Patent ID: 7874078
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for measuring a vehicle's structure without requiring the use of a fixed mechanical grid mechanism, comprising: at least one portable elongated gauge having at least one linear measuring scale, a means for locating a point on a vehicle, a means for leveling said gauge, and a means for squaring an alignment between said gauge and at least one light beam; and a light source device comprising an arm having a base for placing said arm on or in proximity to said vehicle, a mount for mounting a light beam means relative to said arm, a means for rotating said light beam means in a horizontal plane on said mount while said arm is simultaneously rotated in the same or opposite direction of said light beam means without eliminating the level orientation of said light beam means, whereby said light source device can be placed on or in proximity to said vehicle with at least one light beam being emitted from said light source device, said portable elongated gauge can be placed relative to a point on said vehicle and positioned using said squaring means to align said gauge to said light beam, whereby at least one light beam baseline can be established and measurements can be determined between said baseline and points located on the vehicle's upper and/or lower structure.