Automotive clamp accessory

An automotive clamp accessory that can be used with existing prior art clamps to pull on a damaged vehicle's frame. The clamp accessory can be attached to a variety of types of damaged vehicle frames and locations without first being required to remove bolted-on vehicle parts or attached glass in order for the pull clamp to properly access or grab the frame. Once the clamp accessory is attached, straightening is accomplished by pulling on the clamp accessory with an external force to return the frame back to its original shape. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp accessory includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a wall disposed between the first and second ends that forms a “stair-step” configuration. The first end portion having a pair of opposing pivot bores for mounting the prior art pull clamp thereto. The pivot bores allow the pulling clamp to be tightened in selected positions for various straightening applications. In position, the clamp accessory passes over the damaged frame so that the body bore of the clamp accessory is aligned and on an axis with the clamp jaws of the pull clamp.

Statement as to rights to inventions made under Federally sponsored research and development: Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to vehicle collision repair, in particular to the straightening of a damaged post or panel of the vehicle's body or frame. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a clamp accessory that can be used with existing prior art clamps to pull on a damaged vehicle's post or panel that has an edge, or lip disposed on the rear of the post or panel. Once the prior art clamp, and clamp accessory of the present invention is attached, straightening is accomplished by pulling on the clamp accessory with an external force to return the post or panel back to its original shape.

2. Brief Description of Prior Art

Automotive accidents produce damage of varying severity to the involved vehicles. In a relatively minor automobile accident of the “fenderbender” type, only the bodywork of the automobile is damaged. The automobile can then be generally repaired by replacing the damaged bodywork panel. In more severe accidents, all or part of the frame of the automobile can be bent, in addition to the bodywork panels.

The prior art method to repair a damaged vehicle's bent frame is to generally grab hold of the damaged portion with a prior art pull clamp or sling, attach an external frame straightening puller to the frame, and apply a sufficiently large pulling force by the external puller to the pull clamp or sling and thence to the frame, so that the frame is straightened back to its original form.

A problem with the prior art method discussed above is that it is often required to remove bolted-on vehicle parts such as headlights, fenders, etc., or attached glass such as windshields, windows etc., in order for the pull clamp or sling to properly access or grab the frame. Removing vehicle parts in order to ultimately access the damaged frame of the vehicle results in increased labor cost, as well as additional risk of windshield or window breakage and bodywork damage.

The present invention concerns an automotive clamp accessory that allows a prior art pull clamp to grip the rear edge or lip of a damaged post or panel without first being required to remove bolted-on vehicle parts or attached glass in order for the pull clamp to properly access or grab the frame. As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome the above problems and difficulties of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an automotive clamp accessory that can be used with existing prior art clamps to pull on the rear edge or lip of the post of panel of a damaged vehicle's frame. Once a prior art pull clamp, and automotive clamp accessory of the present invention is attached, straightening is accomplished by pulling on the automotive clamp accessory with an external force to return the post or panel back to its original shape. The automotive clamp accessory allows a prior art pull clamp to grip the rear edge or lip of a damaged post or panel without first being required to remove bolted-on vehicle parts or attached glass in order for the pull clamp to properly access or grab the frame. The automotive clamp accessory includes a base member formed of a first end portion, a second end portion, and a wall disposed between the first and second ends. The second end portion includes a body bore for attaching the clamp accessory to a chain and external force applying device. The first end portion having a pair of opposing pivot bores for mounting the prior art pull clamp thereto. The clamp accessory further includes side walls that extend the length of the base member.

In application, prior art pulling clamp is positioned to grip onto the damaged portion of the vehicle frame. The clamp accessory is slid over the sliding bars of the pull clamp and tightened with nuts. The pulling clamp may be tightened in selected positions for various straightening applications. In position, the clamp accessory passes over the damaged frame so that the body bore of the clamp accessory is aligned and on an axis with the clamp jaws of the pull clamp. A pulling chain is attached to the body bore to exert the forward pulling force on the axis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the present invention, an automobile clamp accessory used when straightening a damaged vehicle's body or frame is disclosed. The automotive clamp accessory is directed to an automotive clamp accessory that can be used with existing prior art clamps to pull on the rear edge or lip of the post of panel of a damaged vehicle's frame. Once the prior art clamp is attached to the damaged portion of the vehicle frame and to the clamp accessory of the present invention, straightening is accomplished by pulling on the automotive clamp accessory with an external force to return the post or panel back to its original shape.

