Garden bench

• US 6,105,509 A
• Filed: 07/01/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheryl L. Altfeder
• Original Assignee: Cheryl L. Altfeder
• Inventors: Altfeder, Cheryl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/345,360
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 108/42, 108/47, 108/134, 108/108, 248/240, 248/240.3, 248/240.4, 248/290.1, 248/308
• US Class Current: 108/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 43/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling folding of the cabinet or the like

Abstract

A collapsible workbench mounts to a wall and is movable between a deployed position and a storage position. A support structure is secured to the wall for supporting the bench in a generally horizontal deployed position. The support structure allows the bench to be detached from the wall or, alternatively, folded down to a storage position adjacent to the wall.

Claims

1. A collapsible bench adapted to be mounted to a wall, comprising:

a) a bench having a top, bottom, and a plurality of sides; and

b) a support structure adapted to be secured to the wall for supporting the bench in a generally horizontal deployed position and permitting the bench to be detached from the support structure or folded down to a storage position adjacent to the wall wherein the bench remains to be supported by the support structure, said support structure comprising

i) a mounting bracelet including a planar portion and a sleeve, said planar portion adapted to be affixed to the wall, and

ii) a generally j-shaped support hook including a shank and an upwardly curved portion for engaging the bench at an inner portion of said upwardly curved portion, said shank received within said sleeve and rotatable therein about a vertical axis such that said hook may be rotated about an arc of approximately 180 degrees to lie flush against the wall on either side of the sleeve and may additionally be positioned generally normal to the plane of the wall such that the bench may be removably positioned on said upwardly curved portion.

2. The collapsible bench according to claim 1 further comprising a support member being secured to the bottom of the bench and rotates against the bottom of the bench in the stowed position.

3. The collapsible bench according to claim 1 further including one or more tool supports mounted along a side of the work surface.

4. A folding workbench comprising:

a) a work surface having a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides;

b) a wall mounted support for rotatably mounting the work surface to a wall or other vertical surface so that the work surface is movable between a generally horizontal deployed position in which the workbench extends generally perpendicularly from the wall and a storage position in which the workbench is folded down against the wall, said workbench being removable from said wall-mounted support, said wall mounted support comprising;

i) a mounting bracelet including a planar portion and a sleeve, said planar portion adapted to be affixed to the wall or other vertical surface, and

ii) a generally j-shaped support hook including a shank and an upwardly curved portion, said shank received within said sleeve and rotatable therein such that said hook may be rotated about an arc of approximately 180 degrees to lie flush against the wall or other vertical surface on either side of the sleeve and may additionally be positioned generally normal to the plane of the wall such that the work surface may be removably positioned on said upwardly curved portion; and

c) a support member engaging the bottom of the work surface and the wall when the work surface is in the deployed position so as to support the work surface in the deployed position, said support member being movable to a stowed position that allows the work surface to rotate to a storage position against the wall.

5. The folding workbench according to claim 4 wherein the support member is secured to the bottom of the workbench and rotates against the bottom of the workbench in the stowed position.

6. The collapsible bench according to claim 4 further including one or more tool supports mounted along a side of the work surface.

7. The collapsible bench according to claim 4 wherein the work surface includes a plurality of openings to permit debris and water to fall through said work surface.

8. A garden bench comprising:

a) a wall mounting structure adapted to be attached to a vertical surface, said wall mounting structure comprising;

i) a mounting bracelet comprising a planar portion and a sleeve, said planar portion adapted to be secured to the vertical surface with a fastener; and

ii) a generally j-shaped hook including an upwardly curved portion and a shank, said shank received within said sleeve and rotatable therein along a vertical axis such that the upwardly curved portion may be positioned generally parallel to said planar portion in a stored position and normal to said planar portion in an active position;

b) a work bench including a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides, said bench including a plurality of perforations extending from said top, through said bench to said bottom, at least one of said plurality of perforations adapted to slide over said upwardly curved portion such that said work bench is removably positioned on said wall mounting structure and further able to rotate on said upwardly curved portion between a horizontal active bench position and a vertical stored bench position;

c) at least one tool support mounted along a side of the work bench;

d) a support clamp attached to the bottom of the work bench;

e) a triangular support having a vertical member and a horizontal member, said horizontal member rotatably positioned within said support clamp such that said triangular support may be moved between an active support position and a stowed support position, wherein said vertical member is vertical in said active support position and flush against said bottom in said stowed support position; and

f) whereby said work bench may be positioned on said wall mounting structure by moving said j-shaped hook to the active position and sliding one of said perforations thereon and subsequently the work bench may be moved to the active bench position by rotating said upwardly into a horizontal posture and unfolding said triangular support so that said support is in said active support position, and further the bench may be moved to a stowed bench position by folding said triangular support against the bottom of said bench and rotating said bench into a generally vertical stored posture.