Working apparatus having a transportable trestle

Abstract

The invention relates to a working apparatus (1) having a trestle (2) which, for the use thereof as intended, can assume a working configuration, and for the transport thereof can assume a transport configuration. The trestle (2) has a support body (4) suitable for objects to be placed thereon, and standing leg structures (8, 9) arranged in a positionally variable manner on the support body (4). A transport container (3) having a carrying handle (13) is used for transport of the trestle (2), which transport container can be a component separate to the trestle (2), or a component of the trestle (2) directly forming the support body (4).

Description

[0001] Working device with a portable workbench

[0002] The invention relates to a work device with a transportable work trestle, wherein the work trestle has a support body defining an object support surface, extending in a trestle longitudinal direction and two support leg structures which are attached or can be attached to the support body in a positionally variable manner at leg fastening interfaces arranged at a distance from one another in the trestle longitudinal direction, and wherein the work trestle can be brought optionally into a working configuration enabling its intended use with support leg structures projecting from the support body into a use position transversely to the trestle longitudinal direction or into a transport configuration provided for the transport of the work trestle with support leg structures moved towards the support body in a non-use position.

[0003] A work device of this type known from US 2007 / 0131306 A1 contains a work trestle with a beam-like structured support body and two support leg structures, each consisting of two supporting legs, which are pivotably mounted on the support body at leg fastening interfaces arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the trestle. The support leg structures can be positioned in a use position folded away from the support body, which defines a working configuration of the work trestle in which the work trestle, placed on any floor surface, can be used for work in which objects to be processed can be placed on an upward-facing object support surface of the support body. The object can be, for example, a workpiece to be processed by means of a machine.For simplified transport between different locations, the trestle can be reconfigured into a transport configuration by folding the support leg structures toward the support body in a non-use position. A handle can be attached to the support body. Extendable extension arms can be used to increase the object support surface of the trestle.

[0004] US 4,155,386 discloses a collapsible workbench with two wooden panels defining a work surface and two support leg structures mounted on the wooden panels at a distance from each other. Each support leg structure has two legs that can be pivoted relative to each other and locked in a spread-apart position.

[0005] From EP 2 450 156 Bl it is known to equip foldable sawhorses with a locking mechanism by means of which the two sawhorses can be coupled together to enable them to be transported together.

[0006] EP 0 555 533 B1 discloses a stackable case that can be used as a transport container. It is equipped with a coupling system that allows several stacked cases to be releasably coupled to one another to form a uniformly transportable stack. The object of the invention is to provide a working device equipped with a portable work stand, which has a space-saving and easily transportable work stand.

[0007] To achieve this object, it is provided in a work device in conjunction with the features mentioned at the outset that the support body can be reconfigured to shorten the work stand in such a way that the distance between the two leg fastening interfaces in the transport configuration of the work stand is smaller than in the working configuration, and that the work device has a transport container having an interior space with the aid of which the work stand can be transported when it adopts its transport configuration which is shortened compared to the working configuration, wherein the transport container has at least one carrying handle which can be grasped for manually transporting the work stand.

[0008] The working device according to the invention allows space-saving and very handy transport of the associated work stand. The handling required when transporting the work stand is comparable to that required when using any transport container used for other transport purposes, which enables the work stand to be very easy to handle. For transport, the work stand can be shortened compared to its usual length by simply reconfiguring it, so that the dimensions of the transport container used to transport the work stand can be adapted to a container size that is common, for example, for storage containers used to transport power tools or other tools. This allows space-saving integration into a system of stackable and uniformly transportable containers, if required.For manual transport of the trestle, at least one carrying handle of the transport container belonging to the work device can be used. In the transport configuration of the trestle, not only is the length of the trestle shortened, but also the transverse dimensions of the trestle are reduced due to the leg structures being moved closer to the support body. Thus, in the transport configuration of the trestle, the work device has extremely compact dimensions, which not only facilitate manual transport but also allow for storage together with other transport containers in a service vehicle as needed.To implement the work device, for example, a work stand can be combined with a separate transport container, so that the intended use of the work stand takes place without the transport container, and combination with the transport container to form a transport unit only needs to be used for the actual transport purposes. In another configuration, however, the transport container can also function directly as a support body for the work stand, so that it forms an integral part of the work stand both during its intended use and during transport.

[0009] Advantageous further developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0010] In order to keep the dimensions of the transport container as small as possible and yet still maintain a conveniently usable height distance between the object support surface and a floor surface on which the work stand is placed when using the work stand in the working configuration, the vertical height of the support leg structures measured in the working configuration is expediently greater than the height of the transport container properly placed on the floor surface.

[0011] It is expedient if the support body of the work trestle, regardless of whether it also functions as a transport container or not, has a multi-part structure, namely with two support body elements, each of which has one of the two leg attachment interfaces and which are movable relative to one another to change the distance between the two leg attachment interfaces. The two support body elements can, for example, be displaceable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the trestle, wherein telescoping can be provided. In another embodiment, the two support body elements can be pivotable relative to one another, so that the support body can be folded together for reconfiguration to shorten its length.

[0012] Each support leg structure is expediently arranged so as to be pivotable with respect to the support body at its assigned leg fastening interface. In this way, the support leg structures can be folded away from the support body in the working configuration of the trestle, assuming their position of use, and can be folded towards the support body in the transport configuration of the trestle, assuming their position of non-use. The leg fastening interface is in particular designed as a pivot bearing device. Since the support leg structures preferably have a permanent connection to the support body here, accidental loss, for example on a confusing construction site, can be avoided. In addition, the trestle can be reconfigured very quickly and easily.

[0013] Both support leg structures can, for example, each be designed as a uniformly handled structure. For example, each support leg structure contains a single support leg with a relatively large standing surface to achieve a high level of stability, for example in a T-shaped configuration with the T-crosspiece as a storage section that can be placed on a floor surface. In another preferred embodiment, each of the two support leg structures has two individual support legs which, due to appropriately designed leg fastening structures, can be pivoted relative to the support body between the non-use position and the use position and can be pivoted relative to one another in a transverse direction of the trestle that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the trestle so that they can be folded towards and spread apart.Each supporting leg structure advantageously contains a stabilizing device for releasably fixing the spread-apart position, for example a foldable stiffening strut or a locking mechanism.

[0014] Instead of using a pivot bearing, the support leg structures can also be fixed to the support body using a plug-in connection device, with the relevant leg fastening interface being designed as a plug-in interface. In the working configuration of the trestle, each support leg structure is plugged onto the support body via the associated leg fastening interface when it assumes its position of use, and in the transport configuration of the trestle, it is removed from the support body when it assumes its non-use position. In the transport configuration, the removed support leg structures are moved closer to the support body by being placed next to or in the support body after being removed, for example by placing them in the transport container of the trestle.

[0015] Preferably, each of the two support leg structures is telescopically variable in length, assuming an extended state in the use position and a retracted state in the non-use position with a shorter overall length compared to the use position. In this way, the support leg structures can be shortened for a particularly space-saving transport configuration of the work stand, regardless of the height level of the object support surface in the extended state of the use position of the support leg structures.

[0016] Regardless of whether the transport container is designed separately from the work trestle or forms the support body of the work trestle, it is advantageous if the transport container has two container elements which are located opposite one another in a container height direction and can be pivoted relative to one another in order to predetermine either a closed state which closes off the container interior or an open state of the transport container which makes the container interior accessible. When the transport container is used as a support body, the container height direction can be oriented in particular in a vertical trestle height direction or in a horizontal trestle transverse direction, depending on the design of the work trestle. At least one carrying handle which can be used to grasp the transport container for manual transport of the work trestle is arranged on the outside of one of the two container elements.Preferably, a carrying handle in the form of a bow handle is located on an outer side of the other container element opposite one container element. It has proven particularly advantageous for combined use with transport containers used for other transport tasks if the transport container of the working device has a rectangular layout with, in particular, sides of unequal length, preferably in a format of approximately 40 cm by 30 cm.

[0017] Preferably, the transport container usable for transporting the work stand is equipped with a coupling system designed to stack the transport container and at least one additional storage container having a similar coupling system on top of one another and to detachably couple them together in a manner that cannot be separated from one another to create a uniformly transportable container stack. This opens up the advantageous possibility of transporting and storing the work stand in conjunction with storage containers that contain, for example, tools typically used on construction sites, in a space-saving and captive manner. Such other storage containers can be equipped, for example, with power tools such as cordless screwdrivers, saws or grinders.

[0018] The coupling system of the transport container preferably has an upper coupling device in the region of a container top side and a lower coupling device in the region of a container bottom side. These two coupling devices are adapted to one another in such a way that containers sitting on top of one another can be releasably connected to one another in a non-removable manner by coupling the mutually facing upper and lower coupling devices. In the coupled state, a tensile-resistant connection is created in the stacking direction, which connection can be released by decoupling the associated coupling devices. By lifting the uppermost container, be it the transport container of the work stand or another storage container, the entire container stack can be lifted and transported.

