Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
   I. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of load bearing systems accessories, and more particularly to an electrical automobile apparatus and system. 
   II. Description of the Related Art 
   In general, presently available car jacks and other load bearing devices require manual physical labor to operate the jacks. These presently available jacks further require the operator to remain in a prolonged bent or squatting position to operate the jack. 
   SUMMARY 
   In general, an electrically operated car jack is described. A typical embodiment includes a base frame or housing that is adapted to be placed on the ground underneath the automobile to be lifted. One or more electric motors are connected to drive arms that are connected to a load bridge having a load plate that can be placed on the car&#39;s frame. Typically, the motors are operated by connecting electrical cords to the motors and to the car&#39;s battery. Each of the drive arms typically include drive wheels that can be sprockets to which a belt or chain, used as a coupler, can be connected in an X-configuration. The drive wheels typically rotate opposite each other and therefore the X-configuration assures that the coupler moves in a uniform direction. The motors drive the drive arms therefore lifting and lowering the load bridge which lifts and lowers the car on and off the ground. The bridge is typically mounted within the drive arms by rods located within elongated slots on the drive arms so that the bridge is able to move upward and downward and yet be retained within the drive arms. The entire jack can be operated by a remote control. 
   In general, in one aspect, the invention features a load-bearing apparatus, including a generally hollow external housing, a fist drive shaft located at one end of the housing, a second drive shaft located at another end of the housing opposite to and generally parallel to the first drive shaft, a first drive arm having tongs and connected to the first drive shaft, a second drive arm having tongs and connected to the second drive shaft and an elongated bridge having a first end connected between the tongs of the first drive arm and a second end connected between the tongs of the second drive arm. 
   In one implementation, the apparatus further includes a first electric motor coupled to the first drive shaft. 
   In another implementation, the apparatus further includes a second electric motor coupled to the second drive shaft drive shaft. 
   In another implementation, the apparatus further includes a first drive wheel connected to an end of the first drive shaft and a second drive wheel connected to an end of the second drive shaft. 
   In another implementation, the apparatus further includes a chain having a first end and a second end, the first end of the chain being connected at a point on the perimeter of the first drive wheel and the second end of the chain being connected at a point on the perimeter of the second drive wheel. 
   In still another implementation, the apparatus includes a belt connected to the drive wheels in an X configuration. 
   In yet another implementation, the drive wheels are sprockets. 
   In another implementation, the chain is connected to the in an X configuration. 
   In another implementation, each of the first and second drive arms comprise a base a two generally parallel tongs, each tong having an elongated slot along a length of the tong. 
   In another implementation, the elongated bridge further comprises a first channel through the first end and a second channel through the second end. 
   In another implementation, the apparatus includes a first rod located within the first channel, the first rod being longer than the first channel so that the ends of the rod protrude from either side of the first channel and a second rod located within the second channel, the second rod being longer than the second channel so that the ends of the rod protrude from either side of the second channel. 
   In another implementation, the protruding ends of each of the rods are in slidable engagement with the slots on the tongs of each drive arm. 
   In another implementation, the apparatus further includes a load plate connected to the elongated bridge. 
   In another implementation, the apparatus further includes an opening on the housing from which the load plate generally protrudes. 
   In another aspect, the invention features a jack apparatus, including an external housing, a load bridge, a first drive section connected to the housing and a second drive section connected to the housing and opposed to the first drive section, wherein the load bridge is moveably connected to the first and second drive sections. 
   In another aspect, the invention features an automobile jack system including an external housing, a load bridge having a load plate, a first drive arm having generally parallel tongs and being connected to the housing, a second drive section having generally parallel tongs and being connected to the housing and opposed to the first drive section, wherein the load bridge is moveably connected between the tongs of the first and second drive arms, a motor connected to at least one of the first and second drive arms and a power source connected to the motor. 
   In one implementation, the system further includes a coupler connected between the first and second drive arms. 
   In another implementation, the power source is an automobile battery. 
   In another implementation, the system further includes a remote control coupled to the motor. 
   In another aspect, the invention features an electric automobile car jack kit, including a jack including a generally hollow external housing, a fist drive shaft located at one end of the housing, a second drive shaft located at another end of the housing opposite to and generally parallel to the first drive shaft, a first drive arm having tongs and connected to the first drive shaft, a second drive arm having tongs and connected to the second drive shaft, an elongated bridge having a first end connected between the tongs of the first drive arm and a second end connected between the tongs of the second drive arm, a power source adapted to be coupled to the to jack and further adapted to raise and lower the bridge and a control adapted to be connected to the jack and further adapted to remotely operate the jack. 
   One advantage of the invention is that it can be placed underneath an automobile then can be operated remotely and electrically while the operator stands comfortably away from the vehicle. 
   Another advantage of the invention is that it can be powered from presently available electrical power from the vehicle. 
   Another advantage of the invention is that it includes two drive sections that can be coupled together to stabilize the jack load. 
   Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a partial internal side view of an embodiment of an electric car jack in a first position; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a partial internal side view of an embodiment of an electric car jack in a second position; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a partial cutaway top view of an embodiment of an electric car jack; and 
       FIG. 4  illustrates components of an embodiment of an electric car jack. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, reference is made first to  FIG. 1  that illustrates a partial internal side view of an embodiment of an electric jack  100  in a first position. The jack  100  typically includes a generally hollow external housing  105  having an opening  110  on the top of the housing  105 . It is understood that the housing  105  can be enclosed or an open frame. The jack  100  further typically includes two opposed drive sections  115 ,  120 . Each drive section  115 ,  120  generally includes a drive shaft  125 ,  130  coupled to a drive wheel  135 ,  140 . The drive shafts  125 ,  130  are generally parallel to one another. Each drive section  115 ,  120  further includes a drive arm  145 ,  150 . The drive arms  145 ,  150  generally include a base  146 ,  151  and tongs  147 ,  152  having elongated slots  148 ,  153  along a length of the tongs  147 ,  152 . 
   The jack  100  can further include an elongated load bridge  155 . One end of the bridge  155  is generally connected between the tongs  147  of the first drive arm  145  and the other end of the bridge  155  is generally connected between the tongs  151  of the second drive arm  150 . In a typical embodiment, the bridge  155  includes a channel (see  156 ,  157  in  FIG. 4  below) through each end of the bridge  155 . A first rod  160  is located within the first channel  156 , and is generally longer than the length of the first channel  156  so that the ends of the rod  160  protrude from either side of the first channel  156 . Similarly, a second rod  165  is located within the second channel  157 , and is generally longer than the second channel  157  so that the ends of the rod  165  protrude from either side of the second channel  157 . In general, because the ends of the rods  160 ,  165  are longer than the channels  156 ,  157  and protrude from the channels  156 ,  157 , the rods  160 ,  165  can be in engagement with the respective slots  148 ,  153  of the respective tongs  147 ,  152 . 
   In a typical embodiment, the drive sections  115 ,  120  can be mechanically coupled together by coupling the drive wheels  135 ,  140 . In a typical implementation, an elongated coupler  170 , such as a belt, can be connected to the perimeter of both drive wheels  135 ,  140  so that the movement of one of the wheels  135 ,  140  drives the movement of the other one of the wheels  135 ,  140 . In another embodiment, the coupler  170  can be a chain and the drive wheels  135 ,  140  can be sprockets having teeth that engage the chain. Use of a chain acts similarly to a belt. In either embodiment, the coupler  170  is configured in an X. This feature of the coupled drive sections  115 ,  120  is discussed in further detail below. 
   The jack  100  generally further includes a load plate  175  connected to the elongated bridge  155 . The load plate  175  typically protrudes from the opening  120  on the housing  105 . 
   The first position as shown in  FIG. 1  illustrates a fully retracted or closed position in which the bridge  155  and the load plate  175  are retracted into the hollow housing  105 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a partial internal side view of an embodiment of an electric car jack  100  in a second position. This second position is typically a fully protruded or open position in which the bridge  155  and the load plate  175  are fully protruded from the hollow interior of the housing  105 . Typically, there are a spectrum of positions that the bridge  155  and the load plate  175  can take in between the fully retracted and the fully protruded positions. 
   As described above with respect to  FIG. 1 , the jack  100  typically includes a generally hollow external housing  105  having an opening  110  on the top of the housing  105 , two opposed drive sections  115 ,  120  having a drive shaft  125 ,  130  coupled to a drive wheel  135 ,  140 , a drive arm  145 ,  150 , each having a base  146 ,  151  and tongs  147 ,  152  having elongated slots  148 ,  153  along a length of the tongs  147 ,  152 . The jack  100  can further include an elongated load bridge  155  connected between the tongs  147  of the first drive arm  145  and the other end of the bridge  155  is generally connected between the tongs  151  of the second drive arm  150 . The bridge  155  can include a channel (see  156 ,  157  in  FIG. 4  below) having rods  160 ,  165 . Typically, the rods  160 ,  165  can be in engagement with the respective slots  148 ,  153  of the respective tongs  147 ,  152 . The drive sections  115 ,  120  can be mechanically coupled together by coupling the drive wheels  135 ,  140  with coupler  170  in an X-configuration. The jack  100  generally further includes a load plate  175  connected to the elongated bridge  155 . The load plate  175  typically protrudes from the opening  120  on the housing  105 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is illustrated that as the drive sections  115 ,  120  are energized, the drive wheels  135 ,  140  rotate which lifts and lowers the drive arms  145 ,  150 . In general, whether the jack  100  is in a lifting or a lowering mode, there are several components of force that are asserted on the drive arms  145 ,  150 , and generally on the drive sections  115 ,  120 . As the bridge  155  and the load plate  175  are lifted and lowered, the force components are distributed generally along the rods  160 ,  165  as the rods  160 ,  165  move along the slots  148 ,  153 . The movement of the rods  160 ,  165  along the slots  148 ,  153  help to keep the bridge  155 , the load plate  175  and any load on the load plate  175  stabilized. 
