Modular workbench system

• US 20040124751A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Starr, Todd Christopher, Stout, Mark Allen, Arent, Thomas Wesley, Wisnoski, John Richard, Steinkuhl, Allan Ray, Patricio, Kenneth L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,926,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/249.9
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/064 with power rail running along the back of the desk top and projecting upwards
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/02 of table type

Abstract

A heavy-duty workbench with strong metal legs and a thick hardwood top. The workbench can provide docking space for three modules that can function as an additional work surface when pulled out from under the workbench or when used alone. The modules can be provided with an optional hardwood top. The modules can have large heavy-duty casters to facilitate easy movement for use and cleaning. The workbench and modules are designed for use in non-climate controlled spaces such as a garage where temperature and humidity extremes are common. Electrical outlets can be provided in an optional backsplash mounted at the rear edge of the workbench.

Claims

1. A modular workbench system comprising:

a workbench having an elongated workbench top supported on a plurality of spaced apart legs positioned at opposite ends of said workbench top, said workbench defining a space bounded by the floor, said plurality of spaced apart legs and said workbench top for docking a plurality of mobile modules; and

one or more modules movably mounted on casters and sized for docking underneath said workbench top for storage and access, and for movement from underneath said workbench top for rearrangement of said modules, and for access to said modules away from said workbench for use as a mobile worksurface or for cleaning under said workbench, said one or more movable modules being selected from the group including, but not limited to, a drawer module having a plurality of pullout drawers, a storage cabinet module having a pair of doors to close said storage cabinet, and a refrigerator module for providing refrigerated storage, wherein said modules have a cabinet and said casters for respective modules are sized so that each of said modules mounted on their respective casters are approximately the same height.

2. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein the casters for said modules include two fixed casters at the front of said module aligned with the sidewalls of said module and two pivotal casters at the rear of said module, thereby facilitating docking and withdrawal of said modules from underneath said workbench top along a path parallel to said plurality of spaced apart legs positioned at opposite ends of said workbench top.

3. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein said workbench defines a space for docking three modules.

4. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein said workbench has a backsplash mounted adjacent to said workbench top having a front vertical surface adjacent said workbench top, said backsplash includes one or more electrical outlets on said front vertical surface, and said electrical outlets are connected to power cord extending from said backsplash to connect said electrical outlets to a power source.

5. The modular workbench system of claim 4 wherein said backsplash has a rear vertical surface opposite said front vertical surface and said backsplash includes one or more electrical outlets on said rear vertical surface.

6. The modular workbench system of claim 4 wherein the first of said electrical outlets connected to said power cord is a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet mounted on said front vertical surface and the remaining electrical outlets are connected to said power cord through said ground fault circuit interrupter outlet.

7. The modular workbench system of claim 4 wherein said electrical outlets are connected to said power cord through an ON/OFF switch mounted on said front vertical surface.

8. The modular workbench system of claim 4 wherein said electrical outlets are connected to said power cord through and overload protector.

9. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein said workbench system is adapted to be used in a non-climate controlled space and said workbench top comprises laminated elongated hardwood strips, and said spaced apart legs at opposite ends of said workbench top have a plate connecting the tops of said spaced apart legs at each end of said workbench top, and said plate has a plurality of elongated mounting holes for receiving a threaded fastener for connecting said spaced apart plurality of legs at opposite ends of said workbench to said workbench top to allow expansion and contraction of said workbench top due to changes in humidity.

10. The modular workbench system of claim 9 wherein said elongated mounting holes in said plate connecting said spaced apart legs at opposite ends of said workbench top are elongated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the elongated strips comprising said workbench top.

11. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein said spaced apart legs at opposite ends of said workbench top are connected by a stringer and said stringer includes a plate positioned against said workbench top and includes a plurality of mounting holes for receiving fasteners for connecting said workbench top to said stringer.

12. The modular workbench system of claim 11 wherein said mounting holes in said stringer are sized to receive said fasteners.

13. The modular workbench system of claim 11 wherein said stringer has a plurality of vents through said stringer for venting the space underneath said workbench to prevent heat build up when a refrigerator module is included in the workbench system.

14. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein said workbench top comprises laminated elongated maple strips.

15. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said modules has a top surface having a perimetrical flange extending above the top surface of said module and is arranged to receive and retain an optional wood top on said module.

16. The modular workbench system of claim 15 wherein said optional wood top comprises laminated elongated maple strips.

17. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart legs has a leveling mechanism at the bottom end of said legs to level said workbench.

18. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein said workbench system is adapted for use in an unheated space and said refrigerator module is provided with means for heating the inside the refrigerator and control means to activate said heating means when the temperature in said unheated space is close to or less than freezing to prevent items stored in said refrigerator module from freezing.

19. The modular workbench system of claim 1 wherein each of said modules has a pair of sidewalls each having a bumper strip adjacent the bottom edge of said sidewalls a predetermined distance from the floor to prevent each of said modules from scraping an adjacent module upon withdrawal or docking of said modules under said workbench.

