Mobile project center system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11084163-B2
Application number	US-201715813327-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2017
Priority date	Nov 16, 2016
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A mobile project center system is presented that includes a center track having a pair of center supports and a pair of legs connected to the center support. A pair of benchtops are connected to the center track and move between an extended position and a retracted position. A pair of braces connect to each benchtop and provide support between the benchtop and the legs. These braces are locked and unlocked using a brace lock controlled by a brace control positioned just below the benchtops. A shelf extends between the opposing pairs of legs that transitions from a folded position and an extended position. The benchtop includes a plurality of openings in a grid pattern that facilitate attachment of various devices such as a joinery block. The system is used to perform a number of operations and converts between a plurality of configurations.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A workbench system, comprising;
a first benchtop;
the first benchtop having an upper surface, a lower surface and an edge;
a slot positioned in the lower surface of the first benchtop;
the slot extending a length of the first benchtop;
wherein the slot is formed of a recess in the lower surface of the first benchtop and a flange positioned along an inward edge and an outward edge of the recess thereby forming a T-slot;

a project clamp;
the project clamp having a lower clamp arm, an upper clamp arm and a clamping mechanism;

wherein when the lower clamp arm of the project clamp is engaged with the slot of the first benchtop, the project clamp is slidable along a length of the slot of the first benchtop;
wherein when the lower clamp arm of the project clamp is engaged with the slot of the first benchtop the upper clamp arm is positioned above the upper surface of the first benchtop;
wherein when the lower clamp arm of the project clamp is engaged with the slot of the first benchtop the project clamp is configured to provide a clamping force that is perpendicular to the upper surface of the first benchtop.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lower clamp arm of the project clamp includes a clamp pad that is received within the slot of the first benchtop.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slot is formed of a recess in the first benchtop and a flange connected to an inward edge and an outward edge of the recess, wherein the first benchtop is formed of a plastic material and the flanges are formed of a metallic material.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slot in the first benchtop is a T-slot.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slot in the first benchtop extends the entire length of the first benchtop and the project clamp may be positioned along the length of the slot in the first benchtop.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a track having a slot configured to receive a bench clamp, wherein an upper surface of the track is in approximate flush alignment with the upper surface of the first benchtop when the first benchtop is in an extended position.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a track having a slot configured to receive a bench clamp, wherein an upper surface of the track is in approximate flush alignment with the upper surface of the benchtop when the first benchtop is in an extended position, wherein the track extends in an approximate parallel spaced relation to the slot in the lower surface of the benchtop.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first benchtop moves between an extended position and a retracted position.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising folding legs operatively connected to the first benchtop.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slot in the lower surface of the first benchtop holds the project clamp when the project clamp is in an unclamped position, thereby preventing the project clamp from detaching from the first benchtop.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a center support operatively connected to the benchtop;
at least one mounting member positioned in the center support;
a bench clamp having a clamp arm, a clamping mechanism and an anchor;
wherein the anchor is configured to engage the at least one mounting member;
wherein when the anchor is engaged with the at least one mounting member the bench clamp applies a clamping force parallel to a plane formed the upper surface of the first benchtop.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a center support;
the first benchtop operatively connected on a first side of the center support;
a second benchtop operatively connected on a second side of the center support;
wherein the first benchtop and the second benchtop are configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first benchtop includes a grid of spaced openings, wherein the grid of openings are configured to receive alignment accessories therein.

14. A workbench system, comprising:
a first benchtop;
the first benchtop having an upper surface, a lower surface and an edge;
a slot positioned in the lower surface of the first benchtop;
the slot extending a length of the first benchtop;
wherein the slot in the lower surface of the first benchtop is formed by attaching a flange along an inward edge and an outward edge of a recess in the lower surface of the first benchtop thereby forming a T-slot;

a project clamp;
the project clamp having a lower clamp arm, an upper clamp arm and a clamping mechanism;

wherein when the lower clamp arm of the project clamp is engaged with the slot of the first benchtop, the project clamp is slidable along a length of the slot of the first benchtop;
wherein when the lower clamp arm of the project clamp is engaged with the slot of the first benchtop the upper clamp arm is positioned above the upper surface of the first benchtop;
wherein when the lower clamp arm of the project clamp is engaged with the slot of the first benchtop the project clamp is configured to provide a clamping force that is perpendicular to the upper surface of the first benchtop.

15. A workbench system, comprising;
a center support;
the center support having an upper surface;
a slot positioned in the upper surface of the center support;
a first benchtop and a second benchtop operatively connected to the center support;
the first benchtop and the second benchtop having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a slot positioned in the lower surface of the first benchtop;
wherein the slot in the first benchtop is formed of a recess in the lower surface of the first benchtop and a flange positioned along an inward edge and an outward edge of the recess thereby forming a T-slot;
wherein the first benchtop and the second benchtop are configured to move between an extended position, wherein the upper surface of the first benchtop and second benchtop are in approximate flush alignment with the upper surface of the center support, and a retracted position;
wherein the slot in the lower surface of the first benchtop is configured to receive a project clamp;
wherein the project clamp is configured to clamp workpieces against the upper surface of the first benchtop;
wherein the slot in the upper surface of the center support is configured to receive an anchor of a bench clamp;
wherein the bench clamp is configured to clamp workpieces against the upper surface of the workbench.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a project clamp; wherein the project clamp has a lower clamp arm, an upper clamp arm and a clamping mechanism; wherein when the lower clamp arm of the project clamp is engaged with the slot of the first benchtop the upper clamp arm is positioned above the upper surface of the first benchtop.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a project clamp; wherein when a lower clamp arm of the project clamp is engaged with the slot of the first benchtop, the project clamp is slidable along a length of the first benchtop.

18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a project clamp; wherein when the anchor of the bench clamp is engaged with the slot of the center support, the bench clamp is slidable along a length of the center support.

19. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a project clamp; wherein a lower clamp arm of the project clamp includes a clamp pad that is received within the slot of the first benchtop.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein

Assignees

• Strempke Shelby Lee
• Good Fredrick James
• Kreg Enterprises Inc

Inventors

• Strempke Shelby Lee
• Good Fredrick James

Classifications

• B25H1/12

  with storage compartments · CPC title

• B25H3/003

  Holders for drill bits or the like · CPC title

• A47B13/088

  Sectional table tops · CPC title

• A47B13/081

  Movable, extending, sliding table tops · CPC title

• B25H1/08

  with provision for attachment of work holders · CPC title