METHOD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of vehicular lifting devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicular lifting system and rescue method. Background of the Invention

A jack is a mechanical device used to lift heavy loads or apply great force. As per vehicles, jacks are commonly used for lifting the side of a vehicle with a punctured tire, in order to allow replacing the damaged wheel with another. As such, a jack is standard equipment in almost any vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to extend the functionality of vehicular jacks.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, the resent invention is directed to a vehicular lifting system, comprising:

- a group of rails (60), each mounted at the underside (4) of a vehicle (2);

- a group of one or more jacks (18), each mounted on a one of the rails (60), each jack (18) being movable along the rail thereof by a motor;

- each of the jacks (18) comprising an expansion mechanism, for adjusting the length of a lever (10) of the jack (18), thereby lifting the vehicle (2);

- a control panel (50), to allow a user to operate the system! and

- a controller (52), adapted to control the operation of the expansion mechanism and the motors according to instructions provided by a user through the control panel (50).

The system may further comprise a rotation mechanism controlled by the controller (52), for adjusting the angle of the lever (10) with regard to the vehicle (2), thereby allowing toddling the vehicle.

Preferably, each lever is based on a telescopic mechanism. Preferably, the rotation mechanism is based on a hinge (14) to which the lever (10) is connected, and a motor (12) for rotating the lever (10) around the hinge (14). According to one embodiment of the invention, the control panel (50) communicates with the controller (52) by wired communication.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the control panel (50) communicates with the controller (52) by wireless communication.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the rails (60) is mounted on the chassis of the vehicle (2).

The group of jacks may comprise one or more jacks.

The motors may be based on electro-mechanical mechanism, hydraulic mechanism, pneumatic mechanism, and so on.

Preferably, the jacks (18) are disposed in a symmetric order along the longitude symmetry axis of the vehicle (2). In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a vehicular rescue method, comprising:

repeating the steps of ^' -

(a) expanding the lever (10) of one or more jacks (18) mounted on rails installed at the underside (4) of a vehicle (2), thereby lifting the vehicle (2) above the ground level;

(b) sliding the jacks (18) along the rails (60), thereby moving the vehicle forward / backward according to the sliding direction;

(c) diminishing the length of each of the levers (10) until the vehicle (2) touches the ground;

until at least one of the propulsion wheels of the vehicle stands on solid ground, thereby enabling moving the vehicle by its wheels.

The method may further comprise the step of- (d) changing the angle between the levers (10) and the vehicle (2) to be perpendicular;

thereby toddling the vehicle.

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings^

Each of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is a side view illustrating a vehicle in which is installed a lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the mechanical structure of a vehicular lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a control panel 50 of a vehicular lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Each of Figs. 7 to 10 schematically illustrates a configuration of a vehicular lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a vehicular lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Each of Figs. 12 to 15 is a side view illustrating a vehicle in which is installed a lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention. It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. Each of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is a side view illustrating a vehicle in which is installed a lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention.

The lifting system comprises four jacks, i.e., lifting mechanisms, each installed at the underside 4 of a vehicle 2, in a quadrate form (as illustrated in Fig. 7). Preferably, the jacks are mounted to the chassis of vehicle 2, which by its nature is the most massive part of the vehicle. The lever of each jack is marked herein by reference numeral 10.

In Fig. 1 the jacks are folded, i.e., they are in the idle state thereof. In Fig. 2, the jacks are extended, thereby lifting the vehicle. In addition to the ability to extend, each of the levers is also rotatable around a hinge 14. This feature allows advancing the vehicle forward and backward as illustrated in Fig. 3. For example, assume the vehicle unintentionally entered into a sandy environment. The driver can remove the vehicle from the sandy soil by placing flat bricks under jack levers 10, lifting the vehicle as illustrated in Fig. 2, and then advancing the vehicle (toddling) a few centimeters by rotating the levers around hinges 14, as illustrating in Fig. 3. The steps may be repeated until successful retrieval of the vehicle from the sand.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the mechanical structure of a vehicular lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 illustrates the vehicle from the bottom side, and Fig. 5 illustrates the vehicular lifting system from above.

Fig. 5 illustrates the jacks in the idle state thereof, and Fig. 4 illustrates the jacks in a situation where the levers are extended, thereby lifting the vehicle.

The lifting system comprises a plurality of jacks, each employing a lever 10. The length of each lever and also its angle with regard to the vehicle can be adjusted by corresponding motors, controllers, and so on. Thus, each lever comprises an expansion mechanism and a rotation mechanism. The expansion mechanism is used for lifting / lowering the vehicle, and the rotation mechanism is used for moving the vehicle forward / backward some tens of centimeters.

In this embodiment of the invention, the expansion mechanism comprises a telescopic mechanism, which employs a motor (not seen in the figures), a controller, and so on. The rotation mechanism employs motor 12.

Element 6 is a rigid object that connects housing 16 of each lever 10 to chassis 20 of the vehicle. Thus, housing 16 is fixed to chassis 20. A rail 8 is used for limiting the movement of hinge 14 up and down. In order to rotate lever 10 around hinge 14, the hinge should be lowered, as illustrated in Fig. 4. This is carried out by a piston (not seen) disposed between hinge 14 and the top of housing 16.

Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other mechanisms for adjusting the length and rotation angle of lever 10 with regard to the vehicle can be used.

Opening 24 in bottom 4 of the vehicle is used to allow free passage of lever 10 during the rotation.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a control panel 50 of a vehicular lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a schematic illustration of the vehicle thereof. Each of reference numerals 26, 28, 30 and 32 denotes an on/off button, to mark a jack. Buttons 34 are used for instructing a controller of the lifting system to lift / lower the marked jacks, according to the pushed button. For example, if a user wants to lift front jacks 26, 30, he presses the upper side of button 34, and while the user holds button 34 in this situation, jacks 26, 30 continue to expand, resulting in lifting the front side of the vehicle.

Button 36 is used for rotating the lifted jacks around hinge 14, resulting in "toddling" the vehicle forward or backward, according to the side of button 36 that has been pressed. For example, pressing the upper side results in toddling forward, and pressing the lower side results in toddling backwards.

Button 38 is used to turn the lifting system on / off. When the lifting system is turned off, the jacks are lifted back to their idle state. Reference numeral 40 denotes a visual indicator, such as a LED (Light Emission Diode).

The control panel may be installed in the vehicle, but also be installed in a remote control. When using the control panel in a remote control, the user may control the lifting mechanism from outside the vehicle, and therefore can view the vehicle from outside. This is important, especially when the vehicle "toddles". Each of Figs. 7 to 10 schematically illustrates a configuration of a vehicular lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention. In Fig. 7, the vehicular lifting system employs four jacks, each disposed near a wheel of the vehicle.

In Fig. 8, the vehicular lifting system employs three jacks, one in the front, and two disposed near the rear wheels of the vehicle.

In Fig. 9, the vehicular lifting system employs two jacks, disposed in the center of the vehicle.

In Fig. 10, the vehicular lifting system employs only one jack, disposed in the front of the vehicle.

Of course, other configurations also can be used.

The lifting mechanism of the jacks may be electro ^¬ mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and so forth.

Using the present invention, a user may lift his vehicle in order to approach the underside without going to a garage. The user may also lift the vehicle in order to replace a flat tire. The user may further rescue a vehicle that is stuck on a non ^¬ stable surface, such as sandy soil, muddy soil, and so on, without towing the vehicle or requiring the aid of a tow truck.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a vehicular lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention. The system comprises a control pane 50, by which a user interacts with a controller 52. Controller 52 controls (a) the operation of lifting motor 22, which adjusts the length of lever 10, and (b) rotating motor 12, which adjusts the angle between lever 10 and the vehicle, of one or more jacks 18.

Each of Figs. 12 to 15 is a side view illustrating a vehicle in which is installed a lifting system, according to one embodiment of the invention.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the levers are installed on rails 60. The levers are movable along the rails by motors thereof (not illustrated). Reference numeral 54 denotes a quicksand region. These figures illustrate the stages of passing the quicksand obstacle.

In Fig. 12, levers 10 begin to expand. In Fig. 13, the levers continue to expand, until they reach to a desired size to lift the vehicle, as illustrated in Fig 14. In Fig. 15, levers 10 move horizontally to the end of rails 60, resulting with moving the vehicle forward. In the next step, the levers decrease their size, thereby lowering the vehicle until it touches the ground. Then, this process repeats until the vehicle reaches to stable soil, from where it can move using its wheels.

In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned ¹ - numeral 2 denotes a vehicle, ^'

- numeral 4 denotes the underside of the vehicle!

- numeral 6 denotes a rigid object that connects housing 16 of each lever 10 to chassis 20 of the vehicle!

■ numeral 8 denotes a rail!

- numeral 10 denotes a lever of a jack 18, ^'

- numeral 12 denotes a motor of the rotation mechanism, ^' numeral 14 denotes a hinge!

- numeral 16 denotes a housing of a jack 18!

■ numeral 18 denotes a jack!

- numeral 20 denotes a chassis of vehicle 2!

- numeral 22 denotes a motor of the expansion mechanism! numeral 24 denotes an opening at underside 4 of vehicle 2!

- each of numerals 26, 28, 30 and 32 denotes an on/off button on control panel 50, for marking an active jack!

- numeral 34 denotes a button for instructing 52 controller to lift / lower the marked jacks!

- numeral 36 denotes a button for rotating the lifted jacks around hinge 14, in order to "toddle" the vehicle!

■ numeral 38 denotes a button for turning the vehicular lifting system on / off!

- numeral 40 denotes a visual indicator, such as LED (Light Emission Diode);

numeral 42 denotes a schematic illustration on control panel 50!

- numeral 50 denotes a control panel!

- numeral 52 denotes a controller!

- numeral 54 denotes a region of quicksand! and - numeral 60 denotes a rail underside of the vehicle, to which levers 10 are connected.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of demonstration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.