Elevator – industrial lift truck – or stationary lift for vehicle – Stationary lift for roadway vehicle or required component... – Having position lock for engaging sustaining drive means or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-30
2001-02-06
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Elevator, industrial lift truck, or stationary lift for vehicle
Stationary lift for roadway vehicle or required component...
Having position lock for engaging sustaining drive means or...
C187S211000, C187S219000, C187S221000, C187S275000, C254S122000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182796
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to lift devices, and particularly, to a full-rise safety operated vehicle lift.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Several different vehicle lifts exist in the market place. Generally, these are designed within the constraints set by the design requirements of the lift, e.g., lifting capacity, lifting height, type of vehicle lifted, lift structure configurations and costs of materials and individual components. Thus, conventional designs represent a compromise between these different features.
There is a particular need for a vehicle lift that preferably does not suffer from the constraints of the conventional designs and that has the versatility to service a variety of vehicles in a variety of environments. Further, a vehicle lift is needed which preferably collapses to minimize storage space and enables lifting of a vehicle at multiple lifted positions between a collapsed position and a full-rise height of about six feet. Still further, a vehicle lift is needed which preferably maximizes access to the under side of a lifted vehicle while providing anti-collapse safeguards whenever the lift is not in the collapsed position. Yet further, a vehicle lift is needed which preferably is readily portable from one location to another.
As disclosed hereinafter, the vehicle lift of the present invention does not suffer from the constraints of the conventional designs. Also, the vehicle lift of the present invention preferably fulfills one or more of the above needs for a vehicle lift and most preferably all such needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use in lifting a vehicle from a substantially flat surface. The apparatus includes a pair of levers which include a first lever and a second lever pivotally joined together cris-crossing one another and operable in a scissor-like motion between a collapsed position and a lifted position. Each lever has an upper portion terminating in a top end and a lower portion terminating in a bottom end so that the top end of each lever lies opposite the bottom end of the other when the levers are in the collapsed position. A lifting platform is operatively coupled to the top ends of the levers for supporting a vehicle thereon. A lifting mechanism is operably coupled to the pair of levers for operating the pair of levers between the collapsed position and the lifted position and thereby raising and lowering the lifting platform. An extendable, one-way incrementally lockable safety strut has two ends. One end of the safety strut is pivotally connected to the first lever at a point along its upper portion and the other end of the strut is pivotally connected to the second lever at a point along its lower portion.
Other features of the invention relate to the configuration and operation of the safety strut which, for example, although moving in tandem with the pair of levers is independent of the lifting mechanism.
Still other features of the invention concern the configuration and operation of two pair of levers, and corresponding components for using the same, which enhance unrestricted access to the underbody of a lifted vehicle while simultaneously fulfilling safety and lifting range considerations.
According to other features of the invention there are provided infinite vehicle frame or tire engagement positions which enable the apparatus to accommodate today's late (1990's) non-homogenous vehicles which have a multitude of frame and tire widths, a variety of wheelbase lengths, various ground clearances and various pick-up points.
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“Porta Contact Frame Lift or Roll-On Lift—Installation and Service Manual—Autoquip.”
“6,000-LB. Portable Lift—Model P-6—Mohawk,” Mohawk Resource Ltd., Amsterdam, New York.
“6,000-LB. Portable Lift—Model P-6—No Post, Space-Saving, Portable Lift—Mohawk,” Mohawk Resources Ltd., Amsterdam, New York, 1994.
Kessler Don A.
Perlstein Steven G.
Teeling Bruce R.
Veresko Ronald W.
Wells, Sr. Rick D.
Heslin & Rothenberg, P.C.
McAllister Steven B.
Mohawk Resources Ltd.
Olszewski Robert P.
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