Small vehicle adjustable lift

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10029894-B2
Application number	US-201514980291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2015
Priority date	Dec 28, 2015
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A small vehicle adjustable lift in one embodiment includes at least one horizontally extending base support, a first riser support including a first end portion supported by the at least one horizontal base support, and a second end portion vertically movable with respect to the at least one horizontally extending base support, a second riser support including a third end portion supported by the at least one horizontal base support, and a fourth end portion vertically movable with respect to the at least one horizontally extending base support, a first vehicle support supported by the second end portion and vertically adjustable with respect to the second end portion, and a second vehicle support supported by the fourth end portion and vertically adjustable with respect to the fourth end portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A small vehicle adjustable lift, comprising:
at least one horizontally extending base support;
a first riser support including a first end portion supported by the at least one horizontal base support, and a second end portion supported by the at least one horizontal base support through the first end portion and vertically movable with respect to the at least one horizontally extending base support;
a second riser support including a third end portion supported by the at least one horizontal base support, and a fourth end portion supported by the at least one horizontal base support through the third end portion and vertically movable with respect to the at least one horizontally extending base support and the third end portion;
a first vehicle support supported by the first end portion through the second end portion and vertically adjustable with respect to the second end portion;
a second vehicle support supported by the third end portion through the fourth end portion and vertically adjustable with respect to the fourth end portion; and
a first cross-support extending between the first riser support and the second riser support, wherein:
the first riser support is pivotably connected to the second riser support at a location between the first end portion and the second end portion;
the first vehicle support is supported by the second end portion through the first cross-support;
the second vehicle support is supported by the fourth end portion through the first cross-support; and
the first vehicle support is horizontally movable along the first cross-support.

2. The small vehicle adjustable lift of claim 1 , wherein the second vehicle support is horizontally movable along the first cross-support.

3. The small vehicle adjustable lift of claim 2 , wherein the second vehicle support is horizontally movable along the first cross-support independent of the first vehicle support.

4. The small vehicle adjustable lift of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third riser support including a fifth end portion supported by the at least one horizontal base support, and a sixth end portion vertically movable with respect to the at least one horizontally extending base support;
a fourth riser support including a seventh end portion supported by the at least one horizontal base support, and an eighth end portion vertically movable with respect to the at least one horizontally extending base support;
a third vehicle support supported by the sixth end portion and vertically adjustable with respect to the sixth end portion; and
a fourth vehicle support supported by the eighth end portion and vertically adjustable with respect to the eighth end portion.

5. The small vehicle adjustable lift of claim 4 , further comprising a second cross-support extending between the third riser support and the fourth riser support, wherein:
the third riser support is pivotably connected to the fourth riser support at a location between the fifth end portion and the sixth end portion;
the third vehicle support is supported by the sixth end portion through the second cross-support;
the fourth vehicle support is supported by the eighth end portion through the second cross-support; and
the third vehicle support is horizontally movable along the second cross-support.

6. The small vehicle lift of claim 5 , wherein:
the second vehicle support is horizontally movable along the first cross-support; and
the fourth vehicle support is horizontally movable along the second cross-support.

7. The small vehicle lift of claim 5 , wherein:
the first riser support is pivotably connected to a first of the at least one horizontally extending base supports;
the second riser support is pivotably connected to a second of the at least one horizontally extending base supports;
the third riser support is pivotably connected to the first of the at least one horizontally extending base supports; and
the fourth riser support is pivotably connected to the second of the at least one horizontally extending base supports.

8. The small vehicle lift of claim 7 , further comprising:
an actuator operably engaged with the first of the at least one horizontally extending base supports and configured such that rotation of the actuator in a first direction causes the first of the at least one horizontally extending base supports to move horizontally closer to the second of the at least one horizontally extending base supports.

9. The small vehicle lift of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is threadedly engaged with the first of the at least one horizontally extending base supports.

10. The small vehicle lift of claim 7 , further comprising a frame assembly, wherein:
the first of the at least one horizontally extending base supports is slidingly supported by the frame assembly;
the second of the at least one horizontally extending base supports is slidingly supported by the frame assembly; and
the frame assembly includes a ramp portion configured to allow a small vehicle to be positioned above the first, second, third, and fourth vehicle supports.

11. A method of operating a small vehicle adjustable lift, comprising:
supporting a first vehicle support with a first end portion of a first riser support of a small vehicle lift;
supporting a second vehicle support with a second end portion of a second riser support of the small vehicle lift;
positioning a small vehicle above the supported first vehicle support and the supported second vehicle support;
moving the first vehicle support horizontally across a first cross-support supported by the first and second end portions after positioning the small vehicle above the supported first vehicle support and before vertically adjusting the first vehicle support;
vertically adjusting the first vehicle support into contact with the positioned small vehicle;
vertically adjusting the second vehicle support into contact with the positioned small vehicle; and
forcing the first end portion and the second end portion vertically upwardly with respect to at least one horizontally extending base support after vertically adjusting the first and second vehicle support.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
forcing the first end portion and the second end portion vertically upwardly comprises pivoting the first riser support with respect to the second riser support using a first pivot operably connected to the first riser support and the second riser support.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
moving the second vehicle support horizontally across the first cross-support after positioning the small vehicle above the supported second vehicle support and before vertically adjusting the second vehicle support.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein moving the second vehicle support horizontally occurs after moving the first vehicle support horizontally.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
supporting a third vehicle support with a third end portion of a third riser support of the small vehicle lift;
supporting a fourth vehicle support with a fourth end portion of a fourth riser support of the small vehicle lift;
vertically adjusting the third vehicle support into contact with the positioned small vehicle;
vertically adjusting the fourth vehicle support into contact with the positioned small vehicle; and
forcing the third end portion and the fourth end portion vertically upwardly with respect to the at least one horizontally extending base support after vertically adjusting the third and fourth vehicle support.

16. The method of claim 15 , furth

Assignees

• Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc
• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Kochie Robert

Classifications

• B66F7/28

  Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions · CPC title

• B66F7/065 Primary

  Scissor linkages, i.e. X-configuration · CPC title

• B66F3/22

  Lazy-tongs mechanisms {(B66F11/042 takes precedence)} · CPC title