TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a lifting device or aid. In particular, this invention relates to a lifting aid for a wheel of a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a wheel lifting device including: - a wheel engaging portion, which includes a pair of spaced parallel arms to accept a wheel thereon in an upright orientation and each arm provided with a wheel at a free end and the wheel axis being perpendicular to the axis of its associated arm; and a lifting portion extending from the other ends of the parallel arms of the wheel engaging portion, the lifting portion being configured to facilitate lifting of the wheel relative a support surface when the wheel is engaged by the wheel engaging portion in a 2 ^nd class lever fashion, the wheels being the fulcrum.

Each arm may be rotatable or provided with a rotatable sleeve to allow an upright wheel to rotate. It is to be appreciated that the wheel can be rotated to allow the holes for receiving threaded bolts there through, to be easily aligned with the threaded bolts on the hub of a vehicle.

The ends of the arms may be connected with a connector bar and the lifting portion may be in the form of an elongate member extending from the connector bar.

The free end of the lifting portion may include a handle.

A leg part may extend operatively downward from the lifting portion to raise the handle of the support surface. The leg part may be fixed to the lifting portion by means of a swivel pin to allow the leg part to fold toward the lifting portion for compact storage. A stopper may be provided to hold the leg part in its operative position. The support surface, in use, will be the ground.

The arms may typically be spaced at between 150 and 400mm, preferably about 200mm. The lifting portion may typically be about 300mm long and the total length of the wheel lifting device about 600mm long.

The lifting portion and the connector bar may be removably attachable to each other for further compact storage.

In use, when a person experiences a flat tyre, the person will first loosen the wheel nuts. Next, the person will lift the vehicle with a jack to the point where the arms of the wheel lifting device can be wheeled underneath the wheel. The nuts are then completely removed, the wheel is then lifted slightly to allow the wheel to be removed from the threaded bolts and the wheel is then wheeled on the lifting device to its storage space. The replacement wheel is then placed on the wheel lifting device and wheeled to the hub, where the wheel is rotated and lifted into position to engage the threaded nuts of the hub. The nuts are then screwed hand tight onto the bolts, the lifting device is removed, the vehicle dropped using the jack, and the nuts are then fully tightened. It is to be appreciated that the device enables a heavy wheel to be easily manipulated with minimal handling of the wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A wheel lifting device in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of the following non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: -

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the embodiment;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the embodiment; and

Figures 4 to 8 shows perspective views of further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, According to the invention, there is provided a wheel lifting device of steel or aluminium tubing including a wheel engaging portion, which includes a pair of spaced parallel arms 8 to accept a wheel (not shown) thereon in an upright orientation and each arm 8 provided with a wheel 1 1 at a free end and the wheel axel 10 being perpendicular to the axis of its associated arm. A lifting portion 2 extends from the other ends of the parallel arms 8 of the wheel engaging portion, the lifting portion being configured to facilitate lifting of the wheel relative to a support surface or ground when the wheel is engaged by the wheel engaging portion in a 2 ^nd class lever fashion. Each arm 8 is provided with a rotatable sleeve 9 to allow an upright wheel to rotate. The operatively upper ends of the arms 8 are connected with a connector bar 1 and the lifting portion 2 in the form of an elongate tubing extending from the connector bar 1 . The free end of the lifting portion 2 includes a handle 3. A leg part 4, in the form of a triangle extends operatively downward from the lifting portion 2 to keep the handle 3 of the support surface. The leg part 4 is fixed to the lifting portion by means of a swivel pin 7 to allow the leg part to fold toward the lifting portion for compact storage. A stopper 6 is provided to hold the leg part in its operative position. Typical dimensions are shown in Figures 2 and 3.

It is, of course, to be appreciated that the wheel lifting device, in accordance with the invention, is not limited to the precise constructional and functional details as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings and which may be varied as desired. Although only certain embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood by any person skilled in the art that other modifications, variations, and possibilities of the invention are possible. Such modifications, variations and possibilities are therefore to be considered as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and hence form part of the invention as herein described and/or exemplified. It is further to be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and is not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.