Patent Abstract:
A collapsible work station. Three locking hinges are used to ensure the work station is secure. The hinges rotate and lock in place. The work station is supported on a telescoping leg, capped with a thick rubber boot to protect the boat deck. A quick release clamp snaps open and shut with the flick of a thumb, firmly locking the leg in place.

Full Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA 
   This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application 60/561,104, filed on Apr. 8, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to boat attachments, and in particular, to boat-mounted, collapsible tray useful as a work station for chumming, bait rigging and filleting during fishing operations. 
   Most boats used by sports fishermen have no facilities for cleaning fish. The after decks and gunwales of sportfishing boats are often not flat, and therefore cannot properly accommodate an ordinary tray set thereon. Even when said surfaces are flat they are seldom of the proper working height. 
   Heretofore, typical fish cleaning devices have several drawbacks. Most devices use rigid, deep trough structures to hold the fish which are large and bulky and take up valuable storage area when not in use. In addition, such devices cannot be used on all gunwales and hull designs. Hand rails, molding and ornament designs along the top surface of the gunwale often prevent these devices from being properly attached to the gunwale. 
   It is known in the prior art for fisherman to use a flat bait cutting board to support bait while it is being cut. It is preferred that the bait cutting board be placed at a convenient height to that the fisherman does not have to bend over to use it. However, as stated above, it is not always easy to find an ideal location to use a conventional bait cutting board. Also, when a conventional bait cutting board is placed in a location where unwanted parts of the bait can be conveniently swept from the bait cutting board, there is usually no way to secure the bait cutting board and it is subject to loss overboard. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a primary object of this invention to provide for commercial and non-commercial anglers alike a suitable work station for chumming, bait rigging and filleting during day to day fishing excursions or weekend outings. The present invention provides a collapsible work station. Functionally designed to be ergonomically correct, the present invention work station stance is at proper height when in use and easily folded away when not in use. 
   Three locking hinges are used to ensure the work station is secure, taking the weight of the fisherman&#39;s work and keeping the station down in the wind. The hinges rotate and lock in place. The work station is supported on a telescoping leg, capped with a thick rubber boot to protect the boat deck. A quick release clamp snaps open and shut with the flick of a thumb, firmly locking the leg in place. 
   The work station fits most leaning posts with fiberglass backs and whale tails, and accommodates a wide range of whale tail tube sizes. In larger applications such as charter boats, the work station may be mounted directly to a gunnel wall or any flat or tubular surface. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a work station constructed according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an invention mount assembly. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a mount assembly. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the support plate subassembly. 
       FIG. 5  is a view of a conical spring. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a leg hinge subassembly. 
       FIG. 7  is an invention leg assembly. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a leg assembly. 
       FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a clamp assembly. 
       FIG. 9B  is an exploded view of the clamp assembly of  FIG. 9A . 
       FIG. 9C  is another perspective view of a clamp assembly. 
       FIG. 9D  is an exploded view of the clamp assembly of  FIG. 9C . 
       FIG. 10  is a front view of the leg assembly with leg tubes. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a clip element. 
       FIG. 12  is a top view of a locking clamp. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a work station  1  constructed according to the principles of the invention. The work station  1  is comprised of workboard  10  supported by two mount assemblies  20  and a leg assembly  80 . The workboard  10  is planer, and preferably has a generally rectangular shape. The workboard  10  has an upper work surface  11 , an opposite lower support surface  12 , and a perimeter edge  13 . An upwardly extending flange  14  may be formed or attached to all or a portion of the perimeter edge  13 . The workboard  10  is preferably made from an ultraviolet-stabilized, high density polyethylene and is preferably ½ inch thick. The workboard  10  resists deterioration from damaging ultraviolet radiation; is easy to clean; and is stain resistant. 
