Hand lift system for positioning a wheel and tire to be placed on a vehicle hub

• US 10,589,569 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jackie L. Hight
• Original Assignee: Jackie L. Hight
• Inventors: Hight, Jackie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, Joseph J
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDonald, Shantese L
• Application Number:
  US15/474,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20170282645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 254129, 254131, 2541315, 254133 R
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 29/001 comprising lifting or aligning means B60B29/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/077 Wheel cradles, chocks, or wells
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 3/00 Portable devices for preventing unwanted movement of vehicles, e.g. chocks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/005 with rocking arm or sector

Abstract

A hand lift system for positioning a wheel and tire to be placed on a vehicle hub, the system being made up of two primary components. A first paddle component provides a shovel shaped lever to be placed under the tire to be lifted up to the vehicle hub, with a handle grip to operate the lever arm. A second component provides a solid wedge chock on which the paddle component is placed to act as a fulcrum to the paddle component lever, or to act as a support once the tire is lifted to the appropriate height. The paddle component doubles as a tool for shifting the spare tire or flat tire into place. The chock component doubles as a wheel block for either a tire still on the vehicle or a spare tire that has been rolled to the side of the vehicle for use.

Claims

1. A hand lift system for a user to lift and position a tire to be placed on a vehicle hub, the system comprising:

a paddle component comprising;

a paddle blade portion engaging the tire to be lifted; and

a paddle handle portion engaged by the user; and

a chock component comprising a triangular block having a flat base and an opposing apex edge, the flat base of the chock component further comprising a storage channel sized to receive and retain the paddle handle portion of the paddle component when the system is not in use and is being stored;

wherein the user, engaging the paddle handle, lifts and positions the tire and positions the apex edge of the chock component under the paddle component to support and position the tire on the vehicle hub.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the paddle component further comprises a paddle handle grip portion positioned at an end of the paddle handle portion distal to the paddle blade portion.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the paddle handle portion has a longitudinal axis and the paddle blade portion and the paddle handle grip portion each extend in part away from the longitudinal axis such that when the paddle component is placed on a flat surface, and the tire is placed on the paddle blade portion, the paddle blade portion and the paddle handle grip portion support the paddle handle portion above the flat surface allowing the user to easily pick up the paddle component with the tire positioned thereon.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the apex edge of the chock component further comprises a fulcrum channel, the fulcrum channel sized and positioned to receive and partially retain the paddle handle portion of the paddle component when the system is in use.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the paddle blade portion of the paddle component further comprises an array of support ridges, the array of support ridges helping to retain the tire when positioned on the paddle blade portion.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the paddle blade portion of the paddle component comprises an upward oriented face for contact with the tire, the upward oriented face defining a concave profile to facilitate the retention of the curved face of the tire thereon.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the paddle component and the chock component further comprises one or more reflective surfaces oriented to reflect lights from other vehicles thereby facilitating the safe use of the system on the side of a road at night.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the chock component further comprises first and second angled faces extending between the flat base and the apex edge, at least one of the angled faces comprising an array of support ridges, the array of support ridges helping to maintain the chock component in place when used as a wheel chock.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the chock component further comprises first and second triangular faces extending between the flat base and the apex edge, and the system further comprises at least one battery powered LED light array positioned on at least one of the triangular faces, the LED light array providing illumination for a work area around the system and a warning light to alert oncoming traffic of use of the system on a side of the road.

10. A hand lift system for a user to lift and position a tire to be placed on a vehicle hub, the system comprising:

a paddle component comprising;

a paddle blade portion engaging the tire to be lifted, the paddle blade portion comprising an array of support ridges, the array of support ridges helping to retain the tire when positioned on the paddle blade portion;

a paddle handle portion extending from the paddle blade portion; and

a paddle handle grip portion engaged by the user; and

a chock component comprising a triangular block having a flat base and an opposing apex edge, the apex edge comprising a fulcrum channel, the fulcrum channel sized and positioned to receive and partially retain the paddle handle portion of the paddle component when the system is in use, the flat base of the chock component further comprising a storage channel sized to receive and retain the paddle handle portion of the paddle component when the system is not in use and is being stored, the chock component further comprising first and second angled faces extending between the flat base and the apex edge, at least one of the angled faces comprising an array of support ridges, the array of support ridges helping to maintain the chock component in place when used as a wheel chock;

wherein the user, engaging the paddle handle, lifts and positions the tire and positions the apex edge of the chock component under the paddle component to support and position the tire on the vehicle hub.

11. A kit carried onboard a motor vehicle comprising hand lift system to assist a user with changing a wheel and tire on the motor vehicle, the kit comprising:

a paddle component comprising a blade, a lever arm, and a grip handle, the blade engaging the wheel and tire to be lifted, the lever arm extending from the paddle, and the grip handle positioned at the end of the lever arm distal to the blade;

a chock component comprising a triangular block having a flat rectangular base, an opposing apex edge, first and second angled faces and first and second triangular faces extending between the flat rectangular base and the apex edge;

a combination work area mat and system storage bag; and

at least one battery powered light source removably securable to at least one of the chock component, the paddle component, and the motor vehicle adjacent the wheel and tire to be changed;

wherein the user removes and positions the components of the kit and a spare tire in an area adjacent the wheel and tire to be changed, positions the spare tire on the blade of the paddle component, engages the paddle handle, lifts and positions the tire in front of the vehicle hub, and positions the apex edge of the chock component under the paddle component to support and position the tire on the vehicle hub.