초록 ▼

A personal positioning creeper (PPC) for assisting mechanics, technicians and factory workers who need access to various angles and heights on a vehicle, aircraft, factory equipment, etc. The PPC allows the operator to simultaneously maneuver from lying supine near the ground, to moving upward and r

A personal positioning creeper (PPC) for assisting mechanics, technicians and factory workers who need access to various angles and heights on a vehicle, aircraft, factory equipment, etc. The PPC allows the operator to simultaneously maneuver from lying supine near the ground, to moving upward and rotating into a full sitting position without having to dismount the PPC. The PPC comprises: a three member frame system (base, seat, and backrest frame connected together with eight (8) bell cranks and four (4) linkage assemblies), all under the control of a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system comprises: 1) a hydraulic pump with an ergonomically designed pump actuator handle and a release valve; and, 2) a hydraulic cylinder connected to the hydraulic pump, and to the linkage assemblies to rotate the bell cranks. The resistance to the pumping action felt by the operator remains constant regardless of the height of the seat.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A simultaneously lifting and reclining personal positioning creeper (PPC), wherein the operator does not need to dismount the PPC to adjust its position, comprising, a. a rectangular shaped base frame comprising four swivel castors on the frame underside;b. a cushioned, rectangular or square shap

1. A simultaneously lifting and reclining personal positioning creeper (PPC), wherein the operator does not need to dismount the PPC to adjust its position, comprising, a. a rectangular shaped base frame comprising four swivel castors on the frame underside;b. a cushioned, rectangular or square shaped seat frame residing above and parallel to the base frame;c. a cushioned, rectangular shaped backrest frame rotatable in conjunction with raising and lowering of the seat connected via pivoting means: i. at about a mid-section of the backrest frame to the head end of the seat frame,ii. at the underside of the base frame,d. a bell crank linkage assembly connecting the base, seat and backrest frames, via four pairs of bell cranks with four linkage members;e. a hydraulic system with an activation mechanism configurable to control the PPC movement; and,f. wherein the operator may adjust the PPC to stop anywhere within a range of motion, from a supine position to an elevated-reclining or sitting position, by applying a low level force to the activation mechanism. 2. The PPC of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic system comprises, a. a hydraulic pump assembly comprising a hydraulic pump connected to an activation mechanism comprising a pump actuator handle and a pressure release valve; and,b. a hydraulic cylinder connected to the hydraulic pump assembly. 3. The PPC of claim 2, wherein the pump actuator handle is substantially in line with the backrest frame and an operator's shoulder, and the pumping action is away from the shoulder regardless of the PPC recline angle. 4. The PPC of claim 1 wherein the bell crank linkage assembly, further comprises, a. each crank comprising a long and short end, with the pairs residing between the seat frame and the base frame and organized into: i. one pair of lower bell cranks on both sides of the PPC that are connected on the long end to the base frame, and on the short end to opposing ends of a linkage member;ii. one pair of upper bell cranks on both sides of the PPC that are connected on the long end to the four corners of the seat frame, and on the short end to opposing ends of a linkage member; and,b. wherein the linkage members enable the bell cranks within each pair to move in unison, and the upper pair to rotate counter to the lower pair. 5. The PPC of claim 4 wherein each linkage member further comprises a straight bar with a pivot joint on the opposing ends of the bar. 6. The PPC of claim 5, configurable to simultaneously raise and lower the seat frame while rotating the backrest frame via: a. the hydraulic cylinder connected to the linkage members to cause the seat frame and backrest frame to move concurrently when the pump actuator handle is repeatedly pumped and/or the release valve is opened; and,b. the upper bell crank on both sides of the PPC head end connected to the pivot joint joining the mid-section of the backrest frame to the head end of the seat frame. 7. The PPC of claim 6 wherein the release valve is opened by counterclockwise rotation to cause the seat frame to lower while rotating the backrest frame towards a or supine position. 8. The PPC of claim 1 further comprising a brace member for added stability, comprising a straight metal bar with a pivot joint on each end connecting the brace member to the head end of the base frame and to an underside of the seat frame. 9. A simultaneously lifting and reclining personal positioning creeper (PPC), wherein the operator does not need to dismount the PPC to adjust its position, the PPC with a head and foot end and two sides comprising, a. a four corned, rectangular shaped base frame comprising one swivel castor on the bottom of each corner;b. a cushioned, rectangular or square shaped seat frame residing parallel to the base frame;c. a cushioned, pivoting, rectangular shaped backrest frame extending from the PPC head end to the underside of the base frame, and connected: i. at about a mid-section of the backrest frame to the head end of the seat frame via a pivot joint;ii. at the underside of the base frame via position rollers;iii. wherein the pivot joint and position roller enable the backrest frame to rotate the backrest frame in conjunction with raising and lowering the seat frame;d. a hydraulic system that controls the raising and lowering of the seat frame in conjunction with the pivoting of the backrest frame, comprising, i. a hydraulic pump assembly comprising a hydraulic pump connected to pump actuator handle and to a pressure release