Modular tooling coupling apparatus

A coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members comprising:

• a base member releasably connectable to a slide mount wherein said base member is adjustably located along a predetermined linear path of travel, and said base member having a first contoured surface;
• a midportion having second and third contoured surfaces wherein said second contoured surface matingly engages and is adjustably connected to said first contoured surface of said base member for rotatably adjusting said midportion about a first axis;
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling rod, and said end member having a fourth contoured surface wherein said third contoured surface of said midportion matingly engages and is adjustably connected to said fourth contoured surface of said end member for rotatably adjusting said end member about a second axis wherein said first axis is substantially perpendicular to said second axis;
• and
• the base member, the midportion, and the end member fabricated from cast aluminum.

A coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members comprising:

• a substantially diamond shaped base member having a first contoured surface formed thereon, and said base member releasably connectable to a slide mount wherein said base member is adjustably located along a predetermined linear path of travel;
• a midportion having second and third contoured surfaces with a structural support extending between said second and third contoured surfaces, and said second contoured surface matingly engaging and adjustably connected to said first contoured surface of said base member for rotatably adjusting said midportion 360° about a first axis with respect to said base member;
• and
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling rod and having a fourth contoured surface that matingly engages and is adjustably connected to said third contoured surface of said midportion for rotatably adjusting said end member 360° about a second axis with respect to said midportion wherein said first axis is substantially perpendicular to said second axis.

A coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members comprising:

• a substantially diamond shaped base member having a first contoured surface formed thereon, and said base member releasably connectable to a slide mount wherein said base member is adjustably located along a predetermined linear path of travel;
• a midportion having second and third contoured surfaces with a structural support extending between said second and third contoured surfaces, and second contoured surface matingly engaging and adjustably connected to said first contoured surface of said base member for rotatably adjusting said midportion 360° about a first axis with respect to said base member;
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling rod and having a fourth contoured surface that matingly engages and is adjustably connected to said third contoured surface of said midportion for rotatably adjusting said end member 360° about a second axis with respect to said midportion wherein said first axis is substantially perpendicular to said second axis;
• and
• said base member, said midportion, and said end member fabricated from cast aluminum.

In a coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members on an elongate support boom having a mounting slot formed therein, the improvement comprising:

• a non-cylindrical base member releasably and adjustably connectable along the mounting slot of the support boom, and the base member having a first contoured surface;
• a midportion having second and third contoured surfaces, the second contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the first contoured surface of the base member for rotatably adjusting the midportion about a first axis;
• and
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling support, the end member having a fourth contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable with the third contoured surface of the midportion for rotatably adjusting the end member about a second axis.

In a coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members on an elongate support boom having a mounting slot formed therein, the improvement comprising:

• a base member releasably and adjustably connectable along the mounting slot of the support boom, and the base member having a first contoured surface;
• a midportion having second and third contoured surfaces, the second contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the first contoured surface of the base member for rotatably adjusting the midportion about a first axis;
• and
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling support, the end member having a fourth contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable with the third contoured surface of the midportion for rotatably adjusting the end member about a second axis, wherein the base member, the midportion, and the end member fabricated from cast aluminum.

In a coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members on an elongate support boom having a mounting slot formed therein, the improvement comprising:

• a base member releasably and adjustably connectable along the mounting slot of the support boom, and the base member having a first contoured surface;
• a midportion having second and third contour surfaces, the second contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the first contoured surface of the base member for rotatably adjusting the midportion about a first axis;
• and
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling support, the end member having a fourth contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable with the third contoured surface of the midportion for rotatably adjusting the end member about a second axis, wherein the midportion having a central pocket defining at least one cavity for at least partially enclosing heads of fasteners housed within the cavity, the fasteners extending along the first axis and the second axis through the second and third contoured surfaces.

A coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members comprising:

• a base member releasably and adjustably connectable along a mounting slot of a support boom, and the base member having a first contoured surface;
• a midportion having second and third contoured surfaces, the second contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the first contoured surface of the base member for rotatably adjusting the midportion about a first axis;
• and
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling rod, the end member having a fourth contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the third contoured surface of the midportion for rotatably adjusting the end member about a second axis, the second axis lying in a common plane with the first axis and intersecting the first axis at a predetermined angle.

A coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members comprising:

• a base member releasably and adjustably connectable along a mounting slot of a support boom, and the base member having a first contoured surface;
• a midportion having second and third contoured surfaces, the second contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the first contoured surface of the base member for rotatably adjusting the midportion about a first axis;
• and
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling rod, the end member having a fourth contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the third contoured surface of the midportion for rotatably adjusting the end member about a second axis, the second axis lying in a common plane with
• the first axis and intersecting the first axis at a predetermined angle, wherein the base member, the midportion, and the end member fabricated from cast aluminum.

A coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members comprising:

• a base member releasably and adjustably connectable along a mounting slot of a support boom, and the base member having a first contoured surface;
• a midportion having second and third contoured surfaces, the second contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the first contoured surface of the base member for rotatably adjusting the midportion about a first axis;
• and
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling rod, the end member having a fourth contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the third contoured surface of the midportion for rotatably adjusting the end member about a second axis, the second axis lying in a common plane with the first axis and intersecting the fast axis at a predetermined angle, wherein the midportion having a central pocket defining at least one cavity for at least partially enclosing heads of fasteners housed within the cavity, the fasteners extending along the first axis and the second axis through the second and third contoured surfaces.

A coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members comprising:

• an elongate support boom having a mounting slot formed therein;
• a substantially diamond shaped base member releasably and adjustably connectable to the mounting slot of the support boom, and the base member having a first contoured surface formed thereon;
• a midportion having second and third contoured surfaces, the midportion having a central pocket defining at least one cavity for at least partially enclosing heads of fasteners housed within the cavity, the second contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the first contoured surface of the base member for rotatably adjusting the midportion 360° about a first axis with respect to the base member;
• and
• an end member releasably connectable to a tooling rod and having a fourth contoured surface matingly engagable and adjustably connectable to the third contoured surface of the midportion for rotatably adjusting the end member 360° about a second axis with respect to the midportion, wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.