Land vehicles – Wheeled – With worker's support or shade
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-26
2003-11-04
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
With worker's support or shade
C182S116000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06641146
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of creepers. More particularly, the invention pertains to a creeper with an elevated platform, that allows users to work safely in an elevated position over an automobile, for example, above the engine compartment under the hood of a truck.
2. Description of Related Art
Mechanics face various obstacles when working on a vehicle. The obstacles are even more numerous when working on larger vehicles, such as trucks. One such obstacle is reaching the engine and all of the necessary parts of that engine.
There have been numerous patents that attempted to solve the problem of reaching all the necessary components of the engine. However, the most of the creepers are designed for under vehicle access only, limiting the reach-ability of the mechanic. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,877, “TRANSFORMABLE MECHANIC'S CREEPER”, Shockley (2001), discloses a transformable mechanics creeper having at least two pivotal connections, a base assembly, and an extendable roller frame. U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,532, “FOLDING CREEPER”, Martin (2000) teaches a creeper that has telescopic braces or extensions and is designed for folding. This creeper has only two positions: both are under vehicle access positions. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,947,489 and 6,059,298 “FOLDABLE CREEPER”, Tucker (2000), show a foldable creeper having caster wheels and two rectangular platform sections with padded cushions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,380, “ADJUSTABLE VARIABLE SLOPE ELEVATING CREEPER”, Brooks et al. (1990), shows an improved adjustable variable slope elevating creeper including a mobile horizontal frame, a platform for supporting a reclining person, a device for lifting one or both ends of the platform by a control operable by the reclining person, and a hydraulic jack. U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,683, “CREEPER HAVING LEVER ARMS PROVIDING VARIABLE MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE FOR INCLINING A BACK PORTION”, Auel (1999), discloses a creeper having lever arms and an inclinable back portion. These creepers are all designed for under vehicle access only.
An obstacle faced by mechanics working on larger vehicles is obtaining the correct positioning over the engine. There have been patents issued in the past to try and solve this problem, but there remains a problem with adjustment. U.S. Pat. No. D271,717, “ELEVATED CREEPER FOR AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS”, Linn (1983), discloses an ornamental design for an elevated creeper for automotive mechanics. Flexing and adjustability are potential problems for this design. U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,007, “ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLD”, Harrell (1973), discloses an adjustable scaffold with a movable ladder section and a base with a fixed ladder portion. The base does not fit under a truck, and it is far too tall for automotive or truck use U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,392, “HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE UNIVERSAL CREEPER APPARATUS,” Hansen (1995) teaches a height adjustable creeper comprised of a movable base, interchangeable posts, extension members, a cushioned platform mounted upon a frame which is mounted upon the extension members and having rungs. The adjustment of this creeper depends upon how far apart the holes are on the upright support. The top rung is fixed to the bottom upright support. As the platform is raised, access becomes more difficult. The padded mechanic's platform overextends the base which maximizes the flexing of the mast and may create dangerous tipping if too much weight is put over the end. This unit has to be disassembled for storage. In this invention, the adjustability of the creeper is solely dependent upon how far apart the holes are on the upright support. Furthermore, the padded section of the mechanics platform is flat and stays flat through the entire range of motion, making it difficult for the mechanic to get off the creeper at a high elevation. The flat creeper bed also limits the accessibility to the work area. Lastly, the creeper is not convenient in that it has to be disassembled to be stored, and therefore reassembled each time the mechanic wants to use the creeper.
All of the prior art elevated mechanic's creepers are single use products and some have to be disassembled for storage between uses. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an adjustable height platform with multiple uses, which is easily converted for storage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A conversion kit for converting a “cherry picker” to an elevated platform creeper. The elevated platform creeper is used for purposes such as: working on pickup trucks, medium duty trucks, tractor trailers, and other large vehicles. The elevated platform creeper has a base with legs and wheels, a mast, a platform, and a height adjuster. The platform has two sections, chest and body, which are connected to one another by a pivot capable of securing various positions.
Preferably, the mast has multiple steps fixedly attached to allow the mechanic access to the platform. Additionally, the elevated platform creeper can also fold for storage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2701168 (1955-02-01), Schemers
patent: 2969123 (1961-01-01), Jamerson et al.
patent: 2974809 (1961-03-01), Sellars et al.
patent: 3737007 (1973-06-01), Herrell
patent: 4397374 (1983-08-01), Rumage et al.
patent: D271717 (1983-12-01), Linn
patent: 4542806 (1985-09-01), Olson
patent: 4715573 (1987-12-01), Liegel
patent: 4863178 (1989-09-01), Friesen
patent: 4895380 (1990-01-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 5076448 (1991-12-01), Ballard
patent: 5100283 (1992-03-01), Carty
patent: 5451068 (1995-09-01), Shockley
patent: 5460392 (1995-10-01), Hansen
patent: 5857683 (1999-01-01), Auel
patent: 5899297 (1999-05-01), Clark
patent: 5934490 (1999-08-01), Mora
patent: 5947489 (1999-09-01), Tucker
patent: 6059298 (2000-05-01), Tucker
patent: 6095532 (2000-08-01), Martin
patent: 6105719 (2000-08-01), Lensing
patent: 6199877 (2001-03-01), Shockley
Professional Tool Equipment News; 3 pages.
STTS Truck Equipmetn & Trailer Sales; 3 pages.
The Tool Warehouse, 4 pages.
Northern Tool & Equipment Co.; 3 pages.
Lincoln Automotive Mobile Engine Crane—2 Ton; 1 page.
2 Ton Folding Engine Crane—Owners Manual; 5 pages.
Brown & Michaels PC
Johnson Brian L.
Restifo Jeffrey J.
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