AU2006200527A1

AU2006200527A1 - Workers Support Tray

Info

Publication number: AU2006200527A1
Application number: AU2006200527A
Authority: AU
Original assignee: NO BACK PAIN Pty Ltd
Current assignee: NO BACK PAIN Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-14
Filing date: 2006-02-14
Publication date: 2007-08-30

Description

COMPLETE APPLICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT In the name of No Back Pain Pty Ltd ACN 118 131 472 Entitled Tilers Lay Tray Prepared by: Kevin Ramage and Olaf Schubert Directors No Back Pain Pty Ltd 18 Balsam St Bushland Beach, Queensland, 4818 Australia Telephone: (07) 47092015 Mobile: 0400 699 257 STilers Lay Tray 0

O

Field of the Invention.

This invention is directed to a Lay Tray for a Tradesman or home handyman to position the tradesman or handyman's body in away that avoids musculoskeletal back strain but allows them to perform their tasks of, but not restricted to, laying floor tiles and painting skirting boards in a comfortable and efficient manner while carrying the 0 O necessary tools and material to complete any task.

S 10 Background Art.

In the field of Floor Tile Laying it is necessary for the Tiler to work continually on their knees, supporting and balancing their weight by one arm using the second arm to spread glue, position tiles and apply grouting.

This crouched position places significant strain on the musculoskeletal regions of the tilers back which limits the duration of work and places them at risk of possible permanent musculoskeletal disorders.

In addition they require to move tools along while working comprising, scrapers, glue applicators, Glue pots, tiles and grouting. These are normally held in some form of known container and dragged along while in a crouched position.

Therefore it would be of benefit to any floor tiler to perform their task using both hands instead of the present practice of one with their body resting on a device that promotes a non musculoskeletal strain posture, permitting them to move around easily in confined areas and this device also as act as a platform for their tools and materials.

0 O Where a tiler requires to work on wall tiles such as bathrooms where there are no bench tops it would be an advantage to the tiler to have a devise that would function as a mobile work bench thus restricting the continuos need to stoop to cut tiles or reach for tools and material stored on the floor.

o It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this 0 Creference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the 0 O common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the invention to provide a stable but mobile platform from which a worker is able to function in a comfortable position. The Tilers Lay Tray may overcome the above mentioned disadvantages and/or provide a useful commercial choice.

In one form, the tray comprises a rectangular base fitted with a knee pad affixed onto and across the rear portion of the tray and chest plate attached onto chest plate mounts consisting walls rising from both sides of the forward portion of the base. The angle of the chest plate mount walls taper permits the free shoulder, elbow and arm movement of any operator using the Tray in the floor tile laying position.

Two handle slots are provided at both ends of the Tilers Lay Tray to assist the user in carrying the tray or hang it from hooks on a wall for storage or attach shackles and ropes/cables for the device to be pulled and also fits the support legs of the shelf mount accessory. A minimum of 4 castor wheels (known) fitted to the Tilers Lay Tray

CO

O provide mobility.

It is thus shaped for a user to mount the tray by kneeling onto the knee pads (known) affixed to the lower portion of the base and place their chest on the chest plate on which is fitted a padding of known material comprising, a bag of styrene foam balls o or foam rubber or gel bags or the like to provide comfort to the chest area of the body.

C

O

o The user manoeuvres the Tilers Lay Tray about by pushing with their feet or pulling/pushing with their hands or being pulled by rope/cable.

Tools may be mounted or carried in the area below the chest pad and between the chest pad mount walls.

The Tilers Lay Tray is a versatile work tool and doubles as a mobile work top and storage when unmanned as it can be fitted with a shelf mount. This is a flat shelf rested onto the chest plate with legs as to the height of the chest pad that sit into the handle slots for stability at the rear of the base. The Tilers Lay Tray can then be loaded with bulk material comprising tiles, tins of glue and or grouting, tile cutters, glue applicators etc. then pushed to the required position enabling the user to affix wall tiles in a standing position without the need of significant bending to access implements and material.

The Tilers Lay Tray can be made of any suitable material. It is envisaged that the Tilers Lay Tray will be made of plastic, metal, composite material and the like, \O although it is not envisaged that any limitation should be placed on the invention 0 O merely by the material from which the assembly is manufactured.

