Expandable Car Jack Base With Rotating Legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle jacks, particularly scissor jacks, lack stability when in a raised position, leading to unsafe conditions and increased risk of injury or fatality, especially on uneven surfaces, and existing solutions like jack stands and telescoping bases are costly, complex, and prone to failure.
Innovation Solution
An expandable car jack base with rotatably coupled base extension members that form a planar or x-shaped supporting surface, using a fastener and spring mechanism to increase stability and surface area, allowing for minimal component use and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If jack stands are used to increase stability, then stability is improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stability function into the jack base itself by adding extendable legs that form a wide support polygon, eliminating the need for separate jack stands. The base structure integrates both the lifting mechanism and the stability function, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The jack base is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides the lifting mechanism, creates a stable support structure through extendable legs, and adapts to various ground conditions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate stability devices like jack stands.
2Stability of the object's composition
If telescoping bases are used to increase stability, then stability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base is divided into multiple extendable legs that can be independently deployed. Each leg is a simple segmented structure that extends outward to create a wide support base, providing stability without requiring complex telescoping mechanisms. This segmentation allows for simpler manufacturing and lower cost.
3Stability of the object's composition
If telescoping bases are used to increase stability, then stability is improved, but the number of components and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the stability function from complex telescoping mechanisms and implements it through simple extendable legs. By removing the complex telescoping components and replacing them with straightforward extendable structures, the number of parts is reduced while stability is maintained through the wide support polygon created by the extended legs.
4Stability of the object's composition
If foldable bases are used to increase stability, then stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base legs are designed to be dynamically extendable rather than statically fixed or complexly foldable. The legs can be easily extended outward to create a wide support base and collapsed inward for compact storage, providing stability when needed without requiring complex folding mechanisms. This dynamic simplicity reduces device complexity while maintaining stability functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The expandable car jack base provides enhanced stability and a larger supporting surface area, reducing the risk of buckling or collapse, while being compact and cost-effective, suitable for various vehicle types and surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, wherein the first and second base extension members are removably, directly, and biasedly coupled together with the fastener and the spring
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable car jack including a base with a first base extension member and a second extension member rotatably, removably, and directly coupled to one another, the first and second base extension members operably configured to rotate with respect to one another to define a planar lower support surface forming an x-shape or a substantially perpendicular configuration. The expandable car jack may also include a plurality of hinged members supported by the base, wherein the plurality of hinged members define a lifting surface and are coupled together with a screw, the screw operably configured to rotate, expand and contract a width separating the plurality of hinged members, and place the lifting surface at a plurality of raised height positions.