Workbenches

Claim 2

A collapsible workbench movable between collapsed and erected conditions, and including a horizontally extending top structure affording an upwardly facing work surface, a horizontally extending base structure adapted to rest on a supporting surface and including a load-bearing platform upon which a person can stand in front of the top structure in the erected condition, front and rear intermediate structures each interconnecting the top and base structures with the front intermediate structure adjacent the platform, the front and rear intermediate structures having hinge connections to the top and base structures along four parallel hinge axes in such a manner that the top structure folds forwardly over the platform in the collapsed condition, and bracing means at each end to maintain the said top and intermediate structures with respect to the base structure in the erected condition, the top and base structures being capable of bearing tension and compression loads in all directions within substantially horizontal planes extending through those structures, and the front and rear structures each being capable of bearing tension and compression loads in all directions within a plane extending through that structure through the respective upper and lower hinge axes of that front or rear structure when in the erected condition.

Claim 3

A collapsible workbench movable between collapsed and erected conditions and including a horizontally extending top structure affording an upwardly facing work surface in the erected condition, a base structure having underside contacting regions defining a supporting plane, the base structure including a load-bearing platform upon which a person can stand in front of the top structure in the erected condition to then stabilize the whole workbench, and an intermediate structure comprising a framework having hinge connections with the base and top structures, which hinge connections define four substantially horizontal parallel pivotal axes namely front and rear upper axes on the top structure and front and rear lower axes on the base structure, the upper and lower front pivotal axes being lower than the respective upper and lower rear axes; and the top structure, in the collapsed condition, at least partially overlying the load-bearing platform in close juxtaposition therewith.

Claim 4

A collapsible workbench movable between collapsed and erected conditions and including a horizontally extending top structure affording an upwardly facing work surface in the erected condition, a base structure having underside contacting regions defining a supporting plane, the base structure including a load-bearing platform upon which a person can stand in front of the top structure in the erected condition to then stabilize the whole workbench, and an intermediate structure comprising a framework having hinge connections with the base and top structures, which hinge connections define four substantially horizontal parallel pivotal axes namely front and rear upper axes on the top structure and front and rear lower axes on the base structure, the upper and lower front pivotal axes being lower than the respective upper and lower rear axes; and the top structure, in the collapsed condition, at least partially overlying the load-bearing platform in close juxtaposition therewith.

Claim 5

A collapsible workbench movable between collapsed and erected conditions, comprising: a horizontally extending top structure affording an upwardly facing work surface; a horizontally extending base structure adapted to rest on a supporting surface and including a load bearing platform which, in the erected condition, extends rigidly beyond the top structure in a forward direction and upon which a person can stand in front of the top structure in the erected condition to stabilize the whole workbench; front and rear intermediate structures, each interconnecting the top and base structures, with the front intermediate structure adjacent the platform, the front and rear intermediate structures having hinge connections to the top and base structures along four parallel hinge axes in such a manner that the top structure folds forwardly over the platform in the collapsed condition; and bracing means at each end to maintain the Said top and intermediate structures with respect to the base structure in the erected condition, the bracing means, in the erected condition, being disposed entirely to the rear of the most forward part of the top structure.

Claim 6

A collapsible workbench movable between collapsed and erected conditions, comprising: a horizontally extending top structure affording an upwardly facing work surface; a horizontally extending base structure adapted to rest on a supporting surface and including a load bearing platform which, in the erected condition, extends rigidly beyond the top structure in a forward direction and upon which a person can stand in front of the top structure in the erected condition to stabilize the whole workbench; front and rear intermediate structures, each interconnecting the top and base structures, with the front intermediate structure adjacent the platform, the front and rear intermediate structures having hinge connections to the top and base structures along four parallel hinge axes in such a manner that the top structure folds forwardly over the platform in the collapsed condition; and bracing means at each end to maintain the Said top and intermediate structures with respect to the base structure in the erected condition, the bracing means, in the erected condition, being disposed entirely to the rear of the most forward part of the top structure.

