Patent Application
20180273360
The present invention relates generally to an air compressor connected to a car operated vehicle jack, and in particular, to an air compressor operated vehicle jack having a flexible Inflate/Deflate construction.
It is quite common to get a flat tire. Mostly the remedy to change the flat tire is by accessing the underside of the vehicle or lifting the vehicle. Usually this is accomplished via a mechanical jack included in most vehicles.
Mechanical jacks involve the use of physical exertion through a lever or screw system to produce the power necessary to raise the vehicle to a suitable height. In case of heavy car or long journeys, the physical exertion required is beyond that which is capable by the operator, and thus the service of a tow truck is required to perform the necessary repairs or to tow the vehicle to somewhere where the proper equipment is available. This is also a common problem when there is a need to carry out any mechanical repairs underneath the vehicle.
Various attempts have been made to provide alternate methods for lifting a vehicle in order to perform repairs or change tires. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,092; U.S. Pat. No. 3,695,582; U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,398; U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,086; U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,708; U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,145; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,200.
However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention. While these apparatuses fulfil their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one or more disadvantages. It is very difficult to transport or move many of such apparatuses manually. Many of them require fairly complicated setup in order to use them and are not conveniently compactable for storage. Some of these apparatuses require power supplies. Many of these apparatuses are complicated or physically demanding to operate and adjust. Thus, there exists a need for a vehicle lifting apparatus which is compact in configuration and simple in operation. The development of the present invention substantially differs from the conventional solutions and provides greater benefits over the existing devices currently available.
In view of the above references, the inventor recognized the inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a vehicle jack which is pneumatically and electrically-operated in a simple manner and adapted for simple transport and compact storage. Thus, the objective of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages.
To achieve the above objectives, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a compact air compressor and air tank permanently installed in a vehicle. A vehicle jack for lifting vehicle for various repairs that can be utilized in a portable manner. The apparatus comprises of an air jack, air extension hose, built-in car compressor and tank.
Another objective of the present invention is to comprise the base and top portions of solid plastic, which provide support to the rubber air bag. The top part further comprises a rubberized surface which provides better grip to hold vehicle in place.
Yet still another objective of this invention is to lift the vehicle utilizing the rubber bag. The rubber bag is made up of flexible rubber attached to both the base and the top solid plastic portions. The rubber bag can be inflated with a volume of compressed air which is supplied by the built-in car compressor and built-in air tank.
Another objective of this invention is to provide the top portion of the jack with a flat rubberized surface to stabilize the vehicle and the jack during use. The rubberized surface provides a high-friction interface upon contact with a bottom surface of the vehicle.
The objective of the present invention is to provide simple actuation of the jack using a power switch available on the vehicle's dashboard that automatically inflates the bladder.
Another objective of the present invention comprises of a first port and second port providing pneumatic communication with a pressure relief valve and the compressor, respectively. The first port and second port enable deflation and inflation of the apparatus.
Another objective of the present invention comprises of an air hose between the air tank and the air jack. The hose is coiled and therefore has a slight tension. Once the air hose is detached from the air tank and air jack, it will recoil and take less storage space.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide built-in air compressor and air tank fitted in the vehicle which can be operated by a switch provided on the dashboard. The air-compressor is used to compress the air, while air tank is provided to store the compressed air in it.
The present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of procuring the air jack, placing it under a vehicle, plugging the air hose into one of the built-in air hose connections on either side of the vehicle, initiating the air compressor to inflate the air tank and releasing air to the rubber bag by pressing the switch available on dashboard to “ON” position, filling the rubber bag to a desired height, the operator can then perform needed tasks while the vehicle is jacked off the ground surface. Lowering the air jack is done by opening the air valve and discharging the air out of the bag. This will deflate the bag allowing it to go back into its natural flat position with the operator able to remove and store the air jack. Utilizing the switch located on the dashboard, will allow the operator to benefit from reduced effort and increased safety afforded by the present invention.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide two buttons on the dashboard of the car. The first button will be used for jacking the car. The button “OFF” mode will be connected with tilt sensors which can detect the tilt of the car. When tire is lifted sufficiently above ground, the tilt sensor will enable “OFF” mode of button and jack will not be over pressurized. Another switch is for “air gun”. The air gun can be connected to same air hose as that of the air jack. Once the switch is activated, air gun can be used to take off the lug nuts of the wheel.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
Referring now to
The rubber bag comprises of heavy-duty inflatable pressure vessel affixed to and positioned between said base and top plate portions. Once the air jack is positioned under the vehicle, a volume of compressed air is supplied by the air tank and/or air compressor to inflate the rubber bag via air hose utilizing the air inlet connection, thereby lifting said vehicle. Power is provided to the compressor via the car battery and air is stored in air tank for continuous use.
Referring now to
The top plate of the air jack comprises a raised surface that has flat rubberized surface to create and anti-slip connection to the car and the air jack during jacking. Said rubberized surface comprises an adhesively bonded rubber sheet material which provides a high-friction interface upon contact with a bottom surface of the vehicle. Furthermore, the air jack is envisioned to comprise of a solid plastic base plate for physical support.
In use, a user places the air jack beneath a vehicle, usually adjacent to a tire portion, and presses the power switch provided on dashboard to an “ON” position, thus inflating the rubber bag and causing a corner portion of the vehicle to be lifted. The vehicle is now in a position to change a flat tire or perform similar tasks. It is understood that various switch types may be utilized such as button switches, sliding switches, tilt sensing sensors and the like, with equal benefit. Inflation of the rubber bag is accomplished by plumbing a volume of compressed air produced by the air compressor and/or stored in air tank into said bladder via an air inlet connection. The compressor and air tank is protectively housed within the car where they are permanently attached as per requirement and space available. Said air compressor provides a means to pressurize ambient air into the connected tank and then through air hose connection via air hose, which is in turn delivered into the rubber bag, thereby causing said rubber bag to inflate and increase the height according to the manufacturers' specifications. This will differ for each car manufacturer. This being sufficient to lift a tire portion of the vehicle off a ground or paved surface. The air jack can be used for mechanical repairs, changing tires, getting vehicles out of snow and mud by using its built-in compressor and tank for mechanical repairs via pneumatic impact gun. The air tank is very useful when car is on low battery and in such conditions compressor cannot be operated. In such condition, air inlet valve will be opened and air from air tank will flow in to rubber bag and inflate it as per pressure gradient. Following inflation of the rubber bag and servicing of the vehicle, said rubber bag may be deflated quickly and easily via a pressure relief valve located along a front surface of the Base plate. Said pressure relief valve is in pneumatic communication with said rubber bag and preferably comprises a common digit-operated “poppet” valve or equivalent air regulating device. Upon complete deflation of the rubber bag, the air jack will return into its compressed transportable state.
The air compressor is envisioned to receive power from an existing electrical system of the vehicle via a power adapter and corresponding cord. Said cord is to be of sufficient length so as to extend from the air compressor while positioned in the car, to a ON/OFF switch located on the dashboard portion of said vehicle.
Referring now to
Referring now to
It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. The unit can be preinstalled by the vehicle manufacturer at the time of building the car. After initial purchase or acquisition of the complete system, it would be installed as indicated in
The method of utilizing the air jack may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the air jack; installing the air compressor and air tank in the vehicle; storing the air jack in a trunk portion of a vehicle perhaps inside the spare tire until needed to perform tasks requiring jacking of a vehicle such as changing a flat tire, inspecting a vehicle undercarriage, or the like; removing the air jack from a trunk portion of the vehicle when needed; placing the air jack under a corner or side portion of the vehicle such as under the portion of chassis, or the like; manually connecting the air hose from built-in air hose connection to inlet valve of air jack outwardly a sufficient length; initiating the air compressor to inflate the rubber bag by pressing the switch to an “ON” position; in case of low battery power, just opening air inlet valve on air jack will let air from air tank move to rubber bag; allowing a period of time for the rubber bag to fill with compressed air and lift the vehicle to a desired height; pressing the switch to an “OFF” position, thereby ceasing lifting of the vehicle; performing needed tasks while the vehicle is jacked off the ground surface; and, benefiting from reduced effort and increased safety afforded to the user of the present invention.
The method of lowering and removing the air jack from the vehicle may be achieved by performing the following steps: lowering the vehicle by opening the drain valve to allow the compressed air to escape from the rubber bag until said rubber bag deflates completely flat and the vehicle is lowered to the ground surface; detaching the air hose from air inlet valve on air jack and built-in air hose connection on car; allowing the recoil mechanism to wind and contain the air hose; storing the air hose; and, storing the air jack in a trunk portion of the vehicle until needed again.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
