IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0761471
(2004-01-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
17 |
초록
▼
The present invention is a wheeled creeper having a braking device that releasably engages the support surface in order to deter the creeper from rolling freely on the surface. The braking device includes brake shoes and a handle that is readily accessible for engaging and disengaging the brake shoe
The present invention is a wheeled creeper having a braking device that releasably engages the support surface in order to deter the creeper from rolling freely on the surface. The braking device includes brake shoes and a handle that is readily accessible for engaging and disengaging the brake shoes. In addition, the wheeled creeper can be disassembled for shipping and storage.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A wheeled creeper for use on a support surface, the wheeled creeper comprising: a frame; a platform mounted on said frame; a plurality of swivelable casters supporting the frame; and a braking device for releasably engaging the support surface; said braking device comprising
What is claimed is: 1. A wheeled creeper for use on a support surface, the wheeled creeper comprising: a frame; a platform mounted on said frame; a plurality of swivelable casters supporting the frame; and a braking device for releasably engaging the support surface; said braking device comprising a plurality of brake shoes and a linkage for actuating the brake shoes; said linkage includes a plurality of mounting rods, a plurality of levers, a tie rod and a handle, wherein said tie rod connects said plurality of levers. 2. The wheeled creeper of claim 1, wherein said braking device is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; when said braking device is in said engaged position the creeper is deterred from rolling movement; and when said braking device is in said disengaged position the creeper is free to roll on the support surface. 3. The wheeled creeper of claim 2, wherein said plurality of brake shoes comprises a first and second brake shoe; and said linkage moves the first and second brake shoes between the engaged and disengaged positions. 4. The wheeled creeper of claim 3, wherein said plurality of mounting rods includes first and second mounting rods and said plurality of levers comprises first and second levers. 5. The wheeled creeper of claim 4, wherein said first and second mounting rods are pivotally mounted to the frame; said first lever and said first brake shoe are fixedly mounted on said first mounting rod; said second lever and said second brake shoe are fixedly mounted on said second mounting rod; one end of said tie rod is pivotally mounted on said first lever; and another end of said tie rod is pivotally mounted on said second lever; and said handle is fixedly mounted to said second mounting rod. 6. The wheeled creeper of claim 5, wherein said linkage further comprises a spring having one end attached to the frame and another end attached to said first mounting rod; wherein said spring biases the braking device in the disengaged position. 7. The wheeled creeper of claim 1, wherein each of said brake shoes comprises an elongated member and at least one brake pad disposed on the elongated member. 8. The wheeled creeper of claim 1, wherein said plurality of brake shoes comprises a first and second brake shoe. 9. The wheeled creeper of claim 1, wherein each of said brake shoes includes a brake pad for engaging the support surface; when said braking device is in said engaged position said at least one brake shoe is lowered with the brake pad directed away from the platform, the brake engages the support surface, and the creeper is deterred from rolling; and when said braking device is in said disengaged position said at least one brake shoe is raised with the brake pad positioned away from the support surface and said creeper is allowed to roll freely. 10. The wheeled creeper of claim 2, wherein said linkage further comprising biasing means for holding the braking device in the disengaged position. 11. A wheeled creeper for use on a support surface, the wheeled creeper comprising: a frame; a platform releasably mounted on the frame; a plurality of swivelable casters supporting the frame; and a braking device for deterring rolling movement of the creeper, wherein said frame comprises a central portion, a first portion and a second portion; said central portion comprises first and second ends; said frame further comprises first and second releasable connecting members, wherein said first releasable connecting member attaches the first portion to the first end of the central portion, and said second releasable connecting member attaches said second portion to the second end of the central portion. 12. The wheeled creeper of claim 11, wherein said first connecting member comprises at least one stud on the first portion and a socket on the first end of the central portion which slideably receives the stud on the first portion therein; and said second connecting member comprises at least one stud on the second portion and a socket on the second end of the central portion which slideably receives the stud on the second portion therein. 13. The wheeled creeper of claim 12, wherein said first connecting member further comprises at least one end aperture extending through the socket on the first end of the central portion and at least one through hole in said stud on the first portion and at least one releasable pin; and said second connecting member further comprises at least one end aperture extending through the socket on the second end of the central portion and at least one through hole in said stud on the second portion and at least one releasable pin; wherein each of said through holes in the at least one stud on the first and second portions is aligned with a respective end aperture on the first and second ends of the central portion, and one of said plurality of releasable pins extends through each aligned through hole and end aperture. 14. The wheeled creeper of claim 12, wherein said at least one stud on each of said first and second portions comprises a pair of studs, and said at least one socket on each of the first and second ends of the central portion comprises a pair of sockets. 15. The wheeled creeper of claim 12, wherein said braking device comprises at least one brake shoe that releasably engages the support surface and an actuating means for moving the at least one brake shoe between an engaged and disengaged position with the support surface. 16. A wheeled creeper for use on a support surface, the wheeled creeper comprising: a frame; four swivelable casters supporting the frame; brake means for releasably engaging the support surface; and a platform mounted on said frame; said frame comprising central, first and second portions; said frame further comprising means for releasably connecting the portions; said central portion comprises first and second struts, said first and second struts extending generally parallel; said central portion having first and second ends; said first portion comprises a pair of legs and a crosspiece, said legs each having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of each of said legs is attached to the crosspiece; said second portion comprises a pair of legs and a crosspiece, said legs each having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of each of said legs is attached to the crosspiece; wherein said legs on said first and second crosspieces are curvilinear; said means for releasably connecting the portions comprises first and second connecting members; said first connecting member comprises at least one stud extending from the crosspiece of the first portion, and at least one socket on the first end of the central portion; said second connecting member includes at least one stud extending from the crosspiece of the second portion, and at least one socket on the second end of the central portion; said first connecting member further comprising at least one end aperture on the first end of the central portion, wherein the end aperture extends through the socket thereon; said second connecting member further comprising at least one end aperture on the second end of the central portion, wherein the end aperture extends through the socket thereon; each of said studs of the first connecting member having at least one through hole extending therethrough; each of said studs of the second connecting member having at least one through hole extending therethrough; said means for releasably connecting the portions further include at least one pin; said creeper further comprising assembled and disassembled configuration; in said assembled configuration, said first and second portions are attached to said central portion wherein the at least one stud on said first portion is disposed in the at least one socket on the first end of the central portion with said at least one through hole in the at least one stud being aligned with the at least one end aperture on the first end of the central portion and said pin extending through the at least one end aperture and through hole; and the at least one stud on said second portion is disposed in the at least one socket on the second end of the central portion with said at least one through hole in the at least one stud being aligned with the at least one end aperture on the second end of the central portion and said pin extending through said at least one end aperture and through hole; each of said casters comprises a mounting bracket, a wheel and a pivot bearing, wherein on each of said casters, the wheel is pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket and said mounting bracket is pivotally mounted to the distal end of a respective leg by one of said pivot bearings; said platform is cushioned and includes first and second sections, wherein the first section has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the second section and said platform is attached to the upper side of the frame in said assembled configuration; and said brake means for releasably engaging the support surface comprises a braking device having an engaged position and a disengaged position; the braking device includes first and second brake shoes and actuating means for moving the brake shoes between the engaged and disengaged positions; each of said first and second brake shoes comprises an elongated member and brake pads disposed on a surface of the elongated member, wherein each of said brake pads comprises a resilient material; said actuating means for moving the brake shoes between the engaged and disengaged positions comprise a linkage which includes first and second mounting rods, first and second levers, a tie rod, a handle and biasing means for holding the braking device in the disengaged position; wherein said first and second mounting rods are pivotally mounted on the central portion; wherein said first brake shoe is fixedly mounted to said first mounting rod, and said second brake shoe is fixedly mounted to said second mounting rod; said first lever is fixedly mounted to the one end of said first mounting rod and said second lever is fixedly mounted on the one end of said second mounting rod; said handle is fixedly mounted to the end of said second mounting rod; said tie rod being pivotally attached at one end to said first lever and pivotally attached at an opposite end to said second lever; said biasing means comprises a coil spring having a pair of ends, wherein one of said ends is attached to an end of the tie rod mounted on the first lever and the other end of said coil spring is attached to the first portion of said frame proximate the first lever; wherein said coil spring biases the braking device in the disengaged position; wherein when said handle is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the second mounting rod, second lever and second brake shoe are rotated; the first lever moves the tie rod which rotates the first lever, the first lever rotates the first mounting rod which in turn rotates the first brake shoe so that said braking device is in the engaged position with the brake pads lowered to engage the support surface, when the handle is rotated in a clockwise direction the first and second brake shoes are pivoted upwardly wherein said brake pads are raised away from the support surface and the braking device is in the disengaged position; wherein when said braking device is in said engaged position said first and second brake shoes are lowered with the brake pads being directed away from the platform and said brake pads engage the support surface; and wherein when said brake system is in said disengaged position said first and second brake shoes are raised with the brake pads being directed away from the support surface and said creeper is allowed to roll freely.
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