BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support step for facilitating access to an elevated object, such as a motor vehicle engine, that is located at a height which is not easily accessible to a worker. More particularly, the invention concerns a worker support comprising a step member for placement about the motor vehicle front bumper and side fender to facilitate access of a worker to the engine compartment, and a height increasing member stackable upon the step member to increase the height of the worker support platform.

2. Description of the Related Technology

The repair of motor vehicle engines requires access to the engine compartment by a mechanic. Where large vehicles, such as trucks, busses and the like, are involved, it is often difficult for the mechanic to easily and safely access the engine compartment due to the height thereof. Even where some sort of platform or support is used, it is important for the mechanic to be able to quickly, easily and safely access the engine compartment from a variety of different positions. Furthermore, the height of the engine compartment is these types of motor vehicles is not uniform. It is also important that the worker support exhibit sufficient stability to prevent the step from overturning during use.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a motor vehicle repair worker support which is lightweight, stable and portable to facilitate access to the engine compartment. There is also a need for a worker support that is adjustable in height and allows the worker to easily and safely access the engine compartment from several positions without moving the support member. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a worker support for providing access to an elevated object which is lightweight, is adjustable in height and allows the worker to easily and safely access the object from several positions without moving the support member. In a preferred use, the worker support may be used for accessing the engine compartment of a motor vehicle. A worker support having features of the present invention comprises a step comprising an L-shaped, substantially horizontal load bearing upper surface supported by leg means extending downwardly therefrom, and means for receiving a height increasing member for increasing the

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height of the worker support including means for retaining the height increasing member. According to the preferred embodiments, the means for receiving comprises a substantially horizontal narrow ledge located a distance beneath and surrounding the periphery of the load bearing upper surface. The leg means for supporting may preferably comprise a wall member extending downwardly from an outer edge of the narrow ledge. Alternatively, the leg means for supporting may comprise a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the outer edge of the narrow ledge. The upper surface of the worker support preferably exhibits a non-skid surface to prevent the worker from slipping during repair of the engine. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for retaining comprises one or more locking grooves formed in the narrow ledge for receiving a corresponding one or more tongues protruding from a surface of the height increasing member. According to an alternative preferred embodiment, the worker support step includes a lower surface and a plurality of hollow support members extending from the load bearing upper surface to the lower surface. Although the danger of the height increasing member slipping off the step support is practically eliminated in this embodiment, a locking pin may be inserted into an opening formed in the height increasing member and one of the plurality of hollow support members which is coaxial with the opening in the height increasing member, to secure the height increasing member to the worker support step member.

The height increasing member is adapted to be removably attached to the upper surface of the first step member to increase the height of the worker support. The height increasing member may comprise either a second step member or a riser. The second step member, which is substantially identical to the first step member comprises an L-shaped, substantially horizontal load bearing upper surface, a substantially horizontal narrow ledge located a distance beneath and surrounding the periphery of the load bearing upper surface, and leg means for supporting the upper surface extending downwardly from the upper surface, a bottom edge of the leg means configured to engage the narrow ledge of the first step member. Where a riser is employed as the height increasing member, the riser may comprise a horizontal load bearing surface and a sidewall extending downwardly from the load bearing surface, a lower edge of the sidewall configured to engage the narrow ledge of the first step member. According to one embodiment, the riser comprises a one-

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piece, L-shaped structure. According to an alternative embodiment, the riser comprises a first member configured to cover a first arm section of the upper surface of the L-shaped first step member and a second member configured to cover a second arm section of the upper surface of the L-shaped first step member. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a lightweight portable worker support for facilitating access to an elevated object, such as an engine compartment of a motor vehicle, wherein the height of the platform may be quickly and easily adjusted.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a worker support for facilitating easy access to an object from numerous locations without movement of the support. For example, a motor vehicle engine compartment may be accessed from either the front or the side, permitting the worker to easily and safely move between those locations without moving the support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support having a shape and configuration that exhibits superior lateral stability to prevent the support from overturning during use.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a first preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle repair worker support according to the invention, shown surrounding a front portion of a motor vehicle. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the worker support step shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the worker support step along the line

3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom plan view of the worker support step along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the worker support step along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of pair of stacked worker support steps taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7A shows a top plan view of one section of a riser according to ^" an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7B shows a top plan view of the other section of the riser shown in FIG. 7A. FIG. 8 shows a bottom plan view of a riser according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a side sectional view of the riser along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 10 shows an end sectional view of a riser stacked upon the worker support step according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle repair worker support according to the invention.

FIG. 12 shows a top plan view of the worker support step according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 shows a bottom plan view of the step shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 shows a top plan view of a riser according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 shows a bottom plan view of the riser shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 shows a sectional view of the riser along the line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows a sectional view of the step along the line 17-17 of FIG. 13. FIG. 18 shows a sectional view of a riser stacked upon a step according to the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 19 show a sectional view of a step stacked upon a step according to the second preferred embodiment.

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r> TATT,F,n ΠESCRTPTIQN F THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a worker support 20 according to a first preferred embodiment is shown in Figures 1-10. According to a preferred use of the invention as shown in Figure 1, the worker support 20 is placed about a portion of the front bumper 100 and either the left side fender 102a or right side fender 102b of a motor vehicle 104 to facilitate access of a worker to the engine compartment 106 from either the front or the side of the motor vehicle. The L- shaped step permits the worker to easily and safely move between those locations without moving the support.

