Vehicle lifting devices

A vehicle lifting device comprises a pair of J-shaped bearers spaced apart by a detachable tie member. The bearers are provided with mounting plates whereby the front and rear wheel hubs on one side of a vehicle may be secured to the bearers, with the arcuate portion of the bearers resting on the ground beneath the vehicle and the straight portion of the bearers near vertical. The bearers are configured to permit the vehicle to be rotated sideways through more than 90 degrees, swinging the vehicle's center of gravity past its apex and above or nearly above the straight portion of the bearers with the straight section horizontal. In this position, the vehicle is stable, with its underside conveniently situated for inspection, maintenance, or display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to apparatus for tilting a vehicle, such as an 
automobile, on its side, and supporting it there so as to provide ready 
access to the underside of the vehicle. More particularly, this invention 
relates to such vehicle tilting apparatus that is sufficiently portable so 
as to be stored in the trunk of a car. 
A variety of portable means facilitating access to the underside of 
vehicles for repairs and maintenance are known. For instance, crawlers, 
jacks, and portable ramps are commonly used to allow a mechanic to work 
beneath an automobile. Such means, while simple, inexpensive, and 
relatively portable, place the user in a crowded, inconvenient, and 
frequently dangerous position. The undercarriage of modern automobiles is 
close to the ground, and consequently, even with crawlers, jacks, and 
ramps, access is inconvenient and somewhat difficult, the mechanic being 
forced to hunch his way beneath the car on his back. Moreover, crawlers 
and jacks require the worker to assume a supine position below and close 
to the work, with the consequence that dirt, fluids, welding sparks, and 
the like, falling from the work will fall onto the worker or into the 
worker's eyes. Jacks and portable ramps offer an additional hazard, 
particularly for the hobbyist, who might improperly use them to secure 
working clearance under a low-slung automobile. Further, if jacks or ramps 
are used to secure clearance, the car may be raised so high as to prevent 
simultaneous access to the car from above. Thus, engine work might require 
repeatedly lifting and lowering the car to gain access to the engine 
alternately from above and below. 
As an alternative approach, it is also known that a vehicle may be tilted 
onto its side by a portable arcuate cradle attached to the vehicle. For 
instance, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,252, such a cradle includes 
means to mount the cradle to the wheel mounting hubs of the front and rear 
wheels on one side of the vehicle and also includes orthogonal adjustable 
supports for contacting the vehicle in order to support and stabilize it 
on the cradle. The cradle is also provided with one or more saftey legs to 
secure the cradle and the attached vehicle in its tilted position. The 
safe use of such a cradle requires the adjustment of a number of 
stabilizing supports and also requires the installation, after the vehicle 
is tilted, of at least one saftey leg under the tilted vehicle. Improper 
adjustment of the supports may result in a dangerous or damaging shifting 
of the vehicle on the cradle during use, while improper installation of 
the saftey legs clearly subjects the user to grave danger. It might also 
be noted that the installation of the saftey legs under a tilted vehicle 
is in itself a dangerous operation. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, 
inexpensive, easy to use, and portable apparatus that permits ready access 
to the underside of a vehicle without requiring the user to assume a 
supine position under the vehicle. 
It is an additional object of the invention to provide relatively safe and 
convenient access to the underside of a vehicle. 
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an 
apparatus that permits simultaneous access to both the underside and the 
top of the vehicle. 
Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, 
inexpensive apparatus that permits the display of the undercarriage of a 
vehicle for exhibition purposes. 
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a simple to use, 
portable, and safe apparatus for tilting a vehicle on its side. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
These and other objects are met in the present invention of a vehicle 
lifting device comprising a pair of J-shaped bearers adapted to be secured 
to the front and a rear wheels on one side of the vehicle and a detachable 
tie member adapted to attach the bearers together. 
To use the invention, the vehicle is first jacked-up to permit the removal 
of a front and rear wheel on the same side. The J-shaped bearers are 
positioned opposite the wheels, with the arcuate portions of the bearers 
resting on the ground beneath the vehicle and the straight sections 
substantially vertical. The bearers are attached to the wheels and 
connected together by the detachable tie member. The vehicle is now tilted 
sideways, permitting access to the underside of the vehicle. 
Inmportantly, the bearers are configured to permit the vehicle to be 
rotated through more than 90 degrees. This swings the center of gravity of 
the vehicle past its apex and above or nearly above the straight sections 
of the bearers. Thus, with the vehicle fully tilted so that the straight 
sections of the bearers rest on the ground, the vehicle will automatically 
be in a stable position. In this position, the undercarraige is available 
for display, inspection, or maintenance from the side, as is the top of 
the vehicle. 
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part 
appear hereinafter. The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus 
possesing the construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of 
parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclsure, and the 
scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 1, there may be seen a preferred embodiment of the 
present invention in the form of an automobile lifting device 10, shown 
secured to an automobile 12. Lifting device 10 comprises a pair of bearers 
14 and a tie member 16. As will become apparent, the dimensions of the 
various parts of the device will vary depending on the vehicle, and in the 
description that follows dimensions are given for a preferred embodiment 
intended for use with a small or medium sized automobile. 
In greater detail, each bearer 14 comprises a J-shaped rocker arm 18 and a 
wheel mounting structure 20 (FIG. 4). Rocker arm 18 is provided with an 
arcuate section 22 and a straight section 24. Preferably, arcuate section 
22 is substantially a segment of a circle having a radius on the order of 
26 inches (66 cm). An important feature of the invention is that arcuate 
section 22 subtend an angle in excess of 90 degrees. In the preferred 
embodiment, arcuate section 22 covers and arc on the order of 95 degrees. 
Straight section 24 adjoins and is continuous with arcuate section 22, 
being tangent to the arcuate section at the joint. In the preferred 
embodiment, rocker arm 18 is fabricated from a single 68 inch (174 cm) 
length of 11/2 inch (3.8 cm) steel pipe, bent to shape. As a consequence, 
straight section 24 is on the order of 25 inches (65 cm) in length and 
arcuate section 22 covers about 43 inches (109 cm) of arc. 
Wheel mounting structure 20 comprises mounting plate 26 and posts 28. As 
may be seen by reference to FIG. 6, mounting plate 26 is a substantially 
flat centrally apertured circular plate provided with a plurality of 
radial slots 30 and a pair of countersunk mounting apertures 32. Plate 26 
and radial slots 30 are configured and dimensioned to accept the wheel 
bolts of the particular vehicle lifting device 10 is intended to be used 
with. While the mounting plate 26 illustrated is configured for a 
four-bolted wheel, it will be understood that similar mounting plates, 
configured for other wheel mounting arrangements (e.g., five- or 
six-bolted wheels) might be provided. Countersunk apertures 32 are 
provided in mounting plate 26 to permit connection to posts 28, as will be 
described. In the preferred embodiment, wheel mounting plate 26 is 
fabricated from 3/8 inch (1 cm) steel plate. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it may be seen that posts 28 are short posts 
attached to the concave side of arcuate section 22 so as to lie 
substantially in the plane of the circular arc defining the arcuate 
section. Posts 28 are affixed, as by welding, to arcuate section 22 near 
straight section 24, and are inclined toward the straight section, making 
an angle with the normal to the straight section that is substantially the 
same as the angle by which the arc of arcuate section 22 exceeds a right 
angle (i.e., for the preferred embodiment, 5 degrees). Posts 28 are of 
unequal lengths, the ends of the posts distal arcuate section 22 being 
finished off substantially coplanar and normal to the posts. In a 
preferred embodiment, posts 28 are fabricated from 1 inch (c. 2.5 cm) 
pipe, and the end of each post 28 is provided with a plug 34 (FIG. 5) 
having a central tapped bore 36. Posts 28 are spaced apart, 
center-to-center, by a distance less than the outside diameter of plate 26 
but greater than the diameter of the central aperture of the plate. 
