US20080302604A1

US20080302604A1 - Saw through saw horse

Info

Publication number: US20080302604A1
Application number: US12/157,060
Authority: US
Inventors: Timothy J. Kramer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-08
Filing date: 2008-06-06
Publication date: 2008-12-11

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting one of a board, panel and a plank for sawing. The apparatus comprises a center beam member having at least one recessed portion disposed adjacent an upper surface of the center beam member for forming a lowered center portion. There is a support member for supporting the center beam portion and a means for preventing lateral movement of the center beam member of the apparatus.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/942,851 filed Jun. 8, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a sawhorse, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a specially designed sawhorse that enables a worker to cut through a piece of wood, drywall, post fencing or other material without repositioning the material on the sawhorse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A sawhorse is basically a beam with four legs used to support a board or plank for sawing. A pair of sawhorses can support a plank, forming a scaffold, and can be used for cutting large pieces such as drywall or panels.
Construction workers, home hobbyists, and others who routinely work with a sawhorse know the frustration experienced when cutting materials. While most workers utilize the sawhorse to help stabilize and maintain the positioning of the material being cut, cutting through the piece almost always requires the worker to reposition the material so as not to cut through the top of the sawhorse. Moving the wood, paneling sheet or other material for this reason can be time consuming, frustrating and cumbersome, not to mention the fact that aligning the piece for the remainder of the cut can be difficult.
Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a simple and effective means of cutting through material on a sawhorse without the need for repositioning the material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for supporting one of a board, panel and a plank for sawing. The apparatus comprises a center beam member having at least one recessed portion disposed adjacent an upper surface of the center beam member for forming a lowered center portion. There is a support member for supporting the center beam portion and a means for preventing lateral movement of the center beam member of the apparatus.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a sawhorse that provides the worker with more convenient way to cut material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a saw horse in which the material being cut does not have to be repositioned to cut completely through the material.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sawhorse that can cut through wood, drywall, paneling, wood or plastic fence posts without repositioning.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sawhorse that has a lowered center area.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the invention which have been described in some specific detail above it should be noted that various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description, particularly when such description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a sawhorse according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a is a side perspective view of the sawhorse shown in FIG. 1 showing the extensions of the center beam member.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus showing a different embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a sawhorse according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of alternate embodiment of the invention showing two sawhorses being used in the cutting of a large panel or plywood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.
In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for supporting one of a board and a plank for sawing. The apparatus 10 comprises a center beam member 2 having at least one recessed portion, generally designated 20, disposed adjacent an upper surface of the center beam member 2 for forming a lowered center portion 20. There is a support member, generally designated 30, for supporting the center beam member 2 and a means generally designated 40 for preventing lateral movement of the center beam member 2 of the apparatus 10.
Such support member 30 includes at least one platform member 4 for engagement with a bottom portion of the center beam member 2. The support member 30 further includes two pair of legs 6 engageable with the at least one platform member 4 for supporting the center beam member 2, a first pair of legs 6 is engageable with an end of the at least one platform member 4 and a second pair of legs 6 is engageable with a second end of the at least one platform member 4. The support member 30 also includes a substantially rectangular brace member 8, such substantially rectangular brace member 8 is engageable on each corner thereof with each leg 6 of the two pair of legs 6 intermediate a first end and a second end of each leg 6 of the two pair of legs 6 for providing support to the apparatus 10.
The center beam member 2 includes extendable arms 12 that extend outwardly from each end of the center beam member 2 for supporting larger items to be cut. FIG. 5 shows the use of two apparatus (sawhorses) 10 for supporting a large panel or plywood to be cut wherein the extendable arms 12 are extended outward.
The lowered center portion 20 of the center beam member 2 includes a plurality of recessed steps. Each of the plurality of recessed steps are two inches deep. A first step 14 of the recessed steps forms a notch that is substantially 2 inches deep and 8 inches wide. A second step 16 of the recessed steps forms a notch that is substantially 2 inches deep by 6 inches wide, while a third step 18 of the recessed steps forms a notch that is substantially 2 inches deep and 4 inches wide.
The means 40 for preventing lateral movement of the center is beam member 2 includes an extension 24 on each leg 6 of the two pair of legs 6. The extension 24 on one leg 6 of the first pair of legs 6 is engageable with a lateral side of the center beam member 2 and the extension 24 on another leg 6 of the first pair of legs 6 is engageable with an opposite lateral side of the center beam member 2. The extension 24 on one of the legs 6 of the second pair of legs 65 is engageable with a lateral side of the center beam member 2 and the extension 24 on another leg 6 of the second pair of legs 6 is engageable with an opposite lateral side of the center beam member 2.
Such first pair of legs 6 of the two pair of legs 6 further includes a notch 26 formed on an upper portion of each of the first pair of legs 6 for engagement with the at least one platform member 4 for supporting the center beam member 2 and each leg 6 of the second pair of the two pair of legs 6 further includes a notch 26 formed on an upper portion of each of the second pair of legs 6 for engagement with the at least one platform member 4 for supporting the center beam member 2.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, as seen in FIG. 3, such means 40 for preventing lateral movement of the center beam member 2 includes an angle iron or similar bracket 28 disposed on the at least one platform member 4 on each side of the center beam member 2.
As stated previously FIG. 5 shows an embodiment where two of the apparatus 10 are used together to hold a large piece of plywood. As can be seen in this Figure that the worker can cut through the plywood without the need to reposition the piece of plywood.
Thus, the present invention of a saw through sawhorse provides a convenient way to use a sawhorse. It is designed in a manner similar to conventional sawhorses with legs that enable the unit to stand freely and safely in place. The special design features a lowered center area that allows the worker to cut all the way through a piece of wood, drywall, paneling or other material positioned on top of the sawhorse without the need of repositioning the material during the cut. This cannot be done with conventional sawhorses without the risk of cutting through the sawhorse.
The center area features a lowered section. In an embodiment of the invention there are step down notches in the center area. The notches are substantially two inches deep. The first notch is 8 inches wide, the second notch is 6 inches wide while the third notch is 4 inches wide. Thus, the notches would accommodate boards that are 2×4, 2×6 or 2×8 and hold them securely in place.
The apparatus further includes extendable arms the extend outwardly from the center beam member of the sawhorse. The center beam member of the sawhorse is substantially 30 inches wide and with the arms extended they would provide a length of approximately 50 inches. With two sawhorses the unit could support a 4 foot by 8 foot panel to be cut. The design of the sawhorse can be similar to a conventional sawhorse or having some modifications as seen in the drawing figures.
While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting one of a board, a panel and a plank for sawing, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a center beam member having at least one recessed portion disposed adjacent an upper surface of said center beam member for forming a lowered center portion;

