Patent Abstract:
A table top and a worktable are combined to form a workbench adapted to receive a plurality of work tools. Various tools can be quickly connected and disconnected. This facilitates changing of tools on the workbench.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/743,862 filed Mar. 28, 2006, which application is incorporated by reference and made a part hereof. 
     
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Woodworking is a common avocation for many. Woodworking can require many tools to produce a quality product. Like many avocations, it seems a woodworker can always find another woodworking tool or machine that would be nice to have. Thus, a woodworking enthusiast can collect many tools to practice his or her craft. For example, some woodworkers have tools and machines such as radial arm saws, table saws, belt sanders, other sanders, planers, routers, drill presses, engine lathes, a variety of work tables, and an assortment of clamps and fasteners, and the like. The lucky woodworking enthusiast has sufficient room to have many or most of these tools mounted on tables so that most of the tools or many of the tools are “ready to go”. Woodworking generally requires the use of several of these tools to produce a quality product. Upon finishing a task at one station, the woodworking enthusiast moves to the next station to perform another operation on the project. The lucky woodworking enthusiast may have an entire outbuilding, garage or basement devoted to housing the tools of their avocation. Many woodworkers simply are not lucky enough to have this amount of room. As a result, many times they have to put away one tool and get another tool out between operations on a project. This can be time consuming and may lessen the enjoyment associated with the avocation. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a workbench combined with a multiple use table top, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1B  is an exploded front view of a workbench combined with a multiple use table top, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a workbench, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the multiple use table top, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a bottom side perspective view of a mount rail attached to the table top, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5A  is a side view of mount rail of the table top engaged with a workbench, according to an example embodiment 
           [0009]      FIG. 5B  is a side view a table top for a workbench, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a workbench combined with a multiple use table top having a router table mounted thereon, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a workbench combined with a multiple use table top having a mitre box mounted thereon, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a method for using a workbench combined with a multiple use table top, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a kit including a multiple use table top, fasteners and a set of instructions, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a mounting method for a tool having a flat base, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a mounting method for a tool having a leg base, according to an example embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a top view of a table top that includes multi-use surface, according to an example embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a worktable or a multiple-use worktable  100 , according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 1B  is an exploded front view of a workbench combined with a multiple use table top, according to an example embodiment. Now referring to both  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the multiple-use worktable  100  is comprised of a workbench  200 , and a table top  300 . The workbench  200  holds the table top  300  in one of a number of positions. The workbench  200  holds the table top  300  substantially rigidly with respect to the workbench. Mounted to the table top  300  is a tool  110 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tool  10  mounted to the table top  300  is a drill press. The tool  110  is mounted using fasteners as shown. In one embodiment, the tool  110  is mounted using quick connect type fasteners. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a workbench  200 , according to an example embodiment. The workbench  200  includes a frame  210  and a first slat  230  and a second slat  232 . The workbench  200  also includes a clamp  240  and a clamp  242 . At least one of the clamps  240 ,  242  is used to move the slat  230  with respect to the slat  232  or vice versa. Movement of one slat  230  with respect to the other slat  232  is accomplished by turning or rotating the handles of the clamp  240  or clamp  242 , respectively. With one or more of the clamps  240 ,  242  the slats  230  and  232  can be positioned to hold various items. Such a workbench  200  is available from one of several manufacturers. For example, the workbench  200  is available as a Work Mate from Black &amp; Decker Corporation of Towson, Md. The workbench  200  also includes a base ledge  220 . The base ledge adds further rigidity to the workbench  200 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a multiple use table top  300 , according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a bottom side perspective view of the multiple use table top  300 , according to an example embodiment. Now referring to both  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the multiple use table top  300  will be further detailed. The multiple use table top  300  includes a top surface  310  and a bottom surface  312 . The table top includes a threaded opening or opening  320  which receives a fastener  362 . The table top also includes a rail  360  which is attached to the bottom surface  312  of the multiple use table top  300 . A rail  360  is attached to the table top  300  by a fastener  362 . A single fastener  362  is used to fasten the rail  360  to the table top  300  so that the rail or rail  360  or the table top  300  can rotate with respect to the other of the rail or table top. This allows the table top  300  to be placed in any position with respect to the rail  360 . The fastener  362  is loosened while the user adjusts the position of the rail  360  with respect to the table top  300 . Once positioned as desired, the user tightens the fastener  362  to fix the position of the rail  360  with respect to the multiple use table top  300 . In one embodiment of the invention, the fastener  360  includes a threaded end which is received into a threaded portion of the opening  320 . In another embodiment (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) the fastener extends through the opening  320  and a nut engages the fastener  362 . The top surface  310  of the table top  300  includes a template  330  for a tool or woodworking tool, such as the tool  110  shown in  FIG. 1 . The template  330  is an outline of the base of a particular tool. Associated with the outline are mounting openings, such as mounting opening  331  and  332  which receive a fastener for securely attaching a tool to the table top  300 . The table top  300  typically includes multiple templates or outlines. For example, in  FIG. 3  another template  350  is shown which is an outline for holding another tool. In one embodiment of the invention, the table top  300  is provided with a marker that a user may use to make additional templates on the top surface  310  of the table top  300 . In other embodiments of the invention, the table top  300  may include markings for several popular tools that could be mounted to the table top  300 . For example, a manufacturer may have a very popular tool or set of tools that could be mounted to the table top  300 . The manufacturer can provide templates for several popular tools to which a user can mount to a table top. This eases the use of the table top  300  for a user such as a woodworking enthusiast. In such an arrangement, a marker may still be provided to the user so that the user could provide or make other templates for other tools that he or she might already have. Many times a user will want to customize the mounting or move the mounting to one side or another to fit their personal preferences. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rail  360  also includes a first rail wing  364  and a second rail wing  366 . The rail wings  364 ,  366  act as stops to prevent the rail  360  from accidentally becoming disengaged from the slats  230 ,  232  of the work bench  200  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a side view of the mount rail  360  attached to the table top  300 , according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 5B  is a side view of the mount rail  360  attached to the table top  300 , according to another example embodiment. Now looking at  FIG. 5A  actually details how the slats  230  and  232  engage the rail  360 . The clamps are removed for the sake of simplicity. The rail  360  is compressed between the first slat  230  and the second slat  232 . The clamp  240 ,  242  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) provides the compression force or clamping force. Therefore the clamp  240 ,  242  places a force on the edge of the slats  230 ,  232  to pinch or hold the rail  360 . In most instances, the clamping force between the first slat  230  and the second slat  232  will hold the rail  360  in position with respect to the workbench  200 . The rail  360  includes a rail wing  364  and a rail wing  366 . The rail wing  364  and the rail wing  366  prevent upward vertical movement of the rail  360  with respect to the slats  230 ,  232 . Thus, even if a tool attached to the top surface  310  of the table top  300  were to vibrate or otherwise produce a force that would tend to remove the rail  360  with respect to the slats  230 ,  232 , the rail wing  364  and the rail wing  366  would limit or stop upward vertical movement and maintain engagement of the slats  230 ,  232  with the rail  360 . 
         [0022]    Once the rail  360  and the table top  300  are engaged with the slats  230 ,  232  of the workbench  230 , the multi-purpose work table  100  is formed. Various tools can be attached to the work table. For example,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a multi-purpose work table  100  having a router table  600  attached to the upper surface  310  of the table top  300 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a workbench  200  combines with a multiple use table top  300  having another tool mounted thereon, according to another example embodiment. In this particular example embodiment, a miter box  700  is attached to the top surface  310  of the table top  300 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a method  800  for using a workbench  200  combines with a multiple use table top  300 , according to an example embodiment. The rail is initially fixed with respect to the table top, as depicted by reference numeral  810 , and then the table top is placed onto the workbench so that the rail is positioned between the slats of the workbench, as depicted by reference numeral  812 . The slats are then used to clamp the rail of the table top, as depicted by reference numeral  814 . The tool is placed onto the work bench and placed in a desired position. A template is then formed around the base of the tool on the top surface of the table top, as depicted by reference numeral  816 . The tool is fastened to the table top, as depicted by reference numeral  818 . The various elements of the method  800  for using the workbench and table top do not have to be done in the same order as listed above. For example, a user can mount a tool to the table top  818  and then make the template or mark the top surface of the table top  816 . Mounting the tool to the table top  818  can be done in any number of ways. In one example embodiment of the invention, holes are drilled in the table top  300  that corresponds to the mounting holes of a particular tool. A threaded fastener, such as a T-nut, is then placed into the opening on the bottom or backside surface  312  of the table top  300 . The threaded fasteners remain in the table top  300  for use at a later time. Quick connectors are then used to mount a tool, such as tool  110  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to the table top. After initially mounting the tool to the countertop  818  and mounting the tool to the countertop  816  are initially accomplished, the tool can be quickly mounted and taken off of the table top  300  so that the user can quickly change tools by merely removing the tool that the user is finished with, placing a tool within the template, such as template  350 , and then fastening the tool to the table top  300 . Thus, the user can quickly interchange between tools so that various operations can be accomplished on a work piece. The workbench  200  and table top  300  can be left in their engaged position forming the worktable  100  so that different tools may be quickly mounted to the table top. The user can also disassemble the table top  300  from the workbench  200  for purposes of storage. 
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a kit  900  including a multiple use table top  300 , fasteners  910 ,  912 ,  914  and  916 , and a set of instructions  930 , according to an example embodiment. The kit  900  can also include a marker  940  for forming templates or forming custom templates on the top surface  310  of the table top  300 . Instructions  930  can be in the form of a printed book, a floppy disk, a CD rom or a DVD, or an instructional video, or the like. Instructions would detail the method or methods of use of the table top  300  with respect to a workbench  200 . The instructions would also show the making of a template and mounting a tool on to the table top  300 . Of course, the kit  900  can include additional fasteners than those shown. Some embodiments of the kit  900  may include a workbench  200  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In one embodiment of the kit  900  may be considered as an add on or optional feature associated with a workbench  200 . In yet embodiment of the kit  900 , everything is included to form a work table  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In still other example embodiments, a particular tool may also be included as part of the kit  900 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show mounting methods for tools having different types of bases.  FIG. 10  is a side view of a mounting method for a tool having a flat base, according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 11  is a side view of a mounting method for a tool having a leg base, according to an example embodiment. 
         [0027]      FIG. 12  is a top view of a table top  1200  that includes multi-use surface, according to another example embodiment. The table top  1200  includes a rail (not shown) similar to the table top discussed above. The rail is mounted so that it rotates with respect to the table top  1200  and yet can be secured so that the rail maintains a particular angle with respect to the table top  1200 . The table top  1200  can then be clamped to the work table by way of the clamp, the first slat and the second slat. The first slat and the second slat capture and clamp to the rail (not shown). The surface of the table top  1200  includes a grid system  1210  with a series of orthogonal lines. The table top  1200  also includes a ruler  1220  or set of rulers  1220 ,  1222  that include english units of measure as well as metric units of measure. In some embodiments, both rulers may be on a single table top  1200 . In other embodiments either the ruler in the english units or the ruler using metric units is used. The grid system  1210  provides for easy lay out of projects, such as sewing projects, quilting projects or projects that require measurement. The grid system  1210  allows for ease of cutting and measuring such projects, for example. 
         [0028]    The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b) to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1