Wheel lift system

• US 7,708,516 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wheelfloat, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wheelfloat, Inc.
• Inventors: Snook, Jonathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodríguez; Saúl J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rudawitz; Joshua I
• Application Number:
  US11/385,588
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 414426-429, 414/911, 414/458, 187/211, 211 20- 21, 254/120, 254/122, 292/73, 710/0, 294/118, 280/639, 280/651, 280/79.4, 280/43.12
• US Class Current: 414/427
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 29/002 provided with a dolly
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/065 Scissor linkages, i.e. X-configuration

Abstract

A wheel lift system for efficiently lifting and positioning a wheel and tire onto a wheel hub. The wheel lift system includes a first arm and a second arm pivotally attached to one another, a plurality of caster wheels attached to the lower portion of the arms, and a first support and a second support extending from the arms respectively for supporting a wheel and tire. A bias member is preferably attached to the arms for providing a bias force that assists in elevating the wheel and tire. Alternatively, a bias unit may be attached to the arms for providing a bias force that assists in maintaining elevation of a wheel and tire.

Claims

1. A wheel lift system, comprising:

a frame comprising a first arm and a second arm pivotally attached to said first arm at a pivot point in a crossing manner;

a first support extending from said first arm, said first arm including a first lower segment extending downwardly from said first support for supporting said wheel lift system, and a first upper segment extending upwardly from said first support for maneuvering said wheel lift system;

a second support extending from said second arm, said second arm including a second lower segment extending downwardly from said second support for supporting said wheel lift system, and a second upper segment extending upwardly from said second support for maneuvering said wheel lift system, wherein said first support and said second support are capable of supporting a wheel and tire; and

a bias unit attached to said first arm and said second arm for providing a biased force to assist in maintaining elevation of said wheel and tire, wherein said bias unit is comprised of a locking gas spring, wherein said locking gas spring includes a rod member, wherein said bias unit is coupled to at least one release member.

2. The wheel lift system of claim 1, a plurality of wheels attached to a lower end of said first arm and said second arm.

3. The wheel lift system of claim 1, including a first base attached to a lower end of said first arm, a second base attached to a lower end of said second arm, a plurality of first wheels attached to said first base, and a plurality of second wheels attached to said second base.

4. The wheel lift system of claim 3, wherein said first wheels and said second wheels are comprised of caster wheels.

5. The wheel lift system of claim 4, wherein said first wheels and said second wheels consist of a three caster wheel structure.

6. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein said bias unit is attached to said first arm and said rod member is attached to said second arm, wherein extension or retraction of said rod member respectively pushes or pulls out said second arm, controlling elevation of said wheel lift system.

7. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein said at least one release member, when activated, allows at least one of gas or oil to flow through said bias unit, allowing said rod member to extend from said bias unit or protrude into said bias unit.

8. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein said first arm and said second arm form an X-shaped structure.

9. The wheel lift system of claim 8, wherein said first arm and said second are pivotally attached to a pivot member.

10. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein said first support and said second support are substantially parallel to one another.

11. The wheel lift system of claim 10, wherein said first support and said second support extend substantially transversely from said first arm and said second arm respectively.

12. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein said first upper segment includes a first handle and said second upper segment includes a second handle.

13. The wheel lift system of claim 12, wherein said first handle is attached to an upper portion of said first upper segment, a first lower handle is attached to a lower portion of said first upper segment, said second handle is attached to an upper portion of said second upper segment and a second lower handle is attached to a lower portion of said second upper segment.

14. The wheel lift system of claim 13, wherein said at least one release member is positioned proximate to at least one of said first handle and said first lower handle.

15. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein first support and said second support are comprised of elongated rollers.

16. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein said at least one release member is attached centrally on said frame.

17. A wheel lift system, comprising:

a frame comprising a first arm and a second arm pivotally attached to said first arm at a pivot member in a crossing manner forming an X-shaped structure, wherein said first arm is comprised of a first lower segment and a first upper segment and wherein said second arm is comprised of a second lower segment and a second upper segment;

a first handle extending from said first upper segment;

a first lower handle extending from said first upper segment;

a second handle extending from said second upper segment;

a second lower handle extending from said second upper segment;

a first support extending from said first arm, said first lower segment extending downwardly from said first support for supporting said wheel lift system, said first upper segment extending upwardly from said first support for maneuvering said wheel lift system;

a second support extending from said second arm, said second lower segment extending downwardly from said second support for supporting said wheel lift system, said second upper segment extending upwardly from said second support for maneuvering said wheel lift system, wherein said first support and said second support are substantially parallel to one another, and wherein said first support and said second support extend substantially transversely from said first arm and said second arm respectively for removably supporting a tire;

a first base attached to a lower end of said first arm;

a second base attached to a lower end of said second arm;

a plurality of first wheels attached to said first base;

a plurality of second wheels attached to said second base, wherein said first wheels and said second wheels are comprised of caster wheels; and

a bias unit including a rod member wherein said bias unit is attached to said first arm and said rod member is attached to said second arm for providing a biased force to assist in maintaining elevation of a wheel and tire, wherein said bias unit is comprised of a locking gas spring, wherein said bias unit is coupled to at least one release member.

18. The wheel lift system of claim 17, wherein said at least one release member, when activated, allows at least one of gas or oil to flow through said bias unit, allowing said rod member to extend from said bias unit or protrude into said bias unit respectively lowering said wheel lift system or elevating said wheel lift system.

19. The wheel lift system of claim 17, wherein said first wheels and said second wheels consist of a three caster wheel structure.

20. The wheel lift system of claim 17, wherein said at least one release member is attached centrally on said frame.

21. A wheel lift system, comprising:

a frame comprising a first arm and a second arm pivotally attached to said first arm at a pivot point in a crossing manner;

a first support extending from said first arm, said first arm including a lower segment extending downwardly from said first support for supporting said wheel lift system, and an upper segment extending upwardly from said first support for maneuvering said wheel lift system;

a second support extending from said second arm, said second arm including a lower segment extending downwardly from said second support for supporting said wheel lift system, and an upper segment extending upwardly from said second support for maneuvering said wheel lift system, wherein said first support and said second support are capable of supporting a wheel and tire; and

a bias unit attached to said first arm and said second arm for providing a biased force to assist in maintaining elevation of said wheel and tire, wherein said bias unit is comprised of a locking gas spring, wherein said locking gas spring includes a rod member, wherein said bias unit is attached to a hydraulic hose, wherein said hydraulic hose includes a first release member attached to an upper portion of said frame, wherein said hydraulic hose includes a second release member attached to said frame between said first release member and a lower end of said frame;

wherein said first release member or said second release member, when activated, allows at least one of gas or oil to flow through said bias unit, allowing said rod member to extend from said bias unit or protrude into said bias unit.