Flexible support assembly for vehicle tooling plates

A rapidly deployable support pin assembly for locating and supporting a fixture on a tooling plate having a locating surface, the fixture defining at least one pinhole, and the tooling plate defining a plurality of fastening holes at preselected locations of the locating surface, the support pin assembly comprising:

• a stanchion member configured to fixedly secure the support pin assembly to the locating surface of the tooling plate at a predetermined location, the stanchion member defining a substantially cylindrical bore and having a first threaded portion on an inner-diameter surface thereof;
• a substantially cylindrical sleeve member at least partially disposed within the bore, having a second threaded portion on an outer-diameter surface thereof, wherein the second threaded portion is threadably engaged with the first threaded portion such that the sleeve member is configured to telescope with respect to the stanchion member between a first position and a second position;
• a locator pin having a first end and a second opposing end, wherein the locator pin is engaged with the sleeve member at the first end and configured to mate with the fixture at the second end;
• a stopper pin operatively connected to the sleeve member and configured to selectively extend and retract relative to the locator pin;
• a first spring configured to urge the locator pin away from the locating surface and facilitate rapid deployment of the locator pin;
• and
• wherein the locator pin is free to displace relative to the locating surface when the stopper pin is retracted, and the locator pin is blocked from displacing relative to the locating surface by the stopper pin when the stopper pin is extended.