The size of the Tilers Lay Tray can vary to suit. However, it is envisaged that the size of the Tilers Lay Tray will be sufficient to hold a large framed person in a position of kneeling with chest forward resting comfortably on a suitably sized chest plate.

o Although the sizes may vary it is expected that the basic dimension will be about 500 0 mm wide, 900mm long for the base with the chest plate mount about 400mm height sO O from the base. The chest plate about 250mm by 300mm. These dimensions permitting the invention to be steered through confined areas comprising, house/unit corridors and bathrooms.

The width and length of the shelf mount will be similar to the width and length of the base. The weight rating of the shelf mount shall be about and between 100kg and 200kg.

The weight carrying capacity of the Tilers Lay Tray is an important factor as it supports both man and tools in one mode and becomes a storage work bench in another mode. The Tilers Lay Tray will support about and between 200kg and 300kg.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawing in which:, 1 Figure 1. Illustrates the Tilers Lay Tray in plan without the shelf mount fitted and

O

O Illustrates the position of the knee pad, hand slots and chest pad.

C"l Figure 2. Illustrates an isometric view of the Tilers Lay Tray and also illustrating, the base, the chest pad mount walls, the storage area for tools and material.

oFigure 3. Illustrates the position of the user in a kneeled pose with chest resting on the

O

N chest pad enabling free movement of shoulders, elbows and arms.

o

O",

Figure 4. Illustrates the Tilers Lay Tray with the shelf mount fitted and illustrates the 01 work bench in use and storage of tools and material.

Best Mode.

Referring to the illustrations, there is described a Tilers Lay Tray. The Tilers Lay Tray comprises a base that can be seen as a tray 1 which is designed to hold a person kneeling onto known knee pad 2 in a pose whereby the persons chest rests onto a chest plate 3 (Fig 1) as per Figure 3.

The chest plate is held in place by two walls known as chest plate mounts 5 which taper in at an angle and fitted to the sides of the base 1 ensure freedom of movement by the users shoulders, elbows and arms 8 Below the chest pad 3 and the chest pad mount 5 is the storage area for tools and material 6.

The Lay Tray has hands slots 4 which are used for carrying or hanging in storage or to

CO

O support the shelf mount 9 when fitted or for the attachments comprising of known C"l shackles and ropes/cables.

The Tilers Lay Tray is of a size that can carry a person, material and tools Figure 3 in confined areas. It can be moved by using feet 7 or by hands 8 or by pulling oropes/cables attached to hand slots 4.

C

O C'-l 0 o The shelf mount attachment 9 rests flat onto the chest pad 3, its legs are perpendicular C"l from the base of the shelf and sit into the hand slots at the rear of the base 4 converting the Tilers Lay Tray into a mobile work bench which holds tools and material able to be pushed/pulled through confined spaces to where it is required.

The Tilers Lay Tray and shelf mount can be made of toughened plastic or metal if desired or any known material capable of the required weight carrying capacities.

Throughout the specification and the claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise",or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to

CD

0 any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the

CO

tc t",

Claims

3. The Tray of claim 1 supports a person in a kneeling fashion with that person's chest resting on the chest pad in a way as to significantly reduce strain on the musculoskeletal regions in particular, the users back region.
4. The Tray as claimed in claim 3 promotes supported movement of the upper torso enabling the operator of the Tray to use any or all 20 shoulders, elbows and hands in performance of their tasks. The Tray of claim 1 fitted with a shelf mount attachment converts the tray of claim 1 into a mobile work bench and material storage tray.
6. The Shelf mount as claimed in claim 5 consists of a rectangular shelf which is placed onto and supported by the chest pad and 1 whose legs form a right angle and sit into the hand slots of the base C O forming the work bench. Cl
7. The Tray of claim 6 base then acts as a storage area for additional tools and material. ci o 8. The Tray of Claim 3 permits that person to manoeuvre the Tray of C o claim 1 by using their feet or hands or attach shackles and/or O rope/cable to the hand slots to be pulled.
9. The Tray of Claim 3 chest pad is mounted horizontally on top of the side walls of the chest pad support and comprises a flexible material such as foam rubber or gel that offers comfort to the operator's chest area whilst resting upon it. An Tray assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.