Abstract:
A kit of modular parts from which the user may assemble portable multi-configurable work stations, work support structures or structures that perform both functions alternately or concurrently; whose support does not derive from a continuous surface.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/188,878 filed on Aug. 14, 2008 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a kit of modular parts from which the user may assemble portable multi-configurable work stations, work support structures or structures that may perform both functions alternately or concurrently. Such a kit includes parts connected via a notch and channel connector system, a notch and ear connection system, a rail and channel connector system, or combinations thereof; that may be useful in the fields of construction, renovation, maintenance/repair/furnishing, home improvement, DIY and the like, and in temporary and re-configurable light manufacturing settings. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the fields of construction and renovation, there is often a need for work support structures on which construction materials or objects can be temporarily secured, at a convenient working height, while they are sawn or otherwise worked with hand-held tools. In the current art this function is most often performed with trestle type supports (e.g. saw horses.) There is also frequently a concurrent need for devices that provide support, at a convenient working height, for portable bench-type power tools, and auxiliary infeed, outfeed and sidefeed support for the same (workstations.) In the current art this function is most often performed with tool stands. Existing portable tool stands for “feed-through” type tools (such as portable table saws) frequently sacrifice optimum workpiece support to meet their requirement for portability and/or are otherwise difficult to re-configure in a manner that suits the varying needs of the user from task to task. 
         [0004]    Existing portable tool stands for “in place” type tools (such as power miter saws) are dedicated solely to those types of tool, requiring the user to own multiple sets of stands in addition to a set of work supports for use with hand-held tools, and to dismount one tool and replace it with another. 
         [0005]    In the fields of maintenance/repair/refinishing there is often a need for support structures whose performance does not degrade in the presence of the oils, coatings, solvents and adhesives used, which allow spent (or unused) fluids to drain through, and which provide access to all sides of the object being worked upon. 
         [0006]    In temporary and re-configurable Light-Manufacturing settings there is a need for readily reconfigurable work support structures that can be extended indefinitely to the user&#39;s requirements or that can be deployed in independent assemblages, used in conjunction with one another, that share a common working height. 
         [0007]    In the DIY (“do it yourself”) sphere there is a need for a user to be able to do some or all of the above on an irregular and intermittent basis; placing a premium on a single reconfigurable structure to answer all occasions and all needs of a user. 
         [0008]    In the current art work support structures are of three basic types, one based on a collapsible trestle (e.g., folding sawhorses), another based on a collapsible column and the third based on the table (e.g., traditional “woodworker&#39;s bench”). 
         [0009]    The use of all collapsible trestle and collapsible column support devices carry a common set of risks; each with numerous undesirable consequences. 
         [0010]    The most frequent and consequential of these is the risk of cutting through (or into) the trestle beam (or column top) while performing a cut or other operation. Work supported on a single pair of trestles carries an additional risk that is also experienced when a trestle beam is completely severed. As the cut progresses, the forces acting on the workpiece (and/or the trestle beam) will either begin to bring the emerging parts into compression against one another, or cause them to fall away from one another. 
         [0011]    In the first instance the cutting edge(s) can become bound in the cut; with undesirable consequences. Additionally, the movement of the parts before the completion of the cut will introduce a bevel into the plane of the cut which degrades the quality of the joint that can be produced between that plane and another part. In the second instance the workpiece may tear apart before the cut is completed. 
         [0012]    In any event, when the cut is completed (or when the workpiece separates spontaneously) the two resulting parts are suddenly no longer supported on three or more points, but each, only on two or fewer. It is about these new-formed axes that both parts will wish to rotate, or in the absence of any support, will commence to fall. This may pose a safety hazard to the operator and risks damaging either or both the keeper and the offcut. 
         [0013]    In the current art the use of two or more pairs of trestles (or even of a single pair) in close proximity to one another is often impossible, owing to the interference of their legs with each other. 
         [0014]    In the current art work support structures based on the table, by virtue of it having a top, may prevent access to the underside of a workpiece. Moreover, since its support is provided by the table top surface, it is only off of that surface that the portion of a tool&#39;s cutting edges that projects below the cut does not cut into or through that table top. 
         [0015]    A need therefore exists for work support structures and workstations that are lightweight, provide stability and securement for workpieces and/or portable power tools, that neutralize the risks inherent in the use of the devices of the current art, and that may be readily re-configured to optimize one or more functions of tool and/or workpiece support. 
