US3415490A

US3415490A - Lift jack apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3415490A
Application number: US572591A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard S Steele
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-08-15
Filing date: 1966-08-15
Publication date: 1968-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-10

Description

R. 5. STEELE LIFT JACK APPARATUS Dec. 10, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1966 INVENTOR. RICHARD S STEELE BY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1968 R. s. STEELE LIFT JACK APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15. 1966 N K, M A A w H f m R l-ll Dec. 10, 1968 R. s; STEELE 3,415,490

LIFT JACK APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet a v INVENTOR. RICHARD 5. STEELE =J-E 9 BY 3 hi2 JZJZ? ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,415,490 LIFT JACK APPARATUS Richard S. Steele, 1605 W. 6th Ave., Broomfield, Colo. 80020 Filed Aug. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 572,591 16 Claims. (Cl. 25445) This invention relates to a novel and improved lift jack apparatus, and more specifically to a lift jack assembly being adaptable for lifting andlowering campers, trailers, and other vehicle bodies between the ground and an elevated position for placement on a truck bed.

In lift jack units presently devised for camper bodies it has been found particularly difficult to design the unit so that it is capable of lifting the camper body from the ground to the elevated height necessary for placement on the truck bed; yet can be made sufficiently compact to enable storage of the entire unit on the outside of the camper body. Camper bodies represent relatively large, heavy and uneven loads which have to be lifted a predetermined distance oif the ground to the height necessary for placement on a truck bed. conventionally the campers have raised supporting surfaces or wings along opposite sides so as to conform to the contour and size of the truck bed and afford increased living area within the camper, and usually these surfaces are employed as the lift surfaces for engagement by the jack units. In lifting, the jack units are engageable with the camper in spaced load balancing relation and in such a way that a single operator can successively lift or lower each jack unit; in doing so, the camper body is necessarily tilted through different angles in raising or lowering the camper between the ground and the required height. In my copending application for US. Letters Patent, Ser. No. 421,416 filed Dec, 28, 1964, entitled Lift Jack Assembly for Campers and the Like, and assigned to the assignee of this application, there is set forth and described an improved and novel lift jack assembly for lifting a camper from the ground to the desired height without the use of secondary or auxiliary lifting devices. Broadly, this is accomplished by the combination of a ground-supported tripod assembly, a. telescoping screw arrangement and an upper lift bracket which makes engagement with the raised supporting surfaces on the camper in spaced relation beneath the upper terminal end of the uppermost lift screw.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved means of attachment to a camper body for lift jack units of the type set forth in my copending application as well as for conventional units presently in use, and which greatly facilitates attachment to different types and sizes of camper bodies and cooperates in permitting storage of the units in assembled relation on the outside of the camper; further to provide a means of attachment which is versatile, enables interchangeability between parts and ready conversion without modification for use with different types of lift jack units.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a new and improved lift jack assembly which is readily conformable for use in lifting, supporting and lowering different types and sizes of vehicle bodies, and the lift jack assembly being capable of storage along the outside of the vehicle body so as to be instantly available for use without interference or obstruction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for alternate forms of a lift jack assembly comprised 3,415,490 Patented Dec. 10, 1968 of a series of lift jack units which can be operated by one person in lifting and lowering campers and the like, requires a minimum number of parts which can be interchanged, are readily conformable for use on different sizes and types of camper bodies, and will facilitate lifting and lowering of the camper between the ground and an elevated position for placement on a truck bed with or without the use of auxiliary lifting devices.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide on a camper jack for a novel and improved form of lift bracket which enables adjustable but permanent connection to camper bodies and permits the use of different types of lift jack units in combination there- With; and further to utilize the lift bracket in combination with a storage bracket which enables storage in place of each of the lift jack units on the outside of the camper when not in use.