   Furthermore, each of the drive sections  115 ,  120  can be independently energized or energized by the same source. Whether or not each drive section  115 ,  120  is independently energized, the coupler  170  helps to maintain and stabilize the bridge  155  and load plate  175  by coupling the drive sections  115 ,  120  to one another. Therefore, if the drive sections are being energized at different rates therefore lifting or lowering opposite sides of the bridge  155  at different rates, therefore potentially causing an imbalance on a load on the load plate  175 , the coupler  170  prevents the drive sections  115 ,  120  from running at different rates by either back driving the faster of the sections  115 ,  120  of speeding up the slower of the sections  115 ,  120 . 
   Furthermore, it is generally understood that the load on the load plate  175  asserts a downward force asserting a force at different points on the drive arms  145 ,  150 . IT is well-known that the torque asserted on the drive arms  145 ,  150  is related to the length of the drive arms  145 ,  150 , measured generally from the drive wheels  135 ,  140 , multiplied by the force on the a rms. Therefore, the torque increases for greater loads and for longer lengths. Therefore, as the load is lifted, the point at which the force is asserted on the drive arms  145 ,  150  increases since the rods  160 ,  165  are moving along the slots  148 ,  153 . Therefore, it is typically desirable to keep the length of the drive arms  145 ,  150  a length to generate torques that can be handled by the units that energize the drive sections  115 ,  120 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a partial cutaway top view of an embodiment of an electric car jack  100 . As described above with respect to  FIG. 1 , the jack  100  typically includes a generally hollow external housing  105  having an opening  110  on the top of the housing  105 , two opposed drive sections  115 ,  120  having a drive shaft  125 ,  130  coupled to a drive wheel  135 ,  140 , a drive arm  145 ,  150 , each having a base  146 ,  151  and tongs  147 ,  152  having elongated slots  148 ,  153  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2  above) along a length of the tongs  147 ,  152 . In a typical embodiment, the drive shafts  125 ,  130  can be elongated so that they can be connected to the housing  105  to further stabilize the drive sections  115 ,  120 . Each drive section  115 ,  120  can include various nuts and washers  205  to connected the drive shafts  125 ,  130  to the drive arms  145 ,  150 , typically at the bases  146 ,  151 . Each drive section  115 ,  120  can further include an electrical motor  200  coupled to the drive arms  145 ,  150 . The motors  200  are used to energize the drive sections  115 ,  120  as described above. In another embodiment, only one of the sections  115 ,  120  can include a motor. In either embodiment, the coupler  170  helps to couple and drive each drive section  115 ,  120  to each other. The motors  200  can typically be connected to the housing  105 . In another embodiment, it is contemplated that other methods to energize the drive sections  115 ,  120  can be implemented, including but not limited to hydraulic motors. 
   The jack  100  can further include an elongated load bridge  155  connected between the tongs  147  of the first drive arm  145  and the other end of the bridge  155  is generally connected between the tongs  151  of the second drive arm  150 . The bridge  155  can include a channel (see  156 ,  157  in  FIG. 4  below) having rods  160 ,  165 . Typically, the rods  160 ,  165  can be in engagement with the respective slots  148 ,  153  of the respective tongs  147 ,  152 . The drive sections  115 ,  120  can be mechanically coupled together by coupling the drive wheels  135 ,  140  with coupler  170  in an X-configuration. The jack  100  generally further includes a load plate  175  connected to the elongated bridge  155 . 
   In a typical embodiment, the jack  100  can further include electric power lines  210  that can be connected between the motors  200  and the automobile&#39;s car battery  215 . A remote control  220  having control switches  221  can further be connected to the motor  200  to control the upward and downward motion of the jack  100 . The control  220  can be connected to the motor  200  power cords  225  or have a remote connection such as, but not limited to, radio control. 
   Other suitable power sources other than the car battery can be implemented in other embodiments. For example, other power sources can include but are not limited to alternating current sources (e.g., 10 VAC, 220 VAC), direct current sources (e.g., 12 VDC), 24 V military, solar and the like. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates components of an embodiment of an electric car jack  100 . The components are for the drive section  120  for illustrative purposes. The bridge  155  is shown with the channels  156 ,  157  and the rod  165  is shown adjacent the channel  156 . The drive arm  150  having tongs  152  can be placed over the end of the bridge  155  and the rod  165  can be asserted through the slot  153  and the channel  56  to secure the tongs  152  to the bridge  155 . The drive wheel  140  is shown detached from the coupler  170  and connected to the base  151  of the drive arm  150 . A portion of the drive shaft  130  is also shown. The bridge  155  is shown detached from the load plate  175  to illustrate a connection point  180  that can allow the load plate  175  to be rotatably connected to the bridge  155 . 
   In general, the embodiments described herein relate generally to load bearing lifting systems that can be used in a variety of sizes to lift various loads. A typical embodiment is used for an automobile jack. Other embodiments can be used for smaller loads such as, but not limited to, lifting beakers in chemistry experiments. It is understood that the embodiments can be modified in several ways for different uses and implementations. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, various modifications may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and which are set forth in the appended claims.

Technology Category: b