CA1191503A - Tiltable support stand for vehicles - Google Patents
Tiltable support stand for vehiclesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1191503A CA1191503A CA000397330A CA397330A CA1191503A CA 1191503 A CA1191503 A CA 1191503A CA 000397330 A CA000397330 A CA 000397330A CA 397330 A CA397330 A CA 397330A CA 1191503 A CA1191503 A CA 1191503A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- base
- floor
- engaging
- support
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
- B66F7/00—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts
- B66F7/22—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with tiltable platforms
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
Abstract
TILTABLE SUPPORT STAND FOR VEHICLES
Abstract of the Disclosure A low cost, tiltable vehicle support stand is provided which is inherently stable in use and is designed to develop a righting moment during vehicle setup operations so that a vehicle can be quickly and easily elevated to facilitate work thereon. The preferred support stand in-cludes a relatively wide base having an elongated, transversely extending beam secured thereto; a pair of padded vehicle-engaging members are shiftably mounted on the beam and are spaced apart a distance greater than the effective width of the base. In this manner the center of gravity of a supported vehicle lies in a plane which passes between the lateral side margins of the base, even in the event that the stand or vehicle-engaging members are located asymmetrically relative to the underside of the vehicle. This stand configura-tion also ensures that the vehicle and stand will right themselves during initial setup, which generally involves sideways elevation and tilting of the vehicles, placing a pair of the support stands beneath the vehicle in a similarly tilted orientation, and lowering the vehicle to effect reverse tilting of the vehicle and stands until the same are righted and the vehicle is elevated.
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Abstract of the Disclosure A low cost, tiltable vehicle support stand is provided which is inherently stable in use and is designed to develop a righting moment during vehicle setup operations so that a vehicle can be quickly and easily elevated to facilitate work thereon. The preferred support stand in-cludes a relatively wide base having an elongated, transversely extending beam secured thereto; a pair of padded vehicle-engaging members are shiftably mounted on the beam and are spaced apart a distance greater than the effective width of the base. In this manner the center of gravity of a supported vehicle lies in a plane which passes between the lateral side margins of the base, even in the event that the stand or vehicle-engaging members are located asymmetrically relative to the underside of the vehicle. This stand configura-tion also ensures that the vehicle and stand will right themselves during initial setup, which generally involves sideways elevation and tilting of the vehicles, placing a pair of the support stands beneath the vehicle in a similarly tilted orientation, and lowering the vehicle to effect reverse tilting of the vehicle and stands until the same are righted and the vehicle is elevated.
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Description
5~3 l TILTABLE SUPPORT STA~D FOR VE~IICI.ES
Background of the Invention l. Field of the Invention The present invention is broadly con-cerned with an improved, tiltable vehicle support stand, and a corresponding method, which greatly facilitates work on and around four wheel ve-hicles. More particularly, it is concerned with such a support stand which is especially designed to be particularly stable during use thereof, and which can be used to set up a vehicle without the usual time-consuming procedures of conventional supports.
Background of the Invention l. Field of the Invention The present invention is broadly con-cerned with an improved, tiltable vehicle support stand, and a corresponding method, which greatly facilitates work on and around four wheel ve-hicles. More particularly, it is concerned with such a support stand which is especially designed to be particularly stable during use thereof, and which can be used to set up a vehicle without the usual time-consuming procedures of conventional supports.
2. Description of the Prior Art Automobile repair shops and others many times need to elevate vehicles a short distance off the ground in order to facilitate various repairs and servicing. For example, tire changes and certain work beneath the vehicle (usually done with the aid of a low profile dolly) require that the vehicle be elevated off a shop floor.
The conventional practice in this regard is to initiall~ elevate the front, rear or one side of the vehicle using an end lift or service jack, followed by positioning of a pair of individual-stands under the elevated part of the vehicle adjacent the elevated wheels. This procedure is then repeated on the opposite end or side of the vehicle in order to completely elevate the latter off the sIIop floor. A number of problems arise ;n connection wi-th this convelltional procedure. Covern-mental regulat;ons generally require positioning ... ~.:a~s~3 1 of stands under a vehicle as safety devices, even if the jack used to lift the vehicle is left in place. To be effective though, they must be properly located and adjusted ~o positions just below the overlying strllcture. But, because of the trouble in locating and positioning the stands, mechanics oten ignore the safety aspects of the stands in favor of saving time and simply leave the vehicle on the jack or jacks without under-lying stands. When stands are used to supportthe vehicle so the jack or jaclcs can be used else-where, the individual support stands must be even more carefully placed beneath the vehicle in order to ensure that the vehicle is evenly supported.
In addition, the effective heights o~ the support stands must be precisely adjusted so that the vehicle is stable in i~s elevated position, par-ticularly if the shop floor is uneven. It will also be appreciated that these steps of position-ing and ~djustment of the respective stands mustbe performed from a rather awkward position adja-cent or beneath the vehlcle; llence, support of a vehicle in an elevated posi~ion using conventional stands has proven to be a time-consuming and some~imes difficult task.
