Patent Publication Number: US-2005133682-A1

Title: Folding collapsible stand for table saw

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a table saw and more specifically, to a folding collapsible stand for supporting a table saw.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A table saw is generally equipped with a folding collapsible stand. A folding collapsible stand for table saw is known comprising a rectangular top frame, and four legs pivoted to the bottom side of the rectangular top frame in the four corners and arranged in two crossed pairs. When in use, the legs are turned relative to the frame to a posture that can support the table saw on the floor. When not in use, the legs are turned upwards and closely received to the bottom side of the rectangular top frame. When collapsed the legs each have the bottom end protruded over the periphery of the rectangular top frame at a distance. Because the legs protrude over the periphery of the rectangular top frame at a distance, the collapsed folding collapsible stand still occupies much storage space.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is primary objective of the present invention to provide a folding collapsible stand for table saw, which requires less storage space when collapsed.  
      It is another objective of the present invention to provide a folding collapsible stand for table saw, which has the legs made foldable so that the storage space can be minimized when collapsed.  
      To achieve these objectives of the present invention, the folding collapsible stand for supporting a table saw comprises a rectangular top frame, and a plurality of folding collapsible legs respectively pivoted to the rectangular top frame and turnable between an extended position for supporting the table saw and a received position received to the bottom side of the table saw. Each folding collapsible leg comprises a top tube, a bottom tube, a connector, and a pivot. The top tube has a bottom end, a pivot hole transversely disposed near the bottom end, and a notch disposed at an inner side and longitudinally extended to the bottom end. The bottom tube comprises a top end, a longitudinal slot and a locating hole disposed in an upper part thereof. The connector comprises a hollow rectangular base fitted into the top end of the bottom tube, a through hole extended through two opposite sidewalls of the hollow rectangular base, two bottom extension strips respectively downwardly extended from the hollow rectangular base at two sides, two semispherical knobs respectively formed on the bottom extension strips at an outer side remote from the hollow rectangular base, and a top stop device formed on the top side of the hollow rectangular base. The pivot is inserted through the pivot hole of the top tube, the longitudinal slot of the bottom tube and the through hole of the hollow rectangular base of the connector to pivotally secure the bottom tube to the connector and the top tube such that when the corresponding folding collapsible leg is turned to the extended position, the semispherical knobs of the connector are respectively engaged into the locating hole of the bottom tube and the pivot is stopped at the bottom end of the longitudinal slot. When pressed the semispherical knobs inwards, the semispherical knobs are respectively disengaged from the locating hole of the bottom tube for enabling the bottom tube to be pulled downwards relative to the top tube to move the pivot to the top end of the longitudinal slot and then turned about the pivot toward the notch to the received position to force the stop device against the inside wall of the top tube.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a folding collapsible stand for table saw according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the folding collapsible stand for table saw according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the connector of one first leg of the folding collapsible stand for table saw according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the connector of one second leg of the folding collapsible stand for table saw according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the present invention, showing the locking device fastened to the second crossbar.  
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of the present invention showing the pivot of one first leg stopped at the bottom edge of the corresponding longitudinal slot.  
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of the present invention showing the pivot of one second leg stopped at the bottom edge of the corresponding longitudinal slot.  
       FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 5  but showing the locking device disengaged from the second crossbar.  
       FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 7  but showing the pivot stopped at the top edge of the corresponding longitudinal slot.  
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of one second leg of the folding collapsible stand for stable saw according to the present invention, showing the bottom tube turned to the collapsed position.  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective bottom view of the present invention, showing the received status of the second legs.  
       FIG. 12  is similar to  FIG. 6  but showing the pivot stopped at the top edge of the corresponding longitudinal slot.  
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of one first leg of the folding collapsible stand for stable saw according to the present invention, showing the bottom tube turned to the collapsed position.  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective bottom view of the present invention showing the received status of the folding collapsible stand for table saw.  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective top view of  FIG. 14 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a folding collapsible stand  1  is shown comprising a rectangular top frame  10 , two first legs  20  fastened pivotally with the front side of the rectangular top frame  10 , and two second legs  50  fastened pivotally with the rear side of the rectangular top frame  10 .  
      The rectangular top frame  10  is adapted to support a table saw  90 , comprising a front bar  11 , a rear bar  12 , a left-side bar  13 , and a right-side bar  14 . The left-side bar  13  and the right-side bar  14  are connected in parallel between the ends of the front bar  11  and the rear bar  12 . The front bar  11  and the rear bar  12  each have a substantially inverted U-shaped clamping plate  15  downwardly extended from the bottom side adjacent to the right-side bar  14 .  
