Vehicle frame straightening jig
OwnerMichael Espinosainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle frame and unibody straightening jig has eight joints, each including a socket for connecting a pulling tower assembly. A spider joint at one end of the jig includes five spaced sockets radiating within a 180° arc. Multiple pulling towers can be installed side-by-side on the same side of a vehicle. The jig also includes lateral support legs or outriggers pivotable about a 90° arc and foldable against the spine to reduce the width of the jig for storage. Clamps are mounted on the outriggers for connecting the jig to a vehicle frame or unibody, The clamps are adjustable along the length of the legs to permit connection of the jig with a wide variety of vehicle frames and unibody structures. The jig also includes a carriage assembly with wheels for easy positioning beneath a vehicle.
Claims23
A vehicle frame and body straightening jig comprising:
- (a) an elongated longitudinal spine member having opposite ends;
- (b) a plurality of support legs extending from said spine member to support said jig on a support surface;
- (c) a frame connection device positioned on at least one of said legs to connect said jig to a vehicle frame;
- and
- (d) a spider joint positioned at an end of said spine member, said spider joint including a plurality of receivers, each receiver adapted to enable selective connection of a pulling assembly to said receiver, said receivers being fixed in a selected radiating relation.
A vehicle frame and body straightening jig comprising:
- (a) an elongated longitudinal spine member having opposite ends;
- (b) a plurality of support legs extending from said spine member to support said jig on a support surface;
- (c) a frame connection device positioned on at least one of said legs to connect said jig to a vehicle frame;
- (d) a spider joint positioned at an end of said spine member, said spider joint including a plurality of receivers, each receiver adapted to enable selective connection of a pulling assembly to said receiver, said receivers being fixed in a selected radiating relation;
- and (e) said spider joint including five evenly spaced joints radiating within an arc of 180°.
A vehicle straightening jig comprising:
- (a) an elongated longitudinal spine member having opposite ends;
- (b) a plurality of support legs extending from said spine member to support said jig on a support surface;
- (c) a frame connection device positioned on at least one of said legs to connect said jig to a vehicle frame;
- and
- (d) a joint positioned on said spine member, said joint including a plurality of receivers to enable selective reception of at least two pulling assemblies on one side of the vehicle, each receiver adapted to enable connection of a pulling assembly to said receiver.
A vehicle straightening jig comprising:
- (a) an elongated longitudinal spine member having first and second opposite ends, said first end including an end receiver;
- (b) a center joint coupled with said spine, said center joint including a pair of intermediate receivers;
- (c) a plurality of support legs extending from said spine member to support said jig on a support surface;
- (d) a frame connection device positioned on at least one of said legs to connect said jig to a vehicle frame;
- (e) a spider joint positioned at said first end of said spine member, said spider joint including five evenly spaced spider receivers in fixed radiating relation;
- and
- (f) each of said receivers adapted to enable selective connection of a pulling assembly to said receiver for exerting a pulling force against said vehicle from eight discrete locations.
A portable vehicle straightening jig comprising:
- (a) an elongated longitudinal spine member having first and second opposite ends;
- (b) said first and second ends including a carriage assembly having ground engaging casters;
- (c) a plurality of support legs extending from said spine member to support said jig on a support surface;
- (d) pivot plates connecting said support legs to said spine member to enable pivoting and fixing said legs in a selected angular orientation with respect to said spine member;
- (e) said pivot plates enabling pivoting of said support legs to a folded position generally parallel and adjacent to said spine member;
- (f) a frame connection device adjustably connected to each one of said legs to connect said jig to a vehicle frame;
- (g) a pair of center joints, each independently translatable along said spine, said joints each including an intermediate receiver adapted to enable selective connection of a pulling assembly to said intermediate receiver;
- (h) a spider joint positioned at said first end of said spine member, said spider joint including five evenly spaced receivers in fixed radiating relation within an arc of 180°, each receiver adapted to enable selective connection of a pulling assembly to said receiver;
- and
- (i) said second end of said spine member including an end receiver adapted to enable selective connection of a pulling assembly or a handle to said end receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.