Patent ID: 7416215
Filing Date: 2008-08-26
Classification: B60R,B60S

Abstract:
1. A vehicle jack and anti-theft system for jacking and abating the theft of a vehicle when in a first orientation and for functioning as a utility step when in a second orientation comprising, in combination: a hitch component adapted to extend rearwardly from the rear of a vehicle, the hitch component having a recess with a square cross sectional configuration; a housing having a generally rectilinear configuration with a square cross sectional configuration and with an open end and a closed end and with an interior surface and an exterior surface between the ends, the exterior surface forming a front face and a parallel rear face with a parallel upper face and a parallel lower face between the front and rear faces, the ends being spaced a first distance with an intermediate extent midway between the ends, the closed end being formed with a circular bearing surface; a drive screw having a distal end interior of the housing adjacent to the open end and a proximal end exterior of the housing adjacent to the closed end, the drive screw having a short cylindrical bearing surface in rotational contact with the bearing surface of the closed end of the housing, the drive screw having a long threaded surface with male threads extending from the distal end to the cylindrical bearing surface; a drop leg having an exterior surface in a generally rectilinear configuration in sliding contact with the interior surface of the housing and an interior surface in a generally cylindrical configuration, the drop leg having a distal end and a spaced proximal end at a second distance slightly shorter than the first distance, the interior surface having female threads operatively coupled with the male threads of the drive screw extending from the proximal end for a majority of the extent of the drive screw, the interior surface having a smooth cylindrical extent extending from the distal end for a minority of the extent of the drive screw, a foot with a planar support surface and a cylindrical projection removably received in the distal end of the drop leg for support purpose when in a deployed orientation; a crank with an exterior end forming a handle and an interior end removably coupled to the proximal end of the drive screw, the crank adapted to be rotated by a user in a first direction to withdraw the drop leg into the housing when not in a deployed orientation as for storage and transportation, the crank adapted to be rotated by a user in a second direction to extend the drop leg from the housing with the foot in contact with ground when in a deployed orientation to jack and abate movement of a vehicle with which the system is utilized, the foot adapted to be extended a first shorter distance to contact ground and function for anti-theft purposes, the foot adapted to be extended a second greater distance to contact ground and raise a portion of a vehicle to function for jacking purposes, the crank having an associated pin with associated recesses in the proximal end of the drive screw and interior end of the crank receiving the pin during rotation of the crank; a removably positionable over the proximal end of the drive screw with an associated key for allowing a user with the key to prohibit and allow coupling of the crank to the drive screw for thereby permitting only authorized usage of the system; a cover removably positionable over the distal end of the housing when the system is not deployed with an associated opening in the drop leg for removably receiving the cover during deployment of the system; an extension extending rearwardly from the rear face of the housing adapted to function as a step and constitute a support surface for a user to stand upon during operation and use; a coupling projection with a rectilinear configuration extending forwardly from the forward face of the housing and removably received in the recess of the hitch component with aligned apertures adapted to removably receive a pin for coupling purposes, the projection adapted to be positioned in the recess of the hitch in a first orientation with the proximal ends above the distal ends and the drop leg extended for jacking and abating the theft of a vehicle with which it is utilized, the projection adapted to be positioned in the recess of the hitch in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation with the upper face above the lower face and the drop leg withdrawn for constituting a step for a user; and wheel chocks positionable in contact with wheels of a vehicle equipped with the housing, drive screw and drop leg.