   Each mount assembly  20  is comprised of a backing plate  21 , a hinge subassembly  30  and a support plate subassembly  50 . The backing plate  21  has a generally rectangular shape and lies in a general vertical plane. The backing plate  21  has a flat mounting surface  22 , an opposite holding surface  23 , a top edge  24 , an opposite bottom edge  25 , and two opposite side edges  26 . Four apertures  27  are formed in the backing plate, said apertures extending from the holding surface  23  through the mounting surface  22 . The apertures  27  are located near to a junction of the top edge and a side edge, and to a junction of the bottom edge and a side edge. The holding surface  23  has a central groove  28  formed horizontally across its face, said groove extending from side edge  26  to side edge  26 . 
   The hinge subassembly  30  is comprised of a generally rectangular hinge plate  31  lying in a general vertical plane. The hinge plate  31  has a hinge surface  32 , an opposite gripping surface  33 , a top edge  34 , an opposite bottom edge  35 , and two opposite side edges  36 . Four apertures  37  are formed in the hinge plate, said apertures extending from the gripping surface  33  through the hinge surface  32 . The apertures  37  are located near to a junction of the top edge and a side edge, and to a junction of the bottom edge and a side edge. The gripping surface  33  has a central groove  38  formed horizontally across its face, said groove extending from side edge  36  to side edge  36 . 
   Extending horizontally and centrally from the hinge plate hinge surface  32  is a hinge holding element  40  comprised of a generally rectangular portion  41  terminating in a cylindrical element  42 , said rectangular portion  41  having a longitudinal axis defined by said cylindrical element  42  and said hinge plate hinge surface  32 , said rectangular portion longitudinal axis being perpendicular to said hinge plate  31 . The rectangular portion  41  has a rectangular cross section. The cylindrical element  42  has a flat side  43  from which a cylindrical side wall  44  extends horizontally toward a toothed side  45 . The cylindrical element sides  43 ,  45  have vertical, radial planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plane of the hinge plate hinge surface  32 . The cylindrical element  42  has a central aperture  46  extending from the flat side  43  through the toothed side  45 . Surrounding the central aperture  46  is a circular channel  49  extending from the toothed side  45  toward but not reaching the flat side  43 . The toothed side  45  has a plurality of radial teeth  47  extending from said circular channel  49  to a side perimeter  48  defined by said side wall  44 . The cylindrical element  42  has a thickness defined as the distance between the cylindrical element flat side  43  and toothed side  45 , said cylindrical element thickness being approximately one-half the cross sectional width of the rectangular portion  41 , said rectangular portion cross sectional width being defined as the distance between opposite rectangular portion sides. 
   The support plate subassembly  50  is comprised of a generally flat, rectangular holding plate  51  lying in a general horizontal plane. The holding plate  51  has a flat upper surface  52 , an opposite flat bottom surface  53 , two opposite long side edges  54 , and two opposite short side edges  55 . Four apertures  56  are formed in the holding plate, said apertures extending from the upper surface  52  through the bottom surface  53 . The apertures  56  are located near to a junction of a long edge and a side edge. 
   Extending horizontally and centrally from one of the holding plate short edges  55 ′ is a support plate holding element  60  comprised of a generally rectangular portion  61  terminating in a cylindrical element  62 , said rectangular portion  61  having a longitudinal axis defined by said cylindrical element  62  and said holding plate short edge  55 ′, said rectangular portion longitudinal axis being perpendicular to said holding plate short edge  55 ′. The rectangular portion  61  has a rectangular cross section. The cylindrical element  62  has a flat side  63  from which a cylindrical side wall  64  extends horizontally toward a toothed side  65 . The cylindrical element sides  63 ,  65  have vertical, radial planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plane of the holding plate  51 . The cylindrical element  62  has a threaded central aperture  66  extending from the flat side  63  through the toothed side  65 . Surrounding the central aperture  66  is a circular channel  69  extending from the toothed side  65  toward but not reaching the flat side  63 . The toothed side  65  has a plurality of radial teeth  67  extending from said circular channel  69  to a side perimeter  68  defined by said side wall  64 . The cylindrical element  62  has a thickness defined as the distance between the cylindrical element flat side  63  and toothed side  65 , said cylindrical element thickness being approximately one-half the cross sectional width of the rectangular portion  61 , said rectangular portion cross sectional width being defined as the distance between opposite rectangular portion sides. 
