Patent Publication Number: US-2020297109-A1

Title: Collapsible infeed/outfeed table with shelf

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/360,109 filed on Mar. 21, 2019. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to collapsible workbenches. More specifically, the invention relates to collapsible work tables, infeed/outfeed tables, and mobile stands for power tools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable, wheeled tool carts have been available for some time. One such prior art tool cart is shown and described by Wise, the inventor herein, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,898, issued Jul. 1, 1997. Additional tool carts have been described in the patent literature. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,941, issued Sep. 11, 1990, to Rousseau, describes a support table for a bench saw. U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,329, issued Oct. 28, 1980 to Johnson, describes a mobile cart. U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,590, issued Nov. 10, 1992, to Otto, describes a miter saw table apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,724, issued Oct. 26, 1993, to Butke, describes an adjustable extension assembly. A brochure showing the Rousseau SS2850 product discloses a mobile miter saw stand. 
     U.S. Design Pat. No. D535,491 issued Jan. 23, 2007 to the inventor herein entitled “Convertible Work Bench”, discloses a collapsible work table that is suitable for supporting a powered saw such as a miter saw, chop saw, or other crosscut type of saw. That work bench includes adjustable infeed and outfeed bars for supporting an elongated workpiece to be crosscut. The inventor herein has further been issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,836 on May 3, 2005 titled “Counterbalanced Universal Mobile Saw Stand” that is particularly well adapted for supporting a powered crosscut saw in both an elevated position for working at standing height, and a collapsed position for working adjacent the floor, such as when mitering floor moldings for carpentry. The disclosed device is also well adapted for transporting a powered saw, such as a chop saw or the like to and from a work site. Thus, the above prior art discloses a wide range of configurations for infeed/outfeed tables, collapsible saw support stands, collapsible work tables, and portable infeed/outfeed tables. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art are aware of clamp-like devices supporting elongated rollers that may be attached to conventional sawhorses for use as infeed/outfeed supports for materials to be crosscut. It is also known that sawhorses may be of the collapsible, reusable type. 
     Nevertheless, none of the above prior art devices are well adapted for performing all of these functions in a single, lightweight device. 
     Thus, a need exists for a collapsible work stand that can also serve as an infeed/outfeed table for supporting materials to be crosscut, a lightweight collapsible work surface, and a powered tool support table. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible infeed/outfeed table for supporting materials to be crosscut. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible infeed/outfeed table that achieves the above object, and which also can be configured to act as a support table for a powered crosscut type of saw. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible infeed/outfeed table that achieves the above objects and which further yet may be configured as a collapsible, portable and lightweight work table. 
     The invention achieves the above objects, and other objects and advantages that will become apparent from the description which follows, by providing a collapsible infeed/outfeed table having a generally A-frame configuration. The table includes a pair of foldable, laterally extensible work support surfaces in the form of wings that are pivotally connected to two pairs of foldable, elongated support legs. Each support leg pivotally supports a foldable strut having a first end pivotally connected to a corresponding support leg and a distal free end slidably connected to the foldable wing that corresponds to the connected leg. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support legs and wings are pivotally connected to a pair of stanchions at an upper end thereof. A lower end of each stanchion is pivotally connected to a pair of foldable support braces having distal free ends that are slidably connected to the support legs. The stanchions may be provided with a telescoping roller that is retractable below the extended surface of the laterally extensible work support surfaces so as to provide an unobstructed upper surface for the table. This central roller may be raised to an extended position with the work support surfaces collapsed into their stowed positions such that the table may be used as an infeed/outfeed roller for a powered saw. The work support surfaces may also be provided at their free ends with a pair of extendable rollers that may be raised from the work support surfaces such that, when the central roller is retracted, a powered saw, such as a chop saw, miter saw, or the like may be positioned centrally on the table, with the rollers on the work support surfaces acting as the infeed/outfeed rollers. The collapsible infeed/outfeed table is thus capable of serving as an infeed/outfeed roller support (with the central roller extended, and the laterally extensible work support surfaces collapsed); a collapsible work table (with the laterally extensible work support surfaces extended and all of the rollers retracted); and a powered saw support stand (with the laterally extensible work support surfaces extended, the central roller retracted, and the rollers at the end of the work support surfaces extended). In any event, the entire table can be collapsed into a convenient form for carrying and storage. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the table includes a shelf that is located below the table surface between the legs. This shelf may act as a support in order to keep the table in a deployed manner. In some embodiments there may be an additional support under the shelf to keep the shelf from collapsing. By using the shelf as an added support, stanchions can be removed to allow for a lighter more functional table. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric, top right perspective view of a collapsible infeed/outfeed table in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the table shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged, partial side elevational view of circled area  3  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, sectional side elevational view of the circled area  4  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged, side elevational view similar to  FIG. 3 , showing the central roller in an extended position. 
