Combined tooling jig and work table

Abstract

 A combined tooling jig and work table for mounting a range of portable power tools, to include circular saws, jig saws, routers, planers/thicknessers and belt sanders, capable of releasable attachment to proprietary freestanding workbenches.
An essential aspect of the combined tooling jig and work bench is the ability to attach it to all proprietary work benches without the need to remove one or more of the work bench jaws (12), by taking advantage of the existing stable work platform and by achieving a locked attachment by using a principle of expansion rather than compression clamping.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a combined tooling jig and work table for mounting portable power tools, designed to be releasably attachable to independent means of support but in particular to proprietary work benches as described in UK Patent 1,267,032 of which many similar products are now available.

[0002] Such freestanding work benches allow for the attachment of portable power tools, normally by the removal of one of the work table jaws to make room for a replacement work jaw on which are releasably mounted portable power tools.

[0003] In practice, the modification procedures specified by the manufacturers take time to effect and further time to mount the power tools. They are often restrictive in the use of certain power tools and lack the means of ensuring precision in positioning the power tools on the support mechanism provided.

[0004] UK Application 91 12119.4 and European Application 92401512.6 describe the means of releasably attaching a combined tooling jig and work table to proprietary work benches without modification to those work benches. These describe a cantilever principle in which a part of the tooling jig and worktable overhangs the proprietary work bench. In this way, the positioning and free movement of the power tools are less restricted and the means is thereby provided to releasably secure the mounting plate for the power tool. A similar principle enables the combined tooling jig and work table to be attached to any prepared horizontal work surface and, by simple modification therein described, to any convenient vertical support wall.

[0005] According to the present invention, the combined tooling jig and work table (herein referred to as the tooling jig) provides a work surface consisting of two or three components held together in a supporting frame. The first component is a panel manufactured from pressed steel, cast aluminium, structural plastic foam or a woodbased material whilst the second, a soleplate positioned in a cut out in the work table panel, is made from pressed steel or cast aluminium. The soleplate, when positioned upward facing, acts as a stable platform for the positioning and alignment of portable power tools. In the inverted position, a secure base is provided for portable power tools in operational use.

[0006] In the case where there are three components in total, the first component described above is mounted in two parts forming an open gap between these two parts to act as a trench for crosscutting pieces of work.

[0007] According to the present invention, the tooling jig so described can be attached directly to any of the several models of work bench described in UK patent 1,267,032.

[0008] Normal methods of clamping rely on a process of compressing the work between a gap formed by two clamping jaws made to move towards each other. The principle is demonstrated by the well known bench described in UK Patent 1,267,032.

[0009] According to the present invention, the underside of the work table is fitted with lengths of open channel section in predetermined positions, according to the size and positioning of the work bench to which the tooling jig is to be fitted. When the tooling jig is correctly located on the work bench, the jaws of the work bench can be moved apart causing them to enter into and positively engage with the lengths of channel section securely located on the underside of the tooling jig.

[0010] By way of exception, one particular model of the work bench currently available has one removable jaw which remains in the locked position using the normal method of compression clamping. In the method described, the locked position of the jaws is maintained by interposing a pair of locking pegs in the jaw support mechanism.

[0011] In a preferred arrangement shown in plan in Fig 1, the tooling jig consists of two pressed steel or extruded aluminium sections 1 and 2 permanently attached by screws or rivets to the work table member 3 made from particleboard, medium density fibreboard, pressed steel or extruded or cast aluminium. The removable soleplate 4, made from pressed steel or cast aluminium, is located on a machined rebate 5 shown in Fig 2, a section of Fig 1 at AA'. Fig 2 also shows the location of a self adhesive printed rule 6 set on the upper surfaces of the frame members 1 and 2. Alternatively, the rules may be screen printed.

[0012] The rebate 5 securely holds the soleplate 4 in the upturned position for mounting portable power tools and holds the same power tools for operational use when in the standard, upright position.

[0013] Fig 1 shows a series of holes 7 preferably 20 millimetres in diameter to hold well known plastic pegs used for clamping purposes on the face of the tooling jig. Also shown is a rebated channel 8 to locate a movable mitre and crosscutting guide 9 adjustable to any angle between zero and ninety degrees.

[0014] Shown also in Fig 1 is a rip cutting fence 10 located on the left hand pressed steel section 1 to ensure a perfect right angle between the fence and the steel section 1. The fence 10 is further secured on the right hand pressed steel section 2.

[0015] Fig 3 shows the preferred locations of the open channel sections 11. Fig 4 gives a cross section at BB' in Fig 3 showing a selection of two clamping channels 11. A cross section taken at CC', but not shown, would be similar to the cross section at BB'.

[0016] Fig 5 shows the relative positions of the work bench jaws 12 and the channels 11 in the compression position before mounting the tooling jig and Fig 6 shows the relative positions of the work bench jaws 12 and the channels 11 in the expanded position after attachment.

Claims

1. A combined tooling jig and work table comprising a work table panel (3) and a soleplate (4) held together in a supporting frame (1, 2), characterised in that the work table panel has a cut out (5) for receiving the soleplate either upward facing, as a stable platform for the positioning and alignment of portable power tools, or in the inverted position, providing a secure base for portable power tools in operational use.

2. A tooling jig according to claim 1, characterised in that the work table panel is mounted in two parts (3) forming an open gap between these two parts to act as a trench for crosscutting pieces of work.

3. A tooling jig according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the underside of the work table is fitted with lengths of open channel section (11) in predetermined positions, according to the size and positioning of the work bench to which the tooling jig is to be fitted, so that when the tooling jig is correctly located on the work bench, the jaws (12) of the work bench can be moved apart causing them to enter into and positively engage with the lengths of channel section securely located on the underside of the tooling jig.

Drawing