Patent ID: 7325786

Claim:
A multi-speed jack for raising and lowering an object, said jack comprising: first and second housing sections telescopically moveable relative to each other, said first housing section connected to said object to be raised or lowered; a drop leg in non-geared sliding engagement with said second housing section, said drop leg telescopically moveable relative to said second housing section and selectively engagable therewith along a range of telescopic positions, said drop leg capable of engagement with the ground; a drive mechanism for causing telescopic movement between said first and second housing sections to raise or lower said object relative to the ground; a gearing that engages said drive mechanism, said gearing selectable between at least two working gear ratios that can support loads encountered during the raising or lowering of said object; and an actuator for providing input power to said gearing that is translated into telescopic movement of said first and second housing sections, said actuator moveable between engagement with said first working gear and said second working gear to provide said at least two working gears ratios.