         FIG. 6  shows a side elevation view of an embodiment of the table with the shelf underneath. 
         FIG. 7  shows a close-up, inset exploded view of an embodiment of the table, depicting the table top attachment. 
         FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of the table with additional leg supports positioned below the shelf. 
         FIG. 9  shows a close-up, inset view of pivots in the leg supports of an embodiment of the table. 
         FIG. 10  shows a side view of an embodiment of the table wherein the leg supports can slide in the legs. 
         FIG. 11  shows a side view of an embodiment of the table wherein the leg supports can slide in the table top. 
         FIG. 12  shows a side elevation view of an embodiment of the table wherein the shelf has a straight split down a middle of the shelf. 
         FIG. 13  shows a side elevation view of an embodiment of the table wherein the table includes a set of wheels on one set of legs of the table. 
         FIG. 14  shows a side elevation view of an embodiment of the table wherein the table includes a foot pedal to unlock the table. 
         FIG. 15  shows a side view of an embodiment of the table wherein the table includes a shelf support and the table lock. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A collapsible infeed/outfeed table in accordance with the principles of the invention is generally indicated at reference numeral  10  in the various Figures of the attached drawings wherein numbered elements in the Figures correspond to like numbered elements herein. 
     The table  10  has a pair of selectively foldable, laterally extensible work support surfaces or wings  12 ,  14  that may be used to support work materials, a powered crosscut type of saw (e.g., a miter saw, sliding compound crosscut saw, compact powered band saw, etc.) or as a support for rollers for purposes that will be described hereinbelow. The wings are preferably manufactured from a sturdy material, such as sheet steel, and may be perforated (not shown) to prevent sheet materials, such as plywood from adhering thereto in response to a partial vacuum at a surface interface of the working material with the table. Each work surface has a corresponding inner end  16 ,  18  that is pivotally connected to bracket portions  20 ,  22  of a pair of vertical stanchions  24 ,  26  so that the wings  12 ,  14  may be pivoted between an extended position, shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , and a collapsed position (not shown) adjacent to two pairs of support legs  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 . The support legs are elongated and have upper ends  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  44  that are coaxially pivotable about bracket portions  20 ,  22 , such as by way of bolts  46 ,  48 , as best seen in  FIG. 3 . The support legs are reinforced by support leg cross-braces  50 ,  52  adjacent to the free ends  54 ,  56 ,  58 , and  60  of the corresponding support legs  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 . Similarly, the stanchions  24 ,  26  are supported by a stanchion cross-brace  62  adjacent stanchion lower ends  64 ,  66 . 
     As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the pivotal connection between the wings  12 ,  14 , the elongated support legs  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 , at the bracket portions  20 ,  22  of the stanchions  24 ,  26  permits the wings to be extendable to the position shown in the Figures, which is suitable for use as described above, and into a collapsed position (not shown) with the wings  12 ,  14  being nested against the support legs and the stanchions. In order to provide vertical load-bearing support for the wings  12 ,  14 , the collapsible infeed/outfeed table  10  is provided with two pairs of wing support struts  70 ,  72 ,  74 , and  76 . The wing support struts each have a first end  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  pivotally connected to a corresponding support leg  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 , such as by bolts (not shown). Each wing support strut also has a free end  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  96  that is slidably received in a corresponding wing track  100 ,  110 ,  112 , and  114 , best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Each strut free end  90  is provided with a transverse pin, such as transverse pin  118 , which may reside in a detent area  120  secured by spring clip  122  so as to maintain the wings, for example, wing  12 , in the extended position as shown in the Figures. As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the detent area  120  is configured such that a load on the wing  12  biases the pin  118  into the detent to prevent the wing from collapsing until the spring clip  122  is overcome by lifting the wing  12  vertically and then collapsing the corresponding wing support struts  70 ,  72  in a manner well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In order to further stabilize the support legs  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 , the lower ends  64 ,  66  of the stanchions  24 ,  26  are provided with a pair of leg support braces  130 ,  132 ,  134 , and  136 . Each leg support brace inner end  138 ,  140 ,  142 ,  144  is pivotally connected to the corresponding lower end  64  or  66  of the corresponding stanchion  24  or  26 , such as by bolts  146 ,  148 . Brace distal portions  154 ,  156 ,  158 , and  160  are provided with corresponding elongated slots  162 ,  164   166 , and  168 , which are connected to portions of the corresponding support legs intermediate the stanchion bracket portions,  20 ,  22  and the first ends  80 ,  82 ,  84 ,  86  of the wing support struts  70 ,  72 ,  74 , and  76 . This arrangement permits the foldable legs to collapse or extend in a controlled manner and also provides significant lateral support for the table  10  when the wings  12 ,  14  are in the extended position shown in the Figures. 
