Abstract:
A jack stand for a vehicle includes a plurality of walls joined together to form a body, the body being hollow. A base is formed by lower edges of the walls and a top surface joins top edges of the walls. One of the walls includes a wall opening and the top includes a top opening, the wall opening and the top opening extending towards one another, meeting proximate the top edge of one of the walls, thereby forming a single, continuous opening extending from the top into one of the walls.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/072,177 filed Mar. 28, 2008, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to jack stands for vehicles and specifically to universal jack stands that can be used with a variety of vehicle jacks and jack stands that support a vehicle at a common jacking location with the jack. 
         [0004]    2. Related Technology 
         [0005]    Elevating a portion of a vehicle typically involves using some sort of jack. For example, many automobiles carry a scissor-type jack to elevate a portion of the automobile in order to change a tire. The jack is placed under a portion of the frame of the automobile and the jack is slowly raised until a platform on the jack engages the frame of the automobile. Thereafter, a user uses the principle of leverage to elevate a portion of the frame. Often, more than one location on the frame needs to be elevated so that a user can repair a portion of the automobile that is only accessible from the bottom. Because most standard jacks are movable, so that the jack may be easily moved to many different portions of the frame, a vehicle supported solely by the jack may be unstable and unsafe to work under. For this reason, a user may place a jack stand under the frame and lower the jack so that the vehicle is supported on the jack stand instead of the jack itself. The jack stand is typically a stable platform for supporting the vehicle. Because the jack and jack stand have individual and separate support structures, the jack stand and jack typically cannot support the vehicle at same location on the frame. This can cause a problem when a manufacturer designates only certain locations as jacking locations. Generally, vehicle manufacturers reinforce certain locations on the frame of a vehicle so that those certain locations can support a portion of the weight of the vehicle when the vehicle is elevated with a jack (hereinafter these locations on the vehicle frame are referred to as “jacking locations”). 
         [0006]    Generally, jack stands are pyramid-shaped structures having three or four sides and an adjustable support platform disposed in the top of the jack stand. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,548 discloses a more or less typical jack stand including four sides that form the shape of a pyramid, a telescoping support member extending from a top portion of the pyramid and a curved horizontal support, often having a U-shape, at the top of the telescoping support member to cradle a portion of the vehicle frame. The support member is often adjustable with a ratchet type mechanism. Problems occur with placement of this type of platform as only certain parts of the frame or undercarriage can fit in the curved horizontal support. While a jack stand is usually more stable than a jack, the jack stand cannot support the vehicle at the same point that is occupied by the jack. As a result, the jack stand often must be placed a considerable distance away from the jacking location in order to find a portion of the frame or undercarriage that is compatible with the top of the support platform, necessarily requiring a higher jacking elevation to accommodate the jack stand location. 
         [0007]    In order to solve this problem, systems have been designed to elevate the vehicle with the jack stand itself. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/00999745 discloses a three stage jack stand. A lift collar on the top of the jack stand is elevated by a specially designed unique power unit. The power unit includes a pair of lift arms that engage a lower portion of the lift collar on the jack stand. When the jack stand is placed under a vehicle, the lift arms on the power unit move upward to engage a bottom of the lift collar on the jack stand. The lift collar fully supports and elevates the vehicle at all times during the jacking process. One drawback to this type of arrangement is that the jack stand and the power unit are specially designed for one another. Thus, this type of jack stand and power unit are not compatible with contemporary vehicle jacks, such as scissor jacks, floor jacks or racing jacks. Moreover, this type of power unit is not compatible with typical jack stands and/or may be too tall to fit under some vehicles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0008]    In one embodiment, a jack stand for a vehicle includes a plurality of walls joined together to form a body, the body being hollow. A base is formed by lower edges of the walls and a top surface joins top edges of the walls. One of the walls includes a wall opening and the top includes a top opening, the wall opening and the top opening extending towards one another, meeting proximate the top edge of one of the walls, thereby forming a single, continuous opening extending from the top into one of the walls. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a combination of a jack stand and a jack pad are disclosed. The jack stand includes a plurality of walls joined together to form a body, the body being hollow. A base is formed by lower edges of the walls and a top surface joins top edges of the walls. One of the walls includes a wall opening and the top includes a top opening, the wall opening and the top opening extending towards one another, meeting proximate the top edges of one of the walls, thereby forming a single, continuous opening extending from the top into one of the walls. An upturned lip surrounds at least a portion of the top opening. The jack pad includes an upper support portion having a downturned rail disposed along a perimeter of the upper support portion. The jack pad also includes an extension extending downward from the jack pad, the extension being separated from the downturned rail by an inverted slot. When the jack pad rests on the upturned lip of the jack stand, the upturned lip is disposed in the inverted slot. 