The worker support according to the first preferred embodiment comprises a step 22 exhibiting an L-shaped, substantially horizontal load bearing upper surface 24 supported by leg means 26 extending downwardly therefrom. A substantially horizontal narrow ledge 28 is located a distance beneath and surrounding the periphery of the load bearing upper surface 24 for receiving a height increasing member for increasing the height of the worker support. A plurality of locking grooves 30 are formed in the narrow ledge 28. A tongue 32 protrudes downwardly from an interior surface of the step for engagement with a groove in a second step in a stacked configuration. The grooves 30 are configured to receive a corresponding tongue extending downwardly from an interior surface of the height increasing member.

The underside of the load bearing support platform 24 exhibits a plurality of diagonal criss-crossing reinforcing support members 34 that provide support to sustain the weight of one or more workers on the platform. The upper platform 24 of the step 22 preferably exhibits a non-skid surface 36, to prevent the worker from slipping during repair of the engine.

The leg means 26 for supporting the platform 24 may preferably comprise a plurality of mold formed leg member 38 extending downwardly from an outer edge of the narrow ledge 28. Alternatively, the leg means for supporting may comprise a solid wall member extending downwardly from the outer edge of the narrow ledge. The height increasing member is adapted to be removably attached to the upper surface of the first step member to increase the height of the worker support. The height increasing member may be either a second step 22' or a riser 40. Where

a second step is employed as the height increasing member, as shown in Figure 6, the second step 22' is substantially identical to the first step 22, wherein like reference numeral indicate like components.

Where a riser 40 is employed as the height increasing member, as shown in Figure 10, the riser may comprise a horizontal load bearing surface 42 and a sidewall 44 extending downwardly from the load bearing surface 40. A lower edge of the riser 40 exhibits a plurality of locking tongues 46 for engaging the corresponding plurality of locking grooves 30 formed in the step 22. Like the step 22, the underside of the load bearing surface 42 exhibits a plurality of diagonal criss¬ crossing reinforcing support members 48 that provide support to sustain the weight of one or more workers on the load bearing riser surface 42. As shown in Figures 7 A & 7B, the riser 40 comprises a first member 40a configured to cover a first arm section of the upper surface 24 of the L-shaped first step member and a second member 40b configured to cover a second arm section of the upper surface 24 of the L-shaped first step member. The upper surface 42 of the riser 40 preferably exhibits a non-skid surface 49, to prevent the worker from slipping during repair of the engine.

The structure of both the step and the riser according to the first preferred embodiment preferably exhibits a thick single-walled construction as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 10. When the riser 40 is stacked upon the step 22, as shown in Figure 10, the diagonal criss-crossing support members 48 of the riser rest upon the load bearing upper surface 24 of the step. The riser and step according to this embodiment are preferably formed by plastic injection molding utilizing a high strength durable plastic or polymer.

A second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 11-19. According to the second preferred embodiment, a worker support 50 is provided comprising a step 52 exhibiting an L-shaped, substantially horizontal load bearing upper surface 54 supported by leg means 56 extending downwardly therefrom. A substantially horizontal narrow ledge 58 is located a distance beneath and surrounding the periphery of the load bearing upper surface 54 for receiving a height increasing member for increasing the height of the worker support. The increased vertical distance between the upper surface 54 and the narrow ledge 58 greatly reduces the danger that the height increasing member will slip off the step

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and therefore there is no need for the locking tongue and groove connection of the first preferred embodiment. However, a locking device, such as a pin 60 shown in Figure 18 may be used to secure the height increasing member to the step. A plurality of hollow support members 62 extend from the load bearing upper surface 54 to a lower surface 64 of the step 52. The locking pin 60 is inserted into an opening formed in the height increasing member and one of the plurality of hollow support members 62 that is coaxial with the opening in the height increasing member, to secure the height increasing member to the step.

The upper platform 54 of the step 52 preferably exhibits a non-skid surface 66, to prevent the worker from slipping during repair of the engine. The leg means 56 for supporting the platform 54 preferably comprises an outside wall member 68 extending downwardly from an outer edge of the narrow ledge 58.

The height increasing member is adapted to be removably attached to the upper surface of the first step member 52 to increase the height of the worker support. The height increasing member may be either a second step 52' or a riser 70. Where a second step is employed as the height increasing member, as shown in Figure 19, the second step 52' is substantially identical to the first step 52, wherein like reference numeral indicate like components.

Where a riser 70 is employed as the height increasing member, as shown in Figures 16 & 18, the riser may comprise a horizontal load bearing surface 72 and a sidewall 74 extending downwardly from the load bearing surface 70. A plurality of hollow support members 76 extend from the load bearing upper surface 72 to a lower surface 78 of the riser 70. The locking pin 60 may be inserted into one of the riser hollow support members 76 and through a coaxial one of the plurality of hollow support members 62 to better secure the riser to the step. The upper surface 72 of the riser 70 preferably exhibits a non-skid surface to prevent the worker from slipping during repair of the engine. The riser according to this embodiment comprises a one-piece, L-shaped structure.

The structure of both the step and the riser according to the second preferred embodiment preferably exhibits a double-walled construction as shown in Figures 16-19. When the riser 70 is stacked upon the step 52, as shown in Figure 18, the lower surface 78 of the riser rests upon the load bearing upper surface 54 of the step. Likewise, when the second step 52' is stacked upon the first step 52, as shown

in Figure 19, the lower surface 64' of the second step rests upon the load bearing upper surface 54 of the first step. The riser and step according to this embodiment are preferably formed in a rotary-type mold and are formed of a high strength durable plastic or polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The illustrated embodiments are shown by way of example. The spirit and scope of the invention is not to be restricted by the preferred embodiments shown.

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