A repair apparatus for a vehicle has first and second telescoping pipes clamped to present a coupling part at elevated position and at a lateral position selected for restoring a damaged body portion of a vehicle. A leverage bar is secured to a receptacle joined by a hinge pin to each of the coupling parts of both telescoping pipes. A puller or one of popper heads of differing length is an attachment mounted by a hinge pin to the receptacle at spaced relation from the first hinge pin whereby a force excreted on the leverage bar simultaneously moves the quarter puller or popper head in a direction for restoring the damaged body portion of the vehicle. The position of the puller on the receptacle can be changed by removal of a hinge pin located between the puller and the leverage bar. The first telescoping pipes fit in a larger pipe welded to a plate that is either position under a tire or secured to the tire by a chain.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for use in the repair of vehicles, more particularly to dent pullers and frame straightening apparatus that can be assembled to customize the apparatus to a variety of tasks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, a number of attempts have been made to remove dents from automobile bodies. It has been the usual procedure in the repair of vehicles that have suffered damage in collisions to pull out dents and other parts of vehicles that have been subject to impact to a position for finishing the finish repair. For many years workman have attached a stud to a body panel, usually by welding it onto a panel. Thereafter, a weight slidable against an end stop upon a shaft connected to the stud is used to hammer the bent part outwardly and thereby pull a fender back into shape.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,056 discloses the use of a slap hammer which includes a stud welding gun to a stud and weld it to the dent. An integral hammer means applies a force to the stud straighten the dent.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,589 provides an automotive frame straightening apparatus and method which includes a bench having a low profile with retractable lifts which permit the bench to be positioned substantially flat on the ground so that a vehicle can be driven over it. Frame machines also employ a pulling tower in that a chain is connected to a clamping device to hook at quarter panel location as the outward force is exerted for the straightening operation.

These and other prior art references are complete and functional for their intended use. However, each has inherent drawbacks which the present invention addresses. One example is the need for a large tower that is connected to a quarter panel by a clamp and a hook. Much force is exerted in an uncontrolled manner by hydraulics and injury could occur should the clamp or hook slip off the panel. Further the present invention allows the operator to control and safely apply the force needed to pull the dent in the panel is outwardly.

The prior art use of a slap hammer necessitates the need to weld a stud to the dent in the panel and then screw the tip of the slap hammer onto the stud. The impact force generated by sliding the hammer toward the operator against a stop is used to restore the dented area of the panel. However, a dangerous condition can occur if the tip slips off or breaks the stud causing the tool to quickly exit the panel. The present invention eliminates this danger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is there for a primary object of the present invention to provide a puller apparatus which eliminates the need for a frame machine with a pulling tower connected to the quarter panel by clamp.

A further object is to provide apparatus to pull dents without the need for welding a stud to a damaged panel surface and use of a slap hammer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus for use by the auto body technician to pull dents in a quarter panel without the use of a stud and slap hammer and pull quarter panels without the use of a frame machine including a pulling tower connected to the quarter panel by a clamp or a hook.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is easily carried throughout the shop and quickly set up to pop a dent or pull a quarter panel.

Still another important object is to provide controlled pulling by means of a leverage arm that enables the operator to exert enough force to pull to the dented part or quarter panel to a position for finishing the repair to the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

InFIGS. 1-10the apparatus10for use in the repair of a vehicle according to the invention includes first telescoping pipes18and20connected by a quick releasable clamp16to present a first coupling part25on an extended pipe end of pipe20to an elevated position selected for restoring a damaged body portion of a vehicle. Second telescoping pipes30and33connected by a quick releasable clamp28to present a second coupling part31on an extended end of pipe30to lateral position selected for restoring a damaged body portion of a vehicle. A leverage bar28includes a receptacle26forming a third coupling part joined by a first hinge pin2ato each of the first coupling part25and the second coupling part31. A puller48or popper head38,39or40is an attachment mounted by a second hinge pin2bto the receptacle26at spaced relation from the first hinge pin2awhereby a force excreted on the leverage bar68simultaneously moves the quarter puller48or popper head38,39or40in a direction for restoring the damaged body portion of the vehicle. The arrangement being such that the first telescoping pipes and the second telescoping pipes resisting a force execreted by downward movement of the leverage bar68through the first hinge pin2awhile simultaneously moving the puller or popper head by the second hinge pin2bin a direction for outwardly restoring the damaged body portion of the vehicle.

Referring now particularly toFIGS. 1 and 6, the vehicle repair apparatus10is shown according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle repair apparatus10uses the receptacle26to interconnect the leverage bar68with the quarter puller48. The leverage bar68includes an extension handle50secured by a compressible button lock22. As shown inFIG. 8a steel plate27is welded into pipe section68and receptacle plates26aare welded to apposite sides of the steel plate27. Also receptacle25is a steel plate welded into the pipe section20and steel plates24are welded to opposite sides of the receptacle25as shown. A hitch pin hole26blocated in the top of the receptacle26is used to secure a quarter puller48and a hitch pin hole26clocated in the bottom of the receptacle26is used to secure the flanged end24attached to the vertical extension pipe20. The pipe18that is adjustable by the quick release clamp16also fits inside pipe section4. Welded to pipe section4is a steel plate7that mounts under the tire T. Welded to the pipe section4is a chain mounting bracket3secured to a chain5by a hitch pin2c. A double chain snap hook6is provided to adjust tension in the chain.

FIG. 6shows details of the second telescoping pipes30and33connected by a releasable clamp28to present a second coupling part31having the form of spaced parallel plates31awelded to the end of pipe30and secured to the receptacle26by hitch pin2a. A rubber tip17is attached by screws17ato a small piece of pipe17bthat is inserted into the end of pipe33to provide a grip to the inner uni-body of wheel well41as seen inFIG. 3. As illustrated inFIG. 3pipe section4does not use the chain5when the tire is located on the steel plate7because the vehicle weight is sufficient to stabilize the vertical telescopic section formed by the first telescoping pipes18and20. Also the vertical height adjuster formed by the quick releasable clamp16in the direction of arrow14allow adjustments to the vertical height so that the quarter puller48is in a position at the location of the panel damage and the horizontal telescopic assembly formed by the second telescoping pipes30and33connected by a quick releasable clamp28is in position for pulling by quick release clamp28. Pipe section33is moved outward, in the direction indicated by arrow15, against the inner uni-body41. The vertical and horizontal telescopic pipe is now ready to absorb the pressure of force that is exerted downward, as indicated by arrow12, by operation of the leverage bar68, simultaneously causing the quarter puller48to pull the quarter panel outward.

FIG. 4shows the chain5fixed in position around the tire T at a location where the tire has flattened area because of the weight of the vehicle on the plate7. As the tire is turned the flattened area expands causing the chain to have more tension around the tire and fit more snuggly.FIG. 5shows the apparatus in use for pulling a quarter panel. The location of the damage is at the lower portion toward the back of the vehicle and therefore the chain5is in use to further maintain the stability of the telescopic position of the apparatus for the vehicle repair.

Depending on the severity of damage or how deep the quarter panel is pushed inwardly the operator may need to move the puller head as shown inFIGS. 6,8,9and9a. Hitch pin1is in a position where it extends through a hitch pin hole26din the receptacle26traversing a gap at the terminal end of a steel plate27that is welded to the receptacle plates26a. When the hitch pin1is seated in a space at the terminal end of a steel plate27the puller48is caused to lean towards the operator for less outward pushing against the quarter panel. Hitch pin1, as shown inFIG. 9ais pulled out of the receptacle26which allows the puller48to fall in the direction of arrow11for the deeper or greater outward pushing against the quarter panel.FIG. 6ashows an enlarged front view of the puller48having a puller head49with a slight bend to provide a relaxed fit in quarter panel lips as seen inFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 10a second alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment the dent poppers38,39and40shown inFIG. 7are used. The poppers are made in three different lengths, namely popper38is 5″, popper39is 9″ and popper40is 13″ long. This enables the operator to select the length needed to pop out the dent.FIG. 10also shows the apparatus in use without the horizontal extension. At the operators discretion there is less pressure to be absorbed at times with a fender dent. Also if needed the operator may reverse the vertical extension,20, by removing hitch pin2bat the first coupling part25reposition the first telescoping pipes18and20as shown at20aand then replacing the hinge pin2bfor a deeper pull.

There are many advantages to this apparatus that are disclosed herein. It is easily carried throughout the shop by the technician and has a quick set up. It is simple to operate and enables the operator the convenience of the leverage handle68to control the force exerted as well as the visual needed to pull or pop the quarter panel or fender.

As shown and described above this apparatus can only be preferred over the present invention. Features from other embodiments can be mixed to produce further embodiments. It will be manifest to a person skilled in the art of auto body repair and therefore makes numerous alterations and rearrangements of the parts without departure form the sprit and scope of the underlying invention and that the same is not limited to the particular forms.