Abstract:
A jack stand apparatus enables operators to screw adjust a load support column relative to a column support base for fully completing load-bearing distances between loads and opposed support surfacing, and thus improving safety of jack stand applications. The various embodiments of the jack stand apparatus according to the present invention may all be said to comprise a shaft support structure, a shaft construction, a pawl assembly, and a screw mechanism. In the preferred embodiment, the shaft construction is a screw type element and includes external threads. A pawl element is cooperable with the external threads, and the screw shaft construction is telescopically positionable relative to the shaft support structure for engaging an overlying load. The pawl element is engagable with the helical threads for preventing downward movement of the screw shaft construction relative to the shaft support structure for supporting loads thereupon.

Description:
PRIOR HISTORY 
       [0001]    This patent application is a non-provisional patent application claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/327,406 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on 25 Apr. 2016, the specifications and drawings of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto. 
     
    
     INVENTION SUMMARY 
       [0002]    State of the art jack stands do not allow for discrepancies in variations of structures requiring jack support as exemplified by a vehicular frame or vehicular axle or support surfaces such as garage or shop floors and the like. This shortcoming very often results in a vehicle that is poorly supported by state of the art jack stands, the load tending to rock off of three points. Needless to say, a poorly supported load is a safety hazard. Further, when state of art jack stands are lowered or collapsed, the support shaft often slams down when the pawl is released from the ratchet teeth resulting in possible damage to the jack stand, for example, in the form of stress fractures to the equipment. 
         [0003]    The jack stand apparatus and associated methodology according to the present invention are designed with a view toward remedying these shortcomings by allowing the user to position the jack stand support mast at any required elevation thereby structurally addressing structural variances in overlying vehicular frames or elements and/or underlying support surfaces. The jack stand apparatus according to the present invention allows the user to fully complete the load-bearing distance between a load and a support surface. Further, preloading the jack stand apparatus according to the present invention eliminates the stress caused by support column freefall and collisions with the support surface. The operator can also ensure the stand is secure before undoing the support attributable to the jack stand apparatus. 
         [0004]    To achieve these basic objectives, the jack stand apparatus according to the present invention supports loads place thereupon and provides an enhanced method for incrementally closing support gaps by providing a screw-type support shaft for enhancing a user&#39;s ability to stabilize loads as supported by a number of the jack stand apparatuses operating in tandem with one another. The various embodiments of the jack stand apparatus according to the present invention may all be said to comprise a shaft support structure, a shaft construction, a pawl assembly, and a screw mechanism. 
         [0005]    In the preferred embodiment, the shaft support structure comprises a series of leg elements and a central shaft-receiving post or hub. The series of leg structures extend radially from the central shaft-receiving post or hub, which central shaft-receiving hub comprises a shaft-receiving bore. The shaft construction of the preferred embodiment is a screw shaft construction and thus is rotatably received in the shaft-receiving bore, comprising a shaft axis of rotation and external helical threads. The external helical threads comprise a shaft thread pitch. 
         [0006]    The preferred pawl assembly is cooperably associated with the shaft support structure and the screw shaft construction, and comprises a fulcrum, a lever arm, and a pawl element. The pawl element comprises a helical tip, which helical tip comprises a pawl pitch equal to the shaft thread pitch. The screw shaft construction is telescopically positionable relative to the shaft-receiving hub for engaging an overlying load. The helical tip is engagable with the helical threads for preventing downward movement of the screw shaft construction relative to the shaft support structure for supporting loads thereupon. 
