Portable support stand

Abstract

A portable support stand having a platform for supporting the power tool or workpiece and brackets for releasably attaching the power tool to the platform. Right and left support arms are attached to the support stand for supporting the ends of the workpiece. An attachment mechanism connects the platform to a sawhorse .Iadd.or other support structure .Iaddend.so that the support arms are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the saw horse .Iadd.or support structure.Iaddend.. The method of the present invention is directed to attaching a portable support stand to a sawhorse .Iadd.or other support structure .Iaddend.for supporting a power tool and a workpiece. The portable support stand is engaged with the top member of the sawhorse .Iadd.or support structure .Iaddend.so that the support arms are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top member. A power tool is then attached to the platform using the brackets provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable support stand attachable to a saw horse for supporting a power tool and a workpiece, the saw horse having an elongated top member defining a first longitudinal axis, the portable support stand comprising: a platform for supporting the power tool, the platform further including bracket means for releasably attaching the power tool to the top surface of the platform;   attachment means connected to the platform for attaching the platform to the top member of the sawhorse;   support arm bracket means for attaching at least one support arm to the platform, the support arm bracket means having a left and right end;   right support arm means for supporting the workpiece, the right support arm means having an inward end and an outward end, the inward end of the right support arm means being operatively engaged with the support arm bracket means proximate the right end thereof; and   left support arm means for supporting the workpiece, the left support arm means having an inward end and, an outward end, the inward end of the left support arm means being operatively engaged with the support arm bracket means proximate the right end thereof, the right and left support arm means defining a second longitudinal axis generally parallel to the first longitudinal axis.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment further includes slide bracket means for slidably engaging with the top member of the sawhorse. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the attachment means further includes set screw means for releasably retaining the attachment means to top member of the saw horse. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left support arm means is slidably engaged with the support arm bracket means so that the left support arm means can be moved between a extended position and a retracted position. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a set screw means for releasably retaining the left support arm means in any position between the extended and the retracted positions. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the left support arm means is telescopically engaged with the right support arm means so that the left support arm means is generally contained within the right support arm means in the retracted position. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left and right support arm means are slidably engaged with the support arm bracket means so that the left and right support arm means can be moved between a extended position and a retracted position. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left and right support arm means are constructed of aluminum tubing. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including left height adjustment means engaged proximate the outward end of the left support arm means for supporting the workpiece relative to the power tool. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 1 further including right height adjustment means engaged proximate the outward end of the right support arm means for supporting the workpiece relative to the power tool. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the left height adjustment means further includes end stop means for retaining the workpiece in a fixed special relationship relative to the power tool. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 1 further including left height adjustment means slidably engaged with the left support arm means proximate the outward end thereof and set screw means for releasably retaining the left height adjustment means at various heights relative to the power tool. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1 further including right height adjustment means slidably engaged with the right support arm means proximate the outward end thereof and set screw means for releasably retaining the right height adjustment means at various heights relative to the power tool. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the left height adjustment means further includes end stop means for retaining the workpiece in a fixed spacial relationship relative to the power tool. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 4 further including handle means for carrying the portable support stand when the left support arm is in the retracted position. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the platform includes storage leg means for supporting the portable support stand when the left support arm is in the retracted position. 
     
     
       17. A portable support stand attachable to a saw horse for supporting a power tool and a workpiece, the saw horse having an elongated top member defining a first longitudinal axis, the portable support stand comprising: a platform for supporting the power tool, the platform having a top surface and a bottom surface, and further including bracket means for releasably attaching the power tool to the top surface of the platform;   attachment means connected to the bottom surface of the platform for attaching the platform to the top member of the sawhorse, the attachment means further includes slide bracket means for slidably engaging with the top member of the sawhorse;   support arm bracket means for attaching at least one support arm to the platform, the support arm bracket means having a left and right end;   right support arm means for supporting the workpiece, the right support arm means having an inward and outward end, the inward end of the right support arm means being operatively engaged with the support arm bracket means proximate the right end thereof; and   left support arm means for supporting the workpiece, the left support arm means having an inward and outward end, the inward end of the left support arm means being slidably with the support arm bracket means so that the left support arm means can be moved between a extended position and a retracted position, the left and right support arm means defining a second longitudinal axis generally parallel to the first longitudinal axis.   
     
