Jack support apparatus and method of use

A jack support apparatus for operably engaging and selectively locking a hydraulic floor jack having a wheel axle and a cup axle, the apparatus comprising:

• an outer tube having an outer tube body comprising an outer tube side wall with an outer tube hole formed in the outer tube side wall, an outwardly-extending outer tube jack cradle, and an outer tube opening opposite the outer tube jack cradle, the outer tube jack cradle configured to selectively engage one of the wheel axle and the cup axle;
• an inner tube having an inner tube body comprising an inner tube side wall with a plurality of spaced-apart inner tube holes formed in the inner tube side wall and an outwardly-extending inner tube jack cradle, the inner tube body slidably received within the outer tube body through the outer tube opening with the inner tube side wall adjacent to and offset from the outer tube side wall, the inner tube jack cradle configured to selectively engage one of the wheel axle and the cup axle;
• a tube spring operable between the outer tube body and the inner tube body to bias the outer tube and the inner tube apart;
• and
• a pin operable through the outer tube hole for selectively engaging any of the plurality of inner tube holes, the pin being biased inwardly toward the inner tube by a pin spring,
• wherein selective operation of the pin by shifting the pin away from the inner tube against the biasing effect of the pin spring disengages the pin from any of the plurality of inner tube holes and allows the inner tube to shift relative to the outer tube as by the inner tube body sliding within the outer tube body under the biasing effect of the tube spring;
• and
• further wherein selective operation of the pin by shifting the pin toward the inner tube under the biasing effect of the pin spring engages the pin in one of the plurality of inner tube holes as the inner tube shifts relative to the outer tube as by the inner tube body sliding within the outer tube body until the pin enters one of the plurality of inner tube holes to prevent further relative movement between the outer tube and the inner tube, whereby the apparatus is configured to temporarily form a rigid linkage between the wheel and cup axles upon engagement therebetween by the outer tube and inner tube jack cradles to effectively lock the jack against further downward movement.