US 12,448,258 B1
Apparatus and method for removal of vehicle hardtop
John D. Cullinan, Mason, OH (US); and Shaw Kaake, Kita-ku (JP)
Assigned to John D. Cullinan, Mason, OH (US)
Filed by John D. Cullinan, Mason, OH (US)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/513,628.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/106,868, filed on Oct. 28, 2020.
Int. Cl. B66C 23/48 (2006.01); B25H 1/00 (2006.01); B60J 7/10 (2006.01); B60S 9/08 (2006.01); B66F 5/02 (2006.01); B60D 1/66 (2006.01); B60S 9/18 (2006.01)
CPC B66F 5/025 (2013.01) [B25H 1/0007 (2013.01); B60J 7/106 (2013.01); B66C 23/48 (2013.01); B60D 1/66 (2013.01); B60S 9/08 (2013.01); B60S 9/18 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A removable vehicle hardtop lift apparatus comprising:
a moveable lower platform configured to fit under a vehicle, the lower platform including a main support having an upper end and a plurality of legs extending from the main support, each leg of the plurality of legs including a wheel for moving the lower platform;
an upper platform configured to be disposed to underlie a vehicle hardtop while the vehicle hardtop is on the vehicle; and
a linear actuator coupled between the upper platform and the lower platform and actuatable for varying the distance therebetween, the linear actuator comprising a lower end coupled with the lower platform and an upper end coupled with the upper platform;
the linear actuator including an outer tube forming an upper end of the linear actuator and an inner tube disposed at least partially within the outer tube, the inner tube forming a lower end of the linear actuator, the linear actuator operable for moving the inner tube and the outer tube apart and together for varying a distance between the upper platform and lower platform;
a separate first bushing element configured to seat in the upper end of the main support of the lower platform, a lower end of the inner tube of the linear actuator being disposed in the first bushing element for capturing the first bushing element between the inner tube and the main support for coupling the linear actuator with the lower platform;
a separate second bushing element configured to seat in the outer tube of the linear actuator, an upper end of the inner tube of the linear actuator being disposed in the second bushing element for capturing the second bushing element between the inner tube and the outer tube;
the inner tube including a slot and the outer tube including a pin which extends into the slot, the pin preventing relative rotation between the outer tube and the inner tube during actuation of the linear actuator.