         [0010]    A method of elevating a portion of a vehicle is also disclosed. The method includes providing a jack, removably placing a jack pad on one end of the jack and placing the jack and jack pad under the vehicle. The jack is extended until the jack pad contacts and elevates a portion of the vehicle. A jack stand is provided that includes a plurality of walls joined together to form a hollow body. A top surface joins the top edges of the walls, the top surface including an opening. At least one wall also includes an opening. The opening in the top surface and the opening in the at least one wall extend towards one another joining together proximate the top edge of the at least one wall, thereby forming a single, continuous opening. The jack stand is positioned around the jack so that a portion of the jack is at least partially located within the hollow body. The jack is lowered until the jack pad is supported by a top portion of the jack stand. The jack stand is removed, the vehicle being supported by the jack pad and jack stand. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a jack stand and jack pad constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure and mated with a typical racing-type floor jack. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is side perspective view of the jack stand, jack pad and racing-type floor jack of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the jack stand of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a jack stand constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a back perspective view of the jack stand of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a jack stand and jack pad constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the jack stand and jack pad of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the jack stand and jack pad of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a back elevational view of the jack stand and jack pad of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the jack stand and jack pad of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the jack stand and jack pad of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the jack stand and jack pad of  FIG. 7  taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The disclosed jack stands are simple to manufacture and compatible with most typical vehicle jacks, such as, for example, scissor jacks, floor jacks, racing jacks, etc. The components may be manufactured from strong, rugged materials, such as steel, aluminum, titanium, composite materials, or any other metal or non-metal material that is capable of supporting the weight of a vehicle. The disclosed jack stands may be manufactured by molding or welding or any other appropriate manufacturing technique. The disclosed jack stands overcome the problems in the prior art by allowing a single jacking location to be utilized by both the jack and the jack stand. In this manner, the disclosed jack stand prevents damage to vehicles caused by supporting the vehicles in non-approved jacking locations. Moreover, the disclosed jack stand is adaptable to manufacturer&#39;s proprietary jacking locations by including an interchangeable jack pad for use on both the jack and the jack stand. 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a typical racing style floor jack  10  is illustrated in a mated position with a jack stand  30  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure. Additionally, a jack pad  60  is illustrated resting on a top surface  32  of the jack stand  30 . The floor jack  10  may include a frame  12  supporting a lifting arm  14 . The lifting arm  14  may be mechanically or hydraulically actuated. The lifting arm  14  is extendable to an elevated position, as shown in  FIG. 1  and retractable to a stowed position in which the lifting arm  14  lays in an essentially horizontal position adjacent the frame  12 . The floor jack  10  may also include a plurality of wheels  16  to facilitate movement of the floor jack  10  from one location to another location. The floor jack  10  may also include a handle  18  for a user to grasp manipulate the floor jack  10 . 
         [0026]    The jack stand  30  includes one or more side walls  34 , a pair of front walls  36  and a back wall  38 . The front walls  36 , side walls  34 , and back wall  38  form a pyramid-like body  40  having a hollow center portion  42 . The hollow center portion  42  is sized to receive at least a portion of the floor jack  10 . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the hollow center portion  42  receives part of the lifting arm  14  and frame  12  of the floor jack  10 . The generally planar top  32  may be slightly recessed with respect to top edges of the side walls  34 , front walls  36 , and back wall  38  forming a ridge or lip  44  along the top  32  of the body  40 . The ridge or lip  44  prevents the jack pad  60  from sliding off of the jack stand  30  as will be discussed hereinafter. The top  32  also includes a top opening  46  sized to allow a portion of the lift arm  14  to extend upward, through the top opening  46 . The front walls  36  are spaced apart from one another forming a front opening  48 . The front opening  48  and the top opening  46  join together to form a single opening that extends from the top  32  all the way through the front  35  of the body  40  and to the bottom  37  of the jack stand  30 . This single opening allows a portion of the floor jack  10  to be inserted into the hollow center portion  42  of the jack stand  30 . Moreover, the lifting arm  14  of the floor jack  10  may be extended or retracted while the floor jack  10  is partially disposed in the hollow center portion  42 . The jack stand  30  may optionally include one or more adjustable feet  50  for leveling the jack stand  30  on uneven surfaces. 
         [0027]    The jack stand  30  may also include a plurality of lower windows  52  and  54  in the side and back walls. The window  54  in the back wall  38  may be sized to allow front wheels or roller  16  of the floor jack  10  to extend outward from the hollow center portion  42  ( FIG. 2 ). In this way, the floor jack  10  can be inserted into the jack stand  30  to a greater degree than otherwise possible without the window  54 . This facilitates locating the floor jack  16  and lift arm  14  at least partially inside the jack stand  30  so that the jack pad  60  can be lowered onto and at least partially supported by the top surface  32  of the jack stand  30 . Moreover, the jack stand  30  may include one or more side openings  54  that may function as handles when moving the jack stand  30 . The jack stand  30  may also optionally include one or more shelves  56 . The shelf  56  may be generally parallel to the top  32  and may join the front walls  36 , the side walls  34  and the back wall  38 . The shelf  56  may serve to structurally strengthen the body  40  when the jack stand  30  is supporting a vehicle. Additionally, the shelf  56  may serve as a tool or jack pad  60  storage location. The shelf  56  may optionally include a front cut out portion  58  to allow a deeper insertion of the floor jack  10  into the hollow center portion  42 . 
         [0028]    The jack pad  60  rests on a free end of the lifting arm  14  or the top  32  of the jack stand. The jack pad  60  is removable from either the lifting arm  14  or the top  32 . The jack pad  60  generally rests on the higher of the lifting arm  14  and the top  32 . The jack pad  60  includes an upper support portion  62  that engages the vehicle and a flange  64 . While a circular jack pad  60  is illustrated, the jack pad  60  can take on virtually any shape, such as triangle, square, rectangle, polygon, oval, etc. The jack pad  60  and the top opening  46  in the jack stand  30  are made so that the jack pad  60  can be at least partially supported on the top  32  of the jack stand  30 . The jack pad  60  also includes a lower support portion  66  that rests on a free end of the lifting arm  14 . The lower support portion  66  may include one or more recessed areas (not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) that fit over a portion of the free end of the lifting arm  14  to stabilize the jack pad  60  on the lifting arm  14 . 
