Work Station for Holding Objects

The present invention relates to a work station for holding objects.

There is a great need, both in industry as well as in the private sector, for work stations with which objects can be held in order to be able to work on them.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a work station that is economical to produce and has a very flexible range of use .

This object, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first exemplary embodiment of the inventive work station;

FIGS. 2a-2c show various cross-sectional views of the work station of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 is an isometric view of a further exemplary embodiment of an inventive work station;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are views of the work station of FIG. 3 with objects being held;

FIGS. 5a-5c show various mounting arrangements for the work station; and

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded isometric view of a stand or support that can be provided for the work station.

The work station of the present invention comprises a frame, a slide block that is displaceably guided in the frame, wherein the block and the frame are provided with upwardly open holes, means for displacing the block in the frame, and holding pins insertable in the holes.

With the inventive work station, the object that is to be held can not only be held between an end face of the block and an end face of an opening of the frame in which the block is guided, which end face faces the block, but the object can also be held by holding pins that can be inserted from above into holes provided in the block and in the frame. The block and the frame thus preferably form a planar upper surface upon which the object that is to be held is placed and then held by the holding pins by moving the block relative to the frame. The inventive work station is compact and can be mounted at many different locations.

Further specific features of the present invention will be described in detail subsequently.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the work station has an overall rectangular frame 2 that comprises a U-shaped frame part 4 and a segment 6 that is fastened to the frame part 4. A carriage or slide block 8 is movable back and forth in the direction of the double arrow in an opening formed within the frame 2. The block 8 and the frame 2 form a planar upper surface in which are formed holes 10 for the insertion of holding pins 12. At least some of the holes 10 extend all the way through the frame 2.

Threaded holes 16 are provided in the outer peripheral surface 14 of the frame 2. In a through bore 18 formed in one peripheral end face of the frame 2 the end of a threaded rod 20 is accessible, for example in the form of a square end, so that a crank can be placed upon the threaded rod 20. Similarly, by means of a through bore that is not visible in FIG. 1, the threaded rod 20 is accessible from the outer side of the segment 6.

FIG. 2a shows a vertical cross-section through the frame 2 of FIG. 1 along the line 2a-2a thereof. The block 8 has a recess 22 in which is disposed a threaded bushing 24, the threads of which engage the threaded rod 20. The threaded bushing 24 is accommodated in the longitudinal direction of the threaded rod 20 while fitting in the recess 22. So that the threaded rod 20 is rotatable in the holding frame 2, yet is not longitudinally displaceable, it is provided, as can be seen from the enlarged end view of the threaded rod 20 and pertaining region of the frame 2 in FIG. 2b, with an annular groove 26 into which is snapped a spring element 30 that is disposed in a slot-like recess 28 of the frame 2. The spring or retainer element 30 has, for example, an overall U-shaped configuration, the elastically spreadable legs of which snap into the annular groove 26. In this way the threaded rod 20, only the central portion of which needs to be provided with a thread, cannot move in a longitudinal direction, yet is rotatably accommodated in the holding frame 2. As can further be seen, the end of the threaded rod 20 can, for example, be embodied as a square end 32 that is accessible from the outside of the frame 2 in order to be able to turn the threaded rod 20 with a tool.

FIG. 2c illustrates a cross-section through the work station along the line 2c-2c in FIG. 1. Disposed in the side surfaces of the frame 2 that are adjacent to the block 8 are flat or plate-like pieces 34 that act as guide means and are made, for example, of metal; the flat pieces 34 extend into corresponding grooves 36 of the block 8. The assembly of the work station will now be explained.

With the segment 6 removed, the flat pieces 34 and the threaded rod 20 are inserted into the open U-shaped frame part 4. The threaded rod 20 is secured in place by inserting the spring element 30. Subsequently, the block 8 is inserted, whereby the threaded rod 20 engages the threaded bushing 24 and is rotated until the block 8 is moved sufficiently far into the frame part 4. The segment 6 is then secured to the frame part 4, for example by being screwed thereto, by being adhesively fastened, etc., whereby the threaded rod 20 extends through a throughbore provided in the segment 6.

The thus-assembled work station provides an extremely flexibly usable tool on which very different types of components can be reliably held by inserting the holding pins 12 into the frame 2 and the block 8. By inserting screws from above through the holes 10, the frame 2 can be secured on any surface, or can be secured to side walls by means of the threaded holes 16 provided on the sides of the frame 2. The frame 2 can also be temporarily secured to some other component by screw clamps or the like.

The frame 2 and the block 8 can be made of all kinds of materials, such as wood, plywood or pressboard, plastic, metal, etc.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the inventive work station where two blocks 8 are provided that are longitudinally movable in the frame 2. The frame 2 again has a U-shaped frame part 4 and the segment 6. In addition, the separator 38 is provided that is either integrally formed with the frame part 4, or can be somehow connected thereto, such as being screwed thereto or adhesively secured thereto. It is to be understood that the blocks 8 are longitudinally guided along the frame part 4 and the separator 38.

Also indicated in FIG. 3 are wall sections 40 to which the peripheral surfaces of the frame 2 can be screwed or otherwise secured so that the work station forms the upper cover plate of a stand or support. It is to be understood that the wall sections 40 are provided with holes for inserting screws (not illustrated) that engage the threaded holes 16 of the frame 2, as well as with further holes 32' through which the ends of the threaded rod 20 are accessible.

It is furthermore to be understood that the two blocks 8 need not necessarily be disposed so as to be movable parallel to one another. In addition, a work station could be provided with more than two blocks.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show how various objects can be held in the work station of FIG. 3. For example, in FIG. 4a a round object 42 is held between the holding pins 12, two of which are securely held on the frame 2 while further pins are respectively disposed on the blocks 8. A bar-shaped object 44 is shown being held in FIG. 4b.

FIG. 5 shows various arrangements of work stations 50, each of which has the configuration shown in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 5a, the work station 50 forms the cover plate of a support having two side walls 52 that are secured to opposite peripheral surfaces of the work station 50. Provided below the work station 50 is a catch pan 54 for collecting dirt that results during the processing or mechanical treatment of a workpiece held by the work station 50. A cabinet 56 is built onto the side of the left side wall 52.

It is to be understood that the frame of the work station 50, with its separators, can be secured to the side walls 52 in such a way that the catch pan for the most part collects all dirt that results.

In FIG. 5b, the work station 50 is secured to four legs 60, which are additionally stabilized by means of braces 62.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 5c, the work station 50 is secured from above to a tabletop 64.

FIG. 6 shows a stand or support that can be advantageously used for a work station, which is not illustrated. The stand comprises two wall sections 70 that can be secured to one another by means of spacers 72 and screws 74 that can be screwed into the spacers through the wall sections 70. The spacers 72 are disposed in the corners of a case or box 76, which is embodied, for example, as profiled sheet metal, and whose front, upper rim is bent to form a slotted member 86 that is provided with slots 84. A door 88 rests against the slotted member 86 when closed in such a way that the upper ends of the slots 84 remain exposed. In this way, an electrical cord 94 that is guided through one of the slots 84 and is designed for a non-illustrated electrical device is accommodated in the slot 84 when the door is closed and locked such that it is secure from theft, so that at the same time the electrical device is protected from theft. Located in the box 76 is an electric terminal 90, which is in this way protected against unauthorized access.

The work station, which is not illustrated in FIG. 6, can be secured to the wall sections 70 via the threaded holes 16 (see FIGS. 1 or 3) provided in its peripheral surfaces. This is made possible in a particularly simple manner if the work station, with screws 74 loosely screwed therein, is placed from above into the slots 92 provided in the wall sections 70.

The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority document 197 44 624.8 of Oct. 9, 1997.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.