AU7393698A - Jig for supporting vehicle body panels - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: JIG FOR SUPPORTING VEHICLE BODY PANELS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: This invention relates to apparatus for use in the treatment of articles, in particular the surface treatment of articles, and more particularly relates to apparatus for supporting articles which are intended to be spray-painted and/or repaired.

Although motor vehicle panels may be spray-painted in situ on a motor vehicle, in a spray booth or the like, it is often necessary or desirable to coat body parts separately. Items such as boot lids, bonnets, bumper bars, spoilers, mirrors and body panels generally may be spray-painted in this manner. Spray-painting body parts before fitting to a vehicle also enables both sides of a part such as a body panel to be coated.

Some apparatus have been proposed, for supporting vehicle body parts so that they may be spray-painted. However, such apparatus is either unnecessarily complicated, or appears to be insufficiently robust to support parts which are often quite heavy.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved support apparatus for vehicle body parts.

The invention provides support apparatus for articles, said apparatus including at least one support arm adapted to be movable from a first position to a second position, said support arm including at least one mount arm, said mount arm being adjustable secured for movement relative to said support arm.

Embodiments of the invention, which may be preferred, will be described in detail hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of a jig in accordance with the present invention, with the jig in a first orientation; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the jig of Fig.1, with the jig in a second orientation; 3 Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the jig of Fig. 1, with the jig in a third orientation; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the jig of Fig. 1, with the jig in the first orientation of Fig.1; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a spring pin lock used to releasably locate members of the jig of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an exploded side elevation of the spring pin lock of Fig. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a wing bolt used to secure mount arms on the jig of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a modified form of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 4, the STAND ALONE" jig 10 comprises a first element 12 and a second element 14. First and second elements 12, 14 have in a very general sense a T-shape, and are preferably fabricated at least in part from tubular material. More preferably, the elements 12, 14 are square-section, galvanised steel tube, preferably welded together.

Element 12 includes an upright post 16, connecting to and making a T-shape with base 18. Extending from base 18 at approximate right angles to base 18 and post 16 is a lateral member 20. Element 14 includes an upright post 22, connecting to and making a T-shape with base 24. Extending from base 24 at approximate right angles to post 22 is a lateral member 26. In use, with the two elements 12, 14 combined to form jig 10, lateral element 20 locates into lateral element 26, or vice versa, such that the two lateral elements 20, 26 may be telescoped or extended, to adjust the distance between elements 12 and 14, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1.

An adjustable post 28 is adapted to be adjustably located on post 16, such that it may be located at one of a predetermined number of locations along post 16.

As illustrated, the post 28 locates over post 16 for telescoping movement in relation to post 16, and may be secured (Figs. 2 to 4) at said predetermined locations by the use of a spring-loaded bolt 30 (Fig. 5) located on post 28, registering with one of a number of apertures 32 in the outer side of post 16. A similar arrangement exists for element 14, with an adjustable post 34 longitudinally adjustable and securable with respect to post 20, and with a spring-loaded bolt 31, similar to bolt 30, adapted to co-operate with apertures 32.

At the top of adjustable post 28 there is a pivot bracket 36, to which may be pivotally attached a swing arm 38, in such a manner that the swing arm 38 may pivot from a generally horizontal position (Fig. 2) to a generally vertical position (Fig. A spring-loaded bolt 33, similar to previously-described bolts 30, 31 is provided at the pivot point, such that bolt 33 may co-operate with apertures such as 35, for example to lock swing arm 38 in various positions. Similarly, adjustable post 34 has a pivot bracket 41, to which may be pivotally attached a swing arm 42, in such a manner that the arm may pivot as previously described for arm 38.

Swing arm 38 is preferably provided with apertures 44 for the attachment of panel mount arms 46. Preferably, apertures 44 are provided such that a pair is located at one end of swing arm 38, and one aperture is located at the other end, although any arrangement could be used. More preferably, each aperture 44 has a companion aperture located at right angles thereto. Similarly, apertures 48 for panel mount arms 50 are provided in swing arm Panel mount arms 46, 50 preferably have an elongated body 52, with an elongated slot 54 therein. A wing bolt 56 (Fig. in combination with a cooperating nut, is adapted to secure panel arms 46, 50 to apertures 44 or 48 for rotation around and/or lateral movement in relation to the apertures, when bolt 56 is loosened, and the secure the panel arm 46, 50 in a particular desired position by tightening the wing bolt 56.

Panel arms 46, 50 are used to support a vehicle body panel or the like 58, shown in Figs. 1 to 4 by a broken line. To that end, at least one wing support bolt 57 may be provided at an extremity of arms 46, 50, or at any intermediate location. Other types of panel mounts may be used, particularly when initially mounting a panel or the like 58 on the jig 10. For example, there may be used an L-shaped mount secured to arms 46, 50, in initial mounting, or when more of a point contact with the panel 58 is required. Such an L-shaped mount could also be created by adding a right-angle portion to an end of panel support arms 46, 50. Of course, panel arms 46, 50 may also be provided with additional elements, secured to and/or in slot 54, or otherwise.