[0019] In a simple design, the work device contains only the work stand with an integrated or additional transport container. In a further development, the work device additionally contains one or more storage containers, which have a coupling system similar to the transport container and can be detachably coupled to the transport container of the work stand.

[0020] As already mentioned at the beginning, the work stand can be a separate component of the work device from the transport container, whereby in the working configuration it is separated from the transport container and can be used individually and independently of the transport container for its intended purpose. In this case, for transport purposes, the work stand is combined with the transport container in the transport configuration to form a transport unit which can be transported by grasping at least one carrying handle of the transport container. One advantage of this design is that commercially available transport containers can be used to implement the work device with little or no modification.

[0021] A particularly simple implementation of the basic idea of ​​a transport container that is separate from the work stand is to use the interior of the transport container to accommodate the work stand that assumes the transport configuration in order to create the transport unit. The work stand that assumes the transport configuration can then be inserted into the interior of the transport container with a simple movement of the hand to form the transport unit. In this context, it is advantageous if the transport container has two container elements that are pivotally connected to one another, as mentioned above, one of which forms a container base and the other a container lid arranged on the container base.To specify the closed or open state of the transport container, the container lid can be selectively positioned between a closed position that closes the container interior and can be releasably locked, and an open position that makes the container interior accessible. The at least one and preferably only carrying handle is expediently arranged on the outside of the container lid, in particular on an upper side of the container lid facing away from the container base.

[0022] In a transport container that is separate from the work stand, it is advantageous if the transport container has a support structure on the outside to which the work stand assuming the transport configuration can be or is releasably fastened to form the aforementioned transport unit. This opens up the possibility of using the interior of the transport container, which is equipped on the outside with the work stand assuming the reduced transport configuration, for other storage purposes, for example, to accommodate a power tool or other processing machine.

[0023] To implement the transport unit, one and the same transport container can be designed so that it can be used either to place a work stand inside the container or to attach it to the outside of the container. In particular, this also makes it possible to transport two work stands in a transport configuration simultaneously, by placing one inside the container and the other outside the container housing.

[0024] The support structure for a work stand that can be attached to the outside of the transport container is expediently arranged on an outer surface of the transport container that is oriented orthogonally to a container height direction, wherein the transport container has the at least one carrying handle, in particular, on a container top oriented in the container height direction. The dimensions of the work stand in the transport configuration are preferably reduced such that the work stand attached to the transport container extends exclusively within the outline of the container outer surface provided with the support structure.

[0025] As already mentioned at the beginning, in a preferred embodiment of the working device, the transport container is a direct, integral component of the work stand, with the transport container forming the support body of the work stand. The transport container and support body therefore represent one and the same component of the work stand. This eliminates the need for a separate transport container. The working device can thus be realized with a particularly small number of components. Furthermore, the transport container cannot be lost while the work stand is in use.

[0026] A possible further development of this working device provides that the support leg structures are arranged on the outside of the support body, which also functions as a transport container, in the transport configuration of the work stand. The support leg structures are, for example, folded up onto the support body or, after being removed from the support body, are fixed to the outside of the support body in some other way. The interior of the transport container or support body can then be used for other storage purposes. However, a further development of the working device is preferred in which the interior of the transport container forming the support body, in the transport configuration of the work stand, defines a receiving space for the two support leg structures which assume the non-use position, so that the support leg structures are accommodated in the support body when the work stand is transported.This results in a particularly space-saving arrangement in which the support leg structures do not protrude beyond the outer contour of the transport container.

[0027] It is advantageous if the accommodation space for the work stand has a rectangular outline. Preferably, the entire interior of the container is used as accommodation space for the work stand. Optimum use of space is possible if the support leg structures which assume the non-use position are accommodated in the accommodation space with a diagonal alignment with regard to the rectangular outline. If the support leg structures are designed with multiple sections in order to enable a length variation in their longitudinal direction, in particular as telescopic support leg structures, the diagonal length provided of the accommodation space can make it possible to accommodate a support leg structure with only two sections, the two leg sections of which are sufficiently long to define a support leg length in the use position which ensures a sufficient working height of the support surface of the support body.

[0028] The transport container, which also functions as a support body, preferably has two container elements which are pivotably fixed to one another and which each form one of two support body elements of the support body. In the working configuration of the work trestle, the two support body elements assume an unfolded position, arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the trestle, and in the transport configuration of the work trestle, they assume a folded-down position, arranged next to one another orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the trestle. Each support body element has one of the two leg fastening interfaces. The pivot angle for the configuration change is preferably 180 degrees. Both support body elements expediently have the same length in the longitudinal direction of the trestle. When the support body is unfolded, the length of the support body doubles in particular.

[0029] The two leg attachment interfaces are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the trestle in the working configuration. This may also be the case in the transport configuration, but with a smaller distance than in the working configuration.

[0030] In the transport configuration of the trestle, the leg attachment interfaces are advantageously arranged next to one another transversely to the trestle's longitudinal direction. Depending on the orientation of the pivot axis, this means that the leg attachment interfaces are positioned next to one another in the trestle's transverse direction or in the trestle's vertical direction. Preferably, the leg attachment interfaces are at the same height relative to the trestle's longitudinal direction when the support body is folded down.

[0031] Each of the two support body elements expediently has two mutually opposite axial end faces oriented in the longitudinal direction of the bracket, which in particular have at least substantially a rectangular outline. When the support body elements are positioned one behind the other, one of the end faces of one support body element faces an end face of the other support body element, wherein said end faces in particular bear against one another, so that the two support body elements support one another and the unfolded support body has a high level of stability. In the region of the two end faces, which face one another in the position one behind the other, the two support body elements are expediently fixed to one another in a pivotable manner by a hinge device, wherein the hinge device defines a pivot axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the bracket.

[0032] The support body is in particular dimensioned such that it has outer sides of unequal length, with its greatest length in one direction. Preferably, when the support body elements are folded together, the support body has an at least substantially cuboidal contour, with one of the three edge lengths of the cuboid shape being greater than the other two edge lengths and defining the said greatest length of the support body. The support body is now preferably arranged such that - viewed in the side-by-side position - the greatest length of the support body extends in the longitudinal direction of the trestle, so that when the support body elements are folded out, the length of the support body increases in the longitudinal direction of the greatest length. In particular, the length of the greatest length doubles.

[0033] A pivot axis, defined in particular by a hinge device, with respect to which the two support body elements can be pivoted relative to one another for the purpose of changing position, preferably extends in a horizontal transverse direction of the support body that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the support body or in a vertical vertical direction of the support body that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the support body. For a support body having a greatest length according to the above explanations, it is advantageous if the pivot axis extends orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the greatest length.

[0034] When viewing the work stand in its ready-to-use configuration, the two support body elements can be pivotally mounted relative to each other, either with a horizontally or vertically oriented pivot axis. This allows for influencing which of the outer sides of the support body elements defines the object support surface when positioned one behind the other.

[0035] Each of the two support body elements expediently has an object support surface section on an upper side oriented in a trestle height direction orthogonal to the trestle longitudinal direction and the trestle transverse direction. In the ready-to-use configuration of the trestle, each object support surface section points vertically upwards. When the two support body elements are unfolded, one behind the other, these object support surface sections complement each other to form a strip-like object support surface extending in the trestle longitudinal direction. The object support surface sections of the two support body elements can, for example, be arranged on the outer sides of the two support body elements, which lie next to each other and point in the same direction when the two support body elements are positioned next to each other, or which face away from each other when the two support body elements are positioned next to each other.In this way, for example, it is possible to influence whether the strip-like object support surface has a narrow or a relatively wide shape. Each object support surface section can be formed on a replaceable support plate of the associated support element. This allows for replacement in the event of damage. Likewise, it is possible to optionally install support plates with differently structured object support surface sections.

[0036] Each object support surface section can have fastening structures for attaching external objects, for example in order to clamp a workpiece to be machined using clamping devices.

[0037] It is advantageous if the support body has at least one securing device that enables a releasable, non-pivotable fixation of the two support body elements in both the side-by-side and the one-behind position. The securing device can have a separate securing unit for each of the two positions. Each securing unit can be designed, for example, as a tension lock.

[0038] Preferably, the two support body elements each have a receiving recess open on the side facing the other support body element in the juxtaposed position, which together delimit the container interior when the support body elements are in the juxtaposed position. To create the receiving recess, the respective support body element is expediently designed in a shell-shaped manner.

