A jack includes a base having a pair of spaced apart side members with a substantially horizontally oriented platform overlying a forward portion of the base. A pair of support arms pivotably connect the platform to the side members, and a lift arm is pivotably connected between the platform and the side members. A driver assembly mounted to a rear portion of the base in response to manual actuation moves the platform between a lowered and a plurality elevated positions while maintaining the horizontal orientation of the platform.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The inventors incorporate herein by reference any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents cited or referred to in this application or cited or referred to in the U.S. patents and U.S. patent applications incorporated herein by reference.

DEFINITIONS

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,487 discloses a personal vehicle jack having a platform for lifting a personal vehicle such as a motorcycle, all terrain vehicle (ATV), or personal watercraft. The jack is designed to lift the entire vehicle off the floor or ground, with the vehicle balanced on a platform. This jack has stabilizing arms connected to a base to provide side-to-side stability, i.e. to prevent tipping over sideways, and lifting arms for elevating the platform in response to manual actuation of a hydraulic cylinder that operates a substantially vertically orientated ram. A user actuates the jack by stepping on a foot pedal.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This invention has one or more features as discussed subsequently herein. After reading the following section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION,” one will understand how the features of this invention provide its benefits. The benefits of this invention include, but are not limited to: (a) a light weight, compact and sturdy jack, (b) lower costs to manufacture due to reduction in parts and use of conventional components, and (c) ease of assembly.

Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims that follow, some, but not necessarily all, of its features are:

One, the jack of this invention in one embodiment is designed to lift a maximum load weight of about 2500 pounds and weighs less than about 85 pounds. In an elevate position, the entire load is above ground level.

Two, the jack includes a base that may be cast of metal, for example, aluminum. The base may have a pair of spaced apart, unitary, rigid, substantially planar side members each with a lower edge, at least a portion of each lower edge being adapted to rest on ground during use of the jack.

Three, each side member may have a forward segment and a rear segment. The side members may each be bent to form the forward and rear segments. The rear segments may lie inward from the forward segments. The forward segments may be separated by a first predetermined distance and may be substantially parallel and in substantial registration. Each forward segment may have a front end, a rear end, and a predetermined length. The predetermined length of each forward segment may be substantially equal and the front ends may be in substantial alignment and the rear ends may be in substantial alignment. The rear segments may be substantially parallel, separated by a second predetermined distance that is less than the first predetermined distance. The rear segments may be in substantial registration. A stiffening element, for example, an axle may extend between the forward ends of the forward segments, and the axle may carry a pair of wheels that lie outboard of the side members. The rear segments may also include one or more wheels.

Four, each side member may include an intermediate segment between its forward and rear segments. The intermediate segments may slant inward towards each other to connect the forward segment and rear segment of each side member. The side members may be mirror images of each other.

Five, the base may have a length of from about 30 to about 40 inches and the forward segments may comprise at least about 50 percent of the length of the base and the rear segments comprise no more than about 50 percent of the length of the base. The intermediate segments may comprise no more than about 25 percent of the length of the base.

Six, the jack includes a substantially horizontally oriented platform that may be cast metal, for example, aluminum. The platform may have a forward end, a rear end, opposed sides, and an upper surface adapted to support a load in an elevated position with the entire load above ground level. The platform may have a width that is substantially equal to the predetermined distance between the forward segments and a length that is substantially equal to the predetermined length of the forward segments. The platform may include a marginal frame with a hollow interior. This platform may have a substantially rectangular-shaped configuration with dimensions that are about equal to or slightly less than the dimensions of a rectangular space defined by the forward segments. For example, this substantially rectangular space situated between the forward segments may have a length from about 10 to about 25 inches and a width from about 10 to about 25 inches.

Seven, a pair of support arms may each be connected between one side member and the platform. Each support arm may have one end pivotably connected to the forward end of the platform and another end pivotably connected to an intermediary portion of a forward segment of the side member to which the support arm is connected.

Eight, a lift arm elevates the platform. The lift arm includes a forward end pivotably connected to the platform. This forward end may be connected to the rear end of the platform at a central portion thereof. The lift arm includes also a rear end pivotably mounted between the rear segments of the side members. The lift arm may be positioned lengthwise along a longitudinal axis of the jack.

