GB2413586A

GB2413586A - Floor jack

Info

Publication number: GB2413586A
Application number: GB0409232A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jamie Russell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-26
Filing date: 2004-04-26
Publication date: 2005-11-02
Also published as: GB0409232D0

Abstract

A floor jack comprising a first engaging surface 2, a second engaging surface 3 and ratchet means 4, in which in use the first engaging surface 2 is applied to a floor board 5 to be moved and the second engaging surface 3 is applied to an adjacent static surface 6, and in which in use the ratchet means 4 moves the first engaging surface 2 and the second engaging surface 3 apart along a substantially horizontal line, and in which the ratchet means 4 is operated by a pivoted lever 7 which in use moves up and down in a substantial vertical plane. The ratchet means 4 only moves the engaging surfaces 2 and 3 apart when the lever is moved down.

Description

Floor Jack This invention relates to a floor jack, for use particularly,

but not exclusively, in the laying of wooden floonng.

Many types of flooring are made up of planks of material, commonly wood, which are connected together along their sides by means of a tongue and groove system. Each plank is provided with a groove along one side, and a tongue on the other side, such that the planks can be laid one next to the other to form the floor.

Several types of tongue and groove system require a considerable force to connect together, in particular if one of the planks is warped or bent along its length. When this problem is encountered the exposed side of the plank can be hit with a mallet or similar instrument to force the tongue and groove system together.

However, it is awkward and sometimes impossible to effectively strike a rogue plank which is laid adjacent a wall, because there is no space to swing a mallet. In these circumstances a crow-bar or something similar can be used to lever the plank into position, but this is also an awkward exercise and can damage the wall and the flooring.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the above problems.

Therefore, according to the present invention a jack comprises a first engaging surface, a second engaging surface and ratchet means, in which in use the first engaging surface is applied to an object to be moved and the second engaging surface is applied to an adjacent static surface, and in which in use the ratchet means moves the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface apart along a substantially horizontal line, and in which the ratchet means Is operated by a pivoted lever which in use moves up and down substantially vertically.

In a preferred construction the jack can be adapted to force a first flooring plank into tongue and groove connection with an adjacent second flooring plank, by r forcing said first flooring plank away from an adjacent wall or other construction.

Therefore, in use the first engaging surface can engage a side surface of said first flooring plank, and the second engaging surface can engage said wall or other construction, such that when the ratchet means is operated the first flooring plank is forced away from the wall and into tongue and groove connection with the second flooring plank.

Preferably the ratchet means can only move the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface apart when the lever is moved down.

The jack can generally comprise an elongate trough shaped body, inside which the ratchet means can be contained. The first engaging surface can be a flange extending normally from a first end of the body, and the second engaging surface can be a foot connected to the ratchet means. Therefore, the foot can move away from the first end of the body when the ratchet means is operated.

The lever can be pivotally mounted adjacent the first end of the body, such that in use it is rotated upward towards the wall to engage the ratchet rack, and back down again to move the ratchet rack forward.

The ratchet means can comprise said lever, a cam face on said lever, a lever collar, and a ratchet rack, in which the lever collar can be held against the cam face by first resilient means and can be provided with an aperture through which the racket rack can pass. The ratchet rack can be provided with a number of spaced apart grooves, and the cam face can be so shaped that when the lever is raised the lever collar moves away from the first end of the body, and when the lever is lowered from a raised position, the lever collar can engage a groove and move the ratchet rack forwards.

Preferably the grooves can comprise a substantially right-angle triangle shaped troughs, in which a chamfered surface tapers towards said first end of the body, and meets a substantially vertical surface.

In one embodiment the aperture through the lever collar can comprise a passage extending at a 45 degree upward angle. With this arrangement when the lever collams substantially vertical it can engage a groove, and when it is tilted such that the top moves towards the first end of the body, the lever collar can disengage that groove.

The cam face can be so shaped that when the lever is raised the lever collar can tilt such that the top moves towards the first end of the body as described above, disengage a first groove and move away from said first end of the body. Also, when the lever is lowered from a raised position, the lever collar can tilt back in the opposite direction, engage a second groove adjacent the first groove, and move the ratchet rack forwards.