Fig. 5 shows a spring-loaded bolt 30, referred to earlier in connection with apertures 32 in post 16, and Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of the bolt 30. Bolt includes a main body with a head 60 and a shaft 62. A washer 64 is secured to a pipe portion 66, preferably by welding, and shaft 62 is then introduced into pipe portion 66. Spring 68 is slid over shaft 62, and washer 70 is slid over shaft 62 and secured, preferably by welding, to shaft 62, a predetermined distance from the outer end thereof.

In Fig. 5, it can be seen that bolt 30 is movable to the left against the force of spring 68. In use, this enables the outer end of shaft 62 to be moved from one aperture and allowed to click into place in another aperture.

Fig. 7 shows a wing bolt 56, with an enlarged head 72 for easily manual manipulation, and a threaded shaft 74 adapted to co-operate with a nut (not shown) to secure a panel mount arm 46, 50 in a desired position relative to swing arm 38, 40 respectively.

The STAND ALONE TM jig operates as follows. The distance between the two elements 12, 14 is adjusted by moving lateral members 20, 26 relative to each other. The height of posts 28, 34 may then be adjusted relative to posts 16, 22.

Swing arms 38, 42 are then rotated to the generally vertical position shown in Figs. 4 and 1. That position is the most suitable for loading a panel 58 or the like onto the jig 10 and for unloading the panel 58 from the jig. It is also useful for repairs to and spray-painting of the undersides of panels 58.

The panel 58 is then loaded onto the jig 10, normally withe upper side of the panel 58 away from the jig 10. At this stage, it may be useful to have in the lowest mount arm position a mount which also supports the panel 58 in the vertical position. If other forms of treatment of a panel 58 are contemplated, the swing arms 38, 42 are then rotated, through the intermediate position shown in Fig. 3, to the generally horizontal position shown in Fig. 2.

In the Fig. 2 position, the upper side of panel 58 is exposed for spray-painting or the like. When the panel has been treated, the steps described for reaching the Fig. 2 position may be reversed, and the panel removed from the jig when it is in the Fig. 4 orientation.

The ability of the panel mount arms 46, 50, to be adjusted both by rotating through 3600 and by lateral movement along slot 54 of bolt shaft 74, means that any size or shape of body part may be easily and quickly accommodated for treatment.

The modified Fig. 1 embodiment shown in Fig 8 includes some additional features which add to the usefulness of the jig. The reference numbers of Fig. 1 have been used in Fig. 8, and denote the same features in both drawings.

Firstly, the jig 10 is mounted on wheels, one of which is shown as 76.

Preferably, there is a pair of wheel, secured to base 18 in any suitable manner, such that rotation of the wheels 76 is able to take place. The jig may then be wheeled from place to place as desired.

Secondly, there is provided on post 28 or in any other convenient location, a handle 78, which may be used in conjunction with wheels 76 to move the jig about, and/or may be used to move post 28 or any other element of the jig, in relation to other parts of the jig Thirdly, there is provided on base 18 a locking means 80, which is adapted to lock lateral elements 20, 26 together when they have been telescoped into a desired relative position as indicated by the horizontal line, tipped with arrows, in Fig. 8. The means 80 may be a spring-loaded bolt, similar to bolts 30, 31 and 33, or mat be any other suitable means for locking the two element together.

It can be seen that this invention provides an improved support apparatus for the spray-painting and other treatment of vehicle body parts.

The entire contents of the specification and drawings of Australian provisional patent application no. PO7626 are hereby imported into this specification, and form part of the disclosure of this specification.

The claims form part of the disclosure of this specification.

Claims (11)

1. Support apparatus for articles, said apparatus including at least one support arm adapted to be movable from a first position to a second position, said support arm including at least one mount arm, said mount arm being adjustable secured for movement relative to said support arm.

2. Support apparatus according to c;aim 1, wherein said first position is an article loading and unloading, and a secondary treatment position.

3. Support apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said second position is a primary treatment position.

4. Support apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said movement of said support arm is rotation.

Support apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said mount arm is adapted for rotational and translational movement.

6. Support apparatus according to any preceding claim, further including two elements, each of which has a said support arm, said elements being connected together in such a manner that the distance between said elements is adjustable.

7. Support apparatus according to claim 6, wherein there are at least two mount arms on each support arm.

8. Support apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein each said support arm is pivotally attached to a support post, said support post being height-adjustable with respect to a base.

9. Support apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said height adjustment involves the use of a spring pin lock, which is adapted to seat in one of a plurality of apertures in said support post.

Support apparatus, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A jig for supporting vehicle body panels, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 30th day of June 1998 JOHN CHRISTIANSEN Member, F6deration Internationale des Conseils en Propriete Industrielle (International Federation of Industrial Property Attorneys) Patent Attorney for the Applicants: NORMAN RONALD McLEAN CHRISTOPHER MACHIN