Jack foot retraction system

A method of assembling a vehicle jack system comprising:

• providing a vehicle jack;
• providing a striker plate;
• attaching a jack foot to the vehicle jack, wherein the jack foot comprises:
• a base disposed at a distal end of the jack foot;
• a cam surface disposed at least in part at a proximal end of the jack foot;
• wherein the cam surface is positioned such that it is adapted to interact with a striker plate to rotate the jack foot around a rotation axis in response to movement of the jack foot from a lowered position to a raised position.

A jack foot comprising:

• a base disposed at a distal end of the jack foot;
• a cam surface disposed at least in part at a proximal end of the jack foot, wherein the cam surface:
• is positioned such that it is adapted to interact with a striker plate to rotate the jack foot around a rotation axis in response to movement of the jack foot from a lowered position to a raised position;
• comprises an edge of the jack foot from the proximal end of the jack foot to a back surface of the jack foot;
• and
• comprises a curve defining a plurality of radii extending between the rotation axis and the edge of the jack foot, such that the radii decrease in length from the proximal end of the jack foot to the back surface of the jack foot;
• wherein the radius decreases from approximately 1.3 inches to approximately 0.6 inches;
• a bolt disposed at the rotation axis to connect the jack foot to a vehicle jack;
• a shaft slot window disposed on the jack foot, wherein:
• the bolt is slidably connected to the shaft slot window;
• the bolt is disposed at a proximal end of the shaft slot window in response to the jack foot being unloaded;
• the bolt is disposed at a distal end of the shaft slot window in response to the jack foot being loaded;
• the shaft slot window comprises a dog-leg shape;
• the proximal end of the shaft slot window is nearer to a back surface of the jack foot than is the distal end of the shaft slot window;
• the proximal end of the shaft slot window is disposed between a back surface of the jack foot and vertical center axis drawn through a geometric center of a lateral side and parallel to a long axis of the jack foot;
• and
• the proximal end of the shaft slot window is disposed between a back surface of the jack foot and vertical mass axis drawn through a center of mass of the jack foot and parallel to a long axis of the jack foot;
• a pilot hole disposed on a lateral side of the jack foot, and wherein the pilot hole is located a pre-determined distance from a front side of the jack foot, the pre-determined distance defined by a preferred location for drilling a hole in a vehicle jack to receive the bolt for connecting the jack foot to the vehicle jack;
• a resting plate disposed between two lateral surfaces of the jack foot, wherein the resting plate includes a top surface perpendicular to the long axis of the jack foot when the jack foot is in a lowered position, and wherein the vehicle jack contacts the top surface of the resting plate when the jack foot is loaded;
• an inner tube window defined by an aperture in a front surface of the jack foot, the inner tube window to provide clearance between the vehicle jack and the jack foot when the jack foot is in the raised position;
• and
• a stabilizer disposed at the proximal end of the jack foot, the stabilizer to contact the vehicle jack when the jack foot is in a lowered position;
• and
• wherein the striker plate is slidably connectable to the vehicle jack;
• and
• wherein a distance between the base and the distal end of the shaft slot window is approximately six inches.

A system for supporting a vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle jack in mechanical communication with a jack foot;
• wherein the jack foot is rotatable relative to the vehicle jack on a rotation axis disposed on the vehicle jack;
• wherein the jack foot comprises:
• a base disposed at a distal end of the jack foot;
• a front sidewall, and two opposing lateral sidewalls comprising a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall, wherein the front sidewall resides between and intercouples the two opposing lateral sidewalls to thereby form a three-sided jack foot body having a distal end connected to the base;
• a first shaft slot formed in the first lateral sidewall, wherein said first shaft slot comprises a substantially straight proximal section terminating in a proximal end and a substantially straight distal section terminating in a distal end, wherein the proximal section and the distal section intersect and form an angle θ therebetween.