Device and Means for Jacking a Vehicle

Abstract

A device and method for lifting (hereinafter referred to as “jacking”) a vehicle is disclosed. The device engages with the vehicle and consists of a plurality of legs of differing lengths that are each free to rotate independently of one another and about an axis or a plurality of axes (hereinafter referred to as the “pivot axis” or the “pivot axes”). Each leg has one end (hereinafter referred to as the “pivotable end”) that is oriented more closely to the pivot axis and an opposite end (hereinafter referred to as the “free end”) that is oriented more away from the pivot axis. Additionally, each leg has a fully retracted or stowed position and a fully extended position. When it is desired to jack the vehicle, the legs are each allowed to freely and independently rotate out of the stowed position and about the pivot axis or axes allowing each free end to come into contact with a ground plane (such as the ground) or some other grounded surface (hereinafter referred to as the “ground plane”) against which the vehicle will be jacked. The legs are arranged such that at least one leg (hereinafter referred to as the “engaged leg”) will always be positioned at a sufficiently steep angle (hereinafter referred to as the “grip angle”) to the ground plane such that when the vehicle is moved along the ground plane, sufficient force is imparted on the ground plane through the engaged leg such that friction between the free end and the ground plane will prevent the free end from sliding relative to the ground plane and will cause the engaged leg to rotate about its pivot axis as the vehicle moves along the ground plane causing a lifting motion to be imparted on the vehicle by the engaged leg. As this first engaged leg is rotated about its pivot axis and becomes oriented more perpendicular to the ground plane to its fully extended position, a second, longer leg becomes oriented at its grip angle such that when the vehicle continues to move along the ground plane, sufficient force is imparted on the ground plane through the second, now engaged, leg such that friction between the free end and the ground plane will prevent the free end from sliding relative to the ground plane and will cause the engaged leg to rotate about its pivot axis as the vehicle moves along the ground plane causing a continuing lifting motion to be imparted on the vehicle by the engaged leg. This arrangement and orientation of legs continues and this process continues through as many legs as is required to sufficiently jack the vehicle to the desired height relative to the ground plane. As each engaged leg becomes oriented more perpendicular to the ground plane to its fully extended position, a subsequent leg then becomes the engaged leg as it becomes positioned at its grip angle such that when the vehicle is moved along the ground plane, sufficient force is imparted on the ground plane through the engaged leg such that friction between the free end and the ground plane will prevent the free end from sliding relative to the ground plane and will cause the engaged leg to rotate about its pivot axis as the vehicle moves along the ground plane causing a lifting motion to be imparted on the vehicle by the engaged leg.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.