Patent Abstract:
An improved integrated combination of an automobile and jack structures attached to the reinforced lift points on each side of the automobile adjacent its wheel wells is a rigid orthogonally telescoping housing which includes a plurality of jacks, each jack having telescoping interconnected cylinders containing a valve sealed expandable pneumatic plenum within the housing, wherein the pneumatic interconnected cylinders are arranged for selective inflation by use of a pneumatically connected 12 volt DC pneumatic compressor that in turn is operative through an electrical supply line that is hard wired to an electrical system or battery of the automobile to receive electrical energy. A set of control switches is electrically connected to each of the compressors wherein each selected corner of the automobile can be lifted by a separate telescoping housing. A valve assembly in each compressor and housing assembly permits selective inflation and deflation of a pneumatic telescoping structure adjacent to a wheel well.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The field of the invention relates to a new improvement in an automobile by incorporating a pneumatic jack structure at each corner of the lower frame, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved vehicle wherein the same employs four stacked pneumatic flexible chambers, each positioned within a housing attached to a point on the perimeter of the structural frame of the vehicle to permit a jack to effect lifting of a corner of the automobile. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   In 1995, Sweeney was issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,237 for an external pneumatic lift jack powered by a cigarette socket connection to an automobile. Sweeney is limited in its scope to a pneumatic jack structure, and more particularly pertains to a pneumatic vehicle jack wherein the same employs stacked pneumatic flexible chambers positioned within a housing permitting the housing to effect lifting of an associated vehicle by manually placing the jack and housing underneath the vehicle. This structure is an example of a non-integrated external means for lifting one corner of an automobile and is incorporated into this specification by reference. 
   Other pneumatic jack structures of various types have been employed in the prior art as exemplified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,542,882; 5,121,900; 5,184,930; 3,993,286; and 5,232,206. The jack structures of the prior art have heretofore been non-integrated structures as in the manner of U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,882 which teaches a non-integral bag arranged to receive pressurized air from an exhaust system into a single flexible bag structure. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a lift system that is integrated into the supporting frame of an automobile as a displacement for all types of separate trunk-stored conventional hydraulic, scissors, and ratcheting jacks. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination of an automobile and an integrated lift system capable of lifting and supporting the automobile above each of its four wheels. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated four point automobile life system which is unparalleled in safety, eliminating the risk of lifting an automobile with a jack that can be expelled from underneath the automobile. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide an improvement in automobile lift structures capable of lifting a plurality of the wheels supporting the automobile. 
   Heretofore, various approaches have been devised to address the need in the marketplace for a means to easily solve the problem of fixing a flat tire in a neat efficient way. To this end, tires have been improved to incorporate means for resisting puncture such as by employing steel belting, means for self-sealing a puncture such as by incorporating a resin coating on the inside surface of a tire which mends itself when air exits at a puncture point, and more recently with a combination of a means for jacking the vehicle at the flattened wheel using a trunk housed pneumatic jack powered by a plug inserted into a cigarette lighter socket and a trunk housed pneumatic lug wrench also powered by a car battery accessed via the cigarette lighter. In the latter scenario, valuable trunk cargo space similar to that used to house prior generation CD players is taken up by the trunk stored pneumatic jack. Moreover, in the circumstance of dual flat times, the jack must be set up at one point underneath the automobile and then at a second point for the second flat tire. It is thus a primary object of the invention to eliminate the need to use trunk space to store a pneumatic jack and to provide a means for selectively automatically pneumatically lifting all four corners of a vehicle for changing tires, rotating tires, and for periodic home safety inspections of the components of the vehicle viewable from underneath. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The novel structure of the present invention is a combination of a four wheeled automobile having a support frame supported by four inflatable tires and four integral pneumatic jacks attached to and integrated into each of four corners of the support frame to selectively lift each of the four corners of the automobile. Each of the integral pneumatic jacks is separately electrically powered using a 12 volt DC source such as a car battery. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a right side view of the invention integrated into a right structural lowermost support frame part of an associated automobile. 
       FIG. 2  is a left side view of the invention integrated into the left structural lowermost support frame part of the associated automobile. 
       FIG. 3   a  is a graphic side view of one of the pneumatic lifts showing a connection to a pneumatic pump. 
       FIG. 3   b  is an orthographic plan view of one of the pneumatic lifts, taken along the lines  3   b – 3   b ′ of  FIG. 3   a  in the direction indicated by the arrows. 
       FIG. 3   c  is a circuit diagram for a central dashboard control panel of switches connecting a car battery or an equivalent to each of four pneumatic pumps. 
       FIG. 4  is an orthographic view, taken along the lines  4 – 4 ′ of  FIG. 3   b  in the direction indicated by the arrows. 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged orthographic view of a structure  500  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is an orthographic view of a plurality of supporting plate tubes employed by the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. As required, a detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may 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 skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
   The combination invention of an improved automobile incorporates a plurality of pneumatic jacks, one for each wheel of the automobile or vehicle, such as the pneumatic vehicle jacks  10  and  12  on the right side of a vehicle  13  as indicated in  FIG. 1  and the pneumatic jacks  14  and  16  as indicated in  FIG. 2  on the left side of the vehicle  13 . Each of the jacks  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16  has connected thereto an associated interconnection box  100 ,  120 ,  140 , and  160 , respectively. Each of the jacks  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16  is permanently affixed underneath the vehicle  13  by welding to a structural frame  20 . The vehicle  13  is shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . As shown, the vehicle  13  has at least three wheels and an underside or structural frame  20 . The structural frame  20  has a first edge  9  as shown in  FIG. 1  and a second edge  11  as shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vehicle  13  has a front end  15  and a back end  17 . The first edge  9  of the structural frame  20  is located between the jack  10  and the jack  12  and between two of the wheels. The vehicle  13  as shown has an inflatable tire mounted on each of the wheels. Two of the wheels with inflatable tires thereon are spaced apart by the first edge  9 . Another two of the wheels are spaced apart by a second edge  11 . Each of the jacks  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16  is arranged for extension to a supporting surface  22 . Each of the jacks  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16  is adapted and designed to extend to the surface  22  below the vehicle  13 , such that upon actuation of any one of the jacks  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16  the vehicle  13  is lifted above the surface  22  permitting access below the vehicle and to various activities such as tire changing and the like. 
   In  FIG. 3   a  there is shown in detail one of the replicated jacks  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16 , namely the jack  10 . The jack  10  has a rigid housing  11 . With a cylindrical sidewall, the jack  10  has a continuous pneumatic cylinder  32  with a cylindrical sidewall, a bottom wall  33 , and a top wall  31  made of steel and welded to the frame  20  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Orthogonally mounted to the bottom wall  33  is a support tube  34  employing gussets  35  to insure rigidity of the jack  10  when in use. A ground or surface support plate  36  adapted to make contact with the surface  22  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is provided. The support plate  36  may be of a general surface size and configuration for supporting the weight of the vehicle  13 . 
   There is also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  an integrated electrical control and switching module  18  mountable and/or integratable on a dashboard or otherwise inside a cockpit of an automobile. The module  18  has an electrical terminal  62  comprising positive and negative terminals  62   a  and  62   b  adapted to receive the mating terminals  62   a  and  62   b  (shown in  FIG. 3   c ) extending from the interconnection box  100 . The module  18  connects to a car battery  164  and/or the electrical output of the automobile. 
   Shown in  FIG. 3   c  is a diagram of the circuitry for the module  18 , further showing the terminal  63  comprising positive and negative terminals  63   a  and  63   b  adapted to receive the mating terminals  63   a  and  63   b  that extend from the interconnection box  120 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 3   c  is the terminal  64  comprising positive and negative terminals  64   a  and  64   b  adapted to receive the mating terminals  64   a  and  64   b  of connector  64  that extend from the interconnection box  140 . The terminal  65  comprises positive and negative terminals  65   a  and  65   b  adapted to receive the mating terminals  65   a  and  65   b  of connector  65  that extend from the interconnection box  160 . 
   The preferred geometry for the support plate  35  is approximately round or oblong and the size should be at least 100 square centimeters for a vehicle  13  weighing about 2000 pounds to be lifted with one or more jacks on a composite asphalt surface  22 . 
   As further shown in  FIG. 3   a , the support plate  36  for each jack is fixedly and orthogonally secured to a plate tube  37 . And, as shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 , the support plate  36  is permanently affixed or welded to the plate tube  37 , which is threadedly received within the support tube  34 . 
   First and second internally connected pneumatic cylinders  44  and  45  are telescopically connected cylindrical sidewalls wherein the outer side of the cylinder  44  is telescopically connected to the sidewall of the cylinder  32  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
   Internally, a plenum  48  contains a vertical return spring  49  connecting the cylinder  32  to the cylinder  45 . The spring  49  retracts the cylinders  32  and  44  as the plenum  48  is emptied via a tube  50 . 
   In the unexpanded position shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the pneumatic cylinders  44  and  45  are positioned within the jack  10 . Shown in  FIG. 4 , upon pumping of fluid or gas to the plenum  48  via the entry high pressure reinforced flexible tube  50 , the plenum  48  expands telescopically extending the cylinders  44  and  45  as well as the bottom wall  33  of the cylinder  32 . As the plate  36  presses the surface  22 , the vehicle  13  is lifted. 
   A pneumatic compressor  52  is provided with a pneumatic conduit  54 . The conduit  54 , a high pressure reinforced flexible tube, extends from the pneumatic compressor  52  to a valve assembly  56  that directs pneumatic pressurized air to the first and second pneumatic cylinders  44  and  45  as well as to the cylinder  32  through the tube  50  (see  FIG. 5 ). A two wire electrical DC power supply cord  62  extends between a 12 volt battery  164  via an electrical switch  66  and the pneumatic compressor  52 . 
   In  FIG. 5  there is shown a check valve  500  connected to the tube  50 . The valve  500  has a check valve plate  529  pivotally mounted within the valve assembly&#39;s conduit  521   a . To prevent pressurized air from being directed from the plenum  48  back through the valve assembly  521  to the pneumatic tube  50  is a plate abutment  530  positioned within the valve assembly conduit  521   a  between the plate  529  and the pneumatic tube  50 . In this manner, pressurized air from the plenum  48  engages the plate  529  preventing such pressurized air from exiting. To permit release of air from the plenum  48 , a rotary release shaft  532  is provided and positioned between the plate  529  and the pneumatic tube  50  such that the rotary release shaft  532  is spaced a predetermined length from the plate  529 . A shaft foot  531  is fixedly and orthogonally mounted to the release shaft  532 , having a foot length greater than the predetermined length such that upon rotation of the release shaft  532 , the shaft foot  531  engages the plate  529  and displaces the plate relative to the abutment  530 , such as indicated in phantom in  FIG. 5 , to permit pressurized air to be released from the plenum  48  through the conduit  521   a  for ultimate release through a relief opening  52   a  within the compressor  52 . 
     FIG. 6  shows in further detail the use of the support tube  34  having aligned tube bores  633  to receive a lock pin  632 , that in turn is received through replacement plate support tubes defined by a first, second, and third plate tube  634 ,  635 , and  636  respectively, with the first plate tube  634  having a first length, the second plate tube  635  having a second length less than the first length, and the third plate tube  636  having a third length less than the second length to provide for selective adjustment and substitution to accommodation of vehicles of varying ground clearance, with each of the plate tubes  634 ,  635 , and  636  having respective aligned bores  637  for selective mounting within the support tube  34  in lieu of the primary plate tube  37  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) that is threadedly received within the support tube  34 . 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown. 
   The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
   As this invention may be embodied in several forms and utilize each of many kinds of lifting and/or jacking systems without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment shown is, therefore, illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and the doctrine of equivalents rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalent steps are, therefore, intended to be embraced by those claims. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               PARTS LIST 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               pneumatic vehicle jack 
               10 
             
             
                 
               housing 
               11 
             
             
                 
               pneumatic vehicle jack 
               12 
             
             
                 
               vehicle 
               13 
             
             
                 
               pneumatic jack 
               14 
             
             
                 
               pneumatic jack 
               16 
             
             
                 
               interconnection box 
               100  
             
             
                 
               interconnection box 
               120  
             
             
                 
               interconnection box 
               140  
             
             
                 
               interconnection box 
               160  
             
             
                 
               structural frame 
               20 
             
             
                 
               supporting surface 
               22 
             
             
                 
               cylinder 
               32 
             
             
                 
               bottom wall 
               33 
             
             
                 
               top wall 
               31 
             
             
                 
               support tube 
               34 
             
             
                 
               gusset 
               35 
             
             
                 
               plate 
               36 
             
             
                 
               spring 
               49 
             
             
                 
               control and switching module 
               18 
             
             
                 
               outlet tube 
               60 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
               62 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
                62a 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
                62b 
             
             
                 
               battery 
               164  
             
             
                 
               terminal 
               63 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
                63a 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
                63b 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
               64 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
                64a 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
                64b 
             
             
                 
               connector 
               64 
             
             
                 
               switch 
               65 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
                65a 
             
             
                 
               terminal 
                65b 
             
             
                 
               plate tube 
               37 
             
             
                 
               support tube 
               34 
             
             
                 
               pneumatic cylinder 
               44 
             
             
                 
               pneumatic cylinder 
               45 
             
             
                 
               plenum 
               48 
             
             
                 
               tube 
               50 
             
             
                 
               compressor 
               52 
             
             
                 
               opening 
                52a 
             
             
                 
               conduit 
               54 
             
             
                 
               valve assembly 
               56 
             
             
                 
               electrical switch 
               66 
             
             
                 
               check valve 
               500  
             
             
                 
               check valve plate 
               529  
             
             
                 
               conduit 
               521a 
             
             
                 
               valve assembly 
               521  
             
             
                 
               plate abutment 
               530  
             
             
                 
               shaft foot 
               531  
             
             
                 
               release shaft 
               532  
             
             
                 
               tube bores 
               633  
             
             
                 
               lock pin 
               632  
             
             
                 
               first plate tube 
               634  
             
             
                 
               second plate tube 
               635  
             
             
                 
               third plate tube 
               636  
             
             
                 
               aligned bores 
               637

Technology Classification (CPC): 1