US5947489A — Foldable creeper

Claim 1

Independent Claim 242 words

A foldable creeper, comprising in combination: two padded cushions of similar size disposed upon rectangular baseboard structure forming weight supporting cushion backs, said cushions being of dimensions when placed end to end to form an upper padded platform creeper surface upon which a mechanic may rest when working on the undercarriage of a vehicle; a supporting wheeled framework for movably mounting the respective cushions, comprising a pair of longitudinal side bracing rail members substantially as long as the cushions connected by transverse straps disposed near each rail member end, thereby disposing the rail members alongside the cushion backs to dispose the upper platform surfaces and upper surfaces of the bracing rail members in a substantially common upper plane; a set of caster wheels pivotably affixed to the rail members of the respective cushioned units to dispose the creeper for movement over a planar working surface, said set of caster wheels consisting of only three caster wheels which are respectively positioned on the respective cushioned units with two wheels near one end of the creeper and a single wheel near a creeper midsection so that when the two cushions are placed end to end the single wheels are on opposite sides of the creeper; and connection means for positioning the two cushions end to end to form a movable creeper, said connection means comprises hinging joint means for folding the end to end said cushions back to back into a parallel folded configuration.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 242 words

A foldable creeper, comprising in combination: two padded cushions of similar size disposed upon rectangular baseboard structure forming weight supporting cushion backs, said cushions being of dimensions when placed end to end to form an upper padded platform creeper surface upon which a mechanic may rest when working on the undercarriage of a vehicle; a supporting wheeled framework for movably mounting the respective cushions, comprising a pair of longitudinal side bracing rail members substantially as long as the cushions connected by transverse straps disposed near each rail member end, thereby disposing the rail members alongside the cushion backs to dispose the upper platform surfaces and upper surfaces of the bracing rail members in a substantially common upper plane; a set of caster wheels pivotably affixed to the rail members of the respective cushioned units to dispose the creeper for movement over a planar working surface, said set of caster wheels consisting of only three caster wheels which are respectively positioned on the respective cushioned units with two wheels near one end of the creeper and a single wheel near a creeper midsection so that when the two cushions are placed end to end the single wheels are on opposite sides of the creeper; and connection means for positioning the two cushions end to end to form a movable creeper, said connection means comprises hinging joint means for folding the end to end said cushions back to back into a parallel folded configuration.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 74 words

The creeper defined in claim 1 wherein said connection means further comprises on opposite sides of the creeper a U-channel shaped bracing member of predetermined length for receiving juxtaposed ends of said bracing rails thereunto, wherein the channel bottom portions at opposite ends of the bracing members are removed and are pivotably attached to the bracing rails near respective juxtaposed ends of the bracing rails on opposite sides of the end to end cushions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 47 words

The creeper defined in claim 1 wherein said bracing rails and caster wheels are disposed to pivot the caster wheels from a pivot mount positioned alongside the back and the upper padded surface of the cushions, whereby the creeper is mounted closely to said planar working surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

The creeper defined in claim 1 wherein said bracing rails are spaced away from cushion sides to form a set of four handle-like grasping members for the creeper.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The creeper defined in claim 1 wherein the upper padded surface of the cushions at one end of the creeper comprises a raised headrest.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 106 words

A foldable creeper, comprising in combination, a pair of rectangular cushions supported upon a weight bearing back panel, framework means disposing rails alongside opposite sides of each cushion by means of connecting straps affixed to the back panels, a set of caster wheels consisting of only three caster wheels which are mounted on the rails for each cushion, and connection means interconnecting the rails of end to end disposed cushions pivotably for locking into a creeper position with the cushions substantially disposed in a single plane and for folding the two cushions into a storage position with the cushions substantially parallel with the caster wheels therebetween.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 106 words

A foldable creeper, comprising in combination, a pair of rectangular cushions supported upon a weight bearing back panel, framework means disposing rails alongside opposite sides of each cushion by means of connecting straps affixed to the back panels, a set of caster wheels consisting of only three caster wheels which are mounted on the rails for each cushion, and connection means interconnecting the rails of end to end disposed cushions pivotably for locking into a creeper position with the cushions substantially disposed in a single plane and for folding the two cushions into a storage position with the cushions substantially parallel with the caster wheels therebetween.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The creeper defined in claim 6, wherein the cushions are permanently secured to the back panels.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 44 words

The creeper defined in claim 6 further comprising a low profile, unlikely to tip framework mount wherein the rails pivotably mount caster pivoting structure alongside the cushions on creeper opposite edges of the creeper thereby to position the cushions close to a working surface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 69 words

The creeper defined in claim 6 wherein the rails further comprise substantially straight square profile metal rails, and the connection means further comprises, a length of U-channel shaped metal bracing pivotably nesting juxtaposed ends of the rails of end to end cushions thereunto to retain the cushions in a position sharing a substantially common plane for a mechanic to rest thereupon when working on the undercarriage of a vehicle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-06	2003-03-08	2003-09-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-06	2007-03-08	2007-09-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-06	2011-03-08	2011-09-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Foldable creeper

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