Articulating roller assembly for four-post vehicle lift

A yoke assembly for raising/lowering an automobile, wherein the yoke assembly is moveable between a first vertical position and a second vertical position along a length of a support member, and wherein the yoke assembly comprises:

• (a) a structural frame comprising a pair of web members;
• and
• (b) at least one roller assembly, wherein the at least one roller assembly comprises:
• (i) a pair of stiffening members, wherein the pair of stiffening members are disposed between the pair of web members, wherein at least one stiffening member of the pair of stiffening members is secured to an interior surface of the pair of web members,
• (ii) an axle assembly rotatably coupled with the pair of stiffening members, wherein the axle assembly comprises an axle, a core member, and a pair of rollers, wherein each roller of the pair of rollers is rotatable about a first axis defined by the axle, and wherein the axle assembly is rotatable or articulable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis to thereby maintain engagement between the pair of rollers and the support member.

An apparatus for raising/lowering an automobile, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a pair of posts, wherein each post of the pair of posts is arranged substantially vertically;
• (b) a first yoke assembly, wherein the first yoke assembly is engaged with a first post of the pair of posts, wherein the first yoke assembly is vertically moveable along the first post between a first vertical height and a second vertical height, wherein the first yoke assembly comprises at least one roller assembly, wherein the at least one roller assembly comprises a pin and an axle assembly, wherein the pin defines a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the first post, wherein the axle assembly is configured to engage the first post, wherein the axle assembly is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the pin to thereby maintain engagement between the at least one post and the axle assembly;
• (c) a second yoke assembly, wherein the second yoke assembly is engaged with a second post of the pair of posts, wherein the second yoke assembly is vertically moveable along the second post between the first vertical height and the second vertical height;
• and
• (c) an automobile engagement feature, wherein a first end of the automobile engagement feature is secured to the first yoke assembly, wherein a second end of the automobile engagement feature is secured to the second yoke assembly, wherein the automobile engagement feature is configured to engage the automobile to thereby communicate vertical movement of the first yoke assembly and the second yoke assembly to the automobile.