         [0016]    All expressions of the prior art coalesce around creating a single object (which then may, or may not, be used in groups); or of a single use device. In addition to the improvements in safety and utility, and the combination of features not heretofore available together; it is the ready reconfigurability of this kit of parts, to accommodate a wide variety of requirements, which constitutes a significant novelty of this invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    A kit of modular parts from which a user may assemble portable, reconfigurable multi-use workpiece support and/or workstation assemblages utilizing a notch and channel, a notch and ear, a channel and rail connecting system or combinations thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-18  are various views of the components of a work station or workpiece support structure in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Specifically: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of a short cross beam; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is perspective view of a long cross beam; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is perspective view of a leg with an integral receiver section; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the leg of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a receiver section of the leg of  FIGS. 3-4 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is perspective view of an upper leg with a hinged receiver section; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is perspective view of a leg connected to a cross member; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a section view of the hinged connection of the leg of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a truncated perspective view of a rail; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a rail; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a truncated perspective view of a rail having ear ends; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a rail having ear ends; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13-14  are perspective views of a trolley; 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a tool mounting plate 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a tray. 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view showing the legs, rails and cross members before connection; 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of legs, rails and cross members after connection. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 19-22  show examples of different configurations of the work station and work support structure sub-assemblies that may be assembled from a kit, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a sub-assembly consisting of three cross beams and four rails. 
           [0038]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a sub-assembly consisting of one long cross beam and two legs. 
           [0039]      FIGS. 21 and 22  are perspective views of sub-assemblies consisting of one short cross beam and two legs. 
           [0040]      FIGS. 23 and 24  show how an assemblage may be reconfigured. 
           [0041]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view illustrating how assemblages may be interconnected to extend a work station or a work support structure in either length or width. Any length or width is contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a workpiece mounted to a work support assembled utilizing various embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view of an assemblage useful as a work station that supports both a “feed-through” type tool (such as a portable table saw) and an “in-place” type tool (such as a powered miter saw). 
           [0044]      FIG. 28  is a view of this assemblage, with its tools and accessories mounted thereon. 
           [0045]      FIG. 29  is a perspective view of a section of a rail illustrating some of the methods by which a workpiece may be secured to a rail, and the functioning of the cross-cut pass-through notch. 
           [0046]      FIG. 30  is perspective view of a trolley mounted to a rail with a clamp according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 31  shows how a jig or fixture may be mounted to a rail utilizing a threaded bolt inserted into a pin socket in certain embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0048]    A figure suitable for the Abstract Page is provided separately. 
         [0049]    It should be noted that all of the Figures in the present disclosure depict possible assemblages according to various embodiments of the present invention, and the invention is not limited to any of the embodiments depicted in the Figures. Additionally, various embodiments of the invention are fully disclosed in the present disclosure even though they may not be depicted in the Figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0050]    In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a kit of parts that the user may purchase as a single system, or as individual parts; and assemble into re-configurable workpiece and/or tool support structures, as well as structures which combine characteristics of both, that are modifiable and expandable to suit his or her specific needs. The support structures of the present invention are lightweight, stable and cost effective. 
         [0051]    In various embodiments the kit may consist of cross beams  10 , legs  30  and rails  50 . In various embodiments the kit may include accessory items such as, but not limited to: trolleys  60 , tool mounting plates  70 , and/or trays  80 . 
         [0052]    In various embodiments (as shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 ) the cross beams  10  are elongated members having length (L) width (W) and height (H) which have at least 5 or more connection locations  14  where they may engage either a leg  30  or a rail  50  from the same kit. In certain embodiments separate connection locations for rails  50  and legs  30  may be present. 
         [0053]    In various embodiments of the invention the length (L) of a cross beam  10  of a given kit is between about  12  inches to about  48  inches; although longer or shorter lengths are contemplated. 
         [0054]    In various embodiments of the invention the width (W) of a cross beam  10  of a given kit is between about 2 inches to about 4 inches. In various embodiments of the invention the height (H) of a cross beam  10  of a given kit is about 3 to about 6 inches; being about half the height (H) of a rail  50  of that kit. 
         [0055]    In various embodiments the connection location is formed by the faces of two symmetrically opposing channels  11  in the lateral faces  12  of the cross beam  10 . The space between opposing channels (on the transverse axis of the cross beam  10 ) comprises a connecting segment  13  and is dimensioned (along with the faces of the channels  11 ) to mate slideably with the notches  55  on the bottom aspect  52  of a rail  50  and/or the notches  38  of the receiver section  32  of a leg  30 . These channels  11  may or may not be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam  10 , and the connecting segment may or may not extend through both the upper and lower faces of the cross beam  10  or protrude beyond either or both. In certain embodiments these channels are square or rectangular in section, but other shapes (circular, hexagonal, octagonal, T-shaped etc.) are contemplated. 
         [0056]    In various embodiments, when engaged with a leg  30 , all or a portion of the lateral faces  12  of the cross beam  10  adjacent to the connecting segment  13  also form a part of the connection location  14 . 
         [0057]    In various embodiments the cross beams  10  may be made like a girder with an open web structure  15  between the faces which mate with other parts. In various embodiments the cross beam  10  may be an enclosed hollow form that may or may not be filled. In certain embodiments the cross beams are square or rectangular in section, but other shapes (circular, hexagonal, octagonal, T-shaped etc.) are contemplated. 
         [0058]    In various embodiments, the legs  30  of a kit may be comprised of a receiver section  32  and a stand section  31 . 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , in various embodiments the receiver section  32  includes a notch/channel connecter  36 . The connector  36  has a recess  37  capable of receiving the cross beam  10 . The recess  37  includes a center groove  38  with two side members  39 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , in use, the cross member  10  slides into the recess  37  of the receiver section  32  with the lateral faces  12  of the cross beam  10  being supported by the faces  40  of the recess  37  and the connecting segment  13  sliding into the center groove  38 . 
         [0060]    The stand section  31  has a triangular portion  33  which is connected at the bottom side of the triangle to two feet  34   a  and  34   b  designed to optimally transfer the total load to the ground, irrespective of the orientation of the stand section to the receiver section. In various embodiments the terminal aspect of these feet will be tubular (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), however, a free pivoting triangular bracket terminus for these feet is also contemplated. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the feet may be covered with a pad  47  of ribbed non-slip material. In embodiments that utilize a free pivoting triangular bracket terminus for the feet the bottom aspect of the bracket may or may not be covered with a pad of non-slip material 
         [0061]    In various embodiments, the triangular section  33  may be a light-weight design such as an open web design  35  for strength. Closed hollow or filled hollow design structures and other shapes besides triangles may be used. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , in various embodiments the receiver section  32  is integral to and aligned with the stand section  31 . In contrast (as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) in other embodiments the stand section  31  and receiver section  32  are hinged together. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , in the hinged design depicted therein, a portion  41  of the stand section  31  projects into a cavity  42  in the receiver section  32 , and the two parts pivot about a fixed pin  43 . The projection of the stand section  31  extends beyond this pivot point further into the cavity. The cavity  42  in the receiver section  32  is shaped so that, as the two parts pivot against one another, the projection  41  of the stand section  31  comes to bear against the interior faces  45  of the cavity  42  limiting the travel of the stand section  31  relative to the receiver section  32  to the angle θ to either side of the center line X of the receiver section  32 . The range of the angle θ is between about 10 degrees and about 22½ degrees. 
         [0063]    In various embodiments a latch or other fastening is provided to secure the stand section  31  to the receiver section  32  at either extreme of its travel with the bearing faces held in compression against one another. In certain embodiments (as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 ) this fastening is made via a “loose pin” connection  44  composed of two pin knuckles  46  on the stand section  31  and a single pin knuckle  47  on the receiver section  32  (on both sides of the two sections) whose holes align when the stand section  31  and the receiver section  32  are at either extreme of their relative travel. The fastening is made by inserting a “loose pin”  48  into the aligned holes of the three knuckles. Other types of fastening are contemplated including, but not limited to “bail” or “hook” or “ball” type latches. 
         [0064]    In various embodiments the receiver and stand sections may be integral and fixed at an angle in the range of the angle θ above. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 9-12  show a rail  50  according to certain embodiments of the invention. In various embodiments the rails  50  of a kit are elongated members having length (L) width (W) and height (H) which have at least two or more notches  55  on their lower aspects  52  that are dimensioned to slideably mate with the channels  11  of a cross beam  10  of the same kit. In the various embodiments, the notches  55  on the lower aspect  52  of the rails  50 , where they mate with the channels  11  of a cross beam  10 , are dimensioned in such a manner that the top aspect  51  of the rails  50  protrude a uniform distance above the cross beam  10  when fully engaged with that beam. It is the multiplicity of such rails  50  that creates the “working surface” of a workstation or work support assemblage according to the present invention, while providing an unobstructed tool/cut path between rails  10 . 
         [0066]    In various embodiments of the invention the length (L) of a rail  50  of a given kit is about 6 feet; although longer or shorter lengths are contemplated. 
