U.S. patent application number 09/898836 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-09 for heated kneeling tray.
Invention is credited to Tyler, Paul.
Application Number | 20030006638 09/898836 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25410102 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030006638 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tyler, Paul |
January 9, 2003 |
Heated kneeling tray
Abstract
A kneeling tray, for use by a worker when kneeling upon a ground
surface, comprising a housing having a bottom which is positionable
on the ground surface and a top having a cushion. A heating element
is located within the cushion for warming the cushion. The heating
element may be powered by line current and by rechargeable battery
packs. The rechargeable battery packs may be recharged when the
tray is connected to a line power source.
Inventors: |
Tyler, Paul; (Oakland,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard W. Goldstein
2071 Clove Road
Staten Island
NY
10304
US
|
Family ID: |
25410102 |
Appl. No.: |
09/898836 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/423.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 16/04 20130101;
A47C 7/748 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/423.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 007/50 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A kneeling tray, for use upon a ground surface comprising: a
housing, slab-like in shape, having a bottom for resting upon the
ground surface, a top, and a pair of handles; a cushion, mounted in
the housing and exposed at the top of the housing; and a heating
element, within the cushion for imparting heat to the cushion.
2. The kneeling tray as recited in claim 1, further comprising at
least one battery receptacle, for releasably engaging a battery
power pack, and powering the heating element using that battery
pack.
3. The kneeling tray as recited in claim 2, further comprising a
line power cord, for powering the heating element with an AC power
source.
4. The kneeling tray as recited in claim 3, further comprising a
charging circuit, for interconnecting the line power cord with the
battery receptacle for charging the battery power pack while the
battery power pack is engaged with the battery receptacle and while
the line power cord is connected to the AC power source.
5. The kneeling tray as recited in claim 4, wherein battery power
packs are configured to supply power to cordless power tools such
that the battery power packs may be removable from both the tray
and the cordless power tools.
6. The kneeling tray as recited in claim 5, wherein the housing
further comprises a charging port having an opening and wherein one
of the battery receptacles is located within the opening, such that
the battery pack may be inserted into the opening to engage that
battery receptacle.
7. The kneeling tray as recited in claim 6, wherein the housing is
slab-like in shape, having a pair of sides, and wherein the
charging port is located in one of the sides.
8. A kneeling tray method, for use by a worker, working upon a
ground surface, using a tray having a cushion and a heating element
within the cushion and power tools having rechargeable removable
battery packs, comprising the steps of: engaging one of the battery
packs with the tray; heating the cushion with the heating element
by powering the heating element with said battery pack; and
kneeling upon the cushion by the worker.
9. The kneeling tray method as recited in claim 8, wherein the tray
has a charging circuit, and further comprising the steps of:
connecting the tray to an AC line power source; and charging the
battery pack by interconnecting the AC line power source with the
battery pack using the charging circuit.
10. The kneeling tray method as recited in claim 9, wherein the
step of charging the battery pack is followed by: disengaging the
battery pack from the tray; engaging the battery pack with one of
the power tools; and powering one of the power tools with the
battery pack.
11. A kneeling tray method, for use by a worker, working upon a
ground surface, using a tray having a cushion and a heating element
within the cushion and power tools having rechargeable removable
battery packs, comprising the steps of: positioning the tray upon
the ground surface; connecting the tray to an AC line power source;
heating the cushion with the heating element by powering the
heating element with the AC line power source; and kneeling upon
the cushion by the worker.
12. The kneeling tray method as recited in claim 11, wherein the
tray has a charging circuit, and further comprising the steps of:
engaging one of the battery packs with the tray; and charging the
battery pack by interconnecting the AC line power source with the
battery pack using the charging circuit.
13. The kneeling tray method as recited in claim 12, wherein the
step of charging the battery pack is followed by: disengaging the
battery pack from the tray; engaging the battery pack with one of
the power tools; and powering one of the power tools with the
battery pack.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a heated kneeling tray. More
particularly, the invention relates to a heated kneeling tray which
is electrically heated using power from a cordless tool battery
pack or AC line current.