[0039] The container interior defined by the two receiving recesses can as a whole form the receiving space for the support leg structures. However, for optimum use of the container interior, it is advantageous if the receiving recess of each support body element is divided into a plurality of receiving compartments by at least one partition wall, so that the container interior formed when the support body elements are positioned next to one another has a plurality of interior compartments, one of which forms the receiving space for receiving the support leg structures which are in the non-use position, and at least one further interior compartment is provided for receiving additional objects, for example tools.

[0040] One of the two support body elements expediently has at least one carrying handle on its outer side facing away from the other support body element in the juxtaposition. The other of the two support body elements is expediently provided with a support foot structure on its outer side facing away from the other support body element in the juxtaposition, which support foot structure can be used to place the transport unit on a base.

[0041] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show:

[0042] Figure 1 shows a preferred first embodiment of the working device according to the invention with a transport container separate from a work stand, wherein the formation of a functional unit consisting of a work stand and a transport container is illustrated in a handling sequence illustrated by figures (a) to (f),

[0043] Figure 2 shows a further working device in a representation corresponding to Figure 1, comprising a work stand and a separate transport container, Figure 3 shows a further preferred embodiment of the working device according to the invention with a transport container integrated into a work stand to form a support body, wherein the work stand is shown in a ready-to-use configuration in which it is placed on a floor surface formed, for example, by a building floor, while assuming a working configuration,

[0044] Figure 4 shows the work stand from Figure 3 in the working configuration in a perspective view from below, with a dash-dotted area of ​​a safety device being illustrated separately again in an enlarged section,

[0045] Figure 5 shows the work stand of Figures 3 and 4 in a side view looking in the direction of arrow V in Figure 3 in an intermediate configuration in which the supporting leg structures are shown in a non-use position folded up against the still unfolded support body in comparison to the use position shown in Figures 3 and 4, wherein additionally some areas of the support body or transport container relating to a safety device are shown in separate enlarged sections (a), (b) and (c) in alternative modified embodiments,

[0046] Figure 6 shows the arrangement from Figure 5 with the opposite viewing direction according to arrow VI from Figure 4, Figure 7 shows the working device of Figures 3 to 6 in a transport-ready transport configuration of the work stand,

[0047] Figure 8 shows an end section of a modified embodiment of a working device compared to the design of Figures 3 to 7 in the ready-to-use configuration of a work stand, showing an advantageous possibility for the design and attachment of a support leg structure, of which the non-use position is also shown in dashed lines in addition to the use position,

[0048] Figure 9 shows a modified embodiment of the working device compared to the embodiment of Figures 3 to 8, with a work stand shown in a ready-to-use configuration analogous to Figure 3, in which, compared to the design of Figures 3 to 8, the support body formed by a transport container has an orientation rotated by 90 degrees and in which, moreover, the support leg structures are preferably fixed non-pivotably and instead are removably fixed to the support body via plug-in interfaces, wherein a support leg of one of the support leg structures is additionally shown in a state removed from the support body in dash-dotted lines,

[0049] Figure 10 is an exploded view of a container stack assembly containing the transport container of a working device, the transport container being shown in a position arranged vertically between two storage containers used for other purposes, and Figure 11 is the container stack assembly from Figure 10 with the individual containers sitting on top of each other, some details of a coupling system provided for container coupling being visible in cutouts.

[0050] Unless otherwise stated in individual cases, the following statements refer to all embodiments of the working device according to the invention designated as a whole by reference number 1.

[0051] The working device 1 contains a portable work stand 2 and a transport container 3 that can be used to transport the work stand 2. The work stand 2 has a support body 4 onto which an object to be processed (not further illustrated in the drawing) can be placed during the intended use of the work stand 2.

[0052] 1 and 2, the work stand 2 and the transport container 3 are designed as separate device components of the work device 1, which are combined to form a transport unit 5, shown in illustration (f) of FIGS. 1 and 2, solely for the purpose of transporting the work stand 2. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 9, the transport container 3 is a direct, integral component of the work stand 2, forming the support body 4, so that the transport container 3 and the support body 4 are one and the same object. When reference is made below to the transport container 3, this also means the support body 4 in the case of a work stand 2 having an integrated transport container 3 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 9.In the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, the transport container 3 which can be coupled to one or more further containers referred to as storage containers 7 to form a container assembly 6 can be either a transport container which is separate from the work stand 2 or a transport container 3 which is integrated into a work stand 2 as a support body 4.

[0053] The trestle 2 can be manually converted between two design configurations that are particularly relevant for its handling. This is a working configuration, as shown in illustration (a) of Figures 1 and 2, as well as in Figures 3, 4, 8, and 9, and a transport configuration, as shown in illustration (f) of Figures 1 and 2, as well as in Figures 7, 10, and 11. The working configuration is provided for the intended use of the trestle 2, in which the trestle 2 is parked on any desired, in particular horizontal, floor surface 12 in a ready-to-use configuration with two of its associated support leg structures 8, 9, also referred to below as first and second support leg structures 8, 9. This is illustrated in illustrations (a) of Figures 1 and 2, as well as in Figures 3, 8, and 9.The floor area 12 belongs, for example, to a building floor or to any open space outside of buildings.

[0054] The transport configuration is intended for the simple and compact transport of the work stand 2, wherein the transport can be carried out manually with the assistance of the aforementioned transport container 3, namely using a carrying handle 13 that can be grasped with one hand and is an integral component of the transport container 3. The transport container 3 can have several carrying handles 13 that can be used alternatively or cumulatively for transport purposes, wherein the present description refers to an embodiment with only a single carrying handle 13, without this being intended to be a restriction.

[0055] In its ready-to-use configuration, the trestle 2 assuming the working configuration has a trestle longitudinal axis 15a extending in a trestle longitudinal direction 15, a trestle transverse direction 16 which is orthogonal to the trestle longitudinal direction 15 and formed by the axial direction of a trestle transverse axis 16a, and a trestle height direction 17 which is orthogonal to both the trestle longitudinal direction 15 and the trestle transverse direction 16 and is the axial direction of a trestle vertical axis 17a. In the ready-to-use configuration, the trestle longitudinal direction 15 and the trestle transverse direction 16 usually run at least substantially horizontally, whilst the trestle height direction 17 is oriented vertically. The following explanations refer to the configuration of the workbench 2 ready for use, unless otherwise stated in individual cases.

[0056] The support body 4 extends in the longitudinal direction 15 of the support frame. It preferably has a longitudinal extension with a greatest length extending in the longitudinal direction 15 of the support frame. The support body 4 is, for example, beam-shaped as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or plate-shaped as shown in Figures 3 and 9.

[0057] In two areas spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle, one of two leg attachment interfaces 18, 19 is formed on the support body 4, which are also referred to below as first and second leg attachment interfaces 18, 19. The first supporting leg structure 8 is attached to the first leg attachment interface 18, and the second supporting leg structure 9 is attached to the second leg attachment interface 19 in a position-variable manner. By position-variable is meant that the leg attachment interfaces 18, 19 make it possible to change a relative position between the supporting leg structures 8, 9 and the support body 4.

[0058] In the working configuration of the trestle 2, the two support leg structures 8, 9 each assume a use position protruding from the support body 4 transversely to the trestle longitudinal direction 15. In the ready-to-use configuration, the support leg structures 8, 9 project downwards from the support body 4. Each support leg structure 8, 9 has an upper end section assigned to the leg fastening interface 18, 19, referred to below as the coupling section 21, and an opposite lower end section forming a parking section 22 with which the support leg structure 8, 9 can be parked on the floor surface 12.

[0059] The transport configuration of the work stand 2 can be adjusted by the aforementioned change in position of the support leg structures 8, 9. The support leg structures 8, 9 each assume a non-use position moved closer to the support body 4, as can be seen, for example, in Figure 1 (c), Figure 2 (d), Figure 5, Figure 7, and - in dashed lines - Figure 8.

[0060] The support leg structures 8, 9 expediently each have a longitudinal extension between the coupling section 21 and the parking section 22, wherein in the transport configuration they extend in the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle, either substantially parallel thereto or at an angle of inclination which is smaller than in the position of use and which is in particular an acute angle.

[0061] The support body 4 has an object support surface 23 which, in the ready-to-use configuration, points upwards in the trestle height direction 17 and extends in the trestle longitudinal direction 15. The object support surface 23 has a strip-like shape, being narrower in the trestle transverse direction 16 than in the trestle longitudinal direction 15. The object support surface 23 is suitable for supporting an object to be processed, for example a workpiece.

[0062] The object support surface 23 can be provided with fastening structures 24 for releasably securing a workpiece or other object to be machined and / or a processing machine. According to Figures 3 to 7, the fastening structure 24 can be a hole structure consisting of a plurality of fastening holes in which clamping elements can be releasably secured.

[0063] In the transport configuration, the work trestle 2 has a shorter length in the trestle longitudinal direction 15 compared to the working configuration. This shorter length is due in particular to a shortening of the support body 4, which is designed for corresponding length-related reconfiguration. The variation in the length of the support body 4 is accompanied in particular by a change in the distance between the two leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 arranged on the support body 4. Their mutual distance is smaller in the transport configuration of the work trestle 2 than in the working configuration. Expediently, the two leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 are arranged at a maximum distance from one another in the trestle longitudinal direction 15 in the working configuration of the work trestle 2.In comparison, the mutual distance between the two leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 is smaller in the transport configuration, which also includes the case that there is no longer any distance between the two leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 in the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle because the two leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 are arranged next to one another transversely to the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle and are accordingly at the same height in the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle. The latter applies exemplarily to the embodiments of Figures 1 and 3 to 9, whereas in the embodiment of Figure 2 there is a certain longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle between the two leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 even in the transport configuration.

[0064] Changing the length of the support body 4 is particularly easy to implement if the support body 4 is constructed in multiple parts according to the illustrated embodiments. For this purpose, it has two support body elements 25, 26, which, for ease of differentiation, are also referred to below as the first support body element 25 and the second support body element 26. At least in the working configuration, the two support body elements 25, 26 are arranged consecutively in the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle.

[0065] Each support body element 25, 26 has one of two object support surface sections 23a, 23b, which in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 3 to 9 complement each other to form the object support surface 23. According to the embodiment of Figure 2, an extension element 32 supporting a further object support surface section can additionally be present to form the object support surface 23.

[0066] One of the two leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 is arranged on each of the two support body elements 25, 26. The leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 are expediently located on an underside 27 of the support body 4 opposite the object support surface 23 in the trestle height direction 17. Each support body element 25, 26 has a front end section 28 facing the other support body element 26, 25 in the working configuration and a rear end section 29 opposite thereto. The leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 are expediently located in the region of the rear end sections 29.

[0067] In order to vary the length of the support body 4, the two support body elements 25, 26 can be displaceable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle, which applies to the exemplary embodiment in Figure 2 and is illustrated there by double arrows 31. The two support body elements 25, 26 can, for example, engage with one another in a telescopically displaceable manner. An extension element 32 integrated between the two support body elements 25, 26 can optionally be present, which likewise forms a surface section of the object support surface 23. In the working configuration, the two support body elements 25, 26 are pulled apart while maintaining a coherent structure, whereas in the transport configuration they are pushed together according to the arrows 31a shown in Figure 2 (b). Figure 2 (c) shows the relative position of the two pushed-together support body elements 25, 26 in the transport configuration.In the other illustrated embodiments, the two support body elements 25, 26 can be pivoted relative to one another in order to change the configuration as part of a pivoting movement 33 indicated by a double arrow with respect to a pivot axis 34. In the working configuration, the two support body elements 25, 26 are arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle, which is referred to as a one-behind position for easier differentiation. In the transport configuration, the two support body elements 25, 26 lie next to one another according to Figure 1 (d) and Figure 7, so that one can speak of a side-by-side position. According to Figure 1 (d), the two support body elements 25, 26 are arranged horizontally next to one another, whereas according to Figure 7 they are arranged vertically next to one another, in other words one above the other.It can be said that the two support body elements 25, 26 can be folded open into a position one behind the other or folded closed into a position next to each other, depending on the direction of the pivoting movement 33. The pivoting angle for the pivoting movement 33 occurring in this case is, for example, 180 degrees.

[0068] 1 and 3 to 9, each support body element 25, 26 has, at its two axial end sections 28, 29, an axial end face 35, 36 oriented in the longitudinal direction 15 of the bracket, which in the case of the front end section 28 is referred to as the front end face 35 and in the case of the rear end section 29 as the rear end face 36. In the one behind the other position during the working configuration, the front end faces 35 of the two support body elements 25, 26 face one another and, in particular, rest against one another. This particularly involves large-area contact. At the same time, the two rear end faces 36 point in opposite directions of the longitudinal direction 15 of the bracket.

[0069] The pivot axis 34 is expediently located in the transition region between the two adjacent front end faces 35, in particular on an edge of the respective front end face 35. To define the pivot axis 34, a hinge device 37 is provided, which is only schematically indicated and by means of which the two support body elements 25, 26 are pivotally fixed to one another in the region of the front end faces 35. The hinge device 37 contains, for example, two hinge elements, each attached to one of the two support body elements 25, 26, with aligned hinge eyes through which a hinge pin is inserted, the longitudinal axis of which defines the pivot axis 34.

[0070] The preferred position of the pivot axis 34 can best be explained with reference to the folded-up position of the two support body elements 25, 26 next to one another, which is clearly visible in Figure 7, for example. Due to the folded-up state of the two support body elements 25, 26, the two front end faces 35 and the two rear end faces 36 each point in the same direction of the longitudinal direction 15 of the bracket. The two front end faces 35 are at least substantially at the same height in the longitudinal direction 15 of the bracket, and expediently lie in a common plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 15a of the bracket. The pivot axis 34 extends in the transition region between the two front end faces 35, which is realized by an appropriately placed hinge device 37.Each support body element 25, 26 has two first and second element outer surfaces 38, 39 that are opposite and facing away from one another. In the working configuration, the two first element outer surfaces 38, 38 and the two second element outer surfaces 39, 39 adjoin one another and, in particular, each lie in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle. The two first element outer surfaces 38, 38 together define a first side surface 42 of the unfolded support body 4, while the two second element outer surfaces 39, 39 together define a second side surface 43 of the support body 4 that is opposite the first side surface 42 and transverse to the longitudinal direction 15 of the trestle. In the folded-up, side-by-side position, the support body elements 25, 26 advantageously lie against one another with their mutually facing second element outer surfaces 39, 39, so that they can support one another.

[0071] Figure 7 illustrates that the two leg attachment interfaces 18, 19, which are only indicated here by dashed lines, are preferably at the same height in the folded side-by-side position with respect to the longitudinal direction 15 of the frame.

[0072] The support body 4 is designed in particular such that, in the juxtaposition of the two support body elements 25, 26 as shown, for example, in Figure 1 (d) and Figure 7, it has a greatest length "Lmax" which extends in the longitudinal direction 15 of the bracket. In every direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 15 of the bracket, the dimensions of the support body 4 are smaller than the said greatest length "Lmax". This configuration results in the advantage that when the support body elements 25, 26 are unfolded, the length of the support body 4 increases in the longitudinal direction of the greatest length "Lmax", which, in concrete terms, is a doubling of the length. In the unfolded, side-by-side position of the support body elements 25, 26, the support body 4 thus has a length which corresponds to twice the greatest length "Lmax" of the folded support body 4.This results in the largest possible usable object support surface 23 in the working configuration in conjunction with a support body 4 that can be folded up extremely compactly for the transport configuration.

[0073] Each support body element 25, 26 has, in addition to the front and rear end faces 35, 36 and the first and second element outer faces 38, 39, two opposing third and fourth element outer faces 44, 45, which are each aligned perpendicular to the two end faces 35, 36 and to the first and second element outer faces 38, 39. Although the first, second, third and fourth element outer faces 38, 39, 44, 45 have the same length in the longitudinal direction 15 of the bracket, they differ in their width orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 15 of the bracket. In particular, the first and second element outer faces 38, 39 have a greater width than the third and fourth element outer faces 44, 45.

[0074] Depending on how the orientation of the pivot axis 34 is selected, it can be specified whether one of the first and second element outer surfaces 38, 39 or one of the third and fourth element outer surfaces 44, 45 forms the object support surface section 23a, 23b contributing to the formation of the object support surface 23. Thus, in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 3 to 8, the pivot axis 34 is aligned in the vertical trestle height direction 17, which has the result that the third element outer surfaces 44, 44 point vertically upwards and, in the unfolded, one behind the other position of the support body elements 25, 26, together define a relatively narrow, strip-shaped object support surface 23.

[0075] In the embodiment of Figure 9, however, the pivot axis 34 runs in the transverse direction 16 of the support body, wherein, in the unfolded, one behind the other position of the support body elements 25, 26, their first element outer surfaces 38, 38 point vertically upwards and together form the object support surface 23. In this case, too, the object support surface 23 has a strip-like longitudinal shape, but with a greater width in the transverse direction 16 of the support body than in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 3 to 8.

[0076] While in the exemplary embodiments of Figures 1 and 3 to 8 the object support surface sections 23a, 23b of the two support body elements 25, 26 are located on such outer sides, namely on the two third element outer surfaces 44, 44, which lie next to one another in the side-by-side position and point in the same direction, the object support surface sections 23a, 23b in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 9 are arranged such that in the side-by-side position of the two support body elements 25, 26 shown in Figure 7 they are arranged in a manner facing away from one another on opposite outer sides, namely on the two first element outer surfaces 38, 38.

[0077] In each support body element 25, 26, the object support surface section 23a, 23b can be formed on a support plate 94 which can be replaced if necessary.

[0078] The support body 4 is expediently equipped with at least one securing device 46 which enables the two support body elements 25, 26 to be fixed in a non-pivotable manner relative to one another in both the side-by-side position and the position behind one another.

[0079] Preferably and by way of example, the securing device 46 contains separate first and second securing units 46a, 46b for the side-by-side position and the one-behind position, wherein, by way of example, the first securing unit 46a is designed to secure the side-by-side position and the second securing unit 46b is designed to secure the one-behind position.

[0080] Each securing unit 46a, 46b preferably has two securing components that can be releasably locked together, one of which is arranged on the first support body element 25 and the other on the second support body element 26. For example, the securing units 46a, 46b are designed as tension locks according to the illustrated embodiment, which have a tension hook as the first securing element and a movable tension bow as the second securing element, wherein the tension bow can be manually brought into and out of engagement with the tension hook in order to activate or deactivate the respective securing unit 46a, 46b.

[0081] In the illustrated embodiments, the securing units 46a, 46b are attached to the outside of the respective support body element 25, 26. They can be placed directly so that they protrude beyond the outer surface of the associated support body element 25, 26. However, according to the sections illustrated in Figures 5 (a), 5 (b) and 5 (c), there is the advantageous possibility of accommodating the securing units 46a, 46b countersunk in wall recesses 47 of the associated support body element 25, 26. According to the dashed representation 48 in Figure 5, there is also the possibility of arranging one or more of the securing units 46a, 46b on an inner surface of the support body elements 25, 26.This is particularly true in connection with a preferred embodiment also implemented in the illustrated embodiments, in which the two support body elements 25, 26 each have a receiving recess 51a, 51b, the open sides of which are assigned to the second element outer surfaces 39, so that when the two support body elements 25, 26 are arranged side by side they face one another, so that together they delimit a support body interior 52 enclosed by the support body 4. In this context, it is advantageous if, according to the illustrated embodiments, the two support body elements 25, 26 are each designed to be shell-shaped. In this case, the second element outer surfaces 39 are limited to the edge surfaces of the wall sections of the respective support body element 25, 26 that frame the receiving recesses 51.

[0082] Alternatively, it is possible to form the securing device 46 for the side-by-side and the one-behind positions integrally with the hinge device 37. Advantageously, the hinge device 37 is designed such that it can be locked in both the side-by-side and the one-behind positions.

[0083] As already mentioned at the beginning, the working device 1 has a transport container 3 equipped with a carrying handle 13, with the aid of which the work stand 2 can be transported easily and in a space-saving manner by hand when in its transport configuration. In the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, the transport container 3 is a separate device component from the work stand 2; in the embodiments of Figures 3 to 9, it is formed as a structural unit with the support body 4.

[0084] The transport container 3 has a first container element 53 and a second container element 54. In the embodiments of Figures 3 to 8, the first container element 53 represents the first support body element 25 and the second container element 54 represents the second support body element 26.

[0085] The transport container 3 has a container vertical axis 55a extending in a container vertical direction 55. The two container elements 53, 54 are located opposite each other in the container vertical direction 55 and can be pivoted relative to each other about a pivot axis, referred to as the container pivot axis 56, to enable a pivoting movement 57 indicated by a double arrow, which for ease of differentiation is also referred to as the container element pivoting movement 57.

[0086] Together, the two container elements 53, 54 delimit a container interior 58 which is accessible from the outside in an open state, as shown for example in Figure 2 (e) or in Figure 5, and which is sealed in a manner inaccessible from the outside in a closed state, as shown for example in Figure 1 (f), Figure 2 (f) and Figure 7.

[0087] Preferably, the second container element 54 forms a container lower part 54a, while the first container element 53 forms a container lid 53a. During the container element pivoting movement 57, the container lid 53a can be pivoted toward the container lower part 54a such that the container interior 58 is closed, thereby defining the closed state. Furthermore, the container lid 53a can be pivoted upwards with respect to the container lower part 54a into an open position that makes the container interior 58 accessible, in which the transport container 3 is in the open state.

[0088] In the closed state, the transport container 3 can be grasped by the carrying handle 13 for transport purposes. The carrying handle 13 is expediently located on the outside of the first container element 53 so that it can be easily grasped from above when the transport container 3 is positioned with the vertical container axis 55a.

[0089] The carrying handle 13 is expediently an at least substantially U-shaped bow handle which is arranged pivotably on the first container element 53 according to the double arrow 50, so that it can be folded towards the first container element 53 when not in use and can be folded up relative to the first container element 53 when in use.

[0090] The transport container 3 is expediently equipped with a locking device 61, which makes it possible to releasably lock the first container element 53 in the closed position relative to the second container element 54, so that it cannot pivot. This ensures that the two container elements 53, 54 are securely held together when the transport container 3 is grasped by the carrying handle 13 arranged on a container top side 62 oriented upwards in the container height direction 55.

[0091] In a preferred embodiment, the transport container 3 is designed corresponding to the support body 4 described above with reference to Figures 3 to 9. The explanations therein therefore also relate directly to the transport container 3, wherein in the embodiments of Figures 3 to 9, the container pivot axis 56 corresponds to the pivot axis 34 and the container element pivot movement 57 corresponds to the pivot movement 33.

[0092] If the transport container 3 forms the support body 4, the locking device 61 can be formed by the securing device 46 and in particular by the first securing unit 46a, which applies to the embodiments of Figures 3 to 9.

[0093] In the working device 1 according to Figures 3 to 8, the transport container 3 functioning as a support body 4 is arranged in the ready-to-use configuration of the work stand with the container's vertical axis 55a aligned horizontally. The carrying handle 13 is located on one of the two outer surfaces 38 of the element. For transporting the work stand 2, the folded support body 4 or transport container 3 is expediently used in a spatial orientation shown in Figure 7, in which the container's vertical axis 55a is oriented vertically.

[0094] The same container orientation also occurs during transport of the folded work stand in the embodiment of Figure 9. There, however, the unfolded support body 4 or transport container 3 is oriented such that the container's vertical axis 55a is aligned vertically.

[0095] In the embodiments of Figures 3 to 9, the container interior 58 of the transport container 3 defines the support body interior 52 formed by the two receiving recesses 51a, 51b.

[0096] Transverse to the container height direction 55, the transport container 3 and thus also the support body 4 expediently have an at least substantially rectangular floor plan. The outer dimensions of the floor plan are in particular approximately 40 cm as the greatest length "Lmax" and 30 cm at a right angle thereto. With such container dimensions, optimal use together with other storage containers 7 is possible, which have comparable floor plans and are used, for example, for the storage and transport of machines to be used together with the work stand 2. As already mentioned, such storage containers 7 are illustrated in Figures 10 and 11.

[0097] According to the embodiment of Figure 2, the work stand 2 assuming the transport configuration can be combined with the transport container 3 to form a uniformly transportable transport unit 5 by being inserted into the container interior 58 of the transport container 3 according to arrow 64. Figure 2 (d) shows the work stand 2 in the transport configuration and Figure 2 (e) illustrates how the work stand 2 configured in this way is inserted according to arrow 64 into the container interior 58 which is accessible due to the first container element 53 being pivoted into an open position. Figure 2 (f) shows the finished transport unit 5 with the work stand 2 only indicated by dashed lines in the container interior 58 of the closed transport container 3 locked by the locking device 61.The pivoting carrying handle 13 is folded up according to the double arrow 50 into a use position indicated by a dash-dotted line, so that it can be grasped by a person with one hand to carry the transport container 3 containing the work stand 2.

[0098] According to the embodiment of Figure 1, the work stand 2, which assumes the transport configuration, can be releasably attached to the outside of the transport container 3 to form a transport unit 5. In this case, the transport container 3 has a holding structure 65 on its always-accessible outer surface, which allows for releasable fixation of the folded work stand 2.

[0099] The support structure 65 contains, for example, a locking mechanism or a latching mechanism that is matched to complementary structures of the work stand 2, allowing for simple attachment that can be easily removed again if necessary. For example, the support structure 65 can have one or more retaining straps that can be used to releasably secure the work stand 2.

[0100] Figure 1 (d) shows the work stand 2 in the transport configuration, which, as shown in Figure 1 (e), is attached to the support structure 65 according to arrows 66 for joining to the transport container 3. Figure 1 (f) shows the finished transport unit 5 with the carrying handle 13 folded up, similar to Figure 2 (f), for manual transport.

