Patent Publication Number: US-2005121584-A1

Title: Illuminated jack stand

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to vehicle jack stands.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Vehicle jack stands have been around for years. They are used to support a car, truck, or other vehicle after the vehicle has first been lifted off of the ground by a moveable jack. Jack stands are especially useful when performing repairs from underneath the vehicle since they provide a safe and stable support on which the vehicle can be rested.  
      A persistent problem when performing repairs underneath a vehicle is poor visibility. This is due to the fact that the operator is working in the shadow of the vehicle. Moreover, when using jack stands, the vehicle is still positioned rather close to the ground. Consequently, the operator is forced to work on his or her back in the relatively small dark space underneath the vehicle.  
      As a result, operators typically must bring lights with them under the vehicle. Due to the small space available, such lights are typically just “bulb-on-a-cord” lighting systems consisting of a light bulb at the end of a power cord.  
      There are several problems working with this sort of lighting system. First, the light bulbs tend to get broken easily, either when hit by the operator or when inadvertently dropped on the ground. Second, the use of “bulb-on-a-cord” lighting systems typically results in a power cords being strewn over the ground under the vehicle. This is especially true when a large number of separate lights are used. In addition, when multiple lights are used, each must be plugged into a separate power outlet; and, each additional light results in an additional power cord strewn on the ground under the vehicle. Third, these lights are frequently placed directly on the ground to avoid casting shadows across the bottom of the vehicle. As such, the light bulbs are vulnerable to breakage. Fourth, the operator is continually re-positioning the various lights at different locations under the bottom of the vehicle. Thus, such “bulb-on-a-cord” systems require continuous handling by the operator. Fifth, when such “bulb-on-a-cord” lights are not simply placed on the floor, they are instead hung from various locations on the underside of the vehicle. Finding appropriate locations from which to hang these lights may be problematic. Moreover, should the light bulbs simply be hung from the bottom of the vehicle, they often tend to cast unwanted shadows across the underside of the vehicle. Thus, when the light bulb is placed on the ground, it is too low (i.e.: being vulnerable to breakage). Conversely, when the light source is hanging from the underside of the vehicle, it frequently is too high (i.e.: tending to cast unwanted shadows).  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides an illuminated jack stand for supporting a vehicle thereon. By integrating a light source into a jack stand, the present invention can be operated to provide a well lighted region underneath the vehicle in which a operator can comfortably work. As will be explained, the present invention provides lighting underneath a vehicle in a more convenient manner that can be achieved with existing “bulb-on-a-cord” systems. As such, the present invention overcomes the limitations of conventional “bulb-on-a-cord” systems.  
      In optional embodiments, the present invention provides power inlets and outlets on the jack stand itself. Thus, a further advantage of the present invention is that a plurality of jack stands can be connected to one another to provide lighting from different directions underneath the vehicle. For example, four illuminated jack stands may be used, each positioned under a corner of the vehicle. As such, the illumination provided by the four jack stands would also come from the corners of the vehicle, thus providing a uniform lighting distribution under the vehicle, which would minimize the potential for unwanted shadows.  
      An additional advantage to this interconnected illuminated jack stand approach is that the power cords running between the jack stands would only need to run around underneath the corners of the vehicle. Thus, there is no need for one or more power cords to run across the ground underneath the vehicle in the space where the operator is working. The present invention therefore avoids the need for operators to work with any lighting power cords strewn on the ground under the truck or car.  
      In preferred aspects, the present invention delivers light both at a preferred height and angle for illumination of the underside of the vehicle. In further optional embodiments, the light source may be rotated or tilted such that the direction or angle at which the light is delivered from the jack stand may be adjusted. Thus, it is possible to have different jack stands deliver light at different directions and angles from one another. This may be advantageous in providing optimal lighting underneath the vehicle.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of four illuminated jack stands, located under the four corners of a vehicle positioned thereabove. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      As seen in the attached FIGS., the present invention provides a vehicle jack stand  10  having a support body  20  with a vertically moveable post  22  received therein. Support body  22  may have a generally pyramidal shape, as shown. Such pyramidal shape provides stability to jack stand  10 . A mechanism  24  for controlling the vertical height of moveable post  22  with respect to support body  20  may also be included. Optionally, such mechanism  24  may include a ratchet.  
      A light  30  is mounted in support body  20 , as shown. During operation, jack stand  10  is positioned such that light source  30  illuminates underneath the vehicle (a corner or edge of which is supported by post  22  of jack stand  10 ).  
      As can be seen in the side view of  FIG. 3 , light source  30  may optionally be mounted in support body  20  so as to provide illumination at an upward angle. Specifically, light  30  may be disposed co-planar with one of the sides  21  of generally pyramidal shaped support body  20 . Thus, the center beam B of the light provided by light  30  would be directed perpendicular to side  21  (i.e.: at an upward angle ALPHA from the horizontal direction H). In optional preferred aspects, upward angle ALPHA may be from about 20 to 70 degrees horizontal direction H. In more preferred optional aspects, upward angle ALPHA may be from about 40 to 60 degrees horizontal direction H. It is to be understood that beam B represents only the center of the light distribution from light  30 . Thus, illumination is provided equally both above and below center beam B. A further advantage of having light source  30  mounted into side  21  of support body  20  is that it permits also light to be directed straight upwards in a vertical direction. Thus, the present invention can be used to provide illumination directly underneath the edge of a vehicle supported on post  22 . In preferred aspects, light  30  may optionally be a halogen lamp, offering the benefits of high intensity lighting at low power requirements. Moreover, in optional embodiments, the bulb of light  30  may itself be rotated (in the plane of side  21 ) to change the direction in which the beam B of light is delivered from light  30 .  
       FIG. 4  shows a rear view of the invention showing power inlet cord  50 . As can be seen, power inlet cord  50  can conveniently be coiled within the body of jack stand  10  itself.  
      In alternate embodiments of the present invention, light  30  may be mounted in support body  20  such that the angle at which the light is directed is adjustable. For example, light  30  may be mounted to support body  20  by pivots. Thus, an operator can simply pivot light  30  to direct more light upwardly or downwardly, as required. This feature of the invention may be useful when multiple jack stands (e.g.: 2 or 4 jack stands) are used under the vehicle, as it allows an operator/operator to point the light from different jack stands in different directions. This can be useful when working at different locations under the vehicle, or in simply creating optimal lighting conditions under the vehicle.  
       FIGS. 1 and 2  shows a further embodiment of the invention in which an optional dimmer (and/or motion sensor) switch  40  is provided. Dimmer switch  40  controls the intensity of light  30 , and is advantageous both in providing extra lighting when visibility is poor and in providing reduced lighting when light glare tends to distract the operator or impair his or her visibility. Moreover, dimmer switch  40  allows the light intensity levels to be varied to accommodate different sizes of vehicles placed on to the jack stand(s). A further advantage of dimmer switch  40  is apparent when multiple jack stands are used. Specifically, an operator can select the optimal light intensity delivered from each of the various light stands positioned under the vehicle. Thus, an operator can apply brighter illumination from one jack stand and dimmer illumination from another jack stand. Thus, more light can be provided at one location on the underside of the vehicle while still reducing the potential for unwanted shadows across the bottom of the vehicle. The present system of adjustable intensity lighting delivered from various jack stands is especially useful when the operator is working at different locations underneath the vehicle at different times (i.e. moving closer or farther away from each of the different jack stands).  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , dimmer switch  40  may be conveniently mounted to support body  20 . Alternatively, dimmer switch  40  may instead be a remote dimmer switch  40  that is not mounted to support body  20 . An advantage of having a remote dimmer switch  40  ( FIG. 4 ) is that the operator can conveniently adjust the intensity of light  30  while working either underneath the vehicle.  
      Optionally, switch  40  may include a motion sensor such that if an operator is away from the vehicle for a certain period of time, light  30  will automatically switch off. When the operator returns to the vehicle, sensor switch  40  will detect this motion and turn light  30  back on. Thus, it is to be understood that switch  40  may alternately comprise a dimmer, a motion sensor, or both.  
      As seen in FIGS.  1  to  4 , jack stand  10  may also include a power inlet  50  and one or more power outlets  52 . Such power inlets and outlets may be mounted directly into support body  20 , as shown. As can be seen, power outlet(s)  52  may preferably include a waterproof power outlet cover. Power inlet  50  provides a location in which to plug a power cord so as to illuminate light  30 . As shown, power inlet  50  may be a simple cord with a plug to which an extension cord is attached to power the device. However, the present invention is not so limited. For example, power inlet  50  may instead comprise a plug mounted on the body  20  of jack stand  10 . In such embodiments, the power cord may be a cord formed to coil up when not in use. As shown, power inlet  50  may be protected by a cover which attaches through support body  20  directly to power inlet  50 .  
      Power outlets  52  may be used to connect one illuminated jack stand to another. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , four jack stands  10 A,  10 B,  10 C and  10 D can be positioned under a car C (shown in dotted lines). A operator M is shown working under the car. As can be seen, power inlet  50  of jack stand  10 A may be connected to a wall main outlet  60 . Power inlet  50  of jack stand  10 B is connected to power outlet  52  of jack stand  10 A. Jack stand  10 C is similarly connected to jack stand  10 B; and jack stand  10 D is similarly connected to jack stand  10 C.  
      As can be seen, operator M is free to move about under car C without any lighting power cords in his/her way. Moreover, only one power outlet  60  is required to illuminate all four jack stands  10 A,  10 B,  10 C and  10 D. Conserving the number of power outlets used to provide illumination under the car is beneficial since operators typically require outlets for the operation of their power tools.  
      The present invention also includes the method of providing illumination under a vehicle, by: supporting a vehicle on a plurality of illuminated jack stands  10 , wherein each of jack stands  10  have a light source  30 , a power inlet  50  and one or more power outlets  52  mounted therein, wherein a power outlet  52  from a first jack stand  10 A is connected to a power inlet  50  from a second jack stand  10 B. In preferred aspects, the present invention also provides the method of adjusting the intensity of light sources  30  of the different jack stands  10  to different levels. Optionally, the present invention also provides the method of adjusting the angles of lights  30  in jack stands  10 A,  10 B,  10 C and  10 D to the horizontal; and optionally, different angles to one another.  
      The present invention further includes a kit including the illuminated jack stand, as described herein, and instructions for use setting forth one or more of the preferred methods of use, as described herein. Such instructions for use may be provided in a printed form, or in a machine readable format.