Abstract:
A multi-function workstation particularly adapted for use by a mechanic while working at the side or underneath a vehicle that is raised on a hydraulic lift. The workstation may be mounted to a wall or shaft near the periphery of the vehicle being worked on or, if possible, to the shaft of the hydraulic lift itself. Electric power and compressed air are supplied to the workstation where connections for electrical cords and compressed air are provided together with convenient supports for one or more compressed air driver devices. Located between a top and bottom section of the workstation that provide for electrical and compressed air access, respectively, are two middle sections comprising open-faced, removable boxes. The boxes contain supports of several types for holding tools or supplies used by a mechanic.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to tool support assemblies for presenting to a user tools typical for working on the underside of an automotive vehicle after the vehicle is raised on a hydraulic or other type of lift. 
   Undercarriage work facilitated by a hydraulic lift is a daily occurrence in automotive repair establishments. Some of the most repeated tasks involve removal and replacement of standard size nuts and bolts. Unfortunately, the mechanic is presented with tools located a safe distance from the periphery of the raised vehicle, such distance being maintained so that the tools and their electrical or compressed air connections do not interfere with the raising or lowering of the vehicle. The mechanic moves many times back and forth from the periphery or undercarriage of the vehicle to obtain tools and supplies to work on the raised vehicle in those locations. There is a need for a device that will eliminate much of that mechanic motion, thereby reducing repair time on a vehicle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a multi-function workstation for a mechanic to use while working at the side of or underneath a vehicle raised on a hydraulic lift. The workstation is mounted on a wall or shaft near the periphery of the vehicle to be worked on or, if possible, to the shaft of the hydraulic lift itself. Electric power and compressed air are supplied to the workstation, whereat connections for electrical cords and compressed air are provided together with convenient supports for one or more compressed driver devices. Located between a top and bottom section of the workstation for electrical and compressed air access respectively are two middle sections comprising open faced boxes that are removable. The boxes may contain supports of several types for tools or supplies used by a mechanic. 
   The invention workstation eliminates the need for substantial horizontal storage surface for some of the most frequently used tools and supplies in undercarriage work. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of the workstation. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the workstation. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a complementary torque stick support device. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the top section of the workstation. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the upper middle section of the workstation. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the lower middle section of the workstation. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the bottom section of the workstation. 
       FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the top section of the workstation. 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of a function box for the upper middle section. 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line V—V of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 11  is a front view of a function box for the lower middle section. 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line L—L of  FIG. 11 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is now discussed with reference to the figures. 
   It is well known that hydraulic lifts raise vehicles for inspection and work on undercarriage parts. For example, oil changes and tire changes/rotations are the simpler operations accomplished with such hydraulic lifts. However, among the most difficult physical and technical operations on a vehicle are performed while the vehicle is raised on a hydraulic lift. A significant problem for the mechanic arises because of the necessary operation of the hydraulic lift. The mechanic typically uses several types of tools, i.e., hand powered, electrically powered and air powered. In the past, the mechanic would need to walk from a collection of tools at a tool bench or tool chest, walk to a connection for electrical power or compressed air to respectively connect an electrical cord or flexible air hose, and then finally walk to the side or undercarriage of the vehicle to work there. If a change in tools was needed, the operation was repeated. 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective side view of the invention workstation. The workstation  100  comprises four stacked sections  101 – 104 . In a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the outer housing are about 33 inches long, 9 inches wide and 6 inches deep. The four sections  101 – 104  are stacked from the top down. Top section  101  has means for electrical connection and brackets for a torque wrench and pry bar. Upper middle section  102  has means for supporting and storing sockets so that a mechanic can easily use and replace them. Lower middle section  103  has means for supporting and storing typical supplies for undercarriage work, i.e., spray cans  116 ,  139  (see  FIGS. 2 and 6 ) and tubes of lubricants and other materials. Lower middle section  103  also has means at a side for supporting and storing nuts, bolt and other small parts removed by a mechanic in undercarriage work. Bottom section  104  has means for connection of the workstation to a source of compressed air, a valved regulator for control of the delivered air pressure to the workstation, and hose connections and hoses for connection of compressed air tools to the workstation. Bottom section  104  also has means for convenient support of one or two compressed air tools attached to the compressed air hoses. 
     FIG. 3  shows a supplemental device for the invention workstation. Rack  131  comprises  5  rows of slotted support ledges  133  for torque sticks  134 , as indicated by color and/or number coding on labels  132 . Rack  131  is generally intended to be mounted by the side of the invention workstation so that the torque sticks  134  can be used with the wrenches and electric and air driven tools associated with the workstation. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the workstation generally has an outer housing defining a rectangular box open at a back side and substantially liquid sealed about to the top surface of top section  101  and sides  105 . Connection flanges  106  extend from the side peripheral edges of the open back side of the outer housing, i.e., from sides  105 , although such connection flanges are extensible from the top and bottom sides for vertical wall attachment while eliminating side flanges  106  or retaining them. Flanges  106  are connected by bolts, welds or other connection methods to a substantially vertical support wall. The invention sections are more particularly described below. 
   Top section  101  is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  8 ,  9  and  10 . Top section  101  comprises electrical connection means  110  available to a user from a front part and wrench brackets  109  extending from and available to a user from side parts. Electrical connection means  110  comprises the cover plate and the four receptacles  135 ,  136  shown, as well as a set of connections to those receptacles behind the cover plate in a connection box, wherefrom electrical power connection wires extend the length of the workstation  100  to emerge at the bottom housing  114  and thereafter to a source of electrical power. The connection of electrical power and compressed air (in section  104 ) to the workstation  100  are made through bottom housing  114  of bottom section  104 , where both sets of connecting wires and hoses respectively are flexible such that the workstation  101  may rise and descend with a hydraulic lift without interfering with the electrical and compressed air connections and so that such flexible connections do not interfere with the movements of the mechanic about the under carriage of a vehicle on the lift. Multiple electrical receptacle sockets  135 ,  136  are connected with a source of electrical power so a user may, in this specific example, connect up to four electrical power tools to the workstation  100  and thereby have them immediately available. The close association of the workstation  100  with the undercarriage of a vehicle should permit the mechanic to use desired electrical power tools without an additional extension cord. Receptacles  136  may be provided with a ground fault circuit interrupter so that a mechanic working in water contaminated areas will have protection from shock from electrical tools used there, thereby also providing easy reach to reset the GFCI breaker if a water initiated short occurs. 
   Top section  101  has wrench brackets  109  comprising a plate welded to the side of the workstation housing extending to two lateral prongs  142  bent up at their ends  143  to retain an enlarged head end of wrench  115 . The workstation  100  is mounted on a vertical surface, preferably the side of the shaft of the hydraulic lift, at a height making the handle of wrench  115  easily within reach of the mechanic to work on the undercarriage of a vehicle on the lift. It will be seen in  FIG. 8  that wrench  115  can be easily lifted from and replaced on bracket  109  during work operations by a mechanic. 
   Top section  101  comprises the electrical connections for electrical tools because some undercarriage work involves electrically conductive fluids such as water, so that only the topmost section need be sealed against dropping water or liquid intrusion. 
   Middle sections  102  and  103  each comprise an opening in the overall support housing for the workstation wherewithin from an inside surface is supported a function box. Each function box comprises an opening and support within for a desired range of tools and/or expendable supplies used by the worker on the underside of a vehicle. Each box may also comprise additional compressed air or electrical outlet means as shown and described for sections  101  and  104 . Each function box comprises attachment means in the form of flanges for its attachment at the inside surface periphery of the backside of the workstation housing openings located in sections  102  and  103 . The invention workstation provides modularity in sections  102  and  103  so that it can be adapted to contain frequently used tools or supplies depending on the particular operation of the shop in which the workstation is located. For example, some shops specialize in brakes and alignments while others specialize in major overhauls. The specific examples of the function boxes shown in the figures are adapted for a general repair shop working on tires, brakes, shock absorbers and alignments. 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  9  and  10  show section  102  features, where function box  111  comprises an angled back wall  137  having pegs  138  mounted thereon normal to wall  137  so that  12  of the most used sockets can be supported, removed and replace with ease by a mechanic. Box  111  also comprises top walls  145  and side walls  144 , where flanges  146  extend from the edges of top walls  145 . Flanges  146  secure box  111  to the workstation housing and are attached to the back side surface of the workstation housing in such a way to prevent access to the interior of the workstation housing behind box  111 , thereby protecting wires and/or compressed air hoses that may be within that space. Window height  147  in  FIG. 10  shows that the vertical distance of opening of section  102  of the workstation housing is about equal to the vertical distance of the opening of box  111 . 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6 ,  11  and  12  show section  103  features, where function box  112  comprises a vertical back wall  152 . Box  112  also comprises top and bottom walls  148  and side walls  149 , where flanges  150  extend from the edges of top and bottom walls  148 . Flanges  150  secure box  112  to the workstation housing and are attached to the back side surface of the workstation housing in such a way as to prevent access to the interior of the workstation housing behind box  112 , thereby protecting wires and/or compressed air hoses that may be within that space. Window height  153  in  FIG. 12  shows that the vertical distance of the opening in the workstation housing of section  103  is substantially less than the vertical distance of the opening of box  112 . Box  112  is secured to the inside of the workstation housing so that the bottom wall  148  is located substantially below the lower edge  151  of the opening in the workstation housing of section  103 .  FIGS. 2 and 12  show that this securement creates a barrier wall W preventing spray cans  116 ,  139  from being inadvertently knocked out of placement in the box  112  secured in section  103 . The specific example in the figures of section  103  is to provide a place for secure placement of spray cans  116 ,  139  or other supplies. 
   Section  103  comprises a side tray  128  secured to the left side  105  of the workstation housing. Tray  128  comprises a substantial ledge  129  to form an open tray in which can be stored several small to large size nuts, bolts and other such parts removed from the vehicle or placed there in preparation for installation on a vehicle. Section  103  also comprises extending from and through the sides  105  of the workstation the compressed air connections  108  that connect to hoses  117  and  127 , which hoses connect compressed air drivers  118  and  125  to the compressed air supply available from the compressed air means of section  104 . 
   Section  104  is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  7 . Section  104  comprises compressed air means and driver supports. Compressed air is delivered to the workstation via pipes or hoses through the bottom side  114  of the workstation housing, whereafter pipes or hoses deliver the compressed air through external fittings  124  and  123  to the valve  122 . Valve  122  is a hand operated valve that permits the flow of compressed air to the regulator  121 , wherein the compressed air pressure is regulated so that only a desired air pressure is delivered to downstream hoses and drivers. After passing through an opened valve  122  and regulator  121 , compressed air passes through fitting  120  and is distributed via conduits to air connections  108 . 
   Section  104  also comprises one or two U-shaped holster brackets  107  attached to sides  105  at connection  119 .  FIG. 2  shows that brackets  107  allow insertion of a front, driver end  104  to be inserted into the U-shaped opening of a bracket  107  with a hand grip section supported upward and lateral to bracket  107 , making it easy to retrieve a driver  118  or  125  from bracket  107 , install a torque stick or socket on such a driver, use the driver on a vehicle, and store the driver with the attachment back in bracket  107  without having to remove the attachment. 
   With step saving means in mind, the present invention also comprises a mounting plate as shown in  FIG. 3  with means for attachment of open plastic or thin metal trays or bins adapted to hold balancing weights for use in tire balancing. The availability of the balancing weights near the tire mounting and balancing machines reduces steps needed to complete those operations. 
   The above design options will sometimes present the skilled designer with considerable and wide ranges from which to choose appropriate apparatus and method modifications for the above examples. However, the objects of the present invention will still be obtained by that skilled designer applying such design options in an appropriate manner.