Patent Description:
Column lifts comprise one or more vertical support columns each of which carries a carriage provided with a nair of adjustable and/or extendable arms, as shown in the US Patent No. <CIT>: the ends of the arms comprise height-adjustable pads configured to receive the vehicle to be lifted. The movement of each carriage is performed by electromechanical systems, e.g., an electric motor operating on a mother-screw type system, or by hydraulic cylinders.

Patent Application No. <CIT> describes a two-column lift comprising, for each column, two telescopic lift arms hinged to a carriage vertically movable along the respective column. Each arm extends along a rectilinear direction and terminally carries an adapter configured to contact a vehicle: the adapter is hinged to the arm. Rotation between the adapter and the arm may be locked by a further pin insertable through appropriate holes defined on respective plates of the adapter and the telescopic arm.

US patent application No. <CIT> also describes a two-column lift comprising, for each column, a first and a second arm hinged to a carriage vertically movable along the respective column. The first arm may be telescopic and extends along a rectilinear direction; the second arm includes a base body, directly hinged to the carriage, and a distal body hinged to the base body: the distal body includes a height adjustable support configured to contact a vehicle. In detail, the base body and the distal body are equal in length and hinged at an intermediate joint. Relative rotation between the base body and the distal body of the second arm may be locked by a lever carried by the base body engaging a toothed disc on the second arm.

The Applicant observed that lifts of the state of the art are not devoid of limitations and drawbacks. Such lifts have articulated lift arms having a complex, bulky, and difficult to implement rotation lock system; such lock systems are not capable of ensuring rapid and safe locking of the rotation of the articulated arm, a condition which negatively affects on safety and productivity. Although the known lifts are used for lifting vehicles, the Applicant observed that such lifts are not devoid of limitations and drawbacks, therefore being subject to improvement from various points.

The object of the present invention is to overcome at least one of the drawbacks and/or limitations of the previous solutions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lift arm and a respective lift having a simple and compact structure, which has low production costs and which at the same time is structurally robust, and able to safely and quickly lift vehicles. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lift arm and a respective vehicle lift capable of guaranteeing the effective and quick lifting of a wide range of transport means. Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a lift capable of operating in a safe and reliable manner, in particular capable of lifting vehicles without damaging said vehicle and/or components of the lift itself.

These and other objects, which will be more apparent from the following description, are substantially attained by a lift arm and a vehicle lift according to one or more of the attached claims and/or the aspects below.

Some embodiments and some aspects of the invention will be hereafter described with reference to the attached exemplifying and therefore not-limiting drawings, in which:.

In the detailed description, corresponding parts illustrated in the various figures are indicated with same reference numbers. The figures could include representations that are not in scale; parts and components illustrated in the figures might be schematic representations.

The terms "horizontal" or "vertical", used in relation to components of the lift, refer to a condition of use of the lift during which the lift executes, or is usable, for executing raising/lowering of a vehicle.

Reference number <NUM> indicates a lift arm for a vehicle lift. For example, the lift arm <NUM> may be used in the automotive industry for servicing vehicles, e.g., cars, trucks, agricultural vehicles. The lift arm <NUM> is usable in association with at least one column of a vehicle lift to allow lifting of the vehicle with respect to the ground.

The lift arm <NUM> includes a base body <NUM> extending between a first and a second end portion 31a, 31b along an, optionally rectilinear, extension path D. In detail, the base body <NUM> has an elongated conformation; the base body <NUM> has a predetermined length defined by the maximum distance between the first and the second end portions 31a, 31b: said length of base body <NUM> may be, for example, equal to or greater than <NUM>, optionally comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The length of base body <NUM> may be fixed or adjustable. In the accompanying figures, the lift arm <NUM> is extendable: the distance between the first and second end portions 31a, 31b is adjustable, for example by means of an actuator <NUM> (<FIG>). The actuator <NUM> may comprise at least one of: a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, an electric motor.

In particular, the base body <NUM> may have a first section and a second section, which are movable with respect to each other along the extension path D of the base body <NUM> to adjust a length of the base body <NUM>. For example, the first section may extend from the first end portion 31a to a centerline portion of the base body <NUM> while the second section may extend from the second end portion 31b to the centerline portion of the base body <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> may be engaged, on one side, to the first section and, on the other side, to the second section: activation of the actuator <NUM> allows to approach or move away the first and second end portions 31a, 31b.