Claim 7

A collapsible workbench movable between collapsed and erected conditions, comprising: a generally horizontally extending top structure; a base structure adapted to rest on a supporting surface and including a load bearing platform, which, in the erected condition, extends rigidly beyond the top structure in a forward direction and upon which a person can stand in front of the top structure in the erected condition to stabilize the whole workbench; an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and the top structure and including structure defining a front, a back and two sides; said front, back and two sides, in combination with said base and top structures, defining the faces of a hexahedran and including structure for bearing tension and compression loads on each of at least 11 edges in the hexahedran, and for bearing diagonal tension and compression loads on each base of the hexahedran, whereby torsional stress in said intermediate structure is minimal; said front and back being hingably connected to said top and base structures along four parallel hinge axes in such a manner that the top structure is foldably forwardly over the platform in the collapsed condition; and said two sides including bracing means at each end to maintain the said top and intermediate structures with respect to the base structure in the erected condition, the bracing means in the erected condition being disposed entirely to the rear of the most forward part of the top structure.

Claim 8

A collapsible workbench movable between collapsed and erected conditions, comprising: a generally horizontally extending top structure; a base structure adapted to rest on a supporting surface and including a load bearing platform, which, in the erected condition, extends rigidly beyond the top structure in a forward direction and upon which a person can stand in front of the top structure in the erected condition to stabilize the whole workbench; an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and the top structure and including structure defining a front, a back and two sides; said front, back and two sides, in combination with said base and top structures, defining the faces of a hexahedran and including structure for bearing tension and compression loads on each of at least 11 edges in the hexahedran, and for bearing diagonal tension and compression loads on each base of the hexahedran, whereby torsional stress in said intermediate structure is minimal; said front and back being hingably connected to said top and base structures along four parallel hinge axes in such a manner that the top structure is foldably forwardly over the platform in the collapsed condition; and said two sides including bracing means at each end to maintain the said top and intermediate structures with respect to the base structure in the erected condition, the bracing means in the erected condition being disposed entirely to the rear of the most forward part of the top structure.

Claim 9

A workbench including a top structure, comprising: two vise members having upper surfaces lying in substantially the same plane and each having an elongated face generally facing the elongated face of the other vise member; a support defining a horizontal support plane underlying at least one of said vise members and operatively supporting both of said vise members; means constraining both vise members against any rotation which would change the angle of the elongated faces thereof relative to the horizontal support plane; vise operating means for positively moving one of said vise members toward and away from the other said vise member, said vise operating means including a pair of vise operating devices spaced apart lengthwise of the elongated faces of the vise members; means operatively coupling each vise operating device to at least one of said vise members at horizontally spaced positions on opposite sides of the vertically extending longitudinal centerline of the elongated face thereof for enabling said vise operating means to move said one of said vise members to a position in which the elongate face thereof is shifted through a horizontal angle to a nonparallel position with respect to the elongate face of the other of said vise members, whereby a tapered workpiece may be gripped by said vise members along the full length of the tapering faces thereof; a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; an intermediate collapsible structure interconnecting the base structure and the support; said intermediate collapsible structure including a pair of forwardly facing parallel frame members pivotally connected at the top and bottom thereof to said support and said base structure respectively; whereby said workbench may be folded from an erect configuration with said top structure substantially parallel to and spaced above said base structure, and a collapsed configuration wherein said top structure is juxtaposed with said base structure.

Claim 10

A workbench including a top structure, comprising: two vise members having upper surfaces lying in substantially the same plane and each having an elongated face generally facing the elongated face of the other vise member; a support defining a horizontal support plane underlying at least one of said vise members and operatively supporting both of said vise members; means constraining both vise members against any rotation which would change the angle of the elongated faces thereof relative to the horizontal support plane; vise operating means for positively moving one of said vise members toward and away from the other said vise member, said vise operating means including a pair of vise operating devices spaced apart lengthwise of the elongated faces of the vise members; means operatively coupling each vise operating device to at least one of said vise members at horizontally spaced positions on opposite sides of the vertically extending longitudinal centerline of the elongated face thereof for enabling said vise operating means to move said one of said vise members to a position in which the elongate face thereof is shifted through a horizontal angle to a nonparallel position with respect to the elongate face of the other of said vise members, whereby a tapered workpiece may be gripped by said vise members along the full length of the tapering faces thereof; a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; an intermediate collapsible structure interconnecting the base structure and the support; said intermediate collapsible structure including a pair of forwardly facing parallel frame members pivotally connected at the top and bottom thereof to said support and said base structure respectively; whereby said workbench may be folded from an erect configuration with said top structure substantially parallel to and spaced above said base structure, and a collapsed configuration wherein said top structure is juxtaposed with said base structure.

