Patent Abstract:
A collapsible work horse has legs pivotally mounted to opposing surfaces of a support beam. The legs are secured in the extended position by a two-part locking arrangement. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a first part of a locking arrangement is mounted to each of the first ends of the legs adjacent the pivot point of its respective leg, and a second part of the locking arrangement is mounted to the supporting member. When the legs are in the extended position, the first and second parts of the locking arrangement engage one another to securely fix the legs in the extended position. In another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a plurality of work horses are assembled with a tool support and work piece supports to provide a work station. The tool support and work piece supports are designed to be fixable in a compact storage arrangement.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a collapsible work horse having first and second pairs of legs pivotally mounted to a support beam to move from an extended or working position to a storage and/or transporting, e.g., collapsed, position, and a locking arrangement to lock the legs in the extended position and, more particularly, to a collapsible work horse having the legs secured in the extended position by a plunger mounted in each of the legs and biased into a hole in the support beam. The invention further relates to a work station having one or more work horses for supporting a shaping tool and for supporting the pieces to be shaped. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Technical Problems 
         [0004]    In general, work horses, also known as sawhorses or trestles, include a first pair of legs secured to one side of a support beam and a second pair of legs secured to an opposite side of the support beam. The legs can be fixedly secured to the support beam using fasteners, e.g. but not limited to, nails, screws, and/or nut and bolt arrangements, or detachably secured to the support beam using clamps. In general, the clamps include a pair of elongated members pivotally mounted together such that moving one end of the members away from one another moves the opposite ends of the members toward one another against the support beam. In another arrangement, the legs are secured by pivotally attaching the legs to the support beam as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,233 (hereinafter also referred to as “Patent &#39;233”). 
         [0005]    Although the presently available work horse designs are acceptable for their intended use, they have drawbacks. More particularly, work horses that have the legs and support beam fixedly secured together are usually moved and/or stored in the assembled state, which results in wasted unused space. The work horses that have the legs detachably secured to the support beam reduces the amount of unused space required for storage but requires disassembling the work horse, keeping track of the disassembled parts, and assembling the parts to use the work horse. 
         [0006]    The collapsible work horse of Patent &#39;233 eliminates many of the problems discussed above; however, the work horse of Patent &#39;233 has limitations. More particularly, the extended legs of the work horse disclosed in Patent &#39;233 are maintained in the extended position by a constant frictional force applied to the pivot point of the legs. The frictional force is applied by tightening the bolt at the pivot point. For a detailed discussion of the arrangement to maintain the legs in the extended position, reference can be made to Patent &#39;233. 
         [0007]    As can be appreciated, tightening bolts to secure the legs in the extended position requires the use of the tool to tighten the bolts to secure the legs in the extended position and to loosen the bolts to move the legs to the collapsed position. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it would be advantageous to provide a work horse that has legs that can be moved between the extended position and the collapsed position and does not have the drawbacks and/or limitations of the presently available work horses. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    This invention relates to a collapsible work horse having, among other things, a support member having a first surface and an opposite second surface; a first pair of legs, with each leg of the first pair having a first end and an opposite second end, with the first end of the first pair of legs pivotally mounted at a pivot point to the first surface of the support member; and a second pair of legs, each leg of the second pair having a first end and an opposite second end, with the first end of the second pair of legs pivotally mounted at a pivot point to the second surface of the supporting beam. The legs of the first pair of legs and the legs of the second pair of legs are in spaced relationship to one another to move the legs between an extended position and a collapsed position. The legs are maintained in the extended position by a two-part locking arrangement. The first part of a locking arrangement is mounted to each of the first end of the legs adjacent the pivot point of its respective leg, and the second part of the locking arrangement mounted to the support member, wherein with the legs in the extended position, the first and second parts of the locking arrangement engage one another to secure the leg in the extended position. 