[0101] Since in the embodiment of Figure 1 the container interior 58 is not required for the transport of the work stand 2, the container interior 58 is available for other simultaneous use.

[0102] The holding structure 65 can be arranged at any desired location on the outside of the transport container 3. Preference is given to placement on a container outer surface 67 oriented orthogonally to the container height direction 55, which is in particular a front container outer surface 67a opposite the position of the container pivot axis 56, on which the locking device 61 is expediently also arranged. The work stand 2 and the transport container 3 are in particular coordinated with one another such that the work stand 2 fastened to the holding structure 65 in the transport configuration extends exclusively within the outline of the container outer surface 67 provided with the holding structure 65.

[0103] 10 and 11, it is advantageous if the outline of the transport unit 5 in a plane orthogonal to the container height direction 55 is at least substantially the same as or smaller than that of the other storage containers 7. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 to 9, a transport container 3 with the corresponding floor plan dimensions can be used without further ado. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, it is recommended to use the transport container 3 with a floor plan that is smaller than that of the storage containers 7, the space saved being able to be used for attaching the work stand 2.In this way, the floor plan of the transport unit 5 corresponds at least substantially to the same floor area grid as the receiving containers 7, despite the work stand 2 being located on the outside of the transport container 3.

[0104] The transport container 3 or the support body 4, which also represents a transport container 3, expediently has a support foot structure 68 on its outer side, with which the transport container 3 or the folded support body 4 can be placed securely on a base, for example on the floor surface 12, when not in use, in a manner that prevents it from tipping over. In the support body 4, the support foot structure 68 is expediently located on the first element outer surface 38 of the second support body element 26. Thus, the carrying handle 13 and the support foot structure 68 are arranged on opposite, mutually remote outer sides of the folded support body 4.

[0105] In the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 which have a separate transport container 3, the optional support foot structure 68 is located on the underside of the second container element 54 facing away from the first container element 53 in the container height direction 55.

[0106] The support foot structure 68 is expediently composed of a plurality of support feet 71 distributed over the associated outer surface of the transport container 3 or support body 4 and designed in the manner of projections with respect to the said outer surface.

[0107] The working device 1 is expediently designed such that the height "HS" of the support leg structures 8, 9 measured vertically in the ready-to-use configuration, which corresponds to the distance between the floor surface 12 and the lower edge 73 of the support body 4 (Figure 8), is greater than the height "HB" of the transport container 3 measured in the container height direction 55 (Figure 7), including the optional parking foot structure 68.

[0108] Due to the identical nature of the transport container 3 and the support body 4 in a configuration according to Figures 3 to 9, when the transport container 3 or the support body 4 is closed, the support body interior 52 is formed by the container interior 58. The support body interior 52 defines a receiving space 72 in which the support leg structures 8, 9, which assume their non-use position, are accommodated during transport of the work stand 2.For this purpose, the support leg structures 8, 9 are either folded against the support body 4 according to a first embodiment while maintaining their existing mechanical connection with the support body 4 so that they assume a position within the receiving space 72, or the support leg structures 8, 9 are removed from the support body 4 after releasing the mechanical connection and inserted into the receiving space 72 as an individual component according to a second embodiment. The first embodiment is implemented by way of example in the embodiments of Figures 3 to 8 and the second embodiment in the embodiment of Figure 9.

[0109] To implement the aforementioned first embodiment, each support leg structure 8, 9 is pivotally mounted on the support body 4 at its associated leg attachment interface 18, 19. For this purpose, each leg attachment interface 18, 19 is designed as a pivot bearing device 74, by which at least one pivot axis is defined, referred to as a support leg pivot axis 75 for ease of differentiation, about which the associated support leg structure 8, 9 can be pivoted relative to the support body 4 to change between the use position and the non-use position. The pivoting movement that can be carried out by the support leg structures 8, 9 in each case and is referred to as a support leg pivoting movement 76 for ease of differentiation is indicated in the drawing by double arrows.In Figure 5, the non-use position of the support leg structures 8, 9 folded up against the support body 4 is shown in solid lines and the folded-away use position is indicated by dashed lines.

[0110] Preferably, the support leg pivot axis 75 is aligned on the respectively assigned support body element 25, 26 such that, in the ready-to-use configuration of the workbench 2, it extends in a plane parallel to the trestle longitudinal axis 15a and the trestle vertical axis 17a. Thus, the support leg pivot movement 76 occurs transversely to the trestle longitudinal direction 15. In principle, however, a different alignment of the support leg pivot axis 75 is also possible, in particular such that the support leg pivot movement 76 occurs in a plane orthogonal to the trestle transverse axis 16a, which is the case in the embodiment of Figure 1.

[0111] The pivot bearing device 74 can be realized, for example, in that a tab arrangement is formed on the relevant support body element 25, 26, to which a bearing pin passing through the support leg structure 8, 9 is fixed, with respect to which the support leg structure 8, 9 can be pivoted.

[0112] By appropriately selecting a swivel axis inclination angle 77 present in the ready-to-use constellation between the trestle height direction 17 and a reference plane 70 orthogonal to the support leg swivel axis 75, which is indicated in Figures 5 and 8, it is possible, taking into account the shape of the support leg structures 8, 9, to influence the orientation of the support leg structures 8, 9 in relation to the associated support body element 25, 26 in the swiveled-in non-use position.

[0113] As far as the design of the support leg structures 8, 9 is concerned, these can have a simply angled longitudinal course, with a relatively short bearing section 78 assigned to the pivot bearing device 74 and a main longitudinal section 79 extending between the bearing section 78 and the parking section 22. In the exemplary embodiments of Figures 3 to 7, the design is such that the support leg structures 8, 9, in the non-use position, extend at least substantially and in particular with their main longitudinal section 79 within the receiving space 72 in a receiving space longitudinal direction 82 indicated by a dash-dotted line, which in the working configuration of the trestle 2 runs parallel to the trestle longitudinal direction 15.

[0114] A particularly effective use of space in the receiving space 72 results when the pivot axis inclination angle 77 and the design of the support leg structures 8, 9 according to the embodiment of Figure 8 are coordinated with one another such that the support leg structure 8, 9, in the non-use position, extends diagonally into the receiving space 72 with respect to a rectangular outline of the receiving space 72. In Figure 8, the non-use position of the first support leg structure 8 is indicated by dashed lines.

[0115] The receiving space 72 is formed by the support body interior 52, either by the entire support body interior 52 or by a part thereof. Accordingly, it is preferably composed of the two receiving recesses 51a, 51b formed in one of the support body elements 25, 26. Each of the two support leg structures 8, 9 is expediently received in one of the two receiving recesses 51a, 51b in the non-use position.

[0116] In their use position, the support leg structures 8, 9 protrude beyond the downward-facing fourth element outer surface 45 in the trestle height direction 17. When pivoted into the non-use position, they dip into the receiving recesses 51a, 51b open in the area of ​​the second element outer surface 39.

[0117] Each support leg structure 8, 9 can in principle consist of just a single support leg, as is shown in the embodiment of Figure 2. It is then only necessary to design the parking sections 22 in such a way that they ensure sufficient stability. For example, the support legs can be T-shaped, with the T-crosspiece defining the parking section 22. This applies not only to pivotable support leg structures 8, 9, but also to a design of the work trestle 2 in which each support leg structure 8, 9 is arranged so as to be pluggable at the leg fastening interface 18, 19 assigned to it. However, it is considered more advantageous if each support leg structure 8, 9 has two individual support legs 8a, 8b and 9a, 9b respectively, which are arranged in pairs on one of the two support body elements 25, 26 by means of the leg fastening interface 18, 19 located there.

[0118] In the case of pivotable support leg structures 8, 9, the two support legs 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b of each support leg structure 8, 9 can expediently be pivoted about a common support leg pivot axis 75, so that despite their individuality they can be pivoted between the non-use position and the use position in a uniform pivoting process. The common support leg pivot axis 75 also makes it possible in particular to pivot the two support legs 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b belonging to the same support leg structure 8, 9 relative to one another in the transverse direction 16 of the trestle in order to fold them towards one another and spread them apart, which is illustrated in the drawing by double arrows 83. In this case, the support legs 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b can be arranged offset from one another, in particular along the support leg pivot axis 75, as shown in Fig. 8, or can be arranged one behind the other in the trestle transverse direction 16, as indicated in Fig. 5.

[0119] For detachably attachable support leg structures 8, 9, the leg fastening interfaces 18, 19 are designed as plug-in interfaces as shown in Figure 9. For example, each leg fastening interface 18, 19 contains a plug-in receptacle 84, indicated by dashed lines, for each associated support leg 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b, into which plug-in receptacle the associated support leg 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b is inserted in the use position. Securing means (not further illustrated) ensure detachable, captive fixation in the use position. For repositioning into the non-use position, the support legs 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b can be simply pulled out of the associated plug-in receptacle 84 after prior manual deactivation of the securing means according to the double arrow 85 in Figure 9, so that they are removed from the support body 4.

