Mobile automotive servicing facility

• US 5,833,294 A
• Filed: 03/27/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian E. Williams, Williams; Barbara Bruck
• Original Assignee: Brian E. Williams, Williams; Barbara Bruck
• Inventors: Williams, Brian E., Williams, Barbara Bruck
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US08/622,220
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.1, 296/26, 296/57.1, 296/61, 414/537, 137/234.6
• US Class Current: 296/24.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/14 the object being a workshop for servicing, for maintenance, or for carrying workmen during work lifting devices for movable platforms or cabins for workmen B66F11/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/00 Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles vehicles adapted to carry a workshop for servicing or maintenance B60P3/14; servicing rail locomotives B61K

Abstract

A mobile automotive servicing facility (100) expands from a closed configuration for transport on highways and roads into a multibay service facility including multiple lifts (142) for servicing automobiles, a restroom (222), a customer waiting room/office area (144) and other amenities. In the closed configuration, the mobile automotive servicing facility resembles a double drop trailer. When deployed for maintenance on automobiles, outer side walls (120) of the facility are pivoted to extend the roof of the facility on both sides. Then inner side walls (122) are pivoted to extend the floor of the facility in an area under the extended roof. The extended floor (122) provides a ramp for ingress and egress of automobiles into the interior (128) of the facility. Contained within the interior of the facility are automobile lifts (142) and equipment for servicing the automobile, including oil change and chassis lubrication, filter replacement, wiper blade replacement, belt replacement and additional services.

Claims

1. A mobile automotive servicing facility comprising:

a frame;

a floor supported by said frame;

a roof supported by said frame, said roof overlying said floor;

fixed side walls extending from said floor to said roof on opposite sides of said frame to partially enclose and to define an interior of said servicing facility;

an outer side wall attached at one end to said frame to pivot between a closed position wherein said outer side wall is generally parallel to said fixed side walls and an open position wherein said outer side wall is generally parallel to said roof and extends said roof; and

an inner side wall attached at one end to said frame to pivot between a closed position wherein said inner side wall is generally parallel to said fixed side walls and an open position wherein said inner side wall extends from said floor to an exterior surface that supports an automobile to be serviced.

2. The facility of claim 1 wherein said frame has a drop area and said outer side wall and said inner side wall are attached to said frame in said drop area.

3. The facility of claim 1 wherein said outer side wall is pivoted under the control of hydraulic rams.

4. The facility of claim 1 wherein said inner side wall is pivoted under the control of hydraulic rams.

5. The facility of claim 1 further comprising a ramp extension with rollers attached at a first end, said rollers resting on said inner side wall when said inner side wall is in the open position, said ramp extension having a second end opposite said first end that rests on said exterior surface that supports an automobile.

6. The facility of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of adjustable jacks that are attached to said frame and extend from said frame to a surface supporting said frame.

7. The facility of claim 1 further comprising a predetermined number of lifts located within the interior of the facility, each lift being adapted to vertically lift an automobile above the floor.

8. The facility of claim 7 wherein said predetermined number of lifts is two.

9. The facility of claim 7 wherein said lifts are hydraulic.

10. The facility of claim 9 wherein each of said lifts comprises twin post lifts.

11. The facility of claim 7 further comprising a sensor attached adjacent the roof within the interior of the facility, said sensor sensing an automobile on one of said lifts and said lift being responsive to said sensor to be shut off if said sensor determines a height of said automobile on said one of said lifts is unfavorable.

12. The facility of claim 1 further comprising an office area within the interior of the facility.

13. The facility of claim 1 further comprising a restroom within the interior of the facility.

14. The facility of claim 1 further comprising retractable walls adapted to attach to, and enclose, a perimeter of said outer side wall and inner side wall, when said outer and inner side walls are both in the open position.

15. The facility of claim 1 further comprising hydraulic jacks attached to said frame at one end that are adapted to extend at an opposite end to the exterior surface.

16. The facility at claim 1 wherein said inner side wall is attached within a drop area of said facility.

17. The facility of claim 1 further comprising a coffee bar attached to one of said fixed side walls.

18. The facility of claim 1 further comprising within the interior of said facility:

a pan for receiving fluid from an automobile; and

a hose connected at one end to receive contents from said pan and connected at an opposite end to a storage tank.

19. The facility of claim 18 wherein said pan is adjustably supported by support means.

20. The facility of claim 18 wherein said storage tank is secured within said floor.

21. The facility of claim 1 further comprising a door for customer access, said door being attached to one of said fixed side walls.

22. The facility of claim 1 further comprising oil tanks positioned within the frame underneath the floor.

23. A mobile automotive servicing facility comprising:

a frame at least partially supported by wheels and adapted to be movable from a first location to a second location;

a floor supported by said frame;

a roof supported by said frame, said roof overlying said floor;

fixed side walls extending from said floor to said roof on opposite sides of said frame to partially enclose and to define an interior of said facility;

said fixed side walls enclosing an opening for ingress and egress to the interior of the facility by an automobile; and

an automotive lift secured to said floor of said facility for lifting and lowering an automobile vertically within said interior of said facility.

24. The facility of claim 23 wherein said lifts are hydraulic.

25. The facility of claim 23 wherein said lift comprises a twin post lift.

26. The facility of claim 23 further comprising a sensor attached to the roof extending within the interior of the facility, said sensor sensing an automobile on said lift and said lift being responsive to said sensor to be shut off if said sensor determines that said automobile has reached a predetermined height.