Abstract:
A bracket is provided for a sawhorse or other multiple piece stand, which stand includes a plurality of elongate legs and an elongate beam supported substantially horizontally by the legs. The bracket includes a generally U-shaped channel for receiving the beam. The channel includes a base and pair of side walls attached unitarily to and extending upwardly from the base. There are a pair of leg accommodating receptacles fixedly joined to the channel and including a first receptacle that has a first recess for fixedly interengaging the base and a first one of the side walls of the channel and a second receptacle that has a second recess for fixedly interengaging the base and a second one of the side walls of the channel. The receptacles are juxtaposed along and extend divergently from the channel. Each receptacle is capable of receiving a respective leg, which legs are engaged with a substantially horizontal surface to support the beam above the substantially horizontal surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a bracket for use in a sawhorse, roadside barricade or other multiple piece stand. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wooden sawhorses have been used by carpenters and others in the construction industry for many years. Normally, these devices are manufactured by simply nailing together a number of 2×4&#39;s or other wooden components. One of the components forms a horizontal beam and typically 2 pairs of diverging legs are attached to depend from the beam. These types of sawhorses are usually constructed in a fairly hurried manner on the job site and oftentimes do not provide satisfactory support. Such sawhorses are apt to collapse under heavy and/or shifting loads. 
     Various brackets have been developed to facilitate and improve sawhorse assembly. These products feature a fairly intricate and complicated construction. In many cases, they are designed so that the sawhorse is able to collapse. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,461,370, 4,238,001, 4,730,698 and 5,779,003. Due to the collapsibility of these products, they are apt to be somewhat weaker than is desirable. The hinged interconnections of the brackets are usually not able to withstand heavy loads, which are often encountered in the construction industry. Moreover, although collapsibility is sometimes a desirable feature, hinged brackets provide the sawhorse with less than optimal stability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved bracket for providing a more stable, supportive and durable sawhorse. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a strong, rugged sawhorse bracket that enables the sawhorse to stability and securely support very large weights. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a sawhorse bracket that permits a sawhorse to be assembled quickly and effectively on a job site. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a sawhorse bracket that is convenient to transport between work locations. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a sawhorse bracket that permits the sawhorse to be quickly and conveniently disassembled when use of the sawhorse is no longer required. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a sawhorse bracket that evenly and effectively distributes the weight of a load supported by the sawhorse. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a sawhorse bracket that employs a simple and easy to manufacture design, without moving parts. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a bracket that may be used effectively in the assembly of roadside barricades and other support stands. 
     This invention results from a realization that an improved bracket for a sawhorse and other types of support stands may be accomplished by mounting a longitudinal beam between a pair of brackets, each of which includes a U-shaped channel that receives a portion of the beam. The invention results from the further realization that an even stronger and more stable bracket is achieved by employing a pair of diverging leg accommodating receptacles that are juxtaposed along and fixed to each channel. Each receptacle is provided with a recess that is fixedly engaged with both a base of the channel and a respective upturned side wall of the channel. In this manner, the weight of the object supported on the beam is distributed evenly through the diverging leg accommodating receptacles and into the legs of the sawhorse. 
     This invention features a bracket for a sawhorse or other multiple piece stand, which stand includes a plurality of elongate legs and an elongate beam supported substantially horizontally by the legs. The bracket includes a generally U-shaped channel for receiving the beam. The channel includes a base and a pair of side walls attached unitarily to and extending upwardly from the base. There are a pair of leg accommodating receptacles fixedly joined to the channel. A first receptacle has a first recess that fixedly interengages the base and the first one of the side walls of the channel. A second receptacle has a second recess that fixedly interengages the base and a second one of the side walls of the channel. The receptacles are juxtaposed along and extend divergently from the channel. Each receptacle is capable of receiving a respective leg, which legs are engaged with a substantially horizontal surface to support the beam above the surface. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the receptacles include respective tubular components. Each tubular component may have a generally rectangular cross sectional shape. The first recess may include a pair of substantially aligned notches in one of the tubular components, each of which fixedly interengages the base and the first side wall of the channel. The second recess may include a pair of substantially aligned notches in the other tubular component. Each such notch fixedly interengages the base and a second side wall of the channel. The channel and the tubular components may include respective longitudinal axes that are orientated at obtuse angles relative to one another. 
     The channel may include at least two holes for receiving a connector that is attachable to the beam. Likewise, each receptacle may include at least one hole for receiving a connector that is attachable to the beam. 
     Preferably, a sawhorse is constructed by employing a pair of brackets as described above. The channel and the receptacles may be fixedly interconnected by welding the receptacles to the channel. Alternatively, the channels and the receptacle may feature a one piece, molded plastic construction. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Other objects, features and advantages will occur from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a sawhorse that employs a pair of brackets in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a representative one of the sawhorse brackets in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the sawhorse bracket; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational end view of the sawhorse bracket; and 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the assembled sawhorse. 
     There is shown in FIG. 1 a pair of sawhorse brackets  10  incorporated as part of an assembled sawhorse  12 . The sawhorse is designed to be utilized in a known manner in various applications in the carpentry and construction industries. Sawhorse  12  may also be utilized for residential home improvements and other noncommercial applications. Each bracket  10  interconnects a pair of diverging support legs  14  (only one leg is shown with each bracket in FIG. 1) to a horizontal beam  16 . The legs  14  and beam  16  typically comprise elongate wood or plastic elements (e.g. wood 2×4&#39;s). Sawhorse  12  is used either alone or in combination with other sawhorses to support lumber, drywall, or other loads in a known manner. 
     A representative support bracket  10  is illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. The bracket includes an elongate steel channel  18 , which has a generally U-shaped cross sectional configuration. The U-shaped channel may be formed using various known manufacturing techniques. In particular, channel  18  includes a flat base  20  and upturned side walls  22  and  24  that are unitarily interconnected to and extend upwardly from opposing longitudinal sides of base  20 . As best shown in FIG. 3, the junctions  26  and  28  between base  20  and the respective side walls  22  and  24  may be slightly rounded. The length of channel  18  may be varied within the scope of this invention. 
     A diverging pair of leg accommodating sockets or receptacles  30  and  32  are fixedly joined to channel  18  between the longitudinal ends of the channel. Receptacles  30  and  32  comprise rectangular tubular components that are preferably composed of steel or other material similar to that composing channel  18 . Once again, as best shown in FIG. 3, the corners of rectangular receptacles  30  and  32  may be slightly rounded. Each of the tubular components has a respective opening  34 , that is slightly larger than the leg component that the tubular component is designed to receive. As previously indicated, the leg component may comprise a 2×4 wood member. 
     The tubular components are fixedly joined to channel  18  in a manner that significantly enhances the strength and stability of bracket  10 . In particular, each tubular receptacle includes an upper recess that conformably engages channel  18 . In particular, component  30  includes a recess  38  comprising an aligned pair of generally V-shaped notches  40  formed in opposing walls  42  and  44  of component  30 . In FIGS. 2-4, only the notch  40  formed in wall  42  is shown. A like notch is formed in wall  44  (FIG. 3) but that notch is obscured from view in FIGS. 2-4. However, the notch  40  on wall  44  is shown in FIG.  5 . Each of the notches  40  engages both the outside surface of channel side wall  22  and the lower surface of base  20 . In fact, notch  40  engages side wall  22  for most if not the entire height of the side wall. The notch extends across slightly less than half of the width of the base. Receptacle  30  is permanently fixed to channel  18  by welding or otherwise fastening the receptacle to the channel along the edges of the notches  40 . See weld  50  in FIG.  4 . As a result, the notches  40  of recess  38  fixedly interengage side wall  22  and base  20  such that receptacle  30  is rigidly and permanently joined to the channel. The notches are formed in the receptacle at an orientation such that receptacle  30  an attached leg  14  (FIG. 1) depend downwardly from channel  18  at an angle as shown in FIGS. 2-4. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, leg accommodating receptacle  30  is cut transversely at an angle such that when it is permanently attached to channel  18  there is an obtuse angle  59  between the longitudinal axis  56  of tubular component  30  and the longitudinal axis  58  of channel  18 . 
     Leg accommodating receptacle  32 , FIGS. 1-4, is permanently secured to channel  18  in an analogous manner. Receptacle  32  is juxtaposed beside receptacle  30  and, when attached to channel  18 , diverges from receptacle  30  in the manner shown in FIGS. 2-4. Receptacle  32  includes a recess  60 , FIG. 3, which again comprises a pair of aligned generally V-shaped notches  62  formed in opposing walls  64  and  66  of receptacle  32 . Each of notches  62  interengages the outside surface of side wall  24  and the lower surface of base  20  of channel  18 . Once again, a weld  68  is formed between the notch edges of receptacle  32  and channel  18 . This fixedly fastens the receptacle to the channel. Notch  62  is orientated so that receptacle  32  diverges from channel  18  at an angle similar to, but opposing that of receptacle  30 . Once again, each of the notches of receptacle  32  extends for virtually the entire height of side wall  24  and for slightly less than half the width of base  20 . As best shown in FIG. 4, there is little, if any, space formed between the inside walls  70  and  72  of diverging receptacles  30  and  32 , respectively. As a result of the foregoing construction, the weight or force of a supported load exerted upon channel  18  is distributed evenly through the base and side walls of the channel into the diverging receptacle  30  and  32 . As previously described for receptacle  30 , receptacle  32  is attached to channel  18  such that the axis of the receptacle forms an obtuse angle with the longitudinal axis of the channel. See FIG.  1 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a pair of brackets  10 , as previously described, are used to assembly sawhorse  10  proximate respective ends of horizontal beam  16 . Each tubular receptacle  30  and  32  of each bracket  10  receives a respective wood leg  14 . The upper end of leg  14  fits snugly and securely within its associated receptacle opening. The length of the leg may be varied widely within the scope of this invention. 
     Each of the receptacles includes an opposing pair of nail or screw holes  80  and  82  formed in opposing walls thereof. These holes receive nails or screws which securely fasten a respective wooden leg within the receptacle. The screw or nail is inserted through the smaller opening  80  and is driven in a known manner through the leg received therein. The tip of the nail or screw is allowed to protrude through the aligned larger hole  82 . 
     Similar slots or holes are provided within channel  18  for fastening the longitudinal beam within the channel. For example, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, side wall  22  includes a large hole  90  proximate one end and a small hole  92  proximate the other end. Conversely, side wall  24  includes a large hole  96  aligned with hole  92  and a smaller hole  98  (FIG. 5 only) that is aligned with hole  90 . Once again, a nail or screw is driven first through the smaller hole  92  and then through the beam received within the channel. A tip of the nail or screw protrudes through the aligned larger hole  96 . As a result, the beam is securely fastened within the channel. 
     Sawhorse  10  may be assembled by first inserting the legs into receptacles  30  and  32  in each of two brackets  10 . The channels  18  of the two brackets  10  are then aligned and a beam  16  is inserted into the aligned channels. The brackets are fastened to the inserted legs and beam by nails or screws as described above. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that this operation may be varied within the scope of this invention (i.e. the beam may be attached first and the legs last). 
     A bracket that employs the construction described herein exhibits a number of advantages over known sawhorse brackets. As described, the leg accommodating receptacles interengage the channel such that the channel is supported for virtually the entire height of each side wall and across virtually the entire width of the base. This permits the weight of the load supported on the sawhorse to be distributed evenly through the channel to the receptacles and the attached legs. Improved stability and strength are thereby achieved. The bracket is far stronger and more supportive than most known sawhorse assembly techniques. 
     Additionally, the rigidly fixed interconnection between the receptacles and the channel provides significant advantages. Because the receptacles are not hingedly connected to the channel, weak points and product failure are avoided. The assembled sawhorse is able to support much larger weights in a much more stable fashion than is possible using known sawhorse brackets. Because the longitudinal axes of the tubular receptacles form obtuse angles with the beam accommodating channel, an even stronger stable support is provided. 
     When sawhorse  12  is no longer in use, it can be quickly and conveniently disassembled by simply removing the nails and screws from the bracket and detaching the legs and horizontal beam. The brackets are then transported to a storage facility or another job site and reused as required in the foregoing manner. 
     Brackets  10  may also be conveniently used on a wide variety of alternative support stands such as road barricades, signs, work benches, etc. In each case, the rigid interengagement between the channel and the receptacles provides the brackets, and therefore the stand, with improved strength and stability. The channel and permanently connected receptacles may be formed of a molded plastic or other durable and impact resistant materials. It should also be understood that the elements used for the beams and the legs in the sawhorse may be composed of plastic, metal or other alternative materials. 
     From the foregoing it may be seen that the apparatus of this invention provides for a bracket for use in a stronger and more stable and supportive sawhorse, roadside barricade or other multiple piece stand. While this detailed description has set forth particularly preferred embodiments of the apparatus of this invention, numerous modifications and variations of the structure of this invention, all within the scope of the invention, will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is understood that this description is illustrative only of the principles of the invention and is not limitative thereof. 
     Although specific features of the invention are shown in some of the drawings and not others, this is for convenience only, as each feature may be combined with any and all of the other features in accordance with this invention. 
     Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims: