Lift point alignment device for vehicle maintenance lifts

• US 10,173,873 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yasui Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yasui Corporation
• Inventors: Horimizu, Toshihide
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W
• Application Number:
  US15/320,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20180072544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 33286, 33263, 33264, 33288
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 2700/123 Details concerning the support members or devices not related to the lifting itself
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/46 Combinations of several jacks with means for interrelating lifting or lowering movements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/28 Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/272 using photoelectric detection means

Abstract

Provided is a lift point alignment device (30) including a mirror body (40) detachably attached to a vehicle body holding tool (20), the mirror body (40) including a mirror surface (42) facing upward while the mirror body (40) is attached to the vehicle body holding tool (20), and a light source (50) provided in the mirror body (40) to project light in a vertical direction toward a lower part of a vehicle (1) from the mirror surface (42) of the mirror body (40) attached to the vehicle body holding tool (20), wherein an alignment state of the vehicle body holding tool (20) with respect to lift points (2) of the vehicle (1) is allowed to be recognized based on a match state between an image of the light source (50) and an image of the lift points (2) of the vehicle (1) reflected in the mirror surface (42) of the mirror body (40) observed from a side of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A lift point alignment device for a vehicle maintenance lift aligning a vehicle body holding tool provided in a lifting arm of a vehicle maintenance lift to lift points provided in a lower part of a vehicle, the lift point alignment device comprising:

a mirror body detachably attached to the vehicle body holding tool, the mirror body including a mirror surface facing upward while the mirror body is attached to the vehicle body holding tool; and

a light source provided in the mirror body to project light in a vertical direction towards the lower part of the vehicle from the mirror surface of the mirror body attached to the vehicle body holding tool;

wherein an alignment state of the vehicle body holding tool with respect to the lift points of the vehicle is allowed to be recognized based on a match state between an image of the light source and an image of the lift points of the vehicle reflected in the mirror surface of the mirror body observed from a side of the vehicle.

2. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 1, wherein the light source provided in the mirror body is configured to be aligned to a vehicle body support of the vehicle body holding tool while the mirror body is attached to the vehicle body holding tool when the vehicle body support to be aligned to the lift points of the vehicle is provided on an upper surface of the vehicle body holding tool.

3. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 2, wherein, when the vehicle body support of the vehicle body holding tool forms a linear shape aligned to the lift points having the linear shape of the vehicle, a plurality of light sources is installed on a straight line aligned to the linear vehicle body support of the vehicle body holding tool.

4. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 3, wherein the mirror body includes a mounting frame portion installed in a protruding manner on a rear side of the mirror surface, and the mounting frame portion is attached on an outer circumferential portion of the vehicle body holding tool when the mirror body is attached to the vehicle body holding tool.

5. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 3, wherein the mirror body includes a mounting protrusion installed in a protruding manner on a rear side of the mirror surface, and the mounting protrusion is fit to a groove-shaped vehicle body support provided within the upper surface of the vehicle body holding tool when the mirror body is attached to the vehicle body holding tool.

6. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 3, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode (LED), and the mirror body includes a battery and a lighting switch for the LED.

7. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 2, wherein the mirror body includes a mounting frame portion installed in a protruding manner on a rear side of the mirror surface, and the mounting frame portion is attached on an outer circumferential portion of the vehicle body holding tool when the mirror body is attached to the vehicle body holding tool.

8. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 7, wherein the mirror body includes a mounting protrusion installed in a protruding manner on the rear side of the mirror surface, and the mounting protrusion is fit to a groove-shaped vehicle body support provided within the upper surface of the vehicle body holding tool when the mirror body is attached to the vehicle body holding tool.

9. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 7, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode (LED), and the mirror body includes a battery and a lighting switch for the LED.

10. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 2, wherein the mirror body includes a mounting protrusion installed in a protruding manner on a rear side of the mirror surface, and the mounting protrusion is fit to a groove-shaped vehicle body support provided within the upper surface of the vehicle body holding tool when the mirror body is attached to the vehicle body holding tool.

11. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 10, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode (LED), and the mirror body includes a battery and a lighting switch for the LED.

12. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 2, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode (LED), and the mirror body includes a battery and a lighting switch for the LED.

13. The lift point alignment device for the vehicle maintenance lift according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode (LED), and the mirror body includes a battery and a lighting switch for the LED.