US20020079069A1

US20020079069A1 - Curtain assembly for a workbench

Info

Publication number: US20020079069A1
Application number: US09/726,153
Authority: US
Inventors: Meng-Chieh Cheng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-29
Filing date: 2000-11-29
Publication date: 2002-06-27

Abstract

A curtain assembly is suitable for use with a workbench that has a tabletop on top of a base member. The curtain assembly includes left and right mounting brackets, rear, left and right curtain rods, and rear, left and right draperies. The mounting brackets are adapted to be mounted respectively on rear left and rear right corner portions of the tabletop so as to extend uprightly from the tabletop. The rear curtain rod has opposite ends mounted respectively on upper ends of the mounting brackets. Each of the left and right curtain rods has a rear end mounted to the upper end of a respective one of the left and right mounting brackets. The rear drapery has a heading portion connected to the rear curtain rod such that the rear drapery hangs downwardly to cover a rear side of the tabletop. The left and right draperies have heading portions respectively connected to the left and right curtain rods such that the left and right draperies hang downwardly to cover left and right sides of the tabletop, respectively.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a curtain assembly for a workbench, more particularly to a curtain assembly that limits scattering of sawdust around the tabletop so as to facilitate collection of sawdust.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a woodworking factory, the huge amount of sawdust created during woodworking operations is not only detrimental to health, it can also damage the woodworking equipment and pollutes the working environment. Therefore, it has been the concern of manufacturers to develop workbenches with an air filtration capability. FIG. 1 shows such a workbench. As shown, the conventional workbench includes a base 1, a tabletop 2 on top of the base 1 and having multiple perforations 201, a filtering device 3, and a suction device (not shown). When the suction device is actuated, sawdust created during operation of the workbench is drawn into the interior of the base 1 via the perforations 201 in the tabletop 2, and the sawdust-laden air is filtered through the filtering device 3 to be discharged as sawdust-free air while the sawdust is collected in the filtering device 3. However, although some of the sawdust will be drawn into the base 1 of the workbench, some will fly around, which is a problem left unsolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a curtain assembly for a workbench to limit scattering of sawdust around a tabletop of the workbench so as to facilitate collection of the sawdust.

