Two post lift with reversible offset telescoping lift arms

Abstract

A telescoping lift arm for a two-post vehicle lift has pivot structure radially offset from a longitudinal axis of the arm. An outer arm section is open at a distal end to enable an inner arm section to be retracted therethrough. A pair of the arms are bilaterally symmetrical and configured to be removable from lift carriages to enable lateral swapping of the arms.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A first offset telescoping lift arm assembly for use on a vehicle lift system, wherein the vehicle lift system includes a post having a lift carriage slidably engaged therewith and movable therealong, the first lift arm assembly comprising:
 (a) a first arm section having an open first proximal end and an open first distal end opposite the first proximal end, wherein the first arm section is pivotally engaged with the lift carriage near the first proximal end at a radially offset distance from a first pivot axis about which the first arm section is to pivot; and   (b) a second arm section telescopically received within the first arm section to enable extension therefrom and retraction therethrough, the second arm section having a second proximal end and a second distal end opposite the second proximal end, wherein the second proximal end of the second arm section extends out of the first proximal end of the first arm section when the second arm section is fully retracted through the first arm section.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the second arm section is longer than the first arm section.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , including:
 (a) a third arm section telescopically received within the second arm section and having a third distal end with a vehicle contact member positioned thereon.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , including:
 (a) a pivot member engaged with the lift carriage to enable pivoting about the first pivot axis; and   (b) a pivot support member extending from the first arm section and engaged with the pivot member to enable pivoting the first arm section about the first pivot axis.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein:
 (a) the pivot member is configured to enable removal of the first lift arm assembly from the lift carriage.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , including:
 (a) a rotation lock engaged between the lift carriage and the first arm section to prevent pivoting of the first arm section about the first pivot axis, wherein the rotation lock is selectively releasable to enable pivoting the first arm section about the first pivot axis.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , including:
 (a) a rotation lock engaged between the lift carriage and the first arm section to prevent pivoting of the first arm section about the first pivot axis, wherein the rotation lock is selectively releasable to enable pivoting the first arm section about the first pivot axis; and   (b) the first lift arm assembly being pivotally connected to the lift carriage by a pivot member engaged between the first arm section and the lift carriage, wherein the pivot member is selectively removable from engagement with the first arm section and the lift carriage, and the first lift arm assembly is removable from the lift carriage when the pivot member is removed, and the rotation lock is released.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first lift arm assembly is a front lift arm configured for engagement with a front end of a vehicle, including:
 (a) a telescoping rear lift arm assembly configured for engaging a rear end of the vehicle, the telescoping rear lift arm assembly pivotally engaged with the lift carriage for pivoting about a rear pivot axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis, the telescoping rear lift arm assembly telescopically extending and retracting along a rear longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the rear pivot axis.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a first lift unit includes the post, the lift carriage, and the first lift arm assembly, a second lift unit, laterally spaced apart from the first lift unit, includes a second post, a second lift carriage, and a second lift arm assembly, and a two post vehicle lift system includes the first lift unit and the second lift unit, wherein:
 (a) the second lift arm assembly is pivotally engaged with the second lift carriage at a radially offset distance from a second pivot axis about which the second lift arm assembly is to pivot; and   (b) the first lift arm assembly and the second lift arm assembly are configured to be selectively laterally swapped between the posts.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein:
 (a) the first lift arm assembly and the second lift arm assembly are substantially bilaterally symmetrical with one another.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the second proximal end of the second arm section can be extended out of the first proximal end of the first arm section until internal extension stops are engaged, the internal extension stops including stop members extending inward from the first arm section and abutments extending outward from the second arm section.   
     
     
         12 . A vehicle lift system comprising:
 (a) left and right posts positioned in laterally spaced relation;   (b) the left and right posts each having a lift carriage and each lift carriage slidably engaged therewith and movable along the respective post; and   (c) each of the lift carriages having a telescoping lift arm pivotally connected thereto, wherein each telescoping lift arm is configured to pivot about a respective pivot axis, each telescoping lift arm is radially offset a distance from the pivot axis thereof, and the telescoping lift arms associated with the left and right posts are configured to be selectively laterally swapped between the left and right posts.   
     
