Folding work bench
View Patent ↗The folding work bench folds compactly for storage when not in use and occupies a minimal work space. The folding work bench has a durable work surface, a top storage shelf, a back board for hanging tools, a locking mechanism, and a work table that can be folded up against the back board and locked in a compactly folded configuration that also secures the tools on the back board in the work bench.
1. A folding work bench having a partially folded configuration for storage in a standing position, said folding work bench comprising:
a generally planar work table having a top work surface and an underside, and front, rear, left and right sides, said work table being pivotally movable between a folded position and an unfolded configuration;
a plurality of front legs pivotally connected to said front side of said work table;
at least one articulated strut having first and second links pivotally connected together, said first link pivotally connected to one of said plurality of front legs;
a generally planar back board member having a front side, a rear side, a top side and a bottom side and a pair of support struts, said pair of support struts being connected to and extending downwardly from said bottom side of said back board member, at least one of said pair of support struts being connected to said second link of said at least one articulated strut;
a plurality of rear legs pivotally connected to said pair of support struts and movable between a folded position and an unfolded position; and
wherein said folding work bench is movable between a folded configuration in which said work table is in said folded position and said plurality of rear legs are in said folded position, an unfolded configuration in which said work table is in said unfolded configuration and said plurality of rear legs are in said unfolded position, and a partially folded configuration in which said work table is in said folded position and said plurality of rear legs are in said unfolded position, whereby said folding work bench is configured to be stored in said partially folded configuration in a standing position supported by said plurality of rear legs.
2. The folding work bench of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of front legs have a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, and said folding work bench is configured to be stored in said partially folded configuration in a standing position supported by said plurality of rear legs with said plurality of front legs in said folded configuration, and said partially folded configuration in a standing position supported by said plurality of rear legs with said plurality of front legs in said unfolded configuration.
3. The folding work bench of claim 1 , wherein said work table further comprises at least one sliding drawer.
4. The folding work bench of claim 1 , wherein said front legs comprise bottom folding end pieces.
5. The folding work bench of claim 1 , wherein said rear legs are connected by a cross brace.
6. The folding work bench of claim 1 , further comprising a top storage shelf mounted to said top side of said back board member.
7. The folding work bench of claim 6 , wherein said top storage shelf includes a fluorescent light.
8. The folding work bench of claim 6 , wherein said top storage shelf includes an electrical outlet.
9. The folding work bench of claim 1 , further comprising a locking device for locking said work table in the folded position.
10. The folding work bench of claim 9 , wherein said locking device comprises a pair of opposing locking pins connected to a locking handle, said locking pins moveable between an inwardly withdrawn unlocking position and an outwardly extending locking position, and a pair of opposing locking struts mounted to said back board member and extending in the transverse direction toward the front side of the back board member, each of said opposing locking struts including an aperture for receiving said locking pins in said outwardly extending locking position.