Vehicle support apparatus
An improved vehicle support apparatus, also referred to as a hub stand, for use with a vehicle. Certain aspects of the invention include a vertically disposed plate-like body or hub plate ( 20 ) which is adapted to receive a vehicle hub. In one embodiment, the plate-like body defines a plurality of openings (e.g. 21, 22 ) adapted to receive a vehicle hub and/or hub bolt. In certain aspects, the plate-like body is vertically adjustable and/or slidably received between clamp members. In another aspect, the plate-like body has openings adapted to receive pins, rods or bolts, and a clamp member has corresponding openings adapted to receive pins, rods or bolts, whereby the hub plate may be adjusted vertically relative to a vehicle.
1. An apparatus for supporting a vehicle having a plurality of hubs and associated hub bolts, comprising:
a vertically disposed, substantially plate-like body defining a first opening adapted to receive a hub end portion;
said plate-like body further defining a second opening outside the circumference of said first opening, said second opening adapted to receive a hub bolt; and
said plate-like body further defining a third opening outside the circumference of said first opening, said third opening adapted to receive a hub bolt;
wherein at least one of said second opening and said third opening is not on the same vertical axis as said first opening;
a first angle clamp member;
a second angle clamp member in substantial mirror image relation to said first angle clamp member;
wherein said plate-like body is slidably received between said first and second clamp members.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pin member;
wherein said plate-like body further defines a plurality of inner pin openings adapted to receive a pin member; and
at least one of said first angle clamp member and said second angle clamp member defines a plurality of corresponding outer pin openings adapted to receive a pin member;
whereby said plate-like body and said angle clamp members may be maintained in a desired vertical relationship when said pin member is inserted through an inner pin opening and through a corresponding outer pin opening.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said inner pin openings and said outer pin openings may be aligned at a plurality of positions to allow the plate-like body to be fixed at a desired vertical position relative to a vehicle.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a base member connected to said first and second angle clamp members, which base member is substantially perpendicular to said plate-like body.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a resilient pad beneath said plate-like body.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate-like body further defines a third opening and a fourth opening outside the circumference of said first opening.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate-like body further defines a plurality of pin openings, and further comprising an elongated toe bar member having at least two extensions on a single surface of said toe bar, each of said extensions being adapted for insertion into one of said pin openings.
8. An apparatus for supporting a vehicle having a plurality of wheels and associated hubs and hub bolts, comprising:
a vertically disposed, substantially plate-like body defining an opening for supporting wheel at its hub, said plate-like body having a first vertically-oriented planar surface and a second vertically-oriented planar surface;
a first angle clamp member adapted to be urged against said first planar surface;
a second angle clamp member in substantial mirror image relation to said first angle clamp member, said second angle clamp member adapted to be urged against said second planar surface;
wherein said plate-like body is slidably received between said first angle clamp member and said second angle clamp member for vertical adjustment.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said plate-like body further defines a plurality of openings adapted to receive hub bolts.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first angle clamp member defines a plurality of clamp member openings; and said plate-like body further defines a plurality of plate-like body openings; wherein said clamp member openings and said plate-like body openings may be aligned so as to receive a pin member through at least one of said aligned openings to fix the vertical position of the plate-like body relative to a vehicle.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a resilient pad beneath said plate-like body.
12. An system for supporting in a compressed load state a vehicle having a plurality of hubs having hub end portions, comprising:
a plurality of vertically adjustable, substantially plate-like bodies, each defining an opening adapted to receive a hub end portion and each defining a vertical plane;
a plurality of first angle clamp members, each having an upper portion generally parallel to a corresponding vertical plane;
a plurality of second angle clamp members in substantial mirror image relationship to corresponding first angle clamp members, wherein said plate-like bodies are slidably received between corresponding first and second angle clamp members;
wherein a vehicle remains in a compressed load state when one or more hub end portions of said vehicle are received in said opening.
13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a vehicle having a plurality of hubs having hub end portions.