Abstract:
Methods and systems involving a jack having removable and interchangeable saddles are disclosed for lifting vehicles and other items. The jack includes a saddle base having a retention member whereby the saddles can be interchanged for different vehicles or items without the use of special tools. For example, each saddle includes an engagement member having an indent therein for engagement with the retention member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/904,738, filed Nov. 15, 2013, entitled Removable Floor Jack Saddle, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present application relates to floor jack saddles. More particularly, the present application relates to interchangeable floor jack saddles that removably couple to a floor jack. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A floor jack is used to lift a vehicle from the ground. A user can position the floor jack underneath a lift point and raise the vehicle at that point. Floor jacks can be powered by manual or automated means, and have become essential to the automotive repair industry. 
         [0004]    Existing floor jacks include a saddle positioned on top of a base to apply pressure to the lift point and raise the vehicle. These saddles are universal such that one saddle is used on a variety of automobiles. This method is not specific to certain vehicle lift points and potential undercarriage damage could result. An alternative to the universal saddle is an adaptor that is loosely placed on top of the universal saddle. Although this solves the application-specific needs, it may fall off easily during transport. Additionally, the effective height of this solution may not be appropriate for some vehicles with a lower ground clearance. 
         [0005]    Existing saddles are permanently or semi-permanently installed with fasteners that couple the saddle to the base that are removable using tools. This process involves multiple steps and may involve the use of special tools to change the saddles for a different make of automobile. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present application relates to floor jacks with interchangeable saddles that can be removably coupled to a saddle base of the floor jack. For example, the saddles can be removably coupled to the jack through detent mechanisms including, e.g., pins or spring-biased balls. Changing the saddles can be effected by either removing the spring-biased member, or by turning a knob to unlock the floor jack saddle detention member maintaining the saddle in place. Accordingly, extensive steps and specialized tools are not required to change the saddle, and lifting of a vehicle can be achieved in an easier manner. The application also provides vehicle-specific adaptor configurations that mate directly to unique lift points on certain automobiles, minimizing potential damage. Each adaptor is specific to a particular vehicle or make, or semi-universal in design to accommodate a wide range of automotive applications. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, a mechanism for use in interchanging saddles of a jack is disclosed. The mechanism may include a detent retention mechanism in a saddle base of the jack. A saddle is adapted to engage the detent retention mechanism and removably couple the saddle to the saddle base. The saddle may include a lift portion including a lift point interface adapted to engage a lift point of a vehicle, and an engagement member extending from the lift portion and adapted to engage the detent retention mechanism and removably couple the saddle to the saddle base. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a jack is disclosed. The jack may include a frame, a jacking mechanism coupled to the frame, wherein the jacking mechanism includes a handle and a lifting arm movable relative to the frame in response to movement of the handle. A saddle base may be coupled to the lifting arm, and a saddle may be adapted to removably couple to the saddle base. The saddle may include a lift portion including a lift point interface adapted to engage a lift point of a vehicle, and an engagement member extending from the lift portion and including an indent adapted to engage a retention member in the saddle base and removably couple the saddle to the saddle base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a jack according to embodiments of the present application. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a saddle and saddle base detached from one another in accordance with embodiments of the present application. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of one embodiment of a saddle and a retention member according to the present application. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is another embodiment of a saddle and retention member according to the present application. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is yet another embodiment of a saddle and retention member according to the present application. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 6A-11B  disclose embodiments of the saddle according to the present application. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    While this application is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are illustrated in the drawings, and herein described in detail, certain embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the application and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the application to the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0017]    The present application discloses a floor jack with interchangeable saddles. The saddles can be removably coupled to the jack through, for example, a detent mechanism to allow for easy removal or insertion of saddles for different makes or models of vehicles. Accordingly, different saddles can be used to lift the vehicle and can be interchanged without the requirement of a special tool or a lengthy removal process. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a jack  100  including a frame  105  and a jacking mechanism including a handle  110  operably coupled to a lifting arm that is movable relative to the frame  105  in response to motion of the handle  110 . A saddle base  115  is coupled to the lifting arm and moves with the lifting arm in response to motion of the handle  110  to cause the saddle base  115  to raise a vehicle. The saddle base  115  may be installed and/or replace a current saddle base of the jack, for example using tools. 
         [0019]    The saddle base  115  may include an opening  120  and side opening  122  angularly displaced, for example, by about  90  degrees, with respect to the opening  120 . A saddle  125  can be inserted into the opening  120 , and a retention member  130  can be inserted into or coupled to the side opening  122  to removably couple the saddle  125  to the saddle base  115 . Wheels  135  can also be included to increase the mobility of the floor jack  100 . 
