Abstract:
A hydraulic-mechanical vehicle elevating system for providing a built-in jack assembly which elevates a vehicle so the vehicle may be maintained. The hydraulic-mechanical vehicle elevating system includes a plurality of hydraulic jacks and/or mechanical jacks secured to a frame of a vehicle, a hydraulic pump connected to a reservoir and a control panel which controls fluid flow to the hydraulic jacks, and a crank handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to vehicle jacking devices and more particularly pertains to a new hydraulic-mechanical vehicle elevating system for providing a built-in jack assembly which elevates a vehicle so the vehicle may be maintained. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of vehicle jacking devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,429 describes a system for controllably raising or lower a portion of a vehicle. Another type of vehicle jacking device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,206 having a air jack assembly that is mounted to the underside of a vehicle and selectively raise or lower a portion of the vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,957 has at least one hydraulic jack pivotally mounted to the vehicle and is for raising or lowering a portion of a vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,651 has a jack stand that is pivotally coupled to a vehicle and is pivoted to support the vehicle when the vehicle is driven in a direction that pivots the jack stand under the vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,688 has a pneumatic jack system that is coupled to a vehicle to selectively raise or lower a portion of the vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 348,966 shows a vehicle mounted hydraulic auto jack. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that has certain improved features providing a built-in jack assembly which elevates a vehicle so the vehicle may be maintained. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a plurality jacks secured to a frame of a vehicle to selective raise and lower the vehicle. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new hydraulic-mechanical vehicle elevating system that providing a built-in jack assembly which elevates a vehicle so the vehicle may be maintained. 
   Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new hydraulic-mechanical vehicle elevating system that a plurality of hydraulic jacks and/or mechanical jacks secured to a frame of a vehicle, a hydraulic pump connected to a reservoir and a control panel which controls fluid flow to the hydraulic jacks, and a crank handle. 
   To this end, the present invention generally comprises a plurality of hydraulic jacks and/or mechanical jacks secured to a frame of a vehicle, a hydraulic pump connected to a reservoir and a control panel which controls fluid flow to the hydraulic jacks, and a crank handle. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a new Hydraulic-Mechanical Vehicle elevating system according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an upper perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1  disclosing the hydraulic jack in the storage position. 
       FIG. 4  is a view from  FIG. 3  disclosing the hydraulic jack in the extended position. 
       FIG. 5  is an upper side perspective view of the control panel. 
       FIG. 6  is a cut away side view of the hydraulic pump and reservoir. 
       FIG. 7  is a cut away view of an alternative embodiment disclosing a mechanical jack. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  from  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  from  FIG. 7 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 9  thereof, a new hydraulic-mechanical vehicle elevating system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9 , the hydraulic-mechanical vehicle elevating system  10  generally comprises at least one hydraulic jack  20  having a bracket  22  secured to a frame  14  of a vehicle  12  by a plurality of fasteners  26  for elevating a vehicle  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4  of the drawings. A control panel  50  is connected to the hydraulic jack  20  by a high-pressure tube  56  as shown in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. The control panel  50  controls the flow of a hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic jack  20  thereby controlling the length of the hydraulic jack  20 . A hydraulic pump  30  is connected to a reservoir  40  at one end as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. The hydraulic pump  30  is connected to the control panel  50  opposite of the hydraulic jack  20  by another high-pressure tube  56  for producing hydraulic pressure to extend or contract the hydraulic jack  20 . The hydraulic jack  20  and the mechanical jack  60  both include a footing  24  for engaging the ground during operation. The control panel  50  includes a plurality of valves  52  controlled by manual manipulation of a user for controlling the hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic jack  20 . The control panel  50  also has a key switch  54  for activating the control panel  50 . The control panel  50  is also electrically coupled to a power source  34  within the vehicle  12  by a cable  32  and thereafter the cable  32  is electrically coupled to the hydraulic pump  30  for controlling the supply of electrical power to the hydraulic pump  30 . 
   In an alternative embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 7 through 9 , at least one mechanical jack  60  is secured to the frame  14  of the vehicle  12  for elevating the vehicle  12  providing a backup in the event that the hydraulic jack  20  is inoperable. Alternatively, the mechanical jack  60  would be secured to the frame  14  without the hydraulic jack  20  connected. A crank handle  70  is specially formed to engage the mechanical jack  60  for elevating the vehicle  12  as shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. The mechanical jack  60  comprises a housing  62  having a passage  64  extending through a longitudinal axis of the housing  62  and exposed at a bottom portion of the housing  62  as best shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. A threaded shaft  68  slidably projects through the passage  64 . At least one rabbet  66  projects into the housing  62  within the passage  64  parallel to the longitudinal axis of the passage  64  for receiving a spline  69  secured to the threaded shaft  68  for preventing rotation of the threaded shaft  68 . An internally threaded bevel gear  61  threadably engages the threaded shaft  68  and rotatably engages the bottom portion of the housing  62  as shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. A drive bevel gear  63  mechanically engages the internally threaded bevel gear  61  and rotatably engages the housing  62  along an orthogonal axis to the longitudinal axis as shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings for rotating the internally threaded bevel gear  61  for extending and contracting the threaded shaft  68  from within the passage  64 . The drive bevel gear  63  includes a rectangular cavity  65  opposite of the internally threaded bevel gear  61 . A security nub  67  is secured within the rectangular cavity  65  for selectively receiving a selected crank handle  70  as best shown in  FIG. 8  of the drawings. The purpose of the rectangular cavity  65  within drive bevel gear  63  is to provide a uniform structure within the housing  62  to prevent snagging upon debris and other objects during traveling of the vehicle  12 . The crank handle  70  includes a rotating grip  72  rotatably secured at one end. A rectangular end  74  is secured at an end opposite of the rotating grip  72  for engaging the rectangular cavity  65 . The rectangular end  74  includes a security groove  76  for receiving the security nub  67  of the rectangular cavity  65  as best shown in  FIG. 9  of the drawings. An aperture  18  projects into a fender  16  of the vehicle  12  allowing insertion of the crank handle  70  to engage the rectangular cavity  65  as shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.