Abstract:
A portable sawhorse which comprises first and second beam sections which are pivotally connected together to form a storage housing, first and second leg assemblies at respective distal ends of said first and second beam sections, said first and second leg assemblies being pivotally connected so as to be storable within said beam sections, and reinforcing members extending between first and second leg assemblies to stabilize the same when in an opened condition.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to sawhorses and more particularly, relates to a sawhorse which can be knocked down and wherein a portion of the sawhorse forms a storage case for the remaining components to render the sawhorse portable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Sawhorses are well known in the art and a basic model of the same includes a pair of legs at each end of a beam or support member. The beam or support member provides the working surface. One of the more common uses of sawhorses is to support building materials during construction. Thus, the building material can be placed on the beams or support members of a pair of sawhorses which are spaced apart with the two support members or beams being parallel. The work material is placed on top of the beams or support members thus allowing the user ready access to the building material for cutting, planing, painting, etc.  
         [0003]     As aforementioned, the basic sawhorse has been known in the art for many years and generally comprises a wood structure. A disadvantage of such a traditional sawhorse is that it is bulky and therefore requires significant space for storage and transport. Furthermore, they are somewhat awkward to handle.  
         [0004]     The prior art has taught the use of various types of collapsible or foldable sawhorses. However, they frequently require significant time to set up and are relatively expensive.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a sawhorse wherein the sawhorse is collapsible and occupies a minimum amount of space.  
         [0006]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sawhorse which is sturdy and can be readily transported.  
         [0007]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable sawhorse comprising a first beam section and a second beam section, the first and second beam sections being pivotally connected together, a first leg assembly at a distal end of the first beam section and a second leg assembly at a distal end of the second beam section, each of the first and second leg assemblies having first and second legs extending downwardly, the first and second legs being pivotally connected, reinforcing means extending between the first and second leg assemblies to stabilize the leg assemblies when in an open position.  
         [0008]     The beam sections preferably are substantially identical and of an equal size. Each beam section will have a top wall and a pair of sidewalls to form a generally U-shaped configuration. It is between the sidewalls of the beam sections that the remaining components of the sawhorse are stored when the sawhorse is in a collapsed position. To this end, the beam sections are preferably hinged together and there is provided means for securing the beam sections together when in a knocked down condition. Conveniently, a handle may be provided at one end of one of the beam sections or alternatively, along a sidewall thereof.  
         [0009]     Preferably, the sawhorse of the present invention is formed of a suitable metallic material, many of which are well known in the art including aluminum, alloys thereof, steel, alloys thereof, etc. Naturally, certain plastic materials can also be utilized. The leg assemblies preferably each comprise first and second legs. Each of the legs preferably has a telescopic arrangement such that they are adjustable in length with suitable means for retaining the leg sections in a desired position. The use of telescopic legs allows the easy storage of the same.  
         [0010]     The arrangement of each leg is such that it is hinged at its securement point both that the leg may extend outwardly in a triangular configuration as is well known in the art and also to fold within the respective beam section.  
         [0011]     When in an assembled condition, means for retaining the legs in a stable condition are provided and this may conveniently comprise a hinge member extending between the legs.  
         [0012]     For additional stability, there is also preferably provided a lower reinforcing assembly extending between the legs/hinges.  