         [0007]    The central screw shaft construction is rotatable about the axis of rotation such that the helical tip, when engaged with the external threads, converts rotational movement into linear movement of the screw shaft construction relative to the helical tip for finely adjusting the length of exposed screw shaft relative to the shaft support structure for enhancing structural engagement with an overlying load interface or for fully completing the load bearing distance between an overlying load and an underlying support surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated or become apparent from, the following brief descriptions of drawing figures submitted in support of these specifications. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic depiction of a prior art jack stand support arrangement showing first and second prior art jack stand assemblies positioned in inferior adjacency to a wheel-axle assembly and showing an uneven support surface, the base of the first prior art jack stand being positioned atop the uneven support surface at a first elevation and the base of the second prior art jack stand being positioned atop the uneven support surface at a second elevation, the first prior art jack stand assembly fully completing the load bearing distance between the overlying wheel-axle assembly and the underlying uneven support surface, and the second prior art jack stand assembly being unable to fully complete the load bearing distance between the overlying wheel-axle assembly and the underlying uneven support surface. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a diagrammatic depiction of a portion of the prior art jack stand support arrangement otherwise depicted in  FIG. 1  showing the first prior art jack stand assembly positioned in inferior adjacency to the wheel-axle assembly to show with greater clarity the base of the first prior art jack stand being positioned atop the uneven support surface at the first elevation. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  is a diagrammatic depiction of a portion of the prior art jack stand support arrangement otherwise depicted in  FIG. 1  showing the second prior art jack stand assembly positioned in inferior adjacency to the wheel-axle assembly to show with greater clarity the base of the second prior art jack stand being positioned atop the uneven support surface at the second elevation. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic depiction of a jack stand support arrangement according to the present invention showing first and second prior art jack stand assemblies positioned in inferior adjacency to a wheel-axle assembly and showing an uneven support surface, the base of the first jack stand being positioned atop the uneven support surface at a first elevation and the base of the second jack stand being positioned atop the uneven support surface at a second elevation, both the first and second jack stand assemblies fully completing the load bearing distance between the overlying wheel-axle assembly and the underlying uneven support surface. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a diagrammatic depiction of a portion of the jack stand support arrangement otherwise depicted in  FIG. 2  showing the first prior art jack stand assembly positioned in inferior adjacency to the wheel-axle assembly to show with greater clarity the base of the first jack stand being positioned atop the uneven support surface at the first elevation. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  is a diagrammatic depiction of a portion of the jack stand support arrangement otherwise depicted in  FIG. 2  showing the second jack stand assembly positioned in inferior adjacency to the wheel-axle assembly to show with greater clarity the base of the second jack stand being positioned atop the uneven support surface at the second elevation with a screw-adjustable exposed support shaft portion that fully completes the load-bearing distance between the overlying wheel-axle assembly and the underlying support surface at the second elevation. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an elevational side diagrammatic depiction of a prior art jack stand support arrangement showing a prior art jack stand assembly positioned in inferior adjacency to a wheel-axle assembly to show the base of the prior art jack stand being positioned atop a support surface and in an assembly-support position and highlighting a fixed tooth-to-tooth distance of the ratcheted mast or support column of the prior art jack stand. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective depiction of a first alternative jack stand support arrangement according to the present invention showing a series of arrows to highlight directional movement of various elements of the jack stand apparatus to effect jack stand support capability according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective depiction of a first alternative screw shaft construction and pawl assembly according to the present invention showing a helical tip portion of the pawl assembly in engagement with the external thread structure of the first alternative screw shaft construction. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a fragmentary view as fragmented and rotated from  FIG. 5  to show the helical tip portion of the pawl assembly in engagement with the external thread structure of the first alternative screw shaft construction from a view  90  rotational degrees from the view shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective depiction of a first alternative pawl assembly according to the present invention highlighting the helical tip portion of the pawl element of the first alternative pawl assembly. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an elevational side diagrammatic depiction of a second alternative jack stand apparatus according to the present invention showing a second alternative screw mechanism in combination with a second alternative latch pawl assembly together being operable to enable the user to screw-adjust the second alternative latch pawl assembly via the second alternative screw mechanism to raise or lower a state of the art ratcheted support column or mast relative to a generic support base. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an elevational side diagrammatic depiction of a third alternative jack stand apparatus according to the present invention showing a third alternative screw mechanism in combination with a third alternative latch pawl assembly together being operable to enable the user to screw-adjust the third alternative latch pawl assembly via the third alternative screw mechanism to raise or lower a state of the art ratcheted support column or mast relative to a generic support base. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an elevational side diagrammatic depiction of a fourth alternative jack stand apparatus according to the present invention showing a further alternative mast or shaft support mechanism in combination with a further alternative latch pawl assembly together being operable to enable the user to screw-adjust said further alternative latch pawl assembly to raise or lower said alternative mast construction relative to a generic support base. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an elevational frontal diagrammatic depiction of the fourth alternative jack stand apparatus according to the present invention showing said alternative mast mechanism in combination with said alternative latch pawl assembly together being operable to enable the user to screw-adjust said alternative latch pawl assembly to raise or lower said alternative mast construction relative to the generic support base. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Referencing the drawings now with more specificity, the present invention firstly and basically provides a jack stand apparatus in a number of embodiments for more properly and/or safely supporting loads placed thereupon. As noted hereinabove, state of the art jack stands  14  as generically depicted and referenced in  FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B, and 3  do not allow for discrepancies in variations of structures requiring jack support as exemplified by a vehicular framing or vehicular wheel-axle assemblies  12  or uneven support surfaces such as garage or shop floors and the like as at  11 . 