Summary of the Invention The vehicle support stand of the present invention broadly includes a base adapted to rest on a floor and which presents a pair of ]aterally spaced apart, floor-engaging side margins. Struc-ture defining a pair of laterally spaced apart vehicle-engaging support regions is secured atop the base with the regions above the floor. Fur-ther, the vehicle-engag;ng regions are spaced -- 3 ~
1 apart a distance greater ~.han the lateral distance between the base side ~argins.
In preferred forms, the base comprises a pair of elongated, separate, laterally space~
S apart foot members formed of metallic tube stoclc, with an elongated, transversely extending beaM
being ri~idly connected to the foot members. The beam supports a pair of relatively shiftable upstanding ~odies of inverted, generally U-shaped configuration. A resilient friction pad is af-fixed to the upper face of each U-shaped body, whereas the depending legs thereof are apertured and slidably receive the beam. The support stand is of relatively low profile, and is especially , designed to develop a righting mornent during vehicle setup operations, and to be exceptionally stable in use. To this end, the distance between the side margins of the base, the distance between the spaced-apart vehicle-engaging support regions, and the height of ~he regions above the floor, are correlated such that the center of gravity of a supported vehicle lies in a plane passing between the base side margins. Further, when the vehicle is elevated and thereby tilted sideways during setup operations with the tires on one side of the vehicle engaging a floor, and a pair of support stands are placed under the sideways tilted ve-hicle similarly tilted, the center of gravity of the vehicle again lies in a plane which passes between the base side margins. In this fashion a righting moment is developed which urges the stands and vehicle bac~ toward their fully righted positions.
Use of a jack which raises one side of a ~ehicle and insertion of tiltable support 5~
1 stands as disclosed herein has a nuTnber of further i~portant advantages. It solves the prob-lem of Ineeting governmental regulations requiring stands because mechanics will not leave the vehicle in a tilted position when all four wheels must be ra;sed off the ground yet they need not position stands, then walk around to ~he opposite side or end of the vehicle, again raise the same and position more stands. Of significance in this respect is the fact that no more than two stands are ever required and they need not be adjusted vertically or as precisely under the vehicle as conventional stands.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle support stand in accordance with the inventlon;
Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the stand illustrated in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 ls an end elevational view of the stand depicted in Figs. 1-2;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
F'ig. 6 is an end view illustrating initial setup operations with the support s-tancls of the present invention and an elevated and side-ways vehicle;
Fig, 7 is an end v;ew similar to that of Fig. 6 but illustrates the stands and vehicle during righting of the same;
Fig, 8 is a view similar to that of F'ig, 6, but illustrates the stands and vehicle fully righted with the vehicle elevated off the floor;
The conventional practice in this regard is to initiall~ elevate the front, rear or one side of the vehicle using an end lift or service jack, followed by positioning of a pair of individual-stands under the elevated part of the vehicle adjacent the elevated wheels. This procedure is then repeated on the opposite end or side of the vehicle in order to completely elevate the latter off the sIIop floor. A number of problems arise ;n connection wi-th this convelltional procedure. Covern-mental regulat;ons generally require positioning ... ~.:a~s~3 1 of stands under a vehicle as safety devices, even if the jack used to lift the vehicle is left in place. To be effective though, they must be properly located and adjusted ~o positions just below the overlying strllcture. But, because of the trouble in locating and positioning the stands, mechanics oten ignore the safety aspects of the stands in favor of saving time and simply leave the vehicle on the jack or jacks without under-lying stands. When stands are used to supportthe vehicle so the jack or jaclcs can be used else-where, the individual support stands must be even more carefully placed beneath the vehicle in order to ensure that the vehicle is evenly supported.
In addition, the effective heights o~ the support stands must be precisely adjusted so that the vehicle is stable in i~s elevated position, par-ticularly if the shop floor is uneven. It will also be appreciated that these steps of position-ing and ~djustment of the respective stands mustbe performed from a rather awkward position adja-cent or beneath the vehlcle; llence, support of a vehicle in an elevated posi~ion using conventional stands has proven to be a time-consuming and some~imes difficult task.
Summary of the Invention The vehicle support stand of the present invention broadly includes a base adapted to rest on a floor and which presents a pair of ]aterally spaced apart, floor-engaging side margins. Struc-ture defining a pair of laterally spaced apart vehicle-engaging support regions is secured atop the base with the regions above the floor. Fur-ther, the vehicle-engag;ng regions are spaced -- 3 ~
1 apart a distance greater ~.han the lateral distance between the base side ~argins.
In preferred forms, the base comprises a pair of elongated, separate, laterally space~
S apart foot members formed of metallic tube stoclc, with an elongated, transversely extending beaM
being ri~idly connected to the foot members. The beam supports a pair of relatively shiftable upstanding ~odies of inverted, generally U-shaped configuration. A resilient friction pad is af-fixed to the upper face of each U-shaped body, whereas the depending legs thereof are apertured and slidably receive the beam. The support stand is of relatively low profile, and is especially , designed to develop a righting mornent during vehicle setup operations, and to be exceptionally stable in use. To this end, the distance between the side margins of the base, the distance between the spaced-apart vehicle-engaging support regions, and the height of ~he regions above the floor, are correlated such that the center of gravity of a supported vehicle lies in a plane passing between the base side margins. Further, when the vehicle is elevated and thereby tilted sideways during setup operations with the tires on one side of the vehicle engaging a floor, and a pair of support stands are placed under the sideways tilted ve-hicle similarly tilted, the center of gravity of the vehicle again lies in a plane which passes between the base side margins. In this fashion a righting moment is developed which urges the stands and vehicle bac~ toward their fully righted positions.
