Abstract:
A creeper for car repair which belongs to the technical field of basic hand tools, includes a creeper body and an object scraper mechanism which is pivotally connected with one end of the creeper body. The technical solution provided by the present invention is equipped to an object scraper mechanism which is pivotally connected with one end of the creeper body for unfolding from the 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 the object transportation and reducing the work intensity for the operators.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     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. 
     BACKGROUND 
     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. 
     SUMMARY 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a structural drawing of a specific embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a structural drawing of the shovel board actuating device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is the schematic diagram showing the transport mechanism of  FIG. 1  as folded and against the creeper body. 
         FIG. 4  is the schematic diagram showing the transport mechanism of  FIG. 1  as unfolded and in state of transporting objects. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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  FIG. 1 , the creeper body  1  includes a pair of creeper frames  11  (also referred to as the girder) that are arranged to each other in parallel and have the same shape. The pair of creeper frames  11  has a cavity in the center, i.e., hollow and the shape of the cross section is preferably square shaped, rectangular, or circular. As the creeper frame  11  is hollow, a hollow chamber  114  is formed. A group of fixing plates for the lying mat  12  (also referred to as the fixing strip for lying mat) is fixed at a certain distance between the pair of the creeper frames  11 , namely, arranged along the longitudinal direction of the pair of the creeper frames  11 . The fixing plate for the lying mat  12  and the creeper frame  11  can be fixed together by welding, riveting, or other similar ways such as screw retention. A lying mat  13  with headrest  131  and the fixing plate for the lying mat  12  are fixed together by screws. The headrest  131  is located at one end of the lying mat  13 , which is preferably made of soft material, for example, a sponge covered with leather or similar fabric that is used to form the lying mat  13 . One end of the handle  14  is conjugated (connected) to one creeper frame of the pair of the creeper frames  11 , while the other end of handle  14  is conjugated (connected) to the other creeper frame of the pair of the creeper frames  11 . The middle part of handle  14  corresponds to the location of the headrest  131 , i.e., the lateral part protruding out of the headrest  131 . The connection manner of the handle  14  with the pair of the creeper frames  11  can be permanent connection or pluggable connection (permanently connected or connected using a plug). This embodiment uses the latter. 
     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  FIG. 1 ). Wherein, the creeper frame pin axle hole  112  is a through hole, which runs from one side of the creeper frame  11  to the other side of the creeper frame  11 ; one end of the shovel board pivot  113  is located in the hollow chamber  114  and the other end of the shovel board pivot  113  extends to the external side of the creeper frame  11  during operation. 
     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  FIG. 1 , the transport mechanism  2  preferably includes the shovel board  21 , roller shaft  22 , a pair of shovel board actuating devices  23 , and a pair of second rollers  24 , however the current embodiment is not limited to the inclusion of these items. The shovel board gudgeon  211  is formed on each end of the side along the longitude direction of the shovel board  21 , i.e., the side where the shovel board  21  is pivotally connected with the pair of the creeper frames  11 . Each shovel board gudgeon  211  is equipped with a shovel board revolving axle hole  2111  which is pivotally connected with the shovel board pivot  113 . According to the common knowledge, since there is a pair of shovel board gudgeons  211 , the shovel board revolving axle hole  2111  on each shovel board gudgeon  211  shall be pivotally connected with the corresponding shovel board pivot  113  of the pair of shovel board pivots  113 . The roller shaft  22  is arranged on the pair of shovel board gudgeons  211 , i.e., the pivot is arranged between a pair of shovel board gudgeons  211  and the pair of axle heads of the roller shaft  22  that protrudes out of the shovel board gudgeons  211 . A pair of second rollers  24  is rotationally arranged on the pair of axle heads  211 , i.e., one second roller  24  in the pair of second rollers is arranged on one axle head  211  of the pair of axle heads  211 , while the other second roller  24  is arranged on the other corresponding axle head  221 . A pair of shovel board actuating devices  23  together have the same structure, and wherein one shovel board actuating device  23  is pivotally connected with the creeper frame pin axle hole  112  that is arranged on one of the pair of the creeper frames  11  and is also connected with one of the two axle heads  221  of the roller shaft; the other shovel board actuating device  23  is pivotally connected with the other creeper frame pin axle hole  112  of the other creeper frame  11  and is also connected with the other axle head  221  of the roller shaft. 
