Door leveler

An apparatus for aligning and leveling an associated vehicle door having an elongated member, a head member attached to said elongated member adapted to engage a vehicle door lock recess, a support member extending downwardly from said elongated member towards a vehicle door and a support plate attached to said support member adapted to rest on said vehicle door. The apparatus is designed to aid in the leveling and aligning processes of a vehicle door after assembly of the vehicle. The elongated member may include a series of bends to improve the ergonomic efficiency of the vehicle door leveler.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to autobody tools, in particular, to a vehicle door aligning and leveling tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is a common problem in automotive vehicles that the hinged door of an automotive vehicle is misaligned during the initial manufacture. This misalignment causes the door to not properly close or be misaligned when closed. Misalignment may cause air gaps in the seal of a closed vehicle door leading to noise heard by the driver, among other problems.

Overcoming such a misalignment is often completed by a mechanic or other automotive worker by applying a force to the lower portion of the vehicle door to improve its alignment. This may be accomplished generally by the crude method of grabbing a vehicle door with the hands and pushing or pulling on the vehicle door to improve alignment of the vehicle door. The method of grabbing a vehicle door with the hands often results in injury to assembly plant workers or other automotive workers. This method can often damage the vehicle door by either damaging the paint or leaving an indentation in the bottom of the vehicle door.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved alignment tool which can be used to apply force to the vehicle door without the danger of damaging the surface of the vehicle door. It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus which avoids scratching or damaging of any paint or any deformation of any vehicle door structure.

Yet another method of alignment involves kneeling on the ground and pulling or pushing the bottom of the vehicle door with hands to level and align the vehicle door. Again, this method often results in injury to assembly plant workers or other automotive workers.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize risk of injury to assembly plant workers or other automotive workers when aligning a vehicle door by means of using their hands or knees when aligning the vehicle door.

Vehicle door designs often vary greatly in different models and makes of vehicles. It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which is simple and universal to all automotive vehicle doors and structures. It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus which will cooperate with a wide variety of automobile and vehicle structures.

Accordingly there exists a need for a tool more suitable for correcting common misalignment and level problems in vehicle doors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a tool for use in aligning and leveling a vehicle door. A vehicle door typically has a door lock assembly which receives a lock pin on the door frame to secure the vehicle door in a closed position. Accordingly, the corresponding vehicle door typically includes a recess for accepting the lock pin on the door frame. The tool of the preferred embodiment includes an elongated member having a support member extending downwardly from the elongated member towards a vehicle door. The tool further includes a head member attached to the elongated member adapted to engage a vehicle door lock recess of a locking means of a vehicle door. The door leveler further includes a support plate attached to the support member adapted to rest against a vehicle door.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the elongated member may be configured with an ergonomic design to reduce burden on users of the door leveler. An ergonomic configuration of the elongated member may increase maneuverability of a vehicle door during the leveling process. The ergonomic configuration of the elongated member may include a series of bends in the elongated member. This ergonomic configuration lowers the user grip area from the head member allowing a user to gain more control and improve user lift ability. The ergonomic bends allow the grip area of the device to be substantially parallel while substantially lower than the working area of the vehicle door. Lowering the grip area allows a user of the door leveler to exert more force on the door leveler while minimizing risk of injury.

The vehicle door leveler is intended to assist in the lifting, pushing and pulling processes when aligning and leveling a vehicle door. The head member engages the vehicle door lock recess while the support plate simultaneously braces against the vehicle door. The user of the vehicle door leveler then uses the elongated member to pull or push the vehicle door in turn causing the vehicle door to move in accordance with proper alignment of the vehicle door.

A support member may extend downwardly from the elongated member to the vehicle door at various different points on the elongated member. The support member acts as a brace to further simplify use of the vehicle door leveler and to minimize burden on the user of the vehicle door leveler.

The support plate includes a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface of the support plate is secured to the support member. The front surface of the support plate has a resilient surface adapted to prevent scratching of the paint or other damage to the vehicle door.

The foregoing and other objects, embodiments, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description which proceeds with references to the accompany drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a tool for use in aligning and leveling a vehicle door. A vehicle door typically includes a door lock assembly which receives a lock pin on the door frame to secure the vehicle door in a closed position, as shown inFIG. 1. The corresponding vehicle door typically includes a recess for accepting the lock pin on the door frame.FIG. 1depicts an idealized motor vehicle10having a vehicle body18on which vehicle door12is hingedly mounted. Vehicle autobody workers are often required to reposition the vehicle door12with respect to vehicle body18in order to properly align and level the vehicle door12with respect to vehicle body18. Movement is accomplished when the user of the vehicle door leveler20pushes and pulls on the elongated member24of the vehicle of the vehicle door leveler20(as shown by movement arrows14,16). Said pushing of the vehicle door12facilitates the alignment process allowing workers to properly align the vehicle door12.

The vehicle door leveler20in the embodiment here specifically disclosed is primarily formed of an elongated member24, here shown in the form of a tubular shaft. Elongated member24may also be, but not limited to, in the form of a rectangular elongated member or other variations of an elongated member not otherwise depicted.

