Abstract:
A method of installing an inground vehicle lift includes the steps of excavating an area to create a pit, lowering a housing which encloses the mechanical components of the lift into the pit via a support structure, coupling the housing with a lower rebar system and an upper rebar system via a plurality of anchors and a plurality of angled support members before or after lowering the housing into the pit, leveling the housing, pouring concrete into the pit to a level such that the lower rebar system is sufficiently embedded within the concrete, allowing the concrete to partially cure, detaching the housing from the support structure, backfilling the pit with backfill material, installing insulation within the pit above the backfill material, and pouring concrete into the pit to a level such that the upper rebar system is sufficiently embedded within the concrete.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Inground vehicle lifts are well known within the automotive maintenance and repair industry. An example of one such lift, specifically the MOD30 heavy-duty inground lift manufactured and sold by Vehicle Service Group, is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown, the lift  10  includes a front housing  20  and a rear housing  30  that are each recessed into a floor  5 . Each housing  20 ,  30  encloses the mechanical components required to operate the respective front jack  22  and rear jack  32  in each housing. Various methods of recessing the housings  20 ,  30  into an existing floor  5  have been used in the past. For example, in one such method a pit is excavated, the housing  20 ,  30  is suspended within the pit, a backfill material, such as pea gravel or dirt, is poured into the pit to surround the housing, and, finally, the housing is connected to the existing floor  5  using concrete and rebar. In this method, the housing  20 ,  30  is not supported along its bottom surface. Instead, the housing  20 ,  30  is only supported by its connections to the existing floor  5 . In another method, a pit is excavated, a concrete slab or pad is poured in the bottom of the pit, then, once the slab has fully cured, the housing  20 ,  30  is positioned within the pit on top of the slab and the housing  20 ,  30  is anchored to the slab and leveled relative to the existing floor  5  surrounding the pit. Once the housing  20 ,  30  has been anchored and leveled, then a backfill material is poured into the pit around the housing  20 ,  30  and the housing  20 ,  30  is connected to the existing floor  5  using concrete and rebar. 
     While a variety of methods of installing housings for inground vehicle lifts have been used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventors has made or used an invention as described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description of certain examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify the same elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective, cross-sectional view of an exemplary inground lift; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a top perspective view of a pair of housings operable for use with the inground lift of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a side plan view of the housings of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a top perspective view of the housings of  FIG. 2  with a lower rebar system positioned below the housings; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a top perspective view of the housings of  FIG. 2  with an upper rebar system positioned above the housings and a lower rebar system positioned below the housings; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart depicting the steps in an exemplary method of installing the housings of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a front, cross-sectional view of a front housing and corresponding rebar systems of  FIG. 5  during the installation step of the installation method of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a detailed view of a leveling bolt and leveling gusset of the front housing of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 7B  is a detailed view of a support member of the front housing of  FIG. 7  after the top layer of concrete has been poured; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a top elevation view of the front housing and corresponding rebar systems of  FIG. 7  during the installation step of the installation method of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a front, cross-sectional view of the front housing and corresponding rebar systems of  FIG. 7  during the pouring step of the installation method of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  depicts a front, cross-sectional view of the front housing and corresponding rebar systems of  FIG. 7  during the finishing step of the installation method of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  depicts a side, cross-sectional view of the front housing and corresponding rebar systems of  FIG. 7  during the finishing step of the installation method of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 12  depicts a top elevation view of the front housing and corresponding rebar systems of  FIG. 7  during the finishing step of the installation method of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 12A  depicts a detailed view of a leveling gusset attached to the front housing of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of certain examples of the invention should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Other examples, features, aspects, embodiments, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which is by way of illustration, one of the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     The lift system  10  described herein and shown in  FIGS. 1-5  depicts an example of a lift system comprising two housings. However, the lift system may be configured in various ways and still make use of the installation method described herein. For instance, the housing designated as “front” may be installed in the “rear” position within the lift service bay, and vice versa. Also, the lift system may comprise more than two housings consisting of any various combination of housings designated “front” and “rear”, according to the preference of the lift bay architect or designer. 
