Collapsible Jack Stand Assembly for Stable Off-Road Vehicle Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing jack stands for vehicles can fail under certain conditions, compromising the stability of lifted objects and potentially leading to injuries or damage.
Innovation Solution
A jack stand design featuring a stand body with an outer and inner component, radially extending openings and leg channels, and adjustable legs with retention lugs and edges for secure engagement, providing enhanced stability and adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vehicle jack is used to lift heavy objects, then the object can be elevated for accessibility or extraction, but the jack may slip or fail due to inadequate ground stability, compromising safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces jack stands as an intermediary support system between the ground and the elevated vehicle. The jack stand includes a base with ground-engaging elements that provide stable support on soft or uneven terrain, transferring the load from the vehicle through the upright member to the base, thereby preventing jack slippage and enhancing overall system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is segmented into distinct functional components: a base with ground-engaging elements, an upright member, and a locking mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the base for ground stability, the upright member for load bearing, and the locking mechanism for position fixation - thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
2Volume of moving object
If a collapsible jack stand design is used to improve portability and storage, then the stand can be folded into a flattened configuration, but the structural complexity increases and may compromise stability under certain conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The jack stand employs a nested structure where the upright member can be positioned within the base when collapsed, and the locking mechanism integrates within the overall structure. This nesting allows the stand to be compacted to a minimal volume for storage while maintaining full structural integrity when deployed, as each component fits precisely within the others without compromising load-bearing capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The jack stand transitions between two dynamic states: a collapsed state for portability and storage, and an extended locked state for support operations. The locking mechanism enables reliable transition between these states, ensuring that when extended, the structure maintains rigid stability under load, while when collapsed, it achieves compact volume for easy storage
Data Source
AI summary
A jack stand includes a stand body defining a stand axis extending between a first axial stand body end and a second axial stand body end. The stand body further includes an outer stand component having an assembly through-bore and a plurality of radially extending openings, and an inner stand component within the assembly-through bore, and including therein a plurality of axially extending leg channels. A plurality of legs each include a retention lug within one of the plurality of radially extending openings and an edge opposite the respective one of the retention lugs and within one of the plurality of axially extending leg channels. The jack stand is collapsible and adjustable to a service arrangement to support a lifted body such as a vehicle in an off-highway environment.