Portable seal gap gage system

A method for measuring a true seal gap between a vehicle door and a vehicle doorway frame member taking into account variations in door flushness conditions comprising the steps of:

• (a) measuring flushness between the vehicle door and the vehicle doorway frame member;
• (b) measuring the seal gap between the vehicle door and the vehicle doorway frame member;
• (c) determining the difference between measured flushness and ideal flushness;
• (d) correcting the measured seal gap based on the difference between measured and ideal flushness.

A system for measuring a gap between a pair of spaced apart opposed surfaces, said system comprising:

• at least one gage assembly adapted to be mounted adjacent to the surfaces, said gage assembly including;
• a gage body,
• a head portion extending from said gage body,
• a pair of opposing jaws adapted to grip one of the surfaces such that said gage assembly remains fixed relative to one of the surfaces,
• a probe supported by said head portion and being selectively displaceable relative to said pair of opposing jaws based upon gap size, and
• a lever portion having a handle end wherein said lever portion supports one of said pair of opposing jaws opposite said handle end and is pivotally engaged with said gage body to open said pair of opposing jaws upon manipulation of said lever portion such that said opposing jaws can grip one of the surfaces for fixing said gage assembly relative to one of the surfaces;
• a sensor for measuring position or displacement of said probe relative to said pair of opposing jaws;
• and
• an actuating mechanism for remotely activating the system to measure the gap.

(Amended). A system for measuring a gap, said system comprising:

• a pair of spaced apart opposed surfaces;
• at least one gage assembly mounted adjacent to said surfaces, said gage assembly including;
• a gage body,
• a head portion extending from said gage body,
• a pair of opposing jaws to grip one of said surfaces such that said gage assembly remains fixed relative to one of said surfaces, and
• a probe supported by said head portion and being selectively displaceable relative to said pair of opposing jaws based upon gap size;
• an adapter assembly mounted to said gage assembly, said adapter assembly including an adapter block mounted to said gage body and a probe extension mounted to said probe for providing extended support for said probe to measure larger gap sizes;
• a sensor for measuring position or displacement of said probe and said probe extension relative to said pair of opposing jaws;
• and
• an actuating mechanism for remotely activating the system to measure the gap.

A system for measuring a true seal gap between a vehicle door and a vehicle doorway frame member while taking into account variations in door flushness, said system comprising:

• a flush gage having at least one flush probe adapted to be mounted adjacent the vehicle door or doorway frame member, said flush probe being selectively displaceable relative to said flush gage;
• at least one gage assembly adapted co be mounted adjacent to the vehicle door or doorway frame member, said gage assembly including;
• a gage body,
• a head portion extending from said gage body,
• a pair of opposing jaws adapted to grip the vehicle door or doorway frame member such that said gage assembly remains fixed relative to the vehicle door or doorway frame member,
• a probe supported by said head portion and being selectively displaceable relative to said pair of opposing jaws based upon gap size, and
• a lever portion having a handle end wherein said lever portion supports one of said pair of opposing jaws opposite said handle end and is pivotally engaged with said gage body to open said pair of opposing jaws upon manipulation of said lever portion such that said opposing jaws can grip the vehicle door or doorway frame member for fixing said gage assembly relative to the vehicle door or doorway frame member;
• at least one sensor for measuring position or displacement of said flush probe and position or displacement of said probe of said gage assembly;
• and
• an actuating mechanism for remotely activating the system to measure the door flushness and the gap.

A system for measuring a gap, said system comprising:

• a pair of spaced apart opposed surfaces;
• at least one gage assembly mounted adjacent to said surfaces, said gage assembly including;
• a gage body,
• a head portion extending from said gage body,
• a pair of opposing jaws to grip one of said surfaces such that said gage assembly remains fixed relative to one of said surfaces,
• a probe supported by said head portion and being selectively displaceable relative to said pair of opposing jaws based upon gap size, and
• a lever portion having a handle end wherein said lever portion supports one of said pair of opposing jaws opposite said handle end and is pivotally engaged with said gage body to open said pair of opposing jaws upon manipulation of said lever portion such that said opposing jaws can grip one of said surfaces for fixing said gage assembly relative to one of said surfaces;
• a sensor for measuring position or displacement of said probe relative to said pair of opposing jaws;
• and
• an actuating mechanism for remotely activating the system to measure the gap.