       FIGS. 2-3  illustrate exemplary housings  110  operable for use with inground lift  10 . Housings  110  include a front housing  120  and a rear housing  130 . Similar to inground lift  10  shown in  FIG. 1  and described above, front housing  120  and rear housing  130  are configured to be placed within an excavated cavity and recessed within a floor. As shown, front housing  120  includes a series of rebar anchors  122  attached to a bottom surface  123  of front housing  120 . In other embodiments, the rebar anchors  122  may extend from a side surface of the front housing  120 , instead of from the bottom surface  123 . In the illustrated embodiment, rebar anchors  122  are arranged in pairs with opposing rebar anchors positioned along the outside edges of the bottom surface  123 . In addition, as shown, rebar anchors  122  are L-shaped. It will be appreciated that rebar anchors  122  may comprise any shape suitable to engage the lower rebar system  140  (described below). Similarly, other embodiments may include any number of rebar anchors arranged in any configuration suitable to provide sufficient engagement between the front housing  120  and the lower rebar system  140 . As shown, the front housing  120  also includes a series of angled support members  124  positioned along an upper portion of the front housing  120 . Support members  124  provide anchoring similar to rebar anchors  122 . In this embodiment, the support members  124  are triangularly shaped. It will be appreciated that, similar to the rebar anchors  122  discussed above, the support members  124  may comprise any shape, number and/or configuration suitable to adequately engage the upper rebar system  160  (described below). 
     Rear housing  130  also includes a series of rebar anchors  132  attached to a bottom surface  133  of rear housing  130 . In other embodiments, the rebar anchors  132  may extend from a side surface of the rear housing  130 , instead of from the bottom surface  133 . Similar to rebar anchors  122 , in the illustrated embodiment, rebar anchors  132  are arranged in pairs with opposing rebar anchors positioned along the outside edges of the bottom surface  133 . In addition, as shown, rebar anchors  132  are also L-shaped. It will be appreciated that rebar anchors  132  may comprise any shape suitable to engage the lower rebar system  150  (described below). Similarly, other embodiments may include any number of rebar anchors arranged in any configuration suitable to provide sufficient engagement between the rear housing  130  and the lower rebar system  150 . As shown, the rear housing  130  also includes a series of angled support members  134  positioned along an upper portion of the front housing  130 . Support members  134  provide anchoring similar to rebar anchors  132 . In this embodiment, the support members  134  are triangularly shaped. It will be appreciated that, similar to the rebar anchors  132  discussed above, the support members  134  may comprise any shape, number and/or configuration suitable to adequately engage the upper rebar system  170  (described below). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a lower rebar system  140  is positioned beneath the front housing  120 . As described in more detail below, the lower rebar system  140  may be embedded within a concrete slab in order to help support the front housing  120  when it is installed in a floor. In the illustrated embodiment, lower rebar system  140  comprises a series of rebar members arranged in a grid pattern. It will be appreciated that lower rebar system  140  may comprise any configuration suitable to adequately engage rebar anchors  122  and help provide sufficient support to the front housing  120 . 
     Similarly, another lower rebar system  150  is positioned beneath the rear housing  130 . As described in more detail below, the lower rebar system  150  may be embedded within a concrete slab in order to help support the rear housing  130  when it is installed in a floor. In the illustrated embodiment, lower rebar system  150  comprises a series of rebar members arranged in a grid pattern. It will be appreciated that lower rebar system  150  may comprise any configuration suitable to adequately engage rebar anchors  132  and help provide sufficient support to the rear housing  130 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , an upper rebar system  160  engages an upper portion of the front housing  120 . In this embodiment, the upper rebar system  160  surrounds the upper portion of the front housing  120  and a portion of the upper rebar system  160  passes through the support members  124  positioned along an upper portion of the front housing  120 . As described in more detail below, the upper rebar system  160  may be used to connect the front housing  120  to the existing floor. As part of that connection process, which is described in more detail below, the upper rebar system  160  may be embedded in concrete poured on top of the backfill material and rigid insulation to surround the upper portion of the front housing  120  and fill in the pit containing the front housing  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, upper rebar system  160  comprises a series of rebar members arranged in a grid pattern. It will be appreciated that upper rebar system  160  may comprise any configuration suitable to adequately connect the front housing  120  to the existing floor. 
     Similarly, another upper rebar system  170  is positioned adjacent to the upper edge of the rear housing  130 . In this embodiment, the upper rebar system  170  surrounds the upper portion of the rear housing  130  and a portion of the upper rebar system  170  passes through the support members  134  positioned along an upper portion of the rear housing  130 . As described in more detail below, the upper rebar system  170  may be used to connect the rear housing  130  to the existing floor. As part of that connection process, which is described in more detail below, the upper rebar system  170  may be embedded in concrete poured on top of the backfill material and rigid insulation to surround the upper portion of the rear housing and fill in the pit containing the rear housing  130 . In the illustrated embodiment, upper rebar system  170  comprises a series of rebar members arranged in a grid pattern. It will be appreciated that upper rebar system  170  may comprise any configuration suitable to adequately connect the rear housing  130  to the existing floor. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart depicting an exemplary housing installation method  200  that can be used to install a housing for an inground vehicle lift, such as front housing  120  and rear housing  130 , so that the housing is recessed within an existing floor. As shown, housing installation method  200  comprises an excavation step  210 , an installation step  220 , a pouring step  230  and a finishing step  240 . During the excavation step  210 , a pit or cavity is created in an existing floor. The pit is sized to receive the designated housing so that the upper edge of the housing can be leveled with the existing floor. The pit may be created using any suitable type of digging or excavation equipment. 
     Once the pit has been dug and the excavation step  210  has been completed, then the installation step  220  can begin. During the installation step  220 , the housing is placed in the pit and suspended above the bottom of the pit. A lower rebar system, such as lower rebar systems  140 ,  150 , may be positioned on the bottom surface of the pit prior to suspending the housing within the pit. If a lower rebar system is positioned on the bottom surface of the pit before the housing is suspended within the pit, then once the housing is suspended within the pit, then the rebar anchors attached to the bottom of the housing, such as rebar anchors  122 ,  132 , are attached to the lower rebar system. In some cases, the rebar anchors attached to the housing may be lowered into the pit so that the rebar anchors are adjacent to, but not attached to, the lower rebar system, and final mechanical connection is achieved through the ensuing concrete pour, which is done during the pouring step  230  described below. Alternatively, a lower rebar system, such as lower rebar systems  140 ,  150  may be attached to the housing via the rebar anchors, such as rebar anchors  122 ,  132 , prior to the housing being suspended within the pit. In this embodiment of the method, once the pit is completed, then the housing, with the lower rebar system already attached to the housing via the rebar anchors is suspended within the pit. The housing may be suspended in such a way that the lower rebar system is positioned slightly above the bottom surface of the pit or, alternatively, the lower rebar system may rest on the bottom surface of the pit. 
     During the installation step  220 , the housing may be suspended from a support structure, such as one or more I-beams that span the upper opening of the pit. Specifically, the housing may hang from leveling bolts that are used to adjust the upper edge of the housing to make that upper edge level with the existing floor. The housing may be leveled by tightening or loosening the leveling bolts thereby raising or lowering the upper edge of the housing as desired. 
     Once the housing has been leveled with the existing floor and the installation step  220  has been completed, then the pouring step  230  can begin. During the pouring step  230 , while the housing is suspended from the support structure within the pit, concrete is poured around and beneath the housing into the pit. The poured concrete forms a slab at the bottom of the pit such that the lower rebar system and the rebar anchors extending from the housing are embedded within the slab. In some embodiments, a bottom portion of the housing may be embedded within the slab in addition to the lower rebar system and rebar anchors. Once the concrete slab has been poured to sufficiently embed the housing, lower rebar system, and/or the rebar anchors, then no additional anchoring is required. 