         [0067]    In various embodiments of the invention, in order to facilitate users&#39; creation of “custom” rails for their own use, the width (W) of a rail  50  of a given kit is between about ½ to 1½ inches and may conform to one of the standard thicknesses of commercially available lumber and other materials. 
         [0068]    In various embodiments of the invention the height (H) of a rail  50  of a given kit is about 6 to 12 inches; being about twice the height (H) of a cross beam  10  of that kit. In certain embodiments, where additional clearance between the “working surface” (created by the multiplicity of rails  50  and the cross beams  10 ) is desired; the height (H) of a rail  50  of a given kit may be more than twice the height (H) of a cross beam  10 . 
         [0069]    In various embodiments, the rails  50  may come equipped with any, all or any combination of the following: one or more cross-cut passthrough notches  58  on the upper aspect  51  of the rail  50  (to permit the passage of the cutting edges of a tool which protrude below the cut to pass through without cutting into a rail  50 ), one or more clamp apertures  56  in the lateral aspect of the rail  50  to facilitate the clamping of objects to the top  51  and end  53  aspects of the rail  50 , one or more clamp pad locations  57  on the lateral aspects of the rail  50  to facilitate the clamping of objects to those aspects of the rail  50 , one or more ear ends  54  to pinion tool mounting plates  70  against suitably spaced cross beams  10 , one or more pin sockets  59  in the top aspect  51  of the rail  50  for the temporary insertion of stop pins  100  (as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 ) whose function is analogous to that of the “bench dogs” associated with a traditional woodworker&#39;s bench, or threaded bolts  101  for securing user made or commercially available jigs and fixtures to a rail or rails  50  (as shown in  FIG. 31 .) 
         [0070]    In various embodiments clamp apertures  56  are regularly located along the lateral aspect of the rails  50 , somewhat below the top face  51  of the rail  50 , and directly beneath the pin sockets  59 . Their upper aspects lie in a plane parallel to the upper aspect  51  of the rail  50 . 
         [0071]    In various embodiments clamp pad locations  57  are located between the clamp apertures  56  and between the clamp apertures  56  and the ends of a rail  50 , symmetrically, on both lateral aspects of the rail  50 . The edges of the top  51  and bottom  52  aspects of the rail  50  and the surface of the clamp pad locations  57  lie on a single plane. 
         [0072]    In certain embodiments certain rails  50  may be formed with an “ear end”  54  in the form of a protrusion of part of the upper portion of the end aspect of the rail  50  beyond the lower portion. 
         [0073]    According to various embodiments of the present invention, the notches  55 , on the lower aspect  52  of the rails  50 , where the notches mate with the channels  11  of a cross beam  10 , are dimensioned in such a manner that the top aspect  51  of the rails  50  of a kit protrude a uniform distance above the cross beam  10  when fully engaged with that beam. It is the multiplicity of such rails  50  that creates the “working surface” of a workstation or work support while providing an unobstructed tool/cut path between rails  50 . In certain embodiments rails  50  that protrude a greater or lesser amount above this “working surface” may be present. 
         [0074]    In various embodiments the rails  50  may be made like a girder with an open web structure  15  between the faces which mate with other parts. In various embodiments the rails  50  may be an enclosed hollow form that may or may not be filled. In certain embodiments the rails  50  are square or rectangular in section, but other shapes (circular, hexagonal, octagonal, T-shaped etc.) are contemplated. 
         [0075]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show a trolley  60  in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. The trolley  60  may have a plate portion  61 . In various embodiments, the plate portion  61  may be about 3 inches to about 24 inches in length (L), about 3 inches to about 18 inches in width (W) and about ⅛ inch to about 3½ inches in height (H). The back edge of the plate section  61  may include an upward facing flange  62  for engaging workpieces. In certain embodiments, in the top face of the plate  61  are four apertures  63  for receiving the pins  65  of a snap-in stop  64 . On the bottom of the plate  61  is a rail/channel connector  66  that is comprised of two downward facing flanges  67  which extend past the bottom aspect of the clamp apertures  56  of the rails  50  of that kit, without extending into the plane of the cross beam  10  of that kit. Set between the flanges are one or more spacer stubs  68  which do not extend into the opening of the clamp apertures  56  of the rails  50  of that kit. Together with the flanges  67  these stubs  68  define the channels  69  of the rail/channel connector  66 . In certain embodiments these channels  69  are square or rectangular in section, but other shapes (circular, hexagonal, octagonal, T-shaped etc.) are contemplated. The channels  69  are dimensioned to permit a trolley  60  to ride and be temporarily secured at any point along a pair of suitably placed rails  50 . Trolleys that encompass more than two rails are contemplated. 
