US3693818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer stand for installing automobile muffler
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-27
•
Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1991-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A portable rack for supporting an automobile at an elevated height to facilitate working on the underside thereof, consisting of a wheel-supported frame having a pair of laterally spaced, elevated tracks, and an inclined ramp hinged to its rear end for driving the car on and off. The frame tilts about its centrally located wheels between an inclined drive-on position and a level working position. At the front end of the trailer is a jackknifing draft connection for attachment to a towing vehicle, which includes a hydraulic cylinder that slows and cushions the change from one position to the other. Except for transverse frame members at the front and rear ends, the space below and between the tracks is entirely clear, so that a workman can get at the muffler without interference from the trailer structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond E Teagarden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:28
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/06; B60P3/07; B60P3/14; B66; B66F; B66F7/00; B66F7/24; B66F7/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
341 words
A mobile stand for supporting an automobile at an elevated height to enable a workman to work on the underside thereof, said stand comprising a trailer adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle, and said trailer including: an open frame made up of fore-and-aft extending side members, and transversely extending front and back members, said frame being substantially free of any structural members extending between said side members and said front and back members that would interfere with work done on the underside of said autoMobile; said frame being tiltable about said wheels between a first, horizontal position and a second rearwardly inclined position, the center-of-gravity of said frame being located ahead of said wheels so that the frame tends to tilt forwardly to said first position when unloaded; A pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending tracks mounted on the top side of said frame at an elevated height such that when said automobile is standing on said tracks, there is ample room beneath the automobile to enable a workman to work on the underside thereof; a draft frame pivotally connected to the front end of said first-named frame for vertical swinging movement relative thereto, said draft frame having means at the front end thereof for attaching it to a tow-hitch on said towing vehicle; inclined ramp tracks connected to the rear ends of said firstnamed tracks for angular movement relative thereto, said ramp tracks being longitudinally aligned with said first-named tracks and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom to the ground at an angle such that said automobile can be driven up onto them; said first-named frame having its rear end tilted downwardly to said second position when said automobile has its leading wheels driven part way up onto said ramp tracks; said first-named frame tilting its front end downwardly again to said first position when the center-of-gravity of said automobile passes over said wheels of the trailer; and means for checking and cushioning the movement of said firstnamed frame from either one of its two positions to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
341 words
A mobile stand for supporting an automobile at an elevated height to enable a workman to work on the underside thereof, said stand comprising a trailer adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle, and said trailer including: an open frame made up of fore-and-aft extending side members, and transversely extending front and back members, said frame being substantially free of any structural members extending between said side members and said front and back members that would interfere with work done on the underside of said autoMobile; said frame being tiltable about said wheels between a first, horizontal position and a second rearwardly inclined position, the center-of-gravity of said frame being located ahead of said wheels so that the frame tends to tilt forwardly to said first position when unloaded; A pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending tracks mounted on the top side of said frame at an elevated height such that when said automobile is standing on said tracks, there is ample room beneath the automobile to enable a workman to work on the underside thereof; a draft frame pivotally connected to the front end of said first-named frame for vertical swinging movement relative thereto, said draft frame having means at the front end thereof for attaching it to a tow-hitch on said towing vehicle; inclined ramp tracks connected to the rear ends of said firstnamed tracks for angular movement relative thereto, said ramp tracks being longitudinally aligned with said first-named tracks and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom to the ground at an angle such that said automobile can be driven up onto them; said first-named frame having its rear end tilted downwardly to said second position when said automobile has its leading wheels driven part way up onto said ramp tracks; said first-named frame tilting its front end downwardly again to said first position when the center-of-gravity of said automobile passes over said wheels of the trailer; and means for checking and cushioning the movement of said firstnamed frame from either one of its two positions to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A mobile stand as in claim 1, wherein said tracks each comprise a pair of laterally spaced side rails, and a plurality of cross bars extending between said rails at longitudinally spaced intervals along the latter, said cross bars being fixedly attached at their ends to said side rails.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A mobile stand as in claim 1, wherein said means for checking and cushioning the movement of said first-named frame from either of its two positions to the other, comprises a hydraulic dashpot cylinder having one end connected to said draft frame and the other connected to said first-named frame at a distance from the pivotal connection of said draft frame to said first-named frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mobile stand as in claim 1, which further includes a supporting leg at the front end of said first-named frame, said leg being pivoted for swinging movement between a ground-engaging position and an elevated transport position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mobile stand as in claim 1, wherein said wheels are journaled on fore-and-aft extending yokes pivoted on said side frames for vertical swinging movement; and spring means transferring the weight of said first-named frame to said yokes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
A mobile stand as in claim 1, wherein said wheels consist of two pairs of dual wheels, each pair being journaled on axles projecting laterally from opposite sides of a generally fore-and-aft extending yoke near one end thereof, said yoke being pivoted at its other end on said frame for vertical swinging movement; one wheel of each pair being on the outside of its respective side members and the other being on the inside; coil spring means between said wheels in each pair for transferring the weight of said first-named frame to said yoke; and shock absorber means for checking the spring action of said coil spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1369194A
Cited
US3613919A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |