This application claims priority to and the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201010576108.7, filed in the Chinese Intellectual Property Office, on Dec. 7, 2010, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field
The invention relates to the technical field of basic hand tools and particularly relates to a service creeper for car repair providing an operator of the service creeper with a transport mechanism that provides lie-down operational support and a scraper mechanism that assists, when upright, in conveniently moving objects, similar to that of a dolly or a forklift.
2. Description of Related Art
Disclosed Chinese Patent Documentation presents many forms of a creeper for use in car repair. For example, a utility model patent with patent publication number CN2552778Y provides a dismountable creeper for car repair, which can integrate all parts (e.g. the cushions and the framework which is equipped with rollers) without welding or riveting. In the process of transportation, the creeper is in a dismounting state to save both the packaging and space, therefore reducing the cost of warehouse and transportation. Another example, the creeper for car repairing recommended by CN2546284Y is provided with a folding function, which saves space to facilitate with minimal warehouse storage and easy transportation. Another example, a creeper disclosed by CN2685025Y, wherein, the creeper adjusts to the height of the bolster as needed through the setting of a bolster regulating mechanism, thus improving the comfort of the operator. Compared with the creeper for car repair of CN2685025Y, the creeper for car repair disclosed by CN2767077Y achieves the height adjustment through the setting of a headrest regulating mechanism without a regulating handle which may be an interference to the operators. For another example, a service creeper for car repair disclosed by CN2759717Y is provided with a convenient effect of dismounting front and rear bedsteads.
In addition to the creepers for use in car repair as listed above, other related art also has respective technical effects, however they all lack the multifunction of also providing upright assistance in moving heavy objects.
As those who routinely conduct operation of car repair would realize, the need to obtain accessories and/or relatively large and heavy tools is necessary in the process of repairing a vehicle. Therefore, a creeper for car repair that is equipped with a function for lie-down operational support and upright assistance in conveniently moving objects as needed, would improve the operation performance, reduce the labor intensity, and reduce manpower input of the operators. The technical solution introduced below is generated for this purpose.
The object of the present invention is to provide a service creeper for use in car repair that is both conducive for lie-down operational support and for moving tools while upright as needed so as to reduce the labor intensity of the operators.
The present invention relates to a creeper for car repair comprising a service creeper body with an attached object scraper mechanism which is pivotally connected to one end of the creeper body for unfolding from the service creeper body and being perpendicular to the service creeper body when objects are carried as well as laying against the back of the service creeper body when the scraper mechanism is not being used and is folded.
In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the creeper body includes a pair of creeper frames that are arranged to each other in parallel, with each creeper frame having a hollow chamber; a lying mat with a headrest and a handle; and a group of fixing plates for the lying mat. The fixing plates for the lying mat are fixed at a certain distance between the pair of the creeper frames; the headrest is located at one end of the lying mat; and a group of fixing plates are fixed with the lying mat. One end of the handle is connected to one end of one creeper frame, the other end of the handle is connected to the corresponding end of the other creeper frame, and the middle part of the handle corresponds to the location of the headrest. A first roller is pivotally arranged at one end of the pair of creeper frames, wherein, the ends face toward the headrest. At the other end of the pair of creeper frames is a pin axle hole drilled into the creeper frame and a shovel board pivot is set respectively. The shovel board pivot is located externally under the pin axle hole of the creeper frame. The object scraper mechanism is connected with each pin axle hole of the pair of the creeper frames and is also pivotally connected with the pair of the shovel board pivots.
In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the object scraper mechanism includes a shovel board. A shovel board gudgeon is formed on each end along the longitude direction of the shovel board. A shovel board revolving axle hole is arranged on each shovel board gudgeon. The shovel board revolving axle hole is pivotally arranged on the shovel board pivot. A roller shaft is arranged between two shovel board gudgeons with a pair of axle heads protruding out of the shovel board gudgeons. The shovel board includes a pair of shovel board actuating devices having the same structure: one is connected with the creeper frame pin axle hole on one of the creeper frames and is also connected with one of the two axle heads of the roller shaft; while the other one is connected with the creeper frame pin axle hole on the other creeper frame and is also connected with the other axle head of the roller shaft. A pair of second rollers, one second roller in the pair of the second rollers is rotationally arranged on one of the pair of the axle heads, while the other second roller is arranged on the other axle head.
