GB2114537A - Motor vehicle jack - Google Patents

Abstract

A motor vehicle jack (10) comprises an elongate, preferably substantially triangular body portion (11) and an elongate arm (25) pivotally connected, preferably intermediate its ends between the ends of the body portion (11), and preferably at an apex A thereof. The end portion of the arm (25) furthest from the pivot (24) is connected to one end (13) of the body portion (11) by means of a threaded rod (17) for adjusting the distance between the said end and the load and thus the height of a load support member (26) of the jack (10) from ground supporting the jack (10). The opposite end of the body portion (11) is provided with a pivotably and preferably removable base (19). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motor vehicle jack This invention relates to a motor vehicle jack.

It is known to provide motor vehicle jacks of substantially'Y' configuration. Such jacks generally comprise an elongate body portion formed of a pair of spaced parallel members and an elongate arm an end portion of which is pivotally connected to the body portion. The arrangement is such that, in a storage position of the jack, the arm is located between the spaced parallel members with a longi tudinal axis of the arm extending substantially paraifelto a longitudinal axis of the body portion and, in an operative position of the jack, the longitudinal axis of the arm is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the body portion whereby the configuration of the jack is substantially 'Y' shaped.

An end portion of the arm remote from the pivotal connection with the body portion is provided with a support member for bearing a load and adjustment of the angular position of the arm relative to the body portion is effected by means of a threaded rod extending through a tapped bush provided at an end portion of the body portion, one end portion of the threaded rod being rotatably connected to the arm at a location remote from the pivotal connection.

A disadvantage of motor vehicle jacks of 'Y' configuration is that, when such a jack is being adjusted relative to the load to be supported and before the load is engaged by the jack, it is necessary to support the body portion of the jack at the approximate angle relative to the ground which will be supporting the jack at which the body portion will extend from the ground when the jack supports the load. The adjustment generally is carried out by supporting the body portion with one hand while operating with the other hand apparatus for turning the threaded rod and thereby manoeuvering the arm to a correct position to support the load.The necessity for so adjusting the jack prior to supporting the load is generally inconvenient for motorists particularly if it is necessary to replace a wheel having a punctured tyre at night or if the tyre is punctured at an inconvenient road location.

According to the present invention, there is provided a jack for supporting at least part of a motor vehicle comprising an elongate body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, an elongate arm for supporting a load, the arm being pivotally connected to the body portion at a location intermediate the end portions of the body portion, means for adjusting the distance between the first end portion of the body portion and the load and a base portion for engaging ground when the arm supports the load, the base portion being pivotable relative to the second end portion of the body portion so that, when the jack is being adjusted relative to the load, the body portion pivots relative to the base portion.

The arm may be pivotally connected to the body portion at a location intermediate end portions of the arm.

An end portion of the arm remote from the load may be provided with a leg.

The base portion may be detachable from the body portion.

The second end portion of the body portion may be provided with a pin and the base portion may be provided with a slot adapted to receive the pin.

The body portion may be substantially triangular shaped.

The arm may be pivotally connected to the body portion at a location adjacent an apex of the triangular shape of the body portion.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a jack in accordance with the present invention shown ready for use, FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the jack when being adjusted relative to a load, FIGURE 3 is an elevation of the jack when in a load supporting condition, and FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic representation showing connection of a base to a body portion of the jack.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a jack 10 comprising a substantially triangular shaped body portion 11. The body portion 11 comprises a pair of substantially triangular plates, one of which is shown at 12, and spacer members (not shown) extending between the plates so as to maintain the plates in spaced parallel relationship one to another.

Each plate 12 has at an upper corner thereof an upper aperture 13, at a lower corner thereof a lower aperture 14 (see Figure 4) and adjacent an apex A thereof an aperture 15. The upper apertures 13 of the plates 12 have extending therethrough so as to be rotatable therein a bush 16. The bush 16 is provided with a tapped radial bore (not shown) through which extends a rod 17 having an external thread extending longitudinally thereof which engages an internal thread of the tapped bore of the bush 16. The lower apertures 14 ofthe plates 12 have extending therethrough a pin 18.

The base portion 11 is adapted to co-operate with a disc-shaped base 19 having a pair of upstanding spaced lugs 20. Each of the lugs 20 is provided with an open ended slot 21, an inner end of which has a downwardly extending recess 22 and an upwardly extending recess 23. The slots 21 and the recesses 22 and 23 are adapted to receive corresponding end portions of the pin 18.