         [0009]    In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the first part of the locking arrangement includes a spring-biased plunger, and the second part of the locking arrangement includes a hole to receive the first end of the plunger. When the leg is in the extended position, the end portion of the plunger is biased into the hole. 
         [0010]    In still another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, each of the legs of the first and second pairs of legs includes a first surface and an opposite second surface, with the first surface at the first end of the leg in facing relationship to portions of the support member, the plunger includes a second opposite end and a shoulder or stop member fixed between the first and second ends of the plunger. The first part of the locking arrangement further includes a housing having a first open end at the first side of the leg and an opposite second open end at the second surface of the leg, with the first and second openings smaller than the shoulder to capture the shoulder in the housing. The first end of the plunger is biased to extend out of the first end of the housing and the second end of the plunger extends out of the second end of the housing. A spring is mounted on the plunger between the second end of the housing and the shoulder or stop member of the plunger. In this manner, moving the second end of the plunger out of the housing compresses the spring, and releasing the second end of the plunger moves the shoulder toward, and the first end of the plunger out of, the first end of the housing under the biasing action of the spring. 
         [0011]    This invention further relates to a tool support that can be used with a work horse, for example but not limited to, the collapsible work horse of the invention. In one non-limiting embodiment of the tool support of the invention, the tool support includes a support platform having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface, and a first and second vise arrangement mounted on the second major surface of the platform in spaced relationship to one another. The second major surface of the support platform is mounted on the support member, with the first and second vise arrangements engaging sides of the support member. 
         [0012]    In another non-limiting embodiment of the tool support of the invention, at least one of the first and second vise arrangements includes a guide shaft mounted to the support platform in spaced relationship to the second surface of the support platform. A first jaw member is slidably mounted on the guide shaft and a detachably securing arrangement mounting the first jaw member, wherein with the detachably securing arrangement in a non-engaged position, the first jaw member can move along the guide shaft, and with the detachably securing arrangement in an engaged position, the first jaw member is secured in a position on the guide shaft. A second jaw member is movably mounted on the guide shaft and driven by a screw drive mounted on the shaft and operatively connected to the second jaw member. The screw drive moves the second jaw member toward the first jaw member to engage the sides of the first support member and to move the second jaw member away from the first jaw member. 
         [0013]    The invention still further relates to a work piece support that can be used with a work horse, for example but not limited to, the collapsible work horse of the invention. In one non-limiting embodiment, the work piece support includes an engaging cover plate member mounted over an end of the support beam of the work horse. The cover plate member has a top plate, a first side, an opposite second side, a third side between the first and second sides, and a first lock screw passing through one of the first and second sides of the cover plate member to engage the support beam of the work horse. A shaft receiving hole is provided on the third side of the engaging cover plate member, with a second lock screw passing through a wall of the shaft receiving hole. A cylindrical support is rotatably mounted on one end of a shaft, with the body of the shaft passing through the shaft receiving hole. The cylindrical support is in a fixed position above the support member of the work horse by the second lock engaging the shaft of the work piece support. 
         [0014]    In another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the support platform of the tool support has a cut out adjacent a side of the support platform of the tool support, and the tool support and the work piece support in a storage position includes the shaft of the cylindrical support positioned between the first and second sides of the engaging cover plate member and biased against one of the first and second sides of the plate member by the first lock screw, and the engaging cover plate member secured between the first and second jaw members of the work piece support between the first and second jaw members. 
