BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved motor vehicle frame and body measurement device used in the repair and straightening of damaged motor vehicles.

Various devices have been proposed to assist auto body workmen in measuring automotive bodies particularly those of the unibody construction after a collision. Generally the vehicles are elevated from the floor and rigidly secured to astraightening device so that forces may be applied to straighten damaged areas of the vehicle. Examples of systems which have heretofore been used include those shown in patent to Wendl, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,305, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,918 toClausen. The present invention provides an improved measuring system usable with such frame straightening devices. Moreover, none of said references employ extendable-retractable measuring tapes of the type contemplated by the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automotive frame and body measurement apparatus which incorporates a measuring system that is simpler, less expensive and quicker and easier to use than previous devices. A further object isto provide such device in which the measurements are easier to read than those employed in prior art devices. Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified system which utilizes conventional steel measuring tapes in conjunction withextendable position locating arms. Such tapes are incorporated into the measuring system as an integral part thereof. A further object is to provide a measuring system which is adjustable longitudinally of the axis of the automotive body as well asvertically and laterally in which the measurements can be easily read from the exterior of the vehicle or by a person standing or even lying below or along side the vehicle. A further object of the invention is to provide a measuring system wherein dualmeasurements can be read indicating at once, for example, the distance of a point from the center line of the vehicle as well as from another reference point to displace from the center of the vehicle. Another advantage is to provide a measuring systemin which the starting point of the measurement can conveniently be set at zero at any desired point on the vehicle body.

The present invention relates to an improved automotive body measuring and aligning apparatus. The apparatus of this invention can be used independently of any other straightening device and is provided with clamps to hold the automobile in anelevated fixed position relative to the measuring device. The apparatus includes at least two elongated rails which are situated horizontally with their longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the automobile being worked on. A vertical locator isprovided so as to be moveable along the longitudinal rails and which may be set in position at any desired position along the length of the vehicle. A clamping means such as a set screw is provided to fix the vertical locators at desired positions. Thelocators are completely independent of each other so that points cam be located on one side of the vehicle at different locations front to back along the vehicle than on the other side.

In its simplest form, this invention contemplates the use of extendable position locating arms on each side of a damaged auto body, one extendable positioning arm being provided on each side of the vehicle to extend in each of three perpendicular(to each other) axes, there being affixed on each of said extendable arms at least one extendable-retractable tape measure each of which measures is provided with means to adjustably affix the free end thereof to a desired position on said positioningarm.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention have been described, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the details herein explained. It is expected that those skilled in the art will recognize numerous variations andequivalents which come within the spirit of the invention and which are intended to be included herein.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanyingdrawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a measurement apparatus according to the present invention together with independent vehicle supporting devices used in connection therewith;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4--4 of FIG. 1 with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 5--5 of FIG. 1 with parts broken away;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line 6--6 of FIG. 1 with parts broken away;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a vehicle clamping tower; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line 8--8 of FIG. 7.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there is seen in FIG. 1 two pairs of support ramps 10, 12 and 14, 16 spaced apart to support each side of a motor vehicle. Theseramps support the vehicle by means of a clamp means 18 located at the top of each ramp. In addition to supporting the motor vehicle each pair of ramps or clamping towers adjustably support horizontal rails 20 and 22, the rails are supported on ramps 10by means of adjustable mounting means 24 and 26. As seen in FIG. 8 the height of the ramps can be adjusted by loosening and tightening bolt 28 which is fitted through an elongated slot in the upper half of ramp 10. It will be noted that each clamp 18can be adjustably positioned on the clamping tower by means of set screw 30. As seen, clamp 18 is supported on a sleeve 31 which is slidable over the horizontal end of tower 10. Attached to or inscribed on the top horizontal surface of tower 10 is alineal measuring scale 11. Scale 11 is provided with scale markings which indicate the distance from the center or halfway point between the pair of towers 10 and 14 to any marked point on scale either in centimeters or inches. Proper location of themarkings depends on accurate positioning of floor mounting places for the clamping towers 10, 12, 14 and 16. Once the scales have been thus properly positioned, the distance from the centerline will be indicated on scale 11. The clamps 18 can then bepre-positioned for any particular changed motor vehicle by setting the distance between clamps precisely in accordance with the motor vehicle manufacturer's specifications. Additional support is given to the ramps by means of adjustable extendable legs32 which can be lowered to the floor and are useful in overcoming minior irregularities in the floor surface. By means of the various adjustments provided by the bolds and set screws as shown the motor vehicle and rails can readily be fixed in a levelposition.

