Laboratory jack

A laboratory jack comprising:

• a base platform;
• a load platform;
• a scissors jack assembly disposed between and connected to the base platform and the load platform for lowering and raising the load platform from the base platform in a vertical direction, the scissors jack assembly comprising a first linear actuator column spaced apart from a second linear actuator column, the first linear actuator column comprising a first upper scissor assembly operatively connected to a first lower scissor assembly, the second linear actuator column comprising a second upper scissor assembly operatively connected to a second lower scissor assembly, and first and second cross-brace members spaced apart and connecting the first linear actuator column with the second linear actuator column at the connections of the lower scissor assemblies to the upper scissor assemblies;
• a linear drive associated with the scissors jack assembly and aligned transverse to the vertical direction, wherein actuation of the linear drive causes the scissors jack assembly to raise or lower the load platform;
• a first guide member extending from the first cross-brace member to the second cross-brace member, the first guide member fixedly attached to the first cross-brace member and extending through a bore hole associated with the second cross-brace member, wherein the second cross-brace member slides along the first guide member as the scissors jack assembly lowers or raises the load platform;
• and
• a second guide member extending from the first cross-brace member to the second cross-brace member parallel to and spaced apart from the first guide member, the second guide member fixedly attached to the first cross-brace member and extending through a second bore hole associated with the second cross-brace, wherein the second cross-brace member slides along the second guide member as the scissors jack assembly lowers or raises the load platform;
• and wherein the linear drive is carried by the first and second cross-brace members.

A laboratory jack comprising:

• a first support plate;
• a second support plate;
• a scissors jack assembly disposed between and connected to the first and second support plates, the scissors jack assembly comprising at least a first scissor assembly and a second scissor assembly, the first and second scissor assemblies being substantially identical, spaced apart, and parallel to each other and connected by a first cross-brace member and a second cross-brace member, wherein the first cross-brace member is adjacent the first support plate and connects a non-translating end of the first scissor assembly with a non-translating end of the second scissor assembly and connects opposing positions on the first and second scissor assemblies, wherein the second cross-brace member adjacent the first support plate and connecting a translating end of the first scissor assembly with translating end of the second scissor assembly, and a guide rod connected to the first cross-brace member and extending through a through bore associated with the second cross-brace member, and wherein the guide rod is spaced apart from the first support plate;
• a drive member for actuating the scissors jack assembly to drive the second support plate toward and away from the first support plate in a vertical direction;
• and
• a roller associated with the first scissor assembly, the roller disposed at a laterally translating interface between the first scissor assembly and the first support plate, wherein the scissor assembly rolls across the first support plate on the roller, and wherein the roller is carried by the second cross-brace member.