LOAD-SUPPORTING STAND
United States Patent 3599923
A load-supporting stand is disclosed including an extensible post which is apertured to receive a load-supporting rod and having a load-supporting saddle. The stand includes depending legs with the ends of the legs being affixed to a base having upstanding flanges which retain the ends of the legs from lateral movement.
US Patent References:
Tree holder
Roller - July 1949 - 2476223
Stand for christmas trees or the like
Frye - July 1951 - 2561693
Trestle
Goodale - April 1965 - 3178146
Nursery-scale base
Hansen - July 1929 - 1719510
Trailer support
Meyer - August 1944 - 2356941
Tree holder
Roller - July 1949 - 2476223
Stand for christmas trees or the like
Frye - July 1951 - 2561693
Trestle
Goodale - April 1965 - 3178146
Nursery-scale base
Hansen - July 1929 - 1719510
Trailer support
Meyer - August 1944 - 2356941
Inventors:
Hunnicutt, Wayne E. (Big Bend, WI)
Rossbach, Peter G. (WauKesha, WI)
Rossbach, Peter G. (WauKesha, WI)
Application Number:
04/744747
Publication Date:
08/17/1971
Filing Date:
07/15/1968
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Applied Power Industries, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI)
Primary Class:
International Classes:
B60S5/00; B60S9/02
Field of Search:
248/352,357,163,346,119,188.7,188.1,44,47,48,46
US Patent References:
| 2439854 | Jack stand | April 1948 | Lipski |
Primary Examiner:
Allen, Edward C.
Claims:
We claim
1. A load-supporting stand comprising
2. A load-supporting stand comprising
3. The load-supporting stand of claim 2 wherein said plurality of legs includes four legs and said base includes four joined sides to create a rectangular configuration.
4. The load-supporting stand of claim 2 wherein the intermediate portions of each of said plurality of sides are elevated with respect to said shoulder at said corners to insure firm support of said legs by said base when lying on uneven surfaces.
1. A load-supporting stand comprising
2. A load-supporting stand comprising
3. The load-supporting stand of claim 2 wherein said plurality of legs includes four legs and said base includes four joined sides to create a rectangular configuration.
4. The load-supporting stand of claim 2 wherein the intermediate portions of each of said plurality of sides are elevated with respect to said shoulder at said corners to insure firm support of said legs by said base when lying on uneven surfaces.
Description:
The use of load-supporting or safety stands, particularly for automotive vehicles is well known. For example, in practice an automotive vehicle to be repaired is raised above the floor level by suitable lifting equipment. Safety stands are than positioned under the vehicle and the extensible post of the stand is raised to a desired height and the vehicle is then lowered to rest on a support saddle of the extensible post. The lifting equipment is then normally removed for other use.
Known prior art stands include spaced support legs which have braces connecting the legs to one another intermediate the ends of the legs. It has been found that when such stands are used to support vehicles on which body or frame damage repair is being undertaken, the various forces applied to the vehicle may cause the stand to tip and/or develop an asymmetrical loading resulting in greater than rated force on one of the legs causing that leg to buckle or bend. Further, when such increased forces are placed on one of the legs, that leg will tend to undesirably dig into the floor of the repair shop.
The present invention eliminates the problems posed by such prior art stands. The inventive stand includes spaced legs which terminate in a base. The base comprises a support surface onto which the ends of the legs are affixed, and upstanding flanges which retain the ends of the legs in position and prevent the ends of the legs from buckling or bending.
Further, the fact that the legs are affixed to the base increases the load-bearing capability of each leg. Also, the bottom or floor-contacting surface of the base includes smooth spaced shoulders which eliminate any digging of the legs into the shop floor.
As mentioned above, the inventive stand includes an extensible post having a load-supporting saddle. The extensible post is further apertured to receive load-supporting rods or tubes. When used in this latter manner, the vehicle is first raised, next the ends of a tube is inserted into two spaced stands and the vehicle is then lowered onto the tube to be supported thereby.
The foregoing and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the inventive stand;
FIG. 1A is a partial sectional view taken along the 1B1A-1A of FIG. 1 to show the configuration of the corners of the stand of FIG. 1;
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line -1B of FIG. 1 to show the configurations of the sides of the base of the stand of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the stand of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view partially in section of the stand of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the stand taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 to show how the legs of the stand are affixed at a common apex; and,
FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view partially in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 3, the stand 11 comprises four legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 with their lower (as oriented in FIG. 1) ends positioned in rectangular configuration in a base 25. In the embodiment shown, the legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 are made of angle iron with the apex of the angle iron protruding outwardly. The legs 12, 13 14 and 15 are angled inwardly toward a common apex or center (see also FIG. 4) and affixed as by welding to form a support for a housing 17 for an elongated extensible post 19 and a hand lever 21. The extensible post 19 and the lever 21 (see also FIG. 5) function as a pawl and ratchet unit, as is well known in the art, with the pawl of lever 21 locking the post 19 in any of several elevated positions as suits the operator and as required for a particular vehicle. Lever 21 serves as a handle to release the pawl for downward adjustment and for carrying the stand.