The present invention is directed to novel and improved forms of lift jack apparatus which will readily fit different types and sizes of campers and, according to the construction of the camper, can be fastened in different ways. Further, a lift bracket according to the present invention will permit connection of different types of lift jack units, for example, of the type set forth and de scribed in my hereinbefore referred to copending application for patent. For instance, the lift bracket permits swivelled connection of a lift arm adaptor in spaced relation beneath the upper terminal end of a jack screw as described in my copending application for patent, or will permit direct connection of a lift screw or equivalent lift member without modifying the bracket or its attachment to the camper. Moreover, the lift bracket according to the present invention is readily adaptable for use in combination with campers of the type having either flat or drop-sided wings, is readily adjustable in width according to the width of the support surface and can be attached either to the lower vertical side wall beneath the support surface or directly to the support surface.

Still further, the form of bracket attachment devised will facilitate storing of the jack units along the outer side walls of the camper or along the lift surfaces and specifically in such a way that the jack units can be stored in snug-fitting, assembled relation against the outside of the camper so as to be available for use and so as not to occupy any space within the camper when not in use. Here, an improved form of travel bracket is provided for attachment of the jack units in the stored position the brackets being particularly suitable for use with a tripod assembly of the type described in my hereinbefore referred to application for patent.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of alternate forms of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting and disposition of one form of lift jack assembly in relation to a camper body.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the form of lift jack unit shown in FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 2A is an enlarged, fragmentary view in section of the upper threaded end of the collar.

FIGURE 3 is a view partially in section of the base portion of the screw jack assembly shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of an alternate form of lift jack unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a view in section of the base portion of the screw jack assembly shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of a lift bracket in attached relation to the camper body.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of the lift bracket shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a side view illustrating the lift bracket attached to a lift supporting surface inwardly of the dropsided portion of a camper body.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken about line 99 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged view of a preferred form of storage bracket.

FIGURE 11 is a side view of the base of the storage bracket shown in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of the base of the storage bracket shown in FIGURES 10 and 11.

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of the form of jack unit shown in FIGURE 2 in collapsed, stored relation along the side of a camper body.

FIGURE 14 is an end view of the storage bracket mounting shown in FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of the form of jack unit shown in FIGURE 2 in stored relation against the lift surface of a camper body.

FIGURE 16 is an end view of the storage bracket mounted on the lift surface of the camper; and

FIGURE 17 is a side view illustrating the attachment of a lift jack unit without the tripod assembly in stored relation along the lift surface of the camper body.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustrative example in FIGURE 1 the preferred form of placement and attachment of a series of 2 lift jack units 10 beneath a camper body C. Here, the lift jack assembly comprises of a set of three lift jacks arranged to establish engagement with the raised lift surfaces L on opposite sides of the camper body. Most desirably, a single lift jack is mounted intermediately between the ends of the lighter side of the camper body, and a pair of jack units are mounted on the opposite side of the camper in spaced relation to one another and adjacent to opposite ends of the lift surface. Generally the form of jack unit 10 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 requires secondary lifting devices, now shown, to raise the camper body a limited distance off the ground in order for the jacks to be placed under the lift surfaces. Thereafter, the jacks 10 are successively raised to lift the camper body to an elevated level such that a truck can be backed under the body, and the camper body is then lowered to transfer its weight to the truck. The foregoing procedure is simply reversed in removing the camper body from the truck bed and lowering it to the ground by successive lowering of the jack units.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, each lift jack is broadly comprised of a collapsible tripod 12 which serves to support a screw jack assembly 14 in upstanding relation for engagement with an upper lift bracket 16, the latter being attached to a lift surface L on the camper body. In the form shown, the collapsible tripod 12 corresponds with that shown in my copending application for patent, Ser. No. 421,416, and which is characterized by having a center column or tube 18 provided with a top annular flange 19 and a bottom base plate 20 at opposite ends of the column, and leg-supporting braces 22 extend between the flange 19 and base plate 20. The tripod legs 24 are each formed of angularly extending brace members attached at their upper ends to one of the braces 22 and terminating at their lower ends in circular pads or base plates 26. The legs are made collapsible by the use of pivotal connecting

links

27 and 28 between each of the leg members and lower end of a respective brace 22 whereby each leg is movable from an extended position as shown to a collapsed position extending along the outer surface of the column, as illustrated in FIGURE 13. In

the lift position, which the legs spread as shown in FIG- URE 2, the pads 26 are aligned in a common horizontal plane with the base plate 20 so that the center column is more firmly and rigidly supported and will permit extension of the screw jack assembly from the ground. In addition, the screw jack can be of increased length and lift through increased distance in comparison to conventional jacks where the center column is elevated relative to the tripod legs.

The jack screw assembly 14 consists of an elongated collar or sleeve 30 disposed in inner concentric relation to the center column and projecting upwardly a limited distance above the top flange portion 19 of the column to terminate in an upper threaded end portion 31 having external, circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth 32. The threaded end portion 31 has internal threading, as seen from FIGURE 2A, to mate with the threading on an inner concentric lift screw 33. As shown in FIGURE 3, the lower end of the sleeve 30 is provided with a pair of upper and lower spring clips or

washers

34 and 35 which aid in supporting the sleeve in the base of the column and in such a way as to assure freely independent rotation of the sleeve in controlling axial movement of the lift screw 33. The washers are relatively narrow, being riveted together at 35' at the center, and the upper washer 34 having tabs at opposite ends inserted in diametrically opposed slots in the wall of the collar and welded or otherwise attached to the collar; and the upper washer and sleeve are free to rotate independently of the lower washer in the event the latter should be come lodged or jammed against the base of the column. The lift screw 33 generally corresponds in length to that of the sleeve 30 for telescoping movement between a retracted position within the sleeve and an extended position effectively doubling the length of the jack unit in lifting the camper body. Movement of the sleeve is initiated by rotation of the upper threaded end portion by a ratchet handle, for example, of the type described in my copending application for patent.

In rotating the sleeve to cause axial advancement of the lift screw 33, the lift screw is held against rotation in a greatly simplified manner by the manner of engagement of upper terminal end 36 of the lift screw with the lift bracket 16. Here the lift bracket 16 is in the form of a relatively broad rectangular plate 40 having a vertical flange 41 and a tubular socket member 42 at one end. The plate is defined by relatively flat sides 44 each providcd with bolt-receiving openings 45 at spaced intervals along its length, and the sides 44 are separated by spaced intermediate, V-shaped reinforcing portions 46. Raised pads or bosses 47 are positioned on each of the portions 46 near the ends to engage the lift surface and minimize any tendency of the lift surface on the camper body to buckle or bend. The flange 41 is also provided with attachment holes 48, and the tube 42 extends from beneath the intermediate portion 46 of the plate through a center opening in the flange 41 and projects outwardly a limited distance beyond the end of the bracket. Preferably the tube 42 is formed of a thick-walled pipe welded to the undersurface of the bracket against the reinforcing portions 46, and is provided with a downwardly directed opening in the lower wall which is sized for insertion of the upper terminal end 36 of the lift screw. It is to be noted that the upper terminal end 36 has a radial end surface complementary to the inner circumferential surface of the tube, so that in bearing against the inner surface will be restrained against rotation and be free to advance solely in an axial direction. In addition, the upper end of the lift screw has a transverse opening 37 aligned with openings 38 in the socket 47 for insertion of a retainer pin 39 to prevent accidental release of the lift screw from the tube 42 in loading or unloading the camper. As an alternative, the socket 42 may be provided with an opening 50' located inwardly of the flange 41 to receive the lift screw directly beneath the plate portion 40.

The bracket plate may be attached directly to the lift surface of the camper body for example through use of carriage bolts 51 extending vertically through the wing portion of the camper body; and where desirable can also be attached through use of bracket extension members 52, as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, to lower side wall of the camper. A pair of bracket extension members '52 is employed, each having an elongated flat plate portion 54 provided with spaced bolt receiving holes 55 and a vertical flange 56 at one end including a bolt hole 57 to permit attachment to the vertical side walls of the camper body inwardly of the lift surface in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7.

In utilizing the form of screw jack assembly 14 as illustrated and described in FIGURES 1 and 2, lifting and lowering is accomplished with the aid of secondary lifting devices; also, when the lift jack units are not in use, the lift screw 33 can be retracted within the sleeve 30 and the legs 22 collapsed inwardly against the center column for storage of the jack unit in place along the lift supporting surface. The lift screw can be of the length necessary to obtain the desired lift distance from the additional length afforded by the ground-supported center column, and when retracted is sufficiently short that a pair of jack units can be stored in horizontal, end-to-end relation along a common side of the camper.

In accordance with the present invention, the jacks may be stored either in a side storage position against the vertical side wall above the lift surface or against the lift surface, depending upon the clearance space afforded. To this end, the versatility of the assembly is again demonstrated since common parts may be employed in either storage position. For this purpose, angle bracket 60 includes

flange portions

61 and 62 extending at right angles to one another and provided with

belt holes

63 and 64, respectively. In the side storage position, the bracket has one side 62 attached by means of a suitable bolt against the outer surface of the vertical flange 41 of the bracket plate 40 with the other side of the flange 61 facing in a direction away from the tubular member. In this way, the opening 63 is aligned on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the tubular member for insertion of the lift screw into abutting relation against the side wall of the tubular portion 42. In order to support the opposite end of the jack unit in assembled relation, a storage or travel bracket 65 shown in FIGURES 10 to 12 is attached to the side wall S of the camper so as to depend downwardly below the lift surface. The bracket 65 consists of a base flange 66 having bolt-receiving holes 67 at spaced intervals for insertion of suitable bolts to establish connection to the side wall S. A center flange portion 68 has an opening 69 with tabs 70 at spaced intervals around the edge of the opening engageable with the base of the jack assembly. The tabs extend in both directions away from the flange and are provided with openings 70 for insertion of a pin for a purpose to be hereinafter described. One end of the bracket 65 has a bifurcated end portion 71 for pivotal connection of one end of a metal strap 72, and the opposite free end of the strap has a suitable clasp 74 which is releasably secured to the other end of the block. The travel bracket is properly located with respect to the jack by inserting the lift screw through the opening in the angle bracket 60 and into abutting relation against the side of the lift tube 42, and the travel bracket is secured in place with the tabs 70 and center flange 68 contacting the under-surface of the base plate 20. With the legs collapsed, the strap is passed over the legs and attached by the clasp 74 so as to retain the legs rigidly in place against vibration or accidental release.

For storage under the wing or the lift supporting surface L, the same combination of parts is employed, but the angle bracket 60 is attached either to the underside of the lift bracket flange 41 or directly to the lift surface alongside the bracket 16 whereby theopposite side of the bracket 60 will depend downwardly in spaced relation from the lift surface. In turn, the bracket 65, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, is attached to the lift surface through the base flange 66 so that when the lift screw is inserted through the opening in the bracket 60 the block 66 will abut the base plate 20. Again the strap is passed over the legs to securely retain the latter in collapsed relation against the center column.

The jack installation of the present. invention can be readily converted for use with a lift jack unit of the type described and set forth in more detail in my copending application. Briefly, this form of jack unit employs the same tripod assembly 12 and lift bracket 16 in combination with a modified form of jack screw assembly 78 consisting of three telescoping lift sections: namely, a stationary threaded sleeve 80, an outer rotatable collar 81 with upper threaded end portion -82 and an upper lift screw 83 which upon rotation of the collar with respect to the sleeve will cause simultaneous axial displacement both of the collar and lift screw to obtain increased lift. Specifically in this form of jack unit, as more fully described in my copending application, the camper body may be lifted from the ground to the elevated level necessary for placement on a truck bed without secondary lifting devices by the cooperative disposition between the tripod, jack screw assembly and upper lift bracket. Accordingly, to convert the jack installation of the form shown in FIG- URE 2 to that shown in FIGURE 3, the screw jack assembly 78 is substituted for the screw jack assembly 14 with the sleeve being positively but detacha-bly connected in stationary relation to the base of the center column in the manner shown in FIGURE 5. As illustrated, an arcuate spring clip 85 extends across the base of the sleeve and includes reduced ends forced into the wall. of the sleeve. The sleeve 80 has projections 87 inserted in limited openings in the base plate, and a screw 89 extends upwardly through an opening 90 in the base plate into threaded engagement with the spring clip. Inward threading will of course draw the sleeve downwardly into firm seated engagement with the base of the column while spreading the clip to force the ends outwardly into the slots.

