Ratchet type quick feeding mechanism for automobile pantograph jack

Claim 1

A ratchet type quick feeding mechanism for an automobile pantograph jack comprising a pantograph link assembly adjustable in height by relative horizontal movement of a pair of pivot assemblies disposed in diagonally opposite corners of said link assembly; a rotatable bar having a ratchet screw thread portion, said bar being disposed in fixed axial position in one of said pivot assemblies with the ratchet screw thread portion extending through the other of said pivot assemblies; a plurality of pawl members disposed on said other pivot assembly at axially symmetrical positions with respect to said bar, each of said pawl members engaging said ratchet screw thread portion of said bar, said pawl members and said ratchet screw thread portion cooperating to enable sliding movement of said pivot assemblies toward each other as well as screw advancement of said pivot assemblies by rotation of said bar; each of said pawl members including a handle for manually rotating said pawl members away from said bar to release the same; and said other pivot assembly further including an operator bar coupled to both of said handles of said pawl members for simultaneously releasing said pawl members.