Convertible work creeper, seat and platform

Abstract

A creeper cum work seat has two end platforms ( 1, 5 ) in sliding attachment to slide rods ( 4, 35, 36 ) in slideways ( 3, 6 ) with which the two end platforms can be slid apart to opposite ends of a central platform ( 7 ) to form a full-length creeper in creeper mode ( 11 ). The central platform becomes a work seat and the two end portions become a shelf platform under the work seat when the two end platforms are slid edge-to-edge in a seat mode( 10 ). Seat-support members ( 12, 13 ) are attached pivotally to the central platform and to the two end platforms to support the central platform as a seat in a seat mode and to position the central portion between the two end platforms in a creeper mode.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:  
     
       1. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform comprising: 
       a first-end platform and a second-end platform having slide means positioned on at least one common slide member that is parallel to top surfaces of the first-end platform and the second-end platform and has a slide-member length to allow horizontal travel of the first-end platform and the second-end platform between design positions of separation and juxtaposed edge-to-edge positioning of the first-end platform and the second-end platform;  
       a central platform that is positional between the first-end platform and the second-end platform with the first-end platform and the second-end platform positioned at design extremities of separation on the at-least-one common slide member, such that the first-end platform, the central platform and the second-end platform juxtaposed edge-to-edge are a creeper platform in a creeper mode of the creeper cum seat;  
       first-end legs of the central platform having top ends of the first-end legs hinged to a first side of the central platform and having bottom ends of the first-end legs hinged to an outside end of the first-end platform;  
       second-end legs of the central platform having top ends of the second-end legs hinged to a second side of the central platform and having bottom ends of the second-end legs hinged to an outside end of the second-end platform, such that the central platform is positional vertically above the first-end platform and the second-end platform juxtaposed edge-to-edge as a shelf platform with the first-end platform and the second-end platform slid to a seat mode of the creeper cum seat; and  
       mobile means on bottoms of outside ends of the first-end platform and the second-end platform.  
     
     
       2. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  1  wherein: 
       the mobile means include casters.  
     
     
       3. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  1  and further comprising: 
       a creeper-length extension on a slide means attached telescopically to an outside end of an end platform.  
     
     
       4. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  3  and further comprising: 
       a headrest on an outside end of the creeper-length extension.  
     
     
       5. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  4  and further comprising: 
       a hinge means with which the creeper-length extension is pivotal selectively to a desired height of the headrest in relationship to the end platform;  
       a ratchet means attached to the end platform; and  
       a ratchet-tongue attached to the creeper-length extension and positional in the ratchet means in ratchet-control relationship of pivotal positioning of the creeper-length extension.  
     
     
       6. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  1  and further comprising: 
       an end fastener in fastening relationship between an inside end of the first-end platform and an inside end of the second-end platform with the creeper cum seat in a seat mode.  
     
     
       7. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  1  wherein: 
       the first-end platform, the second-end platform and the central platform are padded.  
     
     
       8. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform comprising: 
       a first-end platform having a support surface on a top portion and at least one first-end slideway vertically below the support surface on the first-end platform;  
       a second-end platform having a support surface on a top portion and at least one second-end slideway vertically below the support surface on the second-end platform;  
       at least one slide member having a first-end portion and a second-end portion of the at-least-one slide member;  
       the first-end portion of the at-least-one slide member being positioned in the first-end slideway of the first-end platform;  
       the second-end portion of the at-least-one slide member being positioned in the second-end slideway of the second-end platform;  
       a central platform having a support surface, a first end and a second end of the central platform;  
       at least one first seat-support member having a seat end and a creeper end of the at-least-one first seat-support member;  
       at least one second seat-support member having a seat end and a creeper end of the at-least-one second seat-support member;  
       the seat end of the at-least-one first seat-support member being hinged to the first end of central platform;  
       the seat end of the at-least-one second seat-support member being hinged to the second end of central platform;  
       the creeper end of the at-least-one first seat-support member being hinged to an outside end of the first-end platform;  
       the creeper end of the at-least-one second seat-support member being hinged to an outside end of the second-end platform;  
       the at-least-one slide member being sized and shaped to slide with design snugness in the at-least-one first-end slideway and in the at-least-one second slideway;  
       the at-least-one slide member having a length to accommodate a distance of sliding separation of the first-end platform and the second-end platform for positioning the central platform designedly between the first-end platform and the second-end platform horizontally with the first-end platform, the central platform and the second-end platform juxtaposed side-by-side as a body-support platform in a creeper mode; and  
       the at-least-one first seat-support member having a design length and the at-least-one second seat-support member having design lengths to support the central platform as a seat in a horizontal attitude vertically above the first-end platform and the second-end platform with the first-end platform and the second-end platform juxtaposed edge-to-edge as a shelf platform vertically below the central platform as a seat in a seat mode of the creeper cum seat.  
     
