Improvements in Portable Work Benches, Tables, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Work Benches, Tables, and the like.
I, EDWARD ARNOLD, of "Hill View," Norwich Road, Bournemouth, in the
County of Hants, Wood Carver and Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to portable work benches, desks, tables, and the like, and
consists of certain improvements in construction whereby I am enabled to adjust
and fix the top of a bench at any convenient height, and also to fold the supports
of the bench so that the whole may occupy only a small space for the purposes
of storage or carriage. The improvements are specially suitable for wood carvers
benches.
In order that my invention may be fully understood and ascertained I append
drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bench having my improvements applied to it.
Fig. 2 is a frout elevation of the same fixed for use.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same folded for carriage.
Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section with the top in its lowest position.
Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section, with the top raised.
Fig. 6 is a view (on an enlarged scale) of a modified detail.
A designates the bench top proper, having a tool tray a with a ledge a¹ fixed to
it, as well as a drawer a². The bench top and tool tray are fixed to two cross
ledges a and attached rigidly to each of these are two projecting pieces of
different lengths for a purpose hereinafter to be described. To each of these four
projecting pieces a is hinged a support b, and these being connected together by
cross pieces and 6 form a strong frame B which can be moved up or down with
the top A. An outer frame C is formed by four uprights e, two cross pieces c¹,
and a clamping bar the latter being removable for a purpose to be hereinafter
described. One of the outside edges of each of the four supports has studs or
ledges fixed to it, and these slide in grooves c³ formed in the inside edges of the
uprights c of the outer frame C, thus guiding the frame B in its vertical movement,
and holding the two frames B and C together.
By sliding the frame B with the attached top A upwards or downwards the
top A can be adjusted at any suitable and convenient height, and for the purpose
of fixing it at any chosen altitude I use the following devices:-
To the inner side of each of the cross ledges a³ is attached a bar d in such
manner as to be free to swing upon a pin or screw d'. Fixed rigidly to the
uprights of the frame C and serving to hold such frame together are two
guides d, having at intervals in their upper edges, notches d³, in which can rest
pins or screws d that pass through the lower ends of the bars d; these can be
made so as to clamp the bars d to the guides d². A rod or bar de clamps the two
bars d together; or this, in cases where this bar would interfere with the knee
room under the bencb, may be replaced by cross rods as shewn in dotted lines
in Fig. 1.
As the screws or pins d' in the bars d rest upon the guides dit is evident that
by swinging the bars d upon their pivotal pins or screws d', they may be made to
assume the position shewn in Fig. 4 in which the bench top rests upon the frame C,
or that shewn in Fig. 5 in which the bench top is raised and supported by the
bars d and guides d².

page_text: Instead of the screws d' I sometimes employ the device shewn in Fig. 6 for the
purpose of fixing the bars d in any required position. The end of each of the bars d
is pivotally connected to the upper end of a block E at or near the same point as
a handle e. To the lower end of this block E is fixed two pins el upon which run
rollers and e³, the peripheries of these being far enough apart to allow them to
pass freely with the block E along the guide . To raise and fix the bench top it
is necessary to push the block E by the handle e upwards, when the two rollers
pass freely along one on each side of the guide d: then releasing the hold of the
handle, the thrust of the bar d in the direction shewn by the arrow, pushes the
block back until the lower roller 3 enters one of the notches, and the upper
roller rests upon the upper edge of the guide thus supporting the bars d and the
bench top.
When it is required to fold up the bench for transport or storage the top is first
lowered so as to assume the position shewn in Fig. 4 and the rod or bar s
(or equivalent cross rods) removed. Next the clamping bar is removed its ends
being dovetailed or otherwise attached to the cross pieces c' in such manner as to
be easily taken out or replaced. Then the right hand supports b and the uprights c
are folded on their hinges b* close to the underside of the bench, and the left hand
supports and uprights c folded on their hinges b* so as to lay close upon these,
the left hand projecting pieces a being formed longer than the corresponding
pieces a on the right hand side for this purpose. The bench by this folding
assumes the appearance shewn in Fig. 3 and occupying but an extremely small
space can be transported or stored in the most convenient manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A portable bench, table, or the like, having a top which is adjustable at any
convenient height by means of bars and guides, and the legs or uprights which
support the top arranged so as to fold the one upon the other substantially in the
manner described and shewn.
2. In a portable bench, table, or the like, the combination of a top, a frame
hinged thereto and supporting it, and itself supported by a second frame in which
it slides, means for adjusting and fixing the top at any convenient height, and
means for folding the two ends one upon the other, substantially as shewn and
described.
3. In a portable bench, table, or the like, the combination of the top A, the
frame B attached thereto by hinges and sliding in the frame C, the bars d, the
guides d, the rod or bar do, and the clamping bar, all arranged and operating
together in the manner and for the purpose described and shewn.
4. For use with a portable bench, table, or the like, as herein before described
and claimed, the automatic clamping device consisting essentially of the block E
pivotally connected with the bar d, the rollers e2 and 3, and the guide 2, sub-
stantially as shewn and described with reference to Fig. 6.
Dated this 31st day of December 1895.
W. H. MURCH,
Upper Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Agent for the Applicant.