20. The modular workbench of claim 19 wherein each of said bumper strips on the sidewalls of said drawer module and said storage cabinet module extend around the intersections of said sidewalls and the front and rear walls of said modules and terminate a predetermined distance from the intersection of the sidewalls with the front and rear walls.

21. A modular workbench system comprising:

a workbench having first and second leg assemblies each comprising a pair of spaced apart legs connected together;

a stringer for connecting said first and second leg assemblies and fasteners connecting said stringer to said first and second leg assemblies for forming a leg and stringer assembly;

a workbench top supported on said leg and stringer assembly and fasteners connecting said leg and stringer assembly to said workbench top, said workbench defining a space bounded by the floor, said first and second leg assemblies, said stringer and said workbench top for docking a plurality of mobile modules; and

one or more modules movably mounted on casters and sized for docking underneath said workbench top for storage and access, and for movement from underneath said workbench top for rearrangement of said modules, and for access to said modules away from said workbench for use as a mobile worksurface or for cleaning under said workbench, said one or more modules being selected from the group including, but not limited to, a drawer module having a plurality of pullout drawers, a storage cabinet module having a pair of doors to close said storage cabinet, and a refrigerator module for providing refrigerated storage, wherein said modules have a cabinet and said casters for respective modules are sized so that each of said modules mounted on their respective casters are generally the same height, and wherein said casters include two fixed casters at the front of said modules aligned with the sidewalls of said modules and two pivotal casters at the rear of said modules thereby facilitating docking and withdrawal of said modules from underneath said workbench top along a path parallel to said first and second leg assemblies.

22. The modular workbench system of claim 21 wherein said workbench system is adapted for use in a non-climate controlled space and said workbench top comprises laminated elongated hardwood strips, and said first and second leg assemblies have a plate connecting the tops of spaced apart legs and said plate has a plurality of elongated mounting holes for receiving a threaded fastener for connecting said first and second leg assemblies to said workbench top and to allow expansion and contraction of said workbench top due to changes in humidity.

23. The modular workbench system of claim 22 wherein said elongated mounting holes in the plate connecting said spaced apart legs in said first and second leg assemblies are elongated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the elongated strips comprising said workbench top.

24. The modular workbench system of claim 21 wherein said stringer includes a plate positioned against said workbench top and includes a plurality of mounting holes for receiving fasteners for connecting said workbench top to said stringer.

25. The modular workbench system of claim 21 wherein said workbench top comprises laminated elongated maple strips.

26. The modular workbench system of claim 21 wherein said workbench has a backsplash mounted to said workbench top having a front vertical surface adjacent said workbench top, said backsplash includes one or more electrical outlets on said front vertical surface, and said electrical outlets are connected to power cord extending from said backsplash to connect said electrical outlets to a power source.

27. The modular workbench system of claim 26 wherein the first of said electrical outlets connected to said power cord is a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet mounted on said front vertical surface and the remaining electrical outlets are connected to said power cord through said ground fault circuit interrupter outlet.

28. The modular workbench system of claim 26 wherein said electrical outlets are connected to said power cord through an ON/OFF switch mounted on said front vertical surface.

29. The modular workbench system of claim 26 wherein said electrical outlets are connected to said power cord through an overload protector.

30. The modular workbench system of claim 26 wherein said electrical outlets are connected to said power cord through a surge protector.

31. The modular workbench system of claim 26 wherein said backsplash has a rear vertical surface opposite said front vertical surface and said backsplash includes one or more electrical outlets on said rear vertical surface.

32. The modular workbench system of claim 21 wherein each of said spaced apart legs in said first and second leg assemblies has a leveling mechanism at the bottom end of said legs to level said workbench.

33. The modular workbench system of claim 21 wherein each of said modules has a pair of sidewalls each having a bumper strip adjacent the bottom edge of said sidewalls to prevent each of said modules from scraping an adjacent module upon withdrawal or docking of said modules under said workbench.

34. The modular workbench of claim 33 wherein each of said bumper strips on the sidewalls of said drawer module and said storage cabinet module extend around the intersections of said sidewalls and the front and rear walls of said modules and terminate a predetermined distance from the intersection of the sidewalls with the front and rear walls.