     As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the above fundamental structure of the collapsible infeed/outfeed table  10  provides a sturdy surface (when all of the above-described structural elements are in their extended positions) to support significant vertical loads. It will be appreciated that when the table is in its extended position shown in the Figures, and a load is placed on the work surface defined by the wings  12 ,  14  all of the structural members except the legs  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ; stanchions  24 ,  26  and wing support struts  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76  are in tension, providing for an extremely stable structure. In the preferred embodiment, each of these elements is made of formed sheet metal, such as steel, which has high strength in tension. Structural elements that are in compression, such as the legs, wing support struts and stanchions are either pivotally connected to another structure, (such as support legs  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 ) or are received in sliding tracks  100 ,  110 ,  112 , and  114  in positions that are close to vertical so as to have significant rigidity in compression. As a consequence, the collapsible infeed/outfeed table  10  may be manufactured from relatively light-gauge steel and still have sufficient strength to support a heavy item, such as a powered chop saw, sliding crosscut saw, etc. 
     As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above disclosure, the inherent strength of the table  10  assures that the table is well adapted for a variety of uses. When used to support a powered saw, such as a crosscut type of saw, the saw may be placed in the middle of the table. Advantageously, the wing free ends  176 ,  178  are provided with extensible roller structures  180 ,  182 , best seen in  FIG. 4 . Each wing has on a lateral side thereof two apertures,  191 ,  192  that may be selectively engaged by a removable pin  193  so as to permit the extensible roller structure to achieve a vertical orientation with respect to the wing  12 . The structure is provided with a telescoping mechanism  196  controlled by a clamp  198 , allowing the roller  180  to be elevated above the surface of the wing  12  up to approximately 3 inches. The roller structures  180 ,  182  associated with the free end of each wing provide a relatively frictionless input and output surface elevated above the surface of the table to receive material that is to be crosscut on the powered saw (not shown). Similarly, the stanchions  24 ,  26  are also provided with a telescopic roller assembly  200 , best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . The roller assembly  200  includes an elongated roller  202  rotationally mounted on a pair of masts  204 ,  206  that nest inside each corresponding stanchion  24 ,  26 . Conventional hand-operated clamps  210 ,  212  are provided on each stanchion  24 ,  26  to permit an operator to adjust the telescopic roller assembly  200  to a desired height from below the surface of the wings  12 ,  14  in the depressed area of the stanchion bracket portions  20 ,  22 , up to approximately 6 inches above the surface of the wings  12 ,  14 . In this manner, and with the wings  12 ,  14  collapsed, the table  10  can be used as an infeed, outfeed roller support with the configuration similar to that of a sawhorse with a conventional roller attached to the top thereof. Thus, the above, preferred embodiment of the invention is usable either as a work support table with all of the roller assemblies retracted and the wings extended, a crosscut saw support table with the central, telescopic assembly roller  200  retracted and the wing extensible roller structures  180 ,  182  extended, or as a roller infeed or outfeed support with the central telescopic roller assembly  200  extended and the wings  12 ,  14  collapsed. 
       FIGS. 6-15  show alternate or preferred embodiments of the invention. Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown an embodiment of a work bench  1000 . This work bench has a first table top section  1001  and a second table top section  1002 . These table top sections ( 1001 ,  1002 ) can be made out of a molded plastic, according to one embodiment. In an embodiment where the table top sections are plastic, they may have a rib structure added to the sections to increase strength of the table. In other embodiments the table top sections ( 1001 ,  1002 ) may be made out of wood, metal, or other polymers or similar materials. The table  1000  is held together with a central support structure  1003 . In one embodiment the central support structure may also function as a handle. The central support structure may be formed to have a handle that will lay flat with the work surface when the table top sections are deployed. The table top sections  1001  and  1002  are pivotally attached to the center support structure  1003 . These pivotal attachments will allow the table top sections ( 1001 ,  1002 ) to fold into a down or closed position. In one embodiment this central support structure  1003  may be a bar that runs across a length of the table  1000 . In other embodiments, the center support structure  1003  can be a structure configured to accept pins or screws to secure everything together. In this embodiment, the central support structure  1003  may include a handle thereon for carrying the table. 
     Below the table top there are two sets of legs  1004 A and  1004 B. The legs and other bars may have a reinforcement structure therein. The reinforcement structure may be a series of cross sections that are located therein. Each set of legs has at least two leg supports  1005 . The table has a shelf  1006  pivotally attached to the leg supports  1005 . In one embodiment this shelf  1006  can be made out of molded plastic. In other embodiments the shelf  1006  can be made out of metal, wood, or other polymers. In one embodiment, the shelf  1006  can be split down a middle thereof to allow the shelf  1006  to fold with the table  1000 . In a second embodiment, this split can be created using offsetting flanges. These flanges can provide extra support to the shelf. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown an exploded, inset view of an embodiment of the table where the table tops  1001  and  1002  are connected to the center support structure via a spring assembly  1021 . The spring assembly is made up of a spring  1022  that is partially inserted into one of the table tops  1001 ,  1002 . A connector  1023  allows the spring  1022  to be connected to a pin  1024 . The pin  1024 , once connected to the spring  1022  and inserted into the table top, is configured to support the table top in the upright configuration, as shown. This spring assembly allows the table tops  1001 ,  1002  to flex when in the folded position. This prevents a user&#39;s finger from being injured if it is positioned within the table. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown an embodiment of a table with an additional support bar  1031  located between each set of legs. These support bars  1031  can be located either above or below the shelf. In this manner, the support bar  1031  adds extra support to the legs. The support bar  1031  can be made out of metal or any strong material. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , there are shown leg supports  1042  going from each leg to the respective table top sections. These leg supports  1042  will allow for the table to remain in the upright position as more weight is placed on the table. In this particular embodiment there is a hinge  1041  placed on the leg support  1042 . This allows for the support  1042  to be folded with the table top for storage or transport of the table. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , there are shown slidable connections placed on either the legs  1051  ( FIG. 10 ) or the table top  1061  ( FIG. 11 ). These slidable connections  1051  allow the leg supports  1042  to be folded when the table top sections are folded into the down position. These slidable connections allow for the leg supports to be in one solid section with no breaks therein for a pivot point and add more strength. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the shelf is split in the middle with a straight split  1071 . This is differentiated from the other embodiments where the split is a series of offsetting flanges. The straight split can come together in an overlapping manner such that the split locks together in the folded-out position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , there is shown a wheel  1081  attached to each leg in one set of legs. In this embodiment the table can be lifted slightly such that the legs without the wheels are above the ground. This will engage the wheels and allow the table to be rolled along a surface. In this manner the table does not have to be folded to be moved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , there is a foot pedal  1091  and a locking assembly  1102  that locks the table in a closed position by clamping onto the opposite set of legs or to the shelf bar. The locking assembly has a top clamp and a bottom clamp that may be biased in a closed position. The foot pedal releases the locking assembly  1102  by separating the top clamp from the bottom clamp. This will prevent the bench from opening unexpectedly and potentially causing injury. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , there is a V shaped support  1101  under the shelf. This support may be pivotally attached to the shelf. Further, the apex of the support may also have a pivot attachment. In this embodiment these pivot attachments will allow the support to fold together when the bench is folded for storage. This support  1101  prevents the shelf from collapsing under a weight placed on the table. Further, this support prevents the shelf from reaching a full 180 degree lock out position. In this manner the shelf can be easily folded when the table is put in the storage position. There are also risers  1103  placed on the ends of each table top section. These risers  1103  may have an adjustable height and allow for a plank or other item to be risen to match the height of a saw placed on the table, for example. These risers can also serve as vises and hold a plank or the other item down on the table. This is possible by placing the plank or other item under the riser and locking the riser down tight against the plank or other item. 
     In one embodiment the table is an A frame truss design. This design allows the table to be used without lifting the table tops into the deployed position. This means that the table can be used like a sawhorse. Further, this design allows the table to become stronger the more weight that I placed on it. As weight is placed on the table the table tops will push down on the leg supports. This will then push the legs down and out. In this manner the table will be less likely to collapse or fold in on itself. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will conceive of other alternate embodiments of the invention upon reviewing this disclosure. Thus, the invention is not to be limited to the above description but is to be determined in scope by the claims which follow. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.