Patent Publication Number: US-2023137494-A1

Title: Expandable car jack

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/462,229, filed Aug. 31, 2021, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to vehicle jacks, and, more particularly, relates to bases used in junction with car jacks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mechanical devices used to lift heavy loads (commonly referred to as “jacks”) are well known and used for a variety of different applications, including vehicle maintenance and repairing or changing tires, among other things. A common jack employed by many vehicle manufacturers is the “scissor” jack, or a jack utilizing threading or “jackscrew” that causes lifting arms to pivot and raise or lower a lifting surface on the scissor jack depending on the rotation of the jackscrew. The scissor jack has been used for decades and is desirous for many vehicle manufacturers because it is generally reliable, generally maintenance free, and relatively compact when placed in a collapsed (non-lifting) position. 
     One significant problem with vehicle jacks, particularly scissor jacks, is the lack of stability when placed in a raised (lifting) position. This lack of stability generates an unsafe environment for users of the jacks, leading to many injuries and even fatalities over the years. The lack of stability and increased chance for user injury is exacerbated when the vehicle jack is utilized in combination with an unstable or uneven ground surface upon which the jack rests. Over the years, there have been some advances to increase stability and reduce injuries. These advances, however, have their own associated disadvantages. 
     A few well-known methods and devices utilized to increase stability include the use of one or more “jack stands”, telescoping bases, collapsible bases, and other applicable features. However, the aforementioned configurations and associated features suffer from similar issues such as, but not limited to lack of ability to generate stable surfaces for the car jack to rest on that simultaneously eliminate any wobbling or other movements of the jack. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,982,642 discloses a lifting jack including a nested jack base configured to come into contact with a surface serving as the foundation of support for the lifting jack. However, an apparent flaw with the lifting jack is that due to the design and configuration of the nested jack base there is a significant lack of contact points between the base and the surface. This can be a major issue when attempting to stabilize the weight of a car on an uneven surface, which upon exposure to any unexpected forces will result in the vehicle moving or even possibly falling off of the lifting jack entirely. 
     Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above. In particular, what is needed is an expandable carjack designed to support multiple configurations while allowing the carjack to be in direct and stable contact with both stable and unstable surfaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides an expandable car jack base that overcome the herein aforementioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an expandable car jack base, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an expandable car jack that includes a vehicle lifting assembly including an upper lifting member; a lower lifting member mechanically coupled to the upper lifting member; a lifting mechanism capable of moving the upper lifting member to a plurality of raised height positions; and a base coupled to the vehicle lifting assembly, the base including: a first base support member; a second base support member; and a base support coupler operable to selectively couple the first base support member to the second base support member in at least a first coupling position and a second coupling position, wherein the base support coupler selectively: mechanically maintains a parallel alignment and a perpendicular alignment of the first base support member and the second base support member when the base support coupler is in the first coupling position; allows the first base support member and the second base support member to freely move between the parallel alignment and the perpendicular alignment when the base support coupler is in the second coupling position; and remains mechanically coupled to the first base support member in the first and second coupling positions so that the first base support member cannot move with respect to the second base support member without a mechanical alteration to the base support coupler prior to moving either the first base support member or the second base support member. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the first and second base support members include threads sized to mate with corresponding threads on the base support coupler. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, in some embodiments, the base support coupler includes a head; a foot; and a length separating the head and the foot, the length having a threaded section and an unthreaded section. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the first base support member and the second base support member each define an aperture therein and the foot of the base support coupler has a dimension that is larger than the apertures. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the first base support member provides stability to the vehicle lifting assembly in a first and a second vector when in the second coupling position; and the second base support member provides stability to the vehicle lifting assembly in a third and a fourth vector when in the second coupling position, the first and second vectors being substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth vectors. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for utilizing an expandable car jack including disengaging a base support coupler from a first base support member; rotating the first base support member with respect to a second base support member from a parallel alignment to a perpendicular alignment; and mechanically engaging the base support coupler with the first base support member so that the base support coupler prevents the first base support member from rotating with respect to the second base support member. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the aforementioned method further includes disengaging the base support coupler from the first base support member; rotating the first base support member with respect to a second base support member from the perpendicular alignment to the parallel alignment; mechanically engaging the base support coupler with the first base support member so that the base support coupler prevents the first base support member from rotating with respect to the second base support member. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the aforementioned method further includes lifting, via a lifting mechanism, the upper lifting member to a plurality of raised height positions; wherein the base support coupler mechanically maintains the parallel alignment of the first base support member and the second base support member when the first base support member and the second base support member are in the first coupling position; and wherein the base support coupler mechanically maintains the perpendicular alignment of the first base support member and the second base support member when the first base support member and the second base support member are in the second coupling position. 
     Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale. 
     Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. 
     As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the jack spanning from a first end to a second end when the jack is in a collapsed position. As described herein, the term “perpendicular” should be understood to mean perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an expandable car jack with a base in a perpendicular position, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the expandable car jack of  FIG.  1    with the base in a stacked vertical configuration, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of the base of the expandable car jack of  FIG.  1   , with the base in the stacked configuration and a threaded base support coupler in a second coupling position, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    is a close-up view of the base of the expandable car jack of  FIG.  3   , showing the threaded base support coupler in the second coupling position, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    is a close-up view of the base of the expandable car jack of  FIG.  1   , showing the threaded base support coupler in a first coupling position, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    is an elevational side view of the expandable car jack of  FIG.  2    in the stacked vertical configuration, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    is an elevational bottom view of the expandable car jack of  FIG.  2    in the stacked vertical configuration, according to an example embodiment; and 
         FIG.  8    is a flow chart diagram illustrating an exemplary method for utilizing an expandable car jack, according to an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. 
     The present invention provides a novel and efficient expandable car jack configured to include a vehicle lifting assembly, a base having base support members coupled to the vehicle lifting assembly, and a base support coupler. Embodiments of the invention provide lifting members and a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the expandable car jack at a plurality of heights while the base supports various coupling positions configured to provide the optimal configuration for safely and securely retaining a vehicle while on the expandable car jack. For example, embodiments of the invention provide mechanisms for the base support coupler to mechanically maintain a first coupling position in which the base support members are aligned in a parallel manner (longitudinal manner if the jack is in a collapsed state) or perpendicularly in a locked and secured manner via the base coupler, and a second coupling position in which the base support members are bound in a configuration in which they move freely vertically respective to the base coupler. In addition, the base support members are configured to be detachably affixed to each other via the base support coupler in the first coupling position. In both coupling positions the base support coupler interlaces through apertures of each the base support members while a planar surface of the bottommost base support member is configured to be in direct contact with the surface stabilizing the expandable car jack. Thus, the expandable car jack and supporting methods significantly reduce the amount of risks and hazards associated with stabilizing a vehicle on a car jack regardless of the surface in direct contact with the bottommost base support member being stable or unstable. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  1   , an expandable car jack  100  is depicted in a perspective downward-looking view, according to an exemplary embodiment. In one embodiment, jack  100  includes a vehicle lifting assembly  102  coupled to an expandable base  104 . In some embodiments, expandable base  104  includes a first base support member  106  and a second base support member  108  wherein base support members  106  and  108  are configured to be assembled together via an inventive base support coupler  200 , which is shown in detail in  FIGS.  2 - 5    and will be described in detail below. It is to be understood that base support members  106  and  108  are configured to be rotatably connected to each other by the base support coupler, allowing the lower ground contacting supporting area of car jack  100  to be increased, which provides enhanced support for the raising and lowering of vehicle lifting assembly  102 . The increase in supporting area reduces opportunity for forces to cause jack  100  to tilt or collapse, particularly in situations where the surface in contact with the bottommost base support member is uneven. 
     In some embodiments, vehicle lifting assembly  102  includes a lifting surface  110  configured to be raised to a plurality of heights respective to a contact point in which the bottommost base support member of base support members  106  and  108  is in direct contact with the applicable underlying surface. In some embodiments, base support members  106  and  108  are configured to be interchangeable. Arrow  112  indicates the translating capabilities of lifting surface  110  in which in a preferred embodiment, the movement to the plurality of raised height positions is a vertical movement that correlates to arrow  112 . In some embodiments, vehicle lifting assembly  102  may further include a plurality of hinged members  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120  in which each hinged member  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120  is configured to be coupled by a screw  122 . It is to be understood that the screw  122  may be one or more screws, nuts/bolts, or the like; however, the screw  122  is configured to expand or reduce a width  124  spacing the plurality of hinged members  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120  from each other. 
     Base support members  106  and  108  are configured to support vehicle lifting assembly  102  in lifting the lifting surface  110  in order to transition through the plurality of raised heights determined based upon both the amount and direction of force applied by the user to screw  122 . In one embodiment, screw  122  is a spindle and spindle mount combination configured to receive torque movements from the user in order to extend or retract the height of vehicle lifting assembly  102  resulting in width  124  being adjusted accordingly. For example, if the user applies a clockwise torque movement to screw  122 , then lifting surface  110  translates upward in accordance with arrow  112  resulting in plurality of hinges  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120  scaling and/or contracting inward towards each other reducing width  124 . If the user applies a counterclockwise torque movement to screw  122 , then lifting surface  110  translates downward resulting in plurality of hinges  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120  expanding outwards away from each other increasing width  124 . In some embodiments, expandable base  104  may be utilized with hydraulic lifts or other pneumatic lifting assemblies to generate the lifting force necessary to translate lifting surface  110  upward to raise a vehicle. 
     It is to be understood that  FIG.  1    shows several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in several shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components. For example, lifting surface  110  may be any applicable mechanism configured to facilitate the raising and lowering of lifting assembly  102  in a secure manner. It is to be understood that jack  100  is configured to be transportable and further configured to be composed of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, composites, ceramics, polymeric materials such as polycarbonates, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS plastic), Lexan™, Makrolon™, or any combination thereof. It is also to be understood that  FIG.  1    depicts base support members  106  and  108  in a first coupling position which is sustained by a base support coupler, wherein the first coupling position is a locked and secured position assuring retention of the position of base support members  106  and  108  configured to sustain placement of the vehicle on lifting surface  110  for raising to the plurality of heights. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  2   , a perspective view of the expandable jack is depicted, according to an exemplary embodiment. A base support coupler  200  is in proximate and/or direct contact with the base support members  106 ,  108 , in which base support coupler  200  is designed and configured to mechanically maintain retention and alignment of the base support members  106  and  108  in the first position regardless of the base support members  106 ,  108  being in a perpendicular or parallel configuration. In some embodiments, each of the base support members  106 ,  108  further include an indention  202  configured to serve as a junction point between the base support members  106 ,  108 . In a preferred embodiment, base support coupler  200  is configured to occupy at least a portion of the indention  202  of the one or more base support members  106 ,  108 . In some embodiments, the indentions  202  are complementary in addition to being shaped and sized to receive one another, allowing base support coupler  200  to maintain the affixing of the base support members  106 ,  108  in a manner in which there is minimal distance between the base support members  106 ,  108  in the coupled position (as best depicted in  FIG.  5   ). 
     In some embodiments, the base support members  106 ,  108  are identical shape, length, and width in which each of the base support members support a plurality of various sized grooves and/or contours. In some embodiments, the base support members  106 ,  108  may include one or more recesses to allow for nested fitting of the entire body of the second base support member  108  within the first base support member  106  (as depicted best in  FIG.  2   ). In a preferred embodiment, indention  202  is centrally allocated along the body of the base support members  106 ,  108 , wherein the dimensions of indention  202  is subject to the overall size of the base support members  106 ,  108 . The allocation of indention  202  allows at least a central portion of the second base support member  108  to perfectly fit into indention  202  of the first base support member  106  resulting in a nested-like formation wherein a portion of the body of first base support member  106  may be situated within indention  202  of the second base support  108 . As a result, the base support members  106 ,  108  in the perpendicular configuration are coplanar with the applicable surface that expandable base  104  is situated upon; however, in the parallel configuration only second base support member  108  makes contact with the applicable surface that expandable base  104  is situated upon, due to the nested-like formation of the support members  106 ,  108  (as depicted best in  FIG.  7   ). In other words, when base support members  106 ,  108  are in a vertically stacked parallel configuration in the first coupling position, the topmost base support member  106  is nested in the bottommost base support member  108 , which provides roughly the same support as prior art jacks. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , a cross sectional view of the base  104  of the expandable jack  100  is illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment. In some embodiments, ideally each base support member  106 ,  108  includes at least an aperture configured to be penetrated by a base support coupler  300 . For example, the first base support member  106  may include a first base support member aperture  302  and the second base support member  108  may include a second base support member aperture  304 , wherein base support coupler  300  may include a head  306 , a foot  308 , and a length  310  extending from head  306  to foot  308 . In some embodiments, foot  308  is configured to be proximate to first base support member aperture  302  and head  306  is configured to be proximate to second base support member aperture  304 . As depicted, base support coupler  300  is in a second coupling position allowing free movement of base support coupler  300  between the parallel alignment and the perpendicular alignment; in particular, by lack of affixed engagement of base support coupler  300  with apertures  302  and  304 . In some embodiment, the dimensions of foot  308  are configured to be larger than base support member apertures  302  and  304  forcing length  310  to be confined between the base support members  106 ,  108  and allowing the base support members  106 ,  108  to vertically traverse base support coupler  300  when base support coupler  300  is not in the first coupling position. In some embodiments, length  310  includes at least a threaded wall section  312  and an unthreaded wall section  314 , wherein threaded wall section  312  is configured to be integrated with one or more complementary threaded members associated with first base support member aperture  302 . However, in the second coupling position there is no engagement between threaded wall section  312  and apertures  302  and  304  which allows at least base support coupler  106  to vertically traverse base support coupler  300  within the range from contact with base support coupler  108  in the vertically stacked position up to foot  308 . It is to be understood that the purpose of vertical traversing of base support member  106  allows the range of rotational movements of base support member  106  relative to base support coupler  300  when base support member  106  is not in direct contact with base support member  108  (as depicted in  FIG.  3   ). Base support member  106  not being in engaged contact with base support member  108  in the vertically stacked parallel configuration or the perpendicular configuration allows 360° rotation of base support member  108  relative to base support coupler  300  when in the second coupling position. As described herein, engaged contact is the integrated coupling of the threads of base coupler support  300  to the complementary threads of one or more of the aforementioned apertures. In some embodiments, the second coupling position allows rotational movement of first base support  106 ; however, this rotational movement may be limited in respect to the rotation of base support coupler  300 . The second coupling position seeks to allow placement of alignment of first base support  106  with respect to second base support  108 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  4   , a partial cross-sectional view of the base  104  of  FIG.  3    is depicted, accordingly to an exemplary embodiment. It is to be understood that foot  308  of the base support coupler  300  includes a lip  402  configured to have a width and/or a circumference of greater size than aperture  302  to ensure that base support coupler  300  maintains substantially continuous contact with the base support members  106 ,  108 . Lip  402  is configured to endure one or more strong forces and may be integrated into base support coupler  300  and/or detachably affixed to foot  308  in certain embodiments. In some embodiments, lip  402  is spaced and allocated in a manner in which aperture  302  is positioned between lip  402  and threaded wall section  312 . It is to be understood that the complementary threaded members are configured to allow base support coupler  300  to securely retain the position and location of base support members  106  and  108  when base support coupler  300  is in the first coupling position, but there is little to no engaged contact in the second position. Base support member  106  moves independent from the second support member  108  so that the base support members  106 ,  108  can be moved into their desired position. A separation of the support members  106 ,  108  is illustrated in  FIG.  4   , where the non-threaded portion of the base support coupler  300  is configured to be within the aperture  302  but is not retained in aperture  302 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  5   , a partial cross-sectional view of base coupler  300  in the first coupling position and base support members  106  and  108  in the vertically stacked parallel configuration is depicted, accordingly to an exemplary embodiment. The purpose of this configuration is to ensure that threaded wall section  312  is coupled to aperture  302  via the integration with a series of complementary threaded members  502  configured to be allocated within the aperture  302 . When base support coupler  300  is in the first coupling position, minimal to no movement of the base support members  106 ,  108  is possible due to the retention/engaged contact of each base support member via the tight retentive coupling of threaded wall section  312  and the complementary threaded members  502  within the aperture  302 . Thus, base support coupler  300  couples with threaded wall section  312  generating a locked retention of the base support members. It is to be understood that base support coupler  300  may be a screw, nut/bolt, peg, rivet, or any other applicable mechanism for affixing. In some embodiments, second base support member aperture  304  includes complementary threaded members allowing base support coupler  300  to be affixed to both apertures  302  and  304  in the first coupling position regardless of the base support members being in the stacked vertical configuration or stacked perpendicular configuration strengthening the support for the vehicle. The length of threaded wall section  312  may be allocated based on the configuration of base support coupler  300 . A longer length allows coupling of threaded wall section  312  to complementary threaded members  502  of both apertures  302  and  304  in a stacked manner as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
     When the base support members  106 ,  108  are being transitioned from a perpendicular orientation to a parallel orientation (or vice versa), the base support coupler  300  is rotated so that the threads on the threaded wall section  312  no longer engage complementary threaded members  502 . Disengagement of base support coupler  300  allows the transition from the first coupling position to the second coupling position. This positions the unthreaded wall section  314  of base support coupler  300  inside the aperture  302  when the base support members are vertically traversing length  310  in the second coupling position. 
     It is to be understood that base support coupler  300  is configured to remain mechanically coupled to the base support members in the first and second coupling positions, and in some embodiments, base support coupler  300  cannot be removed from at least one of base support members  106 ,  108  altogether without a mechanical alteration due to the permanent attachment of base support coupler  300  provided by head  306  and lip  402 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  6   , a side view of the expandable jack in a parallel configuration in the second coupling position is depicted, according to an exemplary embodiment. It is to be understood that the second coupling position supports the loose retention of the base support coupler  300  in which, due to the lack of engaged contact between the threaded wall portion of the base support coupler and complementary threaded members, the upper base support member  106  may freely vertically traverse base support coupler  300  and/or base support coupler  300  may loosely hang below the bottom surface of lower base support member  108  if lower base support member  108  is not in contact with the applicable surface stabilizing jack  100 . In some embodiments, base support coupler  300  transitions from the second coupling position to the first coupling position by the user aligning a portion of threaded wall portion  312  with the applicable complementary threaded members within aperture  302  of the base support member  106 . This is accomplished by the user applying a rotational force to the base support coupler, the force being represented by arrow  606  in  FIG.  6   . In some embodiments, base support coupler may be permanently attached to the bottommost base support member allowing positioning of the base support member  106  to be determined and adjusted based upon the user aligning threaded wall portion  312  with the aperture  302  of base support member  106  and applying rotational force  606 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  7   , a bottom view of the expandable jack  100  in a parallel configuration is depicted, according to an exemplary embodiment. In some embodiments, the bottommost base support member  108  includes a bottommost planar surface  702  configured to be in direct contact with the applicable surface jack  100  is situated on. The contact between bottommost planar surface  702  and the applicable surface the expandable jack is situated on creates the stabilizing presence that supports the weight exerted on the expandable car jack  100  by the vehicle. In some embodiments, bottommost planar surface  702  is designed and configured to include a central portion housing a head  704  of the base support coupler. It is to be understood that the width and/or circumference of head  704  is configured to be larger than the size of the aperture of second base support member  108  for the same purpose lip  402  is larger than aperture  302  of base support member  106 , which is to keep base support coupler  300  affixed to expandable base  104 . The larger size of head  306  and foot  308  of the base support coupler  300  is to also ensure that the base support members  106 ,  108  are situated between the head  306  and foot  308  in which movement of the base support coupler  300  is based upon if the base support coupler  300  is in the first or second coupling position. In some embodiments, head  704  includes a gripping mechanism  706  configured to assist the user with applying screwing and unscrewing forces to the base support coupler  300  (switching between the first and second coupling positions) in addition to assist the user with adjusting the position of the base support coupler  300  when the base support coupler  300  is in the second coupling position. Gripping mechanism  706  may be a ring-shaped, semi-circular shaped, or any other applicable graspable configuration configured to support rotational forces applied to the base support coupler in order to support transition between the first and second coupling positions. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  8   , an exemplary method for utilizing jack  100  is depicted, according to an example embodiment. The process begins at step  800  and moves to step  802  where a user removes jack  100  from a jack storage space, which is usually in the trunk or rear portion of a vehicle. In its storage configuration, the first base support member  106  and the second base support member are nested inside one another and aligned parallel to one another. In addition, base support coupler  300  is in the first coupling position; thus, requiring the user to actively disengage base support coupler  300  from at least one of base support member  106 , 108 . Alternatively, base support coupler  300  must be disengaged in order to allow rotating of first base support member  106  with respect to second base support member  108  in the instance where first base support member  106  is transitioning from perpendicular alignment to parallel alignment. In step  804 , the user ensures threaded wall portion  312  of the base support coupler  300  are disengaged from aperture  302  of base support member  106 , which is typically accomplished by disengaging base support coupler  300 , but the invention is not so limited. The disengagement results in first base support member  106  being rotatable with respect to second base support member  108  from the parallel alignment to the perpendicular alignment. In step  806 , the user mechanically engages base support coupler  300  with first base support member  106  so that base support coupler  300  is in the first coupling position preventing first base support member  106  from rotating with respect to second base support member  108 . It is to be understood that the base support member  300  is able to participate in the engaged contact with at least one of base support member  106 ,  108  via integration of threaded wall section  312  complementary threaded members  502 . At step  808 , the process ends allowing expandable base  104  to raise vehicle lifting assembly  102  to a plurality of heights based on the amount rotational force applied to screw  122 . 
     The claims appended hereto are meant to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.