         [0025]    A generic wheel-axle assembly is generally depicted and referenced at  12  with wheels being depicted at  13  and the vehicular axe being depicted at  10 . An uneven support surface  11  is exemplified is generally and comparatively depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing a first support surface elevation as at  15  and a second support elevation as at  16  with the difference in elevation being referenced at  19 . A standard ratchet tooth-to-tooth distance is depicted and referenced at  17 . The reader will note that the support plane-to-axle distance or gap  18  in  FIGS. 1 and 1B  is less than the tooth-to-tooth distance  17 , and, in view of the elevational difference  19 , said distance or gap  18  is of such a magnitude that the static tooth-to-tooth distance  17  renders an uneven support system or arrangement given state of the art jack stands  14 . 
         [0026]    In other words, the distance  110  between the support surface  11  to the underside  38  of the load typified by the wheel-axle assembly  12  may be varied. State of the art jack stands  14  limit the user&#39;s ability to adequately support loads by limiting distance changes to tooth-to-tooth distance  17  increments or multiples. Since the tooth-to-tooth distance  17  will not always equal the gap distance  18  as typified by a differences in support-sited elevations at the support surface  11 , state of the jack stands  14  fall short of meeting maximized safety standards. This shortcoming very often results in a poorly supported vehicle or a vehicle supported by state of the art jack stands  14  that rock off of three points or are otherwise unstable thereby creating a significant safety hazard. 
         [0027]    The safety hazard of an unstable, poorly (prior art jack stand apparatus) supported vehicle is exacerbated by the propensity for state of art jack stands  14  to unexpectedly collapse such that the state of the art masts or central support columns  21  fall under their own weight when the support pawl assemblies  22  are released from the ratchet teeth  23  resulting in possible damage to the jack stand  14  such as a stress fracture(s) when colliding with the underlying support surfacing. The preferred jack stand apparatus  20  according to the present invention is designed with a view toward remedying these shortcomings by allowing the user to screw-position the support structure or interface element  27  at any required elevation relative to the support base  25  thereby structurally addressing structural variances in vehicular frames or elements and/or support surfaces as at uneven support surface  11 . 
         [0028]    To achieve these basic objectives, the first alternative or preferred jack stand apparatus  20  according to the present invention supports loads place thereupon as exemplified by the wheel-axle assembly  12 , and provides an enhanced method for incrementally closing or eliminating support device to load gap(s)  18  by providing a screw-type support shaft or construction  24  for enhancing a user&#39;s ability to stabilize loads as supported by a number of the jack stand apparatuses  20  operating in tandem with one another. Comparing  FIGS. 2-2B , the reader will see that distance  111  is equal to distance  112  less distance  37 , which distance  37  is enabled by screw operation according to the present invention. The first alternative jack stand apparatus  20  according to the present invention may be said to comprise a shaft support structure or base as at  25 , a screw shaft construction as at  24 , and a pawl assembly as at  26  for achieving this screw operation. 
         [0029]    The shaft support structure  25  preferably comprises a series of leg elements  28  and a central shaft-receiving post or hub as at  29 . The series of leg elements or structures  28  preferably extend radially outwardly from the central shaft-receiving post or hub  29 , which central shaft-receiving post or hub comprises a shaft-receiving bore. The screw shaft construction  24  is rotatably received in the shaft-receiving bore and comprises a shaft axis of rotation  30  and external helical threads as at  31 . The external helical threads  31  preferably comprise a shaft thread pitch as at  32 . 
         [0030]    The pawl assembly  26  is cooperably associated with the shaft support structure  24  and the screw shaft construction  24 , and comprises a fulcrum  33 , a lever arm  34 , and a pawl element  35 . The pawl element  35  comprises a helical tip  36 , which helical tip  36  comprises a pawl pitch equal to or otherwise cooperable with the shaft thread pitch  32 . The screw shaft construction  24  is telescopically positionable relative to the shaft-receiving hub structure  29  for engaging an overlying load as exemplified by the wheel-axle assembly  12 . The helical tip  36  is engagable with the helical threads  31  for preventing downward movement of the screw shaft construction  24  relative to the shaft support structure  25  when so engaged. 
         [0031]    The central screw shaft construction  24  is rotatable as at  100  about the axis of rotation  30  such that the helical tip  36 , when engaged with the external threads  31 , converts rotational movement  100  into linear movement  101  of the screw shaft construction  24  relative to the helical tip  36  and the shaft support structure  25  for finely adjusting the length of exposed screw shaft (as at distance  37 ) relative to the shaft support structure  25  for enhancing structural engagement with an overlying load interface (e.g. the underside  38  of the wheel-axle assembly  12 ). The pawl assembly  26  may be further engaged and disengaged with the screw shaft construction  24  via pivotal movement  102  thereof about the fulcrum  33  via the lever arm  34 . 