For example, the base body <NUM> may be at least partly hollow and internally define a housing compartment A suitable for at least partly receiving said actuator <NUM>: in such a configuration, the actuator <NUM> would be at least partly hidden within the base body <NUM>.

In particular, both the first section and the second section of the base body <NUM> may be hollow and internally define a respective housing compartment (<FIG>); the second section of the base body <NUM> may be placed at least partially within the first section and be slidingly movable at least partially within said first section of the same base body <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> is arranged within the housing compartments defined by the first and second sections of the base body <NUM>: the housing compartments of the first and second sections of the base body <NUM> communicate with each other and cooperate to define a single housing compartment A of the base body <NUM> (<FIG>). From a structural point of view, the base body <NUM> may present a box shape, for example, the base body may have a cross section, in plane orthogonal to the extension path D of the base body <NUM>, having substantially square or rectangular shape. Such cross section may be constant along the entire extension of the base body or it may get smaller moving towards the second end portion. In particular, the first section of the base body may have cross section greater than the cross section of the second section of the same base body <NUM>; in this way, the first section may internally receive the second section of the base body and guide movement of the second section of the same base body <NUM>. Obviously, the possibility of fixed, non-extendable, base body <NUM> is not excluded.

As shown in <FIG>, the base body <NUM> may comprise at least one attachment portion <NUM> configured for engagement of the lift arm <NUM> to at least one carriage <NUM> of a lift <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). The attachment portion <NUM> may comprise at least one plate suitable for being hinged, for example by means of a cylindrical pin, to a carriage <NUM> of a lift, such that the lift arm may rotate with respect to the carriage about an axis Y, in particular orthogonal to the extension path of the base body <NUM>.

At the second end portion 31b, the base body <NUM> comprises an engagement portion coupling the base body <NUM> with a distal body <NUM> of the same lift arm <NUM>. In particular, the engagement portion of the base body <NUM> comprises at least one plate <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) having at least one through hole for receiving a cylindrical pin <NUM> configured to engage the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM>. In detail, the engagement portion of the base body <NUM> comprises two plates <NUM> spaced apart from each other, each of which has at least one through hole suitable to receive the cylindrical pin <NUM>. The plate(s) <NUM> define the second end portion 31b of the base body <NUM> receiving and engaging the distal body <NUM>.

The distal body <NUM> extends between a first and a second end portions 32a, 32b, along a respective extension path T, optionally rectilinear (<FIG> and <FIG>). In detail, the distal body <NUM> has an elongated conformation; the distal body <NUM> has a length defined by the maximum distance between the first and second end portions 32a, 32b: such length of the distal body may be equal to or greater than <NUM>, and may be optionally comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>. The length of the base body <NUM> is greater than the length of the distal body <NUM>; for example, the ratio between the length of the base body <NUM> and the length of the distal body <NUM> may be greater than <NUM>, and optionally between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM> may relatively rotate at least around an axis Z. The distal body <NUM> is hinged to the base body <NUM> at the second end portion 31b. In detail, the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM> are hinged at the second end portion 31b of the base body <NUM> and at the first end portion 32a of the distal body <NUM>. The distal body <NUM> is thus a movable extension of the base body <NUM>. The Z-axis of relative rotation between the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM> is orthogonal to the extension path D of the base body <NUM>, in particular, the Z-axis may be orthogonal to both extension paths D and T respectively of base body <NUM> and distal body <NUM>. In detail, the base body <NUM> is coupled to the distal body <NUM> by a flat hinge allowing only the relative rotation of the bodies <NUM>, <NUM> about the single axis Z.

In greater detail, the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM> are movable at least between:.

In the offset position, the extension paths D, T intersect and essentially define an ideal plane; the axis Z of rotation of base body <NUM> relative to distal body <NUM> is orthogonal to said ideal plane. In the aligned position, the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM> define a maximum length of the lift arm <NUM>, which is therefore defined by the maximum distance between the second end portion 32b of the distal body <NUM> and the first end portion 31a of the base body <NUM>; this maximum length may be equal to or greater than <NUM>, optionally comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>. The distal body <NUM> comprises, at the first end portion 32a, a respective engagement portion coupled with the engagement portion of the base body <NUM>. In detail, the engagement portion of the distal body <NUM> comprises at least one plate <NUM> at least partially overlapping plate <NUM> of the base body <NUM>. In greater detail, the embodiment in which the base body <NUM> has two spaced apart plates <NUM>, plate <NUM> of the distal body <NUM> is placed between said two plates <NUM>. Plate <NUM> of the distal body <NUM> comprises a respective through hole aligned with the at least one through hole of plate <NUM> of the base body <NUM>. The base body <NUM> is engaged to the distal body <NUM> by cylindrical pin <NUM> (<FIG>) which crosses the through-holes of the respective plates <NUM> and <NUM>.

Lift arm <NUM> may further comprise at least one support <NUM> carried by the distal body <NUM> and configured to directly contact the vehicle. In detail, the support <NUM> is arranged at the second end portion 32b of the distal body <NUM> and protrudes from the distal body along a direction which is transverse, optionally orthogonal, to the extension path T of the distal body (in particular orthogonally to the ideal plane defined by the extension paths D and T of the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM>). Support <NUM> may move relative to the distal body <NUM> towards to and away from the ideal plane. As schematically shown in <FIG>, also support <NUM> may freely rotate, with respect to distal body <NUM> about an own axis W; axis W may be substantially parallel to axis Z of rotation of the base body <NUM> relative the distal body <NUM>.

Lift arm <NUM> further comprises a lock system <NUM> configured to block relative rotation between the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM>. The base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM> are movable with respect to each other such that the distal body <NUM> may be oriented to properly contact the vehicle without causing damage to vehicle parts, for example to a vehicle battery pack; after having properly orientated the distal body <NUM>, the relative position between the distal body <NUM> and the base body <NUM> may be locked to provide the lift arm with a certain stability and to avoid undesired movements that could cause the vehicle roll over lift arm <NUM>. The lock system <NUM> comprises at least one insert <NUM> movable at least between:.

Insert <NUM> is carried by at least one of said base body <NUM> and said distal body <NUM> and it is slidingly movable with respect to said bodies between the gripping position and the release position, and vice versa along at least a trajectory substantially parallel to at least one section of at least one of the extension path D of the base body <NUM> and the extension path T of the distal body <NUM>.

In the accompanying figures, a non-limiting example of an insert <NUM> carried directly by the base body <NUM> is shown: the insert <NUM> is slidingly movable between the gripping position and the release position, and vice versa, along a trajectory substantially parallel to the extension path D of the base body <NUM>.

The insert <NUM> has a substantially parallelepiped, optionally rectangular parallelepiped, shape, and longitudinally extends between a head surface 40b facing the distal body <NUM>, and a bottom surface 40a facing the first end portion 31a of the same base body <NUM> carrying the insert <NUM>. In such configuration, the insert <NUM> (carried by the base body <NUM>) has an engagement portion <NUM> which, in the gripping position, is configured to constrain an engagement portion <NUM> of the distal body <NUM>: the engagement portion <NUM> of the insert <NUM> emerges from the head surface 40b in the direction of the distal body <NUM>. The engagement portion <NUM> of the insert <NUM> may comprise at least one tooth 46a configured to cooperate with a toothed profile <NUM> of the engagement portion <NUM> of the distal body <NUM>; in particular, the engagement portion <NUM> of the insert <NUM> may comprise a plurality of teeth 46a (<FIG>) configured to cooperate with the toothed profile <NUM> of the engagement portion <NUM> of the distal body <NUM>. The teeth 46a of the engagement portion <NUM> may be aligned along a direction which is transverse, optionally orthogonal, to the movement direction of the insert <NUM>, namely being aligned according to an alignment direction, which is orthogonal to the extension path D of the base body <NUM> and parallel to the ideal plane. In detail, as shown in the accompanying figures, the head surface 40b may be flat: the plurality of teeth 46a may emerge from said flat head surface 40b.

It is not excluded the possibility of a curved head surface 40b: in such configuration, the plurality of teeth 46a of the insert <NUM> would be aligned along an arc profile such that said teeth 46a may essentially define a portion of a toothed wheel suitable to engage the toothed profile <NUM> of the distal body <NUM>. For example, the insert <NUM> may have a number of teeth 46a equal to or greater than <NUM>, optionally between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Similarly, the toothed profile <NUM> of the engagement portion <NUM> of the distal body <NUM> may comprise, in a non-limiting way, a plurality of teeth aligned along a respective arc shaped trajectory; the plurality of teeth of the engagement portion <NUM> of the distal body <NUM>, in the gripping position of the insert <NUM>, is configured to cooperate with the at least one tooth 46a of the engagement portion <NUM> of the insert <NUM> to block relative rotation between the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM>. The arc-shaped trajectory of alignment of the teeth of toothed profile <NUM> lies in a plane substantially parallel to the ideal plane. In detail, the toothed profile <NUM> is defined at the first end portion 32a and is directed towards the base body <NUM>; the toothed profile <NUM> emerges substantially from a curved end surface of distal body <NUM> and therefore directly faces tooth 46a of insert <NUM> (see, for example, the detail <FIG>). However, the use of a toothed profile <NUM> extending along a rectilinear trajectory, i.e., emerging towards the base body <NUM> from a flat end surface of the distal body <NUM> (condition not illustrated), is not excluded.

