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.

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.