Abstract:
A transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation is disclosed. The transmission jack and apparatus includes a bottom frame mounted on a plurality of wheels. Pivotally attached to the bottom frame is a pair of hinge elements that support a plurality of support bars, with the support bars always remaining parallel to a ground surface. The support bars can be raised or lower through a pair of metal cylinders and internal rods which are hooked up to a hydraulic pump. A handle attached to the hydraulic pump allows an individual to raise or lower the plurality of support bars by pumping an oil-based hydraulic fluid into the pair of metal cylinders, thereby pushing the out the internal rods, which then engage the hinge elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is that of a new and improved transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,430, issued to McClellan, discloses a lifting platform with a scissor type jack. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,556, issued to Lanphear, discloses an adjustable height table that includes a base frame, a slider frame assembly, a generally planar support surface and a lifting mechanism. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is that of a new and improved transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation. The transmission jack and apparatus comprises a bottom frame mounted on a plurality of wheels. Pivotally attached to the bottom frame is a pair of hinge elements that support a plurality of support bars, with the support bars always remaining parallel to a ground surface. The support bars can be raised or lower through a pair of metal cylinders and internal rods which are hooked up to a hydraulic pump. A handle attached to the hydraulic pump allows an individual to raise or lower the plurality of support bars by pumping an oil-based hydraulic fluid into the pair of metal cylinders, thereby pushing the out the internal rods, which then engage the hinge elements. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation in detail, it is to be understood that the transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation which is of durable and reliable construction. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a transmission jack and apparatus that can raise and lower heavy objects between a floor surface and a higher elevation which is economically affordable and available for relevant market segments of the purchasing public. 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of the present invention in an upright position. 
       FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of the present invention in a lowered position. 
       FIG. 2  shows a close-up perspective view of the left and right hinge elements of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of the support bars used to successfully hold a transmission or other heavy object. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the support bars used to successfully hold a transmission or other heavy object. 
       FIG. 5  shows a close-up perspective view showing the connectivity between a hinge element to a rod within a cylinder. 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of the pair of stabilizer bars. 
       FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the pair of stabilizer bars. 
       FIG. 8  shows how the apparatus is holding a transmission or other heavy object. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of the present invention in an upright position, while  FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of the present invention in a lowered position. The present invention is essentially a transmission &amp; parts assistance apparatus  2  that is used in conjunction with vehicles, preferably trucks and automobiles. The present invention works best when using the apparatus  2  to lift a transmission off of a floor into an off-the-floor position for either working on the transmission or other heavy parts or assist an individual in placing the transmission back within an automobile. The apparatus  2  can be also used in the reverse context to lower a removed heavy object to ground level. Alternatively, the apparatus  2  could be used to lower or raise other items of heavy equipment that are not necessarily limited to automobile or truck components. 
   Apparatus  2  comprises a bottom frame  4  that has two ends, a front end and a rear end, and has two sides, a left side and a right side. Bottom frame  4  is comprised of two separate portions which comprise a support frame  6  and a mounting frame  8 . Support frame  6  itself comprises a left bar  7  and a right bar  9 , with each bar having two ends, a first end and a second end. Rotatable wheels  11  and  13  are attached to the first end of left bar  7  and right bar  9 , respectively, while the second end of each bar is fixedly attached to the mounting frame  8 . Rotatable wheels  11  and  13  can also be designed to be castor wheels. 
   The mounting frame  8  has is a U-shaped bracket that comprises a front mounting bracket  20 , a left mounting bracket  22 , and a right mounting bracket  24 . Each bracket of the mounting frame  8  has two ends, a first end and a second end, and furthermore, has two side surfaces, a top side surface and a bottom side surface. Furthermore, each bracket of the mounting frame  8  has two sides, an inner side and an outer side. 
   The second end of the left mounting bracket  22  is fixedly attached to the first end of the front mounting bracket  20 , while the second end of the right mounting bracket  24  is fixedly attached to the second end of the front mounting bracket  20 . Left mounting bracket  22  and right mounting bracket  24  are parallel to one another, giving the mounting frame  8  a U-shape. The second end of the left bar  7  is fixedly attached to the bottom side surface of the left mounting bracket  22 , while the second end of the right bar  9  is fixedly attached to the bottom side surface of the right mounting bracket  24 . Wheels  15  and  17  are rotatably attached to the bottom side surface of left mounting bracket  22  and right mounting bracket  24 , respectively. Rotatable wheels  15  and  17  can also be designed to be castor wheels. 