(b) a support member for supporting said center beam member; and

(c) a means for preventing lateral movement of said center beam member of said apparatus.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said support member includes at least one platform member for engagement with a bottom portion of said center beam member.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said support member further includes two pair of legs engageable with said at least one platform member for supporting said center beam member, a first pair of said two pair of legs engageable with an end of said at least one platform member and a second pair of legs engageable with a second end of said at least one platform member.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said support member further includes a substantially rectangular brace member, said substantially rectangular brace member engageable on each corner thereof with each leg of said two pair of legs intermediate a first end and a second end of said each leg of said two pair of legs for providing support to said apparatus.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said center beam member includes extendable arms that extend outwardly from each end of said center beam member for supporting larger items to be cut.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said lowered center portion of said center beam member includes a plurality of recessed steps.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of recessed steps are two inches deep.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein a first step of said recessed steps forms a notch that is substantially 2 inches deep and 8 inches wide.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein a second step of said recessed steps forms a notch that is substantially 2 inches deep by 6 inches wide.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein a third step of said recessed steps forms a notch that is substantially 2 inches deep and 4 inches wide.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said means for preventing lateral movement of said center beam member includes an extension on each leg of said two pair of legs, said extension on one leg of said first pair of legs engageable with a lateral side of said center beam member and said extension on another leg of said first pair of legs engageable with an opposite lateral side of said center beam member, said extension on one leg of a second pair of legs of said two pair of legs engageable with a lateral side of said center beam member and said extension on another leg of said second pair of legs engageable with an opposite lateral side of said center beam member.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said first pair of said two pair of legs further includes a notch formed on an upper portion of each of said first pair of legs for engagement with said at least one platform member for supporting said center beam member.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said second pair of said two pair of legs further includes a notch formed on an upper portion of each of said second pair of legs for engagement with said at least one platform member for supporting said center beam member.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said means for preventing lateral movement of said center beam member includes an angle iron disposed on said at least one platform member on each side of said center beam member.