Patent Publication Number: US-7717401-B2

Title: Drive shaft jack adaptor

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to currently pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/925,817; filed on Apr. 23, 2007; titled DRIVE SHAFT JACK ADAPTOR. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to automobile repair devices and more specifically to an adaptable vehicular driveshaft support apparatus. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   None 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   None 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Large automobile vehicles such as trucks having front engines and rear wheel drive typically require long driveshaft to transmit torque from the engine to the rear wheels. In larger truck, design rule dictates that the aforementioned driveshaft comprises not one continuous shaft but at least two segmented shorter shaft joined together by universal joints. 
   During the life span of these large vehicles, various parts of the vehicle connected to or involving the driveshaft may need to be repair or replaced. During the process of repair or replacement of these parts, a mechanic may need to remove the driveshaft from the vehicle. The removal of the driveshaft from the vehicle is traditionally perform by the mechanic having to go underneath the vehicle and support an end of the driveshaft by hand while the mechanic unlocks or unbolts the end of the driveshaft from the vehicle. If required, the mechanic then performs a similar task at the opposing end of the driveshaft. 
   One of the main problems associated with the aforementioned task is that due to the size and length of larger vehicles such as trucks and semi-trucks, their driveshaft can weigh up to several hundred pounds. As such, it can often times be difficult and dangerous for a mechanic to go underneath the truck and remove the driveshaft from the vehicle and in most situations, multiple hands are required to help support the end of the driveshaft while the mechanic unlocks the end of the driveshaft from the vehicle. There thus is a need for a device that helps support the driveshaft of vehicles during the maintenance, repair and/or removal process of the driveshaft of these vehicles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises an adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus having an elongated rigid main body having a first end and a second end. The rigid main body includes a mounting plate attached to the main body preferably midway between the first and second end of the main body for securing the rigid main body to a lifting device such as an automobile jack. The rigid main body may also include at least one driveshaft-supporting bracket supported thereon. The driveshaft support apparatus also includes a first rigid arm extending from the first end of the elongated rigid main body and a second rigid arm extending from the second end of the elongated rigid main body. The first rigid arm and second rigid arm each having a driveshaft-supporting bracket supported thereon for engaging a portion of a vehicle&#39;s driveshaft. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus mounted to an automobile transmission jack; 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of the main components of an alternative embodiment of an adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus; 
       FIG. 3  shows a top view of the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus of  FIG. 2  in an assembled condition; 
       FIG. 4  is a cut-a-way side view showing the driveshaft support apparatus of  FIG. 3  in a working condition supporting a driveshaft of a truck on a support surface; 
       FIG. 5  is a cut-a-way top view showing the driveshaft support apparatus of  FIG. 3  in a working condition supporting a driveshaft of a truck on a support surface; 
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus of  FIG. 2  in an assembled condition; 
       FIG. 7  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of an adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus; 
       FIG. 8  shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of an adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus; 
       FIG. 9  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a bracket of the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus; 
       FIG. 10  shows a side view of a further alternative embodiment of a bracket of the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus in an open condition; and 
       FIG. 10A  shows the bracket of  FIG. 10  in a closed condition. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  44  of the present invention mounted to an extendable arm  12  of an automobile transmission jack  11 . Although adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  44  is shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to automobile transmission jack  11 , adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  44  may also be mounted to other lifting devices such as but not limited to various automobile jacks and hydraulic lifting devices. Adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  44  is shown comprising a first rigid arm  45  having a driveshaft supporting bracket  45   a  secured thereto, a second rigid arm  46  having a driveshaft supporting bracket  46   a  secured thereto, and an elongated rigid main body  47  having no driveshaft supporting brackets secured thereto. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  6 ,  FIG. 2  shows a side view of the main components of alternative embodiments of an adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  of the present invention.  FIG. 3  shows a top view and  FIG. 6  shows a side view of adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  in an assembled condition. As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  6 , adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  generally comprises three main components, namely an elongated rigid main body  13 , a first rigid arm  14 , and a second rigid arm  15 . Although the individual components of adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  may be formed from a plurality of material, since adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  of the present invention functions to support vehicular driveshaft that may weigh up to several hundred pounds thereon, the components of adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  are preferable formed from a heavy duty rigid material such as metal and various hard plastic. 
   In regards to the first rigid arm  14  and a second rigid arm  15  of adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10 , the first rigid arm  14  is shown supporting a driveshaft-supporting bracket  22  thereon and includes a series of spaced slots  23  extending linearly along the length of the arm  14 . Similarly, the second rigid arm  15  is shown supporting a driveshaft-supporting bracket  24  thereon and includes a series of spaced slot  25  extending linearly along the length of the arm  15 . 
   The elongated rigid main body  13  of adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6  as having a first end  13   a , a second end  13   b , a first orifice  20  located proximal the first end  13   a  of elongated rigid main body  13  and a second orifice  21  located proximal the second end  13   b  of elongated rigid main body  13 . Unlike adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  44  of  FIG. 1 , elongated rigid main body  13  also includes a set of driveshaft supporting brackets  19  supported on an exterior surface of the main body  13 . Elongated rigid main body  13  also a mounting device comprising mounting plate  16  secured to an exterior surface of the main body  13  preferably proximal a midpoint between the first end  13   a  and the second end  13   b  of elongated rigid main body  13 . Mounting plate  16  functions to secure adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  to lifting devices such as but not limited to various automobile jacks and hydraulic lifting devices. In the present embodiment mounting plate  16  functions to secure the rigid main body  13  of driveshaft support apparatus  10  to such lifting devices as an extendable arm  12  of transmission jack  11  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Elongated rigid main body  13 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , also includes a hollow interior  18  for supporting the first rigid arm  14  and the second rigid arm  15  therein. More specifically, a portion of the first rigid arm  14  is shown supported within elongated rigid main body  13  through the first end  13   a  of elongated rigid main body  13  and a portion of the second rigid arm  15  is shown supported within elongated rigid main body  13  through the second end  13   b  of elongated rigid main body  13 . Once supported within rigid main body  13 , one of the slots of the series of spaced slot  23  of the first rigid arm  14  is aligned with orifice  20  and a locking member such as a locking pin  26  or a set of nut and bolt is extended through main body  13  to lockingly secure the first rigid arm  14  to main body  13 . Similarly, one of the slots of the series of spaced slot  25  of the second rigid arm  15  is aligned with orifice  21  and a locking member such as a locking pin  27  is extended through main body  13  to lockingly secure the second rigid arm  15  to main body  13 . 
   One of the features of adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  is that the presence of the series of spaced slot  23  of first rigid arm  14  and the series of spaced slot  25  of second rigid arm  15  allows the overall length of driveshaft support apparatus  10  to be adjustable to properly support vehicle driveshaft of varying lengths. It is noted that alternative embodiments of the present invention may include other types of securement devices such as spring-loaded pins for example directly supported on main body  13  for securement and adjustment of the rigid arms  14 ,  15  with respect to main body  13 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 ,  FIG. 4  is a cut-a-way side view and  FIG. 5  is a partial cut-a-way top view showing adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  attached to jack  11  and in a working condition supporting a driveshaft  28  of a truck  34  on a support surface  35 . In regards to driveshaft  28 , driveshaft  28  is shown linking a transmission  32  to a differential  33  of truck  34  thereby allowing the transmittal of torque from the engine to the rear wheels. The driveshaft  28  of truck  34  is shown in both  FIGS. 4 and 5  as comprising a first shaft segment  29  and a second shaft segment  30  linked together by a universal joint  31 . 
   Due to the difference in the circumference of the shaft segments  29  and  30  and the circumference of the universal joint  31  portion of driveshaft  28 , adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  10  is shown positioned in a condition in supporting driveshaft  28  such that the universal joint  31  connecting first shaft segment  29  to second shaft segment  30  is located between the two driveshaft supporting brackets  19  of main body  13 . The driveshaft supporting bracket  22  of first rigid arm  14  and the driveshaft supporting bracket  24  of second rigid arm  15  engages further regions of driveshaft  28  to help stabilize and distribute the weight of driveshaft  28  on driveshaft support apparatus  10 . 
   In use of driveshaft support apparatus  10 , a user such as a mechanic aligns driveshaft support apparatus  10  underneath the driveshaft  28  of truck  34  so that the universal joint  31  of driveshaft  28  is located between the two driveshaft supporting brackets  19  of main body  13 . Once aligned, the mechanic then operates the jack  11  to move driveshaft support apparatus  10  upwards until the driveshaft supporting brackets  19 ,  22 , and  24  of driveshaft support apparatus  10  engages driveshaft  28 . The mechanic can then safely go underneath the truck  34  and remove the driveshaft from the vehicle without the need of assistance from another person in supporting driveshaft  28 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 , and  8 ,  FIG. 7  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of an adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  36  similar to driveshaft support apparatus  10  in an assembled condition. However, unlike driveshaft support apparatus  10 , driveshaft support apparatus  36  includes a first arm  37  having an extension  37   a  linking a driveshaft supporting bracket  38  to first arm  37  and a second arm  39  having an extension  39   a  linking a driveshaft supporting bracket  40  to second arm  39 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of an adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus  41  similar to driveshaft support apparatus  10  in an assembled condition. However, unlike driveshaft support apparatus  10 , driveshaft support apparatus  41  comprises an elongated rigid main body  42  having a single elongated driveshaft-supporting bracket  43 . To accommodate the differences in the circumference of the shaft segments and the circumference of the universal joint portion of driveshaft, the width of driveshaft supporting bracket  43  is enlarge or bulge out at proximal the midpoint region between the ends of the driveshaft supporting bracket  43 . 
     FIG. 9  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of one of the bracket  48  of the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus of the present invention. Bracket  48  is shown as including an extension  49  for linking bracket  48  to the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus, a first sidewall  50  and a second sidewall  51 . One of the features of bracket  48  is that for safety purposes the second sidewall  51  of bracket  48  comprises a curve-shaped to help maintain the support of a portion of the vehicular driveshaft therein during use of the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 10A ,  FIG. 10  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a bracket  52  of the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus in an open condition.  FIG. 10A  shows bracket  52  in a closed condition. Bracket  52  comprises an extension  53  for linking bracket  52  to the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus, a first sidewall  54 , and a second sidewall  55 . For safety purposes, bracket  52  includes a cover  56  rotatably attached to first sidewall  54  at a first end  56   a  of cover  56  by a hinge  57 . Located at a second end  56   b  of cover  56  is a protruding member  58  for engagement with a latch  59  located on second sidewall  55  to lockingly secure cover  56  to the walls  54  and  55  of bracket  52  in the closed condition to help maintain support of a portion of the vehicular driveshaft therein during use of the adaptable vehicle driveshaft support apparatus.