Table assembly for a multipurpose tool

In a multipurpose tool of the type having a frame, a pair of parallel way tubes mounted on said frame, and a headstock slidably mounted on said tubes, said headstock having a motor-driven quill spindle spaced from and parallel to said tubes, a table assembly comprising:

• a table top;
• pivot means attached to an underside of said table top;
• a pair of parallel support legs attached to and extending from said pivot means, each of said legs having rack means extending along opposing longitudinal sides thereof;
• and
• a carriage slidably mounted on said way tubes and having means for receiving and supporting said legs, said receiving means including pinion means for engaging said rack means and means for rotating and locking said pinion means relative to said rack means, whereby said support legs may be disengaged from said receiving means, said table top and legs reversed in orientation relative to said carriage and said headstock, and said legs re-engaged with said receiving means.

In a multipurpose tool of the type having a frame, a pair of parallel way tubes mounted on said frame, and a headstock slidably mounted on said tubes, said headstock having a motor-driven quill spindle spaced from and parallel to said tubes, the improvement comprising:

• a plate-shaped table top;
• pivot means attached to an underside of said table top and defining a pivot axis which extends transversely of said table top and said way tubes, such that said table top may be pivoted in a tilted mode to lie in a plane perpendicular to a rotational axis of said quill spindle;
• a pair of parallel, cylindrically-shaped support legs attached to and extending downwardly from said pivot means, each of said legs having a pair of toothed racks extending along opposing longitudinal sides thereof;
• a carriage slidably mounted on said way tubes and having a pair of channels spaced transversely thereof and shaped to receive said support legs therethrough, and a pair of pinion gears associated with said holes, each positioned to mesh with one of said racks on an associated one of said legs whereby said legs may be removed from said holes so that said racks disengage said pinions, said table and legs reversed relative to said carriage, and said legs reinserted into said holes so that opposite ones of said racks engage said pinions;
• crank means for rotating and selectively locking said pinion gears to displace said table top relative to said carriage;
• said table top having first and second transverse edges at opposite ends thereof, and a transverse slot therethrough shaped to receive a tool mounted on said quill spindle and spaced from said first edge a distance less than a clearance distance from a top of said carriage to said quill spindle, and spaced from said second edge a distance greater than said clearance distance;
• and
• means for pivotally attaching said way tubes to said frame such that said tubes may be pivoted about ends thereof to a substantially vertical position and said table top pivoted to said tilted mode such that said headstock is above said table top, whereby said tool is in a vertical drill press mode;
• and said tubes may be pivoted about opposite ends thereof to a substantially vertical position and said table top and legs reversed in orientation relative to said carriage such that said headstock is below said table top, whereby said tool is in an under-the-table shaping mode.