Abstract:
A creeper chair having a frame, a seat and at least one side platform flanking said seat. The platform includes a product-retaining holder in any combination of number, sizes and shapes to secure various products and supplies or tools to said platform.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/519,563, filed Nov. 12, 2003. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to mobile chairs and specifically to a mechanics creeper type chair.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Mechanics, car repair technicians and other personnel have used a number of creeper devices and rolling seats. Primarily such devices are used below a partially raised vehicle (e.g. a vehicle raised on jacks or driven onto raised wheel supports at the front).  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,380 discloses a creeper having an adjustable support platform mounted on a number of wheels. A portion of the elongate support surface is angularly adjustable, with the adjustable joint designed to allow adjustment even if a load is on the support surface. A headrest is included.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,118 discloses a creeper having a tilt adjustable elongate support surface mounted on a number of wheels. A hooking wire structure allows tilt alignment.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,744 is a multipurpose utility cart having a rigid platform and a pivotal support bracket that can angularly adjust a support cushion mounted on two arms. The arms are joined at one end to the support bracket. This allows the device to be used as a mechanics creeper when the cushion is lowered. When the support cushion is raised by angular adjustment of the arm position using the bracket, the device may be used as a mobile seat.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,122 discloses a mechanics reclining chair mounted on a rectangular wheeled platform having a molded plastic chair affixed to the platform. The back is reclined by raising the front of the chair using a pair of struts mounted onto the frame. A drawer beneath the seat may be included.  
         [0008]     All of the above creeper devices are designed for working underneath a car, either exclusively or as one of the intended uses. For this reason the width of the wheeled device must be sufficiently narrower than the distance separating the inner surfaces of the tires such that sufficient clearance of the creeper between the vehicle tires is provided. Such devices are commonly less than shoulder width apart, and nothing extends from the sides of these creeper devices. While this allows a user to move past wheel stands, it limits the location for placement of tools or required materials.  
         [0009]     Such features make the disclosed creepers less useful for those who are not working underneath a car, but along the sides of the car. In these applications, the creeper device does not have to be only as wide as the wheelbase. For example, during auto detailing, e.g. automotive cleaning, polishing, waxing, etc. and also during standard or custom automotive painting work (including prep work), the creeper device is moved about the exterior of the automobile as the lower areas of the automobile are worked on. Another example could be interior house painting of lower wall and trim areas or any type of application that requires working on low areas. During the process of any of these examples it would be convenient if a number of different products, e.g. cleaners, polishes, waxes and paint) and supplies or tools were easily accessible. In addition, the storing of these various products and supplies or tools in a stable location on the creeper would prevent a worker from unintentionally knocking over a product, supply or tool while working on the lower areas of an automobile or other vehicle [or in other applications such as interior house painting or other applications that require working on low areas]. This is less of a problem for creepers used under vehicles, where the creeper is moved most commonly to a single location and fewer products which can be upturned are used.  
         [0010]     It is an object of the invention to provide a creeper that can be used during auto detailing standard or custom painting of an automobiles exterior (including prep work) and other similar work such as interior house painting of lower wall areas and trim or any application that requires working on lower areas, and allow multiple products and supplies to be securely held on the creeper.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The above objects have been achieved with a rolling device including a rectangular frame onto which a seat is mounted. The seat may be bolted to the frame and in one embodiment support at least a portion of the user&#39;s back. Flanking one or both sides of the seat is a platform also mounted on the frame. Affixed to the platform can be any combination of retaining holders of any size or shape to secure various products and supplies or tools on to the rolling device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the creeper of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the creeper shown in  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the illustrated embodiment includes a rectangular metal frame  10 . Preferably, this frame has rounded corners. In addition the frame may be padded (e.g. with a shock absorbing foam, rubber, plastic, or other shock absorbent material). Welded onto rectangular frame  10  are frame struts  14 ,  16  that extend from the front of the frame to the back of the frame.  
         [0015]     Mounted on struts  14 ,  16  is a seat  42 . Seat  42  includes a bottom portion  40 , a half back support  44  and bend grooves  46 . In other contemplated embodiments seat  42  may include full back support or none at all. The corner cutaway shows seat  42  is comprised of outer shell  41 , which is fitted over metal seat form  48 . Glued onto form  48  is foam section  43  to give the seat and back padding to make use more comfortable. Another contemplated embodiment would use an injection molded plastic seat.  
         [0016]     Flanking either side of seat are platforms  20   a ,  20   b  secured by nuts  50  to frame  10 . The platforms may be welded to frame  10 . This may be in addition to or an alternative to being secured by a nut/bolt combination. On platform  20   a  product retaining holders  30 ,  32  are affixed to the platform. Products or other supplies may be retained within these holders. Similarly, a second platform  20   b , flanking an opposite side of seat  42  also has attached holders  34 ,  36  for holding products or other supplies. A product placed into a retaining holder is unlikely to tip as the wheeled seat is rolled over a surface. Each of the retaining rings holders  30 ,  32  may be different sizes or shapes, for example to hold a relatively larger and a relatively smaller specific type of products or supplies.  
         [0017]     “Holder” as used herein is a separate structure on a platform able to hold an article sufficiently securely that the article does not slide off the platform when it is moved. Retaining rings and trays are examples of holders.  
         [0018]     Platform  20   a  is also shown as having a tray  62  held by tray lip  64  in a hole  68  on platform  20   a . This tray insert may be used to hold polish and waxing products, cloths, or other devices not contained within cans.  
         [0019]     At the corner of the device are wheels  18   a ,  18   b . Wheels are positioned at the four corners of frame  10 . The wheels are preferably wheels having a solid polymeric tire mounted on an axle held by a bracket. A post on the bracket extends through holes on frame  10  and platform  20   a  or  20   b . A threaded end of the post is secured by locking nut  50 . In this manner the bracket on the wheel may both secure the wheel and the platform to the frame. The wheel brackets are preferably ball bearing mounted such that the wheel may freely rotate on its axis and the wheel may turn in any direction.  
         [0020]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the bottom of the device shows bolts  60  that extend through struts  14 ,  16  and into seat frame  48 . Bolts are then secured by locking nuts to securely fasten the seat onto the struts  14 ,  16 . The wheels  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c , and  18   d  are positioned at the corners of frame  10 . The wheels include a bracket having a mounting bolt that extends through frame  10  and platform  20   a  or  20   b . This bolt is then secured with locking nut  50 . The position of this bolt at the outside edge of the frame and platform gives the platform added stability and reduces the risk of the platform spilling.  
         [0021]     The term “creeper” as used herein refers exclusively to wheeled structures having a seat or platform at or below the level of the bottom of an auto body at the door location on a sedan style automobile with standard suspension. The level of a seat on a creeper is not more than twelve inches from the level of a surface on which the creeper rests.  
         [0022]     The frame  10  and struts  14 ,  16  may be hollow core steel sections joined by welding. Platforms  20   a ,  20   b  and seat form  48  are also made of steel and joined by bolts and locking nuts, welding, or both. The device is has relatively few parts and is simple to manufacture. Gluing a foam structure over seat form  48  and affixing a shell over the foam then make the seat. Preferably the edge of the shell may be fit over the seat form  48 , again allowing simple assembly. The seat could also be an injection molded plastic structure.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the seat  42  does not extend to the front edge of frame  10 . This is also the case for the back edge. This allows both the front and back edge to be used as handles to carry the device by hand if needed. The seat back  44  also allows the device to be stored with the back resting on a floor surface and the frame parallel to a wall. In this storage position the device will take up a minimal amount of floor space and will not roll away.