In one embodiment, there is provided an apparatus for retaining and moving an automobile tire, and which includes a pair of tire engagement roller assemblies and a lever actuator assembly coupled to the roller assemblies. The roller assembly includes a movable base frame and a tire engaging roller rotatably coupled to the base frame, and the lever actuator assembly includes a lever arm, a link arm pivotally coupled to the lever arm along a length thereof, and a retention bar for selectively holding the lever and link arms in a fixed position relative to each other. Longitudinal end portions of the lever and link arms are rotatably coupled to associated said roller assemblies. Rotational movement of the lever arm towards a generally upright position effects inward movement of the roller assemblies towards each other to mount the tire disposed therebetween.

A foot pedal assembly and method of moving a wheel assembly from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration is provided. The foot pedal assembly can be moved to a locked configuration, thereby securing the wheel assembly in a deployed configuration, by allowing a foot pedal of the foot pedal assembly to move away from a second position after moving the foot pedal from a first position to the second position. When in the locked configuration, the foot pedal assembly can be moved to an unlocked configuration by moving the foot pedal assembly back to the second position, thereby allowing the foot pedal assembly and the wheel assembly to move towards the first configuration and the stowed configuration, respectively. A pin extending from a cam assembly into a raceway of a raceway body travels through the raceway as the foot pedal assembly is moved between configurations.

A tire lifting assembly used to remove and replace a wheel and a tire on a vehicle is disclosed. The tire lifting assembly is configured to take the weight of the wheel and the tire when the service technician removes or replaces it thereby eliminating the need for manual efforts from a service technician. The assembly is rolled under the mounted wheel and tire and quickly adjusted to secure the wheel and tire by using a roller platform. A scissor jack mechanism is used to adjust the height of the roller platform which allows the rotation of the tire during the mounting procedure.

An apparatus (10) for fitting and/or removing wheel nuts. The apparatus (10) includes a base structure that supports a movable wheel engaging portion, the wheel engaging portion including a socket wrench (23) and a positioning device, wherein the positioning device can be used to locate the wheel engaging portion to aid the socket wrench (23) to fit or remove a wheel nut.

The present disclosure relates generally to devices and methods which use the mechanical advantage of a lever and fulcrum along with the use of force from a user's body, foot, and leg muscles, to more ergonomically and safely install wheel assemblies on vehicles while keeping the user's back at a more ergonomic angle and allowing for both of the installer's hands to remain free for stabilizing the wheel assembly during installation. The lifting device provides a foot pedal, a lifting pad and a pivot point to position a wheel assembly on a hub and/or wheel studs.

A wheel lifting device comprising a base structure with support means for being supported by a ground surface and a lifting frame with at least one wheel support member and a frame leg which extends upwardly at an angle to the ground surface. A link mechanism is connected to the base structure and to the lifting frame and a pivotal manoeuvring lever is connected to the link mechanism for lifting the lifting frame relative to the base structure. The blocking device for locking the manoeuvring lever at any desired pivotal position comprises a weight which is slidable along the frame leg and arranged to intersect the pivotal movement path of the manoeuvring lever and to be brought into frictional engagement with the frame leg when influenced by a force generated by the manoeuvring lever in order to block the lifting frame from downward movement relative to the base structure.

A system for guiding a part, including a through-hole, toward a desired position. The system includes a connector and a handle member. The connector is configured to be removably attached to the desired position. The connector is also configured to pass through the through-hole. The handle member has a distal portion connected to the connector. The distal portion is configured to pass through the through-hole. The handle member is configured to lift the part while the connector is attached to the desired position and a portion of the handle member is within the through-hole. The handle member is configured to allow the part to slide therealong and into the desired position while the part is lifted by the handle member. The connector is removable from the desired position after the part has been slid into the desired position.

A system for performing vehicle maintenance includes a robotic apparatus adapted to remove and replace a vehicle wheel and a processor that obtains the number of wheel lugs and the true radius of the wheel lugs from the true center of the wheel, then estimates the position of each lug and the center of the vehicle wheel. The estimated position of each lug is iteratively adjusted until each lug position (angles and radius) are within some margin of error. At this point a new estimate of the center is provided and the processor instructs the robotic apparatus to remove the lugs from the wheel.

A wheel support is provided for use with a motorcycle stand. The wheel support includes a pair of side plates, each of which has a first side end and a second side end distal thereto. At least one of the side plates has a curved end about the first side end to secure onto a portion of the motorcycle stand. The wheel support includes a top plate secured between the pair of side plates and an adjustable height mechanism configured to adjust the height of the second end of the side plates and thus adjust the height of the top plate about the second end. The top plate when moved under the wheel of the motorcycle is movable to engage and lift the wheel of the motorcycle into and out of engagement with the motorcycle.

The invention relates to a lifting device for lifting loads, vehicles, or the like, comprising a mobile base frame (12); a lifting column (14) provided on the base frame (12); a support (15), said lifting column (14) and support (15) being guided by a guide (45); a load receiving means (20) which is arranged on the support (15) and by means of which a load receiving region (21) is determined, said base frame (12) having at least three support points outside of the load receiving region (21) of the load receiving means (20); and a drive unit which can be controlled by a controller and which moves the support (14) up and down relative to the lifting column (14). The lifting column (14) is arranged on the base frame (12) eccentrically to the load receiving region (21) and in a rotated manner relative to a longitudinal side of the load receiving region (20).