Abstract:
A connector for mounting a vehicle measuring system to a vehicle fixture hole includes spaced arms with projecting end lugs which evenly and symmetrically open and grip the material defining the hole so that the connector is centered with respect to the hole. Rotation of a thumb wheel operates a wedge arrangement to evenly spread the arms and securely tighten the connector to the material defining the hole. A bushing on the connector is connectible to the vechicle measuring system and is longitudinally adjustable to set a precise distance from the measuring system to the fixture hole.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to measuring systems for determining the alignment of vehicle frames and body portions and in particular, to a connector for mounting the measuring system to the vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When vehicles and other such structures are manufactured, the separate frames or even integral frames, as in unibody design, are assembled in large jigs with various fixtures or studs extending outwardly from appropriate places on the jig to accommodate various frame members. These frame members have holes or apertures, called fixture holes, which properly position the frame part onto the fixture studs of the jig. These parts, once positioned, are connected by other frame members, panels and the like and the vehicle or other such structure is constructed accordingly, using these fixture holes as reference points. 
     When the article so constructed is subsequently damaged, as in the case of a vehicle involved in a mishap, reference should again be made to the various fixture holes for precise positioning of parts and to use these fixture holes as reference points to determine the extent of the damage. Arrangements for making these determinations are becoming known in the art, one particularly successful type being disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,945 and assigned to the assignee of the instant application. The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,945 utilizes spaced measurement scale carrier bars which respectively have sighting instruments, such as laser sighting instruments, and targets mounted on ends of the bars and which are connected to the vehicle by connectors attached at the fixture holes. Clearly, the more precise that measurements can be made of the extent of the damage, the more precise can be the repair and to that end, the measurement scale carrier bars must be precisely positioned with respect to the fixture holes. Heretofore, one means of connection employed L-shaped hangers and the L-shaped arm was inserted into the fixture hole. Another connector device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,945 consisted of an arm arrangement spread open and closed by a thumb screw extending between the upper arms. This latter arrangement more precisely centered the connector with respect to the fixture hole, but in none of the prior arrangements did the connector provide for adjustment of the distance from the fixture hole to the measurement scale carrier bar. In certain circumstances, adjustment of this distance is desired. 
     The present invention provides such a connector device which centers and precisely positions a connector with respect to the fixture hole and which is adjustable in length to precisely select the distance from the fixture hole to the vehicle measuring system. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a connector for mounting a vehicle measurement system to a vehicle; to provide such a connector which during use precisely centers itself with respect to the fixture hole; to provide such a connector which is adjustable in height to set a desired distance between members of a vehicle measuring system to the fixture hole; to provide such a connector which automatically draws up tight against the material defining the fixture hole; to provide such a connector which is capable of precise adjustment; to provide such a connector which is particularly adapted for connecting a vehicle measuring system such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,945 to a vehicle fixture hole; and to provide such a connector which is sturdy and efficient in use and particularly well adapted for the intended purpose. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a portion of the vehicle measuring system with connectors embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the portion of the vehicle measuring system with the present connectors thereon. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the connector embodying the present invention and showing same in a closed position. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the connector showing same in an open position and adjusted in height. 
     FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Referring to the drawings in more detail: 
     The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a connector embodying the present invention. The connector may mount a measurement scale carrier bar 2, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,945, incorporated herein by reference, to a vehicle or other such structure having fixture holes 3. In the illustrated example, the connector 1 connects a slide member 4 mounted on the measurement scale carrier bar 2 to a vehicle frame portion 5 having the fixture hole 3 therein. The slide member 4 includes a socket 6 and a set screw, such as a thumb screw 7, extendible through the wall of the socket 6. 
     In the illustrated example, the connector 1 generally includes a block member 9 with confronting arms 10 and 11 swingably mounted to the block member 9 and having arm ends with means for engaging the fixture hole 3. A threaded shaft 12 extends through the block member 9 and, at an upper end, connects to a wedge member 13 which engages the arms 10 and 11. A biasing means 14 urges the arms 10 and 11 into contact with the wedge member 13 and a means 15 for rotating the threaded shaft 12 causes the wedge member 13 to move upwardly and downwardly and spread the arms 10 and 11 outwardly to engage with the fixture hole 3. An end of the threaded shaft 12 generally connects to the slide member 4 on the measurement scale carrier bar 2. 
     In the illustrated example, the block member 9 has a central aperture 18 and opposite sides 19 and 20 with spaced, opposite pairs of wings 21 and 22, thereby generally forming the block member 9 in the shape of an &#34;H&#34; with a thickened mid-body portion. 