   Additional framing elements are present. Support bracket  26  has two ends, a first end and a second end, and furthermore, has two side surfaces comprising a top side surface and a bottom side surface. The first end of support bracket  26  is attached to the inner side of the left mounting bracket  22 , while the second end of support bracket  26  attached to the inner side of the right mounting bracket  24 . 
   Hydraulic pump  28  is mounted on the top side surface of support bracket  26  and the top side surface of front mounting bracket  20 . Pump  28  has two ends, a first end and a second end, with the first end having an opening  30  to which a T-joint  32  is attached. Pump  28  has a volume of hydraulic fluid  34  located within it, with the hydraulic fluid  34  preferably being some oil-based product. Lever  36 , having two ends, an attached end and a free end, has the attached end pivotally attached to the hydraulic pump  28  near the first end of the pump  28 . 
   Apparatus  2  has two metal cylinders  38  and  40  which each have two ends, a first end and a second end. The second end of each cylinder is attached to the inner side surface of the front mounting bracket  20 , with each cylinder facing slightly downward going from the second end to the first end of each cylinder. The first end of each cylinder has an opening  42 , with a cylindrical metal rod  44  located within it. 
   Tubes  46  and  48  each have two ends, a first end and a second end, with the first end of each tube connected to the T-joint. The second end of tube  46  is attached to the cylinder  38  near the second end of cylinder  38 , while the second end of tube  48  is attached to the cylinder  40  near the second end of the cylinder  40 . The second end of each tube has an internal cavity  50  which is contiguous with the inside of the appropriately attached tube and the volume of hydraulic fluid  34  located within the hydraulic pump  28 . 
   By grasping the free end of the lever  36  and pumping in an up-and-down manner, a small amount of volume of hydraulic fluid  34  is ejected from the hydraulic pump  28  and travels through the tubes  46  and  48  into the cylinders  38  and  40 . This causes the pressure within each cavity  50  to build to an extent, causing the pressure to push the two rods  44  outward. To relieve the pressure on the rods  44 , an individual can grasp the free end of the lever  36  and twist it slightly, allowing the hydraulic fluid within the cavities  50  to have an opening to travel back within the hydraulic pump  28 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , apparatus  2  also has two hinge elements comprising a left hinge element  60  and a right hinge element  62 . The second end of a rod  44  is shown attached to hinge element  62 . Each hinge element has two portions, a front hinge element  64  and a rear hinge element  66 , with each of these two pieces having two ends, a first end and a second end. The first end of each rear hinge element  66  is fixedly attached to the second end of the front hinge element  64  at about a 120 degree angle. The second end of rod  44  is attached to the first end of the front hinge element  64 . Hinge mounting rod  68  has two ends, a first end and a second end, with the first end of the hinge mounting rod  68  fixedly attached to the inner side of left mounting bracket  22 , while the second end of the hinge mounting rod  68  is fixedly attached to the inner side of right mounting bracket  24 . The second end of the front hinge element  64  of left hinge element  60  is mounted on the hinge mounting rod  68  near the first end of the hinge mounting rod  68 , while the second end of the front hinge element  64  of right hinge element  62  is mounted on the hinge mounting rod  68  near the second end of the hinge mounting rod  68 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , inward or outward movement of the second end of a rod  44  causes the hinge element  62  to move about its attachment point on the hinge mounting rod  68 . When the second end of rod  44  pushes the first end of the front hinge element  64  inward and downward, the second end of each rear hinge element  66  goes upward. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  show a side views and perspective views, respectively, of the support bars used to successfully hold a transmission or other heavy object. First level support bars  70  and  72  each have two end, a first end and a second end. The first end of first level support bar  70  is attached to the top side of the rear hinge element  66  of hinge element  60 , while the first end of the first level support bar  72  is attached to the top side of the rear hinge element  66  of hinge element  62 . 
   Second level support bars  74  and  76  each have two end, a first end and a second end. The second end of second level support bar  74  is pivotally attached to second end of first level support bar  70 , and is located above the first level support bar  70 . Furthermore, the second end of second level support bar  76  is pivotally attached to second end of first level support bar  72 , and is located above the first level support bar  72 . 
   Top level support bars  80  and  82  each have two end, a first end and a second end. The first end of second level support bar  74  is fixedly attached to the first end of top level support bar  80  by bracket  84  and is located above the second level support bar  74 . The first end of second level support bar  76  is fixedly attached to the first end of top level support bar  82  by bracket  86  and is located above the second level support bar  76 . Each connection point between the top level support bars  80  and  82  with the second level support bars  74  and  76  is only slightly pivotal. Brackets  84  and  86 , respectively, allow the second end of each top level support bar to move upward or downward a little bit, but the second end of each second level support bar is immobile and generally is not pivotable about the brackets. 