Use of a jack which raises one side of a ~ehicle and insertion of tiltable support 5~
1 stands as disclosed herein has a nuTnber of further i~portant advantages. It solves the prob-lem of Ineeting governmental regulations requiring stands because mechanics will not leave the vehicle in a tilted position when all four wheels must be ra;sed off the ground yet they need not position stands, then walk around to ~he opposite side or end of the vehicle, again raise the same and position more stands. Of significance in this respect is the fact that no more than two stands are ever required and they need not be adjusted vertically or as precisely under the vehicle as conventional stands.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle support stand in accordance with the inventlon;
Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the stand illustrated in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 ls an end elevational view of the stand depicted in Figs. 1-2;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
F'ig. 6 is an end view illustrating initial setup operations with the support s-tancls of the present invention and an elevated and side-ways vehicle;
Fig, 7 is an end v;ew similar to that of Fig. 6 but illustrates the stands and vehicle during righting of the same;
Fig, 8 is a view similar to that of F'ig, 6, but illustrates the stands and vehicle fully righted with the vehicle elevated off the floor;
3 ~SV3 1 ~ig. ~ is a side elevational view of the fully elevated vehicle depicted in Fig. 8, with a tilting jack being illustrated in phantom and located between the fore and aft vehicle supports in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged view sirnilar to that of Fig. 8 and illustrates the preferred relationship of the center of gravity of the vehicle to the support stand;
Fig. 11 is a view similar to that o~
Fig. 10, but illustrates the support stand asyr~-metrically oriented beneath the vehicle while nevertheless maintaining the desired re]ationship of the vehicle center of gravity relative to the stand; and Fig. 12 is an elevational view of another use o~ the support of the present in-vention for elevating only the front portion of the vehicle while -the rear wheels thereof remain in contact with the floor. ~lthough not depicted, it is understood that the opposite end of the vehicle is lifted and ~another tiltable stand placed under that end.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Turning now to the drawings~ a vehicle support stand 20 is illustrated in Figs. 1-3. The stand 20 includes ~ floor-engaging base 22, struc-ture broadly referred to by the numeral 24 which defines a pair of laterally spaced apart vehicle-engaging and supporting regions 26, 28, and means such as welding which secures the structure 24 to the base 22 with the regions 26, 28 being located above the floor.
In more detail, the base 22 preferably 5~3 l includes a pair of laterally spaced apart tubular metallic feet 30, 32. The feet 30, 32 present correspond;ng floor-engaging side margins 3~, 36, which in turn define the lateral extremities of the base.
The structure 2t-~ includes an elongated, transversely extending, metallic tubular beam member 38 o rectangular cross section ~hich is connected to the feet 30, 32 through a short connection beam 40 and appropriate welds 42, 44.
A handle 46 is welded to the upper face of beam member 38 between the feet 30, 32 and projects rearwardly from the beam 38 as viewed in Fig. 1.
The vehicle-engaging regions 26, 28 are identical and each include an upstanding body 48 of inverted, generally U-shaped configuration.
Each body 48 includes a planar, uppermost bight portion 50 and spaced apart, depending, converging leg plates 52. A resilient pad 54 is secured to the upper face of each bight 50, and is comprised of a relatively dense foarn rubber element and an overlying neoprene rubber impregnated fiberglass sheet 56 (see Fig. 5). The sheet 56 provides an anti-slip surface in order to facilitate placement and use of the stand 20 beneath a vehicle.
The arms 52 are apertured as at 58 and slidably receive the beam 38. In this connection, the apertures 58 are dimensioned relative to beam 38 so that the bodies 48 can be laterally shifted along- the length of the beam by grasping one leg 52 and pulling the entire body. However, if it is attempted to shift the body 48 by applying a push-ing force against one of the legs 52, the legs frictionally bind against the beam 38 and prevent such movement.
s~
1 Xn preferred forms, each body 4~ further includes a dependillg reinforcing mem~er 60 which is welded ~o the underside of bight 50 and extends to a point closely adjacent the upper surface of beam 38. The member 60 is preferably formed ~f rectangular tubular metallic stock identical to that used in forming the beams 38, 40 and feet 30, 32.
Figs. 6 9 illustrate the use of a pair of stands ~0 for elevating a vehicle 62 off a floor 64. The vehicle 62 is a small automobile having front and rear wheels 66, 68.
The first step in the method involves eleva,ion and side~ays tilking of vehicle 62 such that the tires on one side thereof engage floor 64 and the tires on the ~pposite side of the vehïcle , are elevated. Such sideways ~ilting of vehicle 62 can most preferably be accomplished throvgh use of an improved side lift iack 70 which is placed between the front and rear wheels 66, 68 2S vie~ed in Figs. 6 and 9. The jack 70 is fully described in U.S. Letters Patent 4,379,545 entitled "Side Life Jack for Unibody Automobiles".