         [0032]    A second alternative jack stand apparatus  40  according to the present invention is generally depicted in  FIG. 7 . Jack stand apparatus  40  may be said to comprise a shaft support structure or base as at  41 , a ratcheted shaft construction as at  42 , a pawl assembly as at  43 , and a screw assembly as at  44 . The screw assembly  44  is operable to convert rotational motion  100  of the screw element  45  of the screw assembly or mechanism  44  into linear motion  101  directed into the pawl assembly  43  and thus into the shaft construction  42  via a pawl element  46  of the pawl assembly  43 . 
         [0033]    The linearly directed force similarly and finely raises or lowers (as at  103 ) said shaft construction  42  into and out of engagement with an overlying load  104  as exemplified by the wheel-axle assembly  12 . It will be understood from an inspection of  FIG. 7  that the screw mechanism  44  operates to direct linear motion into the pawl assembly  43  in a vertical direction. The screw axis of rotation as at  104  extends in parallel relation to the axis of the ratcheted shaft construction  42  and is cooperable with a horizontally anchored, internally threaded member  47  positioned in adjacency to both the ratcheted shaft construction  42  and the pawl element  46 . 
         [0034]    A third alternative jack stand apparatus  50  according to the present invention is generally depicted in  FIG. 8 . Jack stand apparatus  50  may be said to comprise a shaft support structure or base as at  51 , a ratcheted shaft construction as at  52 , a pawl assembly as at  53 , and a screw assembly or mechanism as at  54 . The screw assembly or mechanism  54  is operable to convert rotational motion  100  of the screw element  55  into linear motion  101  which is directed into a lever arm  56  of the pawl assembly  53  and thus into a pawl element  57  via a fulcrum  58 . The linearly directed forced is thus transmitted into the shaft construction  52  for similarly and finely raising or lowering (as at  103 ) said shaft construction  52  into and out of engagement with an overlying load  104  as exemplified by the wheel-axle assembly  12 . 
         [0035]    It will be understood from an inspection of  FIG. 8  that the screw mechanism or assembly  54  also operates to direct linear motion  101  into the lever arm  56  in a vertical direction, and does so via an internally threaded arm  59  that extends over or in superior adjacency to the lever arm  56 . The screw axis of rotation as at  104  extends in parallel relation to the axis of the ratcheted shaft construction  52  and is cooperable with the internally threaded arm  59  that positions the screw axis of rotation  104  in adjacency to both the ratcheted shaft construction  52  and a portion of the lever arm  56  that operates to transmit force to the pawl element  57  via the fulcrum  58 . 
         [0036]    A fourth alternative jack stand apparatus  60  according to the present invention is generally depicted in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . Jack stand apparatus  60  may be said to comprise a shaft support structure or base as at  61 , a ratcheted shaft construction as at  62 , a pawl assembly as at  63 , and a screw assembly or mechanism as at  64 . The screw assembly or mechanism  64  is operable to convert rotational motion  100  of the screw element  65  into linear motion  101  which is directed into pawl element  66  of the pawl assembly  63  and into the shaft construction  62  via angled interfacing between the angled pawl tip  67  and angled interface structure  68  of the shaft construction  62  for similarly and finely raising or lowering (as at  103 ) said shaft construction  62  into and out of engagement with an overlying load  104  as exemplified by the wheel-axle assembly  12 . It is to be understood that the angular relationship of the angled interfacing of the angled pawl tip  67  and angled interface structure  68  is relative to the horizontal. 
         [0037]    It will be understood from a comparative inspection of  FIGS. 9 and 10  that the screw mechanism or assembly  64  operates to direct linear motion  101  into the pawl element  66  in a horizontal direction, and does so via an internally threaded member  69  mounted in adjacency to the shaft construction  62  so as to effect a horizontal screw axis of rotation as at  105 . The screw axis of rotation as at  105  extends in orthogonal relation to the axis of the ratcheted shaft construction  62 . Thus the internally threaded member  69  positions the screw axis of rotation  105  such that when linear motion is directed into the angled pawl tip  67  of the pawl element  66 , the angled interface structure  68  of the shaft construction  62  operates to finely adjust the shaft construction up or down as at  103  as needed. 
         [0038]    While the above descriptions contain much specificity, this specificity should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the invention. For example, it is contemplated that the present invention may essentially be said to provide a jack stand apparatus having a screw-operable means for raising and lowering a shaft construction for finely raising and lowering said shaft construction into a load source for support a load via the shaft construction. Accordingly, although the inventive jack stand apparatus has been described by reference to a number of exemplary embodiments, it is not intended that the jack stand apparatus be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims, and the drawings, both diagrammatic and illustrative, submitted in support of these specifications.