     After the pouring step  230  has been completed and the concrete slab at the bottom of the pit has partially cured, then the housing can be removed from the support structure and the finishing step  240  can begin. Because the housing has already been leveled with the existing floor and the housing has already been sufficiently anchored to the concrete slab during the pouring step, it is not necessary to wait for the concrete slab to fully cure before beginning the finishing step  240 . In other words, the finishing step  240  can be completed once the concrete slab has partially cured. During the finishing step, the pit is filled in with various materials. First, a backfill material, such as dirt, pea gravel, or any other suitable filler, is poured into the pit around the housing. Once the backfill material reaches a predetermined level, then insulation material is placed around the housing on top of the backfill material. The amount of backfill material may be chosen so that the insulation material placed on top of the backfill material is flush with the upper level of soil surrounding the central portion of the pit that contains the housing. In some embodiments, the insulation material may comprise rigid insulation about 2 inches thick. In other embodiments, the insulation material may comprise polyurethane sheeting. In some embodiments, after the backfill material has been poured but prior to installation of the insulation material, the installer may compact the surface of the backfill material. 
     Finally, once the insulation material and backfill material have been positioned within the pit, then the housing is attached to the existing floor by pouring a top layer of concrete around the top of the housing and on top of the insulation material. The top layer of concrete fills in the pit and creates a substantially level surface with the existing floor. The upper rebar system is embedded within the top layer of concrete. 
     It will be appreciated that the housing installation method  200  described herein can be used to install either a front housing, such as front housing  120 , or a rear housing, such as rear housing  130 . If an entire inground lift comprising both a front housing and a rear housing, such as inground lift  10 , is being installed, then at least a portion of the housing installation method  200  may be conducted simultaneously for both the front housing and the rear housing or at least a portion of the housing installation method  200  may be conducted sequentially with either the front housing or the rear housing being installed first. 
       FIGS. 7-12  depict front housing  120  being installed using the housing installation method  200  described above. Specifically,  FIGS. 7 and 8  depict front housing  120  during the installation step  220  of housing installation method  200 . As shown, the pit  212  has been excavated (soil  211  is shown on one side of the pit  212 ) and the front housing  120  suspended within the pit  212 . The front housing  120  is suspended from a support structure  222  that spans from one side of the existing floor  205  across the pit  212  to the other side of the existing floor  205 .  FIG. 7  also depicts upper rebar system  160  extending around the upper portion of the front housing  120  and lower rebar system  140  hanging from front housing  120  via rebar anchors  122 . 
       FIG. 7A  depicts an exemplary leveling bolt  126  and corresponding leveling gusset  128 . As shown, the leveling gusset  128  is secured to an upper portion of the front housing  120 . The leveling bolt  126  extends through the support structure  222  and the leveling gusset  128  such that the front housing  120  is adjustably coupled with the support structure  222  via leveling bolt  126 . This functionality allows the front housing  120  to be leveled relative to the existing floor  205  during the installation step by tightening or loosening the leveling bolts  126 . Any suitable number of leveling bolts  126  and leveling gussets  128  may be used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7B , the upper frame  121  of the front housing  120  may actually be set slightly above the grade of the existing floor (e.g., about ⅛″ to about ¼″ above grade). 
       FIG. 9  depicts front housing  120  during the pouring step  230  of the housing installation method  200 . As shown, a concrete pad  232  has been poured around the front housing  120  at the bottom of the pit  212 . A bottom portion of the front housing  120 , the rebar anchors  122 , and the lower rebar system  140  are embedded within the concrete pad  232 . 
       FIGS. 10-12  depict front housing  120  during the finishing step  240  of the housing installation method  200 . As shown, backfill material  242  has been poured into the pit  212  around the front housing  120 . In addition, insulating material  244  has been positioned around the front housing  120  on top of the backfill material  242 . For clarity, the top layer of concrete poured around the front housing  120  on top of the insulating material  244  that embeds the upper rebar system  160  is not shown in  FIGS. 10-12 . 
       FIG. 12A  depicts a detailed view of a leveling gusset  128 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , a leveling gusset  128  is positioned at each corner of the front housing  120 , for a total of four leveling gussets. As discussed above, any suitable number of leveling gussets may be used. 
     Having shown and described various embodiments of the present invention, further adaptations of the methods and systems described herein may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Several of such potential modifications have been mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the examples, embodiments, geometrics, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of any claims that may be presented and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings.