# US 2014/0189996 A1 · Door adjustment tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0189996 A1 - Document ID: US20140189996A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/738,818 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: PACCAR Inc - Inventors: Jonathan F. Wilkens; Mathew J. Freiheit - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140189996A1 ## CPC - E05B 79/02: Mounting of vehicle locks or parts thereof - B62D 65/026: {by using a jig or the like; Positioning of the jig} - B62D 65/06: the sub-units or components being doors, windows, openable roofs, lids, bonnets, or weather strips or seals therefor {(assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts, e.g. doors, windows B60J10/45)} - Y10T 29/49895: Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"] - Y10T 29/53983: Work-supported apparatus - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An alignment tool for use with a vehicle having a door moveably secured to a door frame and a door latch assembly defined on the door includes a body having a front surface and a rear surface and a through-hole extending through the body that is sized and configured to receive a striker pin of a vehicle. A first end surface defined on the body is configured to engage the door frame to set a cross-car position of the striker pin. A latch-engaging assembly is engageable with a portion of the door latch assembly to set a vertical position of the striker pin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An alignment tool for use with a vehicle having a door moveably secured to a door frame and a door latch assembly defined on the door, the alignment tool comprising: (a) a body having a front surface and a rear surface; (b) a through-hole extending through the body that is sized and configured to receive a striker pin of a vehicle; (c) a first end surface defined on the body that is configured to engage the door frame to set a cross-car position of the striker pin; and (d) a latch-engaging assembly engageable with a portion of the door latch assembly to set a vertical position of the striker pin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The alignment tool of claim 1, wherein the end surface of the body is defined by first and second door frame engaging surfaces. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The alignment tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second door frame engaging surfaces are defined on ends of first and second cross-car location members extending from the body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The alignment tool of claim 1, wherein the first end surface of the body is defined by an end protrusion extending substantially transversely from the body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The alignment tool of claim 1, wherein the latch-engaging assembly comprises a latch-fork engaging member engageable with a latch fork of the door latch assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The alignment tool of claim 5, wherein the latch-fork engaging member is a latch engaging striker pin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The alignment tool of claim 1, wherein the latch-engaging assembly comprises first and second horns extending from a second end surface of the body, the first and second horns receivable within first and second notches on the door latch assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The alignment tool of claim 1, further comprising an annular collar surrounding the through-hole and extending from the front surface of the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The alignment tool of claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the body is engageable with a portion of the door frame to set a fore/aft position of the striker pin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The alignment tool of claim 1, further comprising first and second receptacles defined in the front surface of the body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The alignment tool of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises first and second side surfaces configured to receive a force for adjusting the vertical position of the striker pin. ### Claim 12 A method for installing a striker pin on a vehicle door assembly, the method comprising: (a) providing a vehicle having a door moveably secured to a door frame and a door latch assembly defined on the door; (b) providing an alignment tool, comprising: (i) a body having a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface; (ii) a through-hole extending through the body that is sized and configured to receive a striker pin of a vehicle; (iii) a first end surface defined on the body that is configured to engage the door frame; and (iv) a latch-engaging assembly engageable with a portion of the door latch; (c) disposing a striker pin within the through-hole; (d) engaging the rear surface of the body with a portion of the door frame to set a fore/aft position of the striker pin; (e) engaging the first end surface of the body with a portion of the door frame to set a cross-car position of the striker pin; and (f) engaging the latch-engaging assembly with a portion of the door latch assembly to set a vertical position of the striker pin. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising imposing a force on at least one of the first and second side surfaces to adjust the vertical position of the striker pin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the end surface of the body is defined by first and second door frame engaging surfaces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second door frame engaging surfaces are defined on ends of first and second cross-car location members extending from the body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first end surface of the body is defined by an end protrusion extending substantially transversely from the body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the latch-engaging assembly comprises a latch-fork engaging member engageable with a latch fork of the door latch assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the latch-fork engaging member is a latch engaging striker pin. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the latch-engaging assembly comprises first and second horns extending from a second end surface of the body, the first and second horns receivable within first and second notches on the door latch assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising an annular collar surrounding the through-hole and extending from the front surface of the body.