[0120] The supporting leg structures 8, 9 can each have a multi-part construction such that they have an integrated folding mechanism, allowing them to be folded and unfolded to change their dimensions. This is exemplified by the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Various arrows 81 in Figure 2 illustrate the possible folding processes.

[0121] In order to easily obtain particularly compact dimensions for the transport configuration of the work stand 2, it is advantageous if, in accordance with all of the illustrated embodiments, the two support leg structures 8, 9 are designed to be telescopic and variable in length. For this purpose, each support leg structure 8, 9 is designed in several parts and can be moved either into an extended state within the scope of a telescopic movement 89 indicated by a double arrow to enable the use position or into a pushed-together state with a shorter overall length compared to the use position to enable the non-use position. The above statements apply to each individual support leg 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b if the support leg structures 8, 9 each consist of several individual support legs.

[0122] When converting the work stand 2 from the transport configuration to the working configuration, the support leg structures 8, 9 or the individual support legs 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b are expediently moved from the non-use position into the use position in the pushed-together state and only then are they pulled apart to adjust the desired leg length. During the reverse reconfiguration, the support leg structures 8, 9 are expediently moved into the pushed-together state before being moved from the non-use position into the use position. In principle, however, the pulling apart or pushing together can also take place before the position change.

[0123] Regardless of whether a support leg structure 8, 9 according to the embodiment of Figure 2 has only a single support leg or according to the other embodiments has several support legs 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b, it is advantageous if each support leg 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b consists of only two telescopic elements 86, 87 which can be moved relative to one another when the telescoping movement 89 is carried out, one of which is assigned to the leg fastening interface 18, 19 and the other forms a storage section 22. In principle, however, each support leg 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b can also have more than two telescopic elements 86, 87. Telescopic elements 86, 87 which can be inserted into one another can expediently be releasably locked in the pulled-apart relative position by manually operable locking means 88.

[0124] According to the illustration in Figure 5, the receiving recess 51a, 51b of each support body element 25, 26 can be divided by at least one partition wall 91 into a plurality of receiving compartments 92, 93, which, when the support body elements 25, 26 are positioned side by side, form one of a plurality of interior compartments 92a, 93a in pairs. One of these interior compartments 92a represents the receiving space 72 for the folded support leg structures 8, 9, while at least one further interior compartment 93a can be used to accommodate additional objects such as tools.

[0125] The above statements regarding the fixing and configuration of the support leg structures 8, 9 apply mutatis mutandis to the exemplary embodiments of Figures 1 and 2. In these Figures 1 and 2, following the direction of the curved arrow, it is clearly illustrated how a work stand 2 assuming the working configuration can be converted into a transport configuration by appropriate manipulation of the support body 4 and the support leg structures 8, 9 in such a way that it can form a transport unit 5 together with a transport container 3.

[0126] As already mentioned at the beginning, it is advantageous if the transport container 3 which can be used to transport the work stand 2, regardless of whether it is designed separately with respect to the work stand 2 or forms the support body 4, is equipped with a coupling system 95 which makes it possible to couple the transport container 3 according to Figures 10 and 11 with one or more further containers referred to as storage containers 7 to form a uniformly transportable container stack assembly 6.The said additional storage containers 7, which can be any number of device components of the working device 1, are in particular equipped with a similar coupling system 95, so that it is possible, in the stacked state or immediately when stacking, to detachably couple the transport container 3 to a storage container 7 located directly below it and / or a storage container 7 sitting directly on it in a manner that cannot be removed from one another.

[0127] Conveniently, the coupling system 95 includes an upper coupling device 95a arranged in the region of a container top 96 oriented in the container height direction 55, and a lower coupling device 95b arranged in the region of a container bottom 97 opposite the container top 96. Each storage container 7 is also equipped with corresponding upper and lower coupling devices 95a, 95b.

[0128] The upper and lower coupling devices 95a, 95b are adapted to one another in such a way that, through their interaction, the containers 3, 7 stacked directly on top of one another can be detachably coupled to one another in a manner such that they cannot be lifted off one another. A coupled state of this type is shown in Figure 11 in connection with the transport container 3 and an upper storage container 7 stacked thereon. With regard to the lower storage container 7, a stack does indeed exist, but the coupling system 95 is still deactivated, so that the transport container 3 can be removed. When all of the containers 3, 7 are coupled to one another in a manner such that they cannot be lifted off one another, the container stack assembly 6 then present can be transported as a unit by means of a handle 98 of the uppermost container, wherein the uppermost container can be a storage container 7 or directly the transport container 3.In the latter case, the handle 98 is formed by the carrying handle 13.

[0129] The locking device 61 explained above preferably belongs at least partially to the coupling system 95.

[0130] For example, the coupling system 95 can have a rotary latch 61a, which can be rotated into a coupling position shown in Figure 11 for the central rotary latch 61a, in which position it couples the transport container 3 to the storage container 7 stacked thereon in the region of a container front in a manner that cannot be separated from one another. The rotary latch 61a can simultaneously be a component of the locking device 61.

[0131] Further components of the coupling system 95 include, for example, coupling projections 99 formed on the container underside 97 and coupling recesses 100 formed on the container top side 96. When the transport container 3 and a storage container 7 are stacked on top of one another, the coupling projections 99 and coupling recesses 100 at least partially engage with one another in such a way that they overlap transversely to the container height direction 55 and bring about a mutual engagement that prevents the two containers 3, 7 from lifting away from one another. The coupling projections 99 expediently also form the support feet 71 used to support the transport container 3.

Claims

Claims 1. Work device with a transportable work stand (2), wherein the work stand (2) has a support body (4) defining an object support surface (23) and extending in a longitudinal direction (15) of the stand, and two leg attachment interfaces (18, 19) arranged at intervals from each other in the longitudinal direction (15) of the stand, which are variably attached or attachable to the support body (4), and wherein the work stand (2) can be optionally brought into a working configuration enabling its intended use with leg structures (8, 9) projecting transversely to the longitudinal direction (15) of the stand from the support body (4) into a working position, or into a transport configuration provided for the transport of the work stand (2) with leg structures (8, 9) moved into a non-working position towards the support body (4), characterized in thatthat the support body (4) can be reconfigured to shorten the work stand (2) such that the distance between the two leg attachment interfaces (18, 19) is less in the transport configuration of the work stand (2) than in the working configuration, and that the work device (1) has a transport container (3) having an interior space (58), with the assistance of which the work stand (2) can be transported when it assumes its transport configuration shortened compared to the working configuration, wherein the transport container (3) has at least one carrying handle (13) that can be grasped for the manual transport of the work stand (2).

2. Working device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical measured height (HS) of the support leg structures (8, 9) of the work stand (2) standing on a floor surface (12) in the working configuration with the support leg structures (8, 9) is greater than the height (HB) of the transport container (3) .

3. Working device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support body (4) of the work stand (2) is designed in multiple parts, wherein it has two support body elements (25, 26) which each have one of the two leg attachment interfaces (18, 19) and which are movable relative to each other to change the distance between the two leg attachment interfaces (18, 19), wherein they are expediently movable relative to each other in the longitudinal direction (15) of the stand or pivotable relative to each other to fold the support body (4).

4. Working device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each support leg structure (8, 9) is pivotably arranged at its associated leg attachment interface (18, 19) with respect to the support body (4), wherein in the working configuration of the work stand (2) it is folded away from the support body (4) when assuming its use position and in the transport configuration of the work stand (2) it is folded towards the support body (4) when assuming its non-use position.

5. Working device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each of the two support leg structures (8, 9) has two individual support legs (8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) arranged on the support body (4) by means of one of the two leg attachment structures (18, 19), which on the one hand re- On the one hand, they are pivotable relative to the support body (4) between the non-use position and the use position, and on the other hand, they are pivotable relative to each other in a trestle transverse direction (16) orthogonal to the trestle longitudinal direction (15).

6. Working device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each support leg structure (8, 9) is pluggably arranged at its associated leg attachment interface (18, 19) with respect to the support body (4), wherein in the working configuration of the work stand (2) it is plugged onto the support body (4) in its use position and in the transport configuration of the work stand (2) it is removed from the support body (4) to assume its non-use position.

7. Working device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each of the two support leg structures (8, 9) is designed to be telescopically variable in length, assuming an extended state in the use position and a collapsed state with a shorter overall length in the non-use position compared to the use position.

