Y” configured when taking an end view of the device  58 , have first arm members  64  shorter longitudinally then second arm members  66 , and are pivotally joined via relatively long rivets  68  inserted through aligned, alternately positioned, hinge loops  68   a  joined to the end of the first arm members  64 . The connectors  69  form a rectangular configuration when taking an end view of the device  58  in a stable, load bearing position. The respective lengths of the first and second arm members  64  and  66  are dependant upon the quantity and size of the beams  57  to be snugly inserted between the arm members  64  and  66 . 
     The metal locking levers  63  are pivotally coupled together and are secured to an inside wall of the horizontal brace  67  via a mating connector  73  by utilizing rivets  61  and orifices  62 . The locking levers  63  function in the same manor as described above for the hinged locking lever  26  when stabilizing the sawhorse device  10 . The bottom connectors  65  include a rubber pad  81  joined to an inclined bottom portion that positions the pad  81  in congruent engagement with the surface supporting the device  58  when the legs  71  of the device  58  are spread and locked in a load bearing or open position. The safety line  54  described above for the sawhorse device  10  may also be included for the alternative device  58 . The alternative device  58  would have the safety line  54  joined to the mating connectors  73  such that the locking levers  63  would be above and parallel to a taught line  54  when the device  58  was in an open position. The levers  63  would angle away from the line  54  when the legs  71  of the device  58  are brought together. 
     The aforementioned locking levers  26  and  63  are not limited to sawhorse devices  10  and  58 , respectively, but may be utilized with any collapsible support device such as ladders, signs, scaffolding, pipe stands and the like that include pivotally joined leg or “V” configured support members. Generally, the locking levers  26  or  63  form a “triangle” that includes the pivot point and portions of the leg members joined thereto whereby the collapsible support device is stabilized and locked in an open position until the support device is relocated to another job site or placed in storage. 
     The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by following claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the inventive contribution permits.