U.S. patent application number 10/147187 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-20 for mounting bracket.
This patent application is currently assigned to Andrews Toolworks, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dembicks, Tyler J..
Application Number | 20030213648 10/147187 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29418965 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030213648 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dembicks, Tyler J. |
November 20, 2003 |
Mounting bracket
Abstract
A mounting bracket includes at least one support member for
supporting an object, at least one receiving member engaged to the
at least one support member for receiving a leg and at least one
cross member engaged to the at least one support member in which
the cross member includes securing structure for receiving a
shoulder mechanism and the securing structure permits the shoulder
mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed
positions. Also, a workbench system includes at least one beam, at
least one leg, at least one shoulder mechanism for supporting a
movable workpiece and at least one mounting bracket.
Inventors: |
Dembicks, Tyler J.;
(Raleigh, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark D. Passler
Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.
P.O. Box 3188
West Palm Beach
FL
33402-3188
US
|
Assignee: |
Andrews Toolworks, Inc.
Raleigh
NC
|
Family ID: |
29418965 |
Appl. No.: |
10/147187 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/185.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23D 47/025 20130101;
B25H 1/06 20130101; B25H 1/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/185.1 |
International
Class: |
E04G 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mounting bracket, comprising: at least one support member for
supporting an object; at least one receiving member engaged to said
at least one support member for receiving a leg; and at least one
cross member engaged to said at least one support member; wherein
said cross member includes securing structure for receiving a
shoulder mechanism; wherein said securing structure permits the
shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of
fixed positions.
2. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said securing
structure includes a substantially circular coupling.
3. The mounting bracket according to claim 2, wherein said
substantially circular coupling is threaded.
4. The mounting bracket according to claim 3, wherein the shoulder
mechanism includes a threaded rod and the threads of the rod engage
said threads of said substantially circular coupling.
5. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the object is
substantially rectangularly-shaped and said at least one support
member is a substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving
therethrough and supporting the substantially rectangularly-shaped
object.
6. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the leg is
substantially rectangularly-shaped and said at least one receiving
member is a substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving
therethrough the substantially rectangularly-shaped leg.
7. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one support member has a substantially vertical axis V.sub.1 and
said at least one receiving member has an axis V.sub.2; wherein
said axis V.sub.2 of said at least one receiving member is at an
angle to said substantially vertical axis V.sub.1 of said at least
one support member of between approximately five degrees and
approximately seventy degrees.
8. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one support member has a substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1 and
said at least one receiving member has an axis H.sub.2; wherein
said axis H.sub.2 of said at least one receiving member is at an
angle to said substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1 of said at
least one support member of between approximately five degrees and
approximately sixty degrees.
9. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one support member, said at least one receiving member and said
cross member are made of metal.
10. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one support member, said at least one receiving member and
said cross member are made of a rigid polymer.
11. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said support
member, said at least one receiving member and said cross member
are part of a single unitary component.
12. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said support
member, said at least one receiving member and said cross member
are separate components.
13. A workbench system, comprising: at least one beam; at least one
leg; at least one shoulder mechanism for supporting a movable
workpiece; and at least one mounting bracket, wherein said mounting
bracket includes: at least one support member for supporting said
beam; at least one receiving member engaged to said at least one
support member for receiving said leg; and at least one cross
member engaged to said at least one support member; wherein said
cross member includes securing structure for receiving said
shoulder mechanism; wherein said securing structure permits said
shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of
fixed positions.
14. The workbench system according to claim 1, further comprising a
platform for supporting a cutting device.
15. The workbench system according to claim 1, wherein said
shoulder mechanism includes at least one roller bearing and a
threaded rod.
16. The workbench system according to claim 15, wherein said
securing structure includes a substantially circular threaded
coupling; wherein said threads of said rod engage said threads of
said substantially circular coupling.
17. The workbench system according to claim 15, wherein said roller
bearing has a substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1 and said at
least one beam has a substantially horizontal axis H.sub.2; wherein
said shoulder mechanism further includes a setting mechanism to
permit said substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1 of said roller
bearing to be set substantially perpendicular to said substantially
horizontal axis H.sub.2 of said at least one beam.
18. A mounting bracket, comprising: at least one support member for
supporting an object; and at least one cross member engaged to said
at least one support member; wherein said cross member includes
securing structure for receiving a shoulder mechanism; wherein said
securing structure permits the shoulder mechanism to be variably
adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] (Not Applicable)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND
[0003] 1. Technical Field
[0004] The present invention relates generally to workstand
equipment, and more particularly to mounting brackets for
supporting workpieces.