         [0029]    In operation, a user places the jack pad  60  on the free end of the lifting arm  14 . The floor jack  10  is then placed under the vehicle at an appropriate, or manufacturer designated, jacking location. The lifting arm  14  is elevated until the upper support portion  62  engages the jacking location on the vehicle. The lifting arm  14  is then raised further to elevate a portion of the vehicle. Once the lifting arm  14  elevates the portion of the vehicle to a desired height, the jack stand  30  is placed beside the floor jack  10  and pushed under the vehicle with the front  35  of the jack stand facing outward. The jack stand  30  may then be moved laterally behind the floor jack  10  to align the front opening  48  with the floor jack  10 . The jack stand  30  may then be pulled outward such that the floor jack  10  penetrates the front opening  48 , the jack stand  30  surrounding a portion of the floor jack  10 . When the jack stand  30  is positioned such that the free end of the lifting arm  14  and the jack pad  60  are centered in the top opening  46 , the lifting arm  14  may be lowered sufficiently so that the flange  64  of the jack pad  60  contacts the top  32  of the jack stand  30 . As the lifting arm  14  is lowered further, the flange  64  and the top  32  prevent the jack pad  60  from being lowered with the lifting arm  14 . Thus, the jack pad  60  becomes fully supported by the top  32  and disengaged from the lifting arm  14 . The vehicle is now fully supported by the jack stand  30  instead of the floor jack  10 . As the lifting arm  14  is lowered to the point where the free end of the lifting arm  14  clears the lower support portion  66  of the jack pad  60 , the floor jack  10  may be removed from the jack stand  30 . Throughout the entire jacking process, the same jacking location is used to support the vehicle on the floor jack  10  and the jack stand  30 . In this way, a user can be sure that the jacking location is structurally strong enough to support the vehicle because the user is using a manufacturer recommended jacking location. Moreover, the disclosed jack stand is compatible with most common jacks. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a second embodiment of a jack stand  130  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure. Elements in  FIGS. 4 and 5  that correspond to like elements in  FIGS. 1-3  are numbered exactly 100 greater than the elements in  FIGS. 1-3 . The jack stand  130  includes two substantially planar front walls  136 , two substantially planar side walls  134  and one substantially planar back wall  138 . The walls  136 ,  134 , and  138  may be made of metal plates, such as steel, aluminum or titanium, that are welded together along side edges of the walls  136 ,  134 ,  138 . Alternatively, the walls  136 ,  134 ,  138  can be cast or otherwise formed together as a single piece. Alternatively, the walls  136 ,  134 ,  138  may be formed by taking a single plate of material and cutting or bending the plate of material to shape the walls  136 ,  134 ,  138 . The walls  136 ,  134 ,  138  form a quadrilateral pyramid-like body  140  with a flat top  132 . While the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  is generally quadrilateral, the body  140  could be trilateral or any polygonal shape. The body  140  includes a top opening  146  and a front opening  148  that join one another to form a single opening. 
         [0031]    The embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5  differs from the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  in that the body  140  includes a plurality of circular openings  154 . The circular openings  154  on the side walls  134  may function as handles when transporting the jack stand  130 . The circular openings  154  in both the side walls  134  and the back wall  156  reduce the amount of material required to form the body and thus reduce overall costs to manufacture the jack stand  130 . Additionally, the circular openings  154  may distribute forces through the side walls  134  and back wall  138  similar to the way an arch distributes forces. 
         [0032]    The embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5  also includes cutout portions  159  on the front walls  136 . These cut out portions  159  also reduce the amount of material required to manufacture the jack stand  130  and the cut out portions  159  make more room for the jack (not shown) to enter the hollow center portion  142 . 
         [0033]    The angle of the side walls  134  with respect to the top  132  may vary according to the overall size of the jack stand  130  and the amount of space between a vehicle jacking location and a vehicle wheel. The angled side walls  134  allow the jack stand  130  to be placed closer to a vehicle wheel because the wider portion of the jack stand  130  is located below the widest part of the wheel when the vehicle is raised. Additionally, the pyramid-like shape of the body  140  allows the jack stand  130  to be nested for shipping or storage with other like jack stands  140 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6-12  illustrate yet another embodiment of a jack stand  230  and a jack pad  260  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure. Elements of the embodiment of  FIGS. 6-12  that correspond to elements of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  are numbered exactly 200 greater that the elements of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0035]    The jack stand  230  includes a two step outer wall structure. For example, the side walls  234  include a first sidewall portion  234 ′ and a second side wall portion  234 ″ connected by a fillet  270 . The first sidewall portion  234 ′ is generally planar, much like the side walls  134  and  34  of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-5 . However, the second side wall portion  234 ″ is more vertically oriented and more rounded. The more vertical orientation leads to less of a spreading force when the jack stand  230  is carrying the load of a vehicle that is elevated. Moreover, as best seen in  FIG. 12 , the second side wall portion  234 ″ terminates in a raised lip  272  that forms the top  232  of the jack stand  230 . Much like the second side wall portion  234 ″, the raised lip  272  is rounded. Rounding the top portion of the jack stand  230  minimizes or reduces the possibility that the bottom of the vehicle will contact the jack stand  230  during lowering of the vehicle onto the jack stand  230 . The raised lip  272  surrounds the top opening  246  ( FIG. 11 ) except in the vicinity of the front opening  248 . 