Specifically, it will be noted in the drawings that the automotive clamp accessory relates to an apparatus that allows a prior art pull clamp to grip the rear edge or lip of a damaged post or panel without first being required to remove bolted-on vehicle parts or attached glass in order for the pull clamp to properly access or grab the frame. In the broadest context, the automotive clamp accessory of the present invention consists of components configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

FIGS. 1–6illustrate a preferred embodiment of an automotive clamp accessory1made in accordance of the present invention.FIGS. 1 and 2depict top perspective and side views of the clamp accessory1.FIG. 3shows an exploded view of a prior art pull clamp100and the clamp accessory1.FIGS. 4 and 5depict top perspective views of the clamp100mounted to the clamp accessory1, differing only to the extent thatFIG. 4illustrates the clamp100rotated in relation to the clamp accessory1in a first position, andFIG. 5illustrates the clamp100rotated in relation to the clamp accessory1in a second position.FIG. 6illustrates the clamp accessory1mode of attachment to an automobile frame200.

Referring toFIG. 1, the automotive clamp accessory1may be described as having a base member3formed of a first end portion5and a second end portion7. As will be further described, the first end portion5representing the rotatable clamping portion for mounting to the prior art pull clamp100. The base member3of the clamp accessory1further includes a slanted wall9integral to, and disposed between the first and second ends5,7, so that the first end portion5is elevated in relation to the second end portion7, thence forming a “stair-step” configuration, as best shown inFIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, the slanted wall9constructed having an angle designated as letter “A” inFIG. 2, preferably a 45 degree angle.

The second end portion7of the base member3including a body bore10for attaching the clamp accessory1to a chain110(shown inFIG. 6) and external force applying device (not shown). The first end portion5including a pair of opposing pivot bores11for mounting the prior art pull clamp100to the first end5of the clamp accessory1, as best shown inFIGS. 3–5. As shown inFIG. 1, the pivot bores11each having generally a “kidney shaped” configuration. This configuration is important for proper rotation of the pull clamp100when mounted to the clamp accessory1as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5.

The clamp accessory1further includes side walls12that extend the length of the base member3. The base member3and side walls12can be manufactured as separate pieces and then assembled together in the form shown in the drawings or in the alternative, can be manufactured as a single piece.

FIG. 3best illustrates the components of the prior art pull clamp100. The clamp100generally includes upper and lower jaws103A and103B, and sliding bars50having threaded ends that slide through apertures103C in the jaws103A and103B. Washers30and nuts40assemble and tighten the pull clamp100in position in the form shown inFIGS. 4–6.

The clamp100is mounted to the first end portion5of the clamp accessory1as shown inFIG. 3. In particular, the sliding bars50slide through the apertures103C of the jaws103A,103B as described above, and preferably through apertures71of a spacer plate70, through the pivot bores11in the first end portion5, and through apertures21of a reinforcement plate20. The washers30and nuts40assemble and tighten the clamp accessory1to the pull clamp100. As will be further described, the clamp100may be tightened in selected positions (seeFIGS. 4 and 5for example) for various straightening applications, by sliding the sliding bars50within the pivot bores11until the clamp100is properly positioned to grab hold of the damaged portion with the jaws103A,103B of the clamp100.

As best shown inFIGS. 1,3and4, the clamp accessory1further includes a center hole15disposed at an equal distance between the pivot bores11. The clamp100may be selectively positioned at an approximate 45 degree angle, in either direction, with respect to the center hole15.

In the preferred embodiment the clamp accessory1includes the spacer plate70disposed between the clamp100and the clamp accessory1as described above however, the spacer plate70is optional to the operation of the present invention. The reinforcement plate20positioned on the upper surface of the first end portion5of the clamp accessory1provides reinforcement or added strength to the base3of the clamp accessory1during application.

The present invention allows a forward pull on the vehicle's damaged frame without first removing obstructing vehicle parts. To use the clamp accessory1in frame straightening, the jaws103A,103B of the prior art clamp100is positioned to grip onto the rear edge of the vehicle frame's post or panel. The clamp accessory1is then slid over the sliding bars50of the pull clamp100and tightened with nuts40, thereby fixing the pull clamp100to the frame and to the clamp accessory1. In application, the clamp accessory1passes over the damaged post or panel, and the stair-step configuration of the clamp accessory1as described fits over the damaged portion of the frame at an inward direction. As shown inFIGS. 4–6, in position, the body bore10is aligned and on an axis with the jaws103A,103B of the pull clamp100. The pulling chain110is attached to the body bore10to exert the forward pulling force on the axis.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. As such, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the claims.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.