GB2229151A

GB2229151A - Wheeled automobile support

Info

Publication number: GB2229151A
Application number: GB8905812A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert James Withey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-03-14
Filing date: 1989-03-14
Publication date: 1990-09-19
Also published as: GB8905812D0

Abstract

A wheeled support for an automobile has a frame having three or more arm sections (2) radiating outwardly from a central zone. A support (5) is located within said central zone. A caster wheel (6) is mounted rotatably at or near the radially outward end of each of the radiating arm sections (2). Each arm section (2) is formed of a pair of substantially parallel lateral walls (7) connected at their radially outward ends by a bridging wall (8). The caster wheels (6) are mounted to the undersides, in wheeled use, of the bridging walls (8). <IMAGE>

Description

WHEELED AUTOMOBILE SUPPORT This invention concerns support stands for automobiles undergoing repair and, more particularly, concerns the provision of a wheeled support stand.

Previously the only wheeled vehicle supports available have been hydraulic jacks, unsuitable for manoeuvring raised vehicles and more particularly unsuitable for working beneath the vehicle in view of safety considerations.

Amongst the aims of the present invention are the provision of a relatively inexpensive, rigid, stable and safe wheeled design of support stand. A further aim is the provision of a stand which is convertibly movable or static.

According to the present invention there is provided a wheeled automobile support comprising a frame having three or more arm sections radiating outwardly from a central zone; a support means located within said central zone; and a caster wheel mounted rotatably at or near the radially outward end of each of the radiating arm sections.

Preferably the frame comprises three equiangular outwardly radiating arm sections.

It is also preferred that each outwardly radiating arm section is formed of a pair of substantially parallel lateral walls connected at their radially outward ends by a bridging wall; each outwardly radiating arm section being connected to an adjacent one via a link wall between radially inward ends of respective adjacent lateral walls of each; said central support means is mounted on the link walls via struts; and the caster wheels are mounted, to the undersides, in wheeled use, of the bridging walls.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the single Figure of the accompanying drawings; which is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of wheeled automobile support stand of the present invention.

The automobile support-stand comprises a frame 1 having three outwardly radiating arm sections 2. Each radiating arm section 2 is formed of a pair of substantially parallel lateral walls 7 interconnected at the radially outward ends thereof by a bridging wall 8.

Each radially inward end of the pair of lateral walls 7 of each radiating arm section 2 is connected to a corresponding adjacent end of a lateral wall 7 of an adjacent radiating arm section 2 by a link wall 3. The link walls 3 have, mounted to their interior faces, radially inwardly directed struts 4 supporting a substantially central automobile support means 5. The central support means 5 has an internally threaded ring into which a support platform may be screwed.

A plurality of support platforms, each having a different effective height may be provided. A caster wheel 6 is mounted, rotatably, at, or near, the radially outward end of each of the radiating arm sections 2, preferably to the centres of the bridging walls 8.

In use, a pair of support stands of the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be positioned directly under the tyres of an immobile vehicle, such that the supported wheels are substantially accommodated within the central cavity of the frame 1. Alternatively a support platform (not illustrated), having a rigid perpendicular shaft with a screw thread at its end opposite the platform to match the threaded ring central support means 5, may be installed in the threaded ring 5 to support the vehicle.

It is envisaged that the support platform should be selectable from a range with shafts covering heights from about six inches to a maximum of about seven and a half feet. This proposed height range corresponds to the stable range for a frame which is built to a specification of 4" diameter wheels in casters of 76 mm turning radius, the casters being mounted 13" radially outwardly of the centre of the frame 7, centrally on the bridging wall 8, approximately 2" from the radially outermost extremities of the radial arm sections 2. Such figures are quoted only as a guide to the most suitable dimensions of the support of the present invention to achieve safe, stable performance.

For use with larger vehicles, a larger support stand may be appropriate. An important factor considered in deciding upon the appropriate dimensions to achieve stability was the provision of the mountings of the castered wheels 6 in such positions on the frame 1 that the lines joining the centres of the wheels 6 lie outside of the frame.

A functional advantage of mounting the caster wheels 6 to bridging wall 8 between a pair of rigid lateral walls 7 lies in the avoidance of toppling should one of the wheels 6 shear under the weight of a supported vehicle.

Should it be desired to convert the wheeled support to a static version it would merely be necessary to invert the frame 1, provided that during construction the frame 1 was made to have no surfaces projecting from the plane of the bridging walls 8. In particular, the central support means 5 should lie wholly within the body of the frame 1. Furthermore to achieve full convertibility the threaded ring central support means 5 should be formed of two oppositely threaded portions, one portion for wheeled use and another for static use.

Claims

1. A wheeled support for an automobile comprising a frame having three or more arm sections radiating outwardly from a central zone; a support means located within said central zone; and a caster wheel mounted rotatably at or near the radially outward end of each of the radiating arm sections.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises three equiangular outwardly radiating arm sections.

3. A support as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each outwardly radiating arm section is formed of a pair of substantially parallel lateral walls connected at their radially outward ends by a bridging wall; each outwardly radiating arm section being connected to an adjacent one via a -link wall between radially inward ends of respective adjacent lateral walls of each; said central support means being mounted on the link walls via struts; and the caster wheels being mounted, to the undersides, in wheeled use, of the bridging walls.

4. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface thereof remote from the caster wheels is substantially planar, whereby the support may be used in an inverted condition to form an immobile support under a vehicle.

5. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central support means comprises an internally screw threaded hole attached to said frame, in combination with a support plate cooperable with said hole by means of an externally screw threaded leg means attached to said support plate.

6. A wheeled support for an automobile substantially as described herewith with reference to the accompanying drawing.