   Each mount assembly  20  is attached to the workboard  10  by attaching each support plate subassembly holding plate  51  to the workboard  10 , wherein a holding plate upper surface  52  is positioned against the workboard lower support surface  12  adjacent a workboard perimeter edge  13 . Four fasteners  57  are inserted into the holding plate apertures  56  extending into and fixedly attaching to the workboard lower support surface  12 . 
   The support plate assembly  50  is joined to the hinge subassembly  30  by joining the support plate holding element cylindrical element toothed side  65  with the hinge subassembly holding element cylindrical element toothed side  45  in a toothed engagement. A conical spring  70  is inserted into the support plate holding element circular channel  69 . A knob  71  with a threaded protrusion  72  is inserted into the hinge holding element central aperture  46 , threaded protrusion first through the flat side  43 , past the toothed side  45 , through the conical spring  70 , into threaded engagement with the support plate holding element cylindrical element threaded central aperture  66 . 
   Each mount assembly  20  may be directly attached to a flat surface by fasteners inserted through the hinge plate apertures  37  directly into the flat surface. Alternatively, each mount assembly may be attached to a tube  2 , such as a leaning post tube wherein the mount assembly backing plate holding surface central groove  28  and hinge subassembly hinge plate gripping surface central groove  38  form a sandwich arrangement about the tube  2 . Fasteners are inserted through the backing plate apertures  27  and hinge plate apertures  37 , snugly holding both plates  21 ,  31  in position about the tube  2 . 
   The leg assembly  80  is comprised of a leg mounting plate  81 , a holding element  90 , and a leg hinge subassembly  100 . The leg mounting plate  81  has a hinge surface  82 , an opposite flat mounting surface  83 , a top edge  84 , an opposite bottom edge  85 , and two opposite side edges  86 . Four apertures  87  are formed in the mounting plate, said apertures extending from the mounting surface  83  through the hinge surface  82 . The apertures  87  are located near to a junction of the top edge and a side edge, and to a junction of the bottom edge and a side edge. 
   Extending horizontally and centrally from the hinge surface  82  is a hinge holding element  90  comprised of a generally rectangular portion  91  terminating in a cylindrical element  92 , said rectangular portion  91  having a longitudinal axis defined by said cylindrical element  92  and said hinge surface  82 , said rectangular portion longitudinal axis being perpendicular to said leg hinge plate  81 . The rectangular portion  91  has a rectangular cross section. The cylindrical element  92  has a flat side  93  from which a cylindrical side wall  94  extends toward a toothed side  95 . The cylindrical element sides  93 ,  95  radial planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plane of the hinge surface  82 . The cylindrical element  92  has a central aperture  96  extending from the flat side  93  through the toothed side  95 . Surrounding the central aperture  96  is a circular channel  99  extending from the toothed side  95  toward but not reaching the flat side  93 . The toothed side  95  has a plurality of radial teeth  97  extending from said circular channel  99  to a side perimeter  98  defined by said side wall  94 . The cylindrical element  92  has a thickness defined as the distance between the cylindrical element flat side  93  and toothed side  95 , said cylindrical element thickness being approximately one-half the cross sectional width of the rectangular portion  91 , said rectangular portion cross sectional width being defined as the distance between opposite rectangular portion sides. 
   The leg hinge subassembly  100  is comprised of a tubular element  101  having a proximal end  102  and a distal end  103 , said proximal and distal ends defining a tubular element longitudinal axis. The tubular element proximal end  102  is connected to a cylindrical element  104 . The cylindrical element  104  has a flat side  105  from which a cylindrical side wall  106  extends toward a toothed side  107 . The cylindrical element  104  has a threaded central aperture  108  extending from the flat side  105  through the toothed side  107 . Surrounding the central aperture  108  is a circular channel  109  extending from the toothed side  107  toward but not reaching the flat side  105 . The toothed side  107  has a plurality of radial teeth  110  extending from said circular channel  109  to a side perimeter  111  defined by said side wall  106 . The cylindrical element  104  has a thickness defined as the distance between the cylindrical element flat side  105  and toothed side  107 , said cylindrical element thickness being approximately one-half the cross sectional diameter of the tubular element  101 . 