8. Working device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the transport container (3) has two container elements (53, 54) opposite each other in a container height direction (55) (55), which are pivotable relative to each other to selectively specify a closed state of the transport container (3) closing the container interior (58) or an open state of the transport container (3) making the container interior (58) accessible, wherein on the outside of one of the two container elements- mente (53, 54) of which at least one carrying handle (13) is arranged .

9. Working device according to claim 8, characterized in that the transport container (3) has a rectangular plan in a transverse direction to the container height direction (55), in particular in a format of about 40 cm by 30 cm.

10. Working device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the transport container (3) usable for transporting the work s- trestle (2) is equipped with a coupling system (95) which is designed to stack the transport container (3) and at least one additional storage container (7) having a similar coupling system (95) on top of each other and to detachably couple them together in a manner that cannot be removed from each other in order to obtain a uniformly transportable container stack assembly (6).

11. Working device according to claim 10, characterized in that the coupling system (95) of the transport container (3) has an upper coupling device (95a) in the area of ​​a container top (96) oriented in a container height direction (55) and a lower coupling device (95b) in the area of ​​a container bottom (97) opposite the container top (96), wherein these upper and lower coupling devices (95a, 95b) make it possible to stack the transport container (3) and at least one additional storage container (7) having a coupling system (95) with similar upper and lower coupling devices (95a, 95b) on top of each other and to detachably couple them together in a manner that cannot be removed from each other in order to obtain a uniformly transportable container stack assembly (6).

12. Working device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it additionally has at least one storage container (7) which has a coupling system (95) similar to that of the transport container (3), such that the transport container (3) can be coupled to a storage container (7) arranged on the transport container (3) and / or to a storage container (7) arranged under the transport container (3) in a manner that cannot be separated from each other, forming a single transportable stack of containers (6).

13. Working device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the work stand (2) is a device component of the working device (1) separate from the transport container (3), wherein in the working configuration it is separate from the transport container (3) and can be used individually as intended independently of the transport container (3), and wherein in the transport configuration it can be combined or combined with the transport container (3) to form a transport unit (5) that can be transported as a unit by grasping the at least one carrying handle (13).

14. Working device according to claim 13, characterized in that the work block (2) assuming the transport configuration can be inserted or is inserted into the interior (58) of the transport container (3) to form the transport unit (5).

15. Working device according to claim 14 in conjunction with claim 8, characterized in that the transport container (3) comprises a container lower part (54a) formed by one of the two container elements (53, 54) and a pivotable part formed by the other of the two container elements (53, 54). The container lid (53a) is mounted on the lower part of the container (54a), wherein the container lid (53a) is pivotable relative to the lower part of the container (54a) between a closed position which closes the interior of the container (58) and can be releasably locked, in which the transport container (3) is in the closed state, and an open position which makes the interior of the container (58) accessible to enable the work stand (2) which assumes the transport configuration to be inserted or removed, in which the transport container (3) is in the open state, wherein at least one carrying handle (13) is expediently arranged on the outside and in particular on the upper side (96) of the container facing away from the lower part of the container (54a).

16. Working device according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the transport container (3) has an external holding structure (65) to which the work block (2) assuming the transport configuration can be detachably attached or fastened to form the transport unit (5).

17. Working device according to claim 16, characterized in that the transport container (3) has at least one carrying handle (13) on the outside of a container top surface (96) oriented in a container height direction (55), wherein the holding structure (65) is arranged on an outer container surface (67) of the transport container (3) oriented orthogonally to the container height direction (55), wherein the work stand (2) attached to the holding structure (65) in the transport configuration expediently extends exclusively within the outline of the outer container surface (67) provided with the holding structure (65).

18. Working device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the transport container (3) is an immediate integral part of the work stand (2), wherein the transport container (3) forms the support body (4) of the work stand (2).

19. Working device according to claim 18, characterized in that the interior of the container (58) of the transport container (3) forming the support body (4) defines a receiving space (72) in the transport configuration of the work stand (2) which receives the two support leg structures (8, 9) assuming the non-use position, so that the support leg structures (8, 9) are housed in the support body (4) when transporting the work stand (2).

20. Working device according to claim 19, characterized in that the receiving space (72) has a rectangular outline, wherein the support leg structures (8, 9) assuming the non-use position are received in the receiving space (72) with diagonal orientation with respect to the rectangular outline.

21. Working device according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the transport container (3) has two container elements (53, 54) pivotably fixed to one another, each forming one of two support body elements (25, 26) of the support body (4), which in the working configuration of the work stand (2) assume an unfolded, successively arranged position in the longitudinal direction (15) of the stand and in the transport configuration of the work stand (2) assume a folded, side-by-side position orthogonally to the longitudinal direction (15) of the stand, wherein each support body element (25, 26) one of the two leg attachment interfaces (18, 19) has .

22. Working device according to claim 21, characterized in that the two leg attachment interfaces (18, 19) are spaced apart from each other in the working configuration of the work stand (2) in the longitudinal direction (15) of the stand and are arranged next to each other transversely to the longitudinal direction (15) of the stand in the transport configuration of the work stand (2), wherein they are expediently at the same height with respect to the longitudinal direction (15) of the stand in the transport configuration of the work stand (2).

23. Working device according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that each of the two support body elements (25, 26) has two opposing axial end faces (35, 36) oriented in the longitudinal direction (15) of the support body, wherein in the position one behind the other of the support body elements (25, 26) one of the two axial end faces (35, 36) of one support body element (25, 26) is directed towards and in particular bears against one of the axial end faces (35, 36) of the other support body element, wherein the two support body elements (25, 26) are pivotably fixed to one another in the area of ​​the two end faces (35, 36) facing each other in the position one behind the other by a hinge device (37) defining a pivot axis (34) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (15) of the support body.

24. Working device according to one of claims 21 to 23, characterized in that the support body (4) has a maximum length (Lmax) in the side-by-side position, which extends in the longitudinal direction (15) of the frame in the side-by-side position of the two support body elements (25, 26), such that when the support body elements (25, 26) are unfolded, a- a length increase of the support body (4) in the longitudinal extension direction of the greatest length (Lmax) takes place.

25. Working device according to one of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that the two support body elements (25, 26) are pivotable to each other with respect to a pivot axis (34) for changing between the side-by-side position and the one behind the other, which extends in a horizontal trestle transverse direction (16) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (15) of the trestle or in a vertical trestle height direction (17) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (15).

26. Working device according to one of claims 21 to 25, characterized in that each of the two support body elements (25, 26) has an object support surface section (23a, 23b) on a top side oriented in a trestle height direction (17) orthogonal to the trestle longitudinal direction (15) and to the trestle transverse direction (16), wherein the object support surface sections (23a, 23b) in the unfolded one behind the other position of the two support body elements (25, 26) complement each other to form a strip-like object support surface (23) extending in the trestle longitudinal direction (15), wherein each object support surface section (23a, 23b) is expediently formed on a replaceable support plate (94) of the associated support body element (25, 26) and / or has fastening structures (24) for fastening external objects.

27. Working device according to claim 26, characterized in that the object support surface sections (23a, 23b) of the two support body elements (25, 26) are located on outer sides of the two support body elements (25, 26), which lie next to each other in the side-by-side position of the two support body elements (25, 26) and point in the same direction. or which are turned away from each other in the side-by-side position of the two support body elements (25, 26).

28. Working device according to one of claims 21 to 27, characterized in that the support body (4) has at least one locking device (46) for releasably fixing the two support body elements (25, 26) in both the side-by-side position and the one behind the other in a way that is not pivotable relative to each other.

29. Working device according to one of claims 21 to 28, characterized in that the two support body elements (25, 26) each have a receiving recess (51a, 51b) open on the side facing the other support body element (26, 25) in the side-by-side arrangement of the two support body elements (25, 26), which together define the interior of the container (58) in the side-by-side position of the support body elements (25, 26), wherein each support body element (25, 26) is advantageously designed in a bowl shape.

30. Working device according to claim 29, characterized in that the receiving recess (51a, 51b) of each support body element (25, 26) is divided into several receiving compartments (92, 93) by at least one partition (91), so that the container interior (58) formed in the side-by-side position of the support body elements (25, 26) has several interior compartments (921, 92b), wherein one of the interior compartments (92a, 92b) forms the receiving space (72) for receiving the support leg structures (8, 9) assuming the non-use position and at least one further interior compartment (92a, 92b) is designed for receiving additional objects, for example tools.

31. Working device according to one of claims 21 to 30, characterized in that one of the two support body elements (25, 26) has at least one carrying handle (13) on an outer side facing away from the other support body element (26, 25) in the side-by-side arrangement of the two support body elements (25, 26), wherein, advantageously, the other of the two support body elements (25, 26) has an outer side facing away from the other support body element (25, 26) for setting down the transport unit. (5) is provided with an integral support structure (68) that can be used on a substrate.

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