Foldable Conduit Bending Apparatus

Abstract

A tube bending apparatus comprising a tube bender having a head defining a channel therein to receive the tube, a tube stop, measurement marks indicating bending angle, and a handle with the proximal end affixed to the head; a foldable stand having a first leg with proximal and distal ends, an upper receiver to which the proximal end of the first leg is foldably affixed, a second leg defined by the bender handle and having a connector foldably affixed to the upper receiver, an alignment means for positioning the bender, and a clamp means for releasably attaching the bender to the stand, and a stabilization means for providing stability to the stand, whereby, the foldable stand can be transported to a worksite, deployed from a collapsed position into an operational position in which the bender handle becomes a second leg for the stand, and the stabilization means provides additional support so that the foldable stand with the bender engaged therewith is self-supporting, allowing a user to bend tubes more accurately and efficiently.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . A tube bending apparatus comprising:
 a. a tube bender having a head defining a channel therein adapted to receive the tube, a tube stop, measurement marks indicating a bending angle, and a handle with distal and proximal ends, the proximal end affixed to the head; and   b. a foldable stand having a first leg with proximal and distal ends, an upper receiver to which the proximal end of the first leg is foldably affixed, a second leg defined by the bender handle and having a connector foldably affixed to the upper receiver, an alignment means for positioning the bender, and a clamp means for releasably attaching the bender to the stand, and a stabilization means for providing stability to the stand;   whereby, the foldable stand can be easily be transported to the worksite, deployed from a collapsed position into an operational position wherein a bender is engaged with the clamp means and, once engaged, the bender handle becomes a second leg for the stand, and the stabilization means provides additional support so that the foldable stand with the bender engaged therewith is self-supporting, allowing a user to bend tubes more accurately and efficiently than with a bender by itself.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the bender comprises a bender head, an alignment means and affixation means, and at least one additional leg affixed to the upper receiver takes the place of the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the foldable stand comprises at least two legs in addition to the bender handle affixed to the upper receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the stabilization means comprises at least one lateral support protruding from the distal end of at least one leg. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the stabilization means includes at least one locking means for releasably maintaining the foldable stand in the operational position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  where the locking means comprises at least one tension element adapted to resist the separation of the legs of the foldable stand during bending of a tube, the tension element selected from a group of rope, wire, tube, and rod. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the stabilization means includes at least one foot with a top and bottom, the top affixed to at least one leg and adapted to maintain the foldable stand in the operational position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the stabilization means comprises at least three legs affixed to an upper receiver, a foldable table disposed inside the legs and below the upper receiver, the table pivotably affixed to each leg, and hinged to a central portion of the table. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  where the stabilization means further comprises a level affixed to the table. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the stabilization means further comprises at least one distal end of a leg and having an adjustable foot adapted to compensate for uneven work surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the clamp means comprises at least a bender receiver adapted to engage at least one selected from the head or handle, an alignment means for retaining the head in a desired position, and at least one fastening device adapted to secure the head in the desired position. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the foldable stand having more than one fixed position corresponding to specific desired angles of bends. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprises a level to engage the tube during a bending process, whereby the level gives a visual indication when the bend has achieved a desired angle corresponding to the specific setting selected. 
     
     
         14 . A tube bending apparatus comprising:
 a. a tube bender having a head defining a channel therein adapted to receive the tube, a tube stop, measurement marks indicating a bending angle, and handle with distal and proximal ends, the proximal end affixed to the head; and   b. a quick-release receiver rotatably affixed to an upper attachment point and having a length of tubing with proximal and distal ends, the tubing having—
 i. a first semi-circular end defining a first slot adapted to receive the handle 
 ii. a connector section 
 iii. a second semi-circular end defining a second slot rotated 180 degrees from the first slot, the second slot also adapted to receive the handle 
 iv. a pair of protrusions extending out from the second end, the protrusions defining a notch adapted to receive an intersection of the handle and head and to engage them to prevent the head from rotating 
 v. a clamp means for releasably attaching the bender to the stand, having at least one pivot point to foldably affix legs to the receiver; and 
   c. a foldable stand having—
 i. first and second legs, each leg with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the each leg foldably affixed to the quick-release receiver, 
 ii. a third leg defined by the bender handle, the quick release receiver, and a lower receiver, wherein the proximal end of the bender handle engages the quick release receiver, and the distal end engages the lower receiver, 
 iii. a pair of horizontal supports, each with proximal and distal ends, each of the proximal ends pivotably affixed to the lower receiver, and distal ends of the horizontal supports pivotably attached to the first leg and second legs, respectively, and 
 iv. a stabilization means for maintaining the legs in an upright position, 
   whereby, the foldable stand can easily be transported to the worksite, deployed from a collapsed position into an operational position by activating the legs, sliding the locking means along the legs, and spreading both horizontal supports simultaneously until the required height is reached and the stand is locked into position, the quick release receiver is maneuvered into a horizontal position where the proximal end of the bender is inserted into the slot of the quick release receiver and the distal end of the bender in the lower receiver, once the bender is inserted, the quick release receiver is tilted until it engages and aligns the bender, where the bender is secured by the clamp means and once engaged and secured, the bender handle becomes a third leg for the stand, therewith is self-supporting, allowing a user to bend tubes more conveniently than with a bender by itself.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  where foldably affixed comprises detachable ends affixed to either the legs, horizontal supports or both adapted to be easily and quickly disconnected allowing the stand to quickly fold. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  where the horizontal support is a tension element adapted to resist the separation of the legs of the folding stand during the bending process, the tension element selected from a group of rope, wire, tube, and rod. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  where the stabilization means comprises at least one foot with a top and bottom with the top affixed to at least one leg, and the bottom adapted to maintain the foldable stand in the operational position. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  where the stabilization means further comprises a non-skid surface affixed to a bottom of at least one foot attached to at least one leg. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  where the stabilization means includes at least one adjustable foot, whereby, the length of the leg to which the foot is attached can be adjusted to compensate for uneven work surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . A tube bending apparatus comprising:
 a. a body providing a plurality of attachment points;   b. a head affixed to an upper attachment point on the body, the head defining a channel therein adapted to receive the tube, a tube stop, measurement marks indicating a bending angle;   c. a foldable stand having at least two legs, each of which is foldably affixed to the body and extends down therefrom, and   d. a stabilization means for maintaining the legs in an upright position,   whereby, the bender mounted on a foldable stand can be easily be transported to the worksite, deployed from a collapsed position into an operational position and the stabilization means provides support so that the integrated foldable stand therewith is self-supporting, allowing a user to bend tubes more conveniently than with a bender by itself.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  where the stabilization means comprises at least one lateral support protruding from the distal end of at least one leg. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  where the stabilization means includes at least one locking means for releasably maintaining the foldable stand in the operational position. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  where the locking means comprises at least one tension element adapted to resist the separation of the legs of the foldable stand during bending of a tube, the tension element selected from a group of rope, wire, tube, and rod. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20  where the stabilization means includes at least one foot with a top and bottom, the top affixed to at least one leg and adapted to maintain the foldable stand in the operational position. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20  where the stabilization means comprises at least three legs affixed to the body, a foldable table disposed inside the legs and below the body, the table pivotably affixed to each leg, and hinged to a central portion of the table. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  where the stabilization means further comprises a level affixed to the table. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  where the stabilization means further comprises at least one distal end of a leg having an adjustable foot adapted to compensate for uneven work surfaces.