   Top level support bars  80  and  82  each have two sides, a top end and a bottom end, and furthermore, have two sides, an inner side and an outer side. The top end of each top level support bar has several ovaloid grooves  88 , with each groove designed to allow a chain  90  from a chain link  92  to be placed into it. 
   Threaded rods  100  and  102  are present to provide support to the top level support bars  80  and  82  once a transmission is placed on top of them. Threaded rod  100  is attached to the outer side of top level support bar  80  and the second level support bar  74  near the second end of each, while threaded rod  102  is attached to the outer side of top level support bar  82  and the second level support bar  76  near the second end of each. Nuts  104  are fixedly attached to both the second ends of threaded rods  100  and  102  and the second ends of second level support bars  74  and  76 . The middle nut  104  on each of the threaded rods  100  and  102  are attached to a location on the threaded rods  100  and  102  that have right-handed threaded, while the top nut  104  on each of the threaded rods  100  and  102  are attached to a location on the threaded rods  100  and  102  that have left-handed threaded. 
   Once each threaded rod is inserted through a set of nuts on the second end of a particular second level support bar and the second end of a particular top level support bar, then each threaded rod provides adjustment to perfectly align the transmission into its recess and also to provide extra stabililty and support to the apparatus  2  once it is holding a transmission. 
   Side support bars  106  and  108  provide stability and keeps bars  80 ,  82 ,  74 , and  76  in a level position when raised or lowered, as determined by the weight of the part. These support bars are clearly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , which shows a perspective close-up view of side support bar  108 . Side support bars  106  and  108  each have two ends, a first end and a second end, with the first end of the side support bar  106  being attached to the outer side of the top level support bar  80  near the first side of the top level support bar  80 , while the second end of the side support bar  106  is attached to the left mounting bracket  22 . The first end of the side support bar  108  is attached to the outer side of the top level support bar  82  near the first side of the top level support bar  82 , while the second end of the side support bar  108  is attached to the right mounting bracket  24 . The length of each of the side support bars  106  and  108  is fixed, as it is just designed to keep the apparatus  2  level when it is holding a heavy object. 
     FIG. 5  shows a close-up perspective view showing the connectivity between hinge element  62  to rod  44  within cylinder  40 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  show top and perspective views, respectively, of the stabilizer bars  110  and  112 . The stabilizer bars  110  and  112  are essentially set up in an X-pattern and bolted against the side of the inner side of the hinge elements  60  and  62 . A connector plate  114  attaches the two stabilizer bars  110  and  112  to one another. The main purpose of the stabilizer bars  110  and  112  is to ensure that bars  70  and  72  are in unison when the apparatus  2  is raised and lowered. 
     FIG. 8  shows how the apparatus is holding a transmission  116 . To get into this position, the lever  36  on the hydraulic pump  28  is turned and downward pressure is placed on the top level support bars, causing all the support bars to compress, as seen in  FIG. 1A . Then, the apparatus  2  is placed so that the two vertical layers of support bars are on either side of a transmission on a floor surfaced. Then, a pair of chains  90  are draped over various ovaloid grooves  88  on the top level support bars  80  and  82 . Because the ovaloid grooves&#39; shape, the chain is “stuck” in the position set. The chains would be configured to wrap underneath crucial holding points on the transmission  116  and also be configured so that there is no slack in each chain  90 . 
   Then, the lever  36  on the pump  28  would be pumped downward and upward in a repetitive manner. As previously described, each individual “pumping motion” on the pump  28  sends a small volume of hydraulic fluid  34  located within the hydraulic pump  28  through tubes  46  and  48  and into the internal cavities  50  of the cylinders  38  and  40 . This causes the rods  44  to push outward, turning each of the hinge elements. The turning of each of the hinge elements in the manner discussed causes the entire network of support bars to slowly “rise” with each pumping motion on the lever  36  of pump  28 , causing the transmission  116  to slowly rise off of the floor. The presence of the lifting arms allow for easy mobility of the transmission  116  or other heavy object once it is sufficiently off of the ground surface. They also allow for easy placement of the transmission  116  or other heavy object back to a desired location after it has been serviced. 
   In various alternative embodiments of the present invention, the hydraulic pump  28  and the cylinders  38  and  40  can have different sizes and can also be placed in different positions on the apparatus  2 . One of the important determining factors as to size of the hydraulic pump  28  and the cylinders  38  and  40  is what the desired use of the present invention would be.