         [0020]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the saddle  125  can include an engagement member  140  having an indent  145  defined therein. The indent  145  can be shaped to receive a correspondingly-shaped retention member  130  to temporarily retain the saddle  125  within the saddle base  115 . The engagement member  140  may be a shaft leading to or extending from a lift portion  150  having a lift point interface  155  corresponding to a lift point of the vehicle being lifted by the jack  100 . For example, the lift point interface  155  can be a standard type saddle to interface with various makes or models of automobiles, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Other saddles can include more traditional and universal lift point interfaces to interface with different makes or models of vehicles, and/or specific lift point interfaces to interface with certain makes of vehicles, for example, as described below with reference to  FIGS. 6A-11B . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of the present application including a retention member  130   a  applying a spring-biased ball detent force to the indent  145  on the engagement member  140  of the saddle  125 . As illustrated, the retention member  130   a  includes a spring  160  disposed within the saddle base  115 , for example, in the side opening  122 , wherein the side opening  122  is closed on its outer end by a cap  162 . The cap  162  may be welded to the base  115  and/or may be an integral part of the base  115 . The side opening  122  may also be a blind hole extending from an interior of the saddle base  115  into the side of the saddle base  115 . 
         [0022]    The spring  160  spring biases a ball  165  toward an interior of the saddle base  115  and against or into detainable engagement with the indent  145  of the saddle  125 . The saddle  125  can therefore be easily inserted into the opening  120  of the saddle base  115 , and removably retained within the saddle base  115  by the retention member  130   a . Likewise, the saddle  125  can be easily removed from the saddle base  115  by simply lifting the saddle  125  against the force of the spring  160  and ball  165 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a retention member  130   b  according to the present application. As illustrated, the retention member  130   b  includes a turn knob  170  coupled to a pin  175  having a ball point  180 . The pin  175  may be inserted into and/or extend into the saddle base  115 , for example, in the side opening  122 , with the ball point  180  adapted to engage the indent  145  of the saddle  125  in the interior of the saddle base  115 . The turn knob  170  may be disposed on an exterior of the saddle base  115  to allow a user to manipulate the turn knob  170 . 
         [0024]    The turn knob  170  is configured to move the ball point  180  into and out of engagement with the indent  145 . For example, rotation of the turn knob  170  in a first direction causes the ball point  180  to move toward the interior of the saddle base  115  and engage the indent  145  of the saddle  125 , and rotation of the turn knob  170  in a second direction (opposite the first direction) causes the ball point  180  to move away from the interior of the saddle base  115  and disengage from the indent  145  of the saddle  125 . This allows the saddle  125  to be selectively coupled to and removed from the saddle base  115  in a cam-lock fashion. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a retention member  130   c  in accordance with the present application. As illustrated, the retention member  130   c  includes a head  185  coupled to a pin  190  having a ball point  195  that is biased against the indent  145  by a coil spring  200  located within a housing  205 . A flange  210  can be disposed on the pin  190  to prevent the pin  190  from moving or shifting too far into the side opening  122 . 
         [0026]    As illustrated, the pin  190  extends into the side opening  122  and the ball point  195  is adapted to engage the indent  145 . The head  185  is couple to the pin  190  opposite the ball point  195  and disposed on an exterior of the saddle base  115  to allow a user to manipulate the head  185 . The housing  205  is disposed around the pin  190  between the head  185  and the ball point  195  and may be coupled to an exterior of the saddle base  115 . The flange  210  is coupled to the pin  190  between the head  185  and the ball point  195 , and disposed in the housing  205 . The spring  200  is disposed in the housing and biases the flange  210  against the exterior of the saddle base  115 . For example, the coil spring  200  can bias the flange  210 , and by extension, the pin  190  toward an interior of the saddle base  115  and into engagement with the indent  145 . By pulling on the head  185  to move the head in a direction away from the saddle base  115  causes the retention member  130   c  to disengage from the indent  145 , and allows the user to replace the saddle  125  with a different saddle configured for a different make of vehicle. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 6A-11B  illustrate embodiments of exemplar saddles according to the present application. These illustrations demonstrate how diverse floor jack saddles have become, and the need for a floor jack saddle that is interchangeable without the requirement for special tools or complicated processes. For example,  FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate an examplar saddle  600  having a lift point interface for use with vehicles of an Audi make.  FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate an examplar saddle  700  having a lift point interface for use with vehicles of BMW, Mini and Nissan makes.  FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate an exemplar saddle  800  having a lift point interface for use with vehicles of a Mercedes make.  FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate an examplar saddle  900  having a pinch weld type lift point interface that can be used with various vehicles.  FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate an exemplar saddle  1000  having a standard type lift point interface that can also be used with various vehicles. Further,  FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate an exemplar saddle  1100  having a lift point interface for use with vehicles of Corvette or General Motors makes. It will be appreciated that the exemplar saddles depicted and described herein are for exemplary purposes only, and any type of saddle adapted to lift vehicles or other items can be used without departing from the scope and sprit of the present application. 
         [0028]    Accordingly, the saddles illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-11B  can include an indent  145  capable of receiving a retention member  130  (including retention members  130   a ,  130   b , or  130   c ) to removably couple the saddles to the saddle base  115  of the jack  100 . This allows the user to easily change the saddle  125  to a different saddle to suit the make of vehicle or item being raised or lifted, and can match the lift point interface of the saddle with the corresponding interface on the vehicle or item. 
         [0029]    The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of Applicant&#39;s contribution. For example, while the examples described above relate to a floor jack, the retention members and saddles described herein may be integrated into any type of jack used to lift a vehicle. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the claims of the present application when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.