     In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , as mentioned above, the pair of shovel board actuating devices  23  has the same structure and installation method; therefore, the shovel board actuating device  23  in  FIG. 1  will be described in more detail below, while the shovel actuating device  23  in  FIG. 2  will be omitted for convenience of description. Here, the description is directed to a shovel board actuating device  23  connected to the left creeper frame  11  in the pair of the creeper frames  11 . The shovel board actuating device  23  preferably includes a connecting rod  231 , a connecting rod pin axle  232 , a spring seat  233 , and a spring  234 , however the current embodiment is not limited to the inclusion of these items. One end of the connecting rod  231 , i.e., the upper end as shown in  FIG. 1 , is equipped with the first connecting rod pin hole  2311 ; and the lower end as shown in  FIG. 1 , is equipped with a second connecting rod pin hole  2312 . The second connecting rod pin hole  2312  is cased on the axle head  221  on the left end of a pair of axle heads  221  of the roller  22 . After the secondary connecting rod pin hole  2312  is cased on the axle head  221 , a second roller  24  on the left of the pair of second rollers  24  is cased on the axle head  221  with the nut  241  screwed on the axle head  221  for fixing the connecting rod  231  and the second roller  24  together and preventing the connecting rod  231  and the second roller  24  from separating from the axle head  221 . Both the spring seat  233  and the spring  234  are arranged in the hollow chamber  114 , wherein the lower end of the spring  234  is supported on the shovel board pivot  113  in the hollow chamber  114  and can also be supported on the bottom wall of the hollow chamber  114 . If the lower end of the spring  234  is supported on the shovel board pivot  113  in the hollow chamber  114 , then the length of the spring  234  can become shorter and if the lower end of the spring  234  is supported on the bottom wall of the hollow chamber  114 , then the spring  234  can become lengthy. The upper end of the spring  234  is supported on the spring seat  233 , more specifically, the upper end of the spring seat  233  extends and is provided with the first locating flange  2331  and the lower end is provided with the second locating flange  2332 . The upper end of the spring  234  is supported on the second locating flange  2332 . If the lower end of the spring seat  233  is not equipped with the second locating flange  2332 , but is equipped only with a spring fixing hole for the hooking of the upper end of the spring  234 , the method is still practical. Therefore, the support manner of the spring  234  and spring seat  233  is not restricted by the embodiment. The connecting rod gudgeon  232  is successively inserted into the first connecting pin hole  2311  and the creeper frame pin axle hole  112 . The first recess  2321 , the second recess  2322 , and the snap spring groove  2323  are formed (manufactured) on the connecting rod gudgeon  232 . When the connecting rod gudgeon  232  is inserted into the creeper frame pin axle hole  112 , the snap spring  2323  is placed on the snap spring groove  2324 . The snap spring groove  2324  can be replaced by the cotter pin hole and the snap spring  2324  can be replaced by the cotter pin, accordingly. The first locating flange  2331  is matched with either the first recess  2321  or the second recess  2322 . 
     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. 
     APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the following description is only for the shovel board actuating device  23  in the left of  FIG. 1  in the pair of shovel board actuating devices  23 . When starting to use the object scraper mechanism  2  of the present invention to transport objects, such as accessories for car repairing and/or tools, the user manually pushes the right end of the connecting rod pin axle  232 , i.e., pushes the end with the snap spring  2324  to enable the connecting rod pin axle  232  to move left and enable the first locating flange  2331 , which was previously located in the first recess  2321  after overcoming the acting force of spring  234 , to enter the second recess  2322 . At this moment, the first recess  2321  appropriately corresponds to the narrow groove  23111 . Under this state, the connecting rod  231  can move (shift), so as to enable the unfolding of the shovel board  21  to form a vertical relation (90°) with the creeper body  1  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). After the shovel board  21  is unfolded, the connecting rod pin axle  232  is to be moved to the right. The first recess  2321  previously located in the second recess  2322  enters the first recess  2321  and the connecting rod  231  is restricted in movement, so as to keep the locking position of the shovel board  21  in the active state. The operator holds the handle  14  and pushes the creeper body, and consequently, the needed objects are shoveled by the shovel board  21 . 
     APPLICATION EXAMPLE 2 
     When the state shown in  FIG. 3  is restored to the state shown in  FIG. 4 , i.e., the shovel board  21  lays against the back of the creeper body  1 , the operation shall be carried out as the description in Application Example 1. 
     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.