Patent Application
20200385251
The present application relates generally to jacks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lockout assembly adapted to lock a jack securely at multiple operational heights.
Floor jacks are used in repair shops to lift a vehicle from the ground. An operator positions the floor jack underneath a lift point and raises the vehicle at that point. Floor jacks can be powered by manual or automated means, and have become important to the automotive repair industry.
Shop floor jacks are required to withstand large weights, such as that of a vehicle. The majority of floor jacks are hydraulic or air-over-hydraulic actuated devices. It is a recommended practice that after a vehicle is raised into position using a jack, one or more jack stands are placed under the vehicle and the vehicle is lowered onto the stand(s). Stands are typically telescoping tube designs held at height with a cross pin. The use of stands replaces the use of fluids holding the load in place with mechanical steel pins. This approach, however, relies on the jacks to raise vehicles at the same point the jack stand needs to be placed.
The present invention relates broadly to a floor jack locking assembly with a locking pin used to mechanically lock out the jack at a specified lift height. The locking assembly may include a locking pin used to mechanically lock out the jack at a specified lift height. The locking assembly may avoid the hydraulic lift cylinder being the only stabilizing component of the jack when supporting a significant load. The locking pin may be coupled to lifting link arms, avoiding the need to have the locking pin inserted into or through the lifting arm of the jack.
The locking assembly may avoid the hydraulic lift cylinder being the only stabilizing component of the jack when supporting a significant load.
In an embodiment, the present invention relates broadly to a floor jack. The floor jack includes a frame including lock pin holes, a lifting arm pivotally coupled to the frame, a lifting mechanism coupled to the lifting arm, and a locking assembly. The locking assembly may include a lifting link arm coupled to the lifting mechanism, a locking pin adapted to couple the lifting link arm and the frame through at least one of the lock pin holes, and a handle pivotally coupled to the lifting mechanism.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates broadly to a floor jack. The floor jack includes a frame including lock pin holes, a lifting arm pivotally coupled to the frame, a lifting mechanism coupled to the lifting arm, a lifting link arm coupled to the lifting mechanism, wherein the lifting arm includes a pin lifting arm hole. A lock pin is adapted to engage the frame and the lifting link arm through at least one of the lock pin holes to mechanically lock the lifting mechanism, and a handle is pivotally coupled to the lifting mechanism.
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages, should be readily understood and appreciated.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. As used herein, the term “present invention” is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention and is instead a term used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only.
The present invention broadly relates to a floor jack and a multi-height locking assembly. The multi-height locking assembly provides additional security to prevent the hydraulic from being the only locking mechanism on the jack. According to one aspect, the locking assembly disclosed herein may allow the jack to be locked mechanically to further protect against a failure in the hydraulic system of the jack while under a load. Additionally, in circumstances in which a significant load, such as a vehicle, would normally be transferred to a jack stand after lifting, the locking assembly disclosed herein may allow a mechanical lockout of the hydraulics and eliminate the need for the jack stand at the lift point of the load.
While the jack and locking assembly described herein may be described in connection with lifting a vehicle as the load, one skilled in the art will recognize that aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented to support any load. Referring to
The hydraulics of the jack 100 are part of a power unit 118. The power unit 118 may include a lift piston 122 that is slidable within a lift-piston assembly 120 of the power unit 118, and that may be coupled to a locking assembly 124. Locking assembly 124 may include lifting link arms 126. A locking pin 128 may be inserted into one of a number of lock pin holes 130 and pin lifting arm holes in the link arms 126. The lock pin holes 130 are disposed on opposing sides of the frame 102. For example, the frame 102 may include first and second side portions. The first side portion includes first lock pin holes 130, and the second side portion includes second lock pin holes 130 that align with the first lock pin holes 130, respectively.
When the locking pin 128 is inserted into one of the first lock pin holes 130, extended through the pin lifting arm holes in the lifting link arm 126 and across the frame 102, and inserted into the corresponding second lock pin hole 130, the hydraulics from the power unit 118 become mechanically locked in place. The lock pin 128 maintains the lateral position of the lift piston assembly 120 and therefore will lock the lifting arm 106 in place. The locking pin 128 prevents the lateral movement of the lifting link arms 126 regardless of the hydraulics in the power unit 118. That is, the lifting arm 106 is not dependent on the hydraulics for maintaining the jack height. The lock pin 128 provides a mechanical locking solution that is stable and capable of withstanding significant weight from the load. As mentioned above, this may eliminate the need for additional support structures, such as jack stands, and the substitution of those supports under a vehicle for the jack.
Referring to
The locking assembly of the present disclosure is advantageous over traditional jacks in that the locking assembly provides a secure mechanism to lock the jack mechanically without relying on, or stressing the hydraulics. The locking assembly also provides for multiple locking positions and a user-friendly manner of indicating to a user when the jack is in a locking position.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been described improved jack with a trunnion block assembly that includes one or more trunnions coupled to a block such that upon actuation of a power unit, including a piston, the trunnion block assembly displaces connection plates coupled to a lifting arm of the jack. The multi-component trunnion block assembly provides a structural advantage over a unitary body trunnion block with the trunnions formed as part of the body.
As used herein, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are not intended to necessarily be limited to direct, mechanical coupling of two or more components. Instead, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are intended to mean any direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, work pieces, and/or environmental matter. “Coupled” is also intended to mean, in some examples, one object being integral with another object. As used herein, the term “a” or “one” may include one or more items unless specifically stated otherwise.
The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of the inventors' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