         [0015]    The invention further relates to a work station having a first material shaping position and one or more support positions. The shaping position includes the tool support of the invention mounted on a first work horse, e.g., the collapsible work horse of the invention, and a shaping tool secured on the tool support. The support positions each include a work piece support of the invention mounted on a second work horse, e.g., the collapsible work horse of the invention. A support board has one end attached to the shaping tool and the other end supported at the support positions. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Further advantages and details of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the schematic figures, in which like reference numbers identify like parts throughout. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an elevated front view of a non-limiting embodiment of a collapsible work horse of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an isometric end view of the collapsible work horse shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an isometric end view of a vertical support member of the collapsible work horse shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an elevated front view of the collapsible work horse shown in  FIG. 1  in the collapsed condition for storage and/or transportation in accordance with the teachings of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an elevated side view of a leg of the collapsible work horse of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an elevated front view of the leg shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1  and having portions removed for purposes of clarity; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is an isometric front view having portions removed for purposes of clarity of a work station incorporating features of the invention and including a non-limiting embodiment of the collapsible work horse of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is an isometric bottom view of a non-limiting embodiment of a tool supporting platform of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a view taken along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8  and having portions of the shaping tool removed for purposes of clarity; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is an isometric fragmented view of a non-limiting embodiment of a support member of the invention supporting a board; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is an elevated plan view showing the tool support of  FIG. 9  and the support member of  FIG. 11  in a storage and/or transportation arrangement in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Before discussing several non-limiting embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular non-limiting embodiments shown and discussed herein since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Further, the terminology used herein to discuss the invention is for the purpose of description and is not of limitation. Still further, unless indicated otherwise, in the following discussion like numbers refer to like elements. 
         [0030]    As used herein, spatial or directional terms, such as “inner”, “outer”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, and the like, relate to the invention as it is shown in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention can assume various alternative orientations and, accordingly, such terms are not to be considered as limiting. Further, all numbers expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, and so forth, used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical values set forth in the following specification and claims can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and all subranges subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of “1 to 10” should be considered to include any and all subranges between (and inclusive of) the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less, e.g., 1 to 6.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10. 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  as needed, a work or saw horse  20  of the invention includes a support or cross beam  22 , legs  24  and  25  mounted in spaced relationship to one another on side  27  of the support beam  22 , and legs  29  and  30  mounted in spaced relationship to one another on opposite side  32  of the support beam  22 . The invention is not limited to any particular design of the support beam  22 ; however, it should have sufficient structural strength to support the desired load. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the support beam  22  had a T-shaped cross section, clearly shown in  FIG. 2 . Horizontal support member  34  of the beam  22  was made of wood having a thickness of 1 inch, a width of 3.5 inches, and a length of 46 inches. Vertical support member  42  of the beam  22  was made of wood having a thickness of 1 inch and a length of 46 inches. The width of the vertical support member  42  varied in width across its length to provide access to centrally located elongated opening or cut out  44  when the legs  24 ,  25 ,  29 , and  30  are moved to the storage and/or transport position, e.g., the collapsed position, discussed in detail below. In this non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the vertical support member  42  had a width at ends  46  and  48  of 3.5 inches, a uniformly increasing width for a length of 19 inches from each of the ends  46  and  48  toward the center of the vertical support member  42 , and a center portion having a length of 8 inches and a width of 5 inches. 
         [0032]    In the following discussion, the sides  27  and  32  of the support beam  22  to which the legs  24 ,  25  and  29 ,  30 , respectively, are secured in accordance to the teachings of the invention are the sides  27  and  32  of the vertical member  42 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , each of the sides  27  and  32  of the vertical member  42  has a pair of cut outs  52 ,  53  and  55 ,  56 , respectively, to receive a wedge member  58  (wedge member  58  only shown in cut out  56 ). The wedge members  58  provide an angle to the legs  24 ,  25  and  29 ,  30  in relationship to the support beam  22  when the legs  24 ,  25  and  29 ,  30  are extended, e.g., the work horse  20  is in the work position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, the cut outs  52 ,  53  and  55 ,  56  had a width of 3.5 inches, a depth of 3/16 inch, and extend from top side  60  to bottom side  62  of the vertical support member  42 . The wedge members  58  had a width and length of 3.5 inches, a thickness at one end, e.g., end  64 , of 1⅜ inches and a thickness at the opposite end, e.g., end  66  of 3/16 inch. The wedge members  58  were secured in their respective cut out  52 ,  53  and  55 ,  56  by wood screws, with the smaller end  64  of the wedge members  58  adjacent to, or level with, the top side  60  of the vertical member  42 . 
         [0033]    As can be appreciated, the invention is not limited to the shape of the cut outs  52 ,  53  and  55 ,  56  for receiving the wedge members  58 . Further, the invention is not limited to the dimensions of the wedge members  58 . For example and not limiting to the invention, the end  66  of the wedge members  58  can be increased relative to the end  64  of the wedge members  58  to increase the spaced distance between the legs  24  and  29 , and  25  and  30 , and the end  66  of the wedge members  58  can be decreased relative to the end  64  of the wedge members  58  to decrease the spaced distance between the legs  24  and  29 , and  25  and  30  (see  FIG. 2 ). Further, the invention is not limited to having cut outs  52 ,  53  and  55 ,  56  in the vertical support member  42  to contain the wedge members  58 , and the invention contemplates the sides  27  and  32  of the vertical member  42  without the cut outs, and the wedge members  58  mounted on such surfaces. Still further, the invention is not limited to the technique used to secure the wedge members  58  to the vertical member  42 , e.g., the wedge members  58  can be secured to the vertical member  42  by fasteners of the type discussed above and/or by adhesives. 
         [0034]    The horizontal and vertical support members  34  and  42 , respectively, can be joined together in any convenient manner. With reference to  FIG. 2 , in the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, a channel  70  (see also  FIG. 10 ) centrally located between sides  72  and  74  is provided, e.g., cut into bottom surface  76  of the horizontal support member  34 . The channel  70  had a depth of 3/16 inch and a width of 1 inch. The top side  60  of the vertical support member  42  was secured in the channel  70  by screws  78  passing through top surface  80  of the horizontal support member  34  into the top side  60  of the vertical support member  42  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). In the instance when the horizontal support member  34  is made of wood, two relief grooves  82  are imposed into the top surface  80  of the horizontal support member  34  (see  FIGS. 2 and 10 ) to reduce warpage of the horizontal support member  34 . As can be appreciated, the invention is not limited to the manner in which the vertical and horizontal members are joined together and any joining technique known in the art can be used in the practice of the invention. 
         [0035]    Each of the legs  24 ,  25  and  29 ,  30  has one end  84  mounted to a respective one of the wedge members  58  (one of the wedge members  58  shown in  FIG. 3 ) by a shaft  86  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) such that each of the legs are secured to their respective one of the wedge members  58  for rotational or pivotal movement about their respective shaft  86  to move between the extended or work position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to a collapsed position (shown in  FIG. 4 ) for transporting and/or storing the work horse  20  in a manner discussed in detail below. As is appreciated, the invention is not limited to the manner in which the ends  84  of the legs  24 ,  25  and  29 ,  30  are secured to their respective one of the wedge members  58  which are secured to the vertical support member  42 , as discussed above, and any fastening arrangement can be used. In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, the shaft  86  was a screw and washer arrangement used to secure the ends  84  of the legs  24 ,  25  and  29 ,  30  to its respective one of the wedge members  58  for pivotal or rotational movement around the screw. 
         [0036]    Although not limiting to the invention and as can be appreciated from  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the legs  25  and  30  are pivoted around the shaft  86  in a counter-clockwise direction to move the legs  25  and  30  from the extended position as shown in  FIG. 2  to the collapsed position shown in  FIG. 4 , and the legs  25  and  30  are pivoted around the shaft  86  in a clockwise direction to move the legs  25  and  30  from the collapsed position to the extended position. The legs  24  and  29  are pivoted around the shaft  86  in a clockwise direction to move the legs  24  and  29  from the extended position as shown in  FIG. 2  to the collapsed position shown in  FIG. 4 , and the legs  24  and  29  are pivoted around the shaft  86  in a counter-clockwise direction to move the legs  24  and  29  from the collapsed position to the extended position. 
         [0037]    In the following discussion, reference will be made to the leg  25 , with the understanding that the discussion is applicable to the legs  24 ,  29 , and  30 , unless indicated otherwise. With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, the leg  25  had a thickness of 1.00 inch as measured between surfaces  90  and  92  of the leg  25  ( FIG. 5 ). End  88  of the leg  25  had a width of 1.25 inches as measured between sides  94  and  96  of the leg  25 , and the end  84  had a width of 3 11/16 inches as measured between the sides  94  and  96 . The leg  25  had a length of 32.25 inches as measured between the ends  84  and  88  along the side  96  of the leg  25 . The side  94  of the leg  25  slopes toward the side  96 , and the sides  94  and  96  do not slope toward one another for nesting of the legs when the work horse  20  is in the collapsed position, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0038]    In the following discussion, the leg  25  will be discussed with the understanding that the discussion is applicable to the leg  30 , unless indicated otherwise, and the reverse of the discussion is applicable to the legs  24  and  29 , unless indicated otherwise, because, as discussed above, the legs  25  and  30  move in an opposite clockwise direction when moving from the extended position to the collapsed position and from the collapsed position to the extended position. 
         [0039]    The ends  84  and  88  of the leg  25  each form an angle A between the sides  94  and  96 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , such that the distance between the ends  84  of the legs  24  and  25  on the side  27  of the vertical support member  42  (see  FIG. 2 ) increases as the distance from the vertical member  42  increases, and the distance between the ends  84  of the legs  29  and  30  on the side  32  of the vertical support beam  42  increases as the distance from the vertical member  42  increases, for stability of the work horse  20  when the legs are extended and the work horse  20  is in the upright or work position. In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, the angle was  12  degrees. The ends  84  and  88  of the leg  25  between the surfaces  90  and  92  each beveled to have an angle B, as shown in  FIG. 5 , such that the distance between legs  24  and  29 , and between the legs  25  and  30 , increases as the distance from the vertical support member  42  increases for stability of the work horse  20  when the legs are extended and the work horse  20  is in the upright or work position. In the non-limiting embodiment of the work horse under discussion, the angle B was 20 degrees. 
         [0040]    In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, hole  98  extends through the surfaces  90  and  92  to receive the screw  78  about which the leg  25  rotates. The hole  98  is on a center to side  94  spacing of 13/16 inch, and on a center to end  84  spacing of 1⅞ inches as measured between an imaginary line  100  extending through the center of the hole  98  and parallel to straight portion  102  of the end  84  at the surface  90  of the leg  25 . Corner  104  of the leg  25  between the end  84  and the side  94  is rounded as shown in  FIG. 6  to move the rounded corner  104  under the horizontal beam  34  (see  FIG. 2 ) as the leg  25  is rotated about the screw  78 . In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, the rounded corner  104  of the leg  25  had a radius of 1⅞ inches. 
         [0041]    As can be appreciated, the ends  84  of the legs  24 ,  25 ,  29  and  30  are shaped, e.g., corner  104  rounded, to provide for rotation of the legs between the work position ( Fig. 2 ) and the collapsed position ( FIG. 4 ). With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and as mentioned above, the legs  25  and  30  move in a clockwise direction opposite to the clockwise direction of the legs  24  and  29  when moving from the work position to the collapsed position. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the particulars relating to the rounded corner  104  at the end  84  of the legs  25  and  30  discussed above are opposite to the particulars relating to the rounded corner at the end  84  of the legs  24  and  29  because they move in an opposite direction to the legs  25  and  30  when the legs are moved to the same position. 