Countersunk apertures 32 of plate 26 are spaced center-to-center the same 
distance. A pair of chamferred flat headed bolts 38, matching tapped bores 
36 and dimensioned to fit countersunk apertures 32, secure plate 26 to 
posts 28. Posts 28 are disposed along bearer 14 so as to position the 
normal to the center of plate 26 a distance from the tangent at the free 
end of arcuate section 22 (i.e., the end of the arcuate section distal 
from straight section 24) by a distance in excess of the height of the 
axle of the vehicle and at a sufficient distance from the rocker arm as to 
provide clearance between the side of the vehicle and the rocker arm when 
plate 26 is attached to the wheel hub of the vehicle. In the preferred 
embodiment, posts 28 are affixed to the rocker arm so as to position the 
normal through the center of wheel mounting plate 26 some 13 inches (33 
cm) from the tangent to the free end of arcuate section 22 with the plate 
spaced some 12 inches (30 cm) from the radius to the free end of the 
arcuate section. 
Affixed to the concave side of each rocker arm 18 and substantially in the 
plane of the curve defining arcuate section 22 are a pair of flat 
reinforcing plates 40 and 42 (FIG. 4). In the preferred embodiment, 
reinforcing plates 40 and 42 are 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) steel plates welded to 
the rocker arm. Plate 40 extends from the end of arcuate section 22 distal 
straight section 24 to the vicinity of the intersection of the plane of 
plate 26 and arcuate section 22. Reinforcing plate 42 is extends from (and 
is affixed to) the post 28 nearest straight section 24 and extends to the 
straight section. 
Distal arcuate section 22, each straight section 24 is provided with a 
circular bore 44 pentrating through the rocker arm and substantially 
normal to the plane of the curve defining the arcuate section. Circular 
bores 44 are dimensioned to accept tie member 16, which, in the preferred 
embodiment is fabricated from 1/2 inch (c. 1.2 cm) pipe. Aligned with and 
normal to each bore 44, a threaded bore 46 is provided in the inside 
(concave) side of the rocker arm. Each threaded bore 46 is provided with a 
matching lock screw 48 of a length sufficient to penetrate through the 
wall of the rocker arm and engage a tie member 16 situated in bore 44. 
Tie member 16 (FIG. 1) is dimensioned to exceed the wheel base of the 
vehicle lifting device 10 is intended to be used with. In the preferred 
embodiment, tie member 16 is a pair of pipes 50 joined by a pipe coupling 
52. 
It will be understood that lifting device 10 may be stored and transported 
disassembled, as a kit comprising a pair of bearers 14 and a tie member 
16. For storage in a smaller space, even tie member 16 may be disassembled 
into a pair of substantially equal length pipes 50 by uncoupling one pipe 
from the other at coupling 52, and by removing wheel mounting plates 26. 
In disassembled form, a preferred embodiment of lifting device 10 intended 
for use with automobiles stores in a volume smaller than about 5 feet by 2 
feet by 1/2 foot (155 cm by 61 cm by 15 cm) and weighs under 60 pounds (27 
kg). As such, it may be easily transported in the trunk of a conventional 
automobile. 
Lifting device 10 is assembled by connecting pipes 50 to one another by 
coupling 52 and attaching bearers 14 to opposite ends of the so-assembled 
tie member 16. To accomplish this later assembly, each bore 44 of a bearer 
50 is slipped over an end of tie member 16 with the concave sides of both 
bearers facing in the same direction, with arcuate sections 22 
substantially coaxial, and with the bearers spaced apart by approximately 
the wheel base of the vehicle. Lock screws 48 are now tightened, 
temporarily securing bearers 14 to tie member 16. As will now be 
described, it is most convenient to attach each bearer 50 to a wheel of 
the vehicle before assembling the lifting device, and then attach tie 
member 16 to the bearers. 
Lifting device 10 is intended for use on level ground. As a preparatory 
step to the use of the device, it may be necessary or desirable to remove 
the battery, as well as any loose material from the interior of the 
automobile. It is also necessary in certain model automobiles to seal or 
drain certain fluid systems. Then one side of automobile 12 is lifted, as 
with a body jack (not shown), to raise the wheels on that side clear of 
the ground in order that the wheels may be removed. The front and rear 
wheels are removed, and a bearer 14 is attached to each wheel hub. To 
accomplish this, a bearer is positioned next to a wheel hub with arcuate 
section 22 of the bearer concave towards the automobile and with straight 
section 24 above the arcuate section and substantially vertical. Wheel 
mounting plate 26 of the bearer is positioned in confronting relationship 
to the wheel hub, and the wheel hub is manuevered so as to bring the wheel 
mounting bolts into alignment with the set of radial slots 30 in the wheel 
mounting plate. It will be appreciated that this manuever may require both 
a rotation of the wheel hub and a raising of the vehicle (via the jack). 
The mounting plate is now secured to the wheel hub by the wheel mounting 
bolts, passing through slots 30, and the nuts that were used to secure the 
removed wheel. The remaining bearer 14 is similarly secured to the other 
wheel hub. With both wheel hubs secured to the bearers, tie member 16 is 
secured to the bearers, as already described. Then the automobile is 
lowered, on the jack, until both bearers rest on the ground, under the 
respective axles, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The jack is now 
removed. 
The side of the vehicle distal from lifting device 14 may now be raised, 
either manually or mechanically. As this occurs, lifting device 14 rolls 
away from the lifted side on the convex sides of arcuate sections 22. This 
tilting motion of the vehicle may be continued until bearers 14 finally 
roll onto straight sections 24. Inasmuch as arcuate section 22 subtends an 
arc greater than 90 degrees, the vehicle may thus be tilted through an 
angle greater than 90 degrees. The center of gravity of the vehicle may 
thus be made to pass through an apex and come to rest, below its apex, 
above or nearly above straight sections 24. In this position, the vehicle 
is in a stable position on its side, with the underside of the vehicle 
positioned in a nearly vertical plane (FIG. 3). Both the underside and the 
top of the vehicle are accessable for inspection or maintenance. 
To return the vehicle to its normal position, the top of the vehicle is 
lifted, again either by manual or mechanical means, from the upper side of 
the vehicle attached to lifting device 10. As bearers 14 roll onto arcuate 
sections 22, the vehicle rolls away from the attached side. When the 
wheels of the vehicle distal lifting device 14 rest on the ground, the 
lifting device may be removed by reversing the sequence of operations used 
to secure it to the vehicle (i.e., the vehicle is supported by a jack, tie 
member 16 is removed, wheel mounting plates 26 are detached from the wheel 
hubs, the wheels reattached, and the vehicle lowered to the ground). 
In removing lifting device 10, it has been disassembled, and is ready for 
storage or transport. 
It will be recognized that lifting device 10 has a number of advantages 
compared to prior art devices. Thus, as it is configured to tilt the 
vehicle through more than 90 degrees and rest the so tilted vehicle on a 
straight section of bearers 14, the device automatically assumes a stable 
position and requires no additional security provisions to maintain the 
vehicle in its tilted position. 
As components of the lifting device are attached to the automobile prior to 
the assembly of the device, the attachment of the device to the vehicle is 
relatively simple. Small, light weight, easy to manipulate items are 
attached to the individual wheels and then interconnected, in contrast to 
prior art devices wherein opposite ends of a large, heavy device are 
manuevered into position and attached. As the sole tie member of the 
device is situated distal from arcuate sections 22, and connected only 
after attachment of the bearers to the vehicle, the device may be easily 
used with body jack positioned to the side of the vehicle. This, too, is 
in contrast to prior art devices employing permanent tie members across or 
near arcuate structure, wherein accordingly installation or removal of the 
tilting device to a vehicle supported by a side-mounted body jack is made 
difficult or impossible. 
Since the apparatus may be disassembled for storage or transport, the 
present device may be carried in the vehicle as a part of the vehicle's 
emergency service kit. Further, a single device may be easily modified to 
be used with different vehicles by replacing wheel mounting plates 26 to 
accommodate different wheel mounting arrangements and by differently 
spacing bearers 14 on tie member 16 to accommodate different wheel bases. 
It will be understood that various changes may be made in the above 
described apparatus. Thus, while the preferred embodiment of the invention 
is fabricated primarily of pipe, it might also be formed of other 
material, as, e.g, small dimensioned I-beam. Then again, while the 
preferred embodiment is adaptable for different wheel arrangements, the 
device might be supplied with permanently affixed wheel mounting plates. 
Then, too, the adjustable attachment of tie member 16 to bearers 14 might 
be accomplished by other means (e.g., the tie member might be threaded 
into mating sockets in the bearers). 
Since these and other changes may be made in the above described apparatus 
without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is 
intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in 
the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted in an illustrative and not 
in a limiting sense.