The next step of the method involves placing a pair of vehicle supports 20 beneath the tilted vehicle 62. Specifically, the supports 20 are individually slid beneath vehicle -62 from a point adjacent the ele~ated side o the vehicle, whereupon the adjacent end of the beam 38 is elevated and the remote vehicle-engaging pad 54 is wedged into contact ~ith the underside of ~he vehicle at a point closely adjacent the floor-'i~
~3~ 5~
l engaged tires thereof. This has the ef~ect of holding the stand in an elevated and tilted orientation (see Fig. 6) similar to that of the veh;cl e 62 .
The jack 70 is next lowered, which causes the vehicle 62 to become righted by reverse movemerlt of ~he vehicle and support stands until both feet of the lat~er firmly engage 100r 64.
This action is illustrated in Fig. 7. In addi-tion, Fig. 7 includes a line 72 which represents the center of gravity of the vehicle 62. In this connection, it will be seen that center of gravity line 72 lies in a plane which passes between the side margins 34, 36 of the bases 22 of the sup-ports 20. Hence, a righting moment is establishedwhen the vehicle and stand are in their tllted orientation and jack 70 is lowered. This serves to induce the reverse movement as described and facilitates final elevation of the vehicle 62 above the floor on the stand 20.
Figs. lO and 11 depict vehicle 62 in its fully elevated position. In the case of Fig. 1OJ
the stands 20 are essentially symmetrically trans-versely located relative to the underside of the vehicle, i.e., the center of gravity depicted by line 72 is centrally located between the vehicle-engaging regions of the stands and lies in a plane which passes centrally between the margins 34, 36.
On the other hand, Fig. ll illustrates a situ~tion where one or both of the stands ~0 are asymmetri-cally transversely located relative to the ve-hicle9 i.e., the stand 20 of Fig. 11 is sh;fted r;ghtwardly as co~pared with Fig. 10. ~o~ever, it will be observed that, even in the asymmetrical orientation o~ Fig. 11, the center of gravity line ~3~54t~3 1 72 lies in a plane which passes between the mar-gins 34, 36. Thus, in either case a high degree of stability is imparted to the elevated veh;cle 62.
Fig. 12 illustrates a further use of a stand in accordance with the invention. In ~his case a single stand 20 is ernployed in~nediately aft of the front wheels 66. The stand 20 is posl--tioned by conventional]y raising the front end of vehicle 62 and placing the stand beneath the vehicle in an appropriate location.
While the stand 20 in accordance with the invention has been illustrated with two separate vehicle-engaging regions 26, 28, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, for example, a single elongated structure lying along the length of beam 38, could be employed. In this instance of course, the overall structure still presents a pair of spaced apart vehicle-engaging regions which are spaced apart a distance greater than the lateral distance between the base side margins 34, 36. In a similar fashion, while base 22 has been depicted as being formed of separate feet 30, 32, a single plate or monolithic base could be em-ployed. Numerous other alterations and modifica-tions can also be made in the stand structure hereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged view sirnilar to that of Fig. 8 and illustrates the preferred relationship of the center of gravity of the vehicle to the support stand;
Fig. 11 is a view similar to that o~
Fig. 10, but illustrates the support stand asyr~-metrically oriented beneath the vehicle while nevertheless maintaining the desired re]ationship of the vehicle center of gravity relative to the stand; and Fig. 12 is an elevational view of another use o~ the support of the present in-vention for elevating only the front portion of the vehicle while -the rear wheels thereof remain in contact with the floor. ~lthough not depicted, it is understood that the opposite end of the vehicle is lifted and ~another tiltable stand placed under that end.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Turning now to the drawings~ a vehicle support stand 20 is illustrated in Figs. 1-3. The stand 20 includes ~ floor-engaging base 22, struc-ture broadly referred to by the numeral 24 which defines a pair of laterally spaced apart vehicle-engaging and supporting regions 26, 28, and means such as welding which secures the structure 24 to the base 22 with the regions 26, 28 being located above the floor.
In more detail, the base 22 preferably 5~3 l includes a pair of laterally spaced apart tubular metallic feet 30, 32. The feet 30, 32 present correspond;ng floor-engaging side margins 3~, 36, which in turn define the lateral extremities of the base.
The structure 2t-~ includes an elongated, transversely extending, metallic tubular beam member 38 o rectangular cross section ~hich is connected to the feet 30, 32 through a short connection beam 40 and appropriate welds 42, 44.
A handle 46 is welded to the upper face of beam member 38 between the feet 30, 32 and projects rearwardly from the beam 38 as viewed in Fig. 1.
The vehicle-engaging regions 26, 28 are identical and each include an upstanding body 48 of inverted, generally U-shaped configuration.
Each body 48 includes a planar, uppermost bight portion 50 and spaced apart, depending, converging leg plates 52. A resilient pad 54 is secured to the upper face of each bight 50, and is comprised of a relatively dense foarn rubber element and an overlying neoprene rubber impregnated fiberglass sheet 56 (see Fig. 5). The sheet 56 provides an anti-slip surface in order to facilitate placement and use of the stand 20 beneath a vehicle.
