Abstract:
A housing for the retention, stowage and trim of a vehicle jacking device is herein disclosed. The housing along with the vehicle jacking device comprise the jack assembly which may be disposed within the internal compartment of the vehicle or the outside of a vehicle. The housing conforms to the shape of the vehicle jacking device and includes a movable door for covering a portion of the housing and an adjuster screw for extending and retracting the telescopic post member of the jack.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a jack assembly and more particularly to a jack assembly having a housing for the retention, stowage and trim of a vehicle jacking device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The availability of a jack within a motor vehicle allows the operator to utilize the jack when the vehicle must be elevated for removing a wheel. The location of a jack within a vehicle is typically within the trunk or an internal compartment of a vehicle. The convenience of having a jacking device present within a motor vehicle eliminates the need to contact alternate transportation upon being stranded due to a flat tire, or any other sort of emergency which requires the use of the jacking device. Thus, it would be desirable to have a designated housing or apparatus for conveniently storing the jacking device within the vehicle, so that the jacking device is always available. 
     The housing for the jacking device provides the ability to stow the jack in a retractable form in addition to securing the jacking device. By having a designated area for the jacking device, the jacking device would be consistently available to the operator when needed. In addition, having a designated location for a vehicle jacking device ensures that the operator of the vehicle is more likely to keep the jack within the vehicle instead of taking it out of the vehicle to provide additional space. Another problem with having a non-secured jacking device within the vehicle is the potential noise and rattling the jacking device can make during operation of the vehicle. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a housing which can be mounted within the motor vehicle for securing the vehicle jacking device and reducing the amount of noise that occurs during operation of the vehicle. It is further desirable to provide a housing for the vehicle jacking device which prevents other objects stored in proximity to the housing from contacting the jacking device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In particular, the present invention relates to a jack assembly for a vehicle jacking device comprising a housing, a jack which can be placed within the housing, a movable door for covering a portion of the housing and an adjuster screw which is located on the jack and utilized for extending and retracting a telescopic post member of the jacking device. The adjustment of the telescopic post member of the jack while in the housing allows the jack to be firmly secured within the housing, therefore decreasing the potential for noise during operation of the motor vehicle. In addition, the housing includes mounting tabs, allowing the housing to be attached to the motor vehicle. 
     The housing of the jack assembly is comprised of a moldable material which conforms to the outline and shape of the jack disposed within the housing. Following the placement of the jack within the housing, a movable door is slidingly engaged over the open end of the housing. As a result, the housing provides a complete encasement of the vehicle jacking device. Located on the housing is a slot which provides the access to the adjustment screw of the jack device. Once a jack is disposed within the housing device and the movable door is slidingly engaged over the open end of the housing, the adjuster screw can be rotated in a first or second direction to either extend or retract the telescopic post member of the jacking device. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the jack assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the housing wherein the movable door has been engaged with the open end of the housing; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the housing along the section line  3 - 3  referenced in FIG. 2 with the jack shown in broken line; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the interlocking device used to attach the movable door to the housing; and 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the housing showing the adjuster screw positioned within the slot provided by the housing and showing the relative position of the movable door. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 which is an exploded perspective view of the components of the jack assembly  10 , the housing  12  of the jacking device  14  is shown to include a plurality of sides, preferably four, which conform the outline and shape of the jacking device  14 . In addition to the plurality of sides, the housing includes a first closed end  16  and a second open end  18 . The first end  16  of the housing  12  is smaller than the second end  18 . The second end  18  of the housing  12  is open and larger due to the fact that it must accommodate the size and shape of the base  15  of the jacking device  14 . It is through the second open end  18  of the housing  12  that the jacking device  14  is inserted into the internal compartment  20  of the housing  12 . Upon stowing the jacking device  14  within the housing  12 , a movable door  22  may be engaged and slidably interlocked with the open end  18  of the housing  12 . The housing  12  and movable door  22  are preferably formed from a moldable plastic material. 
     With particular reference to FIG. 2, the housing  12  is shown assembled. The housing  12  includes the movable door  22  slidably interlocked with the housing  12 . Located on the outside of the housing  12  is a plurality of mounting tabs  24  which enable the housing  12  or jack assembly  10  to be attached to either the inside or the outside of the vehicle. Preferably, housing  12  includes four mounting tabs  24 . Mounting of the jack assembly  10  can be performed in a number of ways which include the use of snaps, screws, adhesives or any other type of mounting apparatus available to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Along the section line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2 one can see a cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3 of the jack assembly  10 , wherein the jacking device  14  (shown in broken line) is disposed within the internal compartment  20  of the housing  12 . The housing  12  of the jack assembly  10  reflects the shape of the jacking device  14 . Therefore, the jacking device  14  fits snugly within the internal compartment  20  of the housing  12 . Moreover, once the movable door  22  is interlocked with the housing  12 , the jacking device  14  is substantially enclosed within the housing  12 . The enclosed jack assembly  10  insures the secure retention of the jacking device  14  within the housing  12 . A more detailed view of the interlocking device  26  used to connect the housing  12  and the movable door  22  is shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 4 discloses the interlocking device  26  and more specifically, a tongue and groove attachment configuration between the movable door  22  and the housing  12  of the jack assembly  10 . The movable door  22  may be slidably interlocked with the housing  12 . As shown in FIG. 4, the movable door  22  contains the tongue portion  30  of the tongue and groove attachment, and the housing  12  contains the groove portion  32 . Although a tongue and groove attachment  26  is used for securing the door  22  to the housing  12 , many different types of attachments may be utilized. This may include snaps or other types of removable attachment devices. Moreover the interlocking device  26  utilized is formed along two edges  34   a  and  34   b  of the movable door  22 , and formed along the corresponding edges of the housing  36   a  and  36   b . The interlocking device  26  disposed on two parallel edges insures the ability to have the movable door  22  and housing  12  slidably interlockable. 
     To insure that the jacking device  14  stowed within the internal compartment  20  of the housing  12  is snugly engaged within the internal compartment  20 , an adjuster screw  38  on the jacking device  14  allows for the extension of the telescopic post member  40 . As shown in FIG. 5, while stowing the jacking device  14  within the internal compartment  20 , the adjuster screw  38  located on the jacking device  14  is slid within the adjuster screw slot  42  provided on one side of the housing  12 . The adjuster screw slot  42  allows the adjuster screw  38  to be accessible by the operator of the vehicle. Once the jacking device  14  is placed within the internal compartment  20  of the housing  12  and the movable door  22  is slidably interlocked, the adjuster screw  38  may be rotated to insure the jacking device  14  is snugly fit within the internal compartment  20  of the housing  12 . Upon rotation of the adjuster screw  38  in a first direction, the telescopic post member  40  is extended. The extension of the telescopic post member  42  insures that the jacking device  14  is held tightly between the closed end  16  and the movable door  22 , within the internal compartment  20 . As a result, movement of the jacking device  14  within the housing  12  is not possible. Additionally, any dirt or grease on the jacking device  14  is isolated from contacting other objects stored in proximity to the housing  12 . 
     Referring back to FIG. 3, it can also be seen that upon the extension of the telescopic post member  40 , the jacking device  14  can be extended to securely fit within the housing  12  of the jack assembly  10 . In order to retract the telescopic post member  40 , the adjuster screw  38  may be rotated in a second direction which retracts the telescopic post member  40  and allows the movable door  22  to be disengaged from the housing  12  of the jack assembly  10 . The jacking device  14  can then be removed from the housing  12 . 
     The invention being thus described, it will be apparent that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be apparent to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.