         [0013]     The sawhorse also conveniently includes further reinforcing means which may comprise either cables or solid members extending between a lower central point and the ends of the beam sections and leg assemblies. To this end, preferably there is provided a downwardly extending central post which, at its lower end, will allow for attachment of the reinforcing means. As aforementioned, either solid telescopic/hinged arrangements may be used or flexible cables. In the instance of flexible cables, a preferred arrangement includes the use of tensioning means for maintaining the cables in a taut condition. Such tensioning means can include spring or elastic members or an equivalent structure.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying illustrations, showing an embodiment of the invention, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sawhorse according to the present invention when in a collapsed and storage position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled sawhorse;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of a partially assembled sawhorse;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is an end elevational view thereof in a partially collapsed position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is an end elevational view of the sawhorse in the assembled condition;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view thereof;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of a portion of the assembled sawhorse taken along the lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a sawhorse according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is an end elevational view thereof;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is an end elevational view thereof in a partially assembled condition;  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the sawhorse in a partially collapsed condition;  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along the lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a sawhorse according to the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is an end elevational view thereof;  
         [0029]      FIG. 15  is an end elevational view thereof in a partially collapsed position;  
         [0030]      FIG. 16  is a cross sectional view taken along the lines  16 - 16  of  FIG. 14 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 17  is a side elevational view of a portion of the sawhorse in a partially collapsed position; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 18  is a sectional view of a modified beam portion. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     Referring to the drawings in a greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in  FIG. 2 a  fully assembled sawhorse according to one embodiment of the present invention and which sawhorse is generally designated by reference numeral  10 .  
         [0034]     Sawhorse  10  includes a beam which consists of two half members—a right half  16  and a left half  12 . As each half beam  16 ,  12  is substantially identical and forms a single beam when assembled, only one will be described in detail herein. Half beam  16  is formed in a generally U-shaped configuration and has a first sidewall  18 , a second sidewall  20 , and a top wall  22 . Provided at each end are end caps  24 ,  26 . Half beams  16 ,  21  are connected by a hinge  19 .  
         [0035]     A pair of leg assemblies are provided with only one such assembly being described herein. The second leg assembly is substantially identical and reference numerals with a prime are utilized for similar components. A first leg assembly generally designated by reference numeral  25  comprises first and second legs  28  and  30 , each having a leg extension  28   a ,  30   a  respectively. A retaining pin  27  is provided for securing the leg extensions  28   a ,  30   a  in position as is well known in the art. Rubber end caps  35  are provided on leg extensions  28   a ,  30   a . A hinge member  33  extends between legs  28 ,  30  and which hinge member, comprises a first hinge element  32  and a second hinge element  34 . First hinge element  32  is connected at pivot point  36  to leg  30  while second hinge element  34  is connected at pivot point  38  to leg  28 . First hinge element  32  and second hinge element  34  are connected together at a pivot point  40 .  
         [0036]     At the upper end, legs  28 ,  30  are mounted within a leg mounting member  41  and are pivotable therein. In turn, leg mounting assembly  41  is hingedly connected by means of hinge  43  to beam right half  16  to allow storage of assembly  41  and legs  28 ,  30 .  
         [0037]     A lower reinforcing assembly  43  extends between hinges  32 ,  34  and  32 ′,  34 ′. Lower reinforcing bar  43  may be telescopic in nature or alternatively, as shown may consist of a plurality of sections  44  joined together.  
         [0038]     As may be seen in a  FIG. 2 , there is provided a center post  46  located at the point of a juncture of right half  16  and left half  12 . A plate  48  forms a part of center post  46  and to which plate there is secured a plurality of cables.  
         [0039]     Plate  48  is screw threadably engaged with center post  46  and thus the position of plate can be changed. Also, post  46  is hingedly connected at its base and thus can be folded over into either right half  16  or left half  12 .  
         [0040]     A first cable  52  extends between the plate  48  and hinge assembly  32 ,  34  with a second cable extending between plate  48  and hinge assembly  32 ′,  34 ′. An upper cable  56  extends between plate  48  and the distal end of beam right half  16 . In one embodiment of the invention, a further cable may be provided and which cable (not shown) would extend between plate  48  and lower right reinforcing bar  44  or alternatively, between plate  48  and the floor or substrate on which the sawhorse is placed.  
         [0041]     A second upper cable  58  extends between plate  48  and the distal end of beam left half  12 . Naturally, some of the individual cables could be combined as a single cable.  
         [0042]     For ease of carrying, a handle  62  is provided at one end thereof. A guide member  64  is provided for guiding beam left half  12  and beam right half  16  together when placing the sawhorse in knocked down storage configuration. A locking member or arrangement (not shown) may be provided for securing the half beams together.  
         [0043]     As may be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the components fold inwardly to be stored within each of the half beams. The half beams  12 ,  16  can then be folded together and secured.  
         [0044]     The above arrangement provides an extremely compact package and two of the sawhorses can be stored in a standard tool box.  
         [0045]     Referring now to FIGS.  8  to  12 , there is illustrated a further embodiment of a sawhorse according to the present invention and which sawhorse is generally designated by reference numeral  110 .  
         [0046]     Sawhorse  110 , as in the previously described embodiment, includes a left hand beam  112  and a right hand beam  114 . There is also provided a first leg assembly generally designated by reference numeral  116  and a second leg assembly generally designated by reference numeral  118 . Since the sawhorse is substantially symmetrical about a center line, only one portion will be described in detail herein.  
         [0047]     As may be seen in  FIG. 9 , first leg assembly  116  is comprised of a pair of telescopic sections as described in the previous embodiment. However, hinge member  120  is formed of a single element and is, at one end, hinged to a bracket  122  and at the other end, to a bracket  124 , and which bracket  124  is slidably mounted on the leg. Retainer pins  126  for the telescopic legs are provided.  
         [0048]     Sawhorse  110  includes a center post  128  and to which is connected, at its lower end, a lower reinforcing assembly  130 . Lower reinforcing assembly  130  includes a central portion  132  hingedly connected at hinge point  134  to center post  128 . Central portion  132  has, at either end thereof, an extension  136  which is designed to fit within a pair of end portions  138 . In turn, end portions  138  include an end section  139  designed to engage within a bracket  140  in a screw threaded manner.  
         [0049]     On center post  128 , there is provided an eye hook  142 . A cable  144  extends between eye hook  142  and bracket  140 .  
         [0050]     There is also provided a bracket  146  on the inside of right hand beam  114  with a cable  148  extending between bracket  146  and eye hook  142 . A tensioning spring  152  is connected between a further eye hook  150  on right hand beam  114  and cable  148 . In this respect, spring  152  has an eye  154  formed at one end thereof such that spring  152  may slide along cable  148 . Similarly, a spring  156  is connected, at one end, to bracket  146  and at the other end to cable  144 . Again spring  156  has an eye  158  formed at one end thereof.  
         [0051]     As was the case in the previously described embodiments, sawhorse  110  may be provided with a handle  160  for transport thereof.  
         [0052]     In the embodiment of FIGS.  13  to  17 , there is illustrated a sawhorse  168  similar to that of sawhorse  110  and thus only the differences will be described herein.  
         [0053]     Sawhorse  168  has a center post  170  with a connecting plate  172  located at a distal end thereof. Upper reinforcing assembly generally designated by reference numeral  174  includes a pair of telescopic members  176 ,  178 . Upper member  176  is connected to the beam at upper attachment point  180  with retainer pins  182  functioning to maintain upper member  176  and lower member  178  in a desired position.  
         [0054]     A lower reinforcing assembly  184  comprises a first member  186  and a second member  188  hingedly connected at hinge pin  190 . First member  186  is connected to connecting plate  172  while second member  188  is connected to bracket  192 .  
         [0055]     As shown in the arrangement of  FIG. 18 , there is provided a modified beam portion  16 ″ having a first sidewall  18 ″, a second sidewall  28 ″ and an upper wall  22 ″. A groove  19 ″ is provided within sidewall  18 ″ and a groove  21 ″ is provided within sidewall  20 ″. Grooves  19 ″ and  21 ″ may be used to receive a member which will be supported by top wall  22 ″. Thus, a single sawhorse may be utilized to support, for example, a substrate which is secured in position. Such could be useful for supporting certain power tools and the like. Other grooves could also be provided in an extruded beam such as an inverted T shaped recess in upper wall  22 ″.  
         [0056]     It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.