         [0076]    In certain embodiments, single rail trolleys  60  may be present. These differ from multi-rail trolleys  60  in the lack of a spacer stub(s)  68  and the requirement that the downward facing flanges  67  have sufficient “flex” to be held in compression against the clamp pad locations  57  of the rails  50  of that kit. Trolleys  60  that encompass more than two rails are also contemplated. 
         [0077]      FIG. 15  shows the tool mounting plate  70  in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. The top  71  of the mounting plate  70  is flat and may, in various embodiments, have an open web design  72 . The ends  73  of the plate  70  have notch/ear connectors  74 . The connectors are comprised of a pair of notches  75  whose width is dimensioned to permit the thickness of a rail  50  of that kit to pass through, but of a length which will only allow the lower portion of an ear end  54  of a rail  50  to pass through when the plate rests on a suitably placed set of cross beams  10  and is pinioned by such rails  50  when they are engaged with the notch/channel connectors  14  of two or more cross beams  10  (as shown in  FIG. 27 .) 
         [0078]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , in various embodiments the kit may include a tray or trays  80  for the convenient and accessible storage of small tools and parts. In various embodiments the trays  80  may be equipped with hooks, brackets or clips  81  which pass through one or more of the clamp apertures  56  of a rail  50  and engage with one lateral face of the rail  50  while cantilevering the tray against the other lateral face. In certain embodiments these trays may be adapted to holster hand-held power tools. 
         [0079]      FIGS. 17 and 18  show a method of attaching the interconnecting parts together in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. As can be seen in  FIG. 17 , in certain embodiments, first a user aligns a cross beam connection location  14  with a leg connector  36 . The connection location  14  of the cross beam  10  may be chosen by the user depending on the work station or work support that is to be assembled. Once a suitable connection location is chosen, the cross beam  10  is slid together with a leg  30  so that the connection location  14  is fully engaged with the leg connector  36 . Once set, the top edge of the receiver section  32  and the top edge of the cross member  10  will be a substantially flat surface, as the various embodiments of the present invention may require. In certain embodiments of the present invention, two or more legs  30  will be joined to a cross beam  10  in this fashion. 
         [0080]    Once two or more cross beam and leg sub-assemblies  200 ,  210 ,  220  have been created (as shown in  FIGS. 20 ,  21  &amp;  22 ), a rail  50  may be positioned over the cross members of such sub-assemblies at any available location chosen by the user that may be aligned so that another notch  55  of that rail  50  may be engaged with any available connection location  14  of another cross beam and leg sub-assembly  200 ,  210 ,  220 . To attach, the user applies a downward movement to the rail  50  so that the rail connector  55  mates with the connector(s)  14  of the cross beam(s)  10 . 
         [0081]      FIGS. 19-22  show examples of different configurations of the work station and work support structure sub-assemblies that may be assembled from this kit, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0082]      FIG. 19  shows a sub-assembly having three cross beams  10  and four rails  50 .  FIGS. 20 ,  21  &amp;  22  show certain sub-assemblies using one cross beam  10  and two legs  30  ( 200 ,  210  &amp;  220 ) where the legs  30  are engaged in different pairs of connector locations  14  on a cross beam  10 . For various assemblages, the user may connect legs  30  to cross beams  10  and rails  50  to cross beams  10  at any appropriate and aligned connection location  14  that is not already occupied by another interconnected part. 
         [0083]      FIG. 23 &amp; 24  show how two similar workstations/work supports may be assembled from the same kit of parts according to the embodiments of the present invention, using four legs  30 , two rails  50  and two cross beams  10  forming a “working surface” configuration with aligned cross-cut notches  58 . To assemble, two sub-assemblies  200  as shown in  FIG. 20  are set a finite distance apart from each other whose cross beam  10  channels  11  are aligned. Two rails  50  are then applied to both assemblages  200 . The rails  50  both have center cross cut passthrough notches  58  and these notches  58  are aligned so that a saw blade may be run parallel to the cross beams  10  and perpendicular to the rails  50  without cutting into any part of the assemblage. Both of these particular assemblages suffer from the same deficit described in paragraphs [0008-0011] that afflicts all work supported on only two trestles. 