A vertical upright member 34 and 36 are provided for each of the horizontal rails 20 and 22 as shown in FIG. 1. Rollers and bearings are provided as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 to facilitate the easy movement of the uprights over the rails. Thevertical uprights or measuring towers can thus be easily rolled along the rails 20 and 22 to determine measurements on the desired part of the vehicle. As best seen in FIG. 2 upright member 36 is bolted to a generally rectangular housing 40 and upright34 is similarly attached to housing 38. As seen in FIG. 2 rollers 42 are provided on each side of rail 22, said rollers being shown from the side in FIG. 3. It will be noted that set screws 4 are provided for each opposed pair of rollers so that thepressure of rollers 42 against the rail 22 and can be adjusted. Affixed to each side of housings 38 and 40 are brackets 46, 48 and 50, 52 which are adapted to hold retractable steel rulers or tapes 54, 56 and 58, 60, the operation of which will be morespecifically set forth hereinafter. Slidably affixed over vertical upright 34 is a collar 62 to which is affixed a horizontal gauge member 64 which slidably passes through a horizontal collar 66 that is integral with collar 62. Set screw 68 is providedto secure the horizontal element 64 at a desired position. A similar collar 72 is provided around vertical element 36. For ease of positioning the elevation of collar 72 and horizontal element 74 slidably located in horizontal collar 78 is acounter-weight 80 positioned within vertical element 36. As noted counter-weight 80 can be affixed to collar 72 by means of a rope 82 and allowed to move freely by passing over pulleys 84. Roller bearings 86 can also be provided within collar 72 tofacilitate movement of the collar over element 36 as shown in FIG. 5. The elevation of collar 72 can be fixed by means of set screw 88 and tension on bearings 86 is adjusted by means of set screw 87.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4 there is seen on each side of housing 38 brackets 46 and 48, respectively. Standard steel measuring tapes 54 and 56 are positioned inside of brackets 46 and 48 and secured thereto by means of a conventionalspring clip 55 and 57, respectively, which spring clips are an integral part of extendable steel rule tapes commercially available. Adjustable collars 90 and 92 are provided to slide along rail 20 and may be clamped into any desired fixed positionthereon be means of set screws 91 and 93, respectively. Suitable loops 94 and 95, respectively, are provided on collars 90 and 92 to receive the ends of steel measuring tapes 49 and 61 which are coiled inside of the tape casings 54 and 56 and may beextended therefrom in conventional fashion. It will be thus noted in FIG. 4 that if tape 59 were to be retracted and set screw 91 attached to rail 20 at such retracted position that housing 38 if moved to the right in FIG. 4 would cause steel tap 59 todraw out of casing 54. The amount of movement of housing 38 and thus vertical element 34 from the starting point can immediately be determined by reading the marked gauge on measuring tape 59. Similarly, the end of tape 61 can be set at any desiredlocation using set screw 93. It will thus be readily apparent that the distance from various reference points can readily be determined as housing 38 is moved from right to left. The advantages of the measuring system of the present invention will thusbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be notd that the same procedure and advantages inure from using steel tapes 50 and 52 in conjunction with viable box 40 which carries vertical member 36 along rail 22.

Referring to FIG. 6 it will be noted that collar 62 is provided with a bracket 96 which carries a steel tape 98 clipped to the bracket by means of the spring clip on the side of the steel measuring tape. The use of one or two such tapes on thevertical element will enable measurement of vertical distances starting from any desired beginning point. A collar (not shown) associated with vertical member 34 is used to adjustably affix the end of tape 98 to a desired point on vertical member 34.

Collars 100 and 102 are provided to slidably fit over or around horizontal member 64 and are provided with means 104 and 106 adapted to receive the free ends of extendable steel rulers 108 and 110 which are situated in brackets 112 and 114 bymeans of clips on the side of the steel tape housing. It will be noted that in the preferred embodiment the end portions 116 and 118 of the horizontal measuring bars may be extendable and are provided with pointers as indicated. Pointers 120 and 122may be used to more precisely locate points under a vehicle or in the interior thereof. An advantage of the present invention is that the measuring devices on one side of a motor vehicle which has not been damaged can be measured and set using themeasuring device of the present invention. Measurements can thereafter be made on the damaged side to determine proper location from which the damaged parts have been displaced. The positions thus determined can be used as a guide as the vehicle isstraightened using conventional pulling devices. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various commerically available devices can be used by those skilled in the art.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details herein explained. It is expected that those skilled in the art having been provided with theteachings herein will recognize numerous equivalents and variations which will come within the spirit of the invention which are intended to be included herein.

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