valve;ii. a hydraulic cylinder connected to the hydraulic pump assembly;e. a bell crank and linkage assembly, comprising, of four pairs of two ninety degree bell cranks, each crank comprising a long and short end, with the pairs residing between the seat frame and the base frame and organized into: i. one pair of lower bell cranks on both sides of the PPC that are connected on the long end to the base frame, and on the short end to opposing ends of an outer linkage member;ii. one pair of upper bell cranks on both sides of the PPC that are connected on their long end to the four corners of the seat frame, and on the short end to opposing ends of a inner linkage member;iii. wherein the two outer and the two inner linkage members each comprise a straight bar with a pivot of joints on the opposing ends of the bar; and,iv. wherein the linkage members enable the bell cranks within each pair to move in unison, and the upper pair to rotate counter to the lower pair;f. wherein the operator may adjust the PPC to stop anywhere within a range of motion, from a supine position to an elevated-reclining or sitting position, by applying a low level force to the activation on mechanism. 10. The PPC of claim 9 is configurable to raise and lower the seat frame while rotating the backrest frame via: a. the hydraulic cylinder connected to the linkage members to cause the seat frame and backrest frame to move concurrently when the pump actuator handle is repeatedly pumped and/or the release valve is opened; and,b. the upper bell crank on both sides of the PPC head end connected to the pivot joint joining the mid-section of the backrest frame to the head end of the seat frame. 11. The PPC of claim 9, wherein the release valve is opened by depressing the valve to cause the seat frame to lower while rotating the backrest frame towards a supine position. 12. The PPC of claim 9, wherein the pump actuator handle is substantially in line with the backrest frame and an operator's shoulder, and the pumping action is away from the shoulder regardless of the PPC recline angle. 13. The PPC of claim 9 further comprising a brace member for added stability, the brace member comprises a substantially straight metal bar with a pivot joint on each end to connect the brace member to the head end of the base frame and to an underside of the seat frame. 14. The PPC of claim 9, wherein the operator may adjust the PPC at any point within a range of motion by applying a constant, low level force to the pump actuator handle. 15. A method of moving the PPC throughout a range of motion from a supine position to an elevated, recline position, wherein the operator does not need to dismount the creeper, comprising the steps of, A. providing a PPC comprising, a. a rectangular shaped base frame comprising of four swivel castors on the frame underside;b. a cushioned, rectangular or square shaped seat frame residing above and parallel to the base frame;c. a cushioned, rectangular shaped backrest frame rotatable in conjunction with raising and lowering of the seat moveably connected: i. at about a mid-section of the backrest frame to the head end of the seat frame;ii. at the underside of the base frame;d. a bell crank linkage assembly connecting the base, seat and backrest frames, via four pairs of bell cranks with four linkage members;e. a hydraulic system with an activation mechanism configurable to control the PPC movement, comprising: i. a hydraulic pump assembly comprising a hydraulic pump connected to pump actuator handle and to a pressure release valve;ii. a hydraulic cylinder connected to the hydraulic pump assembly; wherein the operator may adjust the creeper to stop anywhere within a range of motion, comprising a supine position to an elevated-reclining or sitting position, by applying a low level force to the activation mechanism;B. simultaneously lowering the seat and backrest frame towards the ground and rotating the backrest frame into a supine position by turning the release valve; and,C. simultaneously raising the seat and backrest frame vertically and rotating the backrest frame into a reclining position by pumping the actuator handle with a constant force throughout the range of motion. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the bell crank linkage assembly, further comprises, a. each bell crank comprising a long and short end, with the pairs residing between the seat frame and the base frame and organized into: i. one pair of lower bell cranks on both sides of the PPC that are connected on the long end to the base frame, and on the short end to opposing ends of a linkage member;ii. one pair of upper bell cranks on both sides of the PPC that are connected on the long end to the four corners of the seat frame, and on the short end to opposing ends of a linkage member; and,b. wherein the linkage members enable the bell cranks within each pair to move in unison, and the upper pair to rotate counter to the lower pair. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein each linkage member further comprises a straight bar with a pivot joint on the opposing ends of the bar. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pump actuator handle is substantially in line with the backrest frame and an operator's shoulder, and the pumping action is away from the shoulder regardless of the PPC recline angle. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the PPC is able to raise and lower the seat frame while rotating the backrest frame via: a. the hydraulic cylinder connected to the linkage members to cause the seat frame and backrest frame to move concurrently when the pump actuator handle is repeatedly pumped and/or the release valve is opened; and,b. the upper bell crank on both sides of the PPC head end connected to the pivot joint joining the mid-section of the backrest frame to the head end of the seat frame. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the operator adjusts the PPC to stop anywhere within a range of motion, comprising a supine position to an elevated-reclining or sitting position, by applying a low level force to the actuator handle.