Abstract:
An apparatus for holding and retaining a vehicle to be lifted comprising a plurality of transverse assemblies with each including a pair of crossbeams attached to one another in a spaced apart parallel manner by means of end plates having a plurality of recesses therein. Frame anchor assemblies are slidably disposed within the channel between the crossbeams and adjust to support the frames of various sized motor vehicles.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to anchor stands and, more specifically, to a vehicle holding apparatus for use as a support platform engaging the frame of the vehicle. The apparatus is comprised of spaced apart longitudinal crossbeams having a spacer medially positioned and end plates fastened at the distal end. The end plates have apertures providing means for attaching a stand suspending the crossbeams therebetween. The present invention further comprises a planar base plate, an L-shaped frame anchor insert and a frame anchor sleeve having a cantilevered bracket forming an integral part therewith. 
   A pair of frame anchor assemblies are positioned within and spaced at opposing ends of the transverse channel formed by the crossbeams. The frame anchor inserts are fastened to base plates by means of fasteners wherein they are contained between the crossbeams with the base plates engaging the bottom surface of the crossbeams. The lower horizontal portion of the L-shaped frame anchor inserts form the guide member for slidably positioning the frame anchor assemblies. The frame anchor sleeves have a plurality of recesses that mate with opposing recesses positioned within the frame anchor inserts. A bearing plate having a slot conforming substantially to the frame anchor insert is fastened encompassing the vertical portion of the L-shaped frame anchor insert that continues to extend therethrough whereby the frame anchor sleeve can be placed thereon once the recesses of the frame anchor sleeve and frame anchor insert are aligned fasteners are inserted to fix said positioning. The frame anchor sleeve while being fastened to the frame anchor insert also engages the upper bearing plate thereby fixedly positioning the frame anchor assembly within the spaced apart crossbeams. Once positioned the opposing cantilevered brackets will engage the bottom of the vehicle frame while the adjacent wall engages the vehicle frame wall thereby creating a vehicle holding system. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   There are other support devices designed for automotive tasks. While these support devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
   It is thus desirable that there exist an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle that is designed for use with heavier vehicles such as SUV&#39;s or full frame trucks whereby frame straightening and other related automotive tasks can be performed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   A primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle for heavier vehicles such as pickup trucks and SUV&#39;s. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle that prevents movement of the vehicular frame after positioned therein. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle that reduces the setup time for vehicle frame adjustments. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle wherein pressure can be applied in either pulling or pushing without the vehicle being displaced from the preselected operative position. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle having a pair of spaced apart crossbeams having a medially positioned spacer and fixedly positioned end plates fastened to their distal ends. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle wherein said crossbeam end plates have means for attaching stands thereto. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle wherein frame anchor assemblies are slidably contained within the spaced apart crossbeams. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle wherein the frame anchor assemblies engage the base and adjacent exterior wall of said vehicular frame. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle wherein the frame anchor assemblies have planar members engaging the top and bottom sides of the crossbeams. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a motor vehicle wherein the frame anchor assembly further comprises a frame anchor sleeve. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide compatible recesses within the frame anchor insert and frame anchor sleeve whereby said components can be fastened together. 
   Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
   The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
   The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the transverse assembly of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the frame anchor assembly within the treadway. 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the supportive vehicle frame anchor sleeve. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the bearing plate. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the frame anchor insert. 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the treadway. 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the base plate. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
   Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Vehicle Holding System of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing FIGURES.
           10  apparatus for holding and retaining a vehicle to be lifted     11  transverse assembly     12  treadway     14  crossbeam of  12       15  transverse channel of  14       16  end plate of  12       17  recesses of  16       18  spacer element of  12       20  frame anchor assembly     22  frame anchor sleeve     24  recesses of  22       26  cantilevered bracket of  22       27  hollow interior of  22       28  frame anchor insert     30  vertical portion of  28       32  horizontal portion of  28       34  top of  32       36  bottom of  32       38  threaded recesses of  30       40  threaded recesses of  36       42  bearing plate     44  slotted cut-out of  42       45  frame anchor assembly securing means     46  base plate     48  recesses of  46       50  threaded bolt     52  vehicle     54  retaining flange of  16         

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
     FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. The present invention  10  is an apparatus for holding and retaining a vehicle  52  that is to be lifted comprising at least two elongated transverse assemblies  11  with each treadway  12  including a pair of laterally repositionable frame anchor assemblies  20  for supporting a motor vehicle  52  whereby abutting the frame anchor assemblies  20  to the side and bottom of the vehicle=s underlying frame members allows the vehicle  52  to rest on its frame and not the suspension thereof. The opposing ends of the treadway  12  are connected to various suitable anchoring devices. A frame-straightening device can be used during use of the present invention  10  considerably decreasing the labor associated with auto body repair tasks. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a transverse assembly  11  of the present invention  10 . The transverse assembly  11  of the present invention  10  comprises a treadway  12  formed by a pair of spaced apart elongate crossbeams  14  bound together at the opposing ends thereof by endplates  16  and a pair of removable and laterally repositionable frame anchor assemblies  20  disposed in the transverse channel  15  between said crossbeams  14  which may slide laterally across the surface thereof giving the apparatus compatibility with a wide range of motor vehicle  52  frame sizes. 
     FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a transverse assembly  11  of the present invention  10 . Shown is the treadway  12  comprised of a pair of spaced apart crossbeams  14  conjoined by a pair of end plates  16  on the distal ends thereof. The end plates  16  have a plurality of recesses  17  extending therethrough. The frame anchor assembly  20  includes a frame anchor sleeve  22  with a hollow interior  27  into which the vertical portion  30  of the frame anchor insert  28  is inserted. A plurality of recesses  24  in the frame anchor sleeve  22  align with the threaded recesses  38  that pass through the entirety of the frame anchor insert  28  and threaded bolts  50  are inserted therein to secure the two components together. A cantilevered bracket  26  projects from the frame anchor sleeve  22  on which the frame of the vehicle  52  is to rest as the upper portion of the frame anchor insert  28  sits flush thereagainst. The slotted bearing plate  42  is seated flush on the top side  34  of the horizontal portion  32  of the frame anchor insert  28  and is welded thereto. A frame anchor assembly  22  securing means  45  comprises a base plate  46  having a plurality of recesses  48  that align with a plurality of threaded recesses  48  disposed on the bottom  36  of the horizontal portion  32  of the frame anchor insert  28  and threaded bolts  50  are inserted therethrough as the bearing plate  42  and base plate  46  are pulled towards one another against the treadway  12  to serve as a sandwich clamp to prevent the frame anchor assembly  20  from inadvertent lateral or vertical movement once in the selected position. A spacer element  18  in the transverse channel  15  is in communication with the two crossbeams  14 . 
     FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the frame anchor assembly  20  within the treadway  12 . The base plate  46  is flush to the lower outer surface of the crossbeams  14  and the bearing plate  42  is flush to the upper outer surface of the crossbeams  14 . When the bolts  50  are loosened the base plate  46  has ample space between its surface and the crossbeams  14  for the lateral movement of the frame anchor assembly  20  along the treadway  12  and the bolts  50  may be tightened when the lateral movement thereof is not desired. The bolts  50  pass through the recesses  48  of the base plate  46  and are threaded into the threaded recesses  40  in the bottom  36  of the horizontal portion  32  of the frame anchor insert  28 . The frame anchor sleeve  22  encompasses the frame anchor insert  28  and rests on the surface of the bearing plate  42 . The width of the frame anchor insert  28  is slightly smaller than the distance in the transverse channel  15  of the treadway  12 . 
     FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the frame anchor sleeve  22 . The frame anchor sleeve  22  is comprised of a tubular rigid material having a plurality of recesses  24  and a cantilevered bracket  26  extending therefrom. The frame anchor sleeve  22  slides over the frame anchor insert  28  and rests flush on the surface of the bearing plate  42 . 
     FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the bearing plate  42 . The frame anchor insert has a bearing plate fabricated of a rigid planar material with a slotted cut-out  44  therein. The frame anchor sleeve  22  will rest on the edge surface surrounding the slot. The width of the frame anchor sleeve  22  is greater than the distance in the slot of the bearing plate  42 . The dashed line indicates the resting edge of the frame anchor sleeve  22 . 
     FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the frame anchor insert  28  which is fabricated of a rigid material having a plurality of threaded recesses  40  drilled and tapped 1¾@ deep on the bottom  36  of the horizontal portion  32  for the attachment of the base plate  46  to the frame anchor insert  28 . The width and length of the vertical portion  30  of the frame anchor insert  28  is smaller than the hollow interior  27  of the frame anchor sleeve  22  and slot within the bearing plate  42 . The threaded recesses  38  of the vertical portion  30  of the frame anchor insert  28  pass entirely therethrough. 
     FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the treadway  12 . The treadway  12  of the present invention  10  is comprised of two rigid elongate crossbeams  14  conjoined by end plates  16  fixedly bound on the opposing ends thereof with a plurality of recesses  17  and a supportive extending lip thereon. The end plates  16  will accept a wide variety of vehicle anchor stand systems. The extended retaining flanges  54  on the end plates  16  will rest on the surface of the anchor stand attaching plates decreasing the vehicle weight load on the fasteners preventing them from shearing. 
     FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the base plate  46 . The base plate  46  of the present invention  10  is comprised of a rigid planar material having a plurality of recesses  48  therein. The base plate  46  is removably attached to the frame anchor insert  28 . The base plate  46  prevents vertical movement of the laterally moveable frame anchor assembly  20  relative to the treadway  12 . 
   It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
   While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
   Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.