US 6,050,546 A · Small vehicle lift

Abstract

A small vehicle lift of the parallelogram type is described wherein parallel pivoting legs are pivotally attached at their opposing ends to a base and a support platform, whereby the lift ranges from a lowered state wherein the support platform is in close parallel relation to the base and a raised position wherein the support platform is in spaced parallel relation to the base. Both the support platform and the base pivotally bear the legs within channels and thereby surround the legs at opposing planes adjacent the planes wherein the legs pivot. The channels within the base also have wheels rotatably mounted therein to allow the lift to be easily transported. Two opposing pivoting legs are affixed together by a bridge member which is pivotally connected to a linear actuator, which is in turn pivotally connected to the base. Actuation of the linear actuator thereby raises and lowers the support platform with respect to the base. The bridge member is situated nearer the upper leg ends than the lower leg ends to provide greater mechanical advantage.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A lift comprising:

a. a base including two pairs of runners wherein
(1) the two pairs are spaced in generally parallel relation, and
(2) wheels are rotatably mounted between the runners in each pair;
b. two pairs of parallel pivoting legs wherein
(1) each pivoting leg has opposing lower and upper leg ends, and
(2) each pivoting leg within each of the pairs of pivoting legs has its lower leg ends pivotally mounted between the runners in one of the pairs of runners;
c. two support members, each support member being pivotally linked to the upper leg ends of the pivoting legs of one of the pairs of pivoting legs;
d. an upper bridge member extending between the two pairs of pivoting legs, the upper bridge member being affixed to one pivoting leg within each of the pairs of pivoting legs;
and
e. a linear actuator pivotally affixed between the upper bridge member and the base.

7 more elements

A lift comprising:

a. a base including two pairs of runners wherein
(1) the runners within each of the two pairs are spaced in generally parallel relation, thereby defining two base channels wherein one base channel is within each of the pairs, and
(2) the two pairs are spaced in generally parallel relation;
b. two pairs of parallel pivoting legs wherein
(1) each pivoting leg has opposing lower and upper leg ends, and
(2) each of the two pairs of pivoting legs has the lower leg ends of its pivoting legs pivotally mounted within one of the base channels;
c. two support members, each support member being pivotally linked to the upper leg ends of the pivoting legs of one of the pairs of pivoting legs;
d. an upper bridge member extending between the two pairs of pivoting legs, the upper bridge member being affixed to one pivoting leg within each of the pairs of pivoting legs, and wherein the upper bridge member is affixed to the pivoting legs closer to their upper leg ends than to their lower leg ends;
and
e. a linear actuator pivotally affixed between the upper bridge member and the base.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Small vehicle lift

Life of this patent

Small vehicle lift

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19