US20150209849A1

US20150209849A1 - Vehicle Anchoring Apparatus and Method of Use

Info

Publication number: US20150209849A1
Application number: US13/164,025
Authority: US
Inventors: Desmond R. Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-25
Filing date: 2011-06-20
Publication date: 2015-07-30

Abstract

The present invention is a vehicle anchoring apparatus having a first vice assembly and a second vice assembly and is adapted to anchor the frame of a discrete frame vehicle, the pinch weld of a pinch-welded unibody vehicle, or simultaneously both the discrete frame and the pinch weld of a hybrid structure vehicle. The vehicle anchoring apparatus is adapted such that the need to perform a “take down” or setup of an anchoring apparatus that is otherwise required in order to switch from securing a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle to securing a unibody vehicle is eliminated.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/358,651, filed Jun. 25, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatuses and devices for use in anchoring and aligning deformed vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle frame anchoring and alignment apparatuses are well known in the art and have wide spread usage in repairing vehicles that have been involved in a collision. An exemplary apparatus is the vehicle frame attachment apparatus that is fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,176 and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such vehicle frame attachment apparatus is extremely useful in gripping the frame of a vehicle that has been bent or deformed due to for instance a collision, so as to apply a load to the frame and/or the vehicle to correct the deformity. While extremely useful in the aforementioned function for vehicles that have a discrete frame, such apparatus is not well suited to gripping and holding so-called “unibody” vehicles or hybrid structure vehicles having both discrete frames and pinch welded structures (pinch welds). Such unibody vehicles typically have a portion of the vehicle body that terminates in a “pinch-weld” in the place of a discrete frame. Such pinch-welds are typically much thinner than discrete frames and typically will not withstand as high of loading as discrete frames. If a given platform (a platform being for instance the structure into which one or more vehicle frame anchoring and alignment apparatuses of U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,176 are mounted) has been setup to use the vehicle frame anchoring and alignment apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,176, the platform would need to be revised by taking down the vehicle frame anchoring and alignment apparatuses of U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,176 and by setting up anchoring devices that are adapted to anchor unibody vehicles such as unibody vehicle having pinch-welds. Furthermore, under prior art practices, hybrid structure vehicles often result in tears to floor panels and other vehicle portions due to the point loading of prior art anchoring and alignment systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a vehicle anchoring and alignment apparatus having a first vice assembly and a second vice assembly and being adapted to anchor a discrete vehicle frame, a unibody pinch-welded vehicle, and a hybrid of a discrete vehicle frame and a unibody pinch-welded vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a trimetric view of a first embodiment of the vehicle anchoring apparatus,

FIG. 2 is a reverse trimetric view of a first embodiment of the vehicle anchoring apparatus,

FIG. 3 is a reverse trimetric view of a first embodiment of the vehicle anchoring apparatus with reference vehicle structure shown clamped in vehicle anchoring apparatus, and;

FIG. 4 is an exploded trimetric view of a first embodiment of the vehicle anchoring apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

FEATURE TABLE

#

Feature

10	Vehicle anchoring apparatus
20	Frame attachment apparatus
30	Post
32	Set hole
40	Primary vice assembly
50	Vice body
52	Digit reception hole
54	Hook
60	Grasping digit
62	Grasping digit shank
64	Shank rectangular cross-section portion
66	Shank cylindrical cross-section portion
68	Grasping digit foot
70	Digit attach nut
80	Opposable member
82	Opposable member first flange
84	Opposable member second flange
86	Flange engagement projections
90	Auxiliary vice assembly
100	Frame
102	Frame upper member
103	Upper member slot
105	Frame lower member
106	Lower member slot
108	Frame strut
110	Opposable bracket
112	Opposable bracket upper member
113	Upper member fastener hole
115	Opposable bracket lower member
116	Lower member fastener hole
118	Opposable bracket strut
120	Grasping plate
122	Grasping plate fastener hole
124	Grasping plate engagement projections
130	Bracket fastener
132	Bolt
134	Nut
140	Plate attach fasteners
142	Bolt
144	Nut
150	Frame reference structure
154	Pinch weld reference structure

