Mechanic's Creeper Contoured Frame and Nested Casters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanics' creepers are uncomfortable due to inadequate full-body support, uneven weight distribution, and increased height for caster mobility, leading to discomfort and difficulty in confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A contoured plastic frame with an integral uniformly inclined headrest, wider shoulder support, and strategically placed tool pockets, along with caster assemblies distributed for improved weight distribution and mobility, allowing complete swiveling without compromising height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flat pad is used to support the user, then the structure is simple, but the user experiences discomfort and lacks full body support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the flat pad with a contoured plastic frame that has curved surfaces matching the human body's contours. The frame includes a curved headrest, sloped shoulder sections, and contoured back support areas that conform to the user's anatomy, providing ergonomic support while maintaining structural integrity through the continuous curved geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing different contour characteristics at different locations of the frame. The headrest area has a specific curvature for head support, the shoulder sections have sloped surfaces for arm accommodation, the back area has contoured support, and the pocket areas have differentiated geometries. Each section is optimized for its specific function while contributing to overall comfort.
2Ease of operation
If the height of the creeper is increased to provide complete swiveling of casters, then mobility is improved, but the creeper becomes difficult to use in height confined areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the caster assemblies within recessed pockets in the bottom surface of the frame. The casters are positioned in downwardly extending pockets that allow full swiveling motion while keeping the overall profile of the creeper compact. This nested arrangement enables complete caster rotation without requiring increased height, as the swiveling motion occurs within the vertical depth of the pockets rather than requiring external height clearance.
3Ease of manufacture
If caster assemblies are evenly spaced along the metallic frame, then manufacturing is simplified, but weight distribution does not account for user weight location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning caster assemblies at non-uniform intervals along the frame length. Specifically, two caster assemblies are located in the rear portion of the frame and two are located in the front portion, creating an asymmetric distribution that corresponds to the typical weight distribution of a user. This asymmetric placement better balances the creeper under the user's weight while still allowing for straightforward manufacturing through the modular pocket structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If tool pockets are added to the creeper, then tool storage is improved, but sharp transitions between the body and pockets cause discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to eliminate sharp transitions by forming the tool pockets with rounded, contoured surfaces that seamlessly integrate with the frame body. The pockets are defined by curved surfaces that follow the natural contours of the frame, creating smooth transitions between the pocket areas and the main body. This curved geometry allows tools to be stored in recessed areas while maintaining continuous, comfortable surfaces for the user's body contact areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A creeper (20) for a mechanic includes a top surface (21) and a bottom surface (22). The top surface (21) includes a headrest section (30), a shoulder-receiving section (31), a back-receiving section (32), and a buttocks-receiving section (33). The shoulder-receiving section (31) is wider than any of the other sections for comfortable full shoulder support of the user. The back-receiving section (32) and the buttocks-receiving section (33) are generally flat and the shoulder-receiving section (31) is generally uniformly inclined from the back-receiving section (32) upwardly to the headrest section (30) for the comfort of the neck of the user.Pockets (39) are formed on each side of the buttocks-receiving section (33), and radiused surfaces (41) extend from the side surfaces of the buttocks-receiving section (33) to the pockets (39) for the comfort of the user. The bottom surface (22) includes a plurality of parallel recesses (47) extending under all of the sections of the top surface (21). The bottom surface (22) also includes a plurality of caster receiving pockets (46) which allow the complete rotation of caster assemblies (42) positioned therein.