The aperture 15 adjacent the apex A of each of the plates 12 has extending therethrough a pin 24 which pin 24 extends through an intermediate portion of an elongate arm 25 of substantially 'U' cross-section.

The arm 25 has pivotally connected thereto at an end portion thereof remote from the apex A a load support member 26 and has depending from an end portion thereof adjacent the apex A a leg 25a.

The arm 25 has located therein adjacent the load support member 26 a bush 27 for receiving an end portion of the rod 17 remote from the bush 16, the end portion journalled in the bush 27 so that the rod 17 is rotatable therein on a central longitudinal axis of the rod but is restrained for movement relative therewith in a longitudinal direction of the axis. Each of the plates 12 is provided with a recess 12a on an upper longitudinal edge for receiving a corresponding end portion of the bush 27 when the jack is in a storage position.

The rod 17 has pivotally connected thereto adjacent the bush 16 a handle 28 for rotating the rod on the central longitudinal axis thereof whereby the rod 17 moves longitudinally of the tapped bore of the bush 16 thereby effecting adjustment of the distance of the load support member 26 from the bush 16.

In a storage position of the jack, the base 19 is detached from the body portion 11, the load support member 26 is pivoted relative to the arm 25 towards the rod 17 and the rod 17 is rotated relative to the bush 16 so that the arm 25 is located substantially between the plates 12 and opposite end portions of the bush 27 are received in the recess 12a.

The jack is prepared for use by rotating for a few turns the rod 17 on its longitudinal axis by means of the handle 28 so that the end portion of the arm 25 carrying the load support member 26 is raised from an adjacent portion of the body portion 11 to provide clearance for the lugs 20 of the base 19. The end portions of the pin 18 are then inserted into and longitudinally of the corresponding slots 21 of the lugs 20 (as shown in Figure 4) so that the end portions of the pin 18 are located in either of the recesses 22 and 23 of the slots 21 (depending on whether the jack is to be mounted on a raised surface).

In use, the base 19 is located on a surface for supporting the jack and the leg 25a is located on an adjacent surface, as shown in Figure 1.

The rod 17 then is rotated on its longitudinal axis relative to the bush 16 by means of the handle 28 whereby the distance between the load support member 26 and the bush 16 is reduced thereby increasing the distance of the load support member 26 from the ground supporting the jack 10. When the load support member 26 engages the vehicle and the rod 17 continues to be rotated relative to the bush 16, the distance of the load support member 26 from the base 20 is further increased resulting in the body portion 11 pivoting relative to the base 19 towards a position in which an axis extending through the upper and lower apertures 13, 14 is substantially perpendicular to the base 19. In this position, the load support member 26 supports the load of the vehicle and the jack is as shown in Figure 3.

When it is desired to release the load, the procedure is reversed whereby the jack first assumes the position shown in Figure 2 and subsequently is returned to the position shown in Figure 1. Finally, the base 19 is detached from the body portion 11 and a few more turns of the rod 17 are effected so that the end portions of the bush 27 are received in the corresponding recesses 12a. The jack is then in the storage position.

It will be appreciated that in accordance with the present invention a jack will position itself relative to ground for supporting the jack while it is being adjusted relative to the load. In this manner, the disadvantages referred to above with regard to 'Y' jacks is substantially reduced.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that a jack in accordance with the present invention is of substantially reduced dimension when in the storage position, compared with jacks known hitherto and, in consequence, can be stored in a confined space.

Claims (8)

1. A jack for supporting at least part of a motor vehicle comprising an elongate body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, an elongate arm for supporting a load, the arm being pivotally connected to the body portion at a location intermediate the end portions of the body portion, means for adjusting the distance between the first end portion of the body portion and the load and a base portion for engaging ground when the arm supports the load, the base portion being pivotable relative to the second end portion of the body portion so that, when the jack is being adjusted relative to the load, the body portion pivots relative to the base portion.

2. Ajack as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the body portion at a location intermediate end portions of the arm.

3. A jack as claimed in Claim 2 wherein an end portion of the arm remote from the load is provided with a leg.

4. A jack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base portion is detachable from the body portion.

5. A jack as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the second end portion of the body portion is provided with a pin and the base portion is provided with a slot adapted to receive the pin.

6. A jack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the body portion is substantially triangular shaped.

7. A jack as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the body portion at a location adjacent an apex of the triangular shape of the body portion.

8. A jack for supporting at least a part of a motor vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.