     
       9. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  8  and further comprising: 
       at least one seat-mode latch having latching attachment of the first-end platform to the second-end platform for maintaining the first-end platform and the second-end platform juxtaposed detachably in edge-to-edge relationship in a seat mode.  
     
     
       10. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  8  and further comprising: 
       support means on bottoms of at least the first-end platform and the second-end platform.  
     
     
       11. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  10  wherein: 
       the support means are casters.  
     
     
       12. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  10  and further comprising: 
       at least one leg positional on an end of at least one end platform.  
     
     
       13. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  8  and further comprising: 
       a headrest positioned proximate an end of a top surface of an end platform.  
     
     
       14. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  8  and further comprising: 
       a headrest slideway positioned proximate an outside end of an end platform;  
       the headrest slideway being linear to the end platform;  
       a headrest extension in linearly slideable contact with the headrest slideway; and  
       the headrest extension being a selectively variable-length extension of the end platform on which the headrest slideway is positioned.  
     
     
       15. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  14  wherein: 
       the end platform is a first-end platform; and  
       a headrest is positioned on an extendable end of the headrest extension.  
     
     
       16. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  15  wherein: 
       the headrest slideway is attached pivotally to the end of the end platform.  
     
     
       17. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  16  and further comprising: 
       a slideway ratchet having ratchet slots attached to the end platform;  
       a ratchet tongue member attached to the headrest extension; and  
       the ratchet tongue member being engageable selectively with the ratchet slots to support the headrest extension at a select angle with the headrest positioned at a select height vertically higher than the end platform.  
     
     
       18. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  8  wherein: 
       the at-least-one slide member is a rectangular plate having design width, length and thickness;  
       the first-end slideway has an internal periphery that is rectangular with a size and shape to receive the first-end portion of the at-least one slide member with designedly sliding snugness;  
       the second-end slideway has an internal periphery that is rectangular with a size and shape to receive the second-end portion of the at-least one slide member with designedly sliding snugness; and  
       the at-least-one first-end slideway is positioned centrally on the first-end platform; and  
       the at-least-one second-end slideway is positioned centrally on the second-end platform, such that the central platform rests on the at-least-one slide member when the first-end platform and the second-end platform are slid apart in a creeper mode and the central platform is positioned vertically above the at-least-one slide member when the first-end platform and the second-end platform are slid together and positioned edge-to-edge in a seat mode.  
     
     
       19. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  8  wherein: 
       the at-least-one slide member is a pair of slide rods comprising a first slide rod and a second slide rod having design outside peripheries and design lengths;  
       the first-end slideway is a pair of rod slideways comprising a first-side rod slideway with an internal periphery that is sized and shaped to receive a first-end portion of the first slide rod with designedly sliding snugness and comprising a second-side rod slideway with an internal periphery that is sized and shaped to receive a first-end portion of the second slide rod with designedly sliding snugness;  
       the second-end slideway is a pair of rod slideways comprising a first-side rod slideway with an internal periphery that is sized and shaped to receive a second-end portion of the first slide rod with designedly sliding snugness and comprising a second-side rod slideway with an internal periphery that is sized and shaped to receive a second-end portion of the second slide rod with designedly sliding snugness;  
       the first-side rod slideway on the first-end platform is positioned proximate a first side of the first-end platform;  
       the second-side rod slideway on the first-end platform is positioned proximate a second side of the first-end platform;  
       the first-side rod slideway on the second-end platform is positioned proximate a first side of the second-end platform; and  
       the second-side rod slideway on the second-end platform is positioned proximate a second side of the second-end platform.  
     
