Patent Publication Number: US-11654871-B2

Title: Built-in vehicle jack

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/673,547, filed Nov. 4, 2019. The content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present application relates to a device that comprises a vehicle jack system that can be built-into into an automobile frame as a permanent accessory at the factory. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When a person driving a passenger car or truck gets a flat tire, they either have to use the manufacturer-provided tire jack and lug wrench. Or, if a driver has roadside assistance through their auto insurance or a separate plan, such as AAA, they have to call and wait for a tow truck or roadside assistance vendor to show up. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on location and time of day. People are busier than ever and the sooner that a driver can get a tired change and get back on the road, the better. Currently, no passenger automobile or truck comes with a built-in jack to allow a tire change without assistance or using the sometimes inadequate for uneven surfaces jack that cars come equipped with in their trunks. As a result, owners of automobiles are usually forced to call roadside assistance and have to wait until their help arrives. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is a built-in tire jack system that uses a vehicle&#39;s interface to hydraulic actuate lift arms to enable a driver to change a tire quickly and without the need to wait for assistance. Exemplary features of the invention include the ability to activate a single lift arm or a pair on either side of the vehicle near any of the four tires of a vehicle. The control system will either run through a vehicle&#39;s digital command center, if it has one or through switches on the dashboard. 
     On each side of the vehicle, there are a set of lift arms by each tire. Through the control system, one or both arms on either side are activated hydraulically. 
     When one or both arms on a side are activated, the hydraulic system provides pressure to them that initiates a movement in the two-arm assembly, causing it swing down towards the ground and then having the jack extend from the arm closest to the tire being jacked or both tires. 
     Further objects, features, advantages and properties of the system, according to the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description. 
     It is not convenient for the average driver to carry a high quality-high capacity jack in the trunk of a car due to the size, weight and space requirements. Additionally, many drivers are not comfortable using the small, manual scissor jacks that often accompany passenger vehicles, especially in less than ideal circumstances. If a car came with a tire jack system already built into the frame, it would be much easier for men or women to change a tire themselves and do so quickly. This is especially useful when a flat tire occurs in hot or inclement weather, unfamiliar neighborhoods, in desolate/between locations or during rush hour, late night or the small hours after midnight. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       In the drawings, which form a part of this specification, 
         FIG.  1    is a side elevation showing the built-in jack system at rest, including the hydraulic pump/tank and lines, 
         FIG.  2    is a side elevation view of the initial front jack arm deployment; 
         FIG.  3    is a side elevation view of the front jack arm extending down from the vehicle frame; 
         FIG.  4    is a side elevation view of the front jack arm extending perpendicular to the ground; 
         FIG.  5    is a side elevation view of the internal front jack extending perpendicular to the ground to lift a vehicle off of the ground; 
         FIG.  6    is a side elevation view of the initial rear jack arm deployment; 
         FIG.  7    is a side elevation view of the rear jack arm extending down from the vehicle frame; 
         FIG.  8    is a side elevation view of the rear jack arm extending perpendicular to the ground; 
         FIG.  9    is a side elevation view of the internal rear jack extending perpendicular to the ground to lift a vehicle off of the ground; 
         FIG.  10    is a front view of the security pad, pump selection buttons and pump status indicators, 
         FIG.  11    is an overhead view of the system, showing the hydraulic pump/tank and lines, 
         FIG.  12    is an angled side elevation view of the front jack attached and its frame bar; 
         FIG.  13    is an angled side elevation view of the initial front jack arm deployment; 
         FIG.  14    is an angled side elevation view of the front jack arm extending down from the vehicle frame; 
         FIG.  15    is an angled side elevation view of the front jack arm extending perpendicular to the ground; 
         FIG.  16    is an angled side elevation view of the internal front jack extending perpendicular to the ground to lift a vehicle off of the ground; 
         FIG.  17    is a side elevation of the initial jack arm deployment for both jacks on one side of a vehicle; 
         FIG.  18    is a side elevation view of the front and rear jack arm extending down from the vehicle frame; 
         FIG.  19    is a side elevation view of the front and rear jack arm extending perpendicular to the ground; 
         FIG.  20    is a side elevation view of the internal front and rear jacks extending perpendicular to the ground to lift a vehicle off of the ground. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, the built-in tire jack system (also referred as the “system”) for this application will be described by the embodiments. 
     The system is illustrated in  FIG.  1   . The figure presents a side elevation of a vehicle frame and tires with system components showing. The system begins with the hydraulic arm bar frame  100  that is attached to the bottom of the vehicle frame. Attached to the hydraulic arm bar frame  100  is the front forward fulcrum protrusion, e.g., pivot joint  101  that the front tire jack arm  103  is attached to fulcrum axle  102 . The first front tire jack arm  103  is connected to the front tire jack extension case  106  by a pivot joint  105  and front tire jack extension bar  108 . A second front tire jack arm includes the tire jack extension case  106  and the front tire jack extension bar  108 . The pivot joint  105  has a front tire jack arm fulcrum axle  104  attached between the front tire jack arm  103  and the front tire jack extension case  106 . 
     As the front tire jack arm  103  begins to hydraulically actuate, the front tire jack extension bar  108  extends from the front tire jack extension case  106 , connected by the front tire jack arm fulcrum axle  104 . Concurrently, the front tire jack extension case  106  rotates about fulcrum axle  109  that is contained within the front backward fulcrum protrusion, e.g., pivot joint  110 . When the front tire jack arm  103  is perpendicular to the ground, the front tire jack  107  extends down, lifting the vehicle off of the ground. Note that the distance between pivot joint  101  and pivot joint  110  is fixed. Also, this distance is less than a sum of the length of the front tire jack arm  103  and the sum of the lengths of the front tire jack extension case  106  and the front tire jack extension bar  108  when the jack is fully extended toward the ground. 
     The system continues with the hydraulic arm bar frame  120 , which has the rear backward fulcrum protrusion, e.g., pivot joint  123  that the rear tire jack arm  119  is attached to fulcrum axle  121 . The rear tire jack arm  119  is connected to the rear tire jack extension case  113  by a pivot joint  117 . The pivot joint  117  has a rear tire jack arm fulcrum axle  118  attached between the rear tire jack arm  119  and the rear tire jack extension case  113 . 
     As the rear tire jack bar  119  begins to hydraulically actuate, the rear tire jack extension bar  116  extends from the rear tire jack extension case  113 , connected by the rear tire jack arm fulcrum axle  118 . Concurrently, the rear tire jack extension case  113  rotates about fulcrum axle  111  that is contained within the rear forward fulcrum protrusion, e.g., pivot joint  112 . When the rear tire jack arm  119  is perpendicular to the ground, the rear tire jack  115  extends down, lifting the vehicle off of the ground. 
     The dual hydraulic pumps and tanks  122  transfer force to the jack arms, independently or in tandem, through the hydraulic lines  114 . 
       FIG.  2    presents that same side elevation from  FIG.  1   , showing how the front tire jack would start to deploy. An electric motor in the fulcrum axle  102  causes the front tire jack arm  103  to rotate downward, mechanically pulling the front tire jack extension bar  108  out of the front tire extension case  106  by a small distance to get it rotating about fulcrum axle  109 , which is connected to pivot joint  105  through the front tire jack arm fulcrum axle  104 . 
       FIG.  3    presents that same side elevation from  FIG.  2   , showing the extension of the jack leg towards the ground. The front tire jack extension bar  108  begins to hydraulically extend further from the front tire extension case  106 , rotating about fulcrum axle  109 , causing the front tire jack arm  103  to swing downward further. 
       FIG.  4    presents the same side elevation from  FIG.  3   , showing the jack arm being extended perpendicular to the ground. When fully extended from the front tire extension case  106 , the front tire jack extension bar  108  has the front tire jack arm  103  perpendicular or close to perpendicular to the ground. The front tire jack  107  and its footing will be pointing at the surface for the last stage of the lifting process. 
       FIG.  5    presents the same side elevation from  FIG.  4   , showing the jack being extended from the jack arm, providing lift to the vehicle. As the front tire jack extension bar  108  continues to come out of the front tire extension case  106 , an inner extension sleeve  130  also comes out of the front tire extension case  106  until they and the front tire jack arm  103  are locked into the approximately perpendicular position to the ground and the front tire jack  107  extends to the ground and lifts the vehicle until an inflated tire would be approximately 3 inches off of the ground, depending on the vehicle model. 
       FIG.  6    presents that same side elevation from  FIG.  1   , showing how the rear tire jack would start to deploy. An electric motor in the fulcrum axle  121  causes the rear tire jack arm  119  to rotate downward, mechanically pulling the rear tire jack extension bar  116  out of the rear tire extension case  113  by a small distance to get it rotating about fulcrum axle  111 , which is connected to the pivot joint  117  through the rear tire jack arm fulcrum axle  118 . 
       FIG.  7    presents that same side elevation from  FIG.  6   , showing the extension of the jack leg towards the ground. The rear tire jack extension bar  116  begins to hydraulically extend further from the rear tire extension case  113 , rotating about fulcrum axle  111 , causing the rear tire jack arm  119  to swing downward further. 
       FIG.  8    presents the same side elevation from  FIG.  7   , showing the jack arm being extended perpendicular to the ground. When fully extended from the rear tire extension case  113 , the rear tire jack extension bar  116  has the rear tire jack arm  119  perpendicular or close to perpendicular to the ground. The rear tire jack  115  and its footing will be pointing at the surface for the last stage of the lifting process. 
       FIG.  9    presents the same side elevation from  FIG.  8   , showing the jack being extended from the jack arm, providing lift to the vehicle. As the rear tire jack extension bar  116  continues to come out of the rear tire extension case  113 , an inner extension sleeve  131  also comes out of the rear tire extension case  113  until they and the rear tire jack arm  119  are locked into the approximately perpendicular position to the ground and the rear tire jack  115  extends to the ground and lifts the vehicle until an inflated tire would be approximately 3 inches off of the ground, depending on the vehicle model. 
       FIG.  10    shows the display and control for the built-in jack system. The top of the control pad has power indicator lights  124  to indicate whether the system is on or not. Users will have to enter a code on security pad  126  that shows in the code display  125 . The control also has a system status indicator  127  that uses text to let the user know when the system is ready and permitted to be activated. Once active, the user may select up to 2 complimentary jack actions from the activation buttons  128 —an individual jack, two on the same side, the two front jacks or the two rear jacks. So that the user knows what is going on at all times, they can view the status of the jacks in the jack position and force display  129 . 
       FIG.  11    is an overhead view of the hydraulic system with dual hydraulic pumps and tanks  122  in the trunk transferring force through the hydraulic lines  114  to the various jack positions. 
       FIG.  12    is a separate angled view of the front tire jack system at rest, as shown in  FIG.  1   . 
       FIG.  13    is a separate angled view of the initial front jack arm deployment, as shown in  FIG.  2   . 
       FIG.  14    is a separate angled view of the front jack arm extending down from the vehicle frame, as shown in  FIG.  3   . 
       FIG.  15    is a separate angled view of the front jack arm extending perpendicular to the ground, as shown in  FIG.  4   . 
       FIG.  16    is a separate angled view of the internal front jack extending perpendicular to the ground to lift a vehicle off of the ground, as shown in  FIG.  5   . 
       FIG.  17    is a side elevation showing the initial jack arm deployment for both jacks on one side of a vehicle. 
       FIG.  18    is a side elevation showing the front and rear jack arm extending down from the vehicle frame on one side of a vehicle. 
       FIG.  19    is a side elevation showing the front and rear jack arm extending perpendicular to the ground on one side of a vehicle. 
       FIG.  20    is a side elevation showing the internal front and rear jacks extending perpendicular to the ground to lift a vehicle off of the ground on one side of a vehicle.