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  Electronically controlled vehicle lift and vehicle service systemUSPTO Application #: 20070088463Title: Electronically controlled vehicle lift and vehicle service system Abstract: A vehicle lift has a communication and/or a lift control assembly, including a processor, which is functional to control the raising and lowering of the lift and to enable the display of, and communication of, a variety of lift data. The vehicle lift includes sensors in communication with the control, where the pre-programmed processor recognizes and categorizes lift data and lift faults before sending warnings, notices, and other lift data to lift users, maintenance providers, or a central headquarters. The visual display unit of the assemblies may include a processor and may be detachable or adjustable. (end of abstract)
Agent: Frost Brown Todd, LLC - Cincinnati, OH, US Inventors: Steven D. Green, Lawrence Chase, Larry D. O'Cull, Michael R. O'Cull USPTO Applicaton #: 20070088463 - Class: 700275000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Generic Control Systems Or Specific Applications, Specific Application, Apparatus Or Process, Mechanical Control System The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070088463. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/891,467, filed Jul. 14, 2004, titled Electronically Controlled Vehicle Left and Vehicle Service System, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/055,800, filed Oct. 26, 2001 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,196), titled Electronically Controlled Vehicle Lift And Vehicle Service System, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and which claims priority to and incorporates by reference the disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/243,827, filed Oct. 27, 2000. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates, in general, to vehicle lifts and their controls and, more particularly, to vehicle lifts having a communication, and/or monitoring control, system and display. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Hydraulic and electro-mechanical (e.g. screw) vehicle lifts for raising and lowering vehicles are well known. While the design and configuration of vehicle lifts vary, they all are used primarily for servicing vehicles. They must all have some type of control system to affect the raising and lowering function. [0004] Prior art control systems for hydraulic lifts typically include an electric switch wired in series with the pump motor for raising the lift and a manually operated lowering valve for lowering the lift. Raising and lowering a vehicle into position typically requires a series of steps. Raising a vehicle with such a hydraulic lift requires depressing the electric switch to raise the vehicle, followed by operating the lowering valve to lower the lift to the locking mechanism. To lower a vehicle beyond the locking mechanism, such as to the ground, the first step is disengagement of the latches, which may be manually, electrically or pneumatically disengaged. The technician must first raise the lift off of the latches, and then either manually disengage the latches, or operate an electric switch or a pneumatic valve through a lever. The technician next operates the lowering valve while continuously operating the electric switch or pneumatic valve to hold the latches disengaged. [0005] The vehicle lift and the area close by the lift, within which the technician moves and works on the vehicle, is generally called the lift bay or service bay. To use the vehicle lift properly and safely, the technician needs accurate information regarding the safe operation and maintenance of the lift, such as for example vehicle lift points, operating conditions of the lift, maintenance and trouble shooting information. While working on a vehicle, a technician may need immediate access to current and accurate information regarding operating the lift and servicing the vehicle. [0006] Typically, the information needed by a technician is not available at the lift bay. While the needed information is generally available as manuals or other printed form, such are frequently not kept in the service bay, if kept anywhere at all, and may be outdated. To obtain the information, the technician is thus usually required to leave the bay and locate the information. A technician may be unwilling to leave the bay to locate the information, since this adds another step to the technician's work schedule. A technician may work more efficiently if everything needed to work on the vehicle is within the bay. Time spent by a technician away from the bay to obtain information, parts, process paper work, etc. detracts from the efficient performance of service on the vehicle. [0007] Instruction on proper lift use is important for new technicians or new lifts. In such training situations, instruction may not occur at all if much effort is required to learn or teach the use of the lift or to locate the relevant instructional material. Instruction may be given by other technicians who may themselves not be aware of the proper operation of the lift, relying instead on their own understanding of operating the lift. [0008] Proper lift maintenance is also important. Routine maintenance may need to be performed to keep a lift operating properly and safely. Although the need for preventative maintenance arises from the usage of the lift, information on preventative maintenance of lifts is not always readily available. Routine maintenance schedules may be kept independent of the lifts, such that the technician does not typically know while he is in the lift bay whether routine maintenance needs to be performed. Maintenance information regarding repair or trouble shooting information is also typically not kept in the lift bay, which may result in limited or inefficient use of such important resource materials. [0009] Although vehicle lifts define the service bay and are the focal point for servicing a vehicle, vehicle lifts themselves are considered secondary to other equipment used to service a vehicle. The view of the capabilities of a vehicle lift and its control has been limited to the raising and lowering functions, and has not extended to other functions. Thus, vehicle lifts and their controls have not been considered by those skilled in the art for providing access to information needed by the technician, or for collecting and transmitting information relative to operation of the lift of the servicing of the vehicle. [0010] In many existing devices, electronic controls for basic lift control functionality are contained within a cart-like apparatus positioned adjacent to the lift. In a crowded workstation, this cart-like apparatus may take valuable space that may be at a premium in the workplace. It would therefore be advantageous to provide an electronic control or communication device that reduces general clutter in the workplace while providing easy access to control or communication functionality. [0011] The present inventors have recognized that the overlooked vehicle lift and its control can meet the unrecognized needs for electronic delivery of information to and from the lift bay. The advent by the present invention of providing the ability to access, collect and transmit information by the vehicle lift control in addition to providing the lift functions, creates the new need to be able to revise the new non-lift functions of a lift control completely independent of the lift functions of the lift control. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: [0013] FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a column of a vehicle lift with control and display in accordance with the present invention; [0014] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the vehicle lift column of FIG. 1; [0015] FIG. 2a is a partial perspective view of another embodiment similar to FIG. 2; [0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a coupling for a vehicle lift control and display in accordance with the present invention; [0017] FIG. 4 is a front view of a display unit having a case and docking structure in accordance with the present invention; [0018] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the display unit of FIG. 4; [0019] FIG. 6a is a partial rear view of a display unit having a case illustrating an attachment coupling in a concealed position in accordance with the present invention; [0020] FIG. 6b is a partial rear view of a display unit having a case illustrating an attachment coupling in an open position in accordance with the present invention; [0021] FIG. 7a is a side perspective view of the display unit of FIG. 4; Continue reading... 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