The arms 52 are apertured as at 58 and slidably receive the beam 38. In this connection, the apertures 58 are dimensioned relative to beam 38 so that the bodies 48 can be laterally shifted along- the length of the beam by grasping one leg 52 and pulling the entire body. However, if it is attempted to shift the body 48 by applying a push-ing force against one of the legs 52, the legs frictionally bind against the beam 38 and prevent such movement.
s~
1 Xn preferred forms, each body 4~ further includes a dependillg reinforcing mem~er 60 which is welded ~o the underside of bight 50 and extends to a point closely adjacent the upper surface of beam 38. The member 60 is preferably formed ~f rectangular tubular metallic stock identical to that used in forming the beams 38, 40 and feet 30, 32.
Figs. 6 9 illustrate the use of a pair of stands ~0 for elevating a vehicle 62 off a floor 64. The vehicle 62 is a small automobile having front and rear wheels 66, 68.
The first step in the method involves eleva,ion and side~ays tilking of vehicle 62 such that the tires on one side thereof engage floor 64 and the tires on the ~pposite side of the vehïcle , are elevated. Such sideways ~ilting of vehicle 62 can most preferably be accomplished throvgh use of an improved side lift iack 70 which is placed between the front and rear wheels 66, 68 2S vie~ed in Figs. 6 and 9. The jack 70 is fully described in U.S. Letters Patent 4,379,545 entitled "Side Life Jack for Unibody Automobiles".
The next step of the method involves placing a pair of vehicle supports 20 beneath the tilted vehicle 62. Specifically, the supports 20 are individually slid beneath vehicle -62 from a point adjacent the ele~ated side o the vehicle, whereupon the adjacent end of the beam 38 is elevated and the remote vehicle-engaging pad 54 is wedged into contact ~ith the underside of ~he vehicle at a point closely adjacent the floor-'i~
~3~ 5~
l engaged tires thereof. This has the ef~ect of holding the stand in an elevated and tilted orientation (see Fig. 6) similar to that of the veh;cl e 62 .
The jack 70 is next lowered, which causes the vehicle 62 to become righted by reverse movemerlt of ~he vehicle and support stands until both feet of the lat~er firmly engage 100r 64.
This action is illustrated in Fig. 7. In addi-tion, Fig. 7 includes a line 72 which represents the center of gravity of the vehicle 62. In this connection, it will be seen that center of gravity line 72 lies in a plane which passes between the side margins 34, 36 of the bases 22 of the sup-ports 20. Hence, a righting moment is establishedwhen the vehicle and stand are in their tllted orientation and jack 70 is lowered. This serves to induce the reverse movement as described and facilitates final elevation of the vehicle 62 above the floor on the stand 20.
Figs. lO and 11 depict vehicle 62 in its fully elevated position. In the case of Fig. 1OJ
the stands 20 are essentially symmetrically trans-versely located relative to the underside of the vehicle, i.e., the center of gravity depicted by line 72 is centrally located between the vehicle-engaging regions of the stands and lies in a plane which passes centrally between the margins 34, 36.
On the other hand, Fig. ll illustrates a situ~tion where one or both of the stands ~0 are asymmetri-cally transversely located relative to the ve-hicle9 i.e., the stand 20 of Fig. 11 is sh;fted r;ghtwardly as co~pared with Fig. 10. ~o~ever, it will be observed that, even in the asymmetrical orientation o~ Fig. 11, the center of gravity line ~3~54t~3 1 72 lies in a plane which passes between the mar-gins 34, 36. Thus, in either case a high degree of stability is imparted to the elevated veh;cle 62.
Fig. 12 illustrates a further use of a stand in accordance with the invention. In ~his case a single stand 20 is ernployed in~nediately aft of the front wheels 66. The stand 20 is posl--tioned by conventional]y raising the front end of vehicle 62 and placing the stand beneath the vehicle in an appropriate location.
While the stand 20 in accordance with the invention has been illustrated with two separate vehicle-engaging regions 26, 28, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, for example, a single elongated structure lying along the length of beam 38, could be employed. In this instance of course, the overall structure still presents a pair of spaced apart vehicle-engaging regions which are spaced apart a distance greater than the lateral distance between the base side margins 34, 36. In a similar fashion, while base 22 has been depicted as being formed of separate feet 30, 32, a single plate or monolithic base could be em-ployed. Numerous other alterations and modifica-tions can also be made in the stand structure hereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (19)
1. A vehicle support comprising:
a base adapted to rest on a floor and presenting a pair of laterally spaced apart, floor-engaging side margins, a pair of laterally spaced apart vehicle-engaging upstanding elements, each elements comprising an inverted, generally U-shaped body presenting an uppermost bight having a resilient vehicle-engaging pad on the upper face thereof and a pair of depending, spaced apart legs, said element being spaced apart a distance greater than the lateral distance between said base side margins; and means securing said elements atop said base with said elements above said floor, comprising an elongated beam affixed to said base and supporting said elements, said legs being apertured fox receiving said beam for selective movement thereof along the length of said beam.
a base adapted to rest on a floor and presenting a pair of laterally spaced apart, floor-engaging side margins, a pair of laterally spaced apart vehicle-engaging upstanding elements, each elements comprising an inverted, generally U-shaped body presenting an uppermost bight having a resilient vehicle-engaging pad on the upper face thereof and a pair of depending, spaced apart legs, said element being spaced apart a distance greater than the lateral distance between said base side margins; and means securing said elements atop said base with said elements above said floor, comprising an elongated beam affixed to said base and supporting said elements, said legs being apertured fox receiving said beam for selective movement thereof along the length of said beam.
2. A vehicle support as set forth in Claim 1, said base comprising a pair of elongated separate, laterally spaced apart foot members.
3. A vehicle support as set forth in Claim 1, including a depending reinforcing member secured to the underside of said bight and extending to a point closely adjacent said beam.
4. A vehicle support as set forth in Claim 1, the distance between said base side margins, the distance between said vehicle-engaging elements, and the height of said elements above said floor, being correlated such that, when a vehicle is tilted sideways with the tires on one side whereof engaging said floor and the tires on the other side thereof elevated, and said support is placed under the sideways tilted vehicle and tilted with the element closest said floor-engaged tires engaging the underside of the vehicle and with only the base margin closest said floor-engaging tires being in engagement with the floor, the center of gravity of said vehicle lies in a place passing between said base side margins.
5. A vehicle support as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam is rigidly affixed to said base.
6. A vehicle support as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said beam is rectangular in cross section.
7. A portable, tiltable, vehicle support stand, comprising:
an elongated beam including a pair of separate, spaced apart vehicle-engaging units thereon for contacting the underside of said vehicle and means adjustably coupling each unit on said beam for selectively positioning said units along the length of said beam;
a base having a pair of elongated, laterally spaced apart, substantially parallel, floor-engaging foot portions each extending in a first direction, said vehicle-engaging units being spaced a distance greater than the spacing between said floor-engaging foot portions; and means for operably coupling said beam to said base, with the longitudinal axis of said beam oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said foot portions extending in said first direction a sufficient distance and said beam located relative said foot portions for normally preventing tilting of said support in said first direction, said support stand including structure defining a tilting surface for tilting of said beam about a tilting axis generally parallel with said first direction, the height of said support stand from said foot portions to said vehicle-engaging units being less than and correlated with the distance between said vehicle-engaging units, such that when said beam is tilted about said tilting axis and said vehicle-engaging units contact the underside of a vehicle, the center of gravity of said vehicle lies in a vertical plane passing between said foot portions.
an elongated beam including a pair of separate, spaced apart vehicle-engaging units thereon for contacting the underside of said vehicle and means adjustably coupling each unit on said beam for selectively positioning said units along the length of said beam;
a base having a pair of elongated, laterally spaced apart, substantially parallel, floor-engaging foot portions each extending in a first direction, said vehicle-engaging units being spaced a distance greater than the spacing between said floor-engaging foot portions; and means for operably coupling said beam to said base, with the longitudinal axis of said beam oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said foot portions extending in said first direction a sufficient distance and said beam located relative said foot portions for normally preventing tilting of said support in said first direction, said support stand including structure defining a tilting surface for tilting of said beam about a tilting axis generally parallel with said first direction, the height of said support stand from said foot portions to said vehicle-engaging units being less than and correlated with the distance between said vehicle-engaging units, such that when said beam is tilted about said tilting axis and said vehicle-engaging units contact the underside of a vehicle, the center of gravity of said vehicle lies in a vertical plane passing between said foot portions.
8. A vehicle support as set forth in Claim 7 wherein each of said units comprises an upstanding, inverted, generally U-shaped body presenting an uppermost bight having a resilient vehicle-engaging pad on the upper face thereof and, a pair of depending spaced-apart legs apertured for receiving said beam.
9. A vehicle support as set forth in Claim 8, including a depending reinforcing member secured to the underside of said bight and extending to a point closely adjacent said beam.
10. A vehicle support as set forth in Claim 7, wherein said beam is rigidly affixed to said base.
11. A vehicle support as set forth in Claim 7, wherein said foot portions are separate.
12. A portable stand for four wheel vehicles and adapted to support a vehicle which has been initially lifted from one side thereof to raise a front and rear wheel from the floor while the two opposed wheels remain in contact with the floor, said stand comprising:
a base adapted to engage the floor beneath the vehicle presenting a pair of laterally spaced-apart, elongated, generally parallel side margins proximal to the floor;
said margins being spaced a distance less than the normal lateral spacing between each opposed pair of front and rear wheels of the vehicle;
an elongated beam of greater length than the spacing between said margins of the base;
means for securing said beam to the base with the longitidinal axis thereof oriented in generally perpendicular relationship to said side margins of the base, said side margins being of respective longitudinal lengths and said beam disposed relative to said margins in location to prevent tilting of the stand in a direction transverse of the beam;
a pair of separate, vehicle underside-engaging units adjustably positioned on the beam and selectively movable along the length thereof toward and away from each other from mimimum spaced apart positions outboard of corres-ponding adjacent side margins of the base to locations proximal to respective distal ends of the beam, the overall effective height of said stand from the vehicle-engaging units to the floor contracting margins of the base being such that when the vehicle is tilted to one side with the wheels thereof on said one side in engagement with the floor and the opposed wheels lifted from the floor, and the stand is positioned beneath the vehicle with the units in engagement with the underside of the vehicle, a vertical plane through the center of gravity of the vehicle on the stand passes between the margins of the base so that the stand has an inherent tendency to right itself.
a base adapted to engage the floor beneath the vehicle presenting a pair of laterally spaced-apart, elongated, generally parallel side margins proximal to the floor;
said margins being spaced a distance less than the normal lateral spacing between each opposed pair of front and rear wheels of the vehicle;
an elongated beam of greater length than the spacing between said margins of the base;
means for securing said beam to the base with the longitidinal axis thereof oriented in generally perpendicular relationship to said side margins of the base, said side margins being of respective longitudinal lengths and said beam disposed relative to said margins in location to prevent tilting of the stand in a direction transverse of the beam;
a pair of separate, vehicle underside-engaging units adjustably positioned on the beam and selectively movable along the length thereof toward and away from each other from mimimum spaced apart positions outboard of corres-ponding adjacent side margins of the base to locations proximal to respective distal ends of the beam, the overall effective height of said stand from the vehicle-engaging units to the floor contracting margins of the base being such that when the vehicle is tilted to one side with the wheels thereof on said one side in engagement with the floor and the opposed wheels lifted from the floor, and the stand is positioned beneath the vehicle with the units in engagement with the underside of the vehicle, a vertical plane through the center of gravity of the vehicle on the stand passes between the margins of the base so that the stand has an inherent tendency to right itself.
13. A stand as set forth in Claim 12, wherein said base includes a pair of separate foot portions, each presenting a respective side margin.
14. A portable, tiltable, stand for supporting a vehicle by engaging the underside of the vehicle, the vehicle underside being normally disposed an approximate vertical distance above a generally horizontal vehicle support floor, the stand being positioned in supporting engagement with the vehicle by tilting the vehicle, placing the support stand under the tilted vehicle, and releasing the tilted vehicle, said support stand comprising:
an elongated beam including a pair of spaced-apart, vehicle-engaging regions, thereon for contacting the under-side of said vehicle;
a base having a pair of spaced-apart, substantially parallel, floor-engaging foot portions each extending in a first direction;
means for fixedly coupling said beam to said base, with the longitudinal axis of said beam oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said beam and base dimensioned and said coupling means operable such that the height of said vehicle-engaging regions from said foot portions is greater than said approximate vertical distance for permitting the insertion of said stand underneath the vehicle when the vehicle is tilted and for elevating said vehicle under-side above said approximate vertical distance when the vehicle is released, said coupling means operable and said vehicle engaging regions positioned relative said foot portions for disposing the center of gravity of a tilted vehicle engaged by said regions in a vertical plane passing between said foot portions for righting the vehicle from its tilted condition to a supported, horiziontal condition when the vehicle is released from said tilted condition, said beam being located relative said foot portions for preventing tilting movement of said stand in said first direction; and said foot portions having means defining a tilting surface for allowing tilting movement of said stand in said second direction.
an elongated beam including a pair of spaced-apart, vehicle-engaging regions, thereon for contacting the under-side of said vehicle;
a base having a pair of spaced-apart, substantially parallel, floor-engaging foot portions each extending in a first direction;
means for fixedly coupling said beam to said base, with the longitudinal axis of said beam oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said beam and base dimensioned and said coupling means operable such that the height of said vehicle-engaging regions from said foot portions is greater than said approximate vertical distance for permitting the insertion of said stand underneath the vehicle when the vehicle is tilted and for elevating said vehicle under-side above said approximate vertical distance when the vehicle is released, said coupling means operable and said vehicle engaging regions positioned relative said foot portions for disposing the center of gravity of a tilted vehicle engaged by said regions in a vertical plane passing between said foot portions for righting the vehicle from its tilted condition to a supported, horiziontal condition when the vehicle is released from said tilted condition, said beam being located relative said foot portions for preventing tilting movement of said stand in said first direction; and said foot portions having means defining a tilting surface for allowing tilting movement of said stand in said second direction.
15. A support stand as set forth in Claim 14, wherein said foot portions are separate.
16. A support stand as set forth in Claim 14, said vehicle-engaging regions comprising a pair of separate elements independently selectively shiftable relative to and along the length of said beam.
17. A portable, tiltable, vehicle support stand for elevating a vehicle above a floor or the like, comprising:
an elongated beam including a pair of spaced apart vehicle-engaging regions thereon for contacting the under-side of said vehicle;
a base having a pair of elongated, laterally spaced apart, substantially parallel, side margins each extending in a first direction; and means operably coupling said beam to said base, with the longitudinal axis of said beam oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said support stand including structure defining a tilting surface for tilting of said beam about a tilting axis generally parallel with said first direction, the height of said support stand from said side margins to said vehicle-engaging regions being correlated with the distance between said vehicle-engaging regions, such that when said beam is tilted about said tilting axis and said vehicle-engaging regions contact the under-side of a vehicle, the center of gravity of said vehicle lies in a vertical plane passing between said side margins.
an elongated beam including a pair of spaced apart vehicle-engaging regions thereon for contacting the under-side of said vehicle;
a base having a pair of elongated, laterally spaced apart, substantially parallel, side margins each extending in a first direction; and means operably coupling said beam to said base, with the longitudinal axis of said beam oriented in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said support stand including structure defining a tilting surface for tilting of said beam about a tilting axis generally parallel with said first direction, the height of said support stand from said side margins to said vehicle-engaging regions being correlated with the distance between said vehicle-engaging regions, such that when said beam is tilted about said tilting axis and said vehicle-engaging regions contact the under-side of a vehicle, the center of gravity of said vehicle lies in a vertical plane passing between said side margins.