         [0042]    As can be appreciated, the invention is not limited to any synchronized movement among the legs  24 ,  25 ,  29 , and  30 , e.g., the movement of the legs  25  and  30  in a counter-clockwise direction, and the movement of the legs  24  and  29  in the clockwise direction, to move into the work position. However, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the legs  25  and  30  move in a direction opposite to the direction of the legs  24  and  29  when moving the legs to the same position so that the work horse  20  of the invention can be collapsed into a convenient carrying and storage arrangement, e.g., as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0043]    In another embodiment of the invention, the legs  24 ,  25 ,  29 , and  30  are secured in the work position by a leg lock assembly  110 . In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, the leg lock assembly  110  is a spring-biased plunger  110  mounted in hole  112  in the wedge member  58  (the hole  112  clearly shown in  FIG. 7 ). With continued reference to  FIG. 7 , the spring-biased plunger  110  includes a cylindrical housing  114  having a flanged end  116  mounted in the hole  117 , with the flanged end  116  flush with the surface  90  of the leg  25  facing the wedge member  58 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The flanged end  116  has an opening  118  having a diameter less than inside diameter of the housing  114 . A plunger  120  has an engaging end  122  sized to fit into the opening  118  of the flanged end  116 , and a shoulder  124  spaced from the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  sized to fit within the housing  114  and not pass through the opening  118  in the flanged end  116 . A retainer nut  126  having external threads (not shown) is threaded into opposite end  128  of the housing  114  having internal threads (not shown) at the end  128 . The retainer nut  126  has an opening  130  sized to pass end  132  of the plunger  120 . A coil spring  134  was mounted on the plunger  120  between the retainer nut  126  and the shoulder  124  of the plunger  120 . The biasing force of the spring  134  acts on the shoulder  124  of the plunger  120  to bias the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  out of the housing  114  into the hole  112  in the wedge member  58 . The end  132  of the plunger  120  extends out of the retainer nut  126  and has a knob  136  secured thereto for ease of moving the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  into the housing  114  against the biasing action of the spring  134 . 
         [0044]    With the legs  24 ,  25 ,  29 , and  30  of the work horse  20  in the extended position, the work horse  20  is in the work position (see  FIG. 1 ) and the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  of the leg lock attachment assembly  110  of each leg  24 ,  25 ,  29 , and  30  is biased by the spring  134  into the hole  112  of the wedge member  58  (see  FIG. 7 ) to lock the legs in the extended position. To move the legs to the collapsed position shown in  FIG. 4 , the knob  136  of the leg lock attachment assembly  110  of the legs  24 ,  25 ,  29 , and  30  is moved away from the wedge member  58  to move the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  out of the hole  112  in the wedge member  58  against the biasing force of the spring  134 . With the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  out of the hole  112  in the wedge member  58 , the leg is rotated into the collapsed position. The procedure is repeated for each of the legs. In the instance when the leg lock attachment assembly  110  is positioned on its respective one of the legs to have the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  remain in contact with its respective one of the wedge members  58 , the leg is moved from the collapsed position to the work position, and the biasing action of the spring  134  moves the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  into the hole  112  in the wedge member  58  when they are aligned with one another. In the instance when the leg lock attachment assembly  110  is positioned on its respective one of the legs to have the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  clear its respective wedge member  58 , the biasing action of the spring  134  moves the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  out of the housing  114  when the engaging end  122  clears the wedge member  58 . In this instance, as the leg is moved to the work position, the knob  136  is moved away from the leg to move the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  into the housing  114  until the engaging end  122  clears its respective one of the wedge members  58 . Thereafter, the knob  136  is released to move the engaging end  122  under the biasing action of the spring  134  against the wedge member  58 , and the biasing action of the spring  134  moves the engaging end  122  of the plunger  120  into the hole  112  in the wedge member  58  when they are aligned with one another. The above is repeated for each of the legs to lock the legs in the work position. 
         [0045]    As can be appreciated, the invention contemplates a work horse having more than two legs, e.g., having 3, 4 or more legs, on each side of the vertical support member  42 , and having the same or a different number of legs on the sides of the vertical support member  42 . Further, as can be appreciated, the invention is not limited to the material of the work horse and the work horse can be made of any material that can support the expected load to be supported by the work horse. Materials that can be used in the practice of the invention to make the work horse of the invention include but are not limited to metal, wood, plastic, pressed wood, metal and/or fiber glass reinforced plastic. In the instance when the work horse is made of wood, the relief grooves  82  (see  FIGS. 2 and 10 ) are provided on the top surface  80  of the horizontal support member  34  to reduce warpage of the wood. 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a work station  150  incorporating features of the invention which include but are not limited to a plurality of work horses  20  of the type discussed above. As can be appreciated, the work station  150  is not limited to using the work horse  20  of the invention and any type of work horse can be used. The work station  150  shown in  FIG. 8  includes a shaping station  152 , a work piece support position  154  on the right side, and a work piece support position  156  on the left side of the shaping station  152 . In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the shaping station  152  includes a working tool  158  securely mounted on a tool support or tool supporting member  160  securely mounted on a work horse  20  in a manner discussed below. The working tool  158  is not limiting to the invention and can be any type of tool for shaping or joining materials, e.g. and not limiting to the invention, a drilling machine, a punching machine, a welding machine, or cutting machine. The working tool  158  can be motor and/or hand operated. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the working tool  158  was a motor driven radial miter saw. In the following discussion, the working tool will be referred to as miter saw, however, as is appreciated, the invention is not limited thereto. 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIG. 9 , the tool supporting member  160  has an elongated cut out  162  adjacent one side, e.g., side  164 , of the tool supporting member  160  for ease of carrying the tool supporting member  160 , and has a plurality of spaced holes  166  which are aligned with mounting holes (not shown) in base  168  of the miter saw  158  (see  FIG. 10 ). The tool supporting member  160  can be made of any structurally stable material. In the practice of a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the table  160  was made of 0.75 inch thick plywood. Securing arrangements, e.g. and not limiting to the invention, nut and bolt members  170  (see  FIG. 10 ) are used to secure the miter saw  158  to upper surface  172  of the tool supporting member  160 . Mounted on opposite or lower surface  174  of the tool supporting member  160  is a pair of clamps  176  and  178  to secure the tool supporting member  160  to the horizontal member  34  of the work horse  20  (see  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0048]    The invention is not limited to the type of clamps  176  and  178  used to secure the tool supporting member  160  to the work horse  20 . In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, the clamps  176  and  178  each included a guide shaft or pipe  182  mounted to, and spaced from, the lower surface  174  of the tool support  160  and spaced from one another. The clamp  176  will be discussed with the understanding that the discussion, unless indicated otherwise, is applicable to the clamp  178 . The guide shaft  182  of the clamp  176  was mounted on posts  184  to space the guide shaft  182  from the lower surface  174  of the tool support  160 . The guide shaft  182  was secured against the posts  184  and the posts  184  secured against the lower surface  174  of the tool support  160  by a machine screw (not shown) passing through the upper surface  172  of the tool support  160 , through the posts  184  and threaded into the guide shaft  182 . A jaw clamp  186  is mounted on the pipe  182  to slide between the posts  184 . A threaded drive shaft  188  passes through an internally-threaded passageway  190  of collar  191  secured to end  192  of the guide shaft  182  with end  193  of the threaded drive shaft  188  rotatably mounted to the jaw clamp  186 , and a handle  194  secured to opposite end of the threaded drive shaft  188 . With this arrangement, rotating the handle  194  in a first direction moves the jaw clamp  186  away from the end  192  of the guide shaft  182  and rotating the handle  194  in the opposite direction moves the jaw clamp  186  toward the end  192  of the guide shaft  182 . 
         [0049]    A lockable jaw clamp  196  is mounted on the guide shaft  182  adjacent opposite end  198  of the guide shaft  182  to slide toward and away from the end  198  of the guide shaft  182 . The lockable jaw clamp  196  is moved to a predetermined location on the guide shaft  182  and secured in position in any convenient manner, e.g., by a screw passing through the jaw clamp  196  to engage the guide shaft  182 , by a spring-biased engaging member, or by an off center wheel rotated to engage the guide shaft  182 . With this arrangement, the tool support  160  can be set on the work horse  20  to have a more equal weight distribution of the working tool  158  mounted on the tool support  160 . 
         [0050]    As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, cutting an end of corner molding requires support for long pieces of corner molding, e.g., pieces having a length of 12 feet. In this embodiment of the invention, a 2 inch by 12 inch by 16 feet piece of lumber designated by the number  200  (see  FIGS. 8 and 10 ) was used to support the corner molding (not shown). An angle iron  202  was secured to each of the opposite sides of the base  168  of the working tool  158 , and an end of each of the pieces of lumber  200  was secured to one of the angle irons  202 . The other end of the pieces of lumber  200  was supported at its respective one of the work piece support positions  154  and  156  by a roller support assembly or work piece support  210  mounted on the work horse  20 . In the following discussion, the roller support assembly  210  of the work piece support position  154  will be discussed with the understanding that the discussion, unless indicated otherwise, is applicable to the roller assembly  210  of the support position  156 . 
         [0051]    The roller support  210  includes a base  212  that fits over an end of the horizontal member  34  of the work horse  20  and is secured thereto by rotating a threaded shaft  214  having an end passing through a threaded hole in the base  212 . As can be appreciated, the invention is not limited to the structure or design of the base  212 . In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the base was made by welding 4 pieces of angle irons together to form a base having three sides and an open end. A hole was drilled through one of the sides and a nut welded over the hole to receive a threaded shaft, e.g., the shaft  214 . To prevent the end of the shaft  214  from cutting into the horizontal member  34  of the work horse  20 , the end of the shaft  214  contacting the horizontal member  34  can have an enlarged end (not shown). Mounted on end  216  of the base  212  is a shaft retaining assembly  220  to receive shaft  222  of the roller assembly  224  and to secure the shaft  222  in the shaft retaining assembly  220 , with the roller assembly  224  in a fixed elevated position. 
         [0052]    The construction of the shaft retaining assembly  220  is not limiting to the invention. In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention under discussion, the shaft retaining assembly  220  was made by welding a section of pipe to the end  216  of the base  212  and providing a threaded hole in the section of the pipe to receive a screw  226  to engage the shaft  222  of the roller assembly  224 . The roller assembly  224  further included a U-shaped member  228  mounted on the shaft  222  and having a roller  230  rotatably mounted in legs  232  of the U-shaped member  228 . 
         [0053]    In another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the roller support assembly  210  and the tool support  160  can be mounted on the same work horse. 
         [0054]    In another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the tool support  160  and the roller support assembly  210  can be packed together for storage or transportation. More particularly and with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12  as needed, the roller assembly  224  is removed from the shaft retaining assembly  220  and placed in the base  212  of the roller support assembly  210 . A block of wood  236  is positioned between the shaft  222  of the roller assembly  224  and the threaded shaft  214  in the base  212 . The threaded shaft  214  is rotated to move the block of wood  236  against the shaft  222  to secure the shaft  222  in the base  212  of the roller support assembly  210 . The base  212  of one of the roller support assemblies  210  is placed between the jaw clamps  186  and  196  of one of the clamps  176  and  178 , and the other one of the roller support assemblies  210  is placed between the jaw clamps  186  and  196  of the other one of the clamps  176  and  178 , and the jaws moved toward one another to capture the bases  212  between the jaw clamps. The tool support  160  and the roller support assemblies  210  can now be moved by engaging the cut out  162  in the tool support  160 . 
         [0055]    Based on the description of the embodiments of the invention, it can be appreciated that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but it is intended to cover modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1