The insert <NUM> may be placed at an external surface of the base body <NUM> or integrated within the base body <NUM>. The insert <NUM> is placed, in a non-limiting way, within a seat <NUM> of the base body <NUM> (<FIG>). The seat <NUM> is placed at the second end portion 31b and has a substantially "U" shape, with concavity directed towards the distal body <NUM>: the seat <NUM> of the base body <NUM> is open. In fact, the seat <NUM> is at least partially counter-shaped to the insert <NUM> so that the insert is guided in its movement between the release position and the gripping position, and vice versa.

As can be seen for example from <FIG>, insert <NUM>, at least in the release position, is entirely housed in the seat <NUM> of the base body <NUM>. In the gripping position, the head surface 40b of the insert <NUM> is placed near a front free edge of said seat: the at least one tooth 46a (optionally the plurality of teeth 46a) of insert <NUM>, in the gripping position, at least partially protrudes from seat <NUM> to contact the toothed profile <NUM> of the distal body.

The lock system <NUM> may comprise a return element <NUM> configured to thrust on the insert <NUM> and force it to normally stay in the gripping position. In fact, the return element <NUM> is configured to normally keep insert <NUM> in the gripping position where insert <NUM> is constrained to the engagement portion <NUM> of the distal body <NUM> to thereby prevent relative rotation between the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM>.

In detail, the return element <NUM>, on one side, contacts the base body <NUM> and, on the other side, contacts the insert <NUM> to keep the insert normally in the gripping position. In greater detail, return element <NUM> is placed entirely inside seat <NUM> between a bottom wall of the seat <NUM> and the bottom wall 40a of the insert: the return element pushes the bottom of insert <NUM> to force the engagement of tooth 46a with toothed profile <NUM> of the distal body <NUM>. The return element <NUM> may be an elastic return element and may comprise at least one of: a torsion spring, a compression spring, a tension spring, an air spring, a leaf spring. In the accompanying figures, the return element comprises, in a non-limiting way, a compression spring, on one side, resting on the bottom wall of the seat (wall directly facing the bottom surface 40a of the insert <NUM>), and, on the opposite side, at least partially housed inside a guide seat on bottom surface 40a of the insert <NUM>. It is not excluded the possibility of using a different return element <NUM>, for example an actuator comprising at least one of: a magnetic or electromagnetic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or a pneumatic actuator.

The insert <NUM> may be moved from the gripping position to the release position by an operator manual action or by an actuator, for example comprising at least one of: a magnetic or electromagnetic actuator, a hydraulic actuator or a pneumatic actuator. Lift arm <NUM> may also comprise at least one maneuvering element <NUM> engaged to the insert <NUM> and emerging from at least one of the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM>; the maneuvering element <NUM> is configured to be manually operated to move the insert <NUM> at least between the gripping position and the release position. In detail, the maneuvering element <NUM> includes a push portion 43b directly engaged to the insert <NUM> and a lever 43a allowing an operator to impose a movement to the insert <NUM> at least between the gripping position and the release position.

In detail, the insert <NUM> may comprise at least one seat 41a (<FIG>) within which the thrust portion 43b of the maneuvering element <NUM> is engaged. Seat 41a may have a cylindrical shape whereas the thrust portion 43b of the maneuvering element <NUM> may comprise a cylindrical pin at least partially counter-shaped to seat 41a. The thrust portion 43b is displaced thanks to manual intervention of the operator, from outside the base body <NUM>, on lever 43a: displacement of the thrust portion 43b allows guiding the sliding insert from the gripping position to the release position to allow consequent disengagement of tooth 46a from toothed profile <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the maneuvering element <NUM> which, in addition to being engaged in the insert, may further have a support end 43c allowing the maneuvering element to engage the base body <NUM>. In detail, the base body <NUM> has a recess <NUM> delimited by at least one abutment wall; recess <NUM> is placed at the side of seat <NUM> of the same base body <NUM>: recess <NUM> and seat <NUM> of base body <NUM> are in communication with each other and define a single pocket suitable to receive insert <NUM> and at least part of maneuvering element <NUM> (see, for example, <FIG>). The support end 43c of maneuvering element <NUM> opposed to the lever 43a and it is configured to be positioned within the recess, resting against the abutment wall to allow an operator, during (optionally manual) movement of the maneuvering element <NUM> from the gripping position to the release position, to leverage abutment wall of the recess <NUM>. Following operation of the lever 43a and movement of insert <NUM> from the gripping position to the release position, base body <NUM> may relative freely rotate the distal body <NUM> with respect to the base body <NUM>. Once the desired orientation of the distal body <NUM> relative to the base body <NUM> has been reached, the operator in charge can release lever 43a of the maneuvering element so that return element <NUM> can quickly return insert <NUM> (sliding the same along extension path D or along the extension path T) to the gripping position in which tooth 46a of the insert is stably engaged to toothed profile <NUM>.

As mentioned above, in the accompanying figured, insert <NUM> may be, in a non-limiting way, directly carried by the base body <NUM>. It is not excluded the possibility to arrange an insert <NUM> directly carried by distal body <NUM> and slidingly movable with respect to said distal body along the extension path T. In such configuration, the insert <NUM> would be arranged in proximity of the first end portion 32a of the distal body <NUM>, directly facing a portion of engagement of the base body <NUM>, which would be placed at the second end portion 31b of the base body <NUM>, directly facing the insert <NUM>.

It is also an aspect of the present invention a vehicle lift <NUM>, for example usable in the automotive industry for servicing various types of vehicles, including: cars, trucks or agricultural vehicles.

Lift <NUM> may comprise at least one column <NUM> extending, in use, along a vertical direction between a base portion 2a and a top portion 2b (see, for example, <FIG>). Column <NUM> defines the vertical support element which may be fixed to the ground, for example by means of screw-bolt systems, and configured to support the vehicle above the ground. Column <NUM> may comprise a base plate <NUM>, optionally made of metal, configured to be fixed to the ground and from which a metal support frame <NUM> emerges. The support frame <NUM> may be hollow to internally accommodate one or more components of the lift <NUM>. The support frame <NUM> may have, along its entire extension, a constant profile cross-section, optionally having a substantially "C" or substantially "V" shaped profile. In detail, the support frame <NUM> is made of one or more layers of sheet metal.

The lift <NUM> may comprise a single column <NUM> or a plurality of distinct and spaced apart columns <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates, in a non-limiting way, a lift <NUM> comprising two columns <NUM> (a first and a second column): the columns are spaced apart from each other and extend, parallel to each other, along a vertical direction. The columns are spaced apart to allow positioning of at least one vehicle between the columns.

As shown in <FIG>, lift <NUM> comprises at least one carriage <NUM> engaged with column <NUM> and slidingly movable along said column. In detail, lift <NUM> includes a carriage <NUM> for each column <NUM>. Carriage <NUM> carries at least one lift arm <NUM> suitable for contacting the vehicle and moving it with respect to the ground, for example for allowing an operator to service the vehicle. Carriage <NUM> is mobile along column <NUM> towards and away from base portion 2a (optionally from the plate <NUM>).

Carriage <NUM> carries at least one lift arm <NUM> according to the above description and/or according to any one of the accompanying claims. Lift arm <NUM> is configured to contact the vehicle to allow lifting and lowering. Lift arm <NUM> is positioned transverse to, for example orthogonal to, column <NUM>. Lift arm <NUM> may be oriented, i.e., movable relative to the carriage by rotation about an axis Y, parallel to the direction of extension of column <NUM>: rotation axis Y may develop outside support frame <NUM> as, for example, illustrated in <FIG>. In detail, carriage <NUM> includes a coupling portion configured to abut on attachment portion <NUM> of lift arm <NUM> to define a hinge-type joint (optionally a flat hinge). The axis of rotation Y of lift arm <NUM> is substantially parallel to axis Z of relative rotation between base body <NUM> and distal body <NUM> (see, for example, <FIG>).

Carriage <NUM> may engage two lift arms <NUM> (see, for example, <FIG> and <FIG>) both configured to contact a vehicle. Lift arms <NUM> may lie substantially in a single plane orthogonal to the direction of extension of column <NUM>. At least one of said lift arms <NUM> may be orientable, i.e., movable by rotation about a respective axis Y parallel to a column extension direction. Lift <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> has, in a non-limiting way, a first and second lift arms both being orientable; in addition or alternatively, at least one of the lift arms may be extendable.

As specified above, lift <NUM> may comprise a first and a second column. If lift <NUM> comprises only one column, then lift <NUM> also has only one carriage <NUM>. <FIG> shows an exemplary lift <NUM> having a first and a second column each of which comprises a carriage <NUM> according to above description. Each carriage <NUM> is movable along the respective column <NUM> by action of a movement system of known type, for example by means of one or more hydraulic actuators or by means of a screw-nut system operated by an electric motor <NUM>. In <FIG>, a column lift is shown having a movement system comprising an electric motor <NUM> for each column housed inside a specific casing <NUM> arranged at the top portion 2b of the column <NUM>.

It is also an aspect not according to the claimed invention a process for lifting vehicles using a lift <NUM> according to the above description. The process involves the following steps:.

Following placing of the vehicle above the lift arm <NUM> and prior to contacting the vehicle with the arm <NUM>, the process may include a step of orienting distal body <NUM> with respect to base body <NUM> to place the distal body at a desired angle with respect to the base body <NUM>. The orientation step allows lift arm <NUM> to properly contact the vehicle (e.g., the vehicle body) without causing any damage to components of the vehicle, such as the battery pack of an electric car (fully hybrid or plug-in car).

This orientation step may include the following sub-steps:.

The sub-step of arranging the insert <NUM> in the release position comprises the sub-steps of manually moving lever 43a of maneuvering element <NUM> such that thrust portion 43b may act on insert <NUM> to disengage the at least one tooth 46a thereof from the toothed profile <NUM> of distal body <NUM>.

After having correctly oriented the distal body <NUM> and the base body <NUM>, the process may proceed with the lifting of the arm <NUM>, for example by moving carriage <NUM> along the column, by operating electric motor <NUM>: the arm <NUM>, after having contacted the vehicle, lifts the vehicle above the ground.

Not according to the claimed invention is a process for servicing a vehicle using a lift <NUM> or a lift arm <NUM> according to the above description.

The process may be performed on electric or hybrid vehicles having a battery pack. In such configuration, the process may comprise the following steps:.

In fact, thanks to the orientable lift arms <NUM> it is possible to arrange the distal body <NUM> of each arm <NUM> such that the arms <NUM> does not interfere with the vehicle body and with the battery pack of the vehicle. In other words, orienting the distal body <NUM> of each lift arm prevents the arm to obstruct the removal of the battery pack under the vehicle.

The present invention has considerable advantages over the solution of the state of the art. In particular, use of an insert <NUM> movable along the base body <NUM> and/or the distal body <NUM> can provides a safe and compact lock system <NUM> allowing an operator to quickly lock and unlock the base body <NUM> and the distal body <NUM>. In fact, as the insert moves along base body <NUM>, elements protruding from the lift arm are minimized thus minimizing risks of inadvertent activation by an operator/vehicle, during lift operations.

Claim 1:
Lift arm (<NUM>) for vehicle lift (<NUM>), said lift arm (<NUM>) comprising:
- at least one base body (<NUM>) extending between a first end portion (31a) and a second end portion (31b) along an extension path (D),
- at least one distal body (<NUM>) extending between a respective first end portion (32a) and a second end portion (32b) along a respective extension path (T), wherein the distal body (<NUM>) is rotatably mounted to the base body (<NUM>) about at least one axis (Z),
- at least one lock system (<NUM>) configured to block the relative rotation between the base body (<NUM>) and the distal body (<NUM>), said lock system (<NUM>) comprising at least one insert (<NUM>) movable at least between:
∘ a release position where said insert (<NUM>) is configured to allow relative rotation between the base body (<NUM>) and the distal body (<NUM>), and
∘ a gripping position where said insert (<NUM>) is configured to block relative rotation between the base body (<NUM>) and the distal body (<NUM>),
characterized by the fact that the insert (<NUM>) of the lock system (<NUM>) is carried by at least one of said base body (<NUM>) and distal body (<NUM>), wherein the insert (<NUM>) is slidingly movable with respect to at least one of said base body and distal body between the gripping position and the release position, and vice versa, along at least one trajectory substantially parallel to at least one section of at least one of said extension path (D) of the base body (<NUM>) and said extension path (T) of the distal body (<NUM>).