In order to effect attachment of the screw jack assembly 78 to the lift bracket unit 16, an improved form of lift arm adaptor 92 is utilized and is connected between the upper terminal end of the lift screw 83 and the bracket plate 40 through the socket defined by the tubular member 42 as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. The lift arm adaptor comprises a goose neck portion 93 having a cupshaped swivel head 94 forming an inner recess which receives the upper rounded terminal end 83 of the lift screw 83. A pivot pin 95 is passed transversely through aligned openings in the swivel head and the upper end of the lift screw to establish pivotal connection between the members. In turn, the lower end of the goose neck has a forwardly projecting shaft portion 96 sized for axial insertion through the tubular member 42 so as to be freely rotatable about an axis perpendicular to that through the pin 95. Various latching devices may be employed between the shaft 96 and socket 42 to secure the shaft against release while permitting free and independent rotation of the shaft with respect to the socket as the camper body is tilted through different angles in raising and lowering. The exact location and mounting of the lift bracket 16 relative to the lift surface may be varied, although it is preferred to position the lift bracket inwardly of the side wall, when utilized with the screw jack 78, so that the tube 42 has its outer end flush with the sidewall S of the camper body; and in this relation, the shaft 96 may be varied in length to conform to different camper sizes and widths. Moreover, since the point of connection of the lift screw 83 t0 the lift arm adaptor 92 is in spaced relation above the lift surface and since the center column will permit extension of the lift members to the ground, the screw jack assembly 78 is capable of extension through a distance over twice its retracted length and thereby 0bviates the use of secondary lift devices in raising and lowering the camper body between the ground and truck bed.

Installation and storage of the modified form of jack unit shown in FIGURES 4 and is carried out in a manner similar to that set forth with respect to the jack unit of FIGURES 2 and 3. Preferably, in storage, the lift arm adaptor 92 and the tripod assembly are removed and sepa rately stored in the camper body. The screw jack assembly in retracted and mounted in either storage position as described with the end of the lift screw inserted through the bracket 60 and base of the outer collar placed in the opening 69 of the storage bracket to thrust against a transverse pin passed through one of the openings 70' in the tabs 70, for example, as illustrated in FIGURE 17. In this connection, the travel bracket 65 is left and right-handed to permit insertion and mounting of the screw jack assembly from either direction.

In FIGURE 9, the bracket 40 is illustrated for mounting on a drop-sided camper with the portions 44 secured to the lift surface and the vertical flange 41 attached to the inner surface of the ledge L. The tubular member 42 is arranged to project outwardly through an opening in the ledge laterally beyond the outer wall S of the camper body. Both the bracket plate portions 44 and vertical flange 41 are attached by bolts and the tubular member is of a length such that the transverse opening 50 is located in lateral spaced relation outwardly of the side wall of the camper body thus to afford adequate clearance for insertion and any necessary tilting of the lift screw member 33 with respect to the camper. In certain forms of campers it may be preferable to remove the outer portion of the tube 42 projecting from the side wall and to employ the transverse opening 50 near the inner end of the tube. Again, the modified form of jack unit of FIGURES 4 and 5 including the lift arm 92 may be employed in the lift bracket installation on a drop-sided camper simply by inserting the shaft 92 through the tubular member 42. In either form, the jack units may be stored in the side storage position along the outer side wall of the camper bodies by attaching the bracket 60 to the outer surface of the ledge alongside the tubular member 42 and by attaching the bracket 65 to the ledge portion in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 16.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the forms of lift jack installation set forth herein are readily conformable for use with different types and sizes of camper bodies and will enable secure attachment to the camper as well as convenient storage without disassembling the jack units or changing parts. Conversion can also be readily made from the form of jack unit shown in FIGURE 2 to that shown in FIGURE 4 merely by substitution of the jack assembly 78 and lift arm adaptor 92 for the jack assembly 14. The same ratchet handle may be employed for either form of unit, and in the form shown in FIG- URE 4 the handle is placed over the threaded end of the collar and by turning, the collar and lift screw are simultaneously advanced to raise or lower the camper body. In either form the lift screw is first secured to the lift bracket to prevent its rotation as the collar is rotated, and each of the jack units can be raised in successive increments to lift the camper to the desired level for placement on the truck bed. Other parts and elements comprising alternate forms of the present invention may be interchanged according to the intended application. For example, the lift arm adaptor 92 may be employed in combination with a screw jack assembly of the form shown in FIGURE 2 or the lift screw 83 may be utilized without a lift arm adaptor by inserting directly through the transverse opening 50 in the socket member 42. Normally, however, this is not possible as in most campers the lift surface is not far enough above the ground to permit connection between the lift screw and sockets and would require preliminary use of a secondary lift device to raise the lift supporting surface to a sufficient height for connection between the screw jack assembly and lift bracket.

It is to be understood that various other modifications and changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts comprising the alternate forms of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a vehicle body having outboard horizontal lift surfaces along opposite sides thereof of a series of lift jack units being adapted for placement in load-balanced relation to the body for vertical displacement of the body between raised and lowered positions, a lift bracket for each lift jack unit including a relatively broad, flat bracket plate portion attached to a lift surface, a tubular socket member attached beneath said plate portion for lateral extension outwardly therefrom, each tubular socket being provided with a transverse downwardly directed opening, and each of said lift jack units including an elongated, vertically displaceable lift member being sized and adapted for insertion through the transverse opening in each respective tubular socket for tiltable engagement with the inner surface of the socket upon vertical displacement of each lift member.

2. The combination according to claim 1, each of said vertically displaceable lift members being defined by an elongated lift screw being threadedly engaged for raising and lowering the body, the upper terminal end of each lift screw member being complementary to the inner wall surface of the tubular socket for non-rotative but tiltable engagement therewith when threadedly engaged to raise and lower the body.

3. The combination according to claim 1, each lift member having a lift arm swivelled at the upper terminal end of said lift member, said lift arm curving downwardly and laterally away from the upper terminal end of said lift member and terminating in a shaft being sized for axial insertion through said tubular socket.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said lift bracket further includes a bracket extension adjustably connected to said bracket plate portion and defining an inward continuation of said plate portion for connection independently of said plate portion to the vehicle body.

5. The combination according to claim 1, in which the lift surfaces each include a drop-sided portion forming a downwardly extending ledge outwardly of and below the lift surface, and each of said tubular socket members projecting outwardly through an opening beyond the outside of the body.

6. The combination according to claim 1, each of said lift jack units being characterized by including a base support having collapsible leg members and an upstanding tubular column, said lift member being in the form of a lift screw disposed in telescoping relation to said column, a first storage bracket being mounted to one side of said tubular socket with an opening therein being aligned on a horizontal axis normal to the axis of said tubular socket, and a second storage bracket being secured to the vehicle body in aligned but spaced horizontal relation to said first storage bracket, said second storage bracket cooperating to abut the end of said base support when said lift screw is inserted horizontally through the opening in said first storage bracket, and a hinge strap on said second storage bracket being arranged in surrounding relation to said legs in the collapsed position when said lift jack unit is mounted in a horizontal position between said first and second storage brackets.

7. The combination with a load to be lifted from the ground for placement on an elevated surface in which the load is characterized by having raised lift supporting surfaces on opposite sides of the load, of a lift jack apparatus comprising a series of lift jack units in spaced loadbalanced relation on opposite sides of the load, each of said lift jack units including a base support member and a telescoping lift member movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to said base support, actuating means engageable with each of said lift members for vertically displacing same to raise and lower the load, a lift bracket for each lift jack unit being attached to a lift support surface, each lift bracket including a horizontal tubular socket member extending transversely of and beneath a lift support surface, and a lift arm adaptor being swivelled at the upper terminal end of each lift member, said lift arm adaptor inclining downwardly and laterally away from the upper terminal end of said lift member to terminate in a laterally extending shaft being sized for axial insertion through said tubular socket for pivotal movement of said adaptor within said tubular socket about an "axis normal to and in spaced relation beneath the pivotal axis of connection between said adaptor and the upper terminal end of said lift member.

8. The combination according to claim 7, each of said lift jack units being characterized by having a base sup port defined by a collapsible tripod including an upstanding center column to receive and support said lift member, and said actuating means being defined by a rotatable collar concentrically disposed between said column and said lift member for threaded engagement with said lift member, and a control handle being adapted to turn said collar whereby to axially advance the lift member with respect to said collar.

'9. The combination according to claim 7, further including a first storage bracket at one side of said tubular socket having a lift member-receiving opening aligned on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of said tubular socket, and a second storage bracket being attached to the load in spaced horizontal relation to each of said lift brackets, each of said second storage brackets having a base support flange provided with a central opening aligned in facing relation to a respective lift member-receiving opening, said first and second storage brackets being spaced to correspond with the retracted length of each respective lift jack unit.

10. The combination according to claim 7, each of said lift brackets being further characterized by a horizontal plate member including relatively broad flat sides interconnected by generally V-shaped reinforcing portions with attachment holes at spaced intervals along each of the sides, a vertical flange provided with attachment holes at one end of said plate portion, and said tubular socket member being secured to the underside of said reinforcing portion for lateral extension outward-1y through an opening of said vertical flange.

11. The combination according to claim 10, each of said lift brackets further including lift bracket extension members extending in spaced parallel relation on the lift support surface and including openings at spaced intervals therealong being aligned with the attachment holes on opposite sides of said lift brackets, and connecting means extending through the aligned openings in opposite sides of said plate portion and said extension members into connected relation with a lift surface.

12. The combination according to claim 8, said lift jack apparatus being further characterized by having a pair of lift brackets fastened in spaced relation to one another on the lift surface on one side of the load with the spacing between brackets approximately twice the retracted length of each of said lift jack units. and a single lift bracket fastened to the lift surface on the opposite side of the load at a location intermediately of said first pair of lift brackets, a first storage bracket associated with each of said lift brackets and including a lift member-receiving opening aligned on a horizontal axis normal to the axis of said tubular socket, a pair of second storage brackets secured to the lift surface on the one side of the load in spaced hortizontal relation inwardly of said pair of lift brackets and a second storage bracket on the opposite side of the load being secured to the lift surface in spaced horizontal relation to said single lift bracket, each of said second storage brackets being provided with a central opening aligned in facing relation to a respecfive lift member-receiving opening, said lift arm adaptor and base support being removable from each of said lift jack units whereby to store each of said lift units on the load with said lift member being inserted in a respective lift member-receiving opening and said rotatable collar inserted through the opening in each of said second storage brackets and tab portions in surrounding relation to the central opening including means abutting the end of said rotatable collar within the opening when said lift member is inserted through the first storage bracket into abutting relation with said tubular socket.

13. The combination with a camper body to be liftedfrom the ground for placement on an elevated surface, in which the camper body is characterized by having raised lift surfaces on opposite sides of the body, of a lift jack apparatus comprising a series of lift jack units in spaced, load-balanced relation on opposite sides of the body, each of said lift jack units including a collapsible base support having a vertical housing disposed in ground-supported relation, a jack screw assembly comprised of a plurality of telescoping lift members secured in upstanding, inner concentric relation within said housing including an inner concentric lift screw being vertically displaceable to raise and lower the camper body, a lift bracket for each lift jack unit being fastened to a lift surface for non-rotative engagement by the upper terminal end of each lift screw, there being a pair of lift jack units engageable with a lift surface at least on one side of the camper body with the spacing between lift jack units exceeding twice the retracted length of a lift jack unit, and means for storing each of said lift jack units in horizontal end-to-end relation along the one side of the camper body including lift screw receiving means associated with the lift bracket for receiving the upper terminal end of each lift screw and further including a storage bracket fastened to the side of the camper body in horizontal spaced relation to said lift screw receiving means to carry the base of a lift jack unit when the upper terminal end of said lift screw is inserted in said lift screw receiving means.

14. The combination according to claim 13, said collapsible base support and vertical housing being removable from said jack screw assembly and said jack screw assembly being inserted through a central opening in said storage bracket when the upper terminal end of said lift screw is inserted horizontally within said lift screw receiving means.

15. The combination according to claim 13, said jack screw assembly being defined by an outer concentric rotatable collar and an inner concentric lift screw disposed in telescoping relation to one another within said vertical housing, said collar being of elongated tubular configuration and including a thrust bearing at its lower end in the form of a pair of superimposed, upper and lower spring clips extending diametrically across the lower end of said collar and being bowed upwardly and inwardly across and within the lower end, saidupper spring clip having opposite ends fastened to the wall of said collar and said lower spring clip bearing against the base of said vertical housing and being freely rotatable with respect to said upper spring clip to establish free and independent rotation of said collar with respect to said vertical housing for raising and lowering said inner concentric lift screw.

16. The combination according to claim 13, said jack screw assembly being defined by a plurality of concentric lift members including an elongated sleeve having projections at its lower end mating with slots in the base of said vertical housing and an inner concentric lift screw, a spring clip extending diametrically across the lower end of said sleeve with opposite ends being fastened to the wall of said sleeve and being bowed upwardly and inwardly from opposite ends intermediately within said sleeve, and a screw extending upwardly in the base of said vertical housing into threaded engagement with a bore in said spring clip whereby to detachably connect 1 1 1 2 said sleeve in stationary relation Within said vertical 2,600,276 6/1952 Smith 254-99 h i 2,997,292 8/ 1961 Lucker et a1 2S4134 References Cited 3,155,373 11/1964 Rae 254-45 3,198,486 8/1965 Allen 25445 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,153,888 4/1939 Haferkom 254 1O2 OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Przmary Examz/zer. 2,327,180 8/1943 Diercksmeier et a1. 254-1 US. Cl. X.R. 2,590,970 4/1952 Jensen 254 100 103

Claims

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A VEHICLE BODY HAVING OUTBOARD HORIZONTAL LIFT SURFACES ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF OF A SERIES OF LIFT JACK UNITS BEING ADAPTED FOR PLACEMENT IN LOAD-BALANCED RELATION TO THE BODY FOR VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT OF THE BODY BETWEEN RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS, A LIFT BRACKET FOR EACH LIFT JACK UNIT INCLUDING A RELATIVELY BROAD, FLAT BRACKET PLATE PORTION ATTACHED TO A LIFT SURFACE, A TUBULAR SOCKET MEMBER ATTACHED BENEATH SAID PLATE PORTION FOR LATERAL EXTENSION OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, EACH TUBULAR SOCKET BEING PROVIDED WITH A TRANSVERSE DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED OPENING, AND EACH OF SAID LIFT JACK UNITS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED, VERTICALLY DISPLACEABLE LIFT MEMBER BEING SIZED AND ADAPTED FOR INSERTION THROUGH THE TRANSVERSE OPENING IN EACH RESPECTIVE TUBULAR SOCKET FOR