Land vehicles – Wheeled – With worker's support or shade
Reissue Patent
1999-12-22
2001-09-18
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
With worker's support or shade
Reissue Patent
active
RE037372
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to mechanic creepers and work seats and in particular to a caster-supported creeper that is convertible to a seat with a shelf platform beneath it.
Various creepers with body-support pads on easters have been devised and are being marketed for lying on to work under vehicles and low structural protrusions. Separately, work seats and tool platforms are being produced and marketed for working around low portions of vehicles, car wheels, low plumbing fixtures, low portions of cabinets and low areas of other objects that can require strenuous back-bending without a low work seat. Some known creepers are foldable and some work seats on casters and having tool platforms are foldable. None are known, however, to be convertible between creepers and work seats with a tool platform in a manner taught by this invention.
Examples of creepers and work seats that are different from this invention are described in the following patent documents. British Patent Application Number GB 2,251,828 A by Moghal dated Jul. 22, 1992, described as caster-supported work seat with tool platforms at opposite sides. U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,955, issued to Holland, et al. on Dec. 17, 1991, taught a caster-supported work platform with a central portion that was adjustable in height with inwardly folding braces that were operated with a threaded shaft similar to some car jacks currently in use. U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,302, issued to Maxwell on Sep. 18, 1990, taught a caster-supported work seat that was pivotal in a cradle for height adjustment. U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,799, issued to Quinonez on Apr. 8, 1986, taught a caster-supported creeper with one portion foldable on top of another portion for use as a moveable stool. U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,969, issued to Zabala, et al. on Sep. 18, 1984, taught a caster-supported photography platform with legs that folded down for conversion to a seat or higher photography platform. U.S. Pat. No. 2,611,417, issued to Henry, et al. on Sep. 23, 1952, taught a caster-supported creeper with end portions that were foldable to leg-like positions to raise either or both ends of a central portion or foldable under the central portion for a shorter creeper. British Patent Number 283,330 issued to Bruce on Jan. 12, 1928, taught a caster-supported creeper with a headrest that was pivotal downward to function as a leg to hold a head end of the creeper in position above casters to prevent movement of the creeper in relation to a selected work area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of need for improved worker-support means in low portions of structures, objects of this invention are to provide a creeper with work seat which:
Is convertible between creeper and seat modes;
Has a tool platform in work seat mode;
Has a length-adjustment headrest in creeper mode;
Rides on casters in both modes;
Is sturdy for sitting, standing and prone positions of use; and
Is easily portable and storable.
This invention accomplishes these and other objectives with a convertible creeper with work seat having two end platforms in sliding attachment to slide rods in slideways with which the two end platforms can be slid apart to opposite ends of a central platform to form a full-length creeper in creeper mode. The central platform becomes a work seat and the two end portions become a shelf platform under the work seat when the two end platforms are slid edge-to-edge in work-seat mode. Seat-support reds are attached pivotally to the central platform and to the two end platforms to support the central platform as a seat in work-seat mode and to position the central portion between the two end platforms in creeper mode. The invention can also be used as a standing platform, like a stool, by standing on the seat when the invention is in a locked-wheel stationary position.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 285018 (1986-08-01), Quinonez
patent: D. 289815 (1987-05-01), Quinonez
patent: 1327103 (1920-01-01), Knowles
patent: 2124389 (1938-07-01), Woelfer, Jr.
patent: 2595783 (1952-05-01), Griffin
patent: 2595784 (1952-05-01), Griffin et al.
patent: 2611417 (1952-09-01), Henry et al.
patent: 2668964 (1954-02-01), Simmons
patent: 2692636 (1954-10-01), Morrison
patent: 2804127 (1957-08-01), Whittingham
patent: 2843391 (1958-07-01), Pelletier
patent: 4025106 (1977-05-01), Kyte
patent: 4471969 (1984-09-01), Zabala et al.
patent: 4580799 (1986-04-01), Quinonez
patent: 4895380 (1990-01-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 4957302 (1990-09-01), Maxwell
patent: 5072955 (1991-12-01), Holland et al.
patent: 5451068 (1995-09-01), Shockley
patent: 5577744 (1996-11-01), Parks
patent: 283330 (1928-01-01), None
patent: 2251828 (1992-07-01), None
Flint & Kim, P.A.
Hurley Kevin
LandOfFree
Convertible work creeper, seat and platform does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Convertible work creeper, seat and platform, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Convertible work creeper, seat and platform will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2476670