In a preferred construction the aperture through the lever collar can comprise a first portion comprising a countersunk hole, and a second portion comprising a cylindrical passage extending at a 45 degree upward angle.

The first resilient means can comprise a first coil spring, mounted in compression between a first side of a first stop wall and the lever collar. The first stop wall can be provided with an aperture through which the ratchet rack can pass.

In a preferred embodiment the ratchet means can further comprise a pawl collar held against a second side of said first stop wall by second resilient means, which Is identical in construction to the lever collar. With this arrangement when the lever is raised and the lever collar disengages a first groove and moves away from said first end of the body as described above, the pawl collar can engage a groove and prevent the ratchet rack moving backwards.

Further, when the lever is lowered from a raised position, and the ratchet rack moves forwards, the pawl collar can be engaged by the chamfered surface of a groove and can be tilted such that the top moves towards the first end of the body, until the pawl collar can disengage said groove and be forced towards the second side of the first stop wall by the second resilient means. When pawl collar meets the next groove it can be forced into engagement therewith by the second resilient means.

The second resilient means can comprise a second coil spring, mounted in compression between a second stop wall and the pawl collar. The second stop wall can also be provided with an aperture through which the ratchet rack can pass.

The ratchet rack, the grooves and the apertures through the lever collar, the first stop wall, the pawl collar and the second stop wall can all be annular. The lever collar and the pawl collar can be rectangular in shape.

A shock bracket can be provided at a second end of the elongate body, which can comprise a resilient cylinder mounted at about 45 degrees to the substantially horizontal line. The shock bracket can be struck with a mallet in use, to provide further force to push the first and the second flooring planks together if required.

A scratch resistant pad can be provided on the underside of the body adjacent the second end, such that movement and forces applied by the jack to the flooring it rests on In use do not damage the flooring. Further, a resilient pad can be provided on the foot, such that the foot also does not damage the wall against which it is applied in use.

In order to release the jack the lever can raised and the lever collar tilted until it disengages the ratchet rack, and the pawl collar can then be tilted to the same position by hand until it too is not touching the ratchet rack, and the ratchet rack can be pushed back by hand.

The invention can be performed in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a jack according to the present invention in a first arrangement; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the jack shown in Figure 1 in a second arrangement; Figure 3 is a top view of the jack shown in Figure 1; Figures 4a to 4d are diagrammatic cross-sectional side views of the ratchet system of the jack shown in Figure 1, in a sequence of in use positions; and, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of the ratchet system shown in Figures 4a to 4d in a further position.

As shown in Figure 1 a jack 1 comprises a first engaging surface in the form of flange 2, a second engaging surface in the form of foot 3, and ratchet means 4, (shown best in Figures 4a to 4d), in which in use the first engaging surface 2 is applied to an object to be moved, in the form of first flooring plank 5, and the second engaging surface 3 is applied to an adjacent static surface, in the form of wall 6, and in which in use the ratchet means 4 moves the first engaging surface 2 and the second engaging surface 3 apart along a substantially horizontal line A, and in which the ratchet means 4 is operated by a pivoted lever 7 (shown in solid lines in Figures 1 and 2 for clarity) which in use moves up and down substantially vertically.

The jack 1 generally comprises an elongate trough shaped body 8, inside which the ratchet means 4 is contained. The flange 2 extends normally from a first end 9 of the body 8, and the foot 3 is mounted on the end of a ratchet rack 10 (shown in hashed lines in Figures 1 and 2 for clarity), and said foot 3 moves away from the first end 9 of the body 8 when the ratchet means 4 is operated.

The lever 7 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 11 which is adjacent the first end 9 of the body 8, such that in use the lever 7 is rotated upward in the direction of arrow B. and as shown in Figure 2, to engage the ratchet rack 10, and back down again to move the ratchet rack 10 forward. (The operation of the ratchet means 4 is described further in relation to Figures 4a-4b below) A shock bracket 12 is provided at a second end 13 of the body 8, which comprises a rubberised cylindrical pad 14 mounted at about 45 degrees to the line A on generally triangular extension 15.