Nine, a driver assembly actuates the lift arm. This driver assembly may be mounted to the base between the rear segments of the side members. The driver assembly may include a hydraulic cylinder having ram element coupled to the lift arm. The ram element in response to manual actuation moves substantially horizontal, causing the platform to move between a lowered position and a plurality of different elevated positions.

Ten, the support arms and lift arm move in unison and substantially parallel to each other so said platform maintains a substantially horizontal orientation as it moves between lowered and elevated positions.

Eleven, the jack may include a detachable, elongated safety stop member that is manually detached and, when in an elevated position, is located so that at least a portion thereof engages a top edge of the base if the platform abruptly returns to the lowered position. In other words, the drive assembly fails, and the platform rapidly falls towards the ground, the safety stop member breaks this fall.

These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this list intended to be exhaustive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION

As shown inFIGS. 1–4and6, one embodiment of this invention, a jack10, includes a base12, a horizontally oriented platform18when the jack is resting on ground that overlies a front portion of the base, a pair of support arms114,116connecting to the platform and base, and a lift arm14connected between the platform and a drive assembly16mounted at or near a rear portion of the base. In accordance with one feature of this invention, the jack is light-weight, weighing less than about 85 pounds, and is designed to lift a light weight load such as a personal vehicle completely off the ground. Typically, the load does not exceed about 2500 pounds. Moreover, to reduce costs, standard components are used such as the drive assembly16, commonly used in floor jacks that lift, for example, one end of an automobile but are not suited to lift a personal vehicle completely off the ground. To reduce weight, the base12, platform18, and lift arm14are cast from aluminum. Using such cast metal components not only reduces weight, but also eliminates many parts commonly found in conventional personal vehicle jacks.

As illustrated best inFIG. 6, the base12includes two separate components, a left side80and a right side90, that are substantially mirror images of each other. Each side80,90has a forward substantially planar segment82,92, a substantially planar rear segment84,94that lies inward of the forward segment, and a substantially planar intermediate segment86,96that connects the forward and rear segments. There are substantially triangular shaped outer braces88,98(FIG. 3) integral with exteriors of the sides80,90, respectively, the brace88extending along the exterior of the intermediate segment86and its adjacent rear segment84and the brace98extending along the exteriors of the intermediate segment96and its adjacent rear segment94. As best illustrated inFIG. 3 and 11, there is a substantially wedge shaped inner brace87,97integral with the interiors of each side80,90, respectively. The inner braces87,97each comprise a block having a triangular portion87a,97a, a rectangular portion87b,97bintegral with triangular portion, and a flange87c,97c. As best depicted inFIG. 11, each flange87c,97calong with an adjacent portion of a side80,90, as the case may be, form a yoke Y1. There are holes182ain each of these flanges87c,97cthat are aligned with each other and with adjacent holes182in the sides80,90. The rectangular portions87b,97bare integral with the forward segments82,92(FIG. 3) and the triangular portions87a,97a(FIG. 3) are integral with the intermediate segments86,96, respectively. The flanges87c,97cmay be located at about the midpoint of the left80and right90sides, respectively.

As illustrated best inFIGS. 3 and 6, the forward segments82,92are parallel, of equal lengths, in registration, and equidistance from the longitudinal axis X (FIG. 3) of the jack10. Each forward segment82,92forms a substantially vertical wall when the jack10is resting on ground, with a hole82a,92a(FIG. 6) nearby the fronts82b,92b(FIG. 6), respectively, a hole180(only one shown) nearby the intermediate segment86,96, respectively. As shown inFIG. 3, the forward segments82and92lie outward O of the platform18where the distance between the forward segments is slightly greater than the width w1(FIG. 3) of the platform. The distance d1between the forward segments82,92is from about 10 to about 25 inches and the length l1of each forward segments82,92is from about 10 to about 25 inches. These dimensions define a rectangular area over which the platform18lies and the platform may be substantially rectangular and have dimensions about equal to or slightly less (no more than about 5 percent) than this area.

As illustrated best inFIGS. 3 and 6, the rear segments84and94, which are parallel and of equal lengths and in registration. Each form a substantially vertical wall when the jack10is resting on ground, with a hole84a,94anearby the fronts84b,94b(FIG. 6) and tops84c,94c(FIG. 6) of each segment and another hole84d,94dnearby the middle bottom84e,94eof each segment. The rear segments84and94each lie laterally between the forward segments82,92and straddle the longitudinal axis X of the jack10. Each rear segment may be equidistance from this axis, typically from about 5 to about 10 inches from the longitudinal axis X. The intermediate segments86and96may slant inward towards each other to connect the forward segments82,92and rear segments84,94, respectively. These intermediate segments86and96form substantially vertical walls and they have equal lengths from about 8 to about 12 inches. The forward segments82and92, intermediate segments86and96, and rear segments84and94may slope upward from the forward to rear segments to increase gradually in height. The height of these segments typically ranges from about 3 to about 7 inches.

As shown best inFIGS. 1 and 6, the platform18, which may be cast from aluminum, comprises (a) a substantially rectangular, horizontally oriented, rectangular frame48having a pair of yokes50,52each near a front corner of the platform and extending from an underside48e(FIG. 11) of the forward end48aof the platform, (b) a central, rectangular shaped opening54, (c) pair of opposed sides48c,48d, and (d) a yoke Y2(FIG. 11) including a pair of opposed, parallel walls60,62extending along the underside48eof the platform inward from the rear end48bof the platform. An open end50a,52a(FIG. 1) of each yoke50,52faces downward, and a pair of arms50b,50cand52b,52c(FIG. 6) of each yoke has a hole50d,50eand52d,52e, respectively. Each of the sides48cand48dhas a horizontally orientated hole56a,58anear the rear end48bof the platform18. Each wall60and62extends from the rear end48bof the platform18to the rectangular opening54of the platform, and each has a hole60a,62athat is aligned with the holes56a,58aof the outer, opposed sides48cand48d. These walls60and62(FIGS. 2 and 11) are equidistance from the longitudinal axis X and they are separated by a distance that is substantially equal the width w2(FIG. 12) of the forward end of the lift arm14. This width w2ranges from about 3 to about 6 inches. U-shaped tie elements64may be attached to the forward end48aand rear end48bof the platform18. Elastic bands (not shown) are wrapped or tie to these tie elements64(FIG. 1) and the vehicle being balanced on the platform18to hold the vehicle securely to the platform.

A pair of laterally adjustable grips pads64(FIGS. 1 and 6) may be connected to the top side18aof the platform18. As illustrated inFIG. 9, each grip pad64comprises a metal plate66with a coating68preferably made from a non-slippery substance such as rubber applied to the top side66aof the metal plate, and a pair of spaced-apart metal blocks70,72located on the bottom side66bof each of the metal plates. A threaded cylinder70a,72aextends outward from each of the metal blocks70,72, respectively. The grip pads64may be coupled to the platform18by inserting the threaded cylinders70a,72athrough slots74a,74b,74c,74dof the platform, respectively, and attaching a nut (not shown) to each of the threaded cylinders. The location of each of the grip pads64on the platform18may be varied by sliding the threaded cylinders70a,72aalong the slots74a,74b,74c,74duntil a desired position is achieved. This provides more or less exposure of the rectangular opening54as may be need to accommodate the undercarriage of a vehicle being supported by the platform18or to better balance the vehicle on the platform.

Wheels100,102,104and106may be attached to the base12. A stiffening rod108, also functioning as an axle, may be attached to the left side80and right side90of the base12by passing a left end108aand right end108bof the rod through holes82a,92a, respectively. A secondary stiffening rod107may also extended between the left side80and right side90nearby the junctions between the forward segments82and92and the intermediate segments86and96of these sides. The front wheels100,102may be attached to the rod108outboard of the left side80and right side90. Referring toFIG. 3, the front wheels100,102also each lie outward O of the platform18. The rear wheels104,106are caster type wheels and may be detachably connected to the rear segments84,94of the base12by wheel mounts110,112(FIG. 6). These wheel mounts110,112are screwed or otherwise attached to the outer sides80a,90aof the rear segments84,94of the base, respectively. In another embodiment, the wheel mounts may be integral (not detachable) with the rear segments84,94of the base12. Referring toFIG. 3, each of the wheel mounts110,112lie inside of the forward segments82,92of the base12but are outboard of the rear segments84,94.

