Apparatuses and methods for an improved vehicle jack
DCFirst Claim
1. A wheel engagement mechanism for operation with a jack for engaging two wheels of a multi-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- a base; and
a lift frame mounted adjacent to the base for engaging the wheels, comprising;
a first wheel support assembly and an adjacent second wheel support assembly, each wheel support assembly supporting a wheel, comprising;
a rectangular frame including;
a front support for supporting a front of the wheel;
a rear support for supporting a rear of the wheel;
a ratchet mechanism connected to the lift frame for selectively supporting the lift frame in an elevated position, the ratchet mechanism comprising;
a toothed bar, the toothed bar including a plurality of teeth; and
an engagement member connected to the lift frame; and
a mechanism whereby the toothed bar is movable upwardly and away from the engagement member such that the engagement member disengages from the toothed bar.
2 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of a vehicle jack include a base, an upright support mounted adjacent to and extending upwardly from the base, a toothed rack, a toothed bar pin, and a release handle. The toothed rack has a first end and a second end and defines a plurality of ratchet troughs therebetween, and the toothed rack is mounted adjacent the upright support. The ratchet assembly is adapted to move along a path defined by the upright support, and the toothed bar pin, which is mounted adjacent the ratchet assembly, is adapted to selectively engage a portion of the toothed rack adjacent one of the plurality of ratchet troughs as the ratchet assembly moves along the path. The release handle is mounted adjacent the second end of the toothed rack, and the release handle is adapted to selectively disengage the toothed bar pin from one of the plurality of ratchet troughs.
68 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A wheel engagement mechanism for operation with a jack for engaging two wheels of a multi-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
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a base; and a lift frame mounted adjacent to the base for engaging the wheels, comprising; a first wheel support assembly and an adjacent second wheel support assembly, each wheel support assembly supporting a wheel, comprising; a rectangular frame including; a front support for supporting a front of the wheel; a rear support for supporting a rear of the wheel; a ratchet mechanism connected to the lift frame for selectively supporting the lift frame in an elevated position, the ratchet mechanism comprising; a toothed bar, the toothed bar including a plurality of teeth; and an engagement member connected to the lift frame; and a mechanism whereby the toothed bar is movable upwardly and away from the engagement member such that the engagement member disengages from the toothed bar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A jack for lifting two wheels of a four wheeled vehicle off of a support surface, the jack comprising:
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a base supported by the support surface; an upright support having a first end and a second end, the first end mounted adjacent to the base; a lift frame connected to the upright support, the lift frame comprising a wheel support assembly for engaging the front wheels of the vehicle wherein each wheel front wheel is supported at a front by a wheel front support, and at a rear by a wheel rear support; and a lift frame elevation assembly connected to the upright support for selectively raising and selectively lowering the lift frame; and a ratchet mechanism connected to the lift frame for selectively supporting the lift frame in an elevated position, the ratchet mechanism comprising; a toothed bar, the toothed bar including a plurality of teeth; an engagement member connected to the lift frame, wherein the toothed bar remains stationary as the engagement member slidably engages the teeth of the toothed bar as the lift frame is elevated; and a mechanism whereby the engagement member disengages from the toothed bar by moving in a substantially upward direction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of assembling a vehicle jack, comprising the steps of:
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providing a base; providing a wheel engagement mechanism including a first wheel support assembly and an adjacent second wheel support assembly, each wheel support assembly comprising a rectangular frame including a front support and a rear support; connecting the wheel engagement mechanism to the base; providing an elevation assembly including a first end and a second end; connecting the elevation assembly first end to the wheel engagement mechanism; connecting the elevation assembly second end to the base; providing a ratchet mechanism comprising teeth connected to the base, and a ratchet engagement member connected to the wheel engagement mechanism, wherein the teeth remain stationary as the ratchet engagement member slidably engages the teeth as the wheel engagement mechanism is elevated; and providing a mechanism whereby the toothed bar is movable upwardly and away from the engagement member such that the engagement member disengages from the toothed bar. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A wheel engagement mechanism for operation with a jack for engaging two wheels of a multi-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
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a base; and a lift frame mounted adjacent to the base for engaging the wheels, comprising; a first wheel support assembly and an adjacent second wheel support assembly, each wheel support assembly supporting a wheel, comprising; a rectangular frame including; a front support for supporting a front of the wheel; a rear support for supporting a rear of the wheel; and a ratchet mechanism connected to the lift frame for selectively supporting the lift frame in an elevated position, the ratchet mechanism comprising; a first toothed bar having a plurality of teeth; a second toothed bar having a plurality of teeth mounted opposite the first toothed bar; and an engagement member connected to the lift frame and engaging both the first toothed bar and the second toothed bar for selectively supporting the lift frame.
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Specification