Claim 11

A workbench comprising; a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure, an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and the top structure and collapsible between an erected position and a storage posItion, in the latter of which it lies in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure, said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure and including a pair of elongate vise members which, in the erected position of the intermediate structure, provide a substantially flat work surface, said top structure also including a pair of supports extending beneath the vise members defining a generally horizontal support plane, one of the vise members being secured in a stationary manner to the supports and the other vise member bearing on the supports in a movable manner, means for holding both of said vise members flush against said support members to maintain constant the angle between said work surface and said support plane; a pair of vise operating devices operatively connected to at least one of said vise members, each comprising a screw threaded rod extending substantially at right angles to the length of the stationary vise member, and means mounting said members for relative movement towards and away from one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the vise members thereby to form a vise.

Claim 12

A workbench comprising; a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure, an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and the top structure and collapsible between an erected position and a storage posItion, in the latter of which it lies in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure, said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure and including a pair of elongate vise members which, in the erected position of the intermediate structure, provide a substantially flat work surface, said top structure also including a pair of supports extending beneath the vise members defining a generally horizontal support plane, one of the vise members being secured in a stationary manner to the supports and the other vise member bearing on the supports in a movable manner, means for holding both of said vise members flush against said support members to maintain constant the angle between said work surface and said support plane; a pair of vise operating devices operatively connected to at least one of said vise members, each comprising a screw threaded rod extending substantially at right angles to the length of the stationary vise member, and means mounting said members for relative movement towards and away from one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the vise members thereby to form a vise.

Claim 13

A workbench, comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure having a work surface including a pair of vise members, each having an elongate clamping face generally facing the elongate clamping face of the other vise member; an intermediate structure collapsible between erected and storage conditions, and interconnecting said base structure and said top structure, and including means defining a front, a back and two sides intersecting at four generally upright edges, and having means for directly bearing compression and tension on each of said upright edges and on at least one diagonal of each of said sides; said base structure having a plan area larger than the plan area encompassing said work surface, and including, in both collapsed and storage conditions, an integral rigidly extending load-bearing platform upon which, in the erected condition of said intermediate structure, a person can stand beside said top structure; means for mounting one of said vise members for relative movement towards and away from the other of said vise members in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the clamping face of said one of said vise members, which movement is also substantially towards and away from a person standing upon said load-bearing platform.

Claim 14

A workbench, comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure having a work surface including a pair of vise members, each having an elongate clamping face generally facing the elongate clamping face of the other vise member; an intermediate structure collapsible between erected and storage conditions, and interconnecting said base structure and said top structure, and including means defining a front, a back and two sides intersecting at four generally upright edges, and having means for directly bearing compression and tension on each of said upright edges and on at least one diagonal of each of said sides; said base structure having a plan area larger than the plan area encompassing said work surface, and including, in both collapsed and storage conditions, an integral rigidly extending load-bearing platform upon which, in the erected condition of said intermediate structure, a person can stand beside said top structure; means for mounting one of said vise members for relative movement towards and away from the other of said vise members in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the clamping face of said one of said vise members, which movement is also substantially towards and away from a person standing upon said load-bearing platform.

Claim 15

A workbench, comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure having a work surface including a pair of elongate vise members; an intermediate collapsible structure interconnecting said base structure and said top structure; said base structure having a plan area larger than the plan area encompassing said work surface, and constituting a load-bearing platform upon which a person can stand beside said top structure; means for mounting said vise members for relative movement towards and away from one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said vise members, which movement is also towards and away from a person standing upon said load-bearing platform; said mounting means including two independently operable vise operating devices connected between said vise members at locations spaced lengthwise therealong and operative to positively move one of said vise members towards and away from the other of said vise members whereby the gap between said vise members may be greater at either end.

Claim 16

A workbench, comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure having a work surface including a pair of elongate vise members; an intermediate collapsible structure interconnecting said base structure and said top structure; said base structure having a plan area larger than the plan area encompassing said work surface, and constituting a load-bearing platform upon which a person can stand beside said top structure; means for mounting said vise members for relative movement towards and away from one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said vise members, which movement is also towards and away from a person standing upon said load-bearing platform; said mounting means including two independently operable vise operating devices connected between said vise members at locations spaced lengthwise therealong and operative to positively move one of said vise members towards and away from the other of said vise members whereby the gap between said vise members may be greater at either end.

