Abstract:
A floor jack is providing having an integrated tool kit. The floor jack includes a jack body and a tool kit assembly disposed on the jack body for housing tools. The tool kit includes a storage housing pivotally coupled to an exterior side of a sidewall of the jack body. The storage housing defining a plurality of storage locations configured to secure tools, such as a socket wrench and a plurality of sockets such that they are exposed and readily assessable for use.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 61/302,075, filed Feb. 5, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to floor jacks and, more particularly, to floor jacks having a tool kit. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A jack is a device for lifting a heavy object and has the properties of easy moving and operation, so the jack is widely used in various industries, and vehicle maintenance in particular. Therefore, almost each vehicle is prepared for a jack. 
         [0004]    The underlining reason to lift a vehicle is enable a mechanic to inspect or fix components of the vehicle. To do so, tools are often required. Thus, the user must first raise the vehicle with the jack. Then, find the appropriate tools from a tool kit, carrying those tools underneath the vehicle. When a vehicle is in a remote location, the user must bring both the floor jack and separate tool kit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Briefly, and in general terms, the invention provides a floor jack having integrated tool kit having a jack body and a tool kit assembly disposed on the jack body for housing tools. The tool kit assembly includes a storage assembly configured to house a plurality of tools such as a socket wrench and a plurality of sockets such that they are exposed and readily assessable for use. 
         [0006]    More specifically, by way of example and not limitation, the tool kit assembly is pivotally mounted to a first sidewall of the jack body. The storage housing defines a plurality of recesses configured each configured to receive a single wrench socket. The assembly can further include a plurality of wrench sockets. The storage housing is further configured to receive the socket wrench in a conforming recess via snap-fit configuration. 
         [0007]    In a detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the a floor jack having integrated tool kit can include a first tool kit assembly mounted on a first side wall of the jack body and a second tool kit assembly mounted on a second side wall of the jack body. In such configurations, the first tool kit assembly can include metric-sized sockets, and the second tool kit assembly can include inch-sized (SAE) sockets. 
         [0008]    In yet another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the tool kit assembly, (or assemblies) is configured to be attached to the sidewall of the jack body in a removable manner and is pivotally attached. In this manner, the assembly can pivot away from the sidewall to facilitate access to the tools. For example, the assembly can include attachments located a bottom portion of a tool housing that interfaces with attachments on the sidewall of the jack body. 
         [0009]    The upper end of the tool kit assembly can include a deflectable portion configured to couple to the jack assembly to maintain the tool kit in an upright orientation. For example, the floor jack can include a handle pivotally attached to the jack body. The deflectable portion can couple to the pivot attachment of the handle. 
         [0010]    For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
         [0011]    All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a rear, left perspective view of a combined floor jack and tool kit in accordance with the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a rear, right perspective view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit of  FIG. 1 , depicting the driving lever secured to the rotary lock bolt of the floor jack. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front, left perspective view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit of  FIG. 1 , depicting a socket storage assembly housing a plurality of wrench sockets. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit of  FIG. 1 , depicting the driving lever disposed on a lever storage assembly. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a right side elevational view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit of  FIG. 1 , depicting the first and second tool kit assemblies in an angled configuration. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit of  FIG. 1 , depicting the first and second tool kit assemblies in an angled configuration. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a front, close-up perspective view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit of  FIG. 1 , depicting the first and second tool kit assemblies in an angled configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit of  FIG. 1 , depicting the first kit assembly detached from the jack body. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the floor jack having integrated tool kit of  FIG. 1 , depicting the first and second tool kit assemblies detached from the jack body. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Referring now to the drawings, and particularly  FIG. 1 , there is shown a floor jack having integrated tool kit  10 . The assembly includes a jack body  12 , a first tool assembly  14  disposed on a first sidewall  16  of the jack body, and a second tool assembly  18  disposed on a second sidewall  20  of the jack body. 