Extensible post 19 includes an aperture 23, see also FIG. 5, suitable for receiving a load support tubing 24 therein. Post 19 further includes a load-supporting saddle 26 at its upper end.
As mentioned hereinabove, an advantageous feature of the inventive stand resides in the provision of the base 25. Base 25 is rectangular in outline and is formed of what is essentially four similar sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 joined as a rectangle to have an open center 38. A cross section taken of any one of the four sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 is shown in FIG. 1B. As clearly seen from FIGS. 1 and 1B, each side includes a flat center surface 36, an upstanding flange 37 on its outer edge, and upstanding ridge 39 on its inner edge.
FIG. 1A is a view, partially in section, showing how the legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 are positioned in the base 25 with each of the legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 being affixed as by welding to the base 25. The outer flange 37 prevents the legs from moving laterally and thus prevents buckling or bending of the leg. Note also that even if the welding bond between one of the legs and the base 25 would fail, the upstanding flange 37 will tend to retain the leg in position within the base 25. Accordingly, the inventive stand 11 thus provides an important safety feature. Ridge 39 shown in FIG. 1B which is a section view taken along lines 1B-1B of FIG. 1 adds structural rigidity to the sides 32, 33, 34 and 35.
Note that base 25 also functions to impart structural strength to the legs since the ends of legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 are braced to one another.
The corners of the base sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 include downwardly depending shoulders or projections 40 (see FIG. 1) at each corner of the stand 11, such that these shoulders 40 bear on the floor or surface on which the stand 11 is placed, with the intermediate portions of sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 being spaced from the floor. Accordingly, an unevenness in the floor surface will not prevent the stand 11 from resting solidly thereon.
As clearly seen in FIG. 1A, shoulders 40 have beveled edges and have a smooth bottom surface. In the prior art stand, lateral loading often tends to "tip" the stand and provide excessive forces to one or more of the legs tending to buckle those legs and/or cause them to tend to dig into the floor. The smooth bottom surface of the shoulders 40 of the inventive stand eliminates gouging of the floor, and will tend to cause the stand 11 to rest firmly on the floor even when lateral loading is placed on the stand.
Thus, in operation, the vehicle to be supported on the stand 11 is raised by suitable lifting equipment and the stand 11 positioned to support the vehicle. The extensible post 19 is raised manually and then locked in position by lever 21. The vehicle is next lowered to rest on the saddle 26 of post 19. One or more stands can be used to support the vehicle. Alternatively, two or more cooperating stands can be positioned under the vehicle with their extensible posts extended as desired. The cross tubes 24 such as indicated in FIG. 1 can be inserted in the apertures 23 of the cooperating stands and the vehicle lowered onto the tube.
As mentioned above, the inventive stand 11 provides a safety feature in that the upstanding flanges 37 of sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 retain or trap the legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 from moving laterally; and prevent buckling or bending of the legs. Also, the smooth bottom surface and the beveled edges of the shoulders 40 on which the base 25 rests enables the stand 11 to tend to bear or rest firmly and evenly on the floor even when the lateral loading is applied to the vehicle; further, the smooth bottom surface of the shoulders 40 prevent legs of the stand 11 from gouging or digging into the floor surface.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Known prior art stands include spaced support legs which have braces connecting the legs to one another intermediate the ends of the legs. It has been found that when such stands are used to support vehicles on which body or frame damage repair is being undertaken, the various forces applied to the vehicle may cause the stand to tip and/or develop an asymmetrical loading resulting in greater than rated force on one of the legs causing that leg to buckle or bend. Further, when such increased forces are placed on one of the legs, that leg will tend to undesirably dig into the floor of the repair shop.
The present invention eliminates the problems posed by such prior art stands. The inventive stand includes spaced legs which terminate in a base. The base comprises a support surface onto which the ends of the legs are affixed, and upstanding flanges which retain the ends of the legs in position and prevent the ends of the legs from buckling or bending.
Further, the fact that the legs are affixed to the base increases the load-bearing capability of each leg. Also, the bottom or floor-contacting surface of the base includes smooth spaced shoulders which eliminate any digging of the legs into the shop floor.
As mentioned above, the inventive stand includes an extensible post having a load-supporting saddle. The extensible post is further apertured to receive load-supporting rods or tubes. When used in this latter manner, the vehicle is first raised, next the ends of a tube is inserted into two spaced stands and the vehicle is then lowered onto the tube to be supported thereby.
The foregoing and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the inventive stand;
FIG. 1A is a partial sectional view taken along the 1B1A-1A of FIG. 1 to show the configuration of the corners of the stand of FIG. 1;
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line -1B of FIG. 1 to show the configurations of the sides of the base of the stand of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the stand of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view partially in section of the stand of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the stand taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 to show how the legs of the stand are affixed at a common apex; and,
FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view partially in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 3, the stand 11 comprises four legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 with their lower (as oriented in FIG. 1) ends positioned in rectangular configuration in a base 25. In the embodiment shown, the legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 are made of angle iron with the apex of the angle iron protruding outwardly. The legs 12, 13 14 and 15 are angled inwardly toward a common apex or center (see also FIG. 4) and affixed as by welding to form a support for a housing 17 for an elongated extensible post 19 and a hand lever 21. The extensible post 19 and the lever 21 (see also FIG. 5) function as a pawl and ratchet unit, as is well known in the art, with the pawl of lever 21 locking the post 19 in any of several elevated positions as suits the operator and as required for a particular vehicle. Lever 21 serves as a handle to release the pawl for downward adjustment and for carrying the stand.
Extensible post 19 includes an aperture 23, see also FIG. 5, suitable for receiving a load support tubing 24 therein. Post 19 further includes a load-supporting saddle 26 at its upper end.
As mentioned hereinabove, an advantageous feature of the inventive stand resides in the provision of the base 25. Base 25 is rectangular in outline and is formed of what is essentially four similar sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 joined as a rectangle to have an open center 38. A cross section taken of any one of the four sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 is shown in FIG. 1B. As clearly seen from FIGS. 1 and 1B, each side includes a flat center surface 36, an upstanding flange 37 on its outer edge, and upstanding ridge 39 on its inner edge.
FIG. 1A is a view, partially in section, showing how the legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 are positioned in the base 25 with each of the legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 being affixed as by welding to the base 25. The outer flange 37 prevents the legs from moving laterally and thus prevents buckling or bending of the leg. Note also that even if the welding bond between one of the legs and the base 25 would fail, the upstanding flange 37 will tend to retain the leg in position within the base 25. Accordingly, the inventive stand 11 thus provides an important safety feature. Ridge 39 shown in FIG. 1B which is a section view taken along lines 1B-1B of FIG. 1 adds structural rigidity to the sides 32, 33, 34 and 35.
Note that base 25 also functions to impart structural strength to the legs since the ends of legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 are braced to one another.
The corners of the base sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 include downwardly depending shoulders or projections 40 (see FIG. 1) at each corner of the stand 11, such that these shoulders 40 bear on the floor or surface on which the stand 11 is placed, with the intermediate portions of sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 being spaced from the floor. Accordingly, an unevenness in the floor surface will not prevent the stand 11 from resting solidly thereon.
As clearly seen in FIG. 1A, shoulders 40 have beveled edges and have a smooth bottom surface. In the prior art stand, lateral loading often tends to "tip" the stand and provide excessive forces to one or more of the legs tending to buckle those legs and/or cause them to tend to dig into the floor. The smooth bottom surface of the shoulders 40 of the inventive stand eliminates gouging of the floor, and will tend to cause the stand 11 to rest firmly on the floor even when lateral loading is placed on the stand.
Thus, in operation, the vehicle to be supported on the stand 11 is raised by suitable lifting equipment and the stand 11 positioned to support the vehicle. The extensible post 19 is raised manually and then locked in position by lever 21. The vehicle is next lowered to rest on the saddle 26 of post 19. One or more stands can be used to support the vehicle. Alternatively, two or more cooperating stands can be positioned under the vehicle with their extensible posts extended as desired. The cross tubes 24 such as indicated in FIG. 1 can be inserted in the apertures 23 of the cooperating stands and the vehicle lowered onto the tube.
As mentioned above, the inventive stand 11 provides a safety feature in that the upstanding flanges 37 of sides 32, 33, 34 and 35 retain or trap the legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 from moving laterally; and prevent buckling or bending of the legs. Also, the smooth bottom surface and the beveled edges of the shoulders 40 on which the base 25 rests enables the stand 11 to tend to bear or rest firmly and evenly on the floor even when the lateral loading is applied to the vehicle; further, the smooth bottom surface of the shoulders 40 prevent legs of the stand 11 from gouging or digging into the floor surface.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.