Self-contained vehicle lift system

Claim 1

A new and self-contained vehicle lift system comprising: at least one jack attached to the frame of a vehicle, said jack being operable between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, remote control means mounted in said vehicle activatable to cause said jack to operate to its fully extended position, means coupled to said jack to automatically lock said jack in its fully extended position, and disabling means associated with said remote control means and coupled to said means for automatically locking said jack in its fully extended position whereby operation of said disabling means is effective to unlock said automatic locking means and return said jack to its fully retracted position, wherein said jack comprises a piston assembly, a cylinder having a central axis, said piston assembly being moveable in said cylinder along said axis, said cylinder being affixed to said vehicle, valve means on said cylinder in coaxial alignment with said cylinder and being moveable between first and second positions along said axis, working fluid supply means mounted on said vehicle and being connected to said valve means, and valve activating means for activating said valve means to cause said valve means to move from said first position to said second position whereby said working fluid is caused to flow through said valve means into said cylinder and thereby cause said piston to move in said cylinder to a fully extended position.