      The first legs  20  each comprise a top tube  21 , a connector  23 , a bottom tube  24 , and a pivot  25 . The top tube  21  and the bottom tube  24  are rectangular tubes. The top tube  21  has one end, namely, the top end pivoted to the front bar  11  of the rectangular top frame  10  by a screw bolt  26  in such a manner that the top tube  21  of one of the first legs  20  is disposed at the inner side of the left end of the front bar  11  and the top tube  21  of the other of the first legs  20  is disposed at the outer side of the right end of the front bar  11 . The top tube  21  which is disposed at the inner side of the left end of the front bar  11  has a longitudinal guide slot  27 . The top tube  21  which is disposed at the outer side of the right end of the front bar  11  has a transversely extended through hole  28 . The bottom end of the top tube  21  of each first leg  20  is respectively mounted with a coupling tube  22 . The coupling tube  22  is a rectangular tube  22  having the top end fixedly sleeved onto the bottom end of the respective top tube  21  and the bottom end provided with a transversely extended pivot hole  30  and a longitudinally extended bottom notch  31  (see  FIG. 6 ).  
      The connector  23  of each first leg  20  is molded from plastics. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the connector  23  comprises a hollow rectangular base  34 , a through hole  36  extended through two opposite sidewalls of the hollow rectangular base  34 , two bottom extension strips  40  respectively downwardly extended from the other two opposite sidewalls of the hollow rectangular base  34 , two semispherical knobs  41  respectively formed on the free (bottom) ends of the extension strips  40  at an outer side, and a top stop device  33  formed on the top side of the hollow rectangular base  34 . The top stop device  33  comprises two curved stop plates  37  respectively bilaterally extended from two opposite sidewalls of the hollow rectangular base  34  at the top corresponding to the bottom extension strips  40  and curved toward each other. Each curved stop plate  37  has a bottom sloping portion  38  obliquely extended from the hollow rectangular base  34 , and a top bearing portion  39  horizontally extended from the top side of the bottom sloping portion  38 .  
      The bottom tube  24  of each first leg  20  comprises a longitudinal slot  42  cut through the left and right tube walls near the top, a circular locating hole  43  transversely extended through the front and rear tube walls below the elevation of the longitudinal slot  42 , a foot member  44  fastened to the bottom end. The connector  23  of each first leg  20  is fastened to the inside of the top end of the respective bottom tube  24 .  
      The pivot  25  of each first leg  20  is a screw bolt inserted through the pivot hole  30  of the corresponding coupling tube  22 , the longitudinal slot  42  of the corresponding bottom tube  24  and the through hole  36  of the corresponding connector  23  to join the corresponding top tube  21  and the corresponding bottom tube  24 , for enabling the corresponding bottom tube  24  to be pivoted relative to the corresponding top tube  21 .  
      The second legs  50  each comprise a top tube  51 , a connector  53 , a bottom tube  54 , and a pivot  55 . The top tube  51  and the bottom tube  54  are rectangular tubes. The top tube  51  has one end, namely, the top end pivoted to the rear bar  12  of the rectangular top frame  10  in such a manner that the top tube  51  of one of the second legs  50  is disposed at the inner side of the left end of the rear bar  12  and the top tube  51  of the other of the second legs  50  is disposed at the outer side of the right end of the rear bar  12 . The top tube  51  which is disposed at the inner side of the left end of the rear bar  12  has a longitudinal guide slot  57 . The top tube  51  which is disposed at the outer side of the right end of the rear bar  12  has a transversely extended through hole  58 . The bottom end of the top tube  51  of each second leg  50  is respectively mounted with a coupling tube  52 . The coupling tube  52  is a rectangular tube having the top end fixedly sleeved onto the bottom end of the respective top tube  51  and the bottom end provided with a transversely extended pivot hole  59  and a longitudinally extended bottom notch  60  (see  FIG. 7 ).  
      The connector  53  of each second leg  50  is molded from plastics. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the connector  53  comprises a hollow rectangular base  62 , a through hole  64  extended through two opposite sidewalls of the hollow rectangular base  62 , two bottom extension strips  69  respectively downwardly extended from the other two opposite sidewalls of the hollow rectangular base  62 , two semispherical knobs  70  respectively formed on the free (bottom) ends of the extension strips  69  at an outer side, and a top stop device  61  formed on the top side of the hollow rectangular base  62 . The top stop device  61  comprises a curved stop plate  65  upwardly extended from the hollow rectangular base  62  at the top. The curved stop plate  65  has a bottom sloping portion  66  obliquely extended from the hollow rectangular base  62 , and a top horizontal endpiece  68 , and a curved bearing portion  67  connected between the bottom sloping portion  66  and the top horizontal endpiece  68 .  
