Patent Application
20150232311
A variety of automotive lift systems have been made and used over the years in a variety of contexts. An automotive lift is a device operable to lift an automobile such as a car, truck, bus, motorcycle, etc. to a desired height. Some types of automotive lifts are installed in-ground while other types are installed above-ground. Above-ground lifts may include one or more superstructures capable of engaging and lifting an automobile. For instance, such superstructures may include a plurality of vertically adjustable yokes secured to a plurality of posts with one or more runways secured thereto. Such superstructures may be selectively vertically adjustable along a height of the posts relative to the ground to thereby raise and/or lower an automobile relative to the ground. An automobile may be driven onto the runway(s) and thereafter, the superstructures may be raised or lowered to bring the automobile to a desired height. Afterward, the automobile may then be lowered once the user has completed his or her task requiring the automotive lift.
Examples of automotive lifts and related concepts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,287, entitled “Vehicle Lift,” issued Apr. 23, 1991, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,757, entitled “Lock Mechanism for Lift,” issued Sep. 10, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,916, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Synchronizing a Vehicle Lift,” issued Jul. 20, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,848, entitled “Multiple Movable Carriages with Multi-Radius Tracks and Tilted Rollers,” issued Aug. 9, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,322, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Synchronizing a Vehicle Lift,” issued Nov. 15, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,196, entitled “Electronically Controlled Vehicle Lift and Vehicle Service System,” issued Jan. 3, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,628, entitled “Multiple Movable Carriages with Multi-Radius Tracks and Tilted Rollers,” issued Dec. 5, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,038, entitled “Electronically Controlled Vehicle Lift and Vehicle Service System,” issued Mar. 13, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. No. 8,083,034, entitled “Lift Control Interface,” issued Dec. 27, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0009360, entitled “System and Method for Measuring and Recording Distance,” published Jan. 8, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0097187, entitled “Vehicle Guidance System for Automotive Lifts,” published Apr. 28, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2012/0325587, entitled “Vehicle Lift with Front Platforms and Rear Carrying Arms,” published Dec. 27, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
While a variety of automotive lifts have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventor(s) has made or used an invention as described herein.
While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description of certain examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify the same elements and in which:
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.
The following description of certain examples of the invention should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Other examples, features, aspects, embodiments, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which is by way of illustration, one of the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
I. Exemplary Automotive Lift System
Yoke assembly (120) further comprises a driving mechanism (180) and a ratcheting mechanism (190). Driving mechanism (180) of the present example comprises a pulley (182) by which a user may raise or lower yoke assembly (120) using a cable. It should be understood, however, that any appropriate method of driving movement of yoke assembly (120) may be used. Ratcheting mechanism (190) of the present example comprises a pawl (191) rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When pawl (191) is in the locked position, pawl (191) is configured to engage a linear rack (117) of post (110) to thereby lock yoke assembly (120) and runways (300) in a particular vertical position. Pawl (191) may be resiliently biased toward the locked position. Ratcheting mechanism (190) may prevent yoke assembly (120) from dropping suddenly to the ground in the event that one or more drive features of automotive lift system (10) fails (e.g., hydraulic pressure loss, break in drive cable(s), etc.).
Roller assembly (140) is secured between a top portion of web members (122, 124). Roller assembly (140) comprises an axle assembly (150) having a pair of rollers (152, 154). Axle assembly (150) of roller assembly (140) passes through the top portion of web members (122, 124) such that rollers (152, 154) are exposed. Roller assembly (160) is secured between a bottom portion of web members (122, 124). Roller assembly (160) comprises an axle assembly (170) having a pair of rollers (172, 174). Axle assembly (170) of roller assembly (160) passes through the bottom portion of web members (122, 124) such that rollers (172, 174) are exposed. As best seen in
As best seen in
As best seen in
It will be appreciated that as an automobile is loaded atop runways (300), or with an automobile atop runways (300), an unequal amount of force may be applied to square tubular members (114, 116) by rollers (152, 154, 172, 174). Furthermore, manufacturing tolerances and/or imperfect installation may cause an unequal amount of force to be applied to square tubular members (114, 116) by rollers (152, 154, 172, 174). In some instances, this unequal force may cause rotation of yoke assembly (120) about post (110) to a point where one or more rollers (152, 154, 172, 174) no longer contact square tubular members (114, 116). Such unequal force may further cause premature failure of roller assemblies (140, 160) and may require overdesigning of roller assemblies (140, 160) to thereby compensate for such failure. It may therefore be desirable to provide axle assemblies (150, 170) capable of rotating/articulating to thereby self-adjust to maintain proper contact between rollers (152, 154, 172, 174) and square tubular members (114, 116) and to thereby provide for a more even distribution of force among rollers (152, 154, 172, 174).
As best seen in
Rollers (152, 154) are rotatably coupled to opposite ends of axle (156) such that rollers (152, 154) are operable to rotate about axle (156). As mentioned above, block (158) is rotatably disposed about pin (146) such that block (158) is operable to rotate about pin (146). Block (158) comprises a horizontal through bore (157). Axle (156) of axle assembly (150) is disposed within horizontal through bore (157) of block (158) and secured therein by a set screw (155) such that block (158), axle (156), and rollers (152, 154) rotate concurrently about pin (146). (As best seen in
It should be understood that axle (156) may be rotatably disposed within through bore (157) of block (158) in addition to or in lieu of rollers (152, 154) being rotatably coupled with axle (150).
As discussed above, axle assembly (150) extends through web members (122, 124) such that rollers (152, 154) are exposed. In particular, axle (156) of axle assembly (150) extends through a pair of through bores (not shown) formed in the top portions of web members (122, 124). Such through bores may be circular shaped and sized to provide for movement of axle (156) during rotation of axle assembly (150). For instance, the inner diameters of such bores may be greater than the outer diameter of axle (156), thereby providing clearance for movement of axle (156) within the through bores of web members (122, 124) as axle assembly (150) pivots about the longitudinal axis of pin (146). Alternatively, such through bores may be oblong shaped to provide for movement of axle (156) during pivotal movement of axle assembly (150) about the longitudinal axis of pin (146).
As best seen in
Rollers (172, 174) are rotatably coupled to opposite ends of axle (176) such that rollers (172, 174) are operable to rotate about axle (176). As mentioned above, block (178) is rotatably disposed about pin (166) such that block (178) is operable to rotate about pin (166). Block (178) comprises a horizontal through bore (177). Axle (176) of axle assembly (170) is disposed within horizontal through bore (177) of block (178) and secured therein by a set screw (175) such that block (178), axle (176), and rollers (172, 174) rotate concurrently about pin (166). (As best seen in
It should be understood that axle (176) may be rotatably disposed within through bore (177) of block (178) in addition to or in lieu of rollers (172, 174) being rotatably coupled with axle (170).
As discussed above, axle assembly (170) extends through web members (122, 124) such that rollers (172, 174) are exposed. In particular, axle (176) of axle assembly (170) extends through a pair of through bores (not shown) formed in the bottom portions of web members (122, 124). Such through bores may be circular shaped and sized to provide for movement of axle (176) during rotation of axle assembly (170). For instance, the inner diameters of such bores may be greater than the outer diameter of axle (176), thereby providing clearance for movement of axle (176) within the through bores of web members (122, 124) as axle assembly (170) pivots about the longitudinal axis of pin (166). Alternatively, such through bores may be oblong shaped to provide for movement of axle (176) during pivotal movement of axle assembly (170) about the longitudinal axis of pin (166).
From the discussion above it should be appreciated that axle assemblies (150, 170) are operable to rotate/articulate to thereby maintain proper contact between rollers (152, 154, 172, 174) and square tubular members (114, 116) and to thereby provide for a more even distribution of force among rollers (152, 154, 172, 174). Such operability may minimize premature failure of roller assemblies (140, 160) and may reduce the need to overdesign roller assemblies (140, 160) to thereby compensate for such failure.
It should be appreciated that although yoke assembly (120) of the present example is described as engaging post (110) via rollers (152, 154, 172, 174) of roller assemblies (140, 160), yoke assembly (120) may engage post (110) by any other appropriate means. For instance, yoke assembly (120) may engage post (110) via sliders in addition to or in lieu of rollers (152, 154, 172, 174). Such sliders may include sliding blocks, sliding cylinders, and/or various other structures. By way of example only, sliders may be formed of a low friction, high density plastic material shaped like a cylinder that is fixedly secured to each end of axle (156, 176) in place of rollers (152, 154, 172, 174). Other suitable materials (and combinations of materials) that may be used to form sliders will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. Similarly, other suitable configurations that sliders may take will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein.
II. Miscellaneous
It should be understood that any of the versions of instruments described herein may include various other features in addition to or in lieu of those described above. By way of example only, any of the instruments described herein may also include one or more of the various features disclosed in any of the various references that are incorporated by reference herein. It should also be understood that the teachings herein may be readily applied to any of the instruments described in any of the other references cited herein, such that the teachings herein may be readily combined with the teachings of any of the references cited herein in numerous ways. Other types of instruments into which the teachings herein may be incorporated will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.
Having shown and described various embodiments of the present invention, further adaptations of the methods and systems described herein may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Several of such potential modifications have been mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the examples, embodiments, geometrics, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings.