   The holding element  90  is joined to the leg hinge subassembly  100  by joining the holding element cylindrical element toothed side  95  with the tubular element cylindrical element toothed side  107  in a toothed engagement. A conical spring  112  is inserted into the tubular element cylindrical element circular channel  109 . A knob  113  with a threaded protrusion  114  is inserted into the holding element cylindrical element central aperture  96 , threaded protrusion first through the flat side  93 , past the toothed side  95 , through the conical spring  112 , into threaded engagement with the tubular element cylindrical element threaded central aperture  108 . 
   The leg hinge assembly tubular element  101  has a cylindrical wall  115  extending from said proximal end  102  to said distal end  103 . The tubular element cylindrical wall  115  has an aperture  116  formed therein. The tubular element distal end  103  is inserted into a first hollow leg tube  120 . The first leg tube  120  has a proximal end  121 , a distal end  122 , a cylindrical side wall  123  extending from the proximal end  121  to the distal end  122 , an exterior side wall surface  124 , said side wall, proximal end and distal end defining a first leg tube hollow interior  125 . The first leg tube cylindrical side wall  123  has an aperture  126  formed therein. The tubular element distal end  103  is inserted through the first leg tube proximal end  121  into the first leg tube interior  125 . The tubular element aperture  116  is aligned with said first leg tube aperture  126 . A fastener  127  is inserted through the apertures  116 ,  126  thereby fixedly fastening the tubular element  101  and first leg tube  120  together. 
   The leg assembly  80  includes a second leg tube  150  having a proximal end  151 , a distal end  152 , a cylindrical side wall  153  extending from the proximal end  151  to the distal end  152 , an exterior side wall surface  154 , said side wall, proximal end and distal end defining a first leg tube hollow interior  155 . The second tube proximal end  151  is inserted through the first leg tube distal end  122  into the first leg tube interior  125  in telescopic engagement. The second leg tube distal end  152  terminates in a rubber footing  4  to protect the boat deck  3 . 
   A clamp assembly  130  holds the first leg tube  120  in position along the second leg tube exterior side wall surface  154  and is positioned adjacent the first leg tube distal end  122 . The clamp assembly  130  is comprised of a clip element  131  in engagement with a locking clamp  140 . The clip element  131  has an elongated body portion  132  terminating in two ends  133 , said clip element body portion  132  being bent into a circular shape adapted to fit about the leg tube exterior surface  124 , said ends  133  protruding radially away from the circular body portion  132  in a parallel relationship. Each end  133  has an aperture  134  formed therein, said end apertures  134  being parallel with each other. One of said ends  133 ′ has a groove  135  formed on its outer surface. 
   The locking clamp  140  is an elongated, curved element having an outer convex surface  141 , an concave inner surface  142 , a rounded gripping end  143  and a holding end  144 , said ends defining an elongated locking clamp axis. The holding end  144  is formed into two parallel rings  145 , said rings having a central axis perpendicular to the locking clamp axis. The rings  145  each have off-centered central openings  146 . A cylindrical plug  147  is frictionally inserted into the ring openings  146 . The cylindrical plug  147  has a radial aperture  148  formed therein along an approximate central diameter. A fastener  136  is inserted through the clip element apertures  134  into the plug aperture  147 . The locking clamp rings  145  are positioned against the clip element groove  135 . Because of the off-center ring openings  146 , the locking clamp  140  has a greater ring density when the clamp lays against the leg tube side wall  123 . This greater density provides a locking force holding the leg tube  120  in a desired position along the tubular element  101 . 
   It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0