A scratch resistant pad 16 is provided on the underside 17 of the body 8 adjacent the second end 13. Further, a resilient pad 18 is provided on the foot 3.

As shown in Figures 4a to 4d, the ratchet means 4 comprises said lever 7' a cam face 19 on said lever 7, a lever collar 20, a first coil spring 21, a first stop wall 22, a pawl collar 23, a second coil spring 24, a second stop wall 25, and said ratchet rack 10 (only a section of which is shown in Figures 4a to 4d).

(The cam face 19 is shown in hashed lines in Figures 4a to 4d because it would not be visible in the cross section as shown therein. The lever arm 7 is constructed with two identical cam faces 19a and 19b, as shown in Figure 3, which are on either sides of the ratchet rack 10. A recess 19c is provided in the top of the lever arm 7, such that it does not contact the rack 10 when the lever arm 7 is raised.) The lever collar 20 is rectangular in shape, is held against the cam face 19 by the first coil spring 21, and has an aperture 26 through which the racket rack 10 passes. The aperture 26 comprises a first portion 27 comprising a countersunk hole, and a second portion 28 comprising a cylindrical passage extending at a 45 degree upward angle.

The first coil spring 21 is mounted in compression between a first side 29 of the first stop wall 22 and the lever collar 20. The first stop wall 22 is provided with an annular aperture 30 through which the ratchet rack 10 passes.

The pawl collar 23 is identical in construction to the lever collar 20, and has an aperture 31 comprising a first portion 32 comprising a countersunk hole, and a second portion 33 comprising a cylindrical passage extending at a 45 degree upward angle.

The pawl collar 23 is held against a second side 34 of said first stop wall 22 by the second coil spring 24.

The second coil spring 24 is mounted in compression between the second stop wall 25 and the pawl collar 23. The second stop wall 25 is provided with an aperture 35 through which the ratchet rack 10 passes.

The first and second stop walls 22 and 25 are built into the trough formed by said body 7.

The ratchet rack 10 is provided with a number of spaced apart grooves 36 which comprise a substantially right-angle triangle shaped troughs, in which a chamfered surface 37 tapers towards said first end 9 of the body 8, and meets a vertical surface 38.

The cam face 19 is so shaped that when the lever 7 is parallel with the elongate body 8 the lever collar 20 is held substantially vertically, as shown in Figure 4a, and when the lever 7 is raised the lever collar 20 tilts in an anti- clockwise direction according to the drawings and moves back, as shown in Figure 4b.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in use the jack 1 is used to force the first flooring plank 5 into tongue and groove connection with an adjacent second flooring plank 39, by forcing said first flooring plank 5 away from adjacent wall 6. The flooring planks 5 and 39 are identical, and have a groove 40 along one side and a corresponding tongue 41 on the other, such that they can be connected together to form a flooring surface.

Therefore, the flange 2 is placed against a side surface 42 of the first flooring plank 5, and the ratchet means 4 is operated to move the foot 3 up against the wail 6. It will be appreciated that the lever 8 rotates about the pin 11 in a vertical plane parallel to the line A, which makes the jack 1 very simple to operate. Further, as will be described below, the downward stroke of the lever pushes the ratchet rack 10 forward, which also makes the jack 1 easy to use because the user can use their weight to push the lever 7 down, rather than have to use force to pull it up.

Referring to Figures 4a to 4b the lever collar 20 starts in a substantially vertical position as shown in Figure 4a, and engaging a first groove 36a.

The lever 7 is raised, as shown in Figure 4b, and the lever collar 20 is thus tilted such that the top 20a moves towards the first end 9 of the body 8, and the lever collar 20 disengages the first groove 36a. At the same time the lever collar 20 moves away from said first end 9 of the body 8, until it is past a second groove 36b.

At this time the pawl collar 23 is engaged with a groove 36c, which prevents the ratchet rack 10 moving backwards.

(It will be appreciated that this movement is only possible because of the shape of the aperture 26, and in particular the first portion 27. If the first portion 27were not incorporated and the aperture 26 merely a regular aperture at a 45 degree angle, the upper half of the circumferential edge of the aperture 26 would catch on the top of the ratchet rack 10.) The lever 7 is then lowered from the raised position, as shown in Figure 4c, and the lever collar 20 tilts back in the opposite direction, engages the second groove 36b, and moves the ratchet rack 10 forwards.

As shown in Figure 4c, as the ratchet rack 10 moves forward the pawl collar 23 is pushed forward by the chamfered surface of groove 36c and is tilted such that the top 23a moves towards the first end g of the body 8.

This motion continues until the pawl collar 23 slides off the chamfered surface of the groove 36c and is forced towards the second side 34 of the first stop wall 22 by the second coil spring 24. When the pawi collar 23 meets the next groove 36d it is forced into engagement therewith by the second coil spring 24, which biases it into a vertical position, and therefore an engaging position, as shown in Figure 4d.

The ratchet rack 10 is then held in position by the pawl collar 23, and the lever 7 can be raised again for the lever collar 20 to move back and engage the next chamfered groove, in a repeat of the above described process. The lever 7 is thus raised and lowered to move the ratchet rack 10 forward.

Referring to Figure 2, the lever 7 is raised and lowered, and the foot 3 is moved along line A until it contacts the wall 6. (It will be appreciated that line A is not horizontal in use, as a result of the scratch resistant pad 16 lifting up the second end 13 of the jack 1. However line A is very nearly horizontal.) The ratchet means 4 is then operated until the tongue 41 of the first flooring plank 5 is connected to the groove 40 of the second flooring plank 39, and the two are connected together. In practice the distance the first flooring plank 5 must move to "snap" into tongue and groove connection with the second flooring plank 39, once the first flooring plank 5 is In the position shown in Figure 1, is less than one forward motion of the ratchet rack as described in relation to Figures 4a to 4d above. Therefore, the user is only required to apply greater force to the lever 7 once.

ln the event that the ratchet means 4 is insufficient to force the flooring planks 5 and 39 together, a mallet or similar instrument can be used to strike the shock bracket 12. The striking force is transferred to the flange 2, and the two flooring planks 5 and 39 may be forced together by the impact.

Traditional flooring planks like 5 and 39 can sometimes be bent or misshapen along their length, and as a result can be difficult to force together in the manner described above. Under such circumstances one end of a misshapen plank can be forced into place with a first jack as described above, which can be left in place while a second jack is used at another point along the length of the plank. Under these circumstances it is important that the ratchet system of the first jack be strong enough to withstand the forces applied to it when the second jack is operated. (In particular if a mallet is used against the shock bracket.) It will be appreciated that when the lever collar 20 is in the vertical position as shown in Figures 4a and 4d, it acts to hold the ratchet rack 10 in place in the same manner as the pawl collar 23.

Therefore, there is twice the resistance to externally applied forces as would be provided by a single pawl element.

In use the scratch resistant pad 16 and the resilient pad 18 on the foot 3 prevent the flooring and the wall 6 from being damaged in use as described above.

In order to release the jack 1 after use the lever 7 is raised and the lever collar 20 tilted until it is at such an angle that the rack 10 is not touched lever collar 20, as shown in Figure 5. The pawl collar 23 is then either tilted to the same position or simply left in the vertical position as shown in Figure 5, and the ratchet rack 10 is then forced back into the starting position. Due to the floating nature of the pawl collar 23 it Is in fact possible to force the ratchet rack 10 backwards despite the pawl collar 23 initially engaging a groove 36.

The jack 1 can be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, any known type of ratchet means can be provided instead of ratchet means 4, provided it can be operated by the lever moving vertically up and down.

Thus a jack is provided which can be used to force flooring planks together when a mallet or similar tool cannot be used because of the proximity of a wall or other construction.

Claims

Claims.

1. A jack comprising a first engaging surface, a second engaging surface and ratchet means, In which in use the first engaging surface is applied to an object to be moved and the second engaging surface is applied to an adjacent static surface, and in which in use the ratchet means moves the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface apart along a substantially horizontal line, and in which the ratchet means is operated by a pivoted lever which in use moves up and down substantially vertically.

2. A jack as claimed in Claim 1 in which the ratchet means only moves the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface apart when the lever is moved down.

3. A jack as claimed in Claim 2 in which the jack further comprises an elongate trough shaped body, Inside which the ratchet means is contained, and In which the first engaging surface is a flange extending normally from a first end of the body, and in which the second engaging surface is a foot connected to said ratchet means, and in which the foot moves away from the first end of the body when the ratchet means is operated.

4. A jack as claimed in Claim 3 in which the lever is pivotally mounted adjacent the first end of the body.

5. A jack as claimed in Claim 4 in which the ratchet means comprises said lever, a cam face on said lever, a lever collar, and a ratchet rack, in which the lever collar is held against the cam face by first resilient means and is provided with an aperture through which the racket rack passes, in which the ratchet rack is provided with a number of spaced apart grooves, in which the cam face is so shaped that when the lever Is raised the lever collar moves away from said first end of the body, and In which when the lever is lowered from a raised position the lever collar engages a groove and moves the ratchet rack forwards.

6. A jack as claimed in Claim 5 in which the grooves comprise substantially right- angle triangle shaped troughs, in which a chamfered surface tapers towards said first end of the body, and meets a vertical surface.

7. A jack as claimed in Claim 6 in which the aperture through the lever collar comprises a passage extending at a 45 degree upward angle, and which in use when the lever collar is substantially vertical it engages a groove, and when it is tilted such that the top moves towards the first end of the body, the lever collar disengages said groove.

8. A jack as claimed in Claim 7 in which the cam face is so shaped that when the lever is raised the lever collar tilts such that the top moves towards the first end of the body, disengages a first groove and moves away from said first end of the body, and in which when the lever is lowered from a raised position the lever collar tilts in the opposite direction, engages a second groove adjacent the first groove, and moves the ratchet rack forwards.

9. A jack as claimed in Claim 8 in which the aperture through the lever collar composes a first portion comprising a countersunk hole, and a second portion comprising a cylindrical passage extending at a 45 degree upward angle.

10. A jack as claimed in Claim 9 in which the first resilient means comprises a first coil spring, mounted in compression between a first side of a first stop wall and the lever collar, and in which the first stop wall is provided with an aperture through which the ratchet rack passes.

11. A jack as claimed in Claim 10 in which the ratchet means further comprises a pawl collar held against a second side of said first stop wall by second resilient means and is identical in construction to the lever collar, and in which when the lever is raised the lever collar disengages a first groove and moves away from said first end of the body, the pawl collar engages a groove and prevents the ratchet rack moving backwards.

12. A jack as claimed in Claim 11 in which when the lever is lowered from a raised position and the ratchet rack moves forwards, the pawl collar is engaged by the chamfered surface of a groove and is tilted such that the top moves towards the first end of the body until the pawl collar disengages said groove and is forced towards the second side of the first stop wall by the second resilient means, and in which when pawl collar meets the next groove it is forced into engagement therewith by the second resilient means.

13. A jack as claimed in Claim 12 in which the second resilient means comprises a second coil spring, mounted in compression between a second stop wall and the pawl collar, and in which the second stop wall is provided with an aperture through which the ratchet rack passes.

14. A jack as claimed in Claim 13 in which the ratchet rack, the grooves and the aperture through the lever collar, the first stop wall, the pawl collar and the second stop wall are annular.

15. A jack as claimed in any of Claims 3 and 14 in which a shock bracket is provided at a second end of the elongate body, comprising a resilient cylinder mounted at approximately 45 degrees to the substantially horizontal line.

16. A jack as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which in use the jack is used to force a first flooring plank into tongue and groove connection with an adjacent second flooring plank, by forcing said first flooring plank away from an adjacent wall or other static construction.

17. A jack as claimed in Claim 16 in which a scratch resistant pad is provided on an underside of the body adjacent the second end.

18. A jack as claimed in Claim 17 in which a resilient pad is provided on the foot.

19. A jack substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.