Inserted supporting means for worktables

In a worktable providing rolling support for a workpiece placed thereon, the combination comprising:

• (a) a generally horizontal table member having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of passages spaced thereabout and extending vertically therethrough, said passages having a generally circular cross section with at least one laterally extending channel extending outwardly from the circumference thereof;
• and
• (b) ball insert units removably seated in said passages, each of said ball insert units including a housing member of generally circular cross section with an upwardly opening recess and a peripheral portion adjacent the upper end thereof engaged with said table member to limit movement downwardly in said passage, a ball element seated in said recess and projecting above the plane of said upper surface of said table member to support a workpiece thereon, and an engagement element adjacent the lower end of said housing member having at least one lock portion projecting laterally outwardly from the circular periphery of said passage and is engaged with a cooperating surface of said table member to prevent movement of said ball insert unit upwardly in said passage, said ball insert unit being rotatable in said passage to align said projecting lock portion with said channel to permit insertion and removal of said ball insert unit from said passage, said ball insert unit having engageable means at its upper end for engagement by a tool to effect rotation of said ball insert unit and application of forces thereto to effect locking and release from said table member.

In a worktable providing rolling support for a workpiece placed thereon, the combination comprising:

• (a) a generally horizontal table member having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of passages spaced thereabout and extending vertically therethrough, said passages having a generally circular cross section with at least one laterally extending channel extending outwardly from the circumference thereof;
• and
• (b) ball insert units removably seated in said passages, each of said ball insert units including a housing member of generally circular cross section with an upwardly opening recess and a peripheral portion adjacent the upper end thereof engaged with said table member to limit movement downwardly in said passage, a ball element seated in said recess and projecting above the plane of said upper surface of said table member to support a workpiece thereon, and an engagement element adjacent the lower end of said housing member having at least one lock portion projecting laterally outwardly from the circular periphery of said passage and is engaged with a cooperating surface of said table member to prevent movement of said ball insert unit upwardly in said passage, said ball insert unit being rotatable in said passage to align said projecting lock portion with said channel to permit insertion and removal of said ball insert unit from said passage, said passages having a pair of diametrically opposed channels and said housing members having a pair of diametrically opposed lock portions.

In a worktable providing rolling support for a workpiece placed thereon, the combination comprising:

• (a) a generally horizontal table member having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of passages spaced thereabout and extending vertically therethrough, said passages having a generally circular cross section with at least one laterally extending channel extending outwardly from the circumference thereof;
• and
• (b) ball insert units removably seated in said passages, each of said ball insert units including a housing member of generally circular cross section with an upwardly opening recess and a peripheral portion adjacent the upper end thereof engaged with said table member to limit movement downwardly in said passage, a ball element seated in said recess and projecting above the plane of said upper surface of said table member to support a workpiece thereon, and an engagement element adjacent the lower end of said housing member having at least one lock portion projecting laterally outwardly from the circular periphery of said passage and is engaged with a cooperating surface of said table member to prevent movement of said ball insert unit upwardly in said passage, said ball insert unit being rotatable in said passage to align said projecting lock portion with said channel to permit insertion and removal of said ball insert unit from said passage, the surface of said table member against which said lock portion abuts including at least one recess angularly offset from said channel and of lesser width than said lock portion to seat said lock portion therein.

In a worktable providing rolling support for a workpiece placed thereon, the combination comprising:

• (a) a generally horizontal table member having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of passages spaced thereabout and extending vertically therethrough, said passages having a generally circular cross section with at least one laterally extending channel extending outwardly from the circumference thereof;
• and
• (b) ball insert units removably seated in said passages, each of said ball insert units including a housing member of generally circular cross section with an upwardly opening recess and a peripheral portion adjacent the upper end thereof engaged with said table member to limit movement downwardly in said passage, a ball element seated in said recess and projecting above the plane of said upper surface of said table member to support a workpiece thereon, and an engagement element adjacent the lower end of said housing member having at least one lock portion projecting laterally outwardly from the circular periphery of said passage and is engaged with a cooperating surface of said table member to prevent movement of said ball insert unit upwardly in said passage, said lock portion and table member cooperating surface being resiliently biased together to provide resistance to rotation of said ball insert unit within said passage, said ball insert unit having engageable means at its upper end for engagement by a tool to effect rotation of said ball insert unit and application of forces thereto to effect locking and release from said table member, said ball insert unit being rotatable in said passage to align said projecting lock portion with said channel to permit insertion and removal of said ball insert unit from said passage.