[0002] Many occupations require that a worker kneel while carrying
out their work activities. Often these activities require that the
worker kneel on a hard, cold, floor or ground surface for an
extended period of time. Such practice not only can cause
considerable fatigue to the worker, but can rapidly remove body
heat from the worker.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,705 to Godshalk et al.; Des. No. 376,481
to Bidwell; and No. 830,103 to Rundell each disclose various
devices which provide a substantially flat, cushioned surface to
kneel upon, and provide some type of side handles for
portability.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,049 to Ward; U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,011 to
Young et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,081 to Earl, Jr. disclose
devices having various configurations which provide support for the
lower legs so that the user can enter a modified kneeling
position.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 1,460,915 discloses a shoe salesman's stool
which has built in heater and fan.
[0006] While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose
employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the
purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a kneeling tray
which allows a worker to comfortably kneel upon a ground surface
when necessary. Accordingly, the tray is repositionable on the
ground surface using a pair of handles, and has a cushion upon
which the worker can kneel.
[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a kneeling
tray which is well suited for use in a cold location. Accordingly,
a heating element is provided within the cushion which heats the
cushion and enhances the comfort of the worker.
[0009] It is yet another object of the invention to allow the
device to be portable, so that it can be used in remote locations
which line power is not available. Accordingly, the device may be
powered using rechargeable battery packs. By a preferred embodiment
the device is powered using rechargeable battery packs which are
compatible with cordless power tools.
[0010] It is still a further object of the invention to allow the
rechargeable battery packs to be recharged when the device is
situated near a line power source. Accordingly, the device employs
a built-in battery charger circuit, so that when line power is
available, both the heating element and the charging circuit may be
simultaneously powered so that the cushion is warmed and the
battery packs are recharged for subsequent use in powering the
heating element or other power tools.
[0011] The invention is a kneeling tray, for use by a worker when
kneeling upon a ground surface, comprising a housing having a
bottom which is positionable on the ground surface and a top having
a cushion. A heating element is located within the cushion for
warming the cushion. The heating element may be powered by line
current and by rechargeable battery packs. The rechargeable battery
packs may be recharged when the tray is connected to a line power
source.
[0012] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however,
that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are
contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the
scope of the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like
reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as
follows.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating the
kneeling tray, per se.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top plan view, with parts broken away,
illustrating the heating element within the cushion.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view, illustrating exemplative
locations for the line power cord and battery charging ports.
[0017] FIG. 4 is side elevational view, illustrating the kneeling
tray in use, wherein a user/worker is kneeling upon the
cushion.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a block diagram, illustrating functional
interconnection of the major components of the kneeling tray.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a kneeling tray 10, comprising a main
housing 12 including a slab 14, including a top 14T, a bottom 14B,
and a pair of sides 14S. The housing 12 also has a pair of handles
16 which extend upward from the top 14T near the sides 14S. The
handles 16 may be constructed as illustrated, substantially solid
with hand cut-outs 18 for accommodating the hand of a user. The
handles 16 and associated hand cutouts 18 allow the tray 10 to be
easily repositioned by the user, even during the act of kneeling
upon the tray 10.
[0020] A cushion 19 is located within the housing 12, such that it
is exposed at the top 14T of the housing 12. The cushion 19 has a
broad surface area and sufficient resilience and padding to absorb
and distribute the weight of the user, and provide a comfortable
surface upon which the user can kneel.