Claim 17

A workbench comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure, an intermediate structure including diagonal brace means and also including vertical support structure hingably connected between the base structure and the top structure along four parallel axes and including structure defining a front, a back, and two sides, said intermediaTe structure being collapsible by folding about said axes between an erected position and a storage position, in the latter of which it lies in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure, said front, back and two sides, in combination with said base and top structures, in the erected position of said intermediate structure, defining the faces of a rigid hollow hexahedron and including structure for directly bearing diagonal tension and compression loads and shear loads on each face of the hexahedron, and for directly bearing tension and compression loads on the edges of the hexahedron interconnecting the top structure and the base structure, whereby torsional stress and bending moments in the workbench structures are minimal, said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure and including a pair of vise members each having an elongate clamping face and a top surface which, in the erected position of the intermediate structure, provide a work surface, said top structure also including a pair of support members extending beneath said vise members, one of said vise members being secured to said support members in a stationary manner and constituting an integral portion of the top face of said hexahedron, and the other of said vise members bearing on said supports in a movable manner, and means mounting said other of said members in said movable manner for relative movement towards and away from said one of said vise members in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the clamping face of said movable vise member thereby to form a vise.

Claim 18

A workbench comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure, an intermediate structure including diagonal brace means and also including vertical support structure hingably connected between the base structure and the top structure along four parallel axes and including structure defining a front, a back, and two sides, said intermediaTe structure being collapsible by folding about said axes between an erected position and a storage position, in the latter of which it lies in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure, said front, back and two sides, in combination with said base and top structures, in the erected position of said intermediate structure, defining the faces of a rigid hollow hexahedron and including structure for directly bearing diagonal tension and compression loads and shear loads on each face of the hexahedron, and for directly bearing tension and compression loads on the edges of the hexahedron interconnecting the top structure and the base structure, whereby torsional stress and bending moments in the workbench structures are minimal, said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure and including a pair of vise members each having an elongate clamping face and a top surface which, in the erected position of the intermediate structure, provide a work surface, said top structure also including a pair of support members extending beneath said vise members, one of said vise members being secured to said support members in a stationary manner and constituting an integral portion of the top face of said hexahedron, and the other of said vise members bearing on said supports in a movable manner, and means mounting said other of said members in said movable manner for relative movement towards and away from said one of said vise members in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the clamping face of said movable vise member thereby to form a vise.

Claim 19

A workbench, comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure; an intermediate structure connected to the base structure and connected to and supporting the top structure, and which is collapsible between an erected position and a storage position, in the latter of which it lies between and in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure; said intermediate structure having structure defining a front face, a back face and two lateral sides, and a brace on each of said two lateral sides extending diagonally between a first position adjacent and to the rear of said front face and a second position adjacent and forward of said back face and pivotally secured at one end of said brace to a pivotal connection at one of said first and said second positions, and having means at the other end of said brace for releasably locking to the other of said first and second positions thereby to hold said workbench in its erected position; said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure and comprising a pair of elongate vise members, which, in the erected position of the intermediate structure, provide a work surface; said top structure, base structure, front face, back face, and two lateral sides defining the faces of a generally hexahedral form having structural members for directly bearing compression and tension along each of at least eleven edges thereof, and for directly bearing diagonal tension and compression loads on the six faces thereof; and means mounting and vise members for relative movement towards and away from one another in a direction normal to the direction of elongation of the vise members thereby to form a vise; said base structure having a plan area larger than the plan area encompassing said work surface, and constituting a load-bearing platform upon which a person can stand beside said top structure in line with the direction of said relative movement of said vise members.

Claim 20

A workbench, comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure; an intermediate structure connected to the base structure and connected to and supporting the top structure, and which is collapsible between an erected position and a storage position, in the latter of which it lies between and in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure; said intermediate structure having structure defining a front face, a back face and two lateral sides, and a brace on each of said two lateral sides extending diagonally between a first position adjacent and to the rear of said front face and a second position adjacent and forward of said back face and pivotally secured at one end of said brace to a pivotal connection at one of said first and said second positions, and having means at the other end of said brace for releasably locking to the other of said first and second positions thereby to hold said workbench in its erected position; said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure and comprising a pair of elongate vise members, which, in the erected position of the intermediate structure, provide a work surface; said top structure, base structure, front face, back face, and two lateral sides defining the faces of a generally hexahedral form having structural members for directly bearing compression and tension along each of at least eleven edges thereof, and for directly bearing diagonal tension and compression loads on the six faces thereof; and means mounting and vise members for relative movement towards and away from one another in a direction normal to the direction of elongation of the vise members thereby to form a vise; said base structure having a plan area larger than the plan area encompassing said work surface, and constituting a load-bearing platform upon which a person can stand beside said top structure in line with the direction of said relative movement of said vise members.