         [0084]      FIG. 23  further illustrates how offsetting the legs  30  of adjacent leg/crossbeam subassemblies  200  relative to one another permits the cross beams  10  and their associated rails  50  to be brought into close proximity to one another without the legs  30  interfering with each other while still retaining the alignment of their cross-cut passthrough notches  58 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view illustrating how different assemblages may be interconnected to extend the work station or work support in either the length or width. Any length or width is contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0086]      FIG. 26  shows another possible assemblage of the present invention comprised of 8 legs  30 , 4 cross beams  10  and 4 rails  50 . The rails  50  may be deployed in any aligned group of connection locations of the cross beams  10 , not already occupied by another connection to provide an unobstructed path for the portion of a cutting tool&#39;s edges that protrudes below the under surface of the workpiece and full support for both the keeper and the offcut for the full length of either a longitudinal or transverse cut or other operation, as shown by the arrows. 
         [0087]    This configuration  250  provides a very stable work support structure with aligned cross-cut passthrough notches  58 . Also shown in  FIG. 26  is a workpiece that is set atop the assemblage. In this example, the workpiece  103  is fastened to the work support structure  250  via C-clamps  102 . The jaws of the C-clamps  102  are positioned on the top face of the workpiece  103  and on the upper face of the clamp aperture  56 . Any other clamp with suitable sized jaws may be substituted. 
         [0088]      FIG. 27  shows a possible assemblage, according to the embodiments of the present invention, comprised of  12  legs  30 ,  6  cross beams  10 , eight rails  50  and a tool mounting plate  70 ; contemplated to be used as a work station in conjunction with a power miter saw  104 , a portable table saw  105 , an unfinished hollow core door  106  and two trolleys  60 . In order for the trolleys  60  and the mounting plate  70  to be mounted, two pairs of rails  50  with at least one ear end  54  each must be set next to each other and engage the ear/notch connector  74  of the mounting plate  70  placed on two suitably spaced cross beams  10 . Once set, the trolley  60  can be interconnected with the top edge of the rails  50 . The trolley  60  then may be slid along the upper aspect  51  of rail  50  to any position along a pair of rails  50  and be temporarily secured in that position by clamps which pinion the trolley  60  against the clamp pads  57  (as shown in  FIG. 30 .) Using the snap-in stop  64  (as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 ) in conjunction with this capability creates the capacity of using the power miter saw to rapidly cut identical lengths. 
         [0089]      FIG. 28  shows this same assemblage with its tools and accessories mounted. In this configuration both tools may be used without the necessity of removing either. By dismounting the power miter saw  104 , the capacity of the table saw  105  to make cross-cuts in wide or otherwise ungainly materials is greatly enhanced by the side-feed capacity previously used by the power miter saw  104 . 
         [0090]    Assemblages that exhibit some or all of the characteristics of both a work support and/or a work station may be created utilizing the embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0091]      FIG. 29  illustrates how workpieces  103  may be mounted to the top aspect  51  and the end aspect  53  of a rail  50  using either spring clamps  107 , C-clamps  102 , a stop pin  100  or any combination thereof. The clamps  102  and  107  are in contact with the upper or outer faces of the workpieces  103  and the top or side aspects of the clamp apertures  56 . 
         [0092]      FIG. 30  illustrates how a C-clamp  102  may be used to immobilize a trolley  60  on a pair of rails  50 . In this illustration, the C-clamp  102  is in contact with one of the downward facing flanges  67  of the trolley  60  and a clamp pad  57 . The clamp may be used in either position shown, whichever is more suitable. 
         [0093]      FIG. 31  shows a user supplied jig for cutting disks and rings  108  fastened to two rails  50  by the use of threaded bolts  101  in the pin sockets  58 . The bolts  101  rest in counter bored holes in the jig, pass through the pin sockets  58  and may be fastened with a nut and washer where the bolt emerges in the clamp aperture  56   
         [0094]    The interconnecting parts of an assemblage of the present invention may be standardized such that multiple assemblages can be used in conjunction with each other. 
         [0095]    The structures of the disclosed technology may be used with other types of portable “bench type” power tools whose performance would benefit from the additional infeed, outfeed and side feed support such a structure may provide. 
         [0096]    The interconnecting parts may be made from a variety of materials such as wood, metal or any polymeric material, e.g., plastic resin or fiberglass reinforced plastic. The parts may be hollow and/or be filled with additional material. For example, the parts may be filled with polyurethane foam to make them rigid and light or heavy materials to increase their mass. They can be cast, injection molded, rotationally molded, milled or laid-up over a core. 
         [0097]    The present invention disclosure is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.