Accordingly, a curtain assembly of this invention is adapted for use with a workbench. The workbench includes a base member and a rectangular tabletop mounted on top of the base member. The tabletop has opposite front and rear edges that are spaced apart in a first direction, and opposite left and right edges that are spaced apart in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The curtain assembly includes left and right mounting brackets, rear, left and right curtain rods, and rear, left and right draperies. The mounting brackets are adapted to be mounted on a respective one of rear left and rear right corner portions of the tabletop so as to extend uprightly from the tabletop, and are spaced apart from each other in the second direction. The rear curtain rod extends in the second direction, and has opposite ends mounted respectively on upper ends of the mounting brackets. The left curtain rod extends in the first direction, and has a rear end mounted to the upper end of the left mounting bracket. The right curtain rod extends in the first direction, and has a rear end mounted to the upper end of the right mounting bracket. The rear drapery has a heading portion connected to the rear curtain rod such that the rear drapery hangs downwardly to cover a rear side of the tabletop. The left drapery has a heading portion connected to the left curtain rod such that the left drapery hangs downwardly to cover a left side of the tabletop. The right drapery has a heading portion connected to the right curtain rod such that the right drapery hangs downwardly to cover a right side of the tabletop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: [0007]
FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a conventional workbench; [0008]
FIG. 2 is an exploded rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a curtain assembly for a workbench according to the invention; [0009]
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment when applied to the tabletop of a workbench; [0010]
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating assembly of a rear curtain rod and a mounting bracket to the tabletop of the workbench; [0011]
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating installation of a drapery on a curtain rod; and [0012]
FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating height adjustment of the curtain assembly according to the preferred embodiment.[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and [0014] 4, the preferred embodiment of a curtain assembly according to the present invention is adapted for use with a workbench 100. The workbench 100 includes a base member 101 and a rectangular tabletop 102 mounted on top of the base member 101. The tabletop 102 has opposite front and rear edges 110, 120 that are spaced apart in a first direction, opposite left and right edges 130, 140 that are spaced apart in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and rear left and right corner portions. Rear left and right corner brackets 150 are respectively mounted to the rear left and right corner portions of the tabletop 102. Each of the rear left and right corner brackets 150 is provided with a threaded hole 160. Furthermore, the tabletop 102 is provided with a multiplicity of perforations 170 that cooperate with a known air filtration device (not shown) and a known suction device (not shown) to collect sawdust. As the collection of sawdust is known in the art, a detailed description thereof is dispensed with herein. The curtain assembly includes left and right mounting brackets 11, rear, left and right curtain rods 12, 13, 14, and rear, left and right draperies 20A, 20B, 20C. The mounting brackets 11 are adapted to be mounted respectively on the rear left and right corner brackets 150 of the tabletop 102 so as to extend uprightly from the tabletop 102, and are spaced apart from each other in the second direction. Each of the mounting brackets 11 has a generally L-shaped cross-section, and includes an upright rear plate portion 113 that is adapted to abut against the rear edge 120 of the tabletop 102, and an upright side plate portion 115 that extends in the first direction from the upright rear plate portion 113 and that is adapted to abut against a respective one of the left and right edges 130, 140 of the tabletop 102. The rear plate portion 113 of each of the mounting brackets 11 is formed with a vertically extending slot 114. The mounting brackets 11 are adapted to be mounted adjustably on the rear left and right corner brackets 150 of the tabletop 102 so as to permit height adjustment of the rear, left and right curtain rods 12, 13, 14 relative to the tabletop 102. This will be explained in greater detail in the succeeding paragraphs.
The [0015] rear curtain rod 12 extends in the second direction, and has opposite ends mounted respectively on upper ends of the mounting brackets 11. The left and right curtain rods 13, 14 extend in the first direction. Each of the left and right curtain rods 13, 14 has a rear end mounted to the upper end of the side plate portion 115 of the respective one of the left and right mounting brackets 11 by the use of screws 131, 141. The opposite ends of the rear curtain rod 12 are mounted on the rear plate portions 113 of the mounting brackets 11 by the use of screws 121. As such, the rear, left and right curtain rods 12, 13, 14 constitute a generally U-shaped curtain mounting frame.
The [0016] rear drapery 20A has a heading portion 21A connected to the rear curtain rod 12 such that the rear drapery 20A hangs downwardly to cover a rear side of the tabletop 102. The left drapery 20B has a heading portion 21B connected to the left curtain rod 13 such that the left drapery 20B hangs downwardly to cover a left side of the tabletop 102. The right drapery 20C has a heading portion 21C connected to the right curtain rod 14 such that the right drapery 20C hangs downwardly to cover a right side of the tabletop 102. In this embodiment, each of the rear, left and right draperies 20A, 20B, 20C is made from a single piece of fabric that is folded at the upper end to form the heading portion 21A, 21B, 21C by sewing. In addition, the portion of each of the rear, left and right draperies 20A, 20B, 20C below the respective heading portion 21A, 21B, 21C is formed with a plurality of vertically extending slits 23, thereby configuring each of the rear, left and right draperies 20A, 20B, 20C with a plurality of vertically extending shade portions 22 that extend downwardly from the respective heading portion 21A, 21B, 21C. During installation, the heading portions 21A, 21B, 21C can be sleeved on the rear, left and right curtain rods 12, 13, 14, respectively, prior to mounting of the rear, left and right curtain rods 12, 13, 14 on the left and right mounting brackets 11, and screws may be used to pass through the ends of the heading portions 21A, 21B, 21C to position the latter on the rear, left and right curtain rods 12, 13, 14, respectively (see FIG. 5). As such, the rear, left and right draperies 20A, 20B, 20C cooperatively form a curtain that covers the rear, left and right sides of the tabletop 102, except the front side where the woodworker is supposed to be. The curtain assembly further includes a bridging rod 10 that extends in the second direction and that interconnects lower ends of the rear plate portions 113 of the mounting brackets 11.
In addition, the curtain assembly includes a pair of [0017] screw fasteners 16 and a pair of handles 15. Each of the screw fasteners 16 extends through the slot 114 in the rear plate portion 113 of a respective one of the mounting brackets 11, and engages the threaded hole 160 in the respective one of the brackets 150 so as to be adapted to secure the respective one of the mounting brackets 11 to the respective one of the rear left and right corner brackets 150 of the tabletop 102. The handles 15 are screwably mounted on the screw fasteners 16 to facilitate rotary driving of the screw fasteners 16. Referring to FIG. 6, when it is necessary to adjust the height of the rear, left and right curtain rods 12, 13, 14, hence the rear, left and right draperies 20A, 20B, 20C, relative to the tabletop 102, the woodworker can turn the handles 15 with both hands to thereby loosen the screw fasteners 16 slightly such that the mounting brackets 11 can slidably displace within the range of the slot 114 relative to the rear left and right corner brackets 150 of the tabletop 102 to a desirable height. After height adjustment, the handles 15 are turned to tighten the screw fasteners 16 once again. It can be seen that the height adjustment according to this invention is very easy and convenient to perform.
During woodworking operation, the sawdust created from the [0018] tabletop 102 is blocked by the rear, left and right draperies 20A, 20B, 20C, and is forced to drop onto the tabletop 102 where it is collected via a known method.
In addition, due to the arrangement of the [0019] slits 23, when a long workpiece is placed upon the tabletop 102, the workpiece can extend through the shade portions 22 without undue interference from the draperies 20A, 20B, 20C. While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

I claim:

1. A curtain assembly adapted for use with a workbench, the workbench including a base member and a rectangular tabletop mounted on top of the base member, the tabletop having opposite front and rear edges that are spaced apart in a first direction, and opposite left and right edges that are spaced apart in a second direction transverse to the first direction, said curtain assembly comprising:

left and right mounting brackets adapted to be mounted respectively on rear left and rear right corner portions of the tabletop so as to extend uprightly from the tabletop, said mounting brackets being spaced apart from each other in the second direction;

a rear curtain rod extending in the second direction and having opposite ends mounted respectively on upper ends of said mounting brackets;

a left curtain rod extending in the first direction and having a rear end mounted to said upper end of said left mounting bracket;

a right curtain rod extending in the first direction and having a rear end mounted to said upper end of said right mounting bracket;

a rear drapery having a heading portion connected to said rear curtain rod such that said rear drapery hangs downwardly to cover a rear side of the tabletop;

a left drapery having a heading portion connected to said left curtain rod such that said left drapery hangs downwardly to cover a left side of the tabletop; and

a right drapery having a heading portion connected to said right curtain rod such that said right drapery hangs downwardly to cover a right side of the tabletop.

2. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said mounting brackets includes an upright rear plate portion that is adapted to abut against the rear edge of the tabletop, and an upright side plate portion that extends in the first direction from said upright rear plate portion and that is adapted to abut against a respective one of the left and right edges of the tabletop.

3. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said opposite ends of said rear curtain rod are mounted on said rear plate portions of said mounting brackets, and said rear end of each of said left and right curtain rods is mounted on said side plate portion of the respective one of said mounting brackets.

4. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bridging rod that extends in the second direction and that interconnects lower ends of said mounting brackets.

5. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a bridging rod that extends in the second direction and that interconnects lower ends of said rear plate portions of said mounting brackets.

6. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting brackets are adapted to be mounted adjustably on the rear left and rear right corner portions of the tabletop so as to permit height adjustment of said rear, left and right curtain rods relative to the tabletop.

7. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said mounting brackets is formed with a vertically extending slot, said curtain assembly further comprising a pair of screw fasteners, each of which extends through said slot in a respective one of said mounting brackets and is adapted to secure the respective one of said mounting brackets to the tabletop.

8. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said rear, left and right draperies is formed with a plurality of vertically extending slits, thereby configuring each of said rear, left and right draperies with a plurality of vertically extending shade portions that extend downwardly from said heading portion.

9. A workbench comprising:

a base member;

a rectangular tabletop mounted on top of said base member, said tabletop having opposite front and rear edges that are spaced apart in a first direction, opposite left and right edges that are spaced apart in a second direction transverse to the first direction, a rear left corner portion and a rear right corner portion; and

a curtain assembly including

left and right mounting brackets mounted respectively on said rear left and rear right corner portions of said tabletop so as to extend uprightly from said tabletop, said mounting brackets being spaced apart from each other in the second direction,

a rear curtain rod extending in the second direction and having opposite ends mounted respectively on upper ends of said mounting brackets,

a left curtain rod extending in the first direction and having a rear end mounted to said upper end of said left mounting bracket,

a right curtain rod extending in the first direction and having a rear end mounted to said upper end of said right mounting bracket,

a rear drapery having a heading portion connected to said rear curtain rod such that said rear drapery hangs downwardly to cover a rear side of said tabletop,

a left drapery having a heading portion connected to said left curtain rod such that said left drapery hangs downwardly to cover a left side of said tabletop, and

a right drapery having a heading portion connected to said right curtain rod such that said right drapery hangs downwardly to cover a right side of said tabletop.

10. The workbench as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said mounting brackets includes an upright rear plate portion that abuts against said rear edge of said tabletop, and an upright side plate portion that extends in the first direction from said upright rear plate portion and that abuts against a respective one of said left and right edges of said tabletop.

11. The workbench as claimed in claim 10, wherein said opposite ends of said rear curtain rod are mounted on said rear plate portions of said mounting brackets, and said rear end of each of said left and right curtain rods is mounted on said side plate portion of the respective one of said mounting brackets.

12. The workbench as claimed in claim 9, wherein said curtain assembly further includes a bridging rod that extends in the second direction and that interconnects lower ends of said mounting brackets.

13. The workbench as claimed in claim 10, wherein said curtain assembly further includes a bridging rod that extends in the second direction and that interconnects lower ends of said rear plate portions of said mounting brackets.

14. The workbench as claimed in claim 9, wherein said mounting brackets are mounted adjustably on said rear left and rear right corner portions of said tabletop so as to permit height adjustment of said rear, left and right curtain rods relative to said tabletop.

15. The workbench as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said mounting brackets is formed with a vertically extending slot, said curtain assembly further including a pair of screw fasteners, each of which extends through said slot in a respective one of said mounting brackets so as to secure the respective one of said mounting brackets to said tabletop.

16. The workbench as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said rear, left and right draperies is formed with a plurality of vertically extending slits, thereby configuring each of said rear, left and right draperies with a plurality of vertically extending shade portions that extend downwardly from said heading portion.