     
       20. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  8  wherein: 
       the at-least-one first seat-support member is a pair of first-end seat-support members comprising a central-platform first-end first-side leg and a central-platform first-end second-side leg;  
       the central-platform first-end first-side leg and the central-platform first-end second-side leg having design outside peripheries and design lengths;  
       the at-least-one second seat-support member is a pair of second-end seat-support members comprising a central-platform second-end first-side leg and a central-platform second-end second-side leg;  
       the central-platform second-end first-side leg and the central-platform second-end second-side leg having design outside peripheries and design lengths;  
       the central-platform first-end first-side leg has a leg-top end hinged to the central platform at a position proximate a corner of a first end and a first side of the central platform;  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-top end of the central-platform first-end first-side leg to the proximate corner of the first end and the first side of the central platform being parallel to an end of the central platform;  
       the central-platform first-end first-side leg has a leg-bottom end hinged to the first-end platform at a position proximate a corner of a first end and a first side of the first-end platform; and  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-bottom end of the central-platform first-end first-side leg to the proximate corner of the first end and the first side of the first-end platform being parallel to an end of the central platform.  
     
     
       21. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  19  wherein: 
       the at-least-one first seat-support member is a pair of first-end seat-support members comprising a central-platform first-end first-side leg and a central-platform first-end second-side leg;  
       the central-platform first-end first-side leg and the central-platform first-end second-side leg having design outside peripheries and design lengths;  
       the at-least-one second seat-support member is a pair of second-end seat-support members comprising a central-platform second-end first-side leg and a central-platform second-end second-side leg;  
       the central-platform second-end first-side leg and the central-platform second-end second-side leg having design outside the peripheries and design lengths;  
       the central-platform first-end first-side leg has a leg-top end hinged to the central platform at a position proximate a corner of a first end and a first side of the central platform;  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-top end of the central-platform first-end first-side leg to the proximate corner of the first end and the first side of the central platform being parallel to an end of the central platform;  
       the central-platform first-end second-side leg has a leg-top end hinged to the central platform at a position proximate a corner of a first end and a second side of the central platform;  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-top end of the central-platform first-end first-side leg to the proximate corner of the first end and the first side of the central platform being parallel to an end of the central platform;  
       the central-platform first-end first-side leg has a leg-bottom end hinged to the first-end platform at a position proximate a corner of an outside end and a first side of the first-end platform;  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-bottom end of the central-platform first-end first-side leg to the proximate corner of the inside end and the first side of the first-end platform being parallel to an end of the central platform;  
       the central-platform first-end second-side leg has a leg-bottom end hinged to the first-end platform at a position proximate a corner of an outside end and a second side of the first-end platform;  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-bottom end of the central-platform first-end second-side leg to the proximate corner of the inside end and the second side of the first-end platform being parallel to an end of the central platform;  
       the central-platform second-end first-side leg has a leg-top end hinged to the central platform at a position proximate a corner of a second end and a first side of the central platform;  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-top end of the central-platform second-end first-side leg to the proximate corner of the second end and the first side of the central platform being parallel to an end of the central platform;  
       the central-platform second-end second-side leg has a leg-top end hinged to the central platform at a position proximate a corner of a second end and a second side of the central platform;  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-top end of the central-platform second-end second-side leg to the proximate corner of the second end and the second side of the central platform being parallel to an end of the central platform;  
       the central-platform second-end first-side leg has a leg-bottom end hinged to the second-end platform at a position proximate a corner of an outside end and a first side of the second-end platform;  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-bottom end of the central-platform second-end first-side leg to the proximate corner of the inside end and the first side of the second-end platform being parallel to an end of the central platform.  
       the central-platform second-end second-side leg has a leg-bottom end hinged to the second-end platform at a position proximate a corner of an outside end and a second side of the second-end platform;  
       an axis of hinged attachment of the leg-bottom end of the central-platform second-end second-side leg to the proximate corner of the inside end and the second side of the second-end platform being parallel to an end of the central platform.  
     
     
       22. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  21  wherein: 
       the first-end platform has a width that is sized and shaped to fit designedly intermediate the central-platform first-end first-side leg and the central-platform first-end second-side leg when the creeper cum seat is in a creeper mode; and  
       the second-end platform has a width that is sized and shaped to fit designedly intermediate the central-platform second-end first-side leg and the central-platform second-end second-side leg when the creeper cum seat is in a creeper mode.  
     
     
       23. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  22  wherein: 
       the central platform has a length that is designed to fit intermediate an inside end of the first-end platform and an inside end of the second-end platform when the creeper cum seat is in a creeper mode, such that the central platform rests on the at-least-one slide member when the first-end platform and the second-end platform are slid apart in a creeper mode and such that the central platform is positioned vertically above the first-end platform and the second-end platform when the first-end platform and the second-end platform are slid together and positioned edge-to-edge as shelf platform in a seat mode.  
     
     
       24. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  23  wherein: 
       combined length of the first-end platform and the second-end platform is designedly proportional to a design length of the central platform.  
     
     
       25. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  24  wherein: 
       the combined length of the first-end platform and the second-end platform is designedly greater in proportion to design length of the central platform, such that the shelf platform is designedly longer than the central platform to form a designedly truncate shape for structural stability of the creeper cum seat in a seat mode.  
     
     
       26. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  19  wherein: 
       the first slide rod and the second slide rod have design pluralities of sides; and  
       the first-end rod slideway and the second-side rod slide-way are designed to receive the first slide rod and the second slide rod respectively with designedly sliding snugness.  
     
     
       27. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  19  wherein: 
       the first slide rod and the second slide rod are cylindrical; and  
       the first-end rod slideway and the second-side rod slideway are designed to receive the first slide rod and the second slide rod respectively with designedly sliding snugness.  
     
     
       28. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  8  wherein: 
       the first-end platform, the second-end platform and the central platform are padded.  
     
     
       29. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  1  and further comprising: 
         an end fastener in fastening relationship between an inside end of the first - end platform and an inside end of the second - end platform with the creeper cum seat in a seat mode.   
     
     
       30. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform comprising: 
         a first - end platform and a second - end platform supported to allow horizontal travel of the first - end platform and the second - end platform between design positions of separation and general juxtaposed edge - to - edge positioning of the first - end platform and the second - end platform;    
         a central platform interconnected with the first - end platform and the second - end platform with the first - end platform and the second - end platform positioned at design extremities of separation to provide a creeper platform in a creeper mode of the creeper cum seat;    
         support members interconnecting said first - end and second - end platforms to said central platform in said creeper mode and a seat mode;    
         said support members including first legs having top ends hinged to the central platform and having bottom ends hinged to the first - end platform;    
         said support members including second legs having top ends hinged to the central platform and having bottom ends hinged to the second - end platform, such that the central platform is positional vertically above the first - end platform and the second - end platform juxtaposed generally edge - to - edge as a shelf platform with the first - end platform and the second - end platform slid to a seat mode of the creeper cum seat;    
         a slide attachment connected between said first - end and second - end platforms facilitating movement of said end platforms between said creeper and seat modes; and    
         mobile means carried on the first - end platform and the second - end platform.   
     
     
       31. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  30  wherein said first- end and second - end platforms include support frames and padded cushions carried on said support frames, and support means on bottoms of said support frames of the first - end and second - end platforms.   
     
     
       32. The creeper of claim  30  including a support surface carried on each of said first- end and said second - end platforms for supporting a worker in said creeper position.   
     