      The bottom tube  54  of each second leg  50  has a top straight section  74  and a bottom oblique section  73  extended from the bottom end of the top straight section  74  at an angle. The top straight section  74  has a longitudinal slot  71  cut through the left and right tube walls near the top, and a circular locating hole  72  transversely extended through the front and rear tube walls near the bottom. The bottom oblique section  73  has the bottom end mounted with a foot member  83 . The connector  53  of each second leg  50  is fastened to the inside of the top end of the top straight section  74  of the corresponding bottom tube  54 .  
      The pivot  55  of each second leg  50  is a screw bolt inserted through the pivot hole  59  of the corresponding coupling tube  52 , the longitudinal slot  71  of the corresponding bottom tube  54  and the through hole  64  of the corresponding connector  53  to join the corresponding top tube  51  and the corresponding bottom tube  54 , for enabling the corresponding bottom tube  54  to be pivoted relative to the corresponding top tube  51 .  
      Further, a first crossbar  77  is connected between one first leg  20  and one second leg  50  (the first leg and the second leg at the inner side of the rectangular top frame  10 ), and a second crossbar  78  is connected between the other first leg  20  and the other second leg  50  (the first leg and the second leg at the outer side of the rectangular top frame  10 ). A locking device  80  is provided at the first crossbar  77  on the middle. The locking device  80  comprises a handle  82  pivoted to the first crossbar  77 , and a hook  81  pivoted to the handle  82 . Two pivot rods  79  are respectively fastened to the transversely extended through hole  28  and longitudinal guide slot  27  of the first legs  20  and the transversely extended through hole  58  and longitudinal guide slot  57  of the second legs  50 , keeping the two first legs  20  and the two second legs  50  arranged in a crossed manner.  
      After explanation of the component parts of the folding collapsible stand for table saw and their relative positioning, the folding operation of the folding collapsible stand for table saw will be described hereinafter.  
       FIG. 1  shows the extended status of the folding collapsible stand for table saw. At this time, the knobs  41  of the connectors  23  of the first legs  20  are respectively engaged in the circular locating holes  43  of the bottom tubes  24  of the first legs  20  and the pivots  25  of the first legs  20  are respectively stopped at the bottom edges  46  of the longitudinal slots  42  of the bottom tubes  24  of the first legs  20  (see  FIG. 6 ); the knobs  70  of the connectors  53  of the second legs  50  are respectively engaged in the circular locating holes  72  of the bottom tubes  54  of the second legs  50  and the pivots  55  of the second legs  50  are respectively stopped at the bottom edges  76  of the longitudinal slots  71  of the bottom tubes  54  of the second leg s  50  (see  FIG. 7 ); and the hook  81  is hooked on the second crossbar  78  (see  FIG. 5 ). Therefore, the legs  20  and  50  are held in the extended position and supported on the floor firmly and stably.  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , when wishing to collapse the folding collapsible stand  1 , lift the handle  82  to disengage the hook  81  from the second crossbar  78 , and then turn the first legs  20  and the second legs  50  toward the bottom side of the rectangular top frame  10  to force the top tubes  21  and  51  of the inner first leg  20  and inner second leg  50  into engagement with the two inverted U-shaped clamping plates  15 , and then collapse the second legs  50  (see  FIGS. 9-11 ), and finally collapse the first legs  20  (see  FIGS. 12-15 ). When collapsing the second legs  50 , press the knobs  70  inwardly away from the locating holes  72  (see  FIG. 9 ), and then pull the respective bottom tubes  54  out of the respective top tubes  51  to the extent that the pivots  55  are respectively stopped at the respective top edges  75  of the respective longitudinal slots  71 , and then turn the respective bottom tubes  54  about the respective pivots  55  toward the corresponding bottom notches  60 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , to force the endpieces  68  of the respective top stop devices  61  over the inside walls of the corresponding coupling tubes  52  till the curved bearing portions  67  of the stop devices  61  are respectively stopped against the inside walls of the corresponding coupling tubes  52 .  
      When collapsing the first legs  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , press the knobs  41  inwardly away from the corresponding locating holes  43 , and then pull the respective bottom tubes  24  out of the respective top tubes  21  to the extent that the pivots  25  are respectively stopped at the respective top edges  45  of the respective longitudinal slots  42 , and then turn the respective bottom tubes  24  about the respective pivots  25  toward the corresponding bottom notches  31 , as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , to force the top bearing portions  39  of the curved stop plates  37  against the inside walls of the corresponding coupling tubes  22 . At this time, the top tubes  21  and the bottom tubes  24  are arranged at right angles, and the folding collapsible stand  1  is received in the collapsed status.  
      As indicated above, the folding collapsible stand  1  can be received in the collapsed status to reduce space occupation when not in use. When in use, the folding collapsible stand  1  supports the table saw  90  on the floor at the suitable elevation for cutting the workpiece.