     
         13 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein:
 (a) the telescoping lift arms associated with the left and right posts are substantially bilaterally symmetrical with one another.   
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each telescoping lift arm includes:
 (a) a first arm section having an open first proximal end and an open first distal end, the first arm section being pivotally engaged with the lift carriage near the first proximal end; and   (b) a second arm section telescopically received within the first arm section to enable extension therefrom and retraction therethrough, the second arm section having a second proximal end and a second distal end opposite the second proximal end, wherein the second proximal end of the second arm section extends out of the first proximal end of the first arm section when the second arm section is fully retracted through the first arm section.   
     
     
         15 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each lift carriage includes:
 (a) a rotation lock engaged between the lift carriage and the telescoping lift arm to prevent pivoting of the telescoping lift arm about the respective pivot axis, wherein the rotation lock is selectively releasable to enable pivoting the telescoping lift arm about the respective pivot axis; and   (b) the telescoping lift arm being pivotally connected to the lift carriage by a pivot member engaged between the lift carriage and the telescoping lift arm, wherein the pivot member is selectively removable from engagement between the lift carriage and the telescoping lift arm, and the lift arm is removable from the lift carriage when the pivot member is removed, and the rotation lock is released.   
     
     
         16 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein:
 (a) each telescoping lift arm radially offset from the respective pivot axis thereof is a front lift arm configured for engaging a front end of a vehicle; and   (b) each lift carriages includes a telescoping rear lift arm assembly configured for engaging a rear end of the vehicle, each telescoping rear lift arm assembly pivotally engaged with the lift carriage and pivotable about a respective rear pivot axis, and each telescoping rear lift arm assembly extending along a rear longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the respective rear pivot axis.   
     
     
         17 . A vehicle lift system, comprising:
 (a) upstanding left and right posts positioned in laterally spaced relation;   (b) each post having a lift carriage slidably engaged therewith and movable therealong;   (c) each lift carriage having a telescoping lift arm pivotally connected thereto to enable pivoting about a respective pivot axis, each telescoping lift arm including:
 (1) a first arm section having an open first proximal end and an open first distal end opposite the first proximal end, wherein the first arm section is pivotally engaged with the lift carriage near the first proximal end; and 
 (2) a second arm section telescopically received within the first arm section to enable extension therefrom and retraction therethrough, the second arm section having a second proximal end and a second distal end opposite the second proximal end, wherein the second proximal end of the second arm section extends out of the first proximal end of the first arm section when the second arm section is fully retracted through the first arm section; and 
   (d) each telescoping lift arm having a pivot support member located thereon to position the telescoping lift arm at a radially offset distance from the respective pivot axis, wherein the telescoping lift arms associated with the left and right posts is configured to be selectively laterally swapped between the left and right posts.   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle lift system as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein:
 (a) the telescoping lift arms associated with the left and right posts are substantially bilaterally symmetrical with one another.   
     
     
         19 . The system as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein each lift carriage includes:
 (a) a rotation lock engaged between the lift carriage and the telescoping lift arm to prevent pivoting of the telescoping lift arm about the respective pivot axis, wherein the rotation lock is selectively releasable to enable pivoting the telescoping lift arm about the respective pivot axis; and   (b) the telescoping lift arm being pivotally connected to the lift carriage by a pivot member engaged between the lift carriage and the telescoping lift arm, wherein the pivot member is selectively removable from engagement between the lift carriage and the telescoping lift arm, and the telescoping lift arm is removable from the lift carriage when the pivot member is removed and the rotation lock is released.   
     
     
         20 . The system as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein:
 (a) each telescoping lift arm radially offset from the respective pivot axis is a front lift arm configured for engaging a front end of a vehicle; and   (b) each lift carriages includes a telescoping rear lift arm assembly configured for engaging a rear end of the vehicle, each telescoping rear lift arm assembly pivotally engaged with the lift carriage and pivotable about a respective rear pivot axis, and each telescoping rear lift arm assembly extending along a rear longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the respective rear pivot axis.