Elongated member24may optionally include a series of bends. Elongated member24bends are depicted at52and54. Elongated member24may include between zero and four bends, not otherwise depicted in the drawings. The bends52and54are intended to improve usability to a user of the door leveler. This ergonomic configuration lowers the user grip area from the head member allowing a user to gain more control and improve user lift ability. The ergonomic bends allow the grip area of the device to be substantially parallel while substantially lower than the working area of the vehicle door. Lowering the grip area allows a user of the door leveler to exert more force on the door leveler while minimizing risk of injury.

Elongated member24may include more or less than the two bends52and54depicted in the drawings. Elongated member24may have a medial portion38between a grip portion36and a distal portion40. Bends52and54may be provided at the joints of the medial portion38, grip portion36and the distal portion40. Bends52and54are discussed in further detail in this description.

Elongated member24includes a head member22adapted to engage a recess30on a side panel32of a vehicle door12. Head member22, as depicted inFIG. 2, may be U-shaped. Head member22could form several other different shapes including, but not limited to, a rectangular shaped head member, a circular shaped head member, a tubular shaped head member, etc.

Elongated member24further includes a support member28which extends downwardly from the elongated member24to the side panel32of the vehicle door12. In one embodiment, support member28is fixedly secured to elongated member24at the joint34. In another embodiment, support member28is rotatably mounted to elongated member24at the joint34. The support member28is designed to minimize burden on the user of the vehicle door leveler20. The support member28acts as a brace to further simplify use of the vehicle door leveler20. The support member also provides an ergonomic benefit to the user of the vehicle door leveler20by reducing the force needed to raise and lower the vehicle door.

The vehicle door leveler is depicted in a series of embodiments shown inFIGS. 3-9. These various embodiments have different configurations of bends and support member placement. The limited list of embodiments shown in the drawings does not encompass all embodiments of the present invention. Generally, elongated member24is formed of a medial portion38between a grip portion36and a distal portion40. Grip portion36, medial portion38and distal portion40are formed of a single contiguous piece. Bends52and54may be provided at the joints of the medial portion38, grip portion36and the distal portion40. Bend54is measured by an angle ‘x’ as shown inFIGS. 3,4,5,8and9on the topside of the elongated member24. Bend52is measured by an angle ‘y’ as shown inFIGS. 3,4,5,8and9on the underside of elongated member24. Both angles ‘x’ and ‘y’ have a measure between 90°-270°. Bend52may also be measured by angle ‘z’ measured on the topside of the elongated member24. Angle ‘z’ may have a measure between 60°-310°. Angles ‘x’, ‘y’ and ‘z’ are independent of each other and may have different measurements.

The first, second, third, fourth, seventh and eighth embodiments, as depicted inFIGS. 3,4,5,8and9, respectively, include a series of two bends located at52and54. In the first, second, third, fourth, seventh and eighth, angles ‘x’, ‘y’ and ‘z’ may have a measure between 90°-270°.

As depicted inFIGS. 6 and 7, fifth and sixth embodiments, respectively, angles ‘x’, ‘y’ and ‘z’ may have a measure of 180°. When angles ‘x’, ‘y’ and ‘z’ have a measure of 180°, the elongated member24is perfectly straight.

The vehicle door leveler is depicted in a series of embodiments shown inFIGS. 4-10. These various embodiments have different configurations of support member28placement. Support member28placement on the elongated member24may vary. Placement of the support member28on the elongated member24may either be closer to the head member22, centered on the elongated member24, or closer to the grip portion36. The support member28may also extend downwardly toward the vehicle door from the grip portion36, the medial portion38or the distal portion40of the elongated member24. For example,FIG. 3(first embodiment), the support member28extends downwardly from the grip portion36of the elongated member24. InFIG. 4(second embodiment), the support member28extends downwardly from the grip portion36of the elongated member24. InFIG. 5(third embodiment), the support member28extends downwardly from the medial portion38. Various placements of the support member28may improve user maneuverability.

Support member28includes a support plate26. In the preferred embodiment, support plate26is fixedly secured to the support member28. Support plate26may also be rotatably mounted about support member28or otherwise movable on support member28. Support plate26includes a rear surface48. Support plate26connects to support member28on a location on the rear surface48of the support plate26. Support plate26also includes a front surface46. Front surface46of support plate26is covered, at least partially, with a resilient surface50. Resilient surface50may include, but is not limited to, a cloth material, flexible rubber or other polymer material, nylon, foam, cotton substrate . . . etc. Resilient surface50is designed to prevent scratching, denting, or other damage to the vehicle door12.

As demonstrated by the use inFIG. 2, head member22is adapted to engage a recess30of a side panel32of a vehicle door12. The operator of the vehicle door leveler20may either lift or push down on the vehicle door leveler20to attain the proper level and alignment of the vehicle door12. Support member28and support plate26are adapted to engage the side panel32of the vehicle door12. The support member28acts as a brace to further simplify use of the vehicle door leveler20. The support member also provides an ergonomic benefit to the user of the vehicle door leveler20by reducing the force needed to raise and lower the vehicle door.

FIG. 7depicts yet another embodiment wherein support member28includes a support member bend56. Support member bend56may improve usability for the user of the vehicle door leveler. The bend may reduce the ergonomic burden on the user of the vehicle door leveler.

The foregoing drawings, discussion and description are illustrative of specific embodiments of the present invention, but they are not meant to be limitations upon the practice thereof. Numerous modifications and variations of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the teaching presented herein. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.