Jack device for washing machines

Claim 1

A jack device adapted to quickly and easily break an agitator in an automatic washing machine loose from a shaft to which it has become stuck by scale deposits, said device comprising: a bladder of toroidal form and split-ring configuration when deflated, the deflated bladder being of a size to fit substantially entirely underneath said agitator in said washing machine around said shaft, said bladder having a radially outwardly disposed portion of its wall approximately double the thickness of the remaining portion thereof, said thicker portion extending inwardly from the periphery approximately one third of the diameter of said bladder, to prevent outward ballooning of the bladder from the space underneath said agitator when the bladder is inflated, whereby inflation of the bladder, so positioned causes it to expand upwardly into contact with the bottom of the agitator to thereby free the agitator from its attachment to said shaft; a flexible tube and means attaching it to said bladder in a way to permit inflation of said bladder therethrough by hydraulic or pneumatic pressure.