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US 12,643,777 B2Granted
Vehicle air lift system
OwnerChristopher Hobbsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for lifting a vehicle using compressed air is disclosed herein. The system includes a set of inflatable devices movable into an inflated position to lift the vehicle and an air-line assembly connectable to a compressed air supply and to the set of the inflatable devices to move the set of inflatable devices into the inflated position. The inflatable devices may have an airbag and an articulated frame that operates to support a lifted vehicle. The frame provides rigidity to the inflatable device and, when engaged in its extended position, prevents collapse if the airbag is deflated.
Claims18
An inflatable device for lifting a vehicle, the inflatable device comprising:
- a frame having a top plate, a bottom plate, and a pair of articulating sides attached to and extending between the top and bottom plates, wherein articulation of the sides allows the upper plate and lower plate to move toward and away from each other between a collapsed position and an extended position;
- an inflatable airbag disposed between the upper and lower plate and between the pair of articulating sides;
- the frame being moved from the collapsed position into the extended position by inflation of the airbag;
- the frame being releasably lockable in the extended position to prevent the frame collapsing upon deflation of the airbag;
- and
- wherein each articulating side includes a locking pin removably insertable through cooperating holes in the finger joint to lock the first and second hinge plates against relative rotation to each other.
3 more elements
An inflatable device for lifting a vehicle, the inflatable device comprising:
- a frame having a top plate, a bottom plate, and a pair of articulating sides attached to and extending between the top and bottom plates, wherein articulation of the sides allows the upper plate and lower plate to move toward and away from each other between a collapsed position and an extended position;
- each articulating side having a first hinge plate, a second hinge plate, and a finger joint, the first hinge plate hingedly connected at a first end thereof to a corresponding side edge of the top plate, the second hinge plate hingedly connected at a first end thereof to a corresponding side edge of the bottom plate, the first and second hinge plates hingedly connected at the finger joint, each articulating side further having a locking pin removably insertable through cooperating holes in the finger joint to lock the first and second hinge plates against relative rotation to each other;
- an inflatable airbag disposed between the upper and lower plate and between the pair of articulating sides;
- and
- the frame being moved from the collapsed position into the extended position by inflation of the airbag.
2 more elements
A system for lifting a vehicle using compressed air comprising:
- a set of inflatable devices configured for movement between an inflated position and a deflated position, the set of inflatable devices including a greater height in the inflated position than in the deflated position, the set of inflatable devices each including:
- a frame having a top plate, a bottom plate, and a pair of articulating sides attached to and extending between the top and bottom plates, wherein articulation of the sides allows the upper plate and lower plate to move toward and away from each other between a collapsed position and an extended position;
- wherein each articulating side includes a locking pin removably insertable through cooperating holes in the finger joint to lock the first and second hinge plates against relative rotation to each other;
- an inflatable airbag disposed between the upper and lower plate and between the pair of articulating sides;
- the frame being moved from the collapsed position into the extended position by inflation of the airbag;
- and
- the frame being releasably lockable in the extended position to prevent the frame collapsing upon deflation of the airbag;
- an inflation control unit connected in fluid communication with an interior of the airbag, the inflation control unit including an inlet;
- and
- an air-line assembly configured to selectively supply compressed air to the set of inflatable devices, the air-line assembly including a conduit system and a main control valve, the main control valve configured for connection with a compressed air supply to intake the compressed air into the air-line assembly, the conduit system configured to supply the compressed air to the inlet of each of the set of inflatable devices, thereby moving the set of inflatable devices into the inflated position and lifting the vehicle.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.