     
       33. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform comprising: 
         a first - end platform;    
         a second - end platform;    
         at least one slide member interconnecting said first - end and second - end platforms;    
         a central platform having a support surface, and said central platform having a first - end and a second - end;    
         seat - support members interconnecting said central platform with said first - end and said second - end platforms in a creeper mode and a seat mode;    
         said slide member having a length to accommodate a distance of sliding separation of the first - end platform and the second - end platform for positioning the central platform generally between the first - end platform and the second - end platform to provide a body - support platform in said creeper mode; and    
         said seat - support members having a length to support the central platform as a seat in a horizontal attitude vertically above the first - end platform and the second - end platform with the first - end platform and the second - end platform juxtaposed generally edge - to - edge as a shelf platform vertically below the central platform as a seat in said seat mode of the creeper cum seat.   
     
     
       34. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  33  and further comprising: 
         at least one seat - mode latch having latching attachment of the first - end platform to the second - end platform for maintaining the first - end platform and the second - end platform juxtaposed detachably in edge - to - edge relationship in a seat mode.   
     
     
       35. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  33  wherein said first- end and second - end platforms include support frames, padded cushions carried on said support frames, and support means on bottoms of said support frames of the first - end and second - end platforms.   
     
     
       36. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  35  wherein the support means are casters. 
     
     
       37. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  33  comprising a headrest positioned proximate an end of a top surface of an end platform. 
     
     
       38. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  33  wherein the central platform has a length that is designed to fit intermediate an inside end of the first- end platform and an inside end of the second - end platform when the creeper cum seat is in a creeper mode, such that the central platform rests on the at - least - one slide member when the first - end platform and the second - end platform are slid apart in a creeper mode and such that the central platform is positioned vertically above the first - end platform and the second - end platform when the first - end platform and the second - end platform are slid together and positioned edge - to - edge as shelf platform in a seat mode.   
     
     
       39. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  38  wherein a combined length of the first- end platform and the second - end platform is designedly proportional to a design length of the central platform.   
     
     
       40. A convertible work creeper, seat and platform as described in claim  39  wherein a combined length of the first- end platform and the second - end platform is designedly greater in proportion to design length of the central platform, such that the shelf platform is designedly longer than the central platform to form a designedly truncate shape for structural stability of the creeper cum seat in a seat mode.   
     
     
       41. The creeper of claim  33  including a support surface carried on each of said first- end and said second - end platforms for supporting a worker in said creeper position.   
     
     
       42. A convertible work creeper used by a worker, said creeper transforming between a horizontal position for supporting the worker in a supine position in a creeper mode and a seat position for supporting the worker working in a upright seating position in a seating mode, said creeper comprising: 
         a first - end platform;    
         a second - end platform supported with said first - end platform so that said first - end and second - end platforms are allowed to move in horizontal travel relative to each other;    
         said first - end platform and said second - end platform having horizontally separated position when said work creeper is in a creeper mode, and said first - end platform and said second - end platform having a generally edge - to - edge position when the first - end and second - end platforms are in a seat mode;    
         a central platform interconnected with said first - end platform and said second - end platform;    
         said central platform having a lowered position in which said central platform, said first - end platform, and said second - end platform provide a body support platform in said creeper mode;    
         said central platform having a raised seat position in which said central platform provides a seat for the worker when said first - end platform and said second - end platform are in said seat mode; and    
         a slide attachment connected between said first - end and second - end platforms facilitating movement of said first - end and second - end platforms between said creeper and seat modes.   
     
     
       43. The creeper of claim  42  included support members interconnecting said first- end and said second - end platforms to said central platform in said creeper mode and said seat mode.   
     
     
       44. The creeper of claim  43  wherein support members include pivotal legs having top ends hinged to said central platform and bottom ends hinged to said first- end platform;    
         said support members including second pivotal legs having top ends hinged to said central platform and bottom ends hinged to said second - end platform; and    
       
         said support members having a raised position when said central platform is in said seat mode and a lowered position when said central platform is in said creeper mode. 
       
     
     
       45. The creeper of claim  42  including a support surface carried on each of said first- end and said second - end platforms for supporting a worker in said creeper position.