[0005] 2. Description of Related Art
[0006] Currently, many craftsmen use workbenches when trimming or
sawing workpieces such as boards or piping. As an example, many
workers use sawhorses for supporting a workpiece as work is being
performed on the workpiece. One particular example is a sawhorse
containing a pair of parallel beams, which can be used to support
an electric saw such as a table saw or a miter saw. As the blade of
the saw turns, a worker can feed a workpiece, such as a board, to
the blade, which can perform the desired cut.
[0007] Significantly, however, the process of feeding the workpiece
to the blade can be unstable, even dangerous. This instability may
result if there is no stabilizing structure to support the
workpiece as the worker urges the workpiece towards the blade.
While certain sawhorses contain roller bearings for supporting the
workpiece during the feeding process, the height of these roller
bearings, relative to the blade, is difficult, if not impossible,
to adjust. Moreover, many sawhorses do not have any structure
capable of receiving a roller bearing. Thus, what is needed in the
art is a mounting bracket that overcomes the limitations of the
prior art without significantly increasing costs or design
complexity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket in
accordance with the inventive arrangements.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shoulder mechanism that
can be used with the mounting bracket of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 1
illustrating vertical axes V.sub.1 and V.sub.2.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 1
illustrating horizontal axes H.sub.1 and H.sub.2.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a workbench system in
accordance with the inventive arrangements.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative workbench
system in accordance with the inventive arrangements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention concerns a mounting bracket. The
mounting bracket includes at least one support member for
supporting an object, at least one receiving member engaged to the
at least one support member for receiving a leg, and at least one
cross member engaged to the at least one support member in which
the cross member includes securing structure for receiving a
shoulder mechanism and the securing structure permits the shoulder
mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed
positions.
[0015] In one aspect of the invention, wherein the securing
structure can include a substantially circular coupling. The
substantially circular coupling can be threaded. In another aspect
of the invention, the shoulder mechanism can include a threaded
rod, and the threads of the rod can engage the threads of the
substantially circular coupling. In addition, the object can be
substantially rectangularly-shaped, and the at least one support
member can be substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for
receiving therethrough and supporting the substantially
rectangularly-shaped object. The leg can be substantially
rectangularly-shaped, and the at least one receiving member can be
a substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving
therethrough the substantially rectangularly-shaped leg.
[0016] In one arrangement, the at least one support member can have
a substantially vertical axis V.sub.1, and the at least one
receiving member can have an axis V.sub.2 in which the axis V.sub.2
of the at least one receiving member is at an angle to the
substantially vertical axis V.sub.1 of the at least one support
member of between approximately five degrees and approximately
seventy degrees. In addition, the at least one support member can
have a substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1, and the at least one
receiving member can have an axis H.sub.2 in which the axis H.sub.2
of the at least one receiving member can be at an angle to the
substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1 of the at least one support
member of between approximately five degrees and approximately
sixty degrees.
[0017] In another arrangement, the at least one support member, the
at least one receiving member and the cross member can be made of
metal. Alternatively, the at least one support member, the at least
one receiving member and the cross member can be made of a rigid
polymer. In another aspect of the invention, the support member,
the at least one receiving member and the cross member can be part
of a single unitary component. In contrast, the support member, the
at least one receiving member and the cross member can also be
separate components.
[0018] The present invention also concerns a workbench system. The
workbench system includes at least one beam, at least one leg, at
least one shoulder mechanism for supporting a movable workpiece,
and at least one mounting bracket, in which the mounting bracket
includes at least one support member for supporting the beam, at
least one receiving member engaged to the at least one support
member for receiving the leg, and at least one cross member engaged
to the at least one support member in which the cross member
includes securing structure for receiving the shoulder mechanism,
and the securing structure permits the shoulder mechanism to be
variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions.
[0019] In one arrangement, the workbench system can further include
a platform for supporting a cutting device. Also, the shoulder
mechanism can include at least one roller bearing and a threaded
rod. The securing structure can include a substantially circular
threaded coupling in which the threads of the rod can engage the
threads of the substantially circular coupling. In another aspect
of the system, the roller bearing can have a substantially
horizontal axis H.sub.1, and the at least one beam can have a
substantially horizontal axis H.sub.2 in which the shoulder
mechanism can further include a setting mechanism to permit the
substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1 of the roller bearing to be
set substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal
axis H.sub.2 of the at least one beam.
[0020] The present invention also concerns a mounting bracket
including at least one support member for supporting an object and
at least one cross member engaged to the at least one support
member in which the cross member includes securing structure for
receiving a shoulder mechanism and the securing structure permits
the shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of
fixed positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a mounting bracket 10 according to the
invention. The mounting bracket 10 includes one or more support
members 12, one or more receiving members 14 engaged to the support
members 12, one or more cross members 16 engaged to the support
members 12 and a securing structure 18. It must be noted that the
invention is not limited to the particular arrangement illustrated
in FIG. 1, as the mounting bracket 10 can include any suitable
number of support members 12, receiving members 14, cross members
16 and securing structures 18. Moreover, the mounting bracket 10
can be constructed so as to only contain one or more support
members 12, one or more cross members 16 engaged to the support
members 12 and a securing structure 18.
[0022] In one arrangement, the support members 12, the receiving
members 14 and the cross member 16 can be part of a single unitary
component. Alternatively, the support members 12, the receiving
members 14 and the cross member 16 can be separate components. In
the separate components arrangement, the receiving members 14 and
the cross member 16 can be engaged to the support members 12 in any
suitable fashion such as welding or through the use of an adhesive.
Moreover, the support members 12, the receiving members 14 and the
cross member 16 can be made of any suitable material such as metal
or a rigid polymer.
[0023] Turning to FIG. 2, an example of a shoulder mechanism 20 is
shown. In one arrangement, the shoulder mechanism 20 can include
one or more roller bearings
[0024] 22, a shaft 24 to which the roller bearings 22 can be
rotatably coupled and a rod 26, which can be detachably coupled to
the shaft 24. The shaft 24 can have a socket 33 for receiving an
end 31 of the rod 26. In one arrangement, the shoulder mechanism 20
can include a setting mechanism 25 for detachably coupling the rod
26 to the shaft 24. As an example, the setting mechanism 25 can
have a fastener 27 and a corresponding aperture 29. The fastener 27
can be, for example, a threaded screw, which can be inserted into
the aperture 29 and twisted such that the end of the fastener
engages the end 31 of the rod 26. It should be noted that the
invention is not limited to this particular example, as other
suitable structure for securing the shaft 24 to the rod 26 can be
used. The shoulder mechanism 20 can also include one or more cotter
pins 28 for securing the roller bearings 22 to the shaft 24.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the securing structure 18 can
include a substantially circular coupling 30. The term
"substantially circular" can include perfectly circular in addition
to slight or even moderate deviations therefrom. In addition, the
substantially circular coupling 30 can be threaded. The rod 26 of
the shoulder mechanism 20 can also be threaded. As such, the
threads of the substantially circular coupling 30 can engage the
threads of the rod 26. Because the threads of the rod 26 can engage
the threads of the substantially circular coupling 30, the shoulder
mechanism 20 can be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed
positions.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the mounting bracket 10. As
shown, the support members 12 can have a substantially vertical
axis V.sub.1. The substantially vertical axis V.sub.1 can be
substantially vertical with respect to the horizon. It must be
noted that the term "substantially vertical" includes both true
vertical as well as slight or even moderate deviations therefrom.
Additionally, the receiving member 14 can have an axis V.sub.2. In
one arrangement, the receiving member 14 can be engaged to the
support member 12 at an angle such that the axis V.sub.2 of the
receiving member 14 is at an angle to the substantially vertical
axis V.sub.1 of the support member 12. The angle between the two
axes V.sub.1,V.sub.2 can be any suitable angle and is not limited
to the particular angle shown in FIG. 3; however, in one
arrangement, the angle between the substantially vertical axis
V.sub.1 and the axis V.sub.2 can be between approximately five
degrees and approximately seventy degrees.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, a substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1
of the supporting member 12 and an axis H.sub.2 of the receiving
member 14 are shown. The substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1 can
be substantially horizontal with respect to the horizon, and the
term "substantially horizontal" can include true horizontal in
addition to slight or even moderate deviations therefrom. Similar
to the arrangement described in relation to FIG. 3, the receiving
member 14 can be engaged to the support member 12 at an angle such
that the axis H.sub.2 of the receiving member 14 is at angle to the
substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1 of the support member 12. In
addition, the angle between the two axes H.sub.1,H.sub.2 can be any
suitable angle and is not limited to the particular angle shown in
FIG. 4; however, in one arrangement, the angle between axis H.sub.1
and axis H.sub.2 can be between approximately five degrees and
approximately sixty degrees.
[0028] Referring back to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the support
member 12 can be a substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for
receiving therethrough and supporting a substantially
rectangularly-shaped object. As an example, referring to FIGS. 5
and 6, the rectangularly-shaped object can be a beam 32. In
addition, the receiving member 14 can be a substantially
rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving therethrough a
substantially rectangularly-shaped leg 34.
[0029] FIGS. 5 and 6 show two examples of workbench
systems--systems 50 and 60, respectively--that can use one or more
mounting brackets 10. In FIG. 5, one or more of the beams 32 can be
inserted into and through the supporting members 12 of one or more
mounting brackets 10. In addition, one or more legs 34 can be
inserted into and through the receiving members 14. Because the
receiving members 14 can be engaged to the support members 12 at an
angle, as discussed in relation to FIG. 4, as the legs 34 are
inserted through the receiving members 14, the ends of the legs 34
can eventually rest against an outside surface 36 of the supporting
members 12. Moreover, the angle at which the receiving members 14
are engaged to the support members 12, as discussed in relation to
FIG. 3, can permit the legs 34 to extend away from the mounting
bracket 10 at an angle, which can provide greater stability to the
system 50.
[0030] Continuing with FIG. 5 and as noted earlier, the
substantially circular couplings (not shown in FIG. 5 or 6) of one
or more of the mounting brackets 10 can engage one or more of the
rods 26 of the shoulder mechanisms 20. The system 50 can also
include a platform 38. The platform 38 can rest on top of one or
more beams 32 or on top of one or more top surfaces 40 of the
support members 12 of any number of mounting brackets 10. The
platform 38 can permit a user to place a cutting device 42 on the
system 50. In this example, the cutting device can be a table saw
44 having one or more cutting blades 46, which can be substantially
parallel to the beams 32.
[0031] In operation, the legs 34 can be inserted into the receiving
members 14, and the beams 32 can be inserted through the support
members 12. The platform 38 can be placed on the beams 32 or on the
top surfaces 40 of one or more of the mounting brackets 10. Once
the platform 38 is in place, the cutting device 42 can be
positioned on the platform 38. One or more shoulder mechanisms 20
can then be secured to one or more mounting brackets 10. For
purposes of providing greater torque, the user can grasp and twist
the roller bearings 22 of the shoulder mechanisms 20. The shoulder
mechanisms 20, because of the threaded engagement between the rod
26 and the substantially circular coupling 30 (not shown in FIG. 5
or 6), can be adjusted to any suitable height. In one arrangement,
the height of a shoulder mechanism 20 can be adjusted to a height
that can permit the smooth transition of a workpiece 48 along the
shoulder mechanism 20 to the cutting blade 46 of the cutting device
42. Moreover, the shoulder mechanisms 20 can be moved laterally
into any suitable position merely by moving an associated mounting
bracket 10.
[0032] In another arrangement, the roller bearings 22 can have a
substantially horizontal axis H.sub.1, and the beam(s) 32 can have
a substantially horizontal axis H.sub.2. Both of these axes can be
substantially horizontal with respect to the horizon, and, again,
the term "substantially horizontal" can include true horizontal as
well as slight or even moderate deviations therefrom. Once the
shoulder mechanism 20 has been adjusted to the desired height, the
user can use the setting mechanism (not shown in FIG. 5 or 6) to
adjust the orientation of the roller bearings 22 if so needed.
Specifically, the user can loosen the fastener (not shown in FIG. 5
or 6) of the setting mechanism and can twist the roller bearings 22
to the desired orientation. The user can then tighten the fastener
of the setting mechanism to maintain this orientation.
[0033] As an example, the orientation of the roller bearings 22 can
be adjusted such that the axis H.sub.1 of the roller bearings 22 is
substantially perpendicular to the axis H.sub.2 of the beam(s) 32.
The term "substantially perpendicular" includes true perpendicular
in addition to slight or even moderate deviations thereform.
Moreover, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to
this particular example, as the roller bearings 22, or any other
component of the shoulder mechanism 20, can be adjusted to any
suitable orientation.
[0034] The workpiece 48 can be positioned on top of the roller
bearings 22 of one or more shoulder mechanisms 20. The workpiece 48
can be any type of material capable of being urged towards and cut
by the cutting device 42. The shoulder mechanisms 20 can stabilize
the workpiece 48 as the workpiece 48 is fed to the cutting device
42. In addition, the roller bearings 22 of the shoulder mechanism
20 can assist the user in propelling the workpiece 48 towards the
cutting device 42, as the roller bearings 22 can translate the
pushing action applied to the workpiece 48 into a rotational force
which acts on the workpiece 48.
[0035] The cutting device 42 can cut the workpiece 48 into any
suitable number of pieces. As an example and as shown in FIG. 5,
the cutting device 42 can cut the workpiece 48 into two pieces 48a
and 48b. As the workpiece 48 continues to be fed to the cutting
device 42, any shoulder mechanisms 20 positioned on the exit side
of the cutting device 42 can support and help propel away from the
cutting device 42 the two pieces 48a and 48b. Of course, the
invention is not limited to this example, as the workpiece 48 can
be cut any number of times into any suitable number of pieces.
[0036] Turning to FIG. 6, another example of a second workbench
system 60 is shown. The overall structure and operation of the
system 60 is similar to the system 50 except that a different
cutting device 42 can be used. For example, the cutting device 42
here can be a miter saw 52, which can provide a lateral cut to the
workpiece 48, as opposed to the longitudinal cut provided by the
table saw 44 of system 50.
[0037] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated and described, it will be clear the invention is not so
limited. Numerous modifications, changes, substitutions and
equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described
in the claims.
* * * * *