As shown best inFIGS. 2,6and10, a pair of support arms114and116each have opposed ends pivotably connected to the base12and platform18. The support arms114, and116each comprise an elongated bar having horizontally, orientated holes114a,114b(FIG. 10) and 116a,116bat opposed ends114c,114dand116c,116d, respectively. A cylindrical stop member118,120may be located in a channel114e,116eof each support arm114,116, nearby ends114dand116d, respectively. Pivot pins P1(FIG. 5) extend through holes114a,116ain the support arms114,116and the holes50d,50eand52d,52ein the yokes50,52along the forward end48bof the platform18. In a similar manner, pivot pins P2(FIG. 5) extend through holes114band116band the holes180in the sides80,90and the holes182ain the flanges87c,97c. Each support arm114,116is thus pivotably connected at opposed ends to the platform18and intermediary portions of the forward segments82,92of the base12.

Referring toFIGS. 6,11and12, the lift arm14is a rigid, unitary member that may be cast from aluminum. It is connected to pivot at its opposed forward end14aand rear end14brespectively to the platform18and the drive assembly16. The lift arm14includes a left triangular wall124and a right triangular wall122that are substantially parallel. It also includes a front connector126at the forward end14a, a middle connector128, and rear connecter130at the rear end14b; all extending between the walls122and124substantially at a right angle. These triangular walls122,124each have a horizontally orientated hole125,127near the front ends122a,124aaligned with each other, a horizontally orientated hole146,148, near the rear of these walls aligned with each other, and a horizontally orientated hole200,202between the middle connector128and the rear end14bof the lift arm.

The rear connector130provides a housing for the drive assembly16. As best shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, the rear connector130includes a top plate132(FIGS. 1 and 2), a rear wall134and a parallel front wall134a, each having concave edges E1and E2respectively, and a left sidewall136and a right sidewall138. The top plate132is U-shaped and is flush with the top edges of the triangular walls122and124. The top plate132is open-ended facing forward F. The rear wall134is U-shaped, having an open end facing towards the bottom sides122d,124dof the triangular walls122and124. The sidewalls136and138are spaced from adjacent portions of the rear segments84and94to provide a space for links150and152of the drive assembly16. There is in each sidewall136,138a horizontally, orientated hole140(only one shown inFIG. 12) passing therethrough. The holes140in each of these sidewalls136and138are aligned. There are holes141(only one shown inFIG. 12) in the triangular walls122and124that are aligned with the holes140. A cylindrical boss144a(only one shown inFIG. 12) projects outward from each of the triangular walls122and124near the rear end14band there are holes144in each of these bosses that are aligned. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the bosses144aact as spacers to maintain the rear segments84,94and the triangular walls122,124a fixed distance way from each other.

As shown inFIG. 3, to connect the forward end14aof the lift arm14to a central portion of the rear of the platform18, the holes125and127at the forward end of the lift arm14are aligned with the holes60a,62ain the walls60,62of the yoke Y2(FIG. 11) and a pivot pin P3is then inserted into these aligned holes. In an alternate embodiment, the forward end14aof the lift arm14may be pivotably connected to the platform18using a rod that passes through holes125and127of the lift arm, holes60aand62a, as well as holes56aand58a, of the platform. The rear end14bof the lift arm14is pivotably connected to the base12by a dowel172that extends through the aligned holes144in the bosses144a. The opposed ends172aand172brespectively of the dowel172are received in the aligned holes84aand94ain the rear segments84and94. When the drive assembly16actuates the lift arm14, the lift arm pivots about the dowel172.

As depicted inFIGS. 5A,7and8, the drive assembly16is of a conventional design and includes a ram19disposed within a cylinder20, a fluid chamber22, and a manually operated pump24. The longitudinal axis of the cylinder20is substantially horizontally orientated. The pump24is partially disposed within the fluid chamber22, and includes a detachable handle26, a pump core28, pump case30, a spring32, a piston cover34and a discharge valve rod36for a valve (not shown). The handle26is attached to the pump case30by a handle base25. The cylinder20is encased in a sleeve38and it extends from the front side22aof the fluid chamber22. This cylinder20has, for example, a circular cross-section. The fluid chamber22has an internal cavity (not shown) holding hydraulic fluid and a pair of cylindrical caps40,42, closing the cavity, each cap having a threaded portion40a,42a, respectively, that is used to attach the caps to a main body44of the fluid chamber.

The main body44may be box-like in shape, having a left wall44aand a right wall44bseparated by a distance that is about equal to the distance between the two rear segments84and94of the base12. By inserting the caps40and42into the holes84dand94d, respectively, the drive assembly16is connected between the rear segments84and94abutting, respectively, the left wall44aand right wall44b(FIG. 8) of the drive assembly16. A removable fluid plug46seals an access port46athat enables fluid to be put into the fluid chamber22. The ram19is mounted to slide forward and rearward within the cylinder20and the cross-section of the ram may be identical in shape as the interior I of the cylinder. While one embodiment of a drive assembly16is described, other types of drive assemblies may be used such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,629,583, 3,807,694, and 4,018,421. The sleeve38abuts the upper edges E1and E2of the rear and front walls134and134a, respectively

The lift arm14is connected to the drive assembly16by means of a U-shaped member157including a block154having a pair of fingers154a,154b, each pivotably connected to one of a pair of links150and152that extend towards the main body44of the fluid chamber22. The block154is connected to a front end19a(FIG. 7) of the ram19. Each link150,152comprises an elongated, rigid bar each having opposed holes153and156, and158and160, respectively. The fingers154aand154b, fit into the holes153and158, respectively, with the fingers serving as pivot pins. The other ends of the links150and152are pivotably attached to the rear connecter130. A pivot pin P4is aligned with the aligned holes140and141respectively in the left sidewall136of the rear connector130and right triangular wall122and these aligned holes are aligned with the hole156in the link150. This pivot pin P4extends through these aligned holes140,141, and156. A pivot pin P5is aligned with the aligned holes140and141respectively in the right sidewall138of the rear connector130and left triangular wall124and these aligned holes are aligned with the hole160in the link152. This pivot pin P5extends through these aligned holes140,141, and160.

Referring toFIG. 5, with the platform18in its lowered position shown in dotted lines, the drive assembly16is manually actuated to move the platform to one of a plurality of different elevated positions shown in solid lines. The ram19is now in a fully retracted condition. To achieve this the user moves the handle26first in a downward stroke in a clockwise (CW) direction whereby fluid is moved by the pump24from the fluid chamber22into the cylinder20. Moving the handle26in an upward stroke in a counter-clockwise (CW) direction does nothing. When fluid enters the cylinder20, the ram19moves outward along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, pushing the block154outward towards the main body44of the fluid chamber22, causing the links150and152to pull on the lift arm14. This causes the lift arm14to pivot about the dowel172, rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 5to move the platform18from the lowered position to the elevated position. As the lift arm14rotates, the support arms114and116rotate in unison therewith and parallel thereto maintaining the platform18substantially horizontal as it is elevated.

Repeatedly reciprocating the handle26in the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction will continue to elevate the platform18. Stop members (not shown) are located on the base12to limit rotation of the handle26. To lower the platform18to return it to its lowered position shown in dotted lines inFIG. 5, the handle26is twisted to actuate the discharge valve rod36, allowing fluid to move slowly from the cylinder20into the fluid chamber22, with the platform lowering as the fluid returns to the fluid chamber. The handle26has a sufficient length to allow a user that is standing upright to actuate the handle without having to significantly adjust his or her posture.

When the platform18is elevated, it is desirable to prevent its returning to the lowered position in the event a failure occurs in the drive assembly16, for example, hydraulic fluid rapidly escaping from the cylinder20. One way is to provide a safety stop member such as, for example, a detachable, elongated shaft206that is mounted to the base12for example. With the platform18elevated, the shaft206is detached and inserted in the aligned holes200and202. If the platform18suddenly moves downward because of the failure in the drive assembly16, the outer ends206aand206bof the shaft206are located to engage a top edge of the base12to prevent the elevated platform from abruptly returning to the lowered position shown in solid lines inFIG. 5.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention: