Measurement apparatus and use thereof

An apparatus for evaluating an expected fit of a component prior to installation thereof within an opening in a correspondingly shaped receiving, with a peripheral edge at least partially circumscribing the opening the apparatus comprising:

• a base structure including one or more locating structures extending from or formed within said base, said locating elements configured for reproducible positive positioning within the receiving body at a corresponding datum location in common with the component;
• and
• two or more extendable structures adjustably extendable from said base in different directions, each structure having a magnetized remote end portion so as to engage, at least partially under forces generated by the magnet, a corresponding peripheral edge region of the receiving body;
• wherein the datum locations, together with a measured position of the extendable structures, relative to the datum locations provides indication as to the expected fit of the component, when later installed in the receiving body.

A hand held apparatus for evaluating an expected fit of a vehicle component prior to installation thereof within a correspondingly shaped target region in a vehicle body, with a peripheral edge region at least partially circumscribing the target region, the apparatus comprising:

• a base structure including one or more locating structures extending from or formed within said base, said locating elements configured for reproducible positive positioning within the vehicle body at a corresponding datum location in common with the vehicle component;
• and
• two or more extendable structures adjustably extendable from said base in different directions, each structure having a magnetized remote end portion so as to engage, at least partially under forces generated by the magnet, a corresponding peripheral edge region of the vehicle body, the extendable structures being adjustable relative to a preset extension representative of a preset gap defined between the vehicle component, once installed, and the peripheral edge region;
• wherein the datum locations, together with measured position of the extendable structures, relative to the datum locations provides indication as to the expected fit of the vehicle component, when later installed in the vehicle body.

A method for evaluating an expected fit of a component prior to installation thereof within an opening in a correspondingly shaped receiving body, with a peripheral edge at least partially circumscribing the opening, the method comprising:

• a) locating an apparatus with a base structure including one or more locating structures extending from or formed within the base and configured for reproducible positive positioning within the receiving body at a corresponding datum location in common with the component, and two or more extendable structures adjustably extendable from the base in different directions, each structure having a magnetized remote end portion so as to engage a corresponding peripheral edge region of the receiving body, the extendable structures being adjustable relative to a preset extension representative of a preset gap defined between the component, once installed, and the peripheral edge region of the opening;
• b) orienting the apparatus with each of the locating structures at a corresponding datum location;
• c) orienting each extendable structure to enable the magnetized remote end portion to engage, at least partially under forces generated by the magnet, its corresponding peripheral edge region;
• d) ascertaining an expected fit between the receiving body and a later installed component according to the position of the extendable structures relative to the datum locations;
• and
• e) advancing the body to a subsequent step according to the ascertained fit.