Patent ID: 7413166
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: B66F

Abstract:
1. An extendible jack stand comprising first, second, and third normally vertical frames arranged in telescoping relationship; said second frame being normally retracted within said first frame and said third frame being normally retracted within said second frame; locking means including an upwardly extending finger fixedly secured to an outer surface of the upper end of said first frame, a guide member secured to the upper end of said second frame and extending horizontally outward therefrom and having a slotted opening therein for receiving said finger; a latch member horizontally slideable in said guide member and having a slotted opening therein for receiving said finger, and spring means urging said latching member inward along said guide member at the upper end of said second frame; and said third frame having a horizontal groove in the outer surface thereof near the lower end thereof, when all three of said frames are in telescoped relation, said guide member, said latch member and said finger cooperatively acting to restrain said second frame from being extended relative to said first frame; and when said third frame becomes fully extended relative to said second frame, said spring means urging said latch member into said groove of said third frame and thereby releasing said restraining action so as to permit said second frame to be extended relative to said first frame; and when said third frame is retracted into said second frame, said latch member and said finger cooperatively responding to said third frame for withdrawing said latch member from said groove in said third frame, thereby permitting said second frame to be retracted into said first frame; wherein said second tubular frame and said third tubular frame have a vertical series of ratchet teeth on opposite sides thereon; and further including: means for vertically aligning the ratchet teeth of said second frame and said third frame relative to said first frame; a pair of ratchet arms, each being pivotally mounted near its mid-portion on opposite sides of said first tubular frame and having a pawl on its upper end extending above said first tubular frame and adjacent to said ratchet teeth and having a ratchet release arm at the lower end thereof for locking that frame in step-wise fashion, and each said pawl being releasable for lowering the second tubular frame and the third tubular frame of the jack stand; and wherein said locking means further comprises: said latch member having the slotted opening with an inward edge and an outward edge therein for cooperating with the upper end of said finger; said finger having an upper end with an outward surface thereon that extends outwardly and downwardly inclined at a first angle in a range of about 28° to about 38° a vertical distance of about three thicknesses of said latch member, and acts as a cam for engaging the outward edge of the slotted opening in said latch member for sliding said latch member outward along said guide member; and the upper end of said finger having an inward surface thereon that extends inclined at a second angle in a range of about 40° to about 50° outward and downwardly a vertical distance of about the thickness of said latch member, and then having a generally vertical portion thereon extending downward a distance of about the thickness of said latch member, and then having an inward surface thereon that extends inclined at a third angle in a range of about 18° to about 28° outward and downwardly a vertical distance of about the thickness of said latch member, wherein the inward surface acts as a recessed notch at the upper end of said finger.