     
       18. A method of using a portable support stand attachable to a saw horse for supporting a power tool and a workpiece, comprising the steps of: a) providing a saw horse having an elongated top member defining a longitudinal axis;   b) providing a portable support stand comprising platform for supporting the power tool, the platform having bracket means for releasably attaching the power tool to the platform, attachment means for attaching the platform to the top member of the sawhorse, and workpiece support arm means attached to the platform for supporting the workpiece;   c) engaging the attachment means with the top member of the saw horse so that the support arm means are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top member; and   d) attaching the power tool to the platform with the bracket means. .Iadd.   
     
     
       19.  A portable support stand for supporting a power tool and a workpiece, the portable support stand comprising: a platform including bracket means for releasably attaching the power tool to a top surface of the platform;   support arm bracket means connected to the platform;   right and left support arm means defining a longitudinal axis for supporting the workpiece operatively engaged with the support arm bracket means, the left support means at least partially longitudinally overlapping the right support arm means in a retracted position, the left support arm means slidable relative to the right support arm means from the retracted position to an extended position..Iaddend..Iadd.20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the left support arm means is telescopically engaged with the right support arm means..Iaddend..Iadd.21. The apparatus of claim 19 further including left height adjustment means engaged proximate outward end of the left support arm means for supporting the workpiece relative to the power tool..Iaddend..Iadd.22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein at least one support arm means further includes end stop means for retaining the workpiece in a fixed spacial relationship relative   
     
     
        to the power tool..Iaddend..Iadd.23.  The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the right support arm is slidably engaged with the support arm bracket so that the right support arm can be moved between the extended position and the retracted position..Iaddend..Iadd.24. A portable support stand attachable to a support structure for supporting a power tool and a workpiece, the support structure having a top member defining a first longitudinal axis, the portable support stand comprising: a platform including a bracket for releasably attaching the power tool to a top surface of the platform;   a support arm bracket connected to the platform;   a left and a right support arm defining a longitudinal axis for supporting the workpiece operatively engaged with the support arm bracket, the left support arm at least partially longitudinally overlapping the right support arm in a retracted position, the left support arm slidable relative to the right support arm from the retracted position to an extended position..Iaddend..Iadd.25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the left support arm is telescopically engaged with the right support arm..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The apparatus of claim 24 further including left height adjustment means engaged proximate outward end of the left support arm for supporting the workpiece relative to the power tool..Iaddend..Iadd.27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein at least one support arm further includes end stop means for retaining the workpiece in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the power   
     
     
        tool..Iaddend..Iadd.     The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the right support arm is slidably engaged with the support arm bracket so that the right support arm can be moved between the retracted position to the extended position..Iaddend..Iadd.29. A method of using a portable support stand for supporting a power tool and a workpiece, comprising the steps of: a) providing a platform for supporting the power tool, the platform having a bracket to attach the power tool to the platform, and left and right workpiece support arms defining a longitudinal axis for supporting the workpiece operatively connected to the platform;   b) sliding the left workpiece support arm relative to the right workpiece support arm from an at least partially overlapping retracted position to an extended position; and   c) engaging the power tool to the platform with the bracket..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The method of claim 29 further including the step of sliding the right support arm from a retracted position to an extended position..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The method of claim 29 further including the step of raising a height adjustment means on the left workpiece support arm for supporting the workpiece relative to the power tool..Iaddend..Iadd.32. The method of claim 29 wherein the left workpiece support arm is telescopically engaged with the right workpiece support   
     
     
        arm..Iaddend..Iadd.33.  A method of using a portable support stand attachable to a support structure for supporting a power tool and a workpiece, comprising the steps of: a) providing a platform supported by the support structure, the platform having a bracket to attach the power tool to the platform, and left and right workpiece support arms defining a longitudinal axis operatively connected to the platform;   b) sliding the left support arm relative to the right support arm from an at least partially overlapping retracted position to an extended position; and   c) engaging the power tool to the platform with the   
     
     
        bracket..Iaddend..Iadd. 4.  The method of claim 33 further including the step of sliding the right support arm from a retracted position to an extended position..Iaddend..Iadd.35. The method of claim 33 further including the step of raising a height adjustment means on the left workpiece support arm for supporting the workpiece relative to the power tool..Iaddend..Iadd.36. The method of claim 33 wherein the left workpiece support arm is telescopically engaged with the right workpiece support arm..Iaddend.