[0021] In addition, illustrated in FIG. 1 is a charging port 20,
located in one of the sides 14S, and a charging light 22, for
indicating status of a charging operation. The charging port 20 and
charging indicator light 22 may of course be repositioned on the
housing 12 wherever convenient, according to the particular design
for the kneeling tray 10, created in accordance with the principles
of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the tray 10, wherein a portion of the
cushion 19 has been broken away to reveal a heating element 24. The
heating element 24 includes numerous heating coils 26 distributed
beneath the cushion 19 so as to substantially heat the entire broad
surface of the cushion 19. The heating element 24 may alternatively
comprise other types of devices which convert electricity to heat,
such as a ceramic heating element, a solid state heating element,
or even a device which can provide both heating and cooling using
the Peltier effect.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the tray 10,
wherein a line storage compartment 30 allows a line cord 32 to be
extended a considerable distance from the housing 12 for connection
to an AC power source, or retracted for storage. In addition, a
battery compartment 34 may be provided for holding one or more
battery packs 36. Battery receptacles 38 are located within the
battery compartment to facilitate electrical connection with the
battery packs 36. Also, the charging port 20 has one of the battery
receptacles 38, and allows one of the battery packs 36 to be
inserted into the charging port. The charging port 20 includes an
opening 21 into which the battery receptacles 38 may be inserted to
engage the battery receptacle 38 located within that opening. In
addition, a spring-loaded door 23 may be provided (see FIG. 1), for
covering the opening 21 when no battery pack is present within the
opening, but which moves easily aside when the battery pack is
inserted. Such spring-loaded doors 23 are commonly found in laptop
computers, and other devices in which batteries are frequently
replaced.
[0024] In FIG. 3, both the charging port 36 and the battery
compartment 34 is illustrated. In practice, a particular embodiment
of the tray 10 would likely use one or the other--the battery
compartment provides less convenient access to the battery packs
36, but allows the battery packs 36 to be securely contained within
the housing without risk of them becoming separated from the
housing during use. On the other hand, the charging ports 20 allow
the battery packs to be easily inserted and removed "on the fly".
Generally, with the charging port, when the battery pack is engaged
with the battery receptacle, a portion of the battery pack is still
exposed (as seen in FIG. 3), so that it can be easily grasped and
removed. If charging ports 20 are employed, generally they would be
symmetrically arranged, with one of the charging ports 20 located
near each of the sides 12S of the housing.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a block diagram, illustrating functional
interconnection of various components of the tray 10. In
particular, a charging circuit 40 can provide the central
interconnection for other electrical components, wherein power to
the heating element is selectively supplied by an AC power
connection/line cord 32 connected to an AC power source, or by one
of the battery packs 36 that is connected to one of the battery
receptacles 38. In addition, the charging circuit 40 can also
direct power from the AC power connection 32 to one of the battery
packs 36 through one of the battery receptacles 38.
[0026] According to the present invention, the battery packs 36 are
configured so that they are used in conjunction with standard
cordless power tools which themselves are powered by the battery
packs. Thus, a worker may use engage one or more of the battery
packs with the tray to power the heating element; remove one or
more of the battery packs from the tray to power one of his
cordless power tools; or charge one of the battery packs using the
charging circuit of the tray when the tray is connected to the AC
power source.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 4, the tray 10 is positioned upon a
ground surface 11. A user 50 is shown, having a knee 52. The user
50 is kneeling upon the tray 10, with his knee 52 upon the cushion
19. Accordingly, the tray 10 provides a more comfortable kneeling
surface than the ground surface 11, and can provide heat to the
user 50 as well.
[0028] During use, the user would typically position the tray 10
upon the ground surface 11, and connect the line power cord to an
AC power source. Accordingly, the heating element will convert
power from the AC power source into heat, and warm the cushion. Any
battery packs engaged with the tray will be charged by the charging
circuit, which interconnects the line power cord with the battery
packs, provides conversion between AC and DC electricity, and
provides voltage conversion as necessary, to facilitate safe
charging of the battery packs. Once charged, the battery packs may
be removed from the tray, engaged with a cordless power tool, and
used to power the cordless power tool. If the tray must be
positioned in a location which is not convenient to an AC power
source, then power from the battery packs is supplied to the
heating element.
[0029] In conclusion, herein is presented a kneeling tray which is
heated to provide additional comfort to the user. The tray is
selectively powered using battery packs as well as AC line power,
and doubles as a battery charger for the battery packs when
connected to a line power source. The invention is illustrated by
example in the accompanying drawing figures and the foregoing
description. However, such illustrations are exemplative of the
inventive concepts. Numerous variations are possible while adhering
to these inventive concepts. Such variations are contemplated as
being a part of the present invention.
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