Portable wheel stand

Claim 2

In a portable wheel stand, the combination of: an elongated platform member having opposite ends and disposed to be supported in a substantially horizontal position above the surface of the ground; first and second leg members having normally upper portions pivotally connected to said platform member; said leg members movable from a position substantially parallel to said platform member and into a downwardly directed position; said leg members having normally lower ends disposed to engage the ground and to support said platform member in said horizontal position; and an elongated normally inclined ramp member having a normally inclined upper wheel engaging surface; said ramp member having a first end pivotally connected to one of said opposite ends of said platform members; said ramp member having a second end disposed to rest on the ground so as to maintain said ramp member in an inclined position and extending from the ground to substantially the level of said platform member; said ramp member pivotally movable relative to said platform member so as to permit said ramp member and said leg members to be disposed in substantially contiguous parallel relation to said platform member for collapsing said portable wheel stand into compact position; first and second latch members pivotally connected to said platform member; said first and second latch members disposed and adapted respectively to brace and hold said first and second leg members in downwardly directed relation to said platform member and to prevent pivotal movement of said leg members into a nonsupporting position, relative to an elevated position of said platform member.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: one of said leg members is pivoted to said platform memBer at an opposite end thereof from said ramp member; said last mentioned leg member having a wheel stopping upper end portion projecting above said platform member when said leg member is pivoted downwardly to a position wherein the lower end thereof is engaged with the ground; said platform member being channel shaped and having a pair of spaced flanged portions, said platform member being open between its flange portions at said last mentioned end to permit said wheel-stopping upper end portion of said leg member to project upwardly between said flange portions and above said platform member.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said ramp member, said platform member and one of said leg members are all pivoted together on a common axis.

Claim 5

In a portable wheel stand, the combination of: an elongated platform member having opposite ends and disposed to be supported in a substantially horizontal position above the surface of the ground; first and second leg members having normally upper portions pivotally connected to said platform member; said leg members movable from a position substantially parallel to said platform member and into a downwardly directed position; said leg members having normally lower ends disposed to engage the ground and to support said platform member in said horizontal position; and an elongated normally inclined ramp member having a normally inclined upper wheel engaging surface; said ramp member having a first end pivotally connected to one of said opposite ends of said platform member; said ramp member having a second end disposed to rest on the ground so as to maintain said ramp member in an inclined position and extending from the ground to substantially the level of said platform member; said ramp member pivotally movable relative to said platform member so as to permit said ramp member and said leg members to be disposed in substantially contiguous parallel relation to said platform member for collapsing said portable wheel stand into compact position; first and second latch members pivotally connected to said platform member; said first and second latch members disposed and adapted respectively to brace and hold said first and second leg members in downwardly directed relation to said platform member and to prevent pivotal movement of said leg members into a nonsupporting position, relative to an elevated position of said platform member; one of said latch members is coupled to said last mentioned one of said leg members and is provided with an engaging portion engageable with said ramp member about said common axis whereby said last mentioned leg member is moved into and held in a downwardly directed supporting position relative to said platform member when said ramp member is pivoted to an inclined position relative to said platform member.

Claim 6

In a portable wheel stand, the combination of: an elongated platform member having opposite ends and disposed to be supported in a substantially horizontal position above the surface of the ground; first and second leg members having normally upper portions pivotally connected to said platform member; said leg members movable from a position substantially parallel to said platform member and into a downwardly directed position; said leg members having normally lower ends disposed to engage the ground and to support said platform member in said horizontal position; and an elongated normally inclined ramp member having a normally inclined upper wheel engaging surface; said ramp member having a first end pivotally connected to one of said opposite ends of said platform member; said ramp member having a second end disposed to rest on the ground so as to maintain said ramp member in an inclined position and extending from the ground to substantially the level of said platform member; said ramp member pivotally movable relative to said platform member so as to permit said ramp member and said leg members to be disposed in substantially contiguous parallel relation to said platform member for collapsing said portable wheel stand into compact position; first and second latch members pivotally connected to said platform member; said first and second latch members disposed and adapted respectively to brace and hold said first and second leg members in downwardly directed relation to said platform member and to prevent pivotal movement of said leg members into a nonsupporting position, relative to an elevated position of said platform member; one of said latch members is coupled to said last mentioned one of said leg members and is provided with an engaging portion engageable with said ramp member about said common axis whereby said last mentioned leg member is moved into and held in a downwardly directed supporting position relative to said platform member when said ramp member is pivoted to an inclined position relative to said platform member.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein: said engaging portion of said last mentioned latch member engages an upper surface of said ramp member at an end thereof adjacent said platform member to allow lost motion between said ramp member and said latch member and respective leg member when pivotally folding said ramp member and respective leg member into contiguous relation to said platform member.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said ramp member and said platform member are channel shaped in cross section; said ramp member and said platform member having flanges; the flanges of said ramp member disposed adjacent outer sides of said flanges of said platform member; and said leg members are disposed between said flanges of said platform member.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein: one of said latch members is pivoted to one of said flanges of said platform member and pivotally movable into and out of engagement with one of said leg members, said last mentioned one of said latch members having a flange shaped handle having an end abutted to said last mentioned one of said leg members when moved into engagement therewith for bracing the same.

Claim 10

The inventIon as defined in claim 1, wherein: said ramp member at said second end thereof is provided with a horizontally directed wheel holdable portion adapted to be frictionally held under a vehicle wheel as said wheel rolls upwardly on said ramp member when disposed in inclined position; whereby said ramp member is loaded down while said horizontal portion is frictionally held under said wheel to thereby prevent said wheel stand from sliding away from said wheel as it starts upward on an incline on said ramp member.