Video jack and a method of operation
A vehicle lift jack is provided. The jack may include: a frame; a lifting arm attached to the frame; a saddle attached to an end of the lifting arm; and a video camera attached to the jack and oriented to capture video footage of an area proximate to the saddle. A method of lifting a vehicle using a jack may be provided. The method may include: positioning the jack under the vehicle; capturing an image of the vehicle; viewing the image; determining the jack is in a desired position with respect to the vehicle; and raising the vehicle with the jack.
1. A vehicle lift jack comprising:
a frame;
a lifting arm attached to the frame;
a saddle attached to an end of the lifting arm; and
a video camera attached to the jack and oriented to capture video footage of an area proximate to the saddle, wherein the saddle has a lower section encompassed by an upper section and the video camera is located in the lower section.
2. The jack of claim 1 , further comprising a transparent plate covering the video camera.
3. The jack of claim 2 , wherein the video camera is oriented to capture video footage through the transparent plate.
4. The jack of claim 2 , wherein the transparent plate is Plexiglas.
5. The jack of claim 1 , wherein the video camera is mounted to the arm.
6. The jack of claim 5 , wherein the video camera is oriented to capture video footage of at least part of the saddle.
7. The jack of claim 1 , wherein the video camera is mounted to the jack with a mount and the mount is a flexible mount.
8. The jack of claim 1 , wherein the video camera generates a signal that is sent to a screen.
9. The jack of claim 8 , wherein the signal is sent to the screen via a wire.
10. The jack of claim 8 , wherein the signal is sent to the screen via a wireless connection.
11. The jack of claim 1 , wherein the video camera generates a signal that is sent to a computer.
12. The jack of claim 11 , wherein the computer saves the signal.
13. The jack of claim 1 , further comprising wheels attached to the frame.
14. The jack of claim 1 , further comprising a reflector oriented to reflect an image to the camera.
15. A method of lifting a vehicle using a jack comprising:
positioning the jack under the vehicle;
capturing an image of the vehicle with a camera that is located in a lower section of a saddle, the lower section is encompassed by an upper section of the saddle, and the saddle being attached to a lifting arm of the jack;
viewing the image on a screen;
determining the jack is in a desired position with respect to the vehicle; and
raising the vehicle with the jack.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising saving the image on a computer.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising moving the jack if the viewed image indicates that the jack is not in a desired position with respect to the vehicle.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the image includes the vehicle and the jack.
19. A vehicle lift jack comprising:
a frame;
a lifting arm attached to the frame;
a saddle attached to an end of the lifting arm; and
means for capturing an image attached to the jack and oriented to capture an image of an area proximate to the saddle, wherein the saddle has a lower section encompassed by an upper section and the video camera is located in the lower section.