Patent Abstract:
A portable table assembled with the use of an extension ladder that is located at the job site. The portable saw table is easily assembled from combining a plurality of component parts together and transforming an ordinary extension ladder into an accurate workstation for saw and carpentry tasks.

Full Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]    This invention claims priority to the provisional application Serial No. 60/322,212 filed Sep. 10, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to a portable table and, more specifically, a portable carpenter&#39;s table.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Construction, of any type, is typically done in a dynamic environment. More specifically, most construction projects are subject to revision or modification during construction. Thus, the carpenters, or other construction persons, must have an ability to perform their job within the dynamic environment. Typical carpentry and other construction projects require an ability to fabricate construction elements at the job site. Often, the job site is at a remote location, or generally in an inconvenient location. There does not exist an inexpensive and reliable system for providing an elevated work surface at a remote site. There are portable tables on the market, but they are generally cumbersome, expensive and require additional equipment or tools at the job site.  
           [0004]    Thus, there is a need for an inexpensive portable table that is reliable, accurate and easily integrated into the worker&#39;s stable of tools.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A portable table is provided. The portable table includes a ladder and one or more table components. The one or more table components include a table surface piece and at least two legs coupled to the table surface piece. The legs are configured to be received by the ladder.  
           [0006]    The table further includes at least two ladder support structures.  
           [0007]    The legs are hingedly attached to the table surface piece.  
           [0008]    The table further includes a pin connection device for coupling the legs to the top surface. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary portable table in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an exemplary portable table in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]    FIGS.  3 A-B are diagrams illustrating the exemplary components of a portable table in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3C is a side view diagram illustrating an exemplary portable table in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate folding embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    The present invention provides a portable table. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a portable table  10  that includes a left half  10 ( a ) and a right half  10 ( b ), a tool  22 , and a tool base  23  located between the respective halves. The table  10  connects with a ladder  20 , such as an extension ladder. The ladder  20  rests upon or is secured to elevating elements  18 , such as a pair of sawhorses  18 ( a,b ). A left half  10 ( a ) of the portable table  10  includes three component parts  12 ( a - c ). The three component parts  12 ( a - c ) are placed adjacent one another. A right half  10   b  of the portable table  10  includes two component parts  12 ( d,e ) placed adjacent to each other. The portable table  10  is affixed to an outer section  20   a  of the ladder  20 . The outer section  20   a  is slidably attached to an inner section  20   b  of the ladder  20 . Alternatively, the portable table  10  is attached to the inner section of the ladder  20 , wherein the inner section  20   b  is slidably attached to the outer section  20   a.  Moreover, while the diagrams illustrate using a miter saw, any other tool can also be used, such as a circular, rotor and table saws, drills, routers, edgers, sanders, mills, lathes, welders, or any other tool. In a preferred embodiment, the portable table is placed over a pair of sawhorses and is easily transformed to a working saw or carpenter&#39;s table at any job site. However, any structure can be used in place of the sawhorses, including placing the ladder directly on the ground.  
         [0016]    As shown in FIGS.  3 A-C, the component parts  12 ( a - e ) are preferably made of wood, however other materials can be used such as plexi-glass, composites, metals or metal alloys, fiberglass, polymer based material, including any plastics, or ceramics are considered within the scope of this invention.  
         [0017]    As shown in FIG. 3A, a section part  30  includes a surface piece  32  attached to a pair of support legs  34  and  36 . The surface piece  32  is suitably nailed to the support legs  34  and  36 . However, the surface piece  32  can be sealed or bonded on top of the support legs  34  and  36  or secured by screws or some other securing mechanism. The legs  34  and  36  of each component part fits inside the ladder  20 . Attaching all component parts  12 ( a - e ) forms both halves of the portable table  10 .  
         [0018]    In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 3B, a pair of dowels  46  and  48  are attached to one end of the surface piece  32  of the section part  30 , while located at the opposite end of the surface piece  32  is a pair of dowel holes (not shown) for receiving dowels  46  and  48  from an adjacent component part (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C). The support legs  14   a  and  14   b  are shown located between a first rail  56  and a second rail  58  of the outer section  20   a  of the ladder  20 .  
         [0019]    The preferred embodiment using an extension ladder is shown in FIG. 3C, however, other extension ladders similar to the one illustrated can also be used. Dowels  15   a  and  15   b  are shown in relationship to the surface pierce  32 . The component part  12  is shown in relationship to the inner and outer sections  20   a  and  20   b  of the ladder  20 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate other ways to secure the surface piece  32  to the legs  34  and  36 . FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment that allows a component part  100  to be folded for ease in storage and transportation. The component part  100  includes a top surface  102  connected to two legs  104  by respective hinges  106 . The hinges  106  are attached to allow the legs  104  to rotate from a position parallel with the top surface  102  to a use position that is about 90 degrees from the parallel position. As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, other types of hinging mechanisms can be used in order to allow the legs  104  to be folded to a use position and a storage position.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 illustrates to another embodiment that allows a component part  110  to be easily stored for transportation. The component part  110  includes a top surface  112  and two legs  114 . At a first end of each of the legs  114  is a pin or dowel device  118 . The top surface  112  includes pin or dowel receiving cavities  124  at opposing ends of the top surface  112 . When the pin  118  of the legs  114  are inserted into the cavities  124 , the component part  110  is ready for use. As can be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, other types of connection devices can be used to allow the legs  114  to be easily disassembled and packed for storage and transportation.  
         [0022]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the tool piece can be located anywhere relative to the table, including being located on an end of the portable table. Also, any number of table sections can be used to make a table of infinite length. Additionally, the table surface may be wider or narrower and of any length. Also, any table section connection structure is considered within the scope of this invention, for example, clips, snaps, buckles, straps, dovetail, tongue-and-groove, ship-lap, magnetic connectors and any other common or uncommon connecting structure. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4