Claim 21

A workbench including a top structure, comprising: two vise members, each having an elongated face generally facing the elongated face of the other vise member; a supporting structure underlying at least one of said vise members and operatively supporting both of said vise members; means constraining each vise member against rotation about an axis parallel to the dirEction of elongation of the elongated face thereof; vise operating means for positively moving said one of the vise members towards and away from the other said vise member, said vise operating means including a pair of vise operating devices spaced apart lengthwise of the vise members; means operatively coupling the vise operating devices to at least one of said vise members, one on each side of the center of the clamping face in its direction of elongation for enabling said vise operating means to move said one of said vise members to a position in which the elongate face thereof has shifted through an angle about an axis parallel to the elongated face of said one of said vise members and perpendicular to the direction of elongation thereof, to a nonparallel position with respect to the elongate face of the other of said vise members, whereby a tapered workpiece may be gripped by said vise members along the full length of the tapering faces thereof; a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; and an intermediate collapsible structure interconnecting the base structure and the supporting structure; said intermediate collapsible structure including a pair of forwardly facing parallel frame members pivotally connected at the top and bottom thereof to said supporting structure and said base member respectively; whereby said workbench may be folded from an erect configuration with said top structure parallel to and spaced above said base structure, and a collapsed configuration wherein said top structure is adjacent to and parallel with said base structure.

Claim 22

A workbench including a top structure, comprising: two vise members, each having an elongated face generally facing the elongated face of the other vise member; a supporting structure underlying at least one of said vise members and operatively supporting both of said vise members; means constraining each vise member against rotation about an axis parallel to the dirEction of elongation of the elongated face thereof; vise operating means for positively moving said one of the vise members towards and away from the other said vise member, said vise operating means including a pair of vise operating devices spaced apart lengthwise of the vise members; means operatively coupling the vise operating devices to at least one of said vise members, one on each side of the center of the clamping face in its direction of elongation for enabling said vise operating means to move said one of said vise members to a position in which the elongate face thereof has shifted through an angle about an axis parallel to the elongated face of said one of said vise members and perpendicular to the direction of elongation thereof, to a nonparallel position with respect to the elongate face of the other of said vise members, whereby a tapered workpiece may be gripped by said vise members along the full length of the tapering faces thereof; a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; and an intermediate collapsible structure interconnecting the base structure and the supporting structure; said intermediate collapsible structure including a pair of forwardly facing parallel frame members pivotally connected at the top and bottom thereof to said supporting structure and said base member respectively; whereby said workbench may be folded from an erect configuration with said top structure parallel to and spaced above said base structure, and a collapsed configuration wherein said top structure is adjacent to and parallel with said base structure.

Claim 23

A workbench including a pair of elongate vise members disposed in side by side relationship and supported from below by a supporting structure having supporting surfaces defining a plane of support; means for constraining each vise member against any rotational movement out of said plane of support, at least one of the vise members being mounted on said supporting structure for movement towards and away from the other vise member and for rotation in a plane parallel to said plane of support; means for moving said one of the vise members in a positive manner towards and away from said other vise member, including two spaced, independently operable vise operating devices, both of which are operatively coupled to at least one of said vise members by means which enables the gap between the vise members to be greater at either end; a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and said supporting structure and which is collapsible between an erected position and a storage position, in the latter of which it lies between and in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the supporting structure; said intermediate structure arranged to maintain a substantially parallel relationship of said supporting structure to said base structure at said erected position and said storage position.

Claim 24

A workbench including a pair of elongate vise members disposed in side by side relationship and supported from below by a supporting structure having supporting surfaces defining a plane of support; means for constraining each vise member against any rotational movement out of said plane of support, at least one of the vise members being mounted on said supporting structure for movement towards and away from the other vise member and for rotation in a plane parallel to said plane of support; means for moving said one of the vise members in a positive manner towards and away from said other vise member, including two spaced, independently operable vise operating devices, both of which are operatively coupled to at least one of said vise members by means which enables the gap between the vise members to be greater at either end; a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and said supporting structure and which is collapsible between an erected position and a storage position, in the latter of which it lies between and in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the supporting structure; said intermediate structure arranged to maintain a substantially parallel relationship of said supporting structure to said base structure at said erected position and said storage position.

