Patent ID: 6663081
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: B66F

Abstract:
A safety mechanism for a hydraulic floor jack, the hydraulic floor jack including a generally rectangular chassis having a forward end and a rearward end, a pivotal lifting means mounted on the chassis including a pair of parallel lift arms interconnected by a lateral push bar and having forward ends and rearward ends with the forward ends adapted to be pivotable upward as the rearward ends are translated forward within the chassis, and with the forward ends adapted to be pivotable downward as the rearward ends are translated rearward within the chassis, and a hydraulic actuator adapted to push the lateral push bar and the rearward ends of the lift arms forward, and adapted to release the rearward ends of the lift arms rearward along the chassis, the safety mechanism comprising:a toothed rack bar extending horizontally within the chassis adjacent to the rearward end of the lift arm; a mechanical dog pivotally mounted on the rearward end of the lift arm and adapted to be engageable with a corresponding tooth of said rack bar, for mechanically securing the rearward ends of the lift arms at a desired position within the chassis, whereby the lift arms are retained in the desired position independent of any push of the hydraulic actuator; and said dog further adapted to be releasable from said rack bar for releasing said mechanical securing means so that the rearward ends of the lift arms are translatable rearward.