CRAFT TABLE

Abstract

A craft table provides for convenient storage of tools and supplies, and also is capable of holding and positioning a project for ease in working on the project.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/814,627, filed Jun. 15, 2006, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to craft tables. More specifically, the present invention relates to a craft table which provides for convenient storage and use of craft supplies for crafts such as fly tying, needlepoint, etc., and which also provides a positionable arm allowing a user to position the craft project in a desired position.

2. State of the Art

Many persons engage in various crafts for business or for pleasure. Such crafts include needlepoint, stitching, embroidery, assembling or painting models or miniatures, fly tying, and the like. A great number of such crafts involve the use of various tools and supplies, and also involve holding an object in a suitable position for performing work on the object.

It will be appreciated that it can be difficult to hold an object in a position and then be able to perform work on the object. It is often necessary, especially when working with smaller objects, to hold the object to prevent movement when performing work, or to position the object in a desired orientation to facilitate working on the object. If a person is required to use his or her hands to hold or position the object, it is then difficult to work on the object. It is thus desirable to have a way to hold or position an object to facilitate working on that object.

Additionally, various crafts and hobbies require a number of tools and supplies. A person doing needlepoint or stitching may have various kinds of thread, floss, yarn, beads, needles, scissors, etc. A person tying flies may have various feathers, floss, thread, tinsel, beads, wire, needles, scissors, etc. Often, these tools and supplies become disorganized and are difficult to find when needed. Additionally, a person may spend a significant amount of time retrieving and organizing tools and materials for use if they must be stored in a manner which does not allow for ready use. It is thus desirable to have a craft table which allows for improved organization and storage of tools and supplies both when in use and when not in use.

There is thus a need for a craft table which overcomes the limitations of available craft tables. Specifically, there is a need for a craft table which stores tools and supplies in a manner which allows for convenient and ready use of the same. There is a need for a craft table which also aids in holding or positioning the item which is being worked on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved craft table.

According to one aspect of the invention, a craft table is provided with improved storage for tools and materials. The craft table may be formed with a variety of pegs, hooks, holes, and indentations for receiving tools, materials, and the like. The craft table may thus be used to conveniently hold and organize tools and materials while in use, and may also be used to store the same when the table is not in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, a craft table is provided which can hold a variety of different objects to facilitate working on those objects. The craft table may be provided with an extendable and positionable arm for holding desired objects. The end of the arm may be fitted with a clamp, plate, etc. as is appropriate. A clamp may be provided to allow the arm to be attached to a needlepoint or stitching frame. A flat plate may be used to receive a clamp style fly tying vice. As such, the arm may be used to hold a desired object in a position convenient for working upon that object. The use of such an arm allows a person to keep both hands free for working, and to keep the object in a desired position without requiring a person to repeatedly move or position the object.

According to another aspect of the invention, a craft table may be provided which is both left and right handed. The craft table may be formed with a symmetrical layout, providing the same or similar holes, pegs, hooks, etc. on both sides to provide equal convenience to a left or a right handed person. Additionally, a craft table formed with an arm as discussed may provide for attachment of the arm to both the left and right sides.

These and other aspects of the present invention are realized in a craft table as shown and described in the following figures and related description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a craft table known in the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a craft table of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a portion of the craft table of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a portion of the craft table of FIG. 2.

It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The various embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that not all aspects of the invention may be clearly shown in a single figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a craft table known in the prior art is shown. The craft table, indicated generally at 10, includes a base 14 to which various assemblies are attached. A pair of side plates 18 are attached to the base via supports 22. The side plates 18 have been provided with holes 26 which may be used as storage locations for tools or materials. Hooks 30 are attached to one of the side plates 18.

A back plate 34 is attached to the base 14 via a support 38. The back plate 34 has a number of dowels 42 placed therethrough which may receive spools of thread, tinsel, floss, etc. A magnet 46 attached to the front edge 50 of the back plate 34 allows a person to place needles, tools, etc. on the magnet for storage. A vice plate 54 is attached to the base 14 and extends therefrom, allowing a person to clamp a fly tying vice or the like to the table 10.

The craft table shown in FIG. 1 has several disadvantages. The craft table is primarily designed for fly tying, and is not configured to hold or support other types of craft projects. The vice plate 54 protrudes front the base 14, making the table bulkier when not in use. The table 10 could benefit from increased variety of tool and material storage means. The craft table 10 is thus not well suited for a wide variety of crafts and hobbies.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of a craft table of the present invention is shown. The craft table, indicated at 62, includes a base 66 having a number of attachments. A rack 70 is attached to the base 66 via a support 74. The rack may include a base portion 78 and an upper portion 82. Dowels 86 may be mounted into the base portion 78, and may pass through the base portion. The dowels 86 may also be removable from the base portion 78. Dowels 90 may also be mounted into the upper portion 82, and may be removable therefrom. One or more magnets 94 may be mounted to the front of the base portion 78, and even to part of the top of the base portion. The magnets may be used to secure pins, needles, tools, etc. Providing magnets 94 on both the front and top of the base portion 78 allows for greater flexibility in using the craft table 62.

The base portion 66 may be formed with a handle 98 for convenient carrying. Additionally, the base portion 66 may include one or more recesses 102 for receiving tools or the like. The base portion 66 may include decorative edges, etc. The craft table 62 may be formed from many suitable materials such as wood, plastic, metal, etc.

Side plates 106 are attached to the base 66 via supports 110. The side plates may include holes 114 for tools, mounting hooks 118, pegs 122, and bowls or indentations 126. These structures allow for convenient storage and use of many tools and materials. Tools may be placed through the holes 114 or hung on a hook 118 or peg 122. Materials and supplies may also be hung or stored thereon. The hook 118 provides a place for braiding or otherwise working on projects. It has been found that the hook 118 is advantageously placed on the back of the side plate 106 as it is out of the way and will not catch on things. The indentations 126 provide a convenient location for beads or the like, allowing for easy access and inhibiting spilling of the beads as may occur in a small container which is easily knocked over.

The side plates 106 are formed with slots 130. The slots 130 may be used to mount one or more arms, indicated generally at 134, to the craft table 62. An arm 134 may be selectively attached to either or both side plates 106 of the craft table 62. The arm 134 may be used to support the project which a person is working on. The arm 134 is designed to be easily positionable to allow a project to be held in a desired orientation. The arms are discussed in greater detail with FIG. 4.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a side view of the rear portion of the craft table of FIG. 2 is shown. The rack 70 is illustrated in greater detail. Dowels 90 inserted into the upper portion 82 allow a user to place spools of material on the dowels or to hang coils or loops of materials from the dowels. Supplies or materials may hang loosely from the dowels 90. The dowels 86 may be used to captively hold spools of material below the lower portion 78 as well as holding tools or supplies above the lower portion 78. The magnet 94 allows a person to store needles or the like in both vertical or horizontal orientations.

The height of the support 74, and supports 110, may be altered as is desired. It will be appreciated that the rack 70 and the side plates 106 may be placed at the same or different heights, and may be placed flat or at angles. The side plates are preferably flat to allow for convenient use of bowls or indentations to hold beads or the like. According to one embodiment, the lower portion 78 of the rack 70 and the side plates 106 may all be placed at the same height and parallel to the base 66.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a perspective view of an arm and side plate of the craft table is shown. The arm 134 is designed to be positionable in almost endless positions for maximum flexibility during use. Additionally, the arm is designed for use to hold a variety of objects, thus the arm 134 may be modified by adding or removing pieces.

The arm may include a first section 138 which is attached to the side plate 106 by a thumb screw 142. As used herein, the thumb screws refer generally to fasteners which may be tightened without the use of tools such as thumb screws, hand wheels, etc. The first section 138 may have a slot 146 formed therein for maximum flexibility in attaching the arm 134 to the side plate 106. The first section 138 allows the arm 134 to be moved closer to or farther away from the craft table 62, and allows for pivoting the arm.

A second section 150 may be attached to the first section 138 via an angle bracket 154 and thumb screws 158. The use of an angle bracket 154 allows the second section 150 to be pivoted up and down and rotated horizontally relative to the first section 138. A third section 162 may be pivotably attached to the second section via another thumb screw 166, allowing for greater flexibility in raising, lowering, or otherwise positioning the desired object.

A clamp 170 may be attached to the third section 162 via an angle bracket 174 and thumb screw 178. The clamp may use a thumb screw 182 to hold an upper jaw 186 and lower jaw 190 together. The upper and lower jaws may have notches 194 formed therein, and may include pads 198 in the jaws to protect the object being held.

The clamp 170 may be removable from the arm 134 by removing the clamp from the angle bracket 174, or from removing the angle bracket or other desired sections of the arm from the remainder of the arm. Another clamping device or support structure may be attached in the place of the clamp 170 to allow for great flexibility in using the craft table for a variety of projects. For example, clamps may be provided which are designed for holding needlepoint or cross stitch frames, or for holding other projects. Additionally, removing the clamp 170 from the angle bracket 174 may allow a fly tying vice 176 to be attached to the angle bracket. Alternatively, the fly tying vice may be provided with a similar bracket, and bracket 174 may be removed with the clamp 170, and further allowing the fly tying vice 176 and associated bracket to be attached to the arm 134. Alternatively, a project may be bolted or otherwise directly to a section or angle bracket of the arm. One or more arms 134 may be attached to both of the side plates 106 as may be necessary

As such, the craft table provides maximum flexibility and is useful for many different and crafts. The craft table provides a convenient way to hold a project while working and also provides a convenient way to hold tools and materials for the project.

There is thus disclosed an improvement in a craft table. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A craft table comprising:

a base;

a plurality of mounting structures for receiving tools and supplies; and

an arm attached to the base, the arm comprising a plurality of arm sections and retaining means for holding an object.

2. The craft table of claim 1, further comprising a rack attached to the base, the rack comprising a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom configured to receive spools or the like.

3. The craft table of claim 2, wherein the plurality of protrusions are dowels.

4. The craft table of claim 2, wherein the rack comprises a base portion having protrusions and an upper portion having protrusions.

5. The craft table of claim 4, wherein the rack comprises a magnet attached thereto.

6. The craft table of claim 1, further comprising at least one side plate attached to the base, the side plate comprising a plurality of mounting structures for receiving tools and supplies.

7. The craft table of claim 6, wherein the plurality of mounting structures comprises a plurality of holes.

8. The craft table of claim 6, wherein the plurality of mounting structures comprise at least one indentation.

9. The craft table of claim 6, wherein the plurality of mounting structures comprise at least one peg.

10. The craft table of claim 6, wherein the at least one side plate further comprises a slot formed therein, and wherein the arm is attached to the slot.

11. The craft table of claim 10, wherein the at least one side plate is mounted parallel to the base and spaced apart from the base.

12. The craft table of claim 10, wherein a first section of the arm has a slot formed therein, and wherein the slot in the first section of the arm is mounted to the slot in the at least one side plate via a bolt.

13. The craft table of claim 12, wherein the table comprises two side plates mounted on opposing sides of the base, wherein the side plates are mounted generally parallel to the base and spaced apart therefrom, and wherein the arm may be removably mounted to either of the side plates.