Claim 25

A workbench comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure, including a pair of vise members each having an elongate clamping face generally facing the elongate clamping face of the other vise member, and also including means defining a supporting plane for supporting said vise members, an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and the top structure and collapsible between an erected position and a storage position, in the latter of which it lies in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure, said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure, means mounting one of said members for relative movement towards and away from the other of said members in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the clamping face of said one of said vise members thereby to form a vise, means linking said supporting means and said vise members for resisting a moment tending to rotate said vise members about any axis parAllel to said supporting plane, thereby to maintain the angle of the clamping face of said vise members with respect to said support plane, and vise operating means operatively coupled to two horizontally spaced positions on at least one of said elongate vise members for positively moving each end of said one of said vise members indepenently with respect to the other end toward and away from the other said vise member whereby the gap between the two elongate vise members may be greater at either end.

Claim 26

A workbench comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure, including a pair of vise members each having an elongate clamping face generally facing the elongate clamping face of the other vise member, and also including means defining a supporting plane for supporting said vise members, an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and the top structure and collapsible between an erected position and a storage position, in the latter of which it lies in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure, said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure, means mounting one of said members for relative movement towards and away from the other of said members in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the clamping face of said one of said vise members thereby to form a vise, means linking said supporting means and said vise members for resisting a moment tending to rotate said vise members about any axis parAllel to said supporting plane, thereby to maintain the angle of the clamping face of said vise members with respect to said support plane, and vise operating means operatively coupled to two horizontally spaced positions on at least one of said elongate vise members for positively moving each end of said one of said vise members indepenently with respect to the other end toward and away from the other said vise member whereby the gap between the two elongate vise members may be greater at either end.

Claim 27

A workbench, comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure, an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and the top structure and collapsible between an erected position and a storage position in the latter of which it lies in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure, said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure and including a pair of elongate vise members which in erected position of the intermediate structure, provide a substantially flat work surface, said top structure also including a pair of horizontally spaced support members defining a supporting plane and extending generally at right angles to the direction of elongation of the vise members and supporting the vise member from below, and means constraining the vise members against rotation about any axis parallel to said supporting plane; means mounting said members for relative movement towards and away from one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the vise members thereby to form a vise, and said mounting means includes vise operating means for positively moving one of said vise members towards and away from the other said vise member, said vise operating means including a pair of spaced vise operating devices, and means operatively coupling each vise operating device to at least one of the members at positions spaced apart lengthwise therealong for enabling one of the vise members to rotate relative to the other of the vise members about an axis perpendicular to said support plane whereby the opposed ends of the vise members may be spaced at different distances from each other.

Claim 28

A workbench, comprising: a base structure adapted to rest on a floor; a top structure, an intermediate structure connected between the base structure and the top structure and collapsible between an erected position and a storage position in the latter of which it lies in juxtaposed relation to the base structure and the top structure, said top structure being carried by the intermediate structure and including a pair of elongate vise members which in erected position of the intermediate structure, provide a substantially flat work surface, said top structure also including a pair of horizontally spaced support members defining a supporting plane and extending generally at right angles to the direction of elongation of the vise members and supporting the vise member from below, and means constraining the vise members against rotation about any axis parallel to said supporting plane; means mounting said members for relative movement towards and away from one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the vise members thereby to form a vise, and said mounting means includes vise operating means for positively moving one of said vise members towards and away from the other said vise member, said vise operating means including a pair of spaced vise operating devices, and means operatively coupling each vise operating device to at least one of the members at positions spaced apart lengthwise therealong for enabling one of the vise members to rotate relative to the other of the vise members about an axis perpendicular to said support plane whereby the opposed ends of the vise members may be spaced at different distances from each other.

Claim 29

A workbench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top structure in plan has a substantially rectangular form which has a longer edge dimension extending parallel to the hinge axes than the base structure.

Claim 30

A workbench as claimed in claim 15 wherein the top structure includes an elongate stationary vise member extending horizontally and parallel to the hinge axes, a pair of supporting members being rigid with the underside of the stationary vise member and extending away therefrom substantially at right angles to its direction of elongation, the supporting members bearing between them a horizontally elongate movable vise member capable of movement towards and away from the stationary vise member, the movable vise member being constrained, with respect to the supporting members, against translational movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the hinge axes.

Claim 31

A workbench as claimed in claim 1 in which the four hinge connections in end elevation are disposed on the corners of a parallelogram.