In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the pair of shovel board actuating devices includes a connecting rod, a connecting rod pin axle, a spring seat, and a spring. One end of the connecting rod is provided with a first connecting rod pin hole, and a second connecting rod pin hole is provided on the other end. The second connecting rod pin hole is cased on the axle head. The spring seat and the spring are arranged in the hollow chamber, wherein the lower end of the spring is supported either on the shovel board pivot or on the bottom wall of the creeper frame hollow chamber, and the upper end of the spring is supported on the spring seat. The connecting rod pin axle is successively inserted into the first connecting rod pin hole and the creeper frame pin axle hole; and the connecting rod gudgeon is coordinated with the spring seat.
In another specific embodiment of the present invention, a narrow groove is extended from and connected with the first connecting rod pin hole. A first recess and a second recess are formed on the connecting rod pin axle. The upper part of the spring seat is provided with a first locating flange and the lower part of the spring seat is provided with a second locating flange. The first locating flange is coordinated with either the first recess or the second recess. The upper end of the spring is supported on the second locating flange.
In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the tip of the connecting rod gudgeon is equipped with a snap spring groove on which a snap spring is arranged for restricting the movement of the connecting rod pin axle located on the creeper frame.
In a further specific embodiment of the present invention, the overall shape of the connecting rod is Z-shaped.
In a further specific embodiment of the present invention, the handle is connected with the pair of the creeper frames using a plug.
In a further specific embodiment of the present invention, the handle is permanently connected with the pair of the creeper frames.
The technical solution according to the present invention is a service creeper body with a transport mechanism that provides lie-down operational support and an object scraper mechanism which is connected to one end of the pivot of the service creeper body for unfolding from the service creeper body and being perpendicular to the service creeper body when the operator is standing upright and heavy objects are carried, as well as laying against the back of the service creeper body when the scraper mechanism is not being used and is folded, thus facilitating object transportation and reducing the work intensity for the operators.
The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and is not construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein.
Embodiment:
Referring to
Each end of the headrest 131 directed at the pair of the creeper frames 11 is pivotally equipped with a first roller 111; the other end of the pair of the creeper frames 11 is equipped with a creeper frame pin axle hole 112 and a shovel board pivot 113 which is located under the creeper frame pin axle hole 112 (for example, refer to the position shown in
In order to enable the creeper body 1 to multifunction both with lie-down operational support and while standing upright, provide operators with the ability to shovel and transport objects, the creeper frame pin axle hole 112 and the shovel board pivot 113 are equipped with the object scraper mechanism 2 (connected by pivots) for unfolding from the creeper body 1 and being perpendicular to the creeper body 1 when the objects are carried as well as laying against the back of the creeper body 1 when the scraper mechanism is not being used and is folded.
In
In
In a preferable embodiment, an axle sleeve 115 is arranged in the hollow chamber 114 and on the position of the corresponding part of the frame pin axle hole 112. A locating flange hole 1151 is arranged on one side of the axle sleeve 115 and the side that faces the locating flange 2331. The connecting rod pin axle 232 is inserted into the axle sleeve 115 and the first locating flange 2331 is matched with the first recess 2321 or the second recess 2322 on the connecting rod pin axle 232 through the locating flange hole 1151. The first connecting pin hole 2311 extends and is equipped with a narrow groove 23111 so as to make the first connecting rod pin hole 2311 form a pear-shaped hole with one narrow end and one expanded end. Only when the first recess 2321 or the second recess 2322 is directed at the narrow groove 23111, can the connecting rod move.
If the first connecting rod pin hole 2321 and the narrow groove 23111 are arranged on the creeper frame 11, then the corresponding assembly method shall be appropriately changed. This change is regarded as a symbolic and non-material equivalent change and is still within the protection scope of the present invention.
Referring to
When the state shown in
From the above description, the technical solution of the present invention provides the conventional function of the creeper along with the function of transporting objects, indicating a dual function of the creeper.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2010 1 0576108 | Dec 2010 | CN | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20120139198 A1 | Jun 2012 | US |