Abstract:
A device for lifting a small vehicle having a frame and a hood includes a lifting mechanism configured to move a platform from a lowered position to a raised position; and a saddle attached to the platform. The saddle has a top plate having a front side and a back side, opposed first and second side plates extending vertically in a first direction, and a lip extending vertically in a second direction. A supporting member extends outwardly from the top plate. An elbow has a first portion releasably coupled to the supporting member, and a second portion extending upwardly from the first portion. A hook disposed on a threaded handle attaches to the second portion of the elbow and is configured to move between a lowered position and raised position. The lip engages with the frame of the vehicle, and the hook fastens to a portion of the hood.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     It is desirable to lift vehicles for numerous reasons—in order to repair the vehicle or for storage purposes, for example. Many lifts are designed for use with two-axel, four-wheeled vehicles, where the lift can support the weight of the vehicle by its position under the wheels of the vehicle, under the axels, or both. Lifts are also needed for other types of vehicles, such as snowmobiles and watercraft. However, these vehicles present unique lifting challenges, specifically where the vehicles do not have wheels or axels. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify critical elements of the invention or to limit the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description presented below. 
     In one embodiment, a device for lifting a small vehicle having a frame and a hood includes a lifting mechanism configured to move a platform from a lowered position to a raised position; and a saddle configured to attach to the platform. The saddle has a top plate having a front side and a back side, opposed first and second side plates extending vertically in a first direction from the top plate between the front side and the back side, and a lip extending vertically in a second direction from the top plate back side. At least one supporting member extending outwardly from the top plate front side. An elbow has a first portion releasably coupled to the supporting member, and a second portion extending upwardly from the first portion. Finally, a hook is disposed on a threaded handle, the handle being attached to the second portion of the elbow and configured to move between a lowered position and raised position. The lip engages with a back portion of the frame of the vehicle, and the hook fastens to a portion of the hood such that the top plate substantially supports the weight of the vehicle when the platform is in the raised position. 
     In another embodiment, a device for lifting a vehicle includes a lifting mechanism configured to move a platform from a lowered position to a raised position; and a saddle removably attached to the platform. The saddle has a top plate with a front side and a back side, and the back side has a lip extending upwardly therefrom. At least one supporting member extends horizontally from the top plate front side, an elbow is releasably coupled to the supporting member; and a hook is disposed on a handle attached to the elbow. The handle is configured to move between a lowered position and raised position. The lip engages with a back portion of the frame of the vehicle, and the hook fastens to a portion of the hood such that the top plate substantially supports the weight of the vehicle when the lifting mechanism is in the raised position. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method for lifting a small vehicle comprises the steps of: providing a vehicle having a frame and a hood; providing a lifting device in a lowered position, the lifting device being equipped with a saddle; positioning the lifting device under the vehicle such that the lip engages a portion of the vehicle frame; adjusting the hook to engage a portion of the hood of the vehicle; and causing the lifting mechanism to move from the lowered position to a raised position. The saddle has a top plate having a lip formed thereon; at least one supporting member extending outwardly from the top plate; an elbow adjustably coupled to the supporting member; and a hook disposed on a handle attached to the elbow, the handle being configured to translate between a lowered position and a raised position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle lift according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a saddle for a vehicle lift according to the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is another top perspective view of the saddle for a vehicle lift according to the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the saddle for a vehicle lift according to the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the vehicle lift holding a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the vehicle lift holding a vehicle according to the embodiment of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Non-traditional vehicles such as snowmobiles present unique lifting challenges. For example, while it may be acceptable to lift a four-wheeled vehicle by supporting the wheels of the vehicle, snowmobiles do not have wheels, but rather a single track running along a length of the snowmobile. It is not ideal to store a snowmobile on its track, as it is particularly prone to damage if the weight of the snowmobile is supported on the track for an extended duration. Additionally, storing the snowmobile on its tracks may cause damage to the suspension. Moreover, should the tracks need to be removed to complete work on the snowmobile or the tracks, traditional lifts are not configured to support the snowmobile. Other non-traditional vehicles, such as watercraft may similarly benefit from specialized vehicle lifts. 
     Embodiments of non-traditional vehicle lifts are described herein. With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a vehicle lift may include a lifting mechanism  10  and a saddle  100  for supporting the weight of a vehicle. The lifting mechanism  10  may be any type of commercially available jack. Exemplary types of jack may include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,469,338 and 8,608,130. The jack may at least include a base  12 , arms  14 , a platform  16 , and means  18  for raising the platform  16 , although other features may also (or alternately) be present. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the saddle  100  may include a plate portion  101 , supporting members  112  and  114 , an elbow  116  having a first portion  116   a  and a second portion  116   b , and a hook  120 . The saddle  100  may be configured to attach to the jack  10  such that the jack  10  may support a non-traditional vehicle ( 200 ,  FIG. 7 ). In one embodiment, the saddle  100  may include a top plate  102  having a front side  102   a  and a back side  102   b . The top plate  102  is disposed between two opposing side plates  104   a  and  104   b . The opposing side plates  104   a  and  104   b  may extend downwardly from the top plate  102 . The backside  102   b  of the top plate  102  may be tapered toward the center of the plate  102 , culminating in a lip  106  which may extend upwardly from the backside  102   b  of the top plate  102  as shown in the figures. As described in greater detail below, the lip  106  may be configured to engage with the frame  205  of the vehicle  200  to support the vehicle  200  in a lifted position. 
     The opposing side plates  104   a  and  104   b  may have holes  108  drilled therein for attaching the saddle  100  to the jack  10 . Accordingly, the jack  10  may have corresponding holes  20 . To attach the saddle  100  to the jack  10 , the holes  108  in the saddle  100  are matched up with the holes  20  in the jack  10 . Mechanical fasteners  110  may be selectively received through the holes  108  in the saddle  100  and the holes  20  in the jack  10  to secure the saddle  100  to the jack  10 . Acceptable mechanical fasteners may include, but are not limited to nuts and bolts, screws, bolt and cotter pins, rivets, clamps, et cetera. 
     The top plate  102  may be positioned atop support members  112  and  114 . Support members  112  and  114  may each include a distal end  112   a  and  114   a  and a proximal end  112   b  and  114   b . The distal end  112   a  of the support member  112  may be located near the back side  102   b  of the top plate  102  and may extend outwardly therefrom toward the front side  102   a  of the top plate  102 . The proximal end  112   b  of the support member  112  may further extend outwardly from the front side  120   a  of the top plate  102 . 
     Proximal ends  114   b  of the support members  114  may bisect the support member  112  between the distal end  112   a  and the proximal end  112   b . The distal ends  114   a  of the support members  114  may be respectively located near the tapered portion of the back side  102   b  of the top plate  102 . 
     The support members  114  may be adhered to the support member  112  using any appropriate method, including but not limited to welding, chemical bonding, mechanical fastening, et cetera. Similarly, the top plate  102  may be adhered to the support members  112  and  114  using similar methods. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that the method selected for attaching the support members  114  to the support member  112  does not have to be the same method selected for attaching the support members  112  and  114  to the top plate  102 . 
     The proximal end  112   b  of the support member  112  may be configured to be received by the elbow  116 . The elbow  116  may have a hole formed therein configured to receive a screw knob  118  for securing the elbow  116  to the support member  112 . As is described more particularly below, to facilitate various lengths of vehicles, the proximal end  112   b  of the support member  112  may have several apertures  113  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) formed therein. When the support member  112  is received by the elbow  116 , the hole in the elbow  116  may be matched with a corresponding aperture in the support member  112 , and the screw knob  118  may be secured therein. Alternately, the support member  112  may not have apertures therein, and the screw knob  118  may be inserted through the hole in the elbow  116  and securely tightened against an outside surface of the support member  112 . 
     As mentioned above, a hook  120  may be provided to further support the vehicle  200  when in a raised position by engaging the nose  210  of the vehicle  200 . The hook  120  may be secured to the elbow  116  via a bracket  124  and threaded handle  122 . The bracket  124  may be attached to the elbow  116 , (for example, via nuts and bolts, pins, et cetera) and may be configured to receive the threaded handle  122  through a threaded portion  125 . The hook  120  may be threaded onto the handle  126  via a threaded receiving portion  121  on the hook  120 . Alternately the hook  120  may be otherwise attached to the handle  126  (e.g., weld, adhesive, etc). 
     Depending on the length of the vehicle  200 , the distance between the lip  106  and the hook  120  may need to be adjusted. To facilitate the adjustment, the elbow  116  may be translated on the support member  112 . To adjust the position of the elbow  116 , the screw knob  118  may be released from its position such that the elbow  116  can slide along the support member  112 . To shorten the distance, the elbow  116  is moved toward the top plate  102  and the screw knob  118  is tightened to maintain the elbow  116  in the desired position. To lengthen the distance, the elbow  116  is moved away from the top plate  102  according to the same process. 
     The height of the hook  120  may also need to be adjusted based on the height of the nose  210  of the vehicle  200 . Accordingly, the hook  120  may be raised or lowered by turning the threaded handle  122  via knob  126 , thus causing the handle  126  to move up or down in the bracket  124 . 
     The saddle  100  may be formed from any appropriate material. It may be recognized by those of skill in the art that it is desirable for the saddle  100  to be configured to support the weight of a vehicle. Accordingly, exemplary materials that may be used to construct the saddle include steel, aluminum, titanium, et cetera. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-8 , in use, the saddle  100  is first attached to the jack  10 . With the jack  10  in a lowered position, the jack  10  is positioned under the frame  205  of the vehicle  200  such that the lip  106  engages with the frame  205  of the vehicle  200 . It may be determined that the length of the saddle  100  needs to be adjusted. Accordingly, the elbow  116  may be adjusted on the support member  112  (e.g., via apertures  113 ) such that the hook  120  may engage with the nose  210  at the hood  215  of the vehicle  200 . It may be desirable to lower the hook  120  on the nose  210  of the vehicle  200  to ensure that the vehicle  200  is properly supported by the saddle  100 . 
     Once the saddle  100  is engaged with the frame  205  and the nose  210  of the vehicle  200 , the vehicle  200  may be lifted by the jack  10  according to the lifting mechanism of the particular jack  10 . Once the vehicle  200  is lifted, work may be completed on various parts of the vehicle  200  (e.g., the tracks  230  and  235 ), or the vehicle  200  may be stored in an elevated position during the period of non-use. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. The specific configurations and contours set forth in the accompanying drawings are illustrative and not limiting. All steps need not be performed in the order shown or described.