Patent US4232357A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4232357A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automobile mechanic's aid
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-01-19
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Granted: 1980-11-04
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Expires: 1999-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An automobile mechanic's aid, which is largely collapsible for convenient storage and shipping, which is adjustable to position a tool holding tray at selected heights, and which includes support structure enabling concurrent use of the tray as a tray and as a seat. A work illuminating electric lamp is included which is adjustably positionable and which can be selectively powered from a convenience outlet of an alternating current power main or an automobile storage battery.
Inventors
- 👤 Markus S. Dietz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:58
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S6/00; F21S6/005; F21S6/006; F21L; F21L14/00; F21L14/04; F21S9/00; F21S9/02; F21V; F21V33/00; F21V33/008; F21W; F21W2131/00; F21W2131/40; F21W2131/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An automobile mechanic's aid comprising a wheeled base and an upstanding support column fixed thereto, said base having at least three wheels defining at least three non-colinear points of support whereby the base is adapted to rest stably in an upright condition upon a horizontal supporting surface, a mounting bracket slidably mounted on the column for selective vertical positioning therealong, means for releasably retaining the bracket on the column at a selected vertical position, a tray carried by the mounting bracket for vertical movement therewith, an electric lamp means carried by the bracket for vertical movement therewith, and energization means for enabling selective electrical energization of the lamp from alternating current power mains and an electric battery, said energization means also being carried by the bracket for vertical movement therewith, whereby a mechanic can vertically position the bracket to place needed tools and lamp in convenient and illuminating positions relative to a portion of an automobile requiring his attention, with the lamp being energizable from such automobile if necessitated by remoteness from power mains.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
An automobile mechanic's aid comprising a wheeled base and an upstanding support column fixed thereto, said base having at least three wheels defining at least three non-colinear points of support whereby the base is adapted to rest stably in an upright condition upon a horizontal supporting surface, a mounting bracket slidably mounted on the column for selective vertical positioning therealong, means for releasably retaining the bracket on the column at a selected vertical position, a tray carried by the mounting bracket for vertical movement therewith, an electric lamp means carried by the bracket for vertical movement therewith, and energization means for enabling selective electrical energization of the lamp from alternating current power mains and an electric battery, said energization means also being carried by the bracket for vertical movement therewith, whereby a mechanic can vertically position the bracket to place needed tools and lamp in convenient and illuminating positions relative to a portion of an automobile requiring his attention, with the lamp being energizable from such automobile if necessitated by remoteness from power mains.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said means for selective energization comprising a pair of elongated and flexible electric leads operatively connected to the lamp with each lead having a spring clip electrical connector at an end remote from the lamp, said energization means also including a transformer having primary and secondary windings, an elongated electric power cord operatively connected at one end to the primary winding and having a plug at its other end for selectively engaging an electrical convenience outlet, said secondary winding terminating in a pair of transformer terminals, whereby a mechanic can selectively attach the clips to the transformer terminals and to terminals of an automobile storage battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein a lamp support means is provided that includes an elongated arm having the lamp mounted upon an end portion thereof, said tray being provided with a plurality of socket members having upwardly directed openings therein, said arm having another end portion that is vertically disposed and selectively receivable in the openings of each of said socket members, the arrangement being such that the spatial orientation of the arm and the column can be varied by selective insertion of said another end portion of the arm in the socket members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein a lamp support means is provided that includes an elongated arm having the lamp mounted upon an end portion thereof, said tray being provided with a plurality of socket members having upwardly directed openings therein, said arm having another end portion that is vertically disposed and selectively receivable in the openings of each of said socket members, the arrangement being such that the spatial orientation of the arm and the column can be varied by selective insertion of said another end portion of the arm in the socket members, said column having a hollow upper end within which said another end of the arm is selectively receivable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said arm includes first and second pivotally connected sections respectively including said end and said another end of the arm, said first section being swingable about its pivotal connection to the second section from a vertical storage position that is horizontally spaced from the second section to a horizontal operative position, and means for releasably retaining the first section in its operative position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein the lamp is provided with a hood and wherein the lamp and its hood are mounted on the first arm section by a selectively deformable tube, said first section of the arm being hollow, with a portion of said leads being disposed in said tube and in said first section of the arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said another end of the arm is rotatable about its vertical axis within the socket members and the upper end of the column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein the tray has a support arm fixed thereto, with the bracket having a tubular member fixed thereto that slidably and removably receives the support arm of the tray, whereby the tray is detachable from the bracket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination of claim 1 together with means carried by the tray selectively constituting a seat and storage bins, said last means comprising a horizontal and generally rectangular plate and a pair of open-topped receptacles secured to the top of the plate, the arrangement being such that the plate can rest on the tray with the receptacles being serviceable as the storage bins, and such that the plate and the receptacles can be inverted upon the tray so that the plate can serve as a seat while being supported by the receptacles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 9 including a pair of props detachably mounted on the base in the vertical travel path of the tray, whereby the tray can be supported by both the column and the props.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 10, including means for storing the props, said means including said tray support arm being hollow for reception of one of the props therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 9, wherein the receptacles are spaced from each other, and means attached to the plate intermediate the receptacles for detachably securing the plate and the receptacles to the tray support arm at a position intermediate the bracket and the tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said base is U-shaped with respect to the horizontal and includes a pair of spaced side portions connected by a transverse portion, said column being mounted centrally upon the transverse portion, with said tray being disposed directly above the space between the side portions of the base.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 8, wherein the tray is selectively positionable, when the same is detached from the bracket, in an edge-up storage condition between the base and the bracket and adjacent the column, and means carried by the barcket for releasably retaining the tray in its storage condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4049959A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-04 | 1984-05-05 | 1984-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-04 | 1988-05-05 | 1988-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-04 | 1992-05-05 | 1992-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |