Tool creeper

The tool creeper is a rectangular box of a predetermined size related to work area requirements. The tool creeper has a plurality of compartments and drawers to accommodate tools. A plurality of creeper wheels having mounts are attached in a spatial relationship on the outside of a bottom panel to provide tool creeper movement that can readily follow a similar movement of the mechanic in a work space. Additionally, a proximal top surface has a pivotally attached lid for easy access and securement of the contents inside the tool creeper. On the rear of the tool creeper is a power cord socket to provide AC and DC power available for use in the work area. AC and DC power outlets are provided at a side panel of the tool creeper. A work area illumination light is provided along a rear top surface of the tool creeper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to tool creepers and more particularly to a tool creeper designed to assist a mechanic by providing a rolling toolbox beneath an automobile or some other upright inaccessible place.

2. Description of the Related Art

Creepers to assist a mechanic by providing a comfortable sliding surface beneath an automobile or some inaccessible place to an upright mechanic, are well known and used extensively. While mechanic's creepers improve the ergonomics between a mechanic and work piece by allowing movement of the mechanic there remains the issue of tool placement that is also ergonomically sound.

In the past, creepers have been modified in many ways to improve the convenience and ergonomics. Trays to hold tools have been added to mechanic's creepers. Yet the positioning of these attached trays often creates an ergonomic problem for the mechanic who wishes to access the tools without causing strain, muscle pain, and the like.

Additionally, a work area in which the mechanic may be working may lack sufficient lighting, causing eye strain in conjunction with the muscle pain and strain caused by attempting to access the required tools in a tool tray. Attempts made to rectify the aforementioned problems have still not been successful. Moreover, in the event that the mechanic should need DC or AC power for testing and/or tool use, a long extension cord with bulky powerstrip is usually required.

For example, U.K patent GB2199544, dated Jul. 13, 1988, discloses a box inside of a box. The inner box has compartments for tools. The outer box has wheels so that the entire unit may be rolled around. However, when in this configuration, the mechanic does not have access to the tools which are located in the inner box, thus defeating the advantage of tool mobility when underneath a vehicle, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tool creeper is a rectangular box of a predetermined size related to work area requirements. The tool creeper has a plurality of compartments and drawers to accommodate tools. A plurality of creeper wheels having mounts are attached in a spatial relationship on the outside of a bottom panel to provide tool creeper movement that can readily follow a similar movement of the mechanic in a work space.

Additionally, a proximal top surface has a pivotally attached lid for easy access and securement of the contents inside the tool creeper. On the rear of the tool creeper is a power cord socket to provide AC and DC power available for use in the work area. AC and DC power outlets are provided at a side panel of the tool creeper. A work area illumination light is provided along a rear top surface of the tool creeper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is, as shown inFIGS. 1-3and6, a rectangular box-like structure105of a predetermined size related to work area requirements. The tool creeper is formed from a bottom panel305, a left side panel132, a right side panel134, a left front flap107, a right front flap109, a rear panel430, a lid125forming a proximal top surface, and a visible light permeable cover112forming a distal top surface.

The tool creeper105has a plurality of compartments, such as left interior compartment140, right interior compartment142, and drawers120to accommodate tools. Sidewalls of left interior compartment140and right interior compartment142are formed from their respectively adjacent front flaps107,109, side panels132, and134. Rear side walls of the compartments140,142are formed from a first vertical wall129disposed between the side panels132and134and extending between the bottom panel305and a partition formed between the proximal top surface and the distal top surface where the lid125and light cover112meet.

Second and third vertical walls136and138form inner sidewalls of the left compartment140and the right compartment142, respectively. Optionally, compartments140and142may be further sub-divided to provide a plurality of part/tool separating bins. The drawers120are designed to fit in a rectangular open space defined by first vertical wall129, second vertical wall136, third vertical wall138, and the front flaps107,109. The rails are slidably attached to the second and third vertical walls by a rail and track arrangement144. Additionally, the lid125is preferably pivotally attached for easy access and securement of contents inside the tool creeper105. As shown inFIG. 1, pivotal attachment of the lid125is provided by pivot hinge210. Means, such as, for example, drawer knobs123and lid knob127, are provided to allow a user to grasp the lid and drawers. Alternatively indentations, straps, and the like may be provided on the drawers120and lid125to allow the user to grasp them.

As shown inFIG. 3, the structure of tool creeper105has an over all height H3. Front drawer panels are preferably equally sized and preferably each having a drawer panel height H2so that combination height of upper and lower drawer panels is substantially equal to the over all structure height H3, leaving a small gap between the front panels of the two drawers120, and a small gap between the bottom drawer panel and the bottom structure panel305. In a preferred embodiment, the over all height H3is approximately six inches. Moreover in the same preferred embodiment each drawer120has a depth H1of two inches. A preferred overall width of the structure W1+W2+W3is approximately twenty inches, where W1and W3are widths of left front flap107and right front flap109, respectively, and W2is width of drawer120. Width W2of drawer120is preferably twelve inches, while width W1of left front flap107is preferably four inches, and width W3of right front flap109is preferably four inches. As shown inFIG. 2, overall length L including rear section length212of the tool creeper105is approximately eighteen inches. Rear section length is preferably approximately six inches.

As shown inFIG. 3, a plurality of creeper wheels130having preferably swivel mounts131are attached in a spatial relationship on the outside of a bottom panel305to provide tool creeper movement that can readily follow a similar movement of the mechanic in a tight work space. According to the present invention, alternative low friction rolling structures such as bearings, casters, and the like may be provided in lieu of creeper wheels130and swivel mounts131.

As shown inFIGS. 4A and 7, to the rear, i.e., distal end, the tool creeper105has, behind a cutout in the rear panel430, a recessed area containing a power plug415which is electrically configured to provide AC and DC power for use in the work area when the plug415is connected to the mains by an extension power cord. A transformer405is attached inside the tool creeper105proximate to the power plug415. As shown inFIG. 7, preferably, a rectifier407is provided to convert output of the transformer405to direct current DC.

Referring toFIGS. 4A-4B, sliding power cord access doors410are provided in the rear panel430to secure a power cord C in place when connected to the power plug415. Each access door410has a semi-circular indentation on its leading edge, so that the doors fully encircle and grasp a power cord connected to power plug415when the doors are closed. Preferably the circular diameter created by closed access doors410is approximately 10 mm, slightly larger than the diameter of a typical extension power cord. Fastening means such as hook425and hoop, i.e., loop420are provided to securely close the doors410on the connected power cord C.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 5, AC power outlets115and at least one preferably DC power outlet118are provided through cutouts on a side panel such as side panel134of the tool creeper105. Preferable voltage output from power outlets115is between 110V and 120V AC. Preferable voltage output from power outlet118is approximately 12V. A work area illumination light110is provided beneath the visible light permeable rear, i.e., distal, top surface112of the tool creeper105.

Preferably a DC output of the rectifier407provides power to the work area illumination light110and the DC power outlet118. Alternatively an alternating current tap may be provided to power up the work area illumination light110.