     The arms 10 and 11 are spaced, confronting, and have proximal ends 24 respectively swingably connected to the pairs of wings 21 and 22 by pivots 25 extending therethrough. Distal ends 27 extend from the block member 9 and have respectively mating end surfaces 28 which fit flush against each other, FIG. 3, and have protruding lugs 29 from each of the distal ends 27 with tapered, semi-circular surfaces 30 thereon tapering toward the block member 9 and defining a catch corner between the upper surface of the distal end 27 and the tapered surface 30 of the lug 29. 
     The arms 10 and 11 have confronting, arcuate inner surfaces 32 providing a generally circular upper area or opening 33 which converges toward the proximal ends 24 and diverges toward the distal ends 27. 
     The threaded shaft 12 is elongate and extends through the aperture 18 of the block member 9 and has a first end 36 situated in the generally circular upper area or opening 33 between the arms 10 and 11 and a second end 37 extending oppositely from the block member 9. A mid portion 39 of the shaft 12 is unthreaded and has an integral thrust ring 40 positioned atop the block member 9. Secured to the mid portion 39 of the shaft 12 is the means 15 for rotating the shaft 12. In the illustrated example, the means 15 is a thumb wheel 42 having a knurled circumferential surface and chamfered edges. A set screw 43 securely and nonrotatably engages the thumb wheel 42 to the mid portion 39 of the shaft 12. The thumb wheel 42 is positioned immediately below the block member 9 to, in combination with the thrusting 40, prevent the shaft 12 from longitudinal movement relative to the block member 9. Rotation of the thumb wheel 42 causes the wedge member 13 to move upwardly and downwardly, FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     In the illustrated example, the wedge member 13 is threadably mounted on the first end 36 of the shaft 12 and situated in the generally circular upper area or opening 33 between the arms 10 and 11. The wedge member 13 is generally semi-circular in form, conforms to the shape of the opening 33, and has opposite, symmetrical side surfaces 45 engaging the inner surfaces 32 of the arms 10 and 11. A bottom surface 46 of the wedge member 13 is flattened for face-to-face contact with the block member 9 and the thrust ring 40, FIG. 4. 
     To maintain the arms 10 and 11 in contact with the wedge memer 13, the biasing means 14 extends between the arms 10 and 11. In the illustrated example, the biasing means 14 is an arcuate spring member 48 which curves about the upper area or opening 33 and generally follows its shape. The spring member 48 has opposite ends 49 extending through holes 50 in the arm members 10 and 11 adjacent the proximal ends 24 and the ends 49 are bent downwardly so that the spring member 48 remains connected to the arms 10 and 11. The arcuate shape of the spring member 48 maintains a set or memory which urges the arms 10 and 11 together tightly about the wedge member 13. 
     An elongate threaded bushing 52 is mounted on the second end 37 of the shaft 12 and has a distal end 53 with means for engaging the vehicle measuring system. The bushing 52 has a threaded interior bore 54 extending completely therethrough and by rotation of the bushing 52, the shaft 12 moves upwardly and downwardly, carrying the block member 9 and arms 10 and 11 therewith. To lock the bushing 52 at a desired position, a jam nut 56 is mounted on the shaft 12 and positioned between the bushing 52 and the thumb wheel 42. An index or hash mark 58 on the bushing 52 can be used to indicate the position for rotation, such as a full turn or one quarter turn or the like. 
     The shaft 12 is mounted to the socket 6 by means of the bushing 52 and in the illustrated example, the distal end 53 of the bushing 52 has a circumferential groove 60 therearound into which the thumb screw 7 extends to maintain the bushing 52 in position in the socket 6. 
     In use, the thumb wheel 42 is turned until the wedge member 13 is fully extended upwardly and the arms 10 and 11 are drawn together by the biasing means 14, FIG. 3. The tapered lugs 29 of the arms 10 and 11 are inserted in the fixture hole 3 and the thumb wheel 42 rotated in the opposite direction to pull the wedge member 13 toward the block member and symmetrically open the arms 10 and 11 outwardly to engage the lugs 29 with the periphery of the fixture hole 3. As the lugs 29 engage the periphery of the hole, the tapered, semi-circular faces tend to slip on the wall of the fixture hole and draw the arms 10 and 11 snugly upwardly, FIG. 4, until reaching the upper surface of the arm end 27. 
     To adjust the height of the connector 1, the bushing 52 is rotated in either direction and the distal end 53 inserted in the socket 6 and secured therein by the engagement of the thumb screw 7 with the groove 60. To lock the bushing into an extended position, the jam nut 56 is rotated tight against the top of the bushing 52. 
     It is to be understood that while one form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts described and shown, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.