         [0024]    The body  12  includes a front portion  22 , an intermediate region  24 , and an end portion  26 . The body comprises first and second sidewalls  16 ,  20  spaced apart from each other. A lift arm  28  is coupled to the body. The lift arm has a first end  30  pivotally coupled to the intermediate region of the body and a second end  32  proximate to the front portion. The floor jack further includes a top plate  34  coupled to the second end of the lift arm. The top plate configured to engage a lifting location of an object to be lifted. In the exemplary embodiment, the top plate is configured to engage a lifting location of an automobile; however, in other embodiments the top plate can be configured in various other forms to lift other objects such as a motorcycle via, e.g., spaced apart parallel bars such as those commonly known in the art. 
         [0025]    A hydraulic system  36  of the floor jack is housed within the body and configured to raise the lift arm. The hydraulic system is operated by the driving head  38 , which is pivotally coupled to the end portion  26  of the body. In use, an engaging portion of a driving lever (not shown) is inserted into an aperture of the driving head to operate a hydraulic system. 
         [0026]    The tool assemblies  14 ,  18  house at least one wrench socket  40 . In the exemplary embodiment, the tool assemblies each include a storage housing  13 ,  15  coupled a corresponding sidewall ( 16 ,  20 ) of the body. The first tool kit assembly includes metric-sized sockets  45 , and the second tool kit assembly includes inch-sized (SAE) sockets  47 . In this manner, a user has convenient access to wrench sockets commonly used. The storage bodies define a plurality of recesses ( 41 ), each configured to receive a single wrench socket of a prescribed size. In the exemplary embodiment, recesses are disposed along an upper edge of the storage bodies. 
         [0027]    The floor jack  10  further includes a handle  42  attached to the sidewalls  16 ,  20  in the intermediate region  24  of the body via pivot attachments  44 . The upper edges  46  of the storage bodies include deflectable portions  48  configured to engage the pivot attachments  44  in snap fit arrangement and a detachable manner to maintain the storage bodies in an upright configuration, which can be generally flush with the sidewalls. The deflectable portions are disposed in a curved portion  50  of the upper edge sized to conform to the pivot attachments. The curved portion is located between recesses  41  of the storage housing. The pivot attachments  44  define an annular lip  58  ( FIG. 10 ) positioned to engage the deflectable portions  48  of the storage bodies  13 ,  15 . 
         [0028]    A front wall  52 ,  53  of each storage housing  13 ,  15  is configured to receive a plurality of tools, such as a wrench  54  and an extender  56 . In the exemplary embodiment, the front walls include a plurality of opposing arms  77 ,  79  ( FIG. 3 ) configured to receive the tools in a snap fit manner. In other embodiment, the storage housing can be configured to hold various other tools, e.g., screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, hex wrenches, and other hand tools known in the art. In other embodiments, various other configurations can be used for storing wrench sockets. For example, the storage assembly can include posts configured to mate with wrench sockets. 
         [0029]    With reference now to  FIGS. 6-10 , opposing sides of the storage housing define apertures  60  configured to mate with pivot posts  62  coupled to the sidewalls  16 ,  20  of the jack body, forming a pivot attachment for the storage bodies to the sidewalls. The pivot attachment is configure to confine the orientation of each storage housing in a prescribed range such as from a vertical orientation to an angled orientation of about 30 degrees off vertical (e.g.,  FIG. 6-8 ). In selected preferred embodiments, the terminal end of the angled orientation is between about 15 degrees to about 45 degrees from vertical. 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the storage bodies can be removed from the jack body. In this manner, a user can access the tools quickly without need of moving the floor jack, when needed. 
         [0031]    The floor jack  10  further includes a pair of wheels  70  at the front portion  22  of the body, with an axle extending therebetween. Two caster wheels  72  are positioned in the end portion  26  of the body, attached to extensions from the sidewalls. The storage bodies  13 ,  15  are sized to be disposed between the front wheels  70  and the caster wheels  72 . 
         [0032]    Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference only to the exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the claims set forth below.