Claim 32

A workbench as claimed in claim 1 in which the bracing means includes diagonal bracing members at end which are adapted to be latched in the erected condition to maintain the workbench in the erected condition.

Claim 33

A workbench as claimed in claim 18 in which the bracing members at each end compriss a longitudinal bracing member which is pivotally connected to at one end and slottedly connected at its other end.

Claim 34

A workbench as claimed in claim 19 in which the bracing members in the erected position extend forwardly and upwardly from a rear part of the base structure.

Claim 35

A workbench as claimed in claim 20 in which each end of each bracing member remains connected to one of the parts of the workbench in both erected and collapSed conditions and during movement between such positions.

Claim 36

A workbench as claimed in claim 1 in which each intermediate structure, at each of its hinge connections with the top and base structures has a hinge part thereof disposed inboard of an inwardly facing surface of the respective top and base structure such that the intermediate members are physically located between said inwardly directed facing surfaces against lateral movement therebetween, thereby preventing relative axial movement of the intermediate structures along the hinge connections.

Claim 37

A workbench as claimed in claim 1 in which the load-bearing platform comprises a rigid integral part of the base structure.

Claim 38

A workbench as claimed in claim 1 in which the top structure has end parts thereof overhanging the intermediate and base structures.

Claim 39

A workbench as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said four axes, in end elevation, lie on the corners of a parallelogram.

Claim 40

A workbench as claimed in claim 2 wherein the front and rear upper pivotal axes, in the collapsed condition, are positioned at lower levels than the front and rear lower pivotal axes respectively.

Claim 41

A workbench as claimed in claim 2 in which the load-bearing platform comprises a rigidly integral part of the base structure.

Claim 42

A workbench as claimed in claim 2 which, in its collapsed condition, affords a secondary supporting surface extending at right angles to the supporting plane whereby the workbench as a whole may then be stored upright on the secondary supporting surface.

Claim 43

A workbench as claimed in claim 2 in which the secondary supporting surface is afforded by the base structure.

Claim 44

A workbench as claimed in claim 2 in which the top structure incorporates fixed and movable beams mounted in the manner of a vise.

Claim 45

A workbench as claimed in claim 2 including longitudinal bracing members one at each end which are adapted to be latched in the erected condition to maintain the workbench in the erected condition.

Claim 46

A workbench as claimed in claim 31 in which the bracing members, in the erected condition each extend diagonally forwardly and upwardly from a rear part of the base structure.

Claim 47

A workbench as claimed in claim 32 in which each end of each bracing member remains connected to one of the parts of the workbench in both the erected and collasped conditions, and during movement between such positions.

Claim 48

A workbench defined in claim 5, further comprising a bar extending diagonally between the horizontal support and the base structure, and pivotally secured at one end thereof to one of said base and said horizontal support, and having means at the other end of said bar for releasable locking to the other of said horizontal support and base structure, thereby to hold said workbench in its erect and its collapsed configuration.

Claim 49

A workbench defined in claim 11, further comprising a bar extending diagonally between the supporting structure and the base structure, and pivotally secured at one end of said bar to one of said base and said supporting structure, and having means at the other end of said bar for releasably locking to the other of said supporting structure and said base structure, thereby to hold said workbench in its erect and its collapsed configuration.

Claim 50

A workbench defined in claim 9, wherein said intermediate structure comprises a pair of parallel forwardly facing frame members pivotally connected at their top and bottom to said top structure and said base structure respectively, and said diagonal brace means include a bar on each side of said hexahedron extending from a position adjacent and rearward of the front face of said hexahedron diagonally across the side face to a position forward of and adjacent the back face of said hexahedron whereby the workbench may be erected to said erected position wherein said top structure is disposed above and parallel to said base structure and may be folded to said storage position wherein said top structure is disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to said base structure.

Claim 51

A workbench defined in claim 9, wherein: said base structure has a plan area larger than the plan area of said top structure and includes, in both the erected and the storage positions of said intermediate structure, a fixed, rigidly extending, integral load bearing platform upon which, in the erected position of said intermediate structure, a person can stand beside the top structure.

Claim 52

A workbench as defined in claim 36, wherein said base structure has a plan area larger than the plan area of said top structure, and includes a rigidly extending, unobstructed load bearing platform upon which a person can stand beside the top structure when said workbench is in said erect configuration.

Claim 53

The workbench as defined in claim 11 wherein: the connections of one of said frame members to said top and base structures are slightly higher than the corresponding connections of the other of said frame members to the top and base structures, whereby said higher connected frame may lie adjacent and parallel to said lower connected frame member without interfering therewith when said workbench is in said storage position.

Claim 54

A workbench as defined in claim 11, wherein said base structure has a plan area larger than the plan area encompassing said work surface, and constitutes a load-bearing platform upon which a person can stand beside said top structure in line with the direction of movement of said one of said vise members.

Claim 55

The workbench defined in claim 9, wherein: said intermediate structure comprises a pair of parallel disposed frame members hingably connected at the top and bottom thereof to said top structure and said base structure, respectively; the connections of one of said frame members to said top and base structures are slightly higher than the corresponding connections of the other of said frame members to the top and base structures; whereby, said lower connected frame member may lie adjacent and parallel to said higher connected frame member without interfering therewith when said workbench is in said storage position.

Claim 56

A workbench as claimed in claim 9, including a pair of vice operating devices, each comprising a screw threaded rod extending substantially at right angles to the length of the stationary vice member.

Claim 57

A workbench as claimed in claim 42 in which each screw threaded rod is axially fixed at its end adjacent the stationary vice member and extends through a nut secured to the movable vice member.

Claim 58

A workbench as defined in claim 9, wherein said mounting means comprises: vise operating means operatively coupled to each end of at least one of said vise members for positively moving each end of said one of said vise members independently with respect to the other end toward and away from the other said vise member whereby the gap between the two elongate faces may be greater at one end than at the other end.

Claim 59

A workbench as defined in claim 9, wherein: said top structure includes a pair of horizontally spaced support members extending generally at right angles to the direction of elongation of one of the vise members, clamping face and supporting the vise members from below, and means constraining the vise members against upward movement relative to the support members; said mounting means includes vise operating means for positively moving one of said vise members toward and away from the other said vise member, said vise operating means including a pair of spaced vise operating devices, and means operatively coupling each vise operating device to at least one of the members for enabling the opposed ends of the vise members to be spaced at different distances from each other.

Claim 60

A workbench as defined in claim 45, wherein each said vise operating device includes an independently operable vise operating screw threaded rod which is operatively coupled to a threaded receptacle connected to the movable vise member by a vertical pivotal connection which enables the gap between the vise members at one end to be greater than the gap at the other end.

Claim 61

A workbench as defined in claim 45, wherein said support members further comprises means formed therein defining longitudinally extending locating surfaces; and said coupling means further comprises a coupler pivotally connected to the underside of said one of said vise members and having means formed on said coupler defining a corresponding locating surface for contacting one of said support member locating surfaces to limit lateral movement of said one of said vise members relative to said support members.

Claim 62

A workbench as defined in claim 10, wherein said intermediate structure comprises a pair of parallel disposed frame members hingably connected at the top and bottom thereof to said top structure and said base structure, respectively.

Claim 63

A workbench as defined in claim 10, wherein said diagonal brace is connected between the rear of said base structure and the front of said top structure, one end of said brace being received on a track to which it may be secured to hold said workbench in erected position and on which it may slide when said workbench is folded to said storage position.

Claim 64

A workbench as defined in claim 48, wherein the connections of one of said frame members to said top and base structures are higher than the corresponding connections of the other of said frame members to the top and base structures, whereby said lower connected frame member may lie parallel and adjacent to said higher connected frame member without interfering therewith when said workbench is in said storage position.

Claim 65

A workbench as defined in claim 7, wherein said mounting means comprises: two independently operable vise operating devices connected between said vise members at locations spaced lengthwise there along and operative to positively move one of said vise members towards and away from the other of said vise members thereby the gap between said vise members may be greater at one end thereof than at the other.

Claim 66

A workbench as defined in claim 51, wherein said each of said vise operating devices includes a handle for manually manipulating said vise operating devices, said handles being connected to said workbench in a position overlying said load-bearing platform.

Claim 67

A workbench as defined in claim 12 wherein said intermediate structure comprises a pair of parallel disposed frame members hingably connected at the top and bottom thereof to said supporting structure and said base structure, respectively.

Claim 68

A workbench as defined in claim 53 wherein the connections of one of said frame members to said supporting structure and said base structure are slightly higher than the corresponding connections of the other of said frame members to the supporting structure and base structure, whereby said lower connected frame member may lie substantially parallel to said base when said workbench is in said storage position and said higher connected frame member may overlie said lower connected frame member in adjacent parallel relationship thereto without interfering therewith when said workbench is in said storage position.