Collapsible and portable work station

Abstract

A collapsible and portable work station, comprising a collapsible and portable leg structure comprising a plurality of legs movably attached to each other, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and longitudinally extending axis, the legs being movable to a first configuration wherein the legs are in close proximity to one another such that the longitudinally extending axes of the legs are generally parallel to one another, and to a second configuration wherein the spacing between the legs is maximal, and a top portion removably attached to the top ends of the legs, the top portion comprising two sections movably attached to one another so as to allow the top portion to be folded such that the sections confront each other when the top portion is not attached to the leg structure. In one embodiment, each of the top portion sections comprises a substantially flat surface. In another embodiment, the top portion comprises a frame that defines a region for receiving a basin. The top portion further comprises means for removably securing the basin to the top portion.

Thus, having described the invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible and portable work station, comprising: 
 a collapsible and portable leg structure comprising a plurality of legs movably attached to each other, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and longitudinally extending axis, the legs being movable to a first configuration wherein the legs are in close proximity to one another such that the longitudinally extending axes of the legs are generally parallel to one another, and to a second configuration wherein the legs are maximally spaced from one another; and    a top portion removably attached to the top ends of the legs, the top portion comprising two sections movably attached to one another so as to allow the top portion to be folded such that the sections confront each other when the top portion is not attached to the leg structure.    
     
     
         2 . The collapsible and portable work station according to  claim 1  wherein the sections of the top surface are hingedly attached to each other.  
     
     
         3 . The collapsible and portable work station according to  claim 1  further comprising means for removably attaching the top portion to the top ends of the legs.  
     
     
         4 . The collapsible and portable work station according  claim 1  wherein the top portion comprises a top surface and each section comprises a top surface, the top surfaces of the sections cooperating to define the top surface of the top portion.  
     
     
         5 . The collapsible and portable work station according  claim 4  wherein the top surface of the top portion is generally planar.  
     
     
         6 . The collapsible and portable work station according  claim 1  wherein the top portion is generally rectangular in shape.  
     
     
         7 . The collapsible and portable work station according  claim 1  wherein the top portion is generally square in shape.  
     
     
         8 . The collapsible and portable work station according  claim 1  wherein the sections are generally the same in size.  
     
     
         9 . The collapsible and portable work station according  claim 1  wherein the top portion comprises a frame that defines an opening, the frame having a pair of sections movably attached to one another, each section of the frame defining a corresponding section of the top portion.  
     
     
         10 . The collapsible and portable work station according  claim 9  further comprising a basin for containing the liquids, the basin having a portion for collecting the fluids which is disposed within the opening of the frame and a peripheral portion removably secured to the frame.  
     
     
         11 . The collapsible and portable work station according to  claim 10  wherein the peripheral portion of the basin includes a plurality of openings, the frame further comprising a side portion and a plurality of projections extending outward from the side portion, each projection being disposed through a corresponding one of the openings of the peripheral portion of the basin.  
     
     
         12 . The collapsible and portable work station according to  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of securing members pivotally attached to the side portion of the frame, each securing member having a cavity sized for receiving a corresponding one of the projections, each securing member being pivotal between a first position in which the peripheral portion of the basin is intermediate the securing member and the side portion of the frames and the projections are disposed within the cavities of the securing member, and a second position in which the securing member is positioned away from the side portion of the frame such that the projections are no longer disposed within the cavities of the securing member.  
     
     
         13 . The collapsible and portable work station according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of wheels, each wheel being attached to the bottom end of each leg to facilitate movement of the work station.  
     
     
         14 . The collapsible and portable work station according to  claim 1  wherein each leg is comprised of a plurality of telescoping leg sections.  
     
     
         15 . The collapsible and portable work station according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of legs comprises four legs.  
     
     
         16 . The collapsible and portable work station according to  claim 15  further comprising: 
 a first annular member slidably mounted on a first one of the legs;  
 a second annular member slidably mounted on a second one of the legs that is diagonally positioned with respect to the first one of the legs;  
 a first connecting member pivotally attached to the first annular member and a third one of the legs;  
 a second connecting member pivotally attached to the third one of the legs and the second annular member;  
 a third connecting member pivotally attached to the second annular member and a fourth one of the legs; and  
 a fourth connecting member pivotally attached to the third one of the legs and the first annular member.  
 
     
     
         17 . A collapsible and portable leg structure for use with a collapsible and portable work station comprising a plurality of legs movably attached to each other, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and longitudinally extending axis, the legs being movable to a first configuration wherein the legs are in close proximity to one another such that the longitudinally extending axes of the legs are generally parallel to one another, and to a second configuration wherein the legs are maximally spaced from one another.  
     
     
         18 . The collapsible and portable leg structure according to  claim 17  wherein each leg is comprised of a plurality of telescoping leg sections.  
     
     
         19 . A top portion for a collapsible and portable work station comprising a pair of sections pivotally attached to one another so as to allow the top portion to be folded such that the sections confront each other when the top portion is not in use, the top portion further comprising a generally planar top surface and means for removably attaching the top portion to a leg structure of the collapsible and portable work station.  
     
     
         20 . A top portion for a collapsible and portable work station comprising a frame defining an opening therethrough, the frame comprising a pair of frame sections pivotally attached to one another so as to allow the frame sections to be folded such that the sections confront each other when the top portion is not in use, the frame further comprising: 
 a side portion;    a plurality of projections extending form the side portion;    a plurality of members pivotally attached to the side portion, each member having a cavity sized for receiving a corresponding one of the projections, the members being pivotal to a first position wherein the projections of the side portion are disposed with the cavities of the members and to a second position wherein the projections of the side portion are not disposed within the cavities of the members; and    means for removably attaching the frame to a leg structure of the collapsible and portable work station.