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, a first embodiment of the invention is a vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 adapted to anchor discrete frame vehicles having a discrete frame 150, unibody vehicles having a pinch weld 152, and hybrid structure vehicles having both a discrete frame 150 and a pinch weld 152 comprising a frame attachment apparatus 20 and an auxiliary vice assembly 90.
Frame attachment apparatus 20 further comprises post 30 and primary vice assembly 40. Primary vice assembly 40 further comprises vice body 50, at least one grasping digit 60, digit attach nut 70, and opposable member 80. Post 30 preferably comprises a substantially hollow cylindrical metal post having a plurality of set holes 32. Vice body 50 preferably comprises a substantially elongated cubic shaped hollow metal body having at least one preferably rectangular shaped digit reception hole 52 and optionally at least one hook 54. Grasping digit 60 preferably comprises a metal grasping digit having shank 62 connected to foot 68. Shank 62 preferably transitions from a rectangular cross-section portion 64 on a first end to a cylindrical cross-section portion 66 on a second end. Rectangular cross-section portion 64 is connected to foot 68 and cylindrical cross-section portion 66 is preferably threaded and includes threaded digit attach nut 70 threadingly and removably attached to cylindrical cross-section portion 66. Digit attach nut 70 preferably defines a conventional threaded metal nut and may be combined with a conventional metal washer. Opposable member 80 preferably comprises an elongated “L” shaped metal member having first flange 82 and second flange 84, with second flange 84 preferably including a plurality of engagement projections 86.
Primary vice assembly 40 is assembled such that vice body 50 is rigidly fixed preferably by welding to an upper end of post 30, opposable member 80 is rigidly fixed preferably by welding to an upper surface of vice body 50, grasping digit 60 is movably positioned within rectangular shaped digit reception hole 52 such that grasping digit 60 may move axially but such that rotational motion of grasping digit 60 is restricted, and digit attach nut 70 is threadingly engaged to shank cylindrical cross-section portion 66.
Auxiliary vice assembly 90 further comprises frame 100, opposable bracket 110, grasping plate 120, a plurality of bracket fasteners 130, and a plurality of plate attach fasteners 140. Frame 100 preferably comprises a metal weldment forming a substantially “L” shaped structure having upper member 102, lower member 105, and strut 108 connected therebetween, with each of upper member 102 and lower member 105 having a plurality of slots 103 and 106 respectively. Opposable bracket 110 preferably comprises a metal weldment forming a substantially inverted “T” shaped structure having upper member 112, lower member 115, and strut 118 connected therebetween, with each of upper member 112 and lower member 115 having a plurality of fastener holes 113 and 116 respectively. Grasping plate 120 preferably comprises a substantially metal plate having a plurality of fastener holes 122 and optionally a plurality of engagement projections 124. Bracket fastener 130 preferably defines conventional threaded metal bolt 132 and conventional metal nut 134, and may be combined with a conventional metal washer. Plate attach fastener 140 preferably defines conventional threaded metal bolt 142 and conventional metal nut 144, and may be combined with a conventional metal washer. It shall be noted that while auxiliary vice assembly 90 depicted in FIGS. 1 through 4 is shown in a vertical or upright or 90 degree gripping orientation, auxiliary vice assembly 90 may be provided to grip at angles other than 90 degree angles. Specifically for instance, auxiliary vice assembly 90 may be provided to grip at an approximately 17 degree angle to accommodate for instance the pinch weld of a Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Auxiliary vice assembly 90 is assembled such that opposable bracket lower member 115 is slidingly positioned on frame upper member 102 with bracket fasteners 130 readjustably positioned in frame upper member slots 103 and opposable bracket lower member fastener holes 116 so as to repositionably connect opposable bracket 110 to frame 100, and grasping plate 20 is clampingly and readjustably positioned on the opposable bracket upper member 112 with plate attach fasteners 140 readjustably positioned in opposable bracket upper member fastener holes 113 and grasping plate fastener holes 122 so as to repositionably connect grasping plate 120 to opposable bracket 110.
Vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 is assembled such that frame lower member 105 is positioned next to a side of vice body 50 opposite grasping digit foot 68 with grasping digit cylindrical cross-section portion 66 passing through frame lower member slots 106 and with digit attach nuts 70 repositionably connecting auxiliary vice assembly 90 to frame attachment apparatus 20. Vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 is adapted such that auxiliary vice assembly 90 may be repositioned vertically relative to primary vice assembly 40 and such that opposable bracket 110 may be repositioned horizontally relative to frame 100.
In practice, a vehicle having a discrete frame 150 (typically complete with a damaged vehicle fastened thereto) may be positioned with frame 150 secured in primary vice assembly 40 such that frame 150 does not release under a vehicle deformation correction load or a unibody vehicle having a pinch weld 154 may be positioned with pinch weld 154 secured in auxiliary vice assembly 90 such that pinch weld 154 does not release under a vehicle deformation correction load or a vehicle having a discrete frame 150 and a pinch weld 154 may be positioned with frame 150 secured in primary vice assembly 40 and with pinch weld 154 secured in auxiliary vice assembly 90 such that frame 150 does not release under a vehicle deformation correction load and such that pinch weld 154 does not release under a vehicle deformation correction load. It is noted when using vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 that no take down or setup of vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 is required in order to switch from securing a discrete frame 150 of a body-on-frame vehicle to securing a unibody vehicle having a pinch weld 154. It is further noted that in contrast to prior art vehicle anchoring apparatuses currently disclosed vehicle anchoring apparatus 10 is adapted such that a high quantity of load contact locations are made with a vehicle so as to substantially uniformly distribute vehicle corrective deformation loads such that a vehicle is properly aligned without damaging the vehicle's structure.

Claims

1. A vehicle frame anchoring apparatus comprising a mounting post having a plurality of dissimilarly configured vices structurally connected thereto and adapted such that a first vice clamping position is repositionally adjustable relative to a second vice clamping position, and such that and said first vice is expressly adapted to clamp to and secure a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle and said second vice is expressly adapted to clamp to and secure a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is vertically adjustable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vices further comprise at least one primary vice and at least one an auxiliary vice.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one primary vice includes a plurality of grasping digits and is adapted to secure a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle, and wherein at least one an auxiliary vice is adapted to secure a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one primary vice includes a discrete vehicle frame removably clamped therein, and wherein said at least one an auxiliary vice includes a vehicle pinch weld removably clamped therein.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said anchoring apparatus includes a mounting post connected to said plurality of vices.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vices include a plurality of engagement projections extending from said vices.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said vices is adapted such that the angular clamping orientation of said vice is variable.

9. A vehicle frame anchoring apparatus comprising a mounting post and a plurality of vices repositionably connected to said post, wherein a first vice of said vices includes at least one grasping digit and is adapted to clamp to a discrete frame of a vehicle, and wherein a second vice of said vices includes at least one grasping plate and is adapted to clamp to a pinch weld of a vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said vice having said at least one grasping digit is removably clamped to a discrete frame of a vehicle, and wherein said vice having said at least one grasping plate is removably clamped to a pinch weld of a vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of said vices is adapted such that the angular clamping orientation of said vice is variable.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said vices include a plurality of engagement projections extending from said vices.

13.-20. (canceled)

21. A vehicle anchoring apparatus comprising at least one first vice and at least one second vice, wherein said first vice is structurally secured to said second vice, and wherein said first vice is expressly adapted to clamp to and secure a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle, and wherein said second vice is expressly adapted to clamp to and secure a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle.

22. The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first vice includes a plurality of grasping digits, and wherein said second vice includes at least one grasping plate.

23. The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of said plurality of grasping digits includes a grasping digit shank, said shank having at least a first shank portion and a second shank portion, and wherein said first shank portion defines a shank portion having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, and wherein said second shank portion defines a shank portion having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape.

24. The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first vice includes a discrete frame of a vehicle clamped therein, and wherein said second vice includes a pinch weld of a vehicle clamped therein.

25. The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said apparatus is secured to a mounting post.

26. The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one of said vices is adapted such that the angular clamping orientation of said vice is variably adjustable.

27. The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said apparatus is expressly adapted such that apparatus may be switched from securing a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle to securing a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle without a “take down” or a setup of said apparatus.

28. The vehicle anchoring apparatus of claim 21, wherein said apparatus is expressly adapted such that when said apparatus clamps at least one of a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle and a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle and a vehicle deformation correction load is applied to said clamped vehicle, said vehicle is correctively aligned without substantially damaging said discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle or said pinch weld of a unibody vehicle.