35. A modular workbench system adapted for use in a non-climate controlled space comprising:

a workbench having first and second leg assemblies each comprising a pair of spaced apart legs connected together and having a plate connecting the tops of spaced apart legs, said plate having a plurality of elongated mounting holes for slideably receiving a threaded fastener;

a stringer for connecting said first and second leg assemblies and having a vertical plate and a mounting flange having a plurality of mounting holes for receiving a fastener;

fasteners connecting said vertical plate of said stringer to said first and second leg assemblies for forming a leg and stringer assembly;

a workbench top comprising laminated elongated maple strips supported on said leg and stringer assembly;

fasteners connecting said plate of said first and second leg assemblies and said stringer mounting flange to said workbench top whereby said elongated holes in said first and second leg assembly plates allow expansion and contraction of said workbench top due to changes in humidity;

a backsplash mounted to said workbench top having a front vertical surface adjacent said workbench top, and said backsplash includes one or more electrical outlets on said front vertical surface connected to a power cord extending from said backsplash to connect said electrical outlets to a power source;

said workbench defining a space bounded by the floor, said first and second leg assemblies, said stringer and said workbench top for docking a plurality of mobile modules; and

one or more modules movably mounted on casters and sized for docking underneath said workbench top for storage and access, and for movement from underneath said workbench top for rearrangement of said modules, and for access to said modules away from said workbench for use as a mobile worksurface or for cleaning under said workbench, said one or more modules being selected from the group including, but not limited to, a drawer module having a plurality of pullout drawers, a storage cabinet module having a pair of doors to close said storage cabinet, and a refrigerator module for providing refrigerated storage, wherein said modules have a cabinet and said casters for respective modules are sized so that each of said modules mounted on their respective casters are substantially the same height, wherein said casters include two fixed casters at the front of said modules aligned with the sidewalls of said modules and two pivotal casters at the rear of said modules thereby facilitating docking and withdrawal of said modules from underneath said workbench top along a path parallel to said first and second leg assemblies, and wherein said one or more of said modules has a top surface having a perimetrical flange extending above the top surface of said module and is arranged to receive and retain an optional wood top comprising laminated elongated maple strips.

36. The modular workbench system of claim 35 wherein said workbench defines a space for docking three modules.

37. The modular workbench system of claim 35 wherein one or more of said modules has a cabinet height different that the height of the cabinet of one or more of the other modules.

38. A modular workbench system adapted for use in an unheated, non-climate controlled space comprising:

a workbench having first and second leg assemblies each comprising a pair of spaced apart legs connected together and having a plate connecting the tops of spaced apart legs said plate having a plurality of elongated mounting holes for slideably receiving a threaded fastener;

a stringer for connecting said first and second leg assemblies and having a vertical plate and a mounting flange having a plurality of mounting holes for receiving a fastener;

fasteners connecting said stringer vertical plate to said first and second leg assemblies for forming a leg and stringer assembly;

a workbench top comprising laminated elongated maple strips supported on said leg and stringer assembly;

fasteners connecting said leg and stringer assembly to said workbench top whereby said elongated holes in said first and second leg assembly plates allow expansion and contraction of said workbench top in a direction perpendicular to said elongated dimension of said laminated maple strips due to changes in humidity;

a backsplash mounted to said workbench top having a front vertical surface adjacent said workbench top, said backsplash includes one or more electrical outlets on said front vertical surface connected to a power cord extending from said backsplash to connect said electrical outlets to a power source;

said workbench defining a space bounded by the floor, said first and second leg assemblies, said stringer and said workbench top for docking three mobile modules; and

one, two or three modules movably mounted on casters and sized for docking underneath said workbench top for storage and access, and for movement from underneath said workbench top for rearrangement of said modules, and for access to said modules away from said workbench for use as a mobile worksurface or for cleaning under said workbench, said one, two or three modules being selected from the group including, but not limited to, a drawer module having a plurality of pullout drawers, a storage cabinet module having a pair of doors to close said storage cabinet, and a refrigerator module for providing refrigerated storage and having heating means for heating the inside of said refrigerator module and control means to activate said heating means when the temperature in said unheated space is close to or less than freezing to prevent items stored in said refrigerator module from freezing, wherein said modules have a cabinet and one or more of said modules has a cabinet having a height different than the other modules and said casters for respective modules are sized so that each of said modules mounted on their respective casters are substantially the same height, and wherein said casters include two fixed casters at the front of said modules aligned with the sidewalls of said modules and two pivotal casters at the rear of said modules thereby facilitating docking and withdrawal of said modules from underneath said workbench top along a path parallel to said first and second leg assemblies.

39. The modular workbench system of claim 38 wherein said stringer has a plurality of vents through said stringer for venting the space underneath said workbench to prevent heat build up when a refrigerator module is provided in the workbench system.

40. The modular workbench system of claim 38 wherein each of said spaced apart legs in said first and second leg assemblies have a leveling mechanism at the bottom end of said legs to level said workbench.

41. The modular workbench system of claim 38 wherein said backsplash has a rear vertical surface opposite said front vertical surface and said backsplash includes one or more electrical outlets on said rear vertical surface.

42. The modular workbench system of claim 38 wherein each of said modules has a pair of sidewalls each having a bumper strip adjacent the bottom edge of said sidewalls to prevent each of said modules from scraping an adjacent module upon withdrawal or docking of said modules under said workbench.

43. The modular workbench of claim 42 wherein each of said bumper strips on the sidewalls of said drawer module and said storage cabinet module extend around the intersections of said sidewalls and the front and rear walls of said modules and terminate a predetermined distance from the intersection of the sidewalls with the front and rear walls.