Land vehicles – Wheeled – With worker's support or shade
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-07
2001-10-16
DePumpo, Daniel G. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
With worker's support or shade
C297S423110, C297S423160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302413
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the field of kneeling devices, more particularly, relates to an improved kneeling apparatus that provides ease of movement and allows a worker to work comfortably on his knees with sifting support to the worker and allows the worker to change from a kneeling to a sifting position as desired.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Workers, such as mechanics, brick layers, tile setters, painters, and welders, are often required to perform their tasks from a kneeling position. Maintaining the kneeling position as well as moving to and from the kneeling position typically places a great deal of strain on the worker. The worker must make many transition movements from kneeling to sitting to standing in a typical workday. The body stress associated with the worker's kneeling position and with the transition to and from the kneeling position contributes greatly to the workers fatigue and increases the likelihood of work related injuries, particularly injuries to the worker's knees and lower back.
A number of kneeling apparatus have been proposed over the years to assist the kneeling working and in an effort to alleviate the stress and fatigue associated with the kneeling position of the worker. Among those is U.S. Pat. No. 5, 870, 774 to Legenstein for strap-on wheeled knee pads for workers who must work on their knees. The knee pads have a hard shell knee pad supported on a plurality of swiveling casters. Another kneeling aid was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 294,546 to Opsvik for an ornamental design for a combined seat and kneeler. A cushioned seat supported on a pedestal having three support points is disclosed. One of the support points is a wheel positioned toward the rear of the seat.
Another kneeling apparatus is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 317,833 to Miller et al. The Miller et al. patent disclosed an ornamental design for a kneeler having a rectangular knee pads for supporting a workers knees and vertically positioned combination handles and tool boxes. Still another device is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,021 to Doherty for a mobile knee support apparatus. The Doherty apparatus discloses a pair of horseshoe shaped frames supported on casters. A sling of sheet material is spread on each frame for supporting the knees. The frames are connected by a flexible connector or a rigid sheet.
Still another device is U.S. Pat. No. Des. 330,957 for a combined creeper and tool caddy. The design discloses a wheeled creeper having knee supports. Another kneeling device is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,978 to Gillings, Jr. for a body supporting structure for supporting the user in a combined kneeling and sifting position.
None of the devices allow the worker to have sitting support and knee support as he moves about on his knees while working. Further, none of these devices allow the worker to have sifting support during the transition from a kneeling to a sifting position while allowing free and easily controlled mobility from a kneeling position. Finally, none of these devices allow the worker to maintain a sifting position or a kneeling position as the worker may desire.
Considering the foregoing, a need exists for an improved kneeing apparatus that provides sifting support to the user's buttocks and lower back, facilitates the worker's movements while in a kneeling position and allows the worker to make an easy transition from a kneeling position to a sitting position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The applicant's improved kneeling apparatus is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs. The apparatus consists of a light, tubular frame supported by a plurality of casters. Supported on either side of the frame is a pair of padded knee shells to cushion and support each knee of the worker. A bicycle-type seat for support the buttocks of a worker is attached to the rear of the frame by a vertical seat pedestal. The seat and pedestal includes means to allow for vertical, horizontal and pivotal adjustment of the seat so that the seat may be pivoted or tilted to a desired position, moved forward or rearward along the centerline of the frame, and placed upward or downward as desired by the worker. A distinctive feature of the invention is an additional support wheel mounted to the frame and positioned rearward of the seat and seat pedestal, at a point behind the frame, to support the frame when the worker transitions from a kneeling position to a sitting position.
The apparatus is light and easily movable by the worker. The padded knee shell, in combination with the adjustable seat, provides a cushioned support for a worker's knees, whether the worker working from one knee or both knees, and support to the workers buttocks and lower back. The rear-mounted wheel allows the apparatus to be used a wheeled stool should the worker desire to work in a sitting position.
In the preferred embodiment, the frame is trapezoidal shaped and made of tubular aluminum tubing though other metals and other frame configurations, including even a solid plate-like frame, might be utilized. The rearward end of the frame supports a vertical pedestal to which is adjustably mounted a bicycle seat. The seat and seat pedestal is detachable from the frame to allow for easy transportation and storage of the apparatus.
In the preferred embodiment, the frame is supported on a plurality of metal frame casters, each having hard rubber wheels. The frame casters are mounted below the frame, forward of the seat location, to support the body weight of the worker when the worker is in a kneeling position. The frame also has at least one caster having hard rubber wheels, mounted rearward of the support seat to provided support to the frame and the worker, in conjunction with the frame casters, when the worker is in a sitting position on the seat.
The preferred embodiment employs a pair of knee supports mounted to the frame. The knee supports or comprised of rigid hard plastic shells having a layer, or layers, of foam padding for cushioning the worker's knees. The knee supports are positioned to allow the worker to kneel on either one knee or both knees and still control the rolling movement of the apparatus.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a wheeled kneeling apparatus that provides support for the worker's knees and seat while the worker is kneeling.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wheeled kneeling apparatus that will allow the worker to work from either one knee or both knees and still support the buttocks and seat of the worker.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wheeled kneeing apparatus to support the buttock and seat of the worker while he transitions from a kneeling to a sitting position.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a wheeled kneeling apparatus in combination with a seat, to allow the worker to work from a kneeling or a sitting position as desired. Other objects will be apparent from the description contained herein.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 294546 (1988-03-01), Opsvik
patent: D. 303309 (1989-09-01), Pulda, Jr. et al.
patent: D. 317833 (1991-07-01), Miller
patent: D. 330957 (1992-11-01), Contrini
patent: 2872966 (1959-02-01), Chamness
patent: 3037570 (1962-06-01), Olson
patent: 3863978 (1975-02-01), Gillings, Jr.
patent: 3976155 (1976-08-01), Esch
patent: 4650249 (1987-03-01), Serber
patent: 4767160 (1988-08-01), Mengshoel et al.
patent: 4772071 (1988-09-01), Richards
patent: 4960305 (1990-10-01), Opsvik
patent: 5186519 (1993-02-01), Larson
patent: 5380021 (1995-01-01), Doherty
patent: 5490716 (1996-02-01), Naughton
patent: 5669669 (1997-09-01), Usher
patent: 5870774 (1999-02-01), Legenstein
patent: 449588 (1988-01-01), None
patent: 2176396 (1986-12-01), None
patent: 88/00016 (1988-01-01), None
DePumpo Daniel G.
Racatac Products, Inc.
Stagg William W.
LandOfFree
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