         [0036]    The jack pad  260  (shown without an upper support portion  62  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) includes a downturned outer rail  274  and an inner extension  276 . The downturned rail  274  and inner extension  276  are joined by an inverted slot  278 . The inverted slot  278  is sized and shaped to receive the raised lip  272  of the jack stand  230 . Thus, when the jack pad  260  is in place on the top  232  of the jack stand  230 , the outer rail  274  surrounds the raised lip  272  and prevents the front opening  248  from spreading apart due to loading of the top  232  of the jack stand  230  when the jack stand  230  is supporting a raised vehicle. Thus, the jack pad  260  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 6-12  structurally reinforces the front opening  248  of the jack stand  230 . The outer rail  274  also prevents the jack pad  260  from sliding off of the jack stand  230 . Additionally, the inner extension  276  includes an angled guiding surface  280 . The angled guiding surface  280  centers and guides the jack pad  260  into the top opening  246  when the jack pad  260  is lowered onto the jack stand  230 . 
         [0037]    The jack pad  260  may also include a recessed bottom portion  282 . The recessed bottom portion  282  is sized and shaped to receive a free end of the lifting arm  14  of the floor jack  10  (not shown in  FIG. 12 ). A top surface  284  of the jack pad  260  includes a mating feature, such as an upper recessed portion  286 . The mating feature can receive an upper support portion  62  ( FIG. 1 ) which can be formed to mate with any proprietary jacking location on a vehicle. For example, the recessed portion  286  could receive an upper support portion  62  ( FIG. 1 ) sized to receive and seat a button formed on the bottom of a vehicle. In another embodiment, the mating feature could receive an upper support portion  62  ( FIG. 1 ) formed as a slot sized to receive a pinched weld in the bottom of a vehicle. Still further, the mating feature could receive an upper support portion  62  ( FIG. 1 ) formed as a button to slide into a slot formed on the bottom of a vehicle. In this way, a user can jack virtually any type of vehicle, regardless of the particular configuration of the jacking location, by simply changing the upper support portion  62  or jack pad  260 . For example, when jacking vehicles with very low ground clearance, a thin upper support portion  62  may be required so that the jack  210  and jack pad  260  can fit underneath the vehicle. 
         [0038]    The jack stand  230  may include one or more strengthening features on an inside of the body  240 , such as a reinforcing rib  290 . The reinforcing rib  290  may extend across a portion of the back wall  238 , or a portion of the side walls  234 . The reinforcing rib  290  may also extend across more than one wall. The reinforcing rib  290  may resist the tendency of the body  240  to spread when loaded due to the body  240  shape and the front opening  248 . 
         [0039]    The disclosed jack stands may be used in conjunction with virtually any type of jack. For example, as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the disclosed jack stands may be used in conjunction with scissor-type jacks, commercial floor jacks, racing floor jacks, etc. In addition the disclosed jack stands can be used to support virtually any type of vehicle, such as automobiles, motorcycles, boats, aircraft, etc. 
         [0040]    Although certain jack stands have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, while the invention has been shown and described in connection with various preferred embodiments, it is apparent that certain changes and modifications, in addition to those mentioned above, may be made. This patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents. For example, the jack stand may take on virtually any shape and/or size provided that it is capable of supporting a vehicle as described herein. Many other variations of the invention may also be used without departing from the principles outlined above. Accordingly, it is the intention to protect all variations and modifications that may occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.