18. A method of elevating a four wheel vehicle off a floor, comprising the steps of:
tilting said vehicle with the tires on one side thereof engaging said floor and the tires on the other side of the vehicle elevated;
placing a vehicle support beneath the tilted vehicle, said support having a base presenting a pair of laterally spaced apart floor engaging side margins, a beam oriented with the longitudinal axis transverse to the direction of tilting of the support and being of greater length than the distance between said side margins and rigidly secured to said base with opposed end extremities of the beam extending outwardly beyond respective base margins, and a pair of laterally-spaced-apart vehicle-engaging and supporting regions adjustably carried by the beam, each of said regions being outboard of a corresponding side margin of said base;
tilting said support until the vehicle-engaging region closest said floor-engaging tires contacts the underside of the vehicle, the base margin closest said floor-engaging tires is in engagement with the floor, the remaining base margin is elevated from the floor, and the center of gravity of said vehicle lies in a plane passing between said base side margins; and causing said vehicle to become righted by reverse tilting of the vehicle and support back to a position where both of said vehicle-engaging regions engage the underside of the vehicle and both of base side margins engage said floor with said vehicle thereby being at least partially supported above the floor solely by said vehicle support.
tilting said vehicle with the tires on one side thereof engaging said floor and the tires on the other side of the vehicle elevated;
placing a vehicle support beneath the tilted vehicle, said support having a base presenting a pair of laterally spaced apart floor engaging side margins, a beam oriented with the longitudinal axis transverse to the direction of tilting of the support and being of greater length than the distance between said side margins and rigidly secured to said base with opposed end extremities of the beam extending outwardly beyond respective base margins, and a pair of laterally-spaced-apart vehicle-engaging and supporting regions adjustably carried by the beam, each of said regions being outboard of a corresponding side margin of said base;
tilting said support until the vehicle-engaging region closest said floor-engaging tires contacts the underside of the vehicle, the base margin closest said floor-engaging tires is in engagement with the floor, the remaining base margin is elevated from the floor, and the center of gravity of said vehicle lies in a plane passing between said base side margins; and causing said vehicle to become righted by reverse tilting of the vehicle and support back to a position where both of said vehicle-engaging regions engage the underside of the vehicle and both of base side margins engage said floor with said vehicle thereby being at least partially supported above the floor solely by said vehicle support.
19. The method as set forth in Claim 18, including the steps of placing a pair of said vehicle supports beneath the tilted vehicle and respectively proximal to the front and rear wheels of the vehicle, tilting both of said vehicle supports as aforesaid, and reverse tilting of the vehicle and both of said supports until both of the supports assume a position wherein both of said regions of each support engage the underside of the vehicle and both of the side margins of said pair of vehicle supports engage the floor and said vehicle is completely elevated above the floor and is supported by the vehicle supports.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US26161281A | 1981-05-08 | 1981-05-08 | |
| US06/261,612 | 1981-05-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1191503A true CA1191503A (en) | 1985-08-06 |
Family
ID=22994084
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000397330A Expired CA1191503A (en) | 1981-05-08 | 1982-03-01 | Tiltable support stand for vehicles |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0064800A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS57186558A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1191503A (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS636969U (en) * | 1986-06-26 | 1988-01-18 | ||
| GB2237543A (en) * | 1989-09-28 | 1991-05-08 | William Alfred Pinnington | Vehicle support |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB147666A (en) * | 1916-04-24 | 1921-10-10 | Lemuel Clay Nicoson | Improvements in supporting devices for automobiles |
| US3091431A (en) * | 1959-04-17 | 1963-05-28 | Walker Mfg Co | Jack |
| GB946849A (en) * | 1961-11-21 | 1964-01-15 | V L Churchill & Company Ltd | Improvements in and relating to vehicle frame alignment and repair apparatus |
| FR1329804A (en) * | 1962-06-15 | 1963-06-14 | Car lifting device, in particular for car lifts or ramps | |
| US3428191A (en) * | 1967-04-24 | 1969-02-18 | Paul S Newswanger | Vehicle hoist assembly |
| US3599923A (en) * | 1968-07-15 | 1971-08-17 | Applied Power Ind Inc | Load-supporting stand |
| BE792444A (en) * | 1972-06-12 | 1973-03-30 | Pietrelli Giuseppe | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PIVOTING A MOTOR VEHICLE ON A SUPPORT FRAME |
-
1982
- 1982-02-26 EP EP82301015A patent/EP0064800A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1982-03-01 CA CA000397330A patent/CA1191503A/en not_active Expired
- 1982-04-08 JP JP5894482A patent/JPS57186558A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS57186558A (en) | 1982-11-17 